Cubs Pack Up and Head to Spring Training With Hope

Cubs can't wait to get started

The Chicago Cubs Tuesday packed up a moving van bound for Mesa, Arizona. Just like every year, it was filled with gear and hope.

"I think we are all looking forward to put last year behind us and get started again," GM Jim Hendry said at the event. "I'm optimistic it's a good bunch of character guys that are all about winning."

Along with the balls and bats, rosin bags and batting gloves aboard the transport, Hendry had a little extra hope to bring with him courtesy of a group of the littlest cubs fans.

One by one the third graders from Inter-American Magnet School, bundled in winter coats and Cub caps, filed past the Cubs moving vans dropping letters of encouragement for Cubs players to read at spring training.

Few of the handwritten letters that filled the equipment bag could put sum up the Cubs goals as succingtly as Hendry.

"We need our own guys, four or five that didn't have the years that they're used to, to get back on track and that will make a huge difference," he said.

While Hendry and assistant GM Randy Bush won't arrive until Sunday night or Monday morning, 40-plus players, including  more than a dozen major leaguers, are already in Mesa working out

"They have a real good way about them," Hendry said about the Arizona squad.  "They're all going to be in great shape, I think they can't wait to get started."

And just in case they forget, there are some hand written letters to remind them.

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