Lou says there's no room for Pie
''Right now my plans are [Alfonso] Soriano [in center], and that's it,'' Piniella said after a two-hit game by Pie, who also made an eye-popping throw from center to cut down Kevin Kouzmanoff trying to score from second on a single in the second inning. ''I'm not going to deviate from those plans for now.''
Pie, who's hitting .421 in seven Cactus League games, repeatedly has said he intends to make the big-league team, but Piniella said there's no place to put him.
Barring injury, the Cubs have four veteran outfielders for three spots, plus another possible backup. The Cubs don't intend to carry Pie on the bench and want to put him in center as soon as they determine he's ready for the majors every day.
''Here's our little bit of a dilemma,'' Piniella said before the game. ''You're the manager of the Chicago Cubs, and you've got Soriano, you've got [Matt] Murton, you've got [Jacque] Jones and you've got [Cliff] Floyd. And you play Pie in center field. How many knocks are you going to have on your door every day saying, 'Skip, how in the hell do I get some at-bats?'''
GRAND DAY: Despite giving up a grand slam in his one inning of work Thursday, right-hander Kerry Wood looked strong again. He said he thought he had better stuff than he did in his 1-2-3 spring debut Monday. In fact, his slider was moving so well that it helped lead to the grand slam.
''I hit a guy with it, but I still think I had him fooled -- that's part of the reason I hit him,'' said Wood, who's moving to the bullpen this season after three consecutive injury-shortened seasons.
That put two men on. Wood struck out the next batter, got a fly to left for the second out, then got another strikeout with the slider. But the third strike on what should have been the third out dived into the dirt and past catcher Henry Blanco for a wild pitch that loaded the bases. Terrmel Sledge followed with a home run to right on a fastball that missed over the plate.
It didn't seem to dampen the day for Wood, who has been noticeably more upbeat this spring.
''Absolutely,'' he said. ''I feel great. I'm having a good time doing this. I have fun waking up not in pain and going out and throwing and not having to get treatments just to go play catch.''
SHORT HOPS: First cuts are expected over the weekend, and manager Lou Piniella said he plans to reduce the 58-man spring roster quickly and dramatically.
''By Sunday or Monday, I would think we'll get as many as 15 players out,'' he said.
• • Piniella said he has outfielder Cliff Floyd (heel surgery) scheduled to make his spring debut Monday against the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale.
• • Piniella has talked with some of his pitchers about their tendency to get ahead of hitters, only to wind up in deep counts or with walks because of trying to make the perfect pitch. The Cubs walked 10 Oakland Athletics batters Wednesday.