Lee not thrilled with Team USA's nagging

MESA, Ariz. - Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee returned to the lineup and doubled in the first inning of Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Mariners.

Lee had not played since last Monday because of a sore right quadriceps. In the meantime, he was being pestered by Major League Baseball to join Team USA for the finish of the World Baseball Classic.

He did not seem happy about that.

"They started calling me," Lee said. "They needed a first baseman. I couldn't go, not being 100 percent. I thought it was disrespectful, to be truthful. They know I wasn't playing here. How do they expect me to get off the trainer's table and go play there? But also at the same time, you understand they're trying to win, and I was the guy that was on the roster. I guess they figured they'd give it a shot."

Kevin Youkilis, Team USA's regular first baseman, is injured. Lee has been on the USA roster even though he has not played in the WBC.

Closing time: Carlos Marmol gave up 2 hits and a long home run to Mike Wilson in 1 inning. Marmol and Kevin Gregg are competing for the closer's job.

"We'll have a decision for you," said Lou Piniella, who conferred recently with pitching coach Larry Rothschild. "He (Rothschild) wants these pitchers to pitch (on back-to-back days), and then we'll have a decision for you."

Marmol bemoaned the difficulty of throwing his breaking ball in Arizona, but the Cubs' decision won't be based on that.

"The good thing is they know," Marmol said. "They know what I got. It's their decision."