Hoffpauir sent down to make room for Soto

Apparently wanting speed in the outfield for the four games at Coors Field, the Cubs kept Sam Fuld as they activated catcher Geovany Soto off the disabled list Friday.

To make room, they sent first baseman-outfielder Micah Hoffpauir to Class AAA Iowa. Fuld can play all three outfield positions with his speed.

Hoffpauir batted .233 with a .280 on-base percentage and a .422 slugging percentage. He had 8 homers and 25 RBI, but he was 20-for-108 (.185) over his last 53 games since May 23. Fuld is in his third stint with the Cubs this year, having been most recently recalled July 31.

Busy month: The Cubs play 29 games in August, the most of any month this season. Of those 29 games, 16 are on the road.

In addition, 13 of the 29 games are against teams with a .500 or better record, including the current stretch of seven against the Rockies and the Phillies, who come to Wrigley Field for three beginning Tuesday.

"I would think that by the middle to late August, we'll have a pretty good idea where we're at," manager Lou Piniella told reporters before the game. "We've got to continue to play, with just a little more consistency - not since the all-star break; I'm talking about since the start of the year - and see where we're at.

"Look, we've got to get a little more consistent offensively."