Extra Bases

• Cubs manager Dale Sveum spent some time with young shortstop Javier Baez during infield drills on Sunday, working on his mechanics.

"Sometimes you have to explain to them why things happen, because they really don't know why a ball can take off and sink," Sveum said. "Derek Lowe throws his sinker, and that's why those guys throw good sinkers, because their mechanics allow them to, but we as infielders don't want those kind of mechanics because that creates the depth on a ball.

"There are going to be little things like that to let these guys correct themselves," Sveum said. "A lot of young players don't know why things happen."

• Jeff Samardzija, Travis Wood, James Russell and Hector Rondon are among the pitchers scheduled to throw live batting practice on Monday. Rondon was acquired in the Rule 5 Draft, and was late getting to Spring Training because of visa problems. So far, he's impressed Sveum with his athleticism in the drills.

• The Cubs will play five-inning intrasquad games on Thursday and Friday at HoHoKam Stadium. The games were expected to begin at 1 p.m. Mountain time and will be open to the public.