Chicago Cubs

Theo Epstein is looking for a manager to lead the Chicago Cubs. He knows exactly the type of candidate he wants too. In his first major on-field move since becoming the team's president of baseball operations, Epstein fired Mike Quade on Wednesday and began the search for the manager's replacement. The move came one day after the club introduced General Manager Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod , the new head of scouting and player development. Epstein, who joined the Cubs a little more than a week ago, quickly laid out the qualifications he has in mind for the team's next manager.

The Big 12 is still deciding: West Virginia or Louisville? Could be one or the other, or maybe neither. Conference realignment took a strange turn Wednesday when, a day after it appeared that the Big 12 had decided West Virginia would eventually replace Missouri as the league's 10th member, the Mountaineers' Big East rival Lousiville reentered the picture. The result was conflicting stories about what happened and a U.S. senator threatening an investigation — while the Big East was left to wonder not only if it had to replace another member, but which one. A person with knowledge of the Big 12's discussions told the Associated Press that no decision was made by the conference to add West Virginia, and that Louisville is still a candidate to be invited to join.

Boston Red Sox executive Theo Epstein agreed to a five-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, according to multiple media reports. Epstein, 37, would leave the Red Sox with a year remaining on his contract as general manager and take over what is expected to be an expanded role with the Cubs, who have gone 103 years without winning a World Series championship. Radio station WEEI in Boston, ESPN the Magazine and SI.com all cited unidentified sources in reporting that Epstein has agreed to a deal.

It's a question Clayton Kershaw can't answer off the top of his head: What size bat does he use? So the Dodgers' star pitcher reached above his locker, pulled out one of his black bats, and scanned the bottom of the handle. "Thirty-four inches, 311/2 ounces," he declared. No surprise that Kershaw has to check — pitching is his priority, obviously — but one pleasant surprise for the Dodgers in their dreary season is that Kershaw and fellow starter Chad Billingsley have been among the better-hitting pitchers in the National League.

Former Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox , who retired last year after 29 years as a manager, including 25 with Atlanta, will have his number retired in Atlanta before Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Cox, 70, also will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame. Cox was replaced by his former coach Fredi Gonzalez , who has the Braves in second place in the National League East and leading the NL wild-card race. Cox is now a consultant for the team. Etc. Texas Rangers outfielder Craig Gentry was reinstated from the seven-day concussion disabled list.

The Cardinals held it together without Albert Pujols, going 7-7 and scoring 4.2 runs per game. Tony La Russa was hoping Pujols would be added to the NL All-Star roster so he could avoid a four-day break.... Jim Leyritz, the Yankees' 1996 World Series hero who was acquitted of vehicular homicide after a drunk driving accident, is trying to get his career back on track as a coach for the independent Newark Bears. He says Joe Girardi and David Cone were the only former teammates who stood by him through his ordeal....

Reporting from Chicago Vicente Padilla said he didn't know what to expect. The game he pitched on Saturday was his first of the season. The relief appearance was his second of the last 10 seasons. On the two-month anniversary of an operation that freed a nerve that was entrapped in one of the deep muscles of his forearm, Padilla pitched a perfect sixth inning in the Dodgers' 10-8 defeat to the Chicago Cubs. The previous day, he said he was uncertain how long it would take for him to warm up in the bullpen.

AT THE PLATE: Leadoff hitter Rafael Furcal had two hits, as did non-roster infielder Eugenio Velez, who had to be removed in the seventh inning because of a sprained ankle. Hector Gimenez, who has hit his way into roster consideration, was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. A catcher who has spent a significant part of the spring at first base, Gimenez played left field because Manager Don Mattingly wanted to test his versatility. In the first inning, Gimenez threw out Tyler Colvin at the plate when Colvin tried to score from second base on a single by Marlon Byrd.

Chicago Cubs 7, Angels 4 (rained out in fourth inning) AT THE PLATE: Manager Mike Scioscia, not wanting to risk injuries on a soggy field, pulled every starter except Hank Conger by the third inning. Bobby Abreu doubled, and Torii Hunter hit a two-run single in the first. Mark Trumbo returned after missing four games because of right groin tightness and singled in his only at-bat. ON THE MOUND: Reliever Francisco Rodriguez started and gave up a walk, a single and Carlos Pena's three-run home run in the first.

White Sox 6, Dodgers 1 Cubs 4, Dodgers 3 (10) AT THE PLATE: Hector Gimenez hit a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs in Las Vegas, one of the Dodgers' split-squad games Sunday. In the other, against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers' three hits included doubles by Dioner Navarro and Justin Sellers. ON THE MOUND: Hiroki Kuroda pitched six innings against the White Sox ? the longest stretch for a Dodgers starter so far this spring ?