2/5/10 Spring send off

The Cubs will get a sendoff for the 2010 season from some hopeful Chicago-area students. On Tuesday, the truck carrying equipment more than 1,800 miles from Wrigley Field to the Cubs’ facility in Mesa, Ariz., will depart. Besides luggage, workout equipment and a few sets of golf clubs, the load will include letters written by children at the Inter-American Magnet School in Chicago. The letters are addressed to the Cubs players.

GM Jim Hendry, who is attending the Super Bowl in Miami this weekend to cheer on the Indianapolis Colts, will be on hand for the festivities, presented by Mastercard.

This will be the Cubs’ 32nd consecutive Spring Training in Mesa, and 13th at the current HoHoKam Park and Fitch Park facilities. The team had been considering a move to Naples, Fla., but recently gave the city of Mesa exclusive negotiating rights to complete a proposal for a new facility.

Pitchers and catchers will have their first workout Feb. 18, and the first spring game is March 4 against Oakland.

– Carrie Muskat