Marshall recalled to fill need for innings
PITTSBURGH -- Carmen had a short run.
In a move that wasn't totally unexpected, the Cubs sent left-handed reliever Carmen Pignatiello to Class AAA Iowa on Wednesday and recalled lefty Sean Marshall from Iowa.
The official reason is that the Cubs' bullpen got overtaxed in Monday's 10-8, 12-inning victory over the Pirates. In that game, Pignatiello faced two left-handed batters and walked both of them, on 8 pitches.
"We had to send Pignatiello out," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "We're really short of pitching. We couldn't use (Jon) Lieber today, probably stay away from (Kevin) Hart if we can. And if this game here went extra innings or something happened, we needed some innings.
"That's why we brought Marshall today. It had nothing to do with the fact that Pignatiello didn't have any control the other day, believe me. It has to do with we need innings."
Pignatiello beat out Marshall at the end of spring training to be the lone lefty in the pen in the absence of Scott Eyre, who is out indefinitely with a bone spur in his elbow.
Marshall made 1 start at Iowa, pitching 3 hitless innings while striking out six and walking no one.
"I was fine," Marshall said of handling the initial disappointment. "I knew all along that my gig was to be a starting pitcher. That's what the Cubs had kind of planned to do. I guess I'm back in a relief role. I've had a little time to adjust at the end of spring training."
Marshall took 45 games of big-league experience, 43 as a starter, into Wednesday. When Eyre got hurt at the end of spring training, the Cubs gave Marshall a crash course in relieving.
"They kind of put it on me quick, but I learned a lot in a short time," he said.
Pie time? Reed Johnson started in center field for the fourth straight game ahead of Felix Pie. Lou Piniella said Pie may start today, but look for Johnson to start against Phillies lefties Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer over the weekend.
"As long as he's playing well, why not?" Piniella said. "That's what we got him for. I'm going to get Pie in there again and let him play. We've been facing left-hand pitching, and we've got Johnson. Give him some playing time."
Former manager Dusty Baker used to ask, "Do you want to win, or do you want to develop?"
For Piniella, it's not an either-or.
"You do both," Piniella said. "You develop and win at the same time. What can I say? We can't look at what he (Pie) does solely. If everybody else is hitting the ball well, you can carry a guy that's struggling a little bit, whether it's Pie or anybody else.
"I said coming into spring training that we would play everybody here the first few weeks, month, of the season and see exactly what we had. And that's exactly what we're going to do."
If Pie doesn't start today, Kosuke Fukudome may start in center, with Daryle Ward playing right.
Cedeno again: Ronny Cedeno started at shortstop in place of Ryan Theriot for the second straight game. Lou Piniella said Theriot strained the top of his left hand near the wrist on a checked swing a few games back.
Theriot said he is fine now, and Piniella said Theriot will start tonight.