PHOENIX -- The one thing manager Lou Piniella is looking for this spring from power hitters Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez is bat speed, and he went a step further Saturday to predict the trio should be able to hit 30 homers each in 2009.

"They're very capable of doing it," Piniella said Saturday.

Lee hit at least 30 home runs in three straight years, including a high of 46 in 2005. But he's totaled 22 and 20 in the past two seasons, respectively. Ramirez has reached 30 dingers in five seasons, and hit 26 and 27 during the past two years. Soriano belted 29 homers last year after hitting more than 30 in the three previous seasons.

"I'm not complaining," Piniella said of the early spring results, "but I'd just like to see it. You lull yourself into thinking, 'I've got time,' and play a waiting game."

The importance of bat speed is something Piniella learned from baseball great Billy Martin. Good hitting mechanics are a big part of power numbers.

"Some people have to work a little less at it than others, but everybody has to work at it," Piniella said.

Because Spring Training is so long this year -- 39 games -- the Cubs have been giving the trio more days off. Soriano and Ramirez started on Saturday, and Lee had the day off. Expect the regulars to get more at-bats in games after Wednesday's off-day.

The Cubs had five players with at least 20 home runs last season in Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Geovany Soto and Mark DeRosa. DeRosa is gone, so could Soto join the 30 homer club?

"He's got the capability," Piniella said. "The only reason I mentioned the other three is because they've all done it."

And he'd like to see them do it again.