Note: Don't count out Kendall
Cubs fans don't seem to think much of him so far, but Jason Kendall already is getting credit for impacting the direction of one division race -- not counting new teammates who think he'll impact the National League Central.
''I don't think one player means everything for a team, but I think [it's a lot] in this case,'' Los Angeles Angels shortstop Orlando Cabrera told the Los Angeles Times about what Kendall's trade Monday from Oakland to the Cubs means for the Athletics. ''Especially because even though those pitchers are pretty good, they've thrown the ball pretty well the last three years because of Jason. He's a big part of that. He really knows how to call pitches back there.''
Kendall didn't play Wednesday, but the pitchers he caught Tuesday in his first game with his new team gave him high marks.
''I felt very confident with him back there,'' reliever Michael Wuertz said. ''He handles the ball real well. He really makes you bear down. He's really smart back there, there's no doubt about it.
''I think there's some good things you're going to see with him working with the pitching staff.''
Fans, on the other hand, booed Kendall in his first game after two missed plays behind the plate -- one a tough-bounce throw he couldn't hold onto as a run scored, the other a routine foul pop he lost in the lights. Both played roles in a 4-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
''They don't give you a lot of breathing room here, you know,'' said Derrek Lee, who went through a similar Wrigley Field hazing early in his first season with the team in 2004. ''The guy's a good catcher. He's going to be good. You would like to see the fans give him a little breathing room and make him feel comfortable at least for the first couple weeks. But they have high expectations. Jason understands it. He's OK. Hopefully, they just get behind him.
''We understand that's the nature of this crowd. There's a lot of home parks where you don't get booed. Now Wrigley's one of them [where you do], so you understand it and live with it.''
• Cliff Floyd returned to the lineup for the first time since jamming his left shoulder Saturday trying to make a diving catch. He has been advised to try to avoid diving for balls unless the game is on the line. ''They tell me not to dive anymore; they might as well make me a DH,'' Floyd said.
Floyd said the damage caused to large areas of the outfield grass by last week's Police concerts had nothing to do with his injury, despite his suggestions Saturday that it did. The diving play didn't even occur near the damaged areas.
• Piniella said injured closer Ryan Dempster (oblique) fared well after Tuesday's inning of minor-league rehab work and should be activated from the disabled list Friday if today's scheduled inning also goes well. He immediately will go back into the closer's role, Piniella said.