Marshall hoping he's not left out

MESA, Ariz. -- The odds are against him, but Sean Marshall keeps pressing on.

The "forgotten" lefty of the Cubs started Friday's 7-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies and worked a creditable 4 innings, giving up 5 hits and 2 runs.

He's out of the picture in the starting rotation, but manager Lou Piniella left open the possibility of Marshall making the team as a reliever.

"I think that the only lefty here who has a chance of making this team is Marshall," Piniella said. "That's it. I'm not talking about in the rotation, specifically. I'm talking about the bullpen."

Marshall, who has been mentioned in trade talks for Baltimore's Brian Roberts, says he wouldn't mind staying in Chicago, in any role.

"I'm just looking to put together a nice spring and get to where I want to be for the beginning of the season," he said. "I know that the numbers are what they are, and it's kind of tough under any circumstance. Hopefully, I've been pitching well enough that if they need me out of the bullpen or if they need me to fill in the starting rotation, I'll be there for them to do what they want.

"I love Wrigley Field, and I love pitching for the Cubs. I've got no complaints about the city of Chicago."

As of now, veteran Scott Eyre is the only lefty in the pen. The other tough-luck guy is Carmen Pignatiello, who struck out two in 1 inning Friday. Pignatiello has not given up a run or a walk in seven games.

Not ready? The Cubs break camp Thursday as they head to Las Vegas for exhibition games against the Seattle Mariners next Friday and Saturday.

Lou Piniella said his team isn't quite "there."

"Truthfully, I still think we need a little work down here," he said. "A few of our hitters need more at-bats. Our pitching is in pretty good shape. I think we need a little more time for a few of our hitters, I'll be honest with you. They'll probably tell you we don't."

Piniella had said from the beginning of camp that he'd be happy to start the season with what he has if the Cubs can't swing a trade. He was asked if that still was the case.

"I'm prepared," he said.

But is he happy?

"The only concern that I really have here is what do we do in center field," he answered. "We only have one (Felix Pie). That, there, is a bit of a concern."

Second-day thoughts: Lou Piniella repeated Friday he has no plans to remove lefty Rich Hill from the starting rotation.

Hill issued 6 walks Thursday and has given up 14 in 12¿ innings pitched this spring, compared with none all last spring. He is 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA.

"I had a nice talk with Rich this morning," Piniella said. "I told him to relax. Rich puts undue pressure on himself. He's a very conscientious kid. He wants to be a perfectionist. There's no such thing.

"I told him don't concern yourself with thinking that there's even a possibility of us taking you out of the rotation. We like you. Go out there and relax and throw the ball. That was really the message."

Woody and Big Z: Kerry Wood did not pitch in the minor leagues Friday. The plan now is to have him go back to back on Sunday and Monday.

Carlos Zambrano started against Oakland's Class AAA team in Phoenix. Zambrano worked 6 shutout innings, giving up 2 hits. He walked three, struck out four and had a wild pitch.

More cuts: The Cubs optioned left-handed reliever Neal Cotts to Class AAA Iowa and returned catcher Koyie Hill to minor-league camp. Hill, who played in 36 games for the Cubs last year, will open at Iowa.

The Cubs obtained Cotts from the White Sox in a November 2006 trade. He opened last season with the Cubs before being demoted to Iowa.

"I thought he was throwing the ball better as spring training progressed," Piniella said. "Hopefully, he'll go down to Iowa and help us when we need another pitcher."

Rockies 7, Cubs 3

Cubs' record: 10-14

At the plate: Felix Pie doubled and scored in the third inning. Ronny Cedeno, making a late-camp charge, singled in the first and had an RBI double in the sixth. Matt Murton was 2-for-4.

On the mound: Lefty Sean Marshall worked 4 innings, giving up 5 hits and 2 runs. He struck out three and walked two. Left-hander Carmen Pignatiello struck out two in 1 inning. Pignatiello has worked 61/3 scoreless innings, giving up 2 hits and no walks.

Next: The Cubs return to HoHoKam to play the White Sox (3:05 p.m., WGN 720-AM). Ted Lilly pitches for the Cubs against Javier Vazquez.

-- Bruce Miles