Lou on Soriano: Back Labor Day, bat leadoff

SAN FRANCISCO -- An already-optimistic Alfonso Soriano told Cubs trainers Tuesday that he'll be ready to return from the disabled list this weekend after completing his first day of running in the outfield since he was injured Aug. 5.

Yeah?

''I told him I was going to put him in there today,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''He'll play on top of the Coke bottle out there [behind the left-field bleachers]. He'll be Chicago's version of Bernie the Brewer.''

As ''exciting'' as the workout was for the injured leadoff hitter, who had been swinging in the batting cages for several days, Piniella said the team is sticking to its Labor Day time frame for Soriano's return. Tuesday was the first day he was eligible to be activated.

''No, he's not ready,'' Piniella said. ''The fact that he's been taking batting practice has got his blood flowing a little bit, but we've got to be careful. One more setback, and the whole season's gone.''

Soriano -- who plans to hit on the field today for the first time since suffering a small tear in his right quadriceps -- insists he's more comfortable than ever that he can return before the team says, even if it means he plays more cautiously upon returning, as he did in April when he had a pulled hamstring.

''They laugh,'' Soriano said, ''but we'll see. Maybe I can play not as aggressive, but play more careful.''

He also said he would be willing to bat lower in the order, at least short-term, where his speed is less important than in the leadoff spot.

''Anywhere in the lineup, it doesn't matter,'' he said. ''I just want to be in the lineup. I want to be back and help my team.''

Piniella reiterated that Soriano will go back into the leadoff spot when he returns, regardless of how well Ryan Theriot has hit there in his absence (.351 batting average, .377 on-base percentage). Soriano has shown he's much more comfortable in that spot, Piniella said, ''and one of the reasons we don't want to rush him back is we want to make sure when he comes back, he can run, steal and do the normal things he does all the time without having to guard against everything.''

Pitching coach Larry Rothschild missed Tuesday's game to remain in Chicago, where his father was undergoing a long-planned surgical procedure. He was expected to rejoin the team today.

•   •   General manager Jim Hendry shot down a report that pitching prospect Jeff Samardzija, the former Notre Dame football All-American, would be called up when rosters expand in September. While Samardzija might get a chance to make the team next spring, and Hendry said he's pleased with the right-hander's progress at Class AA, the Cubs have no intention of moving up his major-league debut to this season.

•   •   Piniella said the Cubs are trying to trade catcher Koyie Hill, designated for assignment Monday, to a major-league contender.