Opposing pitchers hitting too well for Piniella's liking
Lou Piniella thinks he sees a trend this season: More production from eighth- and ninth-place hitters in years past -- both for and against the Cubs.
While Piniella certainly doesn't want to put the clamps on his pitching staff, which has contributed 17 hits and 8 RBI this year, he wants to slow the opponents.
That's why he has asked pitching coach Larry Rothschild to have his pitchers and catchers spend a little more time learning about opposing pitchers.
"I told him when we go over these reports with these other teams, let's start incorporating these good-hitting pitchers in these reports," Piniella said. "Instead of just laying the ball in there and letting them get themselves out, let's pitch to them a little bit and get them out.
"In fact, we've even asked our advance scouts to let us know what pitchers are swinging at first-pitch strikes. And if they're hitting the fastball prevalent or can you overpower them? Just to have a little better idea."
Kosuke's day off: For just the second time this year, Kosuke Fukudome didn't see his name on the lineup card.
"I tried to give (a day off) on Sunday, but they switched pitchers," said manager Lou Piniella before Thursday's game with Pittsburgh. "So we'll give him a day off."
Well, not quite. Fukudome pinch-hit for Ronny Cedeno in the eighth inning and bounced into a fielder's choice. He stayed in the game and played right field when Kerry Wood nailed it down in the ninth.
Derrek Lee remains the only Cub to play in -- and start -- every game this season.
Piniella vowed to get him a day off before long. He also promised to give catcher Geovany Soto a little more rest as the weather heats up.
Soto, 25, has started 36 of the Cubs' 42 games this spring. He started 15 straight before yielding to Henry Blanco on Thursday.
Zambrano pinch-hits again: With backup catcher Henry Blanco the only right-handed hitter on his bench Friday, Lou Piniella gave Carlos Zambrano the chance to pinch-hit against Pittsburgh lefty Tom Gorzelanny.
"I don't list him (on the lineup card)," Piniella said, "but in the back of my mind I know I've got another hitter sitting there."
After taking two massive swings and coming up empty, Zambrano tapped back to the mound in his fourth pinch-hitting appearance of the year and 11th of his career.
Zambrano hits just .100 in the pinch, but .226 when he's pitching. All 13 of his homers have come when they've benefited him.
An omen? With Friday's win, the Cubs maintained their best start since 1987. They were also 26-16 that year, which had them 1 game behind the Cardinals in the NL East.
Chronic Cubs fans will recall Andre Dawson won the MVP that year -- and the Cubs finished last in the East with a 76-85 record.
Crowded playground: With Friday's paid attendance of 40,537, the Cubs vaulted over the 1 million attendance mark faster than ever.
The Cubs did it in 25 games this year. The previous mark of 26 games was reached in each of the last four years.
Briggs multi-tasks: Bears linebacker Lance Briggs threw out one of the ceremonial first pitches, conducted the seventh-inning stretch and attended the game with 10 kids from the Boys Hope, Girls Hope center of Chicago.