Piniella says lineup change no big deal

It was a defiant, combative and maybe even a little defensive Cubs manager Lou Piniella who met the media before Thursday's 6-3 victory over the Brewers.

The subject, once again, was Piniella's latest change of mind over his starting lineup. After Wednesday's game, Piniella announced he was flip-flopping Alfonso Soriano and Ryan Theriot, moving Soriano up to leadoff and Theriot down to No. 2.

"We'll just put him in the leadoff hole," Piniella said. "That's where he hit all of last year. This is no big change. Comments like 'changing the lineup around,' all we're doing is flip-flopping our first two hitters.

"You know what? So we flip-flopped them."

It got even better. Piniella was asked if he was "impatient."

"I didn't say that," he said. "Patience. Where did Soriano hit for last year? He hit in the No. 1 hole. Where did he hit most of his career? In the 1-hole. All right? So he's back in the 1-hole. What makes things so complicated or such changing? I am not going to be making excuses or giving explanations why I want to change the lineup from time to time.

"Every time I make a lineup change, I'm not going to sit here and be making explanations for it. I mean, that's what I get paid to do, and that's what I'm going to do."

A suburban Chicago beat writer wanted to know if it was "fair" to ask Piniella about it.

"You can ask all you want, but I mean … and you're asking, and I'm telling you I don't need to justify it," Piniella replied. "I think I know what I'm doing."

Finally, Piniella dropped a hint as to why he wanted to try Soriano second, and it seemed to have everything to do with him thinking or hoping the Cubs would trade for Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts, a natural leadoff man.

"Early in the spring, he wasn't running as well," Piniella said of Soriano. "But he's picked it up. There were other reasons I put him in the 2-hole, for God's sake. You know? So we've got him in the 1-hole now. That's where he's going to stay, and we don't have to answer to that anymore."

Soriano joked that he would bat second in today's series opener against the Astros.

Eyre out awhile: Don't expect to see left-handed reliever Scott Eyre for maybe another 2-3 weeks. Eyre is on the disabled list because of a bone spur in his pitching elbow. He's playing catch in Arizona, but he has not thrown off a mound since feeling pain late in spring training.

Heated rivalry: There were seven hit batters in the Cubs-Brewers series, with the Cubs' Mark DeRosa and Felix Pie getting hit Thursday. Pie got hit near the right wrist. He said it was sore, but he expected to be OK today.

Neither side made a big deal of it because of situations and the type of pitches that were thrown. Still, there was a little bit of chippy play, with the Brewers' Rickie Weeks barreling over Cubs catcher Geovany Soto on Thursday.

"I think it's probably a combination of both," said Cubs closer Kerry Wood. "Guys want to establish (the inside pitch). It's been cold. It hasn't been the best weather to pitch in the last two days. I don't think anything. I don't think we think anything of it. Our guys got hit a few times. We hit a few of their guys, probably a few more of their guys. I don't think anybody wants that, especially this early in the season."

Scouting report

Cubs vs. Houston Astros at Wrigley Field

TV: Comcast SportsNet today and Saturday; Channel 9 Sunday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Rich Hill (0-0) vs. Chris Sampson (0-0) today at 1:20 p.m.; Jason Marquis (0-0) vs. Roy Oswalt (0-1) Saturday at 12:05 p.m.; Carlos Zambrano (0-0) vs. Brandon Backe (0-1) Sunday at 1:20 p.m.

At a glance: The Cubs were 8-7 against the Astros last year, 6-3 at Wrigley Field. Hill and Marquis will make their season debuts for the Cubs. The Astros' Lance Berkman is 19-for-37 (.514) vs. Marquis, including 5 doubles. Carlos Lee is 8-for-26 (.308) with 2 homers. Zambrano has held Berkman to 8-for-54 (.148). The Cubs' Aramis Ramirez has 3 homers off Astros ace Oswalt.

Next: Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday

-- Bruce Miles