Cubs call up Hart, boost staff to 13

SAN DIEGO -- Saying his starting pitchers haven't been an "innings" staff this year, Cubs manager Lou Piniella welcomed the addition of righty Kevin Hart to the roster Tuesday.

The Cubs recalled Hart from Class AAA Iowa and optioned infielder-outfielder Micah Hoffpauir to Iowa.

The addition of Hart gives the Cubs a 13-man pitching staff. There are some in and around baseball who feel a 12-man staff is excessive, but the Cubs have been going through their bullpen lately.

How long can the Cubs go with 13?

"I would think before we get to the American League schedule, we would bring up a hitter, whether it's (Daryle) Ward or Hoffpauir," Piniella said. "We're going to need a DH. This could be through Sunday, or it could be through the Atlanta series (next Tuesday-Thursday). We'll see how our pitching is."

Hart opened the season with the Cubs, going 2-1 with a 5.06 ERA in 10 relief appearances. At Iowa, he started six games and went 1-1 with a 3.81 ERA. Hart will go to the bullpen, but Piniella said it's not out of the question he could get a start sometime.

"I believe in my stuff, and I believe in my ability enough to think that I have the ability to be here and to be able to pitch in the major leagues," Hart said. "You never want to get sent down. At the same time, I looked at it as that it was what I needed the most. It's not always what you want. Sometimes it's what you need."

Making an impression: Micah Hoffpauir was 8-for-19 with 3 doubles in 11 games for the Cubs since his May 18 call-up.

"I was impressed with him," Lou Piniella said. "He gained some experience. He got 19 at-bats. He got enough at-bats for us to take a look at him. And he's made another impression that if Ward isn't ready when we start playing American League teams and we need a left-handed DH, he would be the kid."

Hoffpauir was upbeat about the entire experience.

"Absolutely," he said. "I couldn't ask for anything else. I just hope to make it a short stint back down and get back as soon as possible. I don't think it's a performance thing. It's a numbers game. I've been caught up in it before, and it probably won't be the last time."

Waiting for Wuertz: Lou Piniella reiterated that reliever Michael Wuertz needs to get going. Wuertz walked two of the three batters he faced Monday.

"We need Wuertz to kick it in some," Piniella said. "The walks are starting to be a problem. He's certainly better than what he's pitched. We'd like to see him get back to where we can count on him for an inning, 2 innings, to help us. But you've got to throw strikes."