Bullpen competition goes down to wire

MESA, Ariz. - David Patton isn't going anywhere right now, except to new Yankee Stadium.

That's just how down-to-the-wire the Cubs' bullpen situation is.

With five days to go until Opening Day, the Cubs still have four pitchers competing for two bullpen spots. In are Kevin Gregg, Carlos Marmol, Aaron Heilman, Neal Cotts and Luis Vizcaino.

Veteran righty Chad Fox, a nonroster man, will go to New York for the weekend exhibition games, but he'll report to Class AAA Iowa to start the season. That leaves a battle among Patton, Chad Gaudin, Angel Guzman and Jeff Samardzija.

Patton, whom the Cubs took in the Rule 5 draft, threw the ball well in Tuesday's 8-4 loss to the Angels even though he gave up 2 hits in 12/3 innings. He entered the game in the fourth inning and got the dangerous Vladimir Guerrero to pop up the ball, but it fell for a hit. Patton wound up striking out three as he continues to make it difficult for the Cubs not to keep him.

"I've said it from the beginning, I've got an opportunity here with a great organization," Patton said. "I try to take as much out of it as I can and prove to the team that I belong here. Obviously, I wanted to go out there and pitch to the best of my ability, and I guess the ball's rolling my way."

The Cubs must keep Patton on the big-league roster all year or risk losing him on waivers. Guzman is out of minor-league options, and the Cubs will put neither on waivers. Samardzija has options, and he may open the season in Iowa's starting rotation. The Cubs wouldn't mind trading Gaudin, who has had a poor spring.

Patton has not pitched above Class A, so the Cubs would like to see him in a big setting like Yankee Stadium. So far, he has shown good mound presence and has not looked afraid.

"He hasn't been rattled all spring," said manager Lou Piniella. "It's been very refreshing, actually. It doesn't look like the situation's getting to him. He's out there competing and throwing the ball. We'll see if it works his way or not."

Lee and Fukudome: First baseman Derrek Lee was about 80 percent to 85 percent healthy, according to Lou Piniella, but Lee doubled twice and singled. He has been nursing a sore right quadriceps.

Center fielder Kosuke Fukudome singled and tripled.

"Fukudome swung the bat really well," Piniella said. "He's hit the ball hard 5 of his first 7 or 8 at-bats, which is really, really good to see. Derrek Lee, really good to see. He's swinging the bat."

The Marshall plan: Pitcher Sean Marshall suffered his second straight rough start since being named the No. 5 starter. He'll stay back in Arizona on Sunday while the Cubs are in New York so he can get his work in.

"The last 2 starts for Marshall have been not good," Lou Piniella said. "So he needs a good effort on Sunday."