Pie still in Cubs' plans
Cubs manager Lou Piniella says center fielder Felix Pie isn't a forgotten man.
Quite the contrary, to hear Piniella tell it.
"I've gotten involved," Piniella said before Thursday's game, which Pie did not start. "We're just shortening up his swing, getting him to hit more front-sided as opposed to back-sided. It might take a little bit, but I think it's going to really help him."
The program, Piniella said, is intense.
"He's taking batting practice every day," the manager said. "He's working in the cage. He's working with our hitting coach right now, as we speak. We're filming everything, so he can see it. At the same time, we're doing a few other things with the strength coach that will help him, too. Last night, he took four pitches out of the zone. We've tried to simplify things."
The Pirates come to town for three games today, and they'll throw two lefties and one righty against the Cubs. If Pie has a chance to start, it's today against Ian Snell.
"I told him I said there's no hurry," Piniella said. " 'When you feel comfortable, we'll get you out there.' I would think a week or so of taking b.p. and getting some weight shift and some front-arm extension and a little shorter swing, this kid will catch on. When he does and he feels comfortable with it, we'll run him out there."
Stats and stuff: Kosuke Fukudome entered Thursday second in the NL in pitches seen per plate appearances (4.54), according to STATS, Inc. Aramis Ramirez was 19th, at 4.23.
Fukudome's first 2 at-bats Thursday followed a similar pattern. He got ahead 2-0 both times up before fouling a pitch off. Overall, it was a rare rough day at the plate for Fukudome, who went 0-for-5 and failed to reach base for only the second game all year.
Ramirez took his ninth walk of the season Thursday. That puts him on pace to walk 97 times this year. In 132 games last year, Ramirez walked 43 times. His career high in walks is 50, set two years ago.
Ramirez is generally a free swinger who neither walks nor strikes out a lot.
You're outta here: At least eight fans were ejected from Wrigley Field on Wednesday night for throwing baseballs onto the field after the Reds' Adam Dunn homered in the eighth inning.
The Cubs say they don't want to end the tradition of bleacher fans throwing back home run balls hit by opposing players but that throwing multiple baseballs is "cause for ejection."
Manager Lou Piniella had his own take on it.
"You know what's amazing is they beat each other up trying to get these balls during batting practice, and they scrape their knees and elbows," Piniella said. "I've seen some fistfights out there. All of a sudden, they gave them up rather easily."
Scouting report
Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field
TV: Channel 9 today and Sunday; Comcast SportsNet Saturday
Radio: WGN 720-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Rich Hill (0-0) vs. Ian Snell (2-0) today at 1:20 p.m.; Jason Marquis (0-0) vs. Tom Gorzelanny (1-1) Saturday at 12:05 p.m.; Ryan Dempster (2-0) vs. Zach Duke (0-0) Sunday at 1:20 p.m.
At a glance: The Cubs swept the Pirates in three games last week at Pittsburgh, needing 12 innings one day and 15 the next. The Pirates arrived in town Thursday with a 7-8 record. Pirates center fielder Nate McLouth was fourth in NL batting Thursday, at .382. He also has a .632 slugging percentage, which put him among the league leaders. Cubs lefty Hill has held Jose Bautista to 0-for-14 and Jason Bay to 0-for-12. However, Bay is 13-for-34 (.382) with 4 homers off Marquis.
Next: New York Mets at Wrigley Field, Monday-Tuesday
-- Bruce Miles