Knee concerns to affect Piniella's use of Gregg

Posted April 12, 2009 11:00 pm

By Bruce Miles

MILWAUKEE - Cubs manager Lou Piniella is going to change how he uses Kevin Gregg. No, Carlos Marmol is not the closer despite finishing Saturday night's game and earning a save.

"Gregg is our closer; I said that last night," Piniella said Sunday. "Look, I found out an interesting piece of information on Gregg that I didn't know about. And that's that once I get him up and don't use him, his knee tightens up on him. So I can't get him up (when the Cubs are) down by 1 run and then all of a sudden I lose him for later on or he's not as effective later on.

"What you'll see, probably, from Gregg also, I won't use him at all in the eighth inning because he sits here. And then he goes out there and his knee 's a little tighter in the ninth. I wasn't aware of that. It was communicated to me by the trainer and by Gregg yesterday."

Gregg had surgery on his left knee during the off-season.

Soto encouraged: Catcher Geovany Soto played catch from about 90 feet Sunday with trainer Mark O'Neal and said that his right shoulder is better. It's likely backup catcher Koyie Hill will start today's home opener, but it's possible Soto could get into the game late.

"Good news on Soto," Lou Piniella said. "He's ready to go, basically. We're not going to use him tonight. Tomorrow, if we need him, we can use him. And by Wednesday, he'll be able to play."

Soto said the shoulder is about 60 percent.

"I didn't feel any pain, any discomfort," he said. "I'm very pleased. I'm happy with how today went."

Soto termed his situation an injury to the biceps tendon, and that has an effect on the shoulder.

Aggressive approach: Center fielder Kosuke Fukudome confirmed that he has been more aggressive at the plate in the early going, and there's a reason for it.

"I know most of the pitchers now, so I'm trying to be aggressive," he said through his interpreter.

He also said he feels more comfortable in his second year away from Japan. The familiarity factor, he said, is helping him to feel more comfortable.

Fukudome seemed appreciative that manager Lou Piniella has said he won't remove him from center field late in games for defensive purposes.

"I'm happy to hear from the manager saying that I just need to play as hard as I can," he said.

Weather or not: Depending on the reports, there is at least a 50-50 chance of rain for today's scheduled home opener against the Rockies.

"We're aware of the weather reports," Lou Piniella said. "The weather comes and goes in Chicago fairly quickly as far as changing the forecast. You don't really want to play if it's going to be really, really cold and rainy, and it's going to be delayed and stopped. But I don't make those decisions."

Because the Cubs played Sunday night, they will not take batting practice today.

Cubs scouting report Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field TV: Channel 9 today; Comcast SportsNet Wednesday Radio: WGN 720-AM Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Ted Lilly (1-0) vs. Ubaldo Jimenez (1-0) today; Rich Harden (0-0) vs. Jason Marquis (1-0) Wednesday. Both games begin at 1:20 p.m. At a glance: This will be the first time the Cubs have opened a home season against the Rockies. Weather could be an issue today. The Cubs were 5-1 against the Rockies last year, 4-0 at Wrigley Field. Former Cub Marquis was impressive in Colorado's home opener, pitching 7 innings and giving up 4 hits and 2 runs to beat the Phillies. With the wind likely to be blowing in today, that should help flyball pitcher Lilly, who allowed 4 homers at Houston last week. The Cubs' Derrek Lee, who got off to a slow start, is 14-for-30 with 4 homers off Marquis. Next: St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field, Thursday-Sunday

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