Cubs host Wrigley breakfast; Motte progressing

CHICAGO -- It was breakfast at Wrigley Field when the Cubs players arrived for Sunday's abbreviated workout. The Cubs, who have not played at home since a makeup game on Sept. 28, were greeted by an omelet station, platters of fruit and a pig's head on a table surrounded by different sausages and meats.

Of course, there were donuts, including some with white frosting and a blue "W" on top.

"That was great, wasn't it?" Cubs catcher David Ross said. "That's the first time I've ever had breakfast on the field, that's for sure -- that wasn't in a McDonald's wrapper. That was a lot of fun. Juts a beautiful day out there. It's nice to get out there on the grass and just lay around, watch a little bit of football, eat some breakfast."

The Bears' game against the Kansas City Chiefs was on the video scoreboard at Wrigley.

Jason Motte threw a simulated game while his teammates filled their plates with avocados and scrambled eggs prepared by the team's chefs.

"It was weird at times," Motte said. "The weirdest part for me was throwing with the turtle or the batting cage there. You're not used to that. You had to have it -- there's people eating omelets and hanging out. You can't have a ball go and break someone's pancakes."

Rookie Kris Bryant went straight for the omelet station, as well as the donuts.

"You never know what to expect here," Bryant said.

• Motte, sidelined since Aug. 24 with a right shoulder strain, threw his second simulated game in his rehab on Sunday.

"It all felt good, the ball's coming out good, I threw some good cutters," Motte said of his 25-pitch session. "I was able to get ahead of guys. It felt good."

Motte, pitching coach Chris Bosio and the athletic trainers will meet to discuss the next step. The right-hander is still hoping to be able to pitch in the postseason, but the Cubs would likely have to advance to the NL Championship Series for that to happen.

Motte's wife Caitlin had a busy Sunday, running in the Chicago Marathon. She finished in four hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds.

• Catcher Taylor Teagarden joined the Cubs on Sunday, but was not added to the postseason roster. The 31-year-old spent most of this season at Triple-A Iowa, where he batted .305 in 63 games. He was added to the 40-man roster, and left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada was designated for assignment to make room.