Piniella makes call: Timeout for Barrett
Barrett, who made three costly mental errors in two games over a three-day span, took responsibility after Tuesday's loss for his impact on the team's recent slide and said he planned to talk Wednesday with manager Lou Piniella and coaches about ways to change his approach.
Piniella responded by giving Barrett the day off ahead of today's scheduled day off. That included no shagging flies or batting practice for Barrett, who was unavailable to reporters before the game.
Piniella said over the weekend that he likes how backup Henry Blanco works with Friday's starter Carlos Zambrano, so that could mean another day off for Barrett.
''Henry did a nice job with Zambrano last time,'' Piniella said, ''so there's a good possibility he might be catching him on Friday, too.''
DO THE SHUFFLE: Lineup changes are nothing new under Piniella, but Wednesday was the first time he broke up the 3-4 combination of Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, putting left-handed-hitting Cliff Floyd in the cleanup spot between the right-handers.
''We'll try it and see how it works,'' Piniella said.
''I actually like fifth better than fourth,'' Ramirez said. ''I just feel more comfortable there.''
It's something he told hitting coach Gerald Perry in passing a few weeks ago, he said.
MILLER EXAMINED: The strength in pitcher Wade Miller's surgically repaired right shoulder has not returned to a competitive level, and Miller flew to Philadelphia this week to visit the surgeon who performed the arthroscopic procedure after the 2005 season.
Miller, whose velocity topped out in the mid-80s during a three-week minor-league rehabilitation assignment, is trying to determine whether he has a reasonable chance to regain enough strength to complete a successful comeback, general manager Jim Hendry said.
Miller opened the season as the Cubs' fifth starter and went 0-1 with a 10.54 ERA in three starts before going on the disabled list with what the team called back spasms.
HILL WITH A BAT: Pitcher Rich Hill, who was replaced after six shutout innings and a low pitch count Sunday because the Cubs were desperate for a hit, has been getting in extra work on his batting.
The goal is to improve on simply making contact, Hill said, so he can contribute offensively. He said he's working less on mechanics and more on finding a rhythm at the plate.
MITRE HURT: Former Cub Sergio Mitre pitched four shutout innings for the Marlins on Wednesday before leaving with a right hamstring cramp suffered while running out a bunt in the fifth.
Mitre, who struck out seven and walked one, was safe on the play when pitcher Ted Lilly bobbled the ball and then threw errantly to first.