Cubs deny telling fans not to boo Soriano
Cubs chairman Crane Kenney said Wednesday that no one from the organization has told fans in the bleachers not to boo left fielder Alfonso Soriano or any other players.
"The rules have not changed in the ballpark, which have consistently been (that) booing is part of the game and anything related to booing," Kenney said. "But profanity and anything racial is not allowed, regardless of where it happens in the ballpark.
"What I'm hearing from our security staff is that the booing hasn't been significant nor has anyone been talked to. So I'm not really sure where this issue comes up.
"We did not admonish our security guards to be more watchful of it, nor did we have any ejections nor did we really have any issues."
Various reports said the Cubs had warned fans not to boo Soriano on Monday, one day after he dropped a flyball in the sun at Pittsburgh.
"We did not advise our security guards to change their behavior at all after the Pittsburgh series nor are we aware of any incidents of ejections or anyone even being disciplined," Kenney said.
"To be honest, the boos I've heard for other of our players, Jimmy Edmonds yesterday, have been a lot more severe than anything I've heard related to Sori."
Kenney also said he had no problem with TV analyst Bob Brenly being critical of Soriano's left-field play.
"No, that's his job," Kenney said. "If he weren't doing his job, that would be like me asking you to write something favorable about the team and we didn't deserve it.
"I thought Brenly was doing his job, and I don't think anyone on the team had a problem with it, from what I could tell."
Lacking lefty power: Saying he liked the matchup better, Cubs manager Lou Piniella started right-handed hitting center fielder Reed Johnson on Wednesday against Dodgers righty Derek Lowe. That meant Jim Edmonds sat.
Edmonds entered Wednesday 5-for-30 against Lowe.
Piniella said he didn't want to sound like he's complaining, but he pointed out that the Cubs had only 5 homers from the left side this year. Actually, it was 7 entering Wednesday, but 1 came from pitcher Carlos Zambrano. The Cubs rank 29th in MLB in homers by left-handed hitters.
"I've said many times that we'd like to find some power from the left side," Piniella said. "It doesn't mean I'm not happy with what we have, which I am. But I think as we speak, we've got all of 5 home runs from our left-hand hitters here. Over the course of the year, we'd like to increase that.
"I know that you people are going to misinterpret what I say, but when you ask me questions, I'm very truthful. But I'm not bemoaning. And I'm not criticizing. I'm not complaining. I'm stating the fact."
Scouting report
Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet today-Saturday; Channel 9 Sunday
Radio: WGN 720-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Jason Marquis (2-3) vs. Jeff Francis (1-5) today at 7:05 p.m.; Ted Lilly (5-4) vs. Aaron Cook (7-3) Friday at 1:20 p.m.; Ryan Dempster (6-2) vs. Jorge De La Rosa (1-3) Saturday at 12:05 p.m.; Sean Gallagher (2-1) vs. Ubaldo Jimenez (1-5) Sunday at 1:20 p.m.
At a glance: The two teams split a pair of games in April at Coors Field. The Cubs were 3-0 vs. the NL champions last year at Wrigley Field. The Rockies are in a world of hurt with several players on the DL, including Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe, Clint Barmes, Troy Tulowitzki and several pitchers. Francis and De La Rosa are lefties, and Derrek Lee is 6-for-6 vs. Francis. Rockies first baseman Todd Helton is 6-for-17 with 2 homers against Dempster.
Next: San Diego Padres at Petco Park, Monday-Wednesday
-- Bruce Miles