Marshall learning to adjust

ATLANTA - If there's one thing Sean Marshall has learned, it's being adaptable.

Marshall will have to adapt again, only this time it's only a one-day switch. Manager Lou Piniella said Thursday that Marshall will start Saturday in Florida, not Sunday, as originally announced.

Ryan Dempster, who was supposed to start Saturday, headed back to Chicago on Thursday night to tend to personal business. He'll start Sunday.

Marshall has done a little bit of everything for the Cubs this year.

He has started three times for the Cubs and pitched in relief 20 times. He also was a starter at Class AAA Iowa.

"I've learned to come in at spot-lefty situations, like at the beginning of the year," Marshall said. "I've learned to come in and eat up a couple innings when we're either losing or winning. It's been a big learning experience for me this year. I've had a chance to throw 6-7 innings with some starts. It's been good. Very adaptable. That's a very good word for it. Just use that learning experience for the rest of my career."

Marshall said he got plenty of work in warming up Wednesday for his relief appearance and said that his arm would be strong enough for Saturday. After Saturday's start, he'll go back to the pen.

"It's exciting because we're winning," he said. "We're in first place. That's been the most fun thing so far. It's Cubs fever going on right now, and that makes it even better."

Losing patience: Lou Piniella sounded exasperated when asked what the Cubs could do to get Daryle Ward going.

"I don't know how," Piniella said. "We've tried. I don't know how. More at-bats? I don't know."

Ward is 4-for-40 as a pinch hitter. He was 11-for-41 as a pinch hitter last year with 18 walks. He hit a sacrifice fly Thursday.

"It's been a struggle for him this year," Piniella said.

Call-ups looming: The Cubs brass will talk on the next homestand about which players to call up from the minor leagues in September.

One name Lou Piniella mentioned specifically was Koyie Hill. The veteran catcher spent time with the big club last year, and teams usually like to add a third catcher in September.

"We don't really want to be overloaded," Piniella said. "I would think on the order of a half-a-dozen or so, probably a few pitchers and a couple hitters. But we haven't talked about it. I had a brief discussion with Randy (assistant GM Bush), and he named about eight possible players. We'll see where we go from there. He talked about Hill specifically. He's doing well."

Pitcher Angel Guzman, who is rehabbing from elbow surgery, figures to be a call-up, as does infielder-outfielder Micah Hoffpauir. Pitchers Jose Ascanio and Michael Wuertz also may get a shot.