Marshall, Murton sent to Iowa

Sunday brought good news and bad for the remaining Cubs players awaiting their opening-day fates.

The good news came to left-handed reliever Carmen Pignatiello, whose outstanding spring earned him the spot as the lone lefty out of the pen until Scott Eyre's elbow heals.

Pignatiello's good fortune came at the expense of Sean Marshall, who was optioned to Class AAA Iowa, where he will work as a starter. Outfielder Matt Murton also was optioned to Iowa.

"I'm real excited for tomorrow," said Pignatiello, a graduate of Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox. "It's a pretty exciting moment for me. I think I did all I could do. I went out there and had a really good spring. That's all you can ask for."

Pignatiello had a 0.87 ERA in spring training, giving up only 1 run in 10½ innings while striking out nine and walking no one.

"Pignatiello earned the job," said manager Lou Piniella. "We talked about Woody (Kerry Wood) earning the closer job, which he did. Pignatiello gave up 1 run all spring and pitched as well as anybody. He was like a long-shot candidate, and he kept working his way through the ranks. As the numbers dwindled, he stayed around because he was doing the job, and he gets rewarded."

Murton's fate was sealed last week when the Cubs signed Reed Johnson after the Blue Jays released him. Johnson can play all three outfield spots, while Murton is a left fielder who has played some right. It's still possible the Cubs could trade Murton.

"It's frustrating, of course it is," said Murton, who overall took the news philosophically. "Who would sit here and say that they wouldn't be upset by it? But at the same time, I dealt with it a little bit last year. I've just got to keep going and working.

"I definitely did (think a trade would happen). I thought there was a possibility. In order for a trade to be made, there are two sides to it."

Playing the field: The Cubs tested their brand-new playing field Sunday. Last fall, White Sox groundskeeper Roger Bossard helped to install a new field, which is flatter than the old crowned field and is supposed to drain better.

The biggest difference is in the height of the infield grass. It's much shorter than the jungle that used to eat up groundballs.

"It's a lot faster; it's really fast right now," said first baseman Derrek Lee.

The grounds crew was working into the evening to prepare the infield dirt, which the Cubs felt was soft in spots.

The new bullpen mounds bring the catchers right up against the new Chicago Board of Options Exchange seats, which jut out from the other stands.

Aside from that, Lou Piniella noted how well the ball was carrying in batting practice, even with a cold wind blowing in.

The new guy: Right fielder Kosuke Fukudome took part in his first Wrigley Field practice Sunday and noted the weather.

"It is cold," said Fukudome, who has shown a gift for understatement.

Fukudome made several strong throws from right field during the workout.