Call-ups Hart, Soto make roster

PHOENIX -- Kevin Hart didn't know quite what to say.

"This is awesome," the Cubs' rookie pitcher said Tuesday after being told he's on the playoff roster. "I'm kind of speechless right now."

Hart is one of two September call-ups to make the roster for the National League division series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The other is catcher Geovany Soto, who will start behind the plate tonight in Game 1.

"You're hoping they call you up in September," Soto said. "All of a sudden, you're in October playing. It feels pretty good."

Here is the roster shakeout for the first round:

• The Cubs will go with 11 pitchers total and one lefty in the bullpen: Scott Eyre. Lefties Sean Marshall and Will Ohman didn't make it, but Marshall will head to Mesa, Ariz., to keep throwing.

• The Cubs kept extra infielders Ronny Cedeno and Mike Fontenot.

• Pinch hitter Daryle Ward said his left hand was good to go, and the Cubs kept him. Outfielder Craig Monroe did not make it.

• Veteran pitcher Steve Trachsel did not make it, but starting pitcher Jason Marquis did, although he'll head to the bullpen as the Cubs go with a three-man rotation of Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill.

Marquis gave up 4 hits and 4 runs in two-thirds of an inning of relief Sunday at Cincinnati, but there was no chance of the Cubs leaving him off the roster. He deferred to Piniella as to how he'd be used.

"That's his decision," Marquis said. "Obviously I wouldn't base my season on the last day I pitched. I went out there competing but I was out of my element -- not preparing and the proper stretching to try to get ready."

The late, late show: Cubs players conceded Tuesday there was probably little Major League Baseball could do but start their games at 9:07 p.m. Chicago time, with the other three series all being in the Eastern time zone.

Second baseman Mark DeRosa figures the fans will stay up to watch.

"I'm sure parents will keep their kids awake; I would," DeRosa said. "You work so hard to get to this point. It would have been nice for it to be a little different, but I don't think it's going to matter after what I've seen all year."

Reliever Scott Eyre's family lives in Florida, out east.

"My wife can't stay up that late to watch a playoff game," Eyre said. "That's the one thing that stinks. We go back to the same reason I left the West Coast to play for the Cubs. It's a three-hour time difference.

"I've got my buddies saying, 'Ten o'clock? What's wrong with you? I've got to be to work in the morning.' I said, 'Just TiVo it.' "