Piniella may shift lineup again

TUCSON, Ariz. - Cubs manager Lou Piniella may change his lineup again.

Whatever way Piniella goes, it looks like Alfonso Soriano will not be going back to the leadoff spot.

Although Piniella said this morning he's pleased with Ryan Theriot and Alfonso Soriano as his 1-2 hitters, he expressed concern about Kosuke Fukudome, who has struggled hitting fifth.

It's possible Piniella would keep Theriot first and move Fukudome back to second, with Soriano dropping down to third or fifth.

Piniella also said he has toyed with the idea of batting Fukudome first.

"I haven't been all that pleased with the fifth spot," Piniella said before the Cubs took on the Colorado Rockies. "I don't know what we can do. It's spring training, but we want to make it as comfortable as we can for Fukudome, also. We've just started to swing the bats a little better, which makes it a little easier to look at.

"It seems to me the 2-hole would be right now the best hole for Fukudome, too."

Thinking out loud, Piniella said the Cubs could go with Fukudome second, Soriano third, Derrek Lee fourth and Aramis Ramirez fifth.

Any way it shakes out, it looks like Soriano won't open the season in the leadoff spot.

"Not right now," Piniella said. "The cold weather in Chicago, taking the responsibility away from him where he has to run, run, run, that's a recipe, I think, of looking for problems. How about Kosuke hitting No. 1? He's got a great on-base percentage. He's running better. He can steal a base for you. That might be a nice spot for him, too, in the No. 1 hole."

In other news, the Cubs reduced their roster to 36 by optioning left-handed pitcher Neal Cotts to Class AAA Iowa and sending catcher Koyie Hill to the minor-league camp. Hill, who played with the Cubs last year, will open the year in Iowa.