Hill happy to be finishing first full season in Majors

Koyie Hill started the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader behind the plate for the Cubs.

Although the 30-year-old Hill has put in parts of six seasons in the big leagues, this will be the first time he has spent an entire season in the major leagues.

"It's a little embarrassing, actually," Hill said before correcting himself. "No, it's not embarrassing. Sometimes it just takes longer. You have some injuries and some struggles. But it felt good. It's a nice place. It's exactly where I want to be. So it's nice. It feels good to get it over with, I guess, or get it under your belt, so to speak.

"I feel better than I've ever been, and I feel like I'm getting better. We'll see what happens."

Hill will be eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this coming winter, but he and the Cubs are expected to take little time reaching agreement on a new deal.

His major-league career began with 3 games for the Dodgers in 2003. He split time between the minors and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004 and '05. After playing in the minors in 2006, Hill joined the Cubs in 2007 and spent '07 and '08 between the Cubs and their Class AAA Iowa team.

The Cubs entered Wednesday with a record of 42-25 in Hill's 67 starts behind the plate. Hill started 26 games in a row in July and early August when Geovany Soto was on the disabled list.

Ramirez done? Third baseman Aramis Ramirez did not play in Game 1 Wednesday and was not in the Game 2 lineup. He has been bothered by soreness in his left shoulder, which he dislocated in May, forcing him to the DL for two months.

After Wednesday's double-header, both Piniella and Ramirez said the third baseman would play Thursday night against the Pirates.

One year at a time: Ted Lilly, who started Wednesday's first game has one more year on his four-year contract. He is 44-26 as a Cub. As far as signing an extension goes, Lilly said it's too early to talk about it.

"Yeah, I certainly enjoy playing here," he said. "But first and foremost, I have work to do in 2010. I'm only three years into a four-year commitment that I have with this organization, and I feel like I still have a lot of work to do, really.

"One of the goals that I was brought over here (for) was to try and get this team to the postseason and win some postseason games. That's what I'd like to do, win some playoff games. I'm not satisfied or really feel like I kind of met the expectations at this point.

"Maybe next year will be different. If I can win some playoff games, it'll be a little more satisfying."