Colvin keeps producing when Cubs call his name
Rookie outfielder Tyler Colvin keeps stating his case for more playing time. In Friday's 7-1 loss to the Cardinals, Colvin hit a pinch homer in the fifth inning.
"Tyler is doing a nice job, isn't he?" said manager Lou Piniella. "Basically, he's forcing me to put him in the lineup. I've got some veteran outfielders here that are good players. This kid here is telling me, 'Look, put my name in the lineup a few more times.' Invariably, that's what's going to happen."
Colvin is batting .319 with an on-base percentage of .380 and a slugging percentage of .652 in 69 at-bats. He has 5 homers and 13 RBI.
Much was made of Colvin not walking in spring training, but he has more walks (8) than teammates Marlon Byrd (6), Ryan Theriot (7) and Mike Fontenot (6).
He seemed heartened to hear of Piniella's words.
"I'm ready whenever I'm in the lineup, if it's every other day, two or three times a week, I'm ready," he said.
Colvin may be the team's fastest runner, and he can play all three outfield spots.
Baker better: Infielder Jeff Baker was feeling better Friday after suffering an ocular migraine during Thursday's game and having to go to the hospital to get checked out.
He said he's fine, and that the problem can be treated with painkillers. On Thursday, however, he temporarily lost sight in his right eye and had to leave the game after a ball shot past him.
"I heard it," Baker said of the ball. "I saw it for a second, early and I didn't move. I don't know why, to be honest. I didn't see it very well.
"It wasn't exactly the most comfortable thing. You realize you take a lot of stuff for granted. Not being able to see, it scared me a little bit. I'm glad everything's good."
Baker added that his sight came back while he was waiting at the doctor's office. He said it was his first experience with an ocular migraine.
Also, pitcher Carlos Zambrano returned to action Friday after being hospitalized Thursday for abdominal pain. Zambrano and the Cubs said something Zambrano ate could have caused the pain. Appendicitis quickly was ruled out.
Chipping in: The Cubs confirmed a report by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports that pitcher Ryan Dempster has agreed to defer $3 million of his salary to help the team acquire players.
The report said Dempster would be paid back $1 million by 2011, $1 million by 2012 and $1 million by 2013.
A Cubs source said Dempster volunteered to do this in January and that the practice is not uncommon in baseball.