Jason Marquis has no hard feelings against Cubs

TUCSON, Ariz. - As far as Jason Marquis is concerned, he has no hard feelings toward anybody connected with the Cubs.

"I had a blast," Marquis said Saturday in the Colorado Rockies clubhouse at Hi Corbett Field. "That's one of the reasons I signed in Chicago. I loved the city, loved the opportunity that the team had to win, loved the fans. You always wish you could fulfill the obligation that you had there. Sometimes it's out of your hands. I definitely enjoyed my time, and it won't be forgotten."

Marquis spent two sometimes tumultuous years with the Cubs before they traded him to the Rockies this off-season for reliever Luis Vizcaino.

During his two years in Chicago, Marquis went 23-18 as the fifth starter, and he takes a certain pride in winning 65 games over the previous five years of his career.

That pride might have had something to do with him becoming upset in October 2007, when he did not pitch in the playoffs. Last spring, he caused a stir by saying that if the Cubs couldn't use him, other teams could.

"Obviously, I would like to have a different role," he said of the '07 situation. "That's a no-brainer. I pride myself in what I do. I feel like I'm good at what I do. I feel like I can help the team out at that position. Am I allowed to show emotion? I think so. Sometimes it gets caught up where you're supposed to not show how you feel. It doesn't mean I was going to give any less coming in out of the bullpen. I was just upset at the decision. I don't hold grudges. It was a spur of the moment type deal, and that was it.

"I'm a human being. If something doesn't go your way, you have the right to be upset."

Marquis sometimes was an easy fan and media target. However, he says he's good with everybody, including Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, manager Lou Piniella and pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

"Sometimes, whether it's fans, media, the organization looking for a 20-game winner in every spot, obviously it's not going to happen," he said. "I'm fine with them. No regrets. No remorse. No hatred toward anybody. I don't like to burn bridges."

Dempster doings: Battling a nasty cold, Ryan Dempster slogged through 6 innings of Saturday's 10-6 loss to the Rockies. He gave up 8 hits and 4 runs. He also hit a triple.

"It was a grind out there today, but I got through it," he said. "I actually threw the ball better the last few innings, which is kind of nice."

Piniella sick: Lou Piniella didn't make the trip to Tucson because of an illness. Bench coach Alan Trammell ran the ballclub. Trammell said that pitchers Sean Marshall and Chad Gaudin threw side sessions in Mesa and that Kevin Gregg, Chad Fox and Luis Vizcaino worked in minor-league games.