Slow starters may get minor-league at-bats
Piniella plans to talk to his regulars to find out how many at-bats they feel they need to get ready for the season, and he wants to focus on some of the guys who tend to be slow starters. That could mean a few trips to the minor-league side of camp in a couple of weeks to pump up the at-bat totals.
''I want to see if there's something we can do to help that,'' Piniella said. ''I like the idea of when the minor leagues start, send these guys down there and let them hit for both teams.''
Piniella had designated hitter Edgar Martinez do that in Seattle, and it helped the two-time batting champion get off to strong starts in April.
''Over here it's a little more difficult because we're talking about position players as opposed to DH,'' Piniella said.
But first baseman Derrek Lee went from being a career .228 hitter in April to .419 and .318 the last two Aprils after padding his spring at-bat totals. As for Cubs who might be candidates, Aramis Ramirez (.197) and Jacque Jones (.228) got off to slow starts in the first month last year, and April is the worst career month for Mark DeRosa (.245) and Cliff Floyd (.268).
''Usually getting more at-bats is a pretty good answer to problems,'' Piniella said.
CENTER STAGE: Piniella has been impressed with how quickly Alfonso Soriano seems to be picking up center field as he tries to make the switch from left after only one season of outfield experience.
''Soriano's starting to really get some nice jumps in center field,'' Piniella said. ''He's been working hard, getting some balls off the bat.''
Soriano said he already feels almost as comfortable in center as he does in left.
''Last year was a very important experience, my first year in the outfield,'' he said. ''So this year I [will] be more ready, just because I have the experience. ... I'm working hard in BP on getting better every day.''
CACTUS ROTATION: Here's the Cubs' scheduled pitching rotation for the first five exhibition games:
• • Thursday against the San Francisco Giants: right-hander Jason Marquis starting, with several young pitchers scheduled in relief.
• • Friday against the Los Angeles Angels: righty Carlos Zambrano starting, with left-handers Neal Cotts and Will Ohman and righty Bob Howry among the relievers.
• • Saturday against the Oakland Athletics in Phoenix: righty Wade Miller starting, with closer Ryan Dempster, Michael Wuertz and Carlos Marmol in relief.
• • Sunday against the White Sox: lefty Rich Hill, followed by Juan Mateo and • • Monday against the Seattle Mariners in Peoria: lefty Ted Lilly starting.
IT'S A START: Cotts is scheduled to throw two innings Friday, equal to a spring-opening start, and Piniella said Cotts will start some games as he gets stretched out for either a chance to make the starting rotation or possibly as a long reliever.
''He's been throwing the ball as well as anybody we have in camp,'' Piniella said.