Samardzija wows Piniella

While Jeff Samardzija couldn't hold a lead in his Cubs debut, he likely did enough to keep a roster spot.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella was still raving a day after the former All-America wide receiver from Notre Dame allowed a run in 2 innings against Florida while consistently throwing 97-99 miles per hour.

Closer Kerry Wood is hoping to return from the disabled list Tuesday, and he could have another hard-throwing right-hander join him in the bullpen.

"You see a young man throwing the ball like that, I don't think he'll be the guy leaving, I'll tell you that," Piniella said. "

"He's got good stuff, he competes, you had to be impressed with that."

Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry said before the game the Cubs are unlikely to make any trades before Thursday's non-waiver deadline, unless an injury arises (or in Wood's case, doesn't go away).

Piniella said Samardzija's impact can be like trading for a reliever. Samardzija, who had been starting at Iowa, wasn't available in back-to-back games Saturday. He will be today and will continue in the late-inning role he worked Friday.

"I like power coming in that role," Piniella said. "Samardzija gives me another good arm in that bullpen. It will pay some dividends down the road."

Blister blues: Kerry Wood said he is hoping to throw a side session today. He hasn't pitched since July 11 because of a blister on his right index finger.

"It's feeling better," Wood said. "It's still a little sensitive."

Upon further review: Even if baseball adopts instant replay, it isn't going to change ball/strike calls.

Lou Piniella wasn't happy after looking at replays of Jeremy Hermida's at-bat against Bob Howry on Friday, believing Hermdia should have been called out on strikes before he launched a game-winning home run.

"I looked at the film after the ballgame, he (Howry) had that kid struck out. Strike three," Piniella said. "The umpire thought it was low. Look at the film and it was a good ball above the knees. What are we going to do?"

Happy return: Dominic DiAngi celebrated an eighth birthday he'll never forget Saturday.

DiAngi threw out the ceremonial first pitch, less than a month since he left Wrigley Field unconscious after getting hit by foul ball off the bat of Ted Lilly on July 10.

Lilly and Derrek Lee visited DiAngi in the hospital. DiAngi, from Frankfort, is feeling better.

With Lilly catching, "Happy Birthday" playing on the organ and a rousing ovation from the crowd, DiAngi fired a pitch nearly over Lilly's head. Lilly jogged to the mound and gave DiAngi a high-five.

A man down: Home-plate umpire Gerry Davis left the game in the second inning after getting hit in the face mask by a pitch. After a 15-minute delay, second-base umpire Bruce Dreckman moved behind the plate and the game finished with three umpires. Davis was taken to the hospital but is OK.