Piniella: Long road ahead for Gallagher
Manager Lou Piniella won't say whether he plans to use fresh-armed right-hander Sean Gallagher in a spot start to rest his five-man rotation, but the rookie provides at least long-relief insurance for a worn bullpen with a four-game series at Coors Field looming.
''We'll use him to eat up innings any way we can,'' said Piniella, who has gone without a long reliever much of the season.
When Tuesday night's starter, Sean Marshall, couldn't pitch out of the sixth inning, it was the eighth time in 13 games Cubs starters have gone 5 1/3 innings or less.
More than what it has cost the bullpen in sheer innings, that stretch has been especially costly in individual appearances for a bullpen without a long man until Tuesday.
''We have all one-inning pitchers out there,'' Piniella said. ''And you get into a ballgame where it's close, whether extra innings or a pitcher gets knocked out or whatever, and now you're running too many of them out there. Put Gallagher out there and let him eat three or four innings if you want and rest your bullpen.''
Gallagher, who said he was surprised to get the call at Class AAA Iowa late Monday night because he thought the Cubs staff was pitching well, last pitched Friday, allowing one run in seven innings.
''I threw my side [Monday] and felt great,'' he said. ''I'm ready for whatever they need. I could start [Tuesday].''
• As surprising as Will Ohman's demotion to the minors was Tuesday, the timing made it worse for the left-hander, who planned to see family in the Denver area during the Cubs' trip to Colorado this weekend, leading up to his 30th birthday on Monday's scheduled day off. ''It stinks,'' he said. ''I mean, my folks haven't seen their grandkids in six months or so.''
• Ohman, by the way, signed a two-year deal worth $2.5 million over the winter, with $1.6 million coming next year.
• Jeff Samardzija, the $10million pitching prospect and former Notre Dame All-America receiver, made a successful Class AA debut Monday, allowing one run, six hits and two walks in six innings to earn the win in Tennessee's 6-2 victory over Montgomery.
• Sunday's home-plate umpire at Wrigley Field, Marty Foster, might be in hot water after refusing to leave the game after a head-ringing foul ball off his mask. Major League Baseball takes concussion symptoms seriously and has been in contact with the Cubs for details of Foster's conduct. Cubs trainer Mark O'Neal strongly advised that Foster, who has a history of concussions, leave the game, and umpire crew chief Tim McClelland told Foster to leave. But after being escorted off the field briefly, Foster insisted on returning.