Pie sent down to Iowa
Top prospect Felix Pie was optioned to Iowa as the Cubs sent four players to the minor-league complex, reducing their camp roster to 31.
''He's going to be a major-leaguer,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''Now just wasn't the time for him. He needs to improve his hitting some, learn the strike zone a little better. It's a nice challenge for him to go down to AAA and hit .325, .330 and work the strike zone a little more and get himself back up to the big leagues.''
Pie, whose top minor-league average was .321 in rookie ball five years ago, hit .352 this spring with two extra-base hits and three stolen bases in 54 at-bats.
Also reassigned were catcher Koyie Hill, pitcher Les Walrond and infielder Tomas Perez.
BENCH SET: Monday's moves meant Ronny Cedeno earned a roster spot as the last backup infielder, Piniella said. Barring injury, that completes the five-man bench, and with Kerry Wood's injury cinching Angel Guzman's spot in the bullpen, it also means the roster is set.
Cedeno, who started at shortstop Monday, marked the occasion by drawing two walks to tie Mark DeRosa for the team lead with 10 this spring. Cedeno walked 17 times in 151 games last season.
''Those are the things he has to do,'' said Piniella, whose conversation with Cedeno 2½ weeks ago included orders to work on hitting to the opposite field. ''If you can do that, you get a longer look at the ball and can lay off questionable pitches. That's what we've been trying to preach to this young man. Hopefully, it'll sink in.
''And we'll continue to preach it. Just because he's coming north with us doesn't mean that we won't continue.''
MARQUIS 'OK': Third starter Jason Marquis, who made his final start in Arizona on Monday despite not feeling well, looked ''OK,'' Piniella said. But the manager said he wants to see better use of breaking pitches and off-speed stuff from Marquis, instead of getting headstrong with his fastball, and he wants to see fewer deep counts.
''But, all in all, he's ready to go,'' Piniella said.
THE VALUE OF OUTS: Piniella was disappointed with utility man Ryan Theriot's decision in the sixth inning, with a runner at third and one out, to throw home on a ground ball to second base.
The Cubs led 7-4 at the time, and when the throw was wide and high, it not only allowed the run to score, but also opened the door for a two-out run to score later in the inning because Theriot didn't take the sure out at first.
''That's not the right approach,'' Piniella said. ''The one thing in your favor in baseball are outs. There's no clock, but there are outs. So you get outs, and it diminishes the chances of the other team scoring. If you learn from it, that's fine.''
MATCHING UP: These are the pitching probables for the Cubs' season-opening series in Cincinnati: Carlos Zambrano vs. right-hander Aaron Harang on Monday, Ted Lilly vs. right-hander Bronson Arroyo on April 4 and Marquis vs. lefty Eric Milton on April 5.