Change to pregame routine bothers Wells

Cubs pitcher Randy Wells isn't exactly on board with changes that have made to his prestart routine.

After a spate of poor first innings, the Cubs wanted Wells to work on pitch sequences in the bullpen before Friday's start to simulate game situations.

After retiring the first two White Sox hitters, Wells gave up 4 consecutive hits as the Sox grabbed a 2-0 lead on their way to a 10-5 victory. Wells lasted 5 innings as he saw his record drop to 3-5 and his ERA rise to 5.15. He has not won since April 30.

"I understand what they're trying to do," Wells said. "I understand they're trying to take my mind off the first-inning troubles or whatever. Personally, I don't agree with it. I've done the same routine ever since I've been a pitcher, and it's worked in the past. As much as I hate to admit it, I think it's a mental thing.

"You get 2 quick outs and then 4 straight hits. You sit back and you evaluate it. I'm doing everything I've ever done to be successful, pounding the zone, throwing strikes."

Wells admits his confidence isn't what it should be.

"I'm not going to lie," he said. "I'm not exactly beaming with confidence right now. I got roughed up a little bit. My ERA ballooned up. I'm not winning games. But my approach is the same. I'm going to go out aggressive, throw strikes and hopefully good things happen."

Wells also denied talk on the radio that he had been out on the town late Thursday night. He said he had dinner with friends and was home early, getting plenty of rest.

And another thing: Manager Lou Piniella spent part of his pregame session rebutting White Sox analyst Steve Stone for Stone's criticism of the way Piniella handles young players.

However, he also included other media members whom he says don't talk to him before they rip him.

"I get tired of being nitpicked, and I get tired of being criticized unjustly," he said. "Why don't they talk to me first before they do it, OK, and get my viewpoints and my feelings and then make a determination? You know? The same way that I get called 'ridiculous,' they're ridiculous in the way the report things, too.

"And another thing I'm going to say. I've won over 1,800 games as a manager, and I'm not a (darn) dummy. That I can tell you. OK? There are only 13 others that have won more games than me. So I guess I think I know what the (heck) I'm doing. All right?

"The media here in this town, for the most part, they're really, really good. I enjoy working with them, and especially the people that I work with on a day-to-day basis. Talk to me. Get my feelings. Get my view points. All right?"

This and that: Alfonso Soriano's second-inning 2-run homer was the 300th of his career. ... Reliever John Grabow worked a scoreless inning Thursday for Class AAA Iowa in a rehab appearance. He's been on the disabled list since May 31 with a sprained left knee.