PITTSBURGH -- Pitcher Jake Arrieta and catcher Miguel Montero?arent the only Chicago Cubs players who want to move past the spring training feel to the final days of the regular season -- they are just the most vocal.Both bristled Wednesday night at the decision to remove Montero from the game while Arrieta was still pitching. The Cy Young Award winner had just given up three runs to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fourth inning when manager Joe Maddon pulled Montero in favor of Willson Contreras.Maddon said it was a predetermined move to give the rookie Contreras an inning with Arrieta in case that combination is together in a postseason contest. Arrieta wound up giving up three more runs in the fifth.They all knew what was going to happen before that game, Maddon said Thursday afternoon. There were no surprises. And theres been no surprises.But thats not what Arrieta indicated earlier in the day during his own radio show on ESPN 1000 in Chicago.Going into the game, I was really unaware we were going to go with a catching change, Arrieta said.Maddon shot back in his take on Arrietas night, in which he gave up a season-high 10 hits.I dont think it was attributable to a spring training attitude as much as the Pirates had a good approach last night, Maddon said.Even general manager Jed Hoyer chimed in, also on ESPN 1000.Its a difficult balance, Hoyer said. We mostly get it right, maybe yesterday [Wednesday] we didnt.In the long run, the disagreement probably will matter little as the regular season has just three days left, which means only three more days of meaningless games.Its a little weird at this time of the year to be doing that, Ben Zobrist said. I understand. I get it. Were preparing for something else than today. Its odd because [normally] at this time of the year, youre playing one game at a time and pushing.In other words, teams normally are not treating games like its a second spring training. To be fair, even the players who want to play more get what Maddon is trying to do. The strategy may prevent shortstop Addison Russell from getting to 100 RBIs, but he wasnt about to get upset.It would be nice to have the starters out there doing their thing, Russell said. People getting rest is OK and giving the bench guys a chance to see how they handle the pressure is good, too.When informed some players were griping about the atmosphere that Maddon laid out to them after they clinched a playoff spot, the manager had an answer ready to go.Were 7-2 in our last nine games, so I dont see any kind of negative pattern right there, Maddon said before Thursdays 1-1, six-inning tie with the Pirates.Furthermore, Maddon wont change much in the final three games in Cincinnati. Hes not pushing anyone more than he has over the past couple of weeks.The relief pitchers are still going to be choreographed, Maddon said. The team on the field, guys [will get] three to four at-bats. Its still going to be scripted.That might not be great news to hear for a regular starter, but that doesnt mean its the wrong move.Its been a little weird here knowing these games dont matter for either team, but at the same time they matter for the individuals to get their work in, Zobrist said. Its a place nobody is usually in.Its new for all of us. They have to do the best job they can to keep everyone healthy and at the same time keep everyone sharp. Thats a difficult task.As for spring training, the Cubs already have had one. They dont need another. Its time to get serious again.It does feel like spring training, Zobrist said. We want to get away from that as quick as we can and get back to playing competitive baseball. Wholesale Shoes . 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The NRL is to introduce a controversial cap on football club spending.Chief executive Todd Greenberg revealed the radical equalisation measure had been agreed to in principle by all 16 clubs after a meeting of chief executives at Rugby League Central on Thursday.When first announced, the cap on how much clubs spend on head coaches, football department staff, sports science and high performance units, was met with stiff opposition.However it now appears likely to be rubber stamped.Its been negotiated and the 16 clubs have agreed to a football department cap, Greenberg said.Its just the mechanics and specifics of how it works.The cap was one of the terms put forward by the NRL when negotiating its licensing and whole-of-game funding agreement with clubs.The governing body is in the process of negotiating perpetual licences, which will kill off any future chance of a Super League-style breakaway competition.In return, clubs negotiated a greater slice of the new $1.8 billion television ddeal which will deliver an extra $100 million in funding and annual grants equal to 130 per cent of player payments from 2018-2022.dddddddddddd.The NRL is seeking to bridge a $10 million gulf between the haves and have-nots of the competition in terms of football department spending.It also wants to diminish the likelihood of some clubs squandering annual grants.Some of the codes richer clubs on Thursday expressed concern the cap would unfairly punish them for good management and stifle innovation.However Melbourne chief executive Dave Donaghy said he supported the measure because clubs would be forced into making shrewd decisions.We support that, Donaghy said.The greatest risk is that it could bring more money into the game.A lot of money is invested into the football department and if thats not done wisely it can certainly challenge your sustainability. 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