Wuertz agrees with Piniella: Time to kick it in, throw strikes

SAN DIEGO -- When Cubs manager Lou Piniella said the other day that reliever Michael Wuertz needed to "kick it in," it didn't seem to bother Wuertz.

"It's a long season," Wuertz said. "Everything has a purpose. He (Piniella) has been around the game and has seen a lot. You just take it for what it is and keep it in your head. Just go out there and do your job.

"Like Lou said, I need to step it up a little bit and give some guys that don't need to be in the game a chance for a day off. I think it goes both ways. As a middle reliever, that is your job. I take accountability for stepping up in situations with a 4-run lead or a 3-run lead and going out there for an inning or 2 innings or whatever it is and just forget about what's happened in the past."

Walks have been the bugaboo for Wuertz lately. Heading into Wednesday, he had given up 24 hits and 12 walks in 28 innings pitched. In the series opener, he walked two in one-third of an inning, drawing the ire of Piniella. He gave up a hit and a walk Sunday against the Rockies.

"Wuertz has got to throw more strikes," Piniella said Wednesday. "Walks have hurt him."

In Tuesday's game, Wuertz pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up a single to Khalil Greened. In the past, he has shown an ability to bounce back from tough times.

"Being more aggressive, pounding the strike zone a little bit more," he said. "I'm not necessarily worried about the results so much. Just go out there and do what I'm capable of doing. I've been feeling good. I just want to go out there. Things are going to change. Teams are going to have a scouting report on me.

"On a certain day, I've just got to be able to pitch differently. That's kind of what I've been trying to do. My fastball velocity has been good. It's just a matter of executing pitches."

Feeling a draft: Baseball's amateur draft is today, and the Cubs will pick 19th in the first round. They also get a "sandwich" pick, 41st, between the first and second rounds for losing catcher Jason Kendall as a free agent to the Brewers last winter.

Scouting director Tim Wilken took third baseman Josh Vitters with the Cubs' first pick (third overall) last year. Two years ago, the independent-minded Wilken confounded some so-called draft experts by taking outfielder Tyler Colvin in the first round and pitcher Jeff Samardzija in the fifth round.

Baseball Prospectus projects the Cubs taking right-handed pitcher Jake Odorizzi out of Highland High School in downstate Illinois. Odorizzi's fastball has been clocked at upward of 95 mph, according to some reports.

Managing the pen: Lou Piniella said he'd keep closer Kerry Wood out of Wednesday's series finale, noting that Wood had worked in seven of the team's previous nine games. Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry were Piniella's closer candidates.

"Woody's throwing the ball excellent," Piniella said.

Wood entered Wednesday with 16 saves in 20 chances, including 6 in a row.

Scouting report

Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium

TV: Comcast SportsNet-Plus (CLTV) today; Channel 9 Friday; Channel 32 Saturday; ESPN Sunday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Ryan Dempster (7-2) vs. Chad Billingsley (4-6) today at 9:10 p.m.; Sean Gallagher (3-1) vs. Hiroki Kuroda (2-5) Friday at 9:40 p.m.; Carlos Zambrano (8-1) vs. Derek Lowe (3-5) Saturday at 2:55 p.m.; Jason Marquis (3-3) vs. Brad Penny (5-7) Sunday at 7:10 p.m.

At a glance: The Cubs swept the Dodgers in three at Wrigley Field beginning Memorial Day. All of the pitching matchups are rematches from that series. The Cubs entered Wednesday leading the NL in batting average, hits, runs and on-base percentage. The Dodgers are 12th in runs and last in home runs. Ex-Cub Juan Pierre has been back in the leadoff spot for the Dodgers. Pierre's OBP entering Wednesday was a respectable .351. Dempster has held opponents to a .188 batting average.

Next: Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field, Tuesday-Thursday

-- Bruce Miles