SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Adam Warren is just like everybody else: He has no idea what Joe Maddon is going to do next.
Between the "try not to suck" T-shirts, Kawasaki Karaoke, a dance party and all of the other Maddon-fueled craziness, the baseball world is taking notice.
Warren's former New York Yankees teammate, John Ryan Murphy, texted the new Cubs pitcher and asked how different camp was with this team.
"I told him, 'You come to the park, you know you're gonna laugh, but you have no idea what's gonna happen,'" Warren said. "I think that's fun. It makes it interesting to come to the ballpark. The unpredictability, you know you're gonna have fun and you know you're gonna work on baseball.
"This group of guys makes it much more enjoyable to come. It's not that it wasn't fun in other camps, I just think it's a completely different feel for me than previous ones."
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Warren has only been in Yankees camps before, entering the historic organization as a fourth-round pick in 2009 and spending six-plus years there before the Cubs acquired him for Starlin Castro over the winter.
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Warren appreciates how the Cubs have fun and goof around, but also get their work in and know when to focus on the task at hand.
The 28-year-old right-hander made his first appearance in a Cubs uniform Sunday, getting the start in the team's fourth Cactus League game. He allowed three hits and two runs in the first inning before settling in and hurling a perfect second in the Cubs' 8-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"Just kinda getting back in the swing of things," Warren said. "Things were moving a little faster than I wanted them to. It's kind of expected. A little jittery, anxious to get out there.
"That comes with a new team. Getting that first inning out of the way is really nice. Really encouraging for me to go out in the second inning and kinda settle down and pitch like I wanted to."
Warren admitted he was a little bit more nervous than normal in his first spring game because he wants to prove himself to his new team. But he also likes the butterflies because it helps him get ready for the regular season, too.
The Cubs are handling Warren the same way they're handling the other swingmen on the roster (Trevor Cahill, Travis Wood, Clayton Richard), stretching them all out this spring and keeping options open to push Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks in the rotation.
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At Cubs Convention back in January, Warren said the organization told him they acquired him with a role as a starting pitcher in mind, though acknowledged that might not be this season.
Warren is fine with whatever role he's in, having started 20 games and pitched 127 as a reliever in his four years in New York.
If he winds up in the bullpen, Warren said he only needs one or two outings as a reliever in the spring to feel ready for that role.
Warren is used to a World Series or bust mentality from the Yankees, so he's been "embracing the target," so to speak, for basically his entire big-league career.
In talking about his potential role for 2016, Warren said this is a "special" season for the Cubs and just wants to help the team win however he can.
"I know how close this team feels right now," Warren said. "I'm still trying to get to know everyone. But I know the relaxed vibes here. You feel the confidence coming from guys. That's a good thing.
"Everybody knows how talented this team can be and I think that's kinda what motivates everybody to come to the field every day."