Piniella on verge of 1,800th win

As he sat in the dugout prior to Saturday's matinee against Pittsburgh answering questions on topics ranging from Carlos Zambrano's availability to Xavier Nady's second start in a row, Lou Piniella was then asked about being 1 win away from 1,800, becoming just the 14th manager in the history of baseball to reach that milestone.

The Cubs' skipper conceded 1,800 wins was indeed a lot of wins and told reporters how fortunate he was to have his health and to have been employed for such a long time.

Then came the big question: Is it still as much fun to manage as when you first started?

"It's a b-a-l-l," Piniella said with the utmost sarcasm. "It's a b-a-l-l."

Asked how things had changed over the years, Piniella didn't know where to begin.

"It's changed; it's changed quite a bit actually," he said. "For guys who managed before me, it would probably be very difficult for them now.

"You noticed what happened to (Baltimore manger Earl Weaver), Hall of Fame manager, he came back for the last time and he didn't stay around long. You have to adapt to changes."

Onus on Lee: For the first month of the season people have been saying if Derrek Lee (.230) ever starts to heat up at the plate, look out.

The Cubs first baseman totally agrees.

"Like I've said a lot this season, if I start hitting the ball out of the ballpark and start getting some big hits, I think it will relax some guys," Lee after Saturday's 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh. "We're in these tight games all the time.

"I need to pick it up."

Attention please: Tyler Colvin, originally in the starting lineup Saturday, was a late healthy scratch, replaced in right field by Xavier Nady, who was making his second consecutive start.

"We need to get him on the field more often," Piniella said of Nady. "Maybe he'll swing the bat a little bit."

Nady doubled to left in his first at-bat.

Colvin has started in 10 of the Cubs' first 37 games. He made an appearance Saturday pinch running for Geo Soto in the eighth inning.

Ram power: Maybe third baseman Aramis Ramirez is starting to heat up ... a bit.

A day after his first multi-hit game since Opening Day, Ramirez came through with a clutch two-out double that drove in a pair of runs in the third inning.

The downside?

Geovany Soto followed with a single to left and on the play Ramirez was thrown out at the plate by the length of a semi truck.

"You have to (send me)," Ramirez said. "But I ain't that fast. (Pirates left fielder Ryan Church) threw the ball all the way in the air.

"When you're not hitting, you have to take a chance. It didn't work out."

Attention please II: The Cubs' game against the White Sox on June 13 will be televised by ESPN at 7:05 p.m., and their June 20 game against the Angels is now a 1:20 p.m. start on Channel 9.

Bleacher creatures: The Bob and Len show will be broadcasting from the bleachers in today's series finale against the Pirates.

He said it: Lou Piniella on realizing that a pair of Pirates had 5 hits against the Cubs in their 10-6 loss on Friday: "I know they circled the bases but I didn't realize they had 5 hits."