Minor setback for Guzman

MESA, Ariz. - The Cubs' right-handed bullpen situation took another hit Thursday when they reported that Angel Guzman felt "discomfort" in his pitching shoulder and has been shut down for at least a couple of days.

Guzman had been throwing while recovering from recent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

"It's just a little sore," Guzman said. "We didn't want to push it."

The Cubs said Guzman has not seen a doctor and that he could be in games in the middle part of the Cactus League season if all goes well.

"We just felt like, coming off the scope, he's had on-and-off difficulties in the past, we're just going to take the precautionary route and push him back a couple days," said general manager Jim Hendry, referring to Guzman's long history of injuries. "He's still certainly capable, if this is a minor setback, of being ready. He's only got to get ready for relief work. We always felt that he wouldn't be in games until the middle of the (spring) schedule anyhow. Right now, it's just set him back a couple days, and he can begin his throwing again."

The Cubs are looking for an experienced right-handed setup man, the job Guzman can do if healthy. In-house, manager Lou Piniella likes Esmailin Caridad, who had a 1.40 ERA in 14 games last year.

"He's on the team," Piniella said. "He's almost got to pitch himself off of it. I don't think he will. I like this young man. He competes, and he's got a good arm and can pitch a lot. He handled himself here very well the last two months of the season when he was here."

Righty Jeff Gray threw off flat ground again Thursday as he rehabs a groin injury. He could be on the mound next week, when the Cubs move to HoHoKam Park.

Scare for Theriot: Shortstop Ryan Theriot got a scare when he was hit on the left hand by pitching prospect Rafael Dolis during "live" batting practice.

Theriot was OK.

"That was a close call, man," Theriot said. "That was a close one. Just grazed me there. Everything's fine. That tends to happen a lot in live BP. But, yeah, everything's cool.

"We're always at a disadvantage because we haven't seen live pitching. Obviously, he wasn't trying to do that."

High praise: The Cubs are raving about the mechanical improvements made in the past year by pitcher Jeff Samardzija, who is competing for a rotation spot.

"I made a statement before, and this is a really good statement, an astute statement our pitching coach made," said Lou Piniella. "He said that the first couple years that Samardzija's been here, he looked like a football player that was pitching. This year, he looks like a baseball player that played football.

"That's a big transformation. That's a really profound statement as far as I'm concerned, which means he's making those adjustments and really stepping forward, looking like a major-league pitcher."

Samardzija, drafted in 2006, starred as a wide receiver at Notre Dame.

Zambrano on track: There's no official word yet, but expect Carlos Zambrano to make his sixth straight opening-day start, April 5 at Atlanta.

"We haven't even gone there yet," said Lou Piniella. "I've been here three days, and Zambrano's been the opening-day starter every year, so I don't anticipate any difference there."

Lilly still ill: Lefty Ted Lilly missed his third straight workout because of illness. The Cubs said Lilly has been running a high fever.