DeRosa glad to 'break a sweat' in spring debut

PHOENIX -- Mark DeRosa said he felt "better than normal" Monday as he made his spring debut in the Cubs' 6-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

"I feel better than normal because what my normal used to be has been enhanced," said DeRosa, the Cubs second baseman.

DeRosa went 0-for-3, but that wasn't important to him. Just being able to play was the big thing less than two weeks after he underwent a surgical procedure in Chicago to correct an irregular heartbeat.

"You want to produce and be productive, but at the end of the day, that wasn't the main objective," he said. "Just to be out there and break a sweat and be with the guys was fun. I knew timing was going to be an issue -- curveballs and all that stuff. I haven't seen live pitching since Arizona (last year's playoffs). I didn't strike out."

DeRosa added he could have played nine innings. He will play today and get Wednesday off as he follows the same schedule most of the regulars have followed this spring.

No worries yet: Rich Hill isn't going to let the numbers get him down. Those numbers Monday included 2¿ innings, 8 hits and 4 runs in his start.

For the spring, Hill has given up 11 hits and 6 runs in 7¿ innings for a 7.04 ERA.

"Not really so much the feel but getting back into location and locating the fastball and locating pitches," Hill said. "It's good that it was aggressive. Things were aggressive today. It's a step in the right direction."

Hill has said he's trying to find his release point.

"This year, I've been trying to feel for it and trying to find it, which is frustrating, but at the same time, when you take that aggressive mind-set, it takes care of a lot of things," he said. "Today, I had that, so it's step in the right direction."

Lou Piniella said he wasn't worried yet but that Hill needs to improve.

"I see Hill OK," Piniella said. "He didn't have much. He's not having nearly as good a spring as he had last year, but it's spring training.

"He struggled and threw 60 pitches in 3 innings of work. What are you going to do? Get better next time. No, it doesn't concern me. … Of all the guys that we have starting, he's the one who needs to improve most right now."

Delicate problem: Center fielder Felix Pie was a lineup scratch. He was headed for surgery Monday afternoon to correct "testicular torsion." Pie initially suffered the problem early in spring training and had it treated.

However, the problem recurred Monday, and the medical staff opted for an outpatient procedure that the Cubs say will keep Pie out 3-5 days.

What's left? It's possible the Cubs could take Scott Eyre as their only left-handed reliever. Right-handers Bob Howry, Carlos Marmol, Kerry Wood and Michael Wuertz are in.

The Cubs will carry 12 pitchers, meaning there's room for two more in the pen. It's possible one of the starting candidates, perhaps Jason Marquis, will have to go to the bullpen. The Cubs seem to like righty Kevin Hart. Rule 5 pick Tim Lahey is getting a long look, and it's possible he could stick.

Among the lefties, Lou Piniella cited Neal Cotts and Carmen Pignatiello.

"A couple of them are throwing better," Piniella said. "Cotts is throwing the ball better. His last two efforts have been good ones. Pignatiello has been getting people out all spring.

"We'll see what we have room for. If everybody stays healthy, we should have some nice decisions to make at the end of camp."

Roster move: The Cubs optioned right-handed pitcher Adam Harben to Class AA Tennessee after Monday's game. Harben is coming off last year's reconstructive elbow surgery.

Brewers 6, Cubs 4

Cubs' record: 5-8

At the plate: Aramis Ramirez legged out a double in the first inning, scoring 2 runs. It was the first of his 2 doubles. The Cubs managed just 6 hits.

On the mound: Lefty Rich Hill gave up 8 hits and 4 runs in 2¿ innings. He threw 60 pitches, 37 for strikes. Rule 5 pick Tim Lahey was impressive again, working 1½ hitless innings, striking out one. Kevin Hart worked a scoreless inning.

Next: The Cubs return to HoHoKam Park to play the Oakland Athletics. Carlos Zambrano pitches for the Cubs against Greg Smith.

-- Bruce Miles