* Reds manager Dusty Baker compiled a 322-326 record in four seasons as the Cubs manager (2003-06), which included a trip to the playoffs his first season and a 96-loss season his final year.
“I’ve been through it,” Baker said Thursday. “Any manager that’s been around has been through it. Everybody’s like, ‘Shake up the lineup.’ You shake it up, you’ve still got the same stuff. And I’m cleaning it up, of course.
“It’s very frustrating,” Baker said. “You’re not sleeping much. You’re trying to figure out something that you’ve already figured and it’s hard to accept that maybe you’re not good. Sometimes you’re not good. You’ve got some good players but you might not be good overall.”
Baker did notice the empty seats at Wrigley.
“I don’t think about that,” he said. “I’m on the other side now. But it’s different. I don’t know if it’s the weather, or if school’s not out, but it’s always a little different early, and then the weather got nicer.”
* Cubs manager Dale Sveum had no trouble staying awake to watch the Blackhawks beat the Bruins, 4-3, in triple overtime Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
“Even without the overtime, it was probably the best hockey game I’ve ever seen,” Sveum said Thursday. “Obviously, both teams came right out, and the Hawks came right out pounding and hitting. The competition the whole night, the level of the first three periods was just incredible for two teams. The opportunities both teams had — for watching on TV, it was no doubt the best hockey game I’ve ever seen.”
Extra bases:
* Cubs reliever Shawn Camp will pitch two innings Friday for Class A Kane County in his second rehab outing. Camp, on the disabled list with a sprained right big toe, was scheduled to throw two innings and no more than 35 pitches in the outing. He threw one inning on Tuesday for the Minor League team, and gave up one hit and struck out one.
* An MRI of right-hander Zach Putnam’s right elbow confirmed that he has a bone spur. Putnam was placed on the disabled list Wednesday.
* Kyuji Fujikawa, who underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Tuesday, rejoined the Cubs on Thursday. Dr. James Andrews did the procedure in Pensacola, Fla.
