Bumpy ride so far for Hill
MESA, Ariz. -- Today isn't a make-or-break start for lefty Rich Hill, but Cubs manager Lou Piniella wants Hill to kick things into gear over the final two weeks of spring training.
"That's another thing," Piniella said as he ticked off his areas of concern. "He hasn't really had a good spring. He's not throwing the ball nearly as well in spring training now as he did last year at this time. So it's time for Hill kind of step it up a little bit, also."
Hill had an outstanding spring last year, as he walked no batters. This year, he's 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA. In 7¿ innings, he has given up 11 hits and 6 runs while walking five and striking out seven.
Despite that, Piniella said Hill is still the Cubs' No. 4 starter and will remain so.
"We're going to leave him in the fourth hole and let him pitch," Piniella said. "But he really, of all our starters, I would think that he's the one who needs to step it up here the most."
Scary moment: Infielder Alex Cintron was taken to the hospital for X-rays Friday after he was hit on the left side of his face by a checked-swing foul ball off the bat of teammate Mark DeRosa.
Cintron was standing on the on-deck circle in the sixth inning when he was hit. He lay on the ground for several minutes but was able to walk off the field under his own power. The Cubs say he was hit under the nose and experienced swelling.
"It cut him," Lou Piniella said. "Yeah, it was scary. He got lucky that it wasn't under the cheekbone under the eye."
If Cintron is OK, he has a good chance of sticking as an extra infielder.
Speaking of infielders, shortstop Ronny Cedeno and the trainer visited Piniella's office after Friday's game.
"I've been trying to use him," Piniella said. "Today, his hamstring was tight. He wasn't available. He had some nicks and pains this spring."
Pie delayed: The Cubs won't rush center fielder Felix Pie back into action. Lou Piniella originally had said Pie would play Sunday against the Angels at HoHoKam, but Tuesday or Wednesday now is more likely.
Pie is recovering from outpatient surgery Monday to correct "testicular torsion." Piniella said he didn't believe the time off will set Pie back.
"No, I don't think so," the manager said. "I would think as long as he's fine that what we have here in camp will be our center fielder."
In other words, Piniella is not expecting a trade for a center fielder. Talk from the Texas camp that the Cubs and Rangers are heating up their discussions for center fielder Marlon Byrd are premature at best, according to Cubs people.
Pulp fiction: Some Cubs people were angered Friday to read a report saying pitching prospect Jose Ceda had joined pitchers Sean Gallagher and Donnie Veal and infielder Ronny Cedeno in a proposed deal to Baltimore for Brian Roberts. More than one Cubs person said no such deal is on the table.
Roster move: The Cubs returned nonroster infielder Andres Blanco to minor-league camp. The roster stands at 41.
Angels 6, Cubs 5
Cubs' record: 6-11
At the plate: Derrek Lee hit a windblown double and a triple, raising his average from .107 to .156. Henry Blanco hit his first homer of the spring. Eric Patterson led off and went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Alfonso Soriano, batting second, doubled in 4 at-bats, driving in a run.
On the mound: After a 6-pitch first inning, Ryan Dempster threw 41 in the second and didn't make it out as the Angels scored 6 runs (5 earned). In 12/3 innings, Dempster gave up 5 hits while walking two and striking out one. Michael Wuertz gave up a hit but struck out four in 11/3 innings. Kerry Wood threw 6 pitches for strikes in a 1-2-3 fourth. Jon Lieber (1.80 ERA) worked 4 scoreless innings, giving up 2 hits.
Next: The Cubs travel to Tucson to play the White Sox (3:05 p.m., Channel 9; WGN 720-AM). Rich Hill pitches for the Cubs against Nick Masset.
-- Bruce Miles