Dempster reveres Jenkins, Maddux

From the 'Who says today's players don't appreciate those who came before them?' file, here's Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster on former Cubs great and fellow Canadian, Fergie Jenkins:

"He went right after guys; he had one year (Cy Young season of 1971) where he threw 30 complete games in 39 starts ... that's insane."

Jenkins and another former great, Greg Maddux, will be on hand Sunday as the Cubs retire the No. 31 worn by both players. The festivities kick off at 12:40 p.m.

Jenkins (284-226), who played for the Cubs from 1966-73 and again in 1982-83, led the Cubs in wins seven times.

"This is not the easiest place in the world to pitch," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "But when you can pitch, you can pitch, and Fergie did as well as anybody."

Piniella wasn't sure if he had ever faced Jenkins saying, "I'm sure if I did, I hit into a double play."

It turns out Piniella got a hit off Jenkins the first time he faced him but went 0-for-7 with 3 strikeouts and no double play balls the rest of the way.

Maddux (355-227) led the Cubs in wins six different seasons and won the 1992 NL Cy Young as a Cub.

"I've always said I was so lucky to have him as a teammate," Dempster said of Maddux. "He was one of the best teammates I've ever had."

Except on the golf course.

"If you shot a 74 he'd find a way to shoot a 73," said Dempster, "and if you shot a 92 he'd shoot a 91."

Up, down, in, out: After playing outfielder Milton Bradley for four consecutive games, Cubs manager Lou Piniella opted to give him a day off Saturday, inserting Micah Hoffpauir into right field in his stead.

"I need to get his bat in there, give him a chance to play," Piniella said of Hoffpauir, who responded by going 2-for-3 with a walk before being replaced late by a pinch runner.

As for third baseman Aramis Ramirez and his strained left calf muscle, the Cubs' skipper is cautiously optimistic.

"He told me he was feeling better," Piniella said. "Hopefully here very soon we'll have Ramirez out there playing."