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Bullpen shuttle continues for Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs' almost desperate search for bullpen help took another twist Saturday.

The team recalled relievers Tim Collins and Dillon Maples from Class AAA Iowa. To make room, the Cubs optioned reliever James Norwood and outfielder Mark Zagunis to Iowa.

"We had to," said manager Joe Maddon. "A lot of stuff going on right now. A lot of usage because we've been in nearly every game we've been playing. It's difficult to give guys breaks."

The moves leave the Cubs with a 14-man pitching staff. In Friday's 6-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, relievers Brad Brach and Steve Cishek blew save opportunities, making the Cubs 9-for-20 in that department. Tyler Chatwood earned a save in Saturday's 8-6 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

It was a quick up and down for Norwood, who came up Friday and got into the game.

Both Collins and Maples were with the big club earlier this year.

Maddon said many of the Cubs' young relievers have "high-end arms." What they could use is for one to have success and gain confidence.

"It's just a matter of time, man," Maddon said. "It can be frustrating for them. They all have the ability to pitch here and pitch well for a long period of time. It's need and opportunity.

"I think there has to be the opportunity, meaning that factors have to be present where there is that room in the inn for them to actually get that many appearances to do that well. But if somebody's banging on the door real loudly, you've got to listen to that, too. They need, I'd say, at least 2-3 weeks worth of opportunity in order to really establish that they can do this here."

Not many chances:

Mark Zagunis made the Cubs' opening-day roster but saw little playing time. He went 9-for-35 with 3 doubles and 5 RBI.

"This happened last year with (Victor) Caratini," Joe Maddon said. "We've had these guys, these young guys have not had the chance to play with regularity. It's wonderful for them to be in the major leagues, but developmentally sometimes it can really hurt them. He'll be back. He did a wonderful job. He battled in those pinch-hit at-bats."

Maddon said he felt for Zagunis, who now will get regular playing time.

"Like I told him (Friday), I said I normally give the guy in your spot opportunities to play more often to keep your bat solvent," he said. "I said, 'I didn't with you.' And I know I didn't. I said I can't even apologize for that. That's just the way it played this year. I told him how much I appreciated how he handled the role. I think the rest of the group did, also."

Brewing up home runs:

Are the baseball's juiced this year?

"We're having home runs hit here into some firm breezes, which has not happened before," said Joe Maddon. "That's the thing that stands out to me. It's been crazy. Even (Kyle) Schwarber's home run (a long blast Friday), I know that was hit well, but, dang, that wind was blowing pretty firmly across at that point.

"I don't know. I'm really not into the subplot component of all this and the conspiracy theorists, but I'm telling you right now, it's jumping. It's absolutely jumping.

"You watch games in Milwaukee. Milwaukee is not Miller Lite, it's Coors Light. The ball is just flying out of there. Nobody's going to ever admit to it, but the ball, when the wind is being penetrated here like it is … it's really weird."

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