Lilly not bothered by trade rumors

With every loss, with every game the Cubs fall back in the standings, Ted Lilly knows the trade rumors are just going to get louder.

And he knows his name is going to be one of those front and center as those rumors intensify.

"Over the years I've learned there's so many rumors that are thrown out (there)," Lilly said following Sunday's 14-3 loss to the Reds at Wrigley Field. "It doesn't make any sense to pay attention to them."

Thumb's down: Third baseman Aramis Ramirez was out of the lineup for the second straight day because of a sore right thumb, the same thumb that landed him on the disabled list earlier this season.

"It felt really bad a couple of days ago," he said. "I got treatment today. I didn't take b.p. today, just to let it rest. I didn't take b.p. yesterday either. We'll see how it is."

Ramirez is hoping a couple of days' rest - perhaps even more courtesy of the upcoming all-star break - can speed the healing process.

"That will help, having three days," he said. "You can't really put a timetable on it."

Pros and cons of b.p.: A day after not taking batting practice and coming away with a rare win, the Cubs were back in the cage before Sunday's game.

Go figure.

"I remember when I managed Seattle and we used to go to Detroit and we'd take batting practice there (at old Tiger Stadium)," Piniella said. "We had Junior (Griffey) and (Jay) Buhner, Edgar (Martinez) and Bret Boone and Alex (Rodriguez). We'd hit balls over the roof and in the upper deck.

"I couldn't wait for the darn game to start - and we'd lose 5-2 with 3 infield singles.

"So we decided, let's get on the bus at 5:15, 5:30, go to the ballpark and not take any batting practice - and then we scored our 9 or 10 runs."

Votto-matic ejection: It didn't take long for the fireworks to start Sunday.

In the first inning, a few pitches after hitting the dirt to avoid a high, tight one from Ted Lilly, Reds first baseman Joey ended his at-bat - and his day - with a called third strike.

After assuming it was ball four, Votto took a few steps toward first only to have umpire Angel Campos ring him up. During the ensuing argument, Votto slammed his helmet to the ground and was promptly ejected.

Votto entered the game having reached base safely in 41 straight games.

It was the beginning of what would be a tough day for the umpires, headed by crew chief Jeff Kellogg. Through the first four innings they were involved in four questionable calls.

He said it: Lou Piniella on how he is holding up these days: "I'm fine. I am. I don't like to lose. I don't think anybody does. But what am I going to do, jump off the Hancock building?"