Piniella uses caution, gives Soriano a rest
Cubs manager Lou Piniella said the explanation that left fielder Alfonso Soriano gave the media as to why he ran the bases hesitantly in Saturday's 7-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks was news to him.
Soriano told the media Saturday, "I was a little scared because it's a little cold, but I think I'm OK. I just want to feel more comfortable with my legs."
In his pregame news conference Sunday, Piniella said: "It sort of surprised me a little bit reading his comments in the paper. I didn't realize that his legs might have been a little tired or I'd have got him out of there for defense late in the game.
"We gave him a day off in Cincinnati the last day of the trip so he'd have two days off. While he's playing himself into shape we can give him a day off from time to time. No problem there."
Soriano originally was penciled into the lineup Sunday but was later scratched due to the slippery conditions that prompted a 58-minute rain delay at the game's outset.
"We didn't want to take any chances with that," Piniella said of playing Soriano on the wet field.
Soriano pinch hit in the eighth inning and was intentionally walked, setting up Daryle Ward's game-winning, 2-run double.
Wuertz-case scenario: Reliever Michael Wuertz pitched a scoreless seventh inning Sunday in just his second appearance since May 2.
Manager Lou Piniella said Wuertz's relative inactivity of late was no reflection on his effectiveness. Wuertz had recorded a 1.59 ERA over his previous 6 appearances dating to April 26.
"We've got to stay with a pecking order," Piniella said. "Same way that the fifth starter gets skipped from time to time, we're going to do about the same thing in the bullpen.
"But everybody will get plenty of work, believe me. I mean, we're not going to purposely skip people or not pitch them. It has nothing to do with the confidence factor. It has to do with the fact of what innings are available and what the priorities are."
Scouting report
Cubs vs. San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field
TV: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday Comcast SportsNet; Wednesday Channel 26
Radio: WGN 720-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Carlos Zambrano (5-1) vs. Randy Wolf (2-2) today at 7:05 p.m.; Jason Marquis (1-2) vs. Shawn Estes (0-0) Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.; TBA vs. Jake Peavy (4-2) Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.; TBA vs. Greg Maddux (3-3) Thursday at 1:20 p.m.
At a glance: The Padres beat Colorado 6-1 Sunday but limp into Wrigley Field at 14-24, including 3-7 in May. Their troubles can't be pinned on starting pitching. The San Diego staff is second to Arizona in the big leagues with 22 quality starts (6 or more innings with 3 runs or less). Subpar hitting is frying the Friars. Entering Sunday's series finale against Colorado, the Padres ranked last in the bigs in team batting average (.229), on-base percentage (.302) and slugging percentage (.339). They rank second in the National League in strikeouts (280). The Cubs have won the first three games of a 10-game homestand.
Next: Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field, Friday-Sunday