DeWitt quickly shows he can do it

DENVER - The Blake DeWitt era got off to a good start Sunday. And he wasn't even supposed to play.

DeWitt hit an RBI double in his first at-bat as a Cub and followed it with 2 singles as he went 3-for-4 in an 8-7 loss to the Colorado Rockies.

"It felt good to get out there and get your feet wet with the new club," DeWitt said. "It means a lot to wear this uniform. I had fun. We came up short, but we battled there."

The new guy arrived after being traded Saturday from the Dodgers in the deal that sent pitcher Ted Lilly and second baseman Ryan Theriot to Los Angeles.

Acting manager Alan Trammell said he wasn't going to play DeWitt, but with third baseman Aramis Ramirez's sore left thumb bothering him again, DeWitt was in at second base with Jeff Baker going to third.

The 24-year-old DeWitt described his reaction to being traded.

"It was definitely shock," he said. "I had been with the organization for a while. Like everybody told me, your first time being traded is always your toughest. You grow close to your teammates. Really, I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity. Great organization, great city and great baseball."

DeWitt was drafted in the first round by the Dodgers in 2004. A left-handed batter, he has a hitting line of .277/.357/.381.

Coming into this year, he had played more third base than second, so he's still getting used to a new position.

"We haven't chatted enough yet, but I know that after talking with you yesterday, I know that his second-base play has been somewhat limited, still in the growing stages of learning that position," said Trammell, who works with Cubs infielders along with coach Ivan DeJesus. "I plan on getting him out there with the middle infielders tomorrow since we have a night game. We'll get a little earlier work in and have a chance to do a little more talking and watch."

That seems fine with DeWitt.

"I've become a lot more comfortable there at second and liking it," he said. "Whatever this team needs me to do, I'll do it."

According to Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, one of the people who recommended DeWitt was Greg Maddux, Hendry's special assistant. For DeWitt, being around Maddux when both were Dodgers seemed a thrill.

"He came to us in 2008," DeWitt said. "It was a pleasure to get to play with him. The knowledge he has of the game is second to none. Just a great baseball person."

Even though Theriot's production has suffered since his career year of 2008, one quality that endeared him to many Cubs fans was his scrappiness. DeWitt describes his game much the same way.

"Just play hard and just grind it out," he said. "Going good or bad, just grind it out and do everything you can to win."

DeWitt grew up in Sikeston, Mo., which is St. Louis Cardinals country.

"I haven't been a Cardinals fan for a long time, so it's an easy transition to make," he said.