Colvin goes 2-for-4 with HR in leadoff debut

There were more than a few double-takes after bench coach Alan Trammell posted the Cubs' batting order Friday morning before the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels.

And it was the player listed in the leadoff spot for the first time in his brief career - Tyler Colvin - who caused all the ruckus, though it sure didn't shake the rookie outfielder.

"I'll help out any way I can," Colvin said matter-of-factly. "If he wants me to lead off, I'll lead off."

For one day at least, that's exactly what Cubs manager Lou Piniella wanted as the Cubs faced Angels lefty Scott Kazmir.

"Left handers have hit Kazmir here early in the year, had a little success against him," Piniella said. "We've been using Colvin to pinch hit against left-handed pitchers anyway; get him out there and let him play."

Colvin had a nice debut in the top spot, going 2-for-4, including a 3-run home run in the ninth inning.

"You only have to lead off once," Colvin said with a smile after the game. "But yeah, I was fairly comfortable up there."

Asked if we might see the rookie back in the same spot soon, Piniella said, "We'll see. We've got other people that can lead off, too."

The end: Rarely, especially under manager Mike Scioscia, have the Angels been associated with anything having to do with the word last.

But as they prepared for a three-game set with the Cubs, the Angels officially became the last major-league club to make a regular season appearance at Wrigley Field.

Scioscia said he warned his players of the idiosyncrasies associated with the layout at the Friendly Confines.

"I don't know if you can describe it verbally; you have to come down and experience it," he said. "I think there's definitely an importance for coming out here and getting as much of a feel for the field as you can - the corners, the ivy. It's brick behind the ivy still, isn't it?"

Marlon Pickins: His numbers compare quite favorably to the top three vote-getters in all-star voting for National League outfielders (Ryan Braun, Jason Heyward and Andre Ethier), so what do you say, Lou Piniella, should Marlon Byrd represent the Cubs in the midsummer classic?

"It would be wonderful," Piniella said. "He would be the young man from our team that obviously deserves a big shot at that."

Piniella also mentioned closer Carlos Marmol and starter Carlos Silva as possible all-star candidates.

He said it: Lou Piniella on Carlos Silva's health after the big righty cramped up Friday: "I don't think we're worried about his next start, but you can't go out there and pitch cramped up. You can't. You're going to tear something and you're going to be out the rest of the season."