Gregg would love shot at closer’s role

The Cubs shook up the back of their bullpen over the last few days. They claimed right-handed sinkerballer Kameron Loe off waivers from Seattle.

They also welcomed back their onetime closer, Kevin Gregg.

Gregg pitched for the Cubs in 2009, going 5-6 with an ERA of 4.72 and 23 saves in 30 chances.

The current closer picture is fuzzy at best, with Carlos Marmol having lost his job and Shawn Camp giving up a save chance Sunday against the Giants. Cubs manager Dale Sveum said he would not use left-hander James Russell as the closer. Russell is the Cubs’ lone lefty out of the pen after they designated Hisanori Takahashi for assignment Monday.

There are no immediate plans to make Gregg the closer, but he said he’d like a shot at it.

“For sure,” he said. “It’s definitely what I’ve done in the past. Talking with those guys, it was a matter of bringing in some experience.”

Garza to Kane County:

Pitcher Matt Garza will make his first rehab start Friday for the Kane County Cougars. Garza is on the mend from a left-lat muscle injury, suffered early in spring training.

He likely will pitch only 2 innings as he builds up pitching stamina.

Berkman talks Wrigley:Former Houston Astros star Lance Berkman is in town with the Texas Rangers. Before arriving, Berkman told the Rangers#146; media that he still doesn#146;t like Wrigley Field, calling it #147;one of the worst places in baseball #133; really for anything.#148;Berkman said he meant no harm. #147;Like I was explaining before the game, a lot of those comments are borne from the fact that I#146;m a career .215 hitter here, and a lot of players base their opinions on ballparks by whether or not they perform well in those ballparks,#148; he said. #147;I don#146;t mean anything personal against the Cubs organization or the Cubs fans. I just don#146;t enjoy performing in this venue. It#146;s been very difficult for me over the years. As a consequence, I don#146;t have a real high opinion of the Friendly Confines.#148;Berkman nearly jumped out of his socks one night here while with the Astros during a lightning storm.#147;Not only have I not performed well here, I#146;ve actually probably come as close to dying here as I#146;ve ever been anywhere in my life,#148; he said. #147;All of those experiences combined, you don#146;t have a real friendly feeling.#148;A.J. gets a dig in:Former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski is sharing duties with former Cub Geovany Soto on the Rangers. Pierzynski had a spirited rivalry with the Cubs, and he was booed his first time up Tuesday night. #147;I#146;m just happy they put the sign back in right-center field, I#146;m not going to lie,#148; he said of a sign on a building across the street counting the years since Cubs championships. #147;Last year, they took it down, and it was really disappointed because I really liked looking at it. That was my favorite sign. They brought it back up for old time#146;s sake.#147;It#146;s always a fun place to play in Wrigley. It#146;s always a good atmosphere.#148;