Santo figures to cut down on road trips

Radio analyst Ron Santo was planning on going to his hometown of Seattle this week with the Cubs, but he won't be making the trip.

In fact, look for Santo to begin cutting back his travel overall.

Santo has had some health problems lately, and recently, one of his prosthetic legs has been causing some discomfort.

"When I walk from the press box to the elevator, lately it's really been bothering me," he said. "I use at least 55 percent of my energy with these legs. I was going to Seattle for sure, but both (WGN) radio and the Cubs want me around. And I want to be around. It's therapy, believe me, except moaning and groaning (he does on the air)."

Santo did say he's going on the Arizona-Los Angeles trip before the all-star break.

As for next season, he said: "I'm thinking of doing the Midwest only."

Santo, 70, has battled diabetes all of his adult life.

"I'm not complaining," he said. "I'm very fortunate to be here, the way I look at it. I have my moments with diabetes. Otherwise, I'm feeling fine."

Former Cubs pitcher and Elk Grove High School graduate Dave Otto will fill in for Santo in Seattle. WGN radio and the Cubs likely will have to make a full-time hire for next season if Santo does only games in the Midwest.

Keeping it real: One day after expressing frustration over his team's poor play, Cubs manager Lou Piniella was asked Sunday if he were at his wit's end.

"Not at wit's end," he replied. "I keep getting asked, 'What can I do?' Look, we've altered the rotation, altered the bullpen, we've rested people, changed lineups, I mean, what else can we do? We've tried. It doesn't mean that we won't continue to try.

"Look, you've got to play well on the field. That's basically the bottom line. If you don't play on the field, you can talk about it all you want, it's not going to do any good. It's been a struggle, it really has. I don't think anybody's happy. I know I'm not happy, I don't think anybody is. Gosh, I mean, we've gone through periods here with things that you don't expect to see."

Among those things was a spate of errors - 11 in their previous five games entering Sunday and 1 more in Sunday's 12-1 victory over the Angels. Piniella said better results are up to the players.

"Well, look, let me tell you this: The game is played on the field," he said. "I don't believe in criticizing, I don't believe in getting on people, never have. But gosh, we work on things all the time, we've got to execute them during the game, period."

Ramirez rehab: Third baseman Aramis Ramirez finished his rehab stint at Class A Peoria Sunday, going 1-for-3 with an RBI single and a walk as the DH.

Ramirez has been on the disabled list since June 8 with a left-thumb bruise, and he could be activated Wednesday in Seattle.

In Saturday's game at Peoria, Ramirez played third base and went 0-for-3 with an intentional walk. He struck out twice over the two games.