Fans unleash torrent of boos on Theriot

It didn't take Ryan Theriot long to find out how the Wrigley Field faithful felt about him.

Theriot was the leadoff batter for the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night as the two teams opened a three-game series. He was booed lustily when the starting lineups were announced. Fans also gave Theriot the business when he stepped to the plate in the first inning.

Theriot raised eyebrows during the winter when he said he was on “the right side” of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry. That didn't sit well with fans, and some Cubs players talked, perhaps half-kiddingly, of retaliation when the two teams met.

Theriot didn't deny that he's on the “right side” of things, but he tried to downplay the fuss.

“Well, yeah,” he said when asked if he indeed was on the right side. “To me, man, it's so incredibly blown out of proportion it's ridiculous. It's the team you play for, the Cardinals. I was a Cub and now I'm a Cardinal. I love St. Louis, I love the Cardinals.”

The Cubs drafted Theriot in 2001, and he made it to the big leagues in 2005. In 2007, he took over as the starting shortstop. The Cubs traded him to the Dodgers last July. Over the winter, the Dodgers dealt him to St. Louis.

He said he was hoping for a good reception in Chicago.

“Blood, sweat and tears at this place for five years and in the minor leagues coming up, starting in '01,” he said. “I've said this a million times: These fans here understand baseball and they appreciate effort and all that stuff. And that's one of the reasons I love Chicago as much as I do.

“You would hope for a warm reception, just because it would be nice. You know what? It is what it is. You go out there and you play.”

Pitching plans:

The Cubs said pitchers Randy Wells (forearm strain) and Andrew Cashner (rotator-cuff strain) both threw live batting practice Monday in Arizona.

Wells will pitch in an extended spring-training game Thursday. Cashner will get another session of live batting practice, also Thursday.

Both pitchers have been on the disabled list since April 8. There is no timetable for either to return, although it seems Wells is getting close.

Manager Mike Quade said the Cubs would decide by Wednesday who would pitch Saturday night against the Giants at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have been able to skip that spot in the rotation because of off-days.

Veteran lefty Doug Davis started Tuesday night at Class AAA Iowa, but it's unlikely the Cubs would bring him back on short rest. Another veteran, Ramon Ortiz, started Monday for Iowa, but he gave up 13 hits and 7 runs (4 earned) in 6 innings.