DeRosa: No apologies necessary
Apologize for the Cubs' record? Never, says second baseman Mark DeRosa.
"I got asked the question if we apologize for being in first by a game-and-a-half," DeRosa said Tuesday. "I'm sure St. Louis isn't going to give their ring back for going 82-80 and winning the World Series.
"Apologize for nothing. We're in first place in our division with 30-some-odd games left, and hopefully we stay there."
Actually, the Cardinals went 83-78 in winning it all last year, but DeRosa's point was that all the Cubs have to do is get into the postseason, and anything can happen. They entered the "showdown" series against Milwaukee with a record of 66-63.
The Cubs have been inconsistent of late, and DeRosa was asked what they could do for a strong final kick.
"The thing you always need: pitching, pitching, pitching, pitching," he said. "You know, it's funny, we haven't been hitting the longball. But then the other day, we hit 3 or 4 against St. Louis and get beat.
"So what does that tell you? I don't know. Maybe we've got to hit them with men on base. We've been grinding it out all year.
"Bottom line, when it comes down to nitty-gritty time, it always comes down to who pitches the best game ultimately. I have all the confidence in the world in our bullpen. Our starting staff has done a wonderful job."
Fine by him: Shortstop Ryan Theriot had a good perspective on moving from the leadoff spot back to second in the batting order now that Alfonso Soriano is off the disabled list and leading off.
"As long as I'm in it," Theriot said about the lineup. "I've always been that way. It doesn't matter to me. Whatever's best for the team. Obviously, the most potent and dangerous leadoff hitter in the game is on our team. Why would I want to mess with that?"
As the Cubs' leadoff man in Soriano's absence, Theriot played in 19 games and went 25-for-81 (.309) with 16 runs scored and 6 walks.
"I try to keep it the same and try to stay consistent, either in first or second," he said. "I realized that with Sori out of the lineup, I may have to do a few more things. I might have focused more on different parts of my game."
Roster moves: The Cubs optioned left-handed reliever Carmen Pignatiello back to Class AAA Iowa to make room for Alfonso Soriano. Pignatiello did not pitch on the recent road trip. He last appeared in a game Aug. 20, giving up 1 hit and 1 run in a 6-4 loss to the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
In 3 games, Pignatiello had a 6.75 ERA, giving up 1 run in 1½ innings.
In an unrelated matter, the Cubs said catcher Koyie Hill cleared waivers and was outrighted to Iowa. Hill went to spring training as a nonroster man and was called up June 1.
Hill appeared in 36 games for the Cubs, and the club went 17-8 in his 25 starts behind the plate. He batted .161 (15-for-93) with 2 home runs and 12 RBI. With the July trade for Jason Kendall and the return of Henry Blanco from the disabled list, there was no room for Hill.