Quick, Which Two Ex-Cubs Would You Most Like to Hear From?

Did you answer Michael Barrett and Mark Prior? Then I have a treat for you! The Cubs took on the Padres on Easter Sunday. There were notable ex-Cubs on the Padres roster, including Future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. Hell, even the likable former Cub Glendon Rusch is a non-roster invitee in the Padres’ camp. Instead of nabbing an interview with Maddux as he rides off into the sunset, we were treated to an interview with Barrett and Prior. Let’s see what they said!

PEORIA, Ariz. – Michael Barrett was behind the plate for Sunday’s Cubs game, but he was wearing a Padres uniform.

And a bulletproof banana hammock. And a note pinned to his jersey with his new California address. And a drool bib.

Barrett, Greg Maddux, Mark Prior and Glendon Rusch stopped by the visitor’s clubhouse to say hello to some of their former teammates. The Padres have enough ex-Cubs to have alumni meetings.

Maddux proposed a Barrett-for-Blanco deal, but Phil Nevin rejected it.

“It’s nice to be able to play with guys who you enjoyed playing with in Chicago,” Prior said.

Like who? Didn’t everyone hate you, College Boy?

It would be easy to understand if Barrett had bad memories about his days with the Cubs. He was involved in a dugout fracas with Carlos Zambrano, and was traded last June to the Padres. He batted .226 for San Diego, and re-signed with the Padres in December.

Plus, Lou got tired of explaining to him that his mitt goes on his hand and his hat goes on his head.

“[Last season] was a bit crazy,” Barrett said. “I finished the season off with the birth of my son, which saved the entire year.”

What are the odds that they named him Michael so dad wouldn’t have to learn a new name?

Young Andrew Barrett is now four months old and healthy. When Barrett signed with the Cubs, he was eager to play at Wrigley Field.

Four months old already? That’s great! Only three more months, and he’ll be able to beat his dad in a spelling bee.

“There isn’t one day I regret going onto that field — even at my worst times there, it’s some of my best memories,” the catcher said. “Putting on the pinstripes of the Cubs uniform was a dream come true and something I will always cherish.”

You don’t have any days you regret? I’ll give you some.

He’s had a little problem with daughter Grace.

“We have to train her from, ‘Let’s score some runs, Cubbies,’ to saying the ‘Padres’ now, which isn’t as easy as I thought it would be,” Barrett said.

Well, what finally worked for you, Mike?

Has he moved on?

“You have to have perspective in this game,” he said. “This game is about failure, and I failed a lot in Chicago. I’m not going to deny that or walk away from that. You try to learn from your mistakes.

Was one of your mistakes sneaking up behind Carlos Zambrano?

“I feel I’m fortunate to be able to still be playing, and I feel I still have a lot to offer,” he said.

You’re half right.

The Cubs players didn’t forget his contributions, and voted Barrett a full playoff share from the 2007 season.

Only because they were able to convince him that 1/52 of $1,573,781.74 was the letter “Q.” Fractions aren’t really his strong suit.

“That was huge,” he said.

It sure was, champ. It sure was.

Prior is coming back from arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, which he had last April. The procedure, performed by Dr. James Andrews, included a debridement of his right rotator cuff as well as repairing the labral and capsular injuries. Right now, he feels good.

I swear I’ve heard that refrain before. Oh, yeah. It’s usually followed by, “But he’s going to be held back until June ‘just to be on the safe side.’”

“In years past, I’ve said that and thought I felt good, but now I know what it’s like to be back and feeling healthy and able to throw the ball without any restrictions,” he said. “I still have a long way to go and probably the hardest part to go, but so far it’s been encouraging.”

Oh, all that’s left is the really hard part? I’m sure nothing will go wrong.

Prior is slated to start facing hitters this week, and if all goes well, he could be pitching in the big leagues in early June. The Cubs chose to not tender him a contract in December, and he signed with San Diego as a free agent. Does he have any regrets about his time in Chicago?

Like not bleeding another six million dollars out of Jim Hendry to sit in a hot tub?

“I regret not being able to be out there and pitch more, but that’s something that physically I wasn’t able to do and didn’t have a whole lot of control over it,” the right-hander said. “I don’t have any regrets. I enjoyed playing in Chicago and I have a lot of great memories there.”

And a lot of great money. Don’t forget about all the money the Cubs paid you to do nothing.

I can’t wait until the Cubs play the Reds for the first time, so we can hear how much Corey Patterson, Jerry Hairston, Jr., and Dusty Baker miss Chicago.

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