Opportunity knocks, Brewers' McGehee answers
Casey McGehee got to enjoy a little bit of the Cubs' run to a division title last year as a minor-league call-up.
On Saturday, he enjoyed a career day by going 4-for-5 with a homer and 5 RBI, falling a double short of hitting for the cycle.
The only problem for the Cubs was that McGehee did it as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Brewers claimed the 26-year-old McGehee off waivers from the Cubs on Oct. 29, and he's played himself into the lineup at third base by batting .331 with 6 homers, 26 RBI, an on-base percentage of .386 and a slugging percentage of .562 in 46 games.
Last year for the Cubs' Class AAA Iowa farm team, he batted .296 with 12 homers and 92 RBI. He wasn't taking any extra delight in beating the Cubs.
"It would have been just as enjoyable no matter who it was against," he said. "I'm still trying to make my way with this organization and this club, be able to contribute and help these guys win. So I don't really have the luxury of thinking about the opponent or who it's against or where it is."
As for falling a double shy of the cycle, he took it with good humor.
"What are you talking about?" he said. "I had a double. Double play (in the eighth inning). It would have been cool. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't aware of it."
The Cubs took McGehee in the 10th round of the 2003 draft, and he started out as a catcher.
Ready to roll: Right-hander Angel Guzman threw 1⅓ innings Friday for Class AAA Iowa in his final rehab start. Guzman has been on the disabled list since June 21 with a right-triceps strain.
He proclaimed himself to be ready to come off the DL on Monday. Guzman will be joined by outfielder Reed Johnson and third baseman Aramis Ramirez, both of whom are rehabbing at Class A Peoria.
That will create a roster crunch.
"We know that we're going to have to create some roster room," manager Lou Piniella said. "I think the best of all worlds for us, and I don't know if we can, but would be to get by with 11 pitchers and just have to make one (position) player move. To me, that makes a lot of sense, too, because it gives us a different combination of players that we can play. We have more parts during the course of a ballgame."
The Cubs are carrying 12 pitchers. Piniella said Carlos Zambrano, who starts Wednesday against the Braves, could come out of the bullpen next Sunday in the day-night doubleheader against the Cardinals.
First choice: Lou Piniella did not start Sam Fuld in the outfield and in the leadoff spot. Instead, he went with Kosuke Fukudome to lead off.
"On-base percentage, .380 for Fukudome," Piniella said. "He works the count well. He'll draw a walk. I think it will be a good thing for Fukudome, also."