NewsPiniella shaking up order to spark bats
Chicago (29-29) vs. Minnesota (31-32), 12:05 p.m. CT
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
06/12/09 6:00 PM ET
CHICAGO -- Lou Piniella is doing a little tweaking. On Friday in Game 1 of this weekend Interleague series between the Cubs and Minnesota Twins, Mike Fontenot was moved up to No. 2 in the lineup and Kosuke Fukudome dropped to No. 6. The Cubs have been struggling with runners in scoring position, batting .230, which is next to last in the National League. Only Arizona (.225) is worse. They also stranded 31 in the just-completed three-game series in Houston. |
"We're going to try to do different things," Piniella said. "We've stayed pretty constant for 60 games or so. I think it's time to change things around a little bit."
He'd like to see the hitters relax at the plate. The goal is to make contact. "I think going up there and saying to yourself, 'I have to hit a double, I have to do this' -- just hit the ball hard and it goes where it goes," Piniella said. "Most of the time when you hit a ball hard, you get a base hit." It's not fair to single out one player. It's been a collective funk. "It's been a team thing and it's been basically with men in scoring position," Piniella said. "There's no magic formula for it." Hitters go through streaks. This one just seems to be taking a long time. "These guys have hit in the past, they're going to hit," he said. "It's just a question of winning. Our job is staying in contact with the league, and we're doing that. It's frustrating, but it's frustrating for everybody. It's just as frustrating for the players. They want to do well, we want to see them do well. The fans want to see them do well. Just do the best you can." What's somewhat encouraging is that when the team's best clutch hitter, Aramis Ramirez, went down with a shoulder injury, the Cubs were 2 1/2 games back in the National League Central. They were three games back after a 7-4 loss Friday. "Somebody will come out of the pack eventually," Piniella said. "Right now, it's been really bunched. We're three games out of first place, and you have to feel that you're in a pretty good position." Pitching matchupCHC: RHP Rich Harden (4-2, 4.74 ERA)
This will be Harden's first start since going on the disabled list with a back sprain on May 18. In his last start, May 17 against Houston, he gave up four runs on six hits and three walks over six innings while striking out seven. Harden was expected to be able to go five innings and at least 85 pitches on Saturday. He has a 1-0 record and 2.13 ERA in four career starts against the Twins. MIN: RHP Anthony Swarzak (1-2, 5.23 ERA)
Only one start remains for Swarzak until Glen Perkins is ready to rejoin the rotation, and the rookie certainly didn't make a strong push to stay up with the club in his last start. The right-hander gave up three runs on four hits and walked three in just 3 2/3 innings against the A's. All of the runs came in a disastrous fourth inning. It included Swarzak throwing 10 straight balls to start the frame and striking Aaron Cunningham in the head with an errant 91-mph fastball. Swarzak will get one final shot against the Cubs to show improvement. Tidbits
Kevin Hart gave up two runs on four hits over seven innings in Triple-A Iowa's 9-2 win over Omaha on Thursday. Jason Dubois had three hits, including a home run, and five RBIs. ... Marcos Mateo gave up three runs on six hits over six innings in Double-A Tennessee's 4-1 loss to Mobile. Darwin Barney is batting .387 in his last nine games. ... Andrew Cashner gave up two runs on four hits over 4 1/3 innings in Class A Daytona's 6-4 win over Fort Myers. Robinson Chirinos and Jovan Rosa each homered. ... Aaron Shafer gave up four runs, two earned, on three hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings in Class A Peoria's 5-0 loss to Clinton. ... Country music superstar Kenny Chesney led the crowd in "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" on Friday. On Saturday, former Cubs outfielder Bob Dernier will do the honors. WGN Radio's Pat Hughes is slated for Sunday, followed Tuesday by comedian Ellen DeGeneres. Wednesday is to be determined. Thursday, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville will sing, and on June 19, it'll be Bears running back Matt Forte. Actor George Lopez is slated for June 20 and former Cubs outfielder Todd Hollandsworth on June 21. Tickets
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• Sunday: Cubs (Ted Lilly, 7-4, 3.00) vs. Twins (Scott Baker, 4-6, 5.59), 1:20 p.m. CT
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Cubs (Carlos Zambrano, 4-2, 3.39) vs. White Sox (John Danks, 4-5, 4.81), 7:05 p.m. CT
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
