Pitching help arrives from Iowa

The Cubs got some reinforcements Tuesday.

They called up left-handed reliever James Russell from Class AAA Iowa and right-hander Jeff Russell, also from Iowa.

Russell replaces lefty John Grabow, who will be out three weeks to a month, according to manager Lou Piniella, with a sprained left knee. Grabow left Monday night's game in the seventh inning after hurting the knee again. He was on the disabled list for the first half of this month.

Stevens brings the roster back to 25 men after the Cubs transferred pitcher Carlos Zambrano from the suspended list to the restricted list as he gets medical attention for presumed anger issues.

"We've got two of our younger pitches back," Piniella said. "It'll help because we've been short for a few days. Last night, we were really short when Grabow hurt his knee."

Asked if he had this young of a bullpen before, Piniella had a quick answer.

"We had one when we left spring training," he said. "We're back to it."

Russell was part of that season-opening pen before being sent to Iowa June 12 after going 0-1 with a 4.71 ERA in 20 relief appearances.

"I was very surprised," Russell said of the call-up. "It's a tough deal with Grabow going down. You don't want to see that. I was able to get my feet wet and see how everything works up here. This time around, I'll be just as comfortable as when I left."

Stevens was sent out this past weekend because Zambrano's 1-inning performance Friday put the bullpen in a bind.

Can he play first? Lou Piniella was asked if outfielder Tyler Colvin could play first base. Colvin did play some first base at Clemson before the Cubs drafted him in 2006.

"He had Tommy John surgery; his arm's getting stronger," Piniella said. "Basically, when you look at Colvin, left-hand thrower, he fits in nice in left field.

"Yeah, he can play first. He's an athletic kid. Put it this way, he would bring some athleticism, no question."

Piniella seemed to be longing for more athleticism in view of the wind blowing in frequently at Wrigley Field curtailing home runs.

"What it basically tells you is the more athletic team that you have, the better you're going to play," Piniella said.