3/9 Cubs Idol

Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson weren’t at HoHoKam on Tuesday but the Cubs didn’t need them as they are staging their own version of American Idol. Young players like Jim Adduci, Mike Parisi, Brett Jackson and Andrew Cashner had to perform. The auditions are being done in private and will continue on Wednesday.

“This is my fourth or fifth spring here and the mood is great,” Randy Wells said. “Guys are coming in, joking around every day. Marlon Byrd is entertaining people and even [Kosuke Fukiudome] is getting in on the jokes. It’s just fun to come to the clubhouse. You’ve got Kevin Millar, [Ryan] Dempster, Cubs Idol going on.

“It’s fun to show up at the ballpark. I think that’s something that was missing a little bit last year,” Wells said.

Stay tuned.

– Carrie Muskat