News
Piniella still has the fire; Cubs do, too
Chicago (38-38) vs. Milwaukee (42-37), 1:20 p.m. CT
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
07/03/09 12:07 AM ET
CHICAGO -- There should be no more questions about whether or not Lou Piniella still has the "fire" to manage. He was questioned about that last weekend during the Cubs' Interleague series against the White Sox. On Wednesday in Pittsburgh, Piniella was ejected after arguing a close call at first base. All was calm in Game 1 of the Cubs' four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Let's see what happens Friday in Game 2. Carlos Zambrano is pitching, so one never knows what will happen. Piniella doesn't plan on throwing another tantrum. "I'm done with that," he said. "My chest was hurting after the ballgame. The trainer told me to take a nice cold shower. "I don't know why I had to answer that before [about whether he still had the fire]. I don't get it. Last night, it was a play I thought our pitcher had beat out and I was right. I went out and argued, and I got kicked out. Now, I don't have to answer that question any more." First base umpire Chad Fairchild tossed Piniella on Wednesday in Pittsburgh because the manager threw his cap. The Cubs manager knows umpire fighting etiquette better than most. "You get too close to the umpire, and the one thing they'll tell you right away is, 'The bill of the cap touched me,'" Piniella said. "I was going to turn it around, but it was awkward, so I just took it off." It was the first time Piniella had been tossed since July 26, 2008. Has he ever gone that long between ejections? "My wife ejected me a couple times," Piniella said. He'll be here all week, folks, and for the rest of the season. His players see that Piniella is still passionate about the game. "I saw some fire [Wednesday], for sure," shortstop Ryan Theriot said. "Lou's been Lou. One thing he's done this year, more than ever, is teach. He's pulled guys aside. This guy has a lot of knowledge of the game. He's done a great job this year. As far as losing the fire, I don't see it at all. When the cameras are on, maybe not. I've seen the fire in person." Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has been under fire because the team is looking up in the National League Central. This homestand leading up to the All-Star Game could change the Cubs' status. "You take the good and the bad," Hendry said. "I've heard a lot of great things said about me and written that I didn't believe. I try not to go too far in the down column when it's not going too well. It's OK. I think it's part of the job. If it doesn't go well, it ought to start with me, and that's how I try to approach it. I'm disappointed we're not playing better, but at the same time, we're not quite halfway done yet. I hope to be sitting in front of you with the same result at the end of the regular season we had last year." Last season, the Cubs led the NL with 97 wins. They have a long way to go. "I've never had a job where anybody put more pressure on me than I did myself," Hendry said. "I'm sure that's the way it'll continue. I can't control what other people might think of me. It's not something I worry about. We have a job to do here. We work well together. I like our relationship. Nobody likes to lose less than him. It's bothering the heck out of both of us. You have to hang in there and can't panic." After playing four games against the Brewers, the Cubs host the Braves for three, and they then close the first half against the Cardinals. If they get hot, they have a chance to move up in the division before the break. "We're fortunate in that the division is competitive, and even though we're one game below .500, we're still in this race," Piniella said. "People don't realize how much baseball there is to be played, and how much can happen." Pitching matchupCHC: RHP Carlos Zambrano (4-3, 3.69 ERA)
Zambrano is winless in his past four starts, and he was roughed up by the White Sox in his last outing. The right-hander gave up five runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings, his shortest outing since a 4 2/3 inning start on May 22. Manager Lou Piniella's assessment? "He was so-so," Piniella said. Zambrano has faced the Brewers once -- on April 11 -- and did not receive a decision. He finished June with a 1-1 record and a 2.91 ERA in five starts. MIL: RHP Jeff Suppan (5-6, 4.86 ERA)
Suppan gave up three runs in a 41-pitch second inning in his last start, but managed to give the Brewers 5 2/3 innings. He bounced back with a four-pitch third inning to extend himself into the sixth, giving up five runs on nine hits. Suppan faced the Mets earlier this year, earning the victory in a 4-2 Brewers win on April 19. He went six innings in that outing, giving up the two runs on eight hits, striking out four. Suppan has faced the Mets 10 times in his career, going 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA. Tidbits
Jose Ascanio threw four scoreless innings, striking out seven, in Iowa's 1-0, 14-inning loss to Oklahoma City. ... Jeremy Papelbon threw five shutout innings in Tennessee's 3-1 loss to Huntsville. ... Ryan Searle gave up four runs on seven hits in Daytona's 5-2 loss to Jupiter. ... Peoria lost, 3-2, to Kane County. ... The starting time for the July 6 game between the Braves has been changed to 6:05 p.m. CT. ... Bill Kurtis led the Wrigley Field crowd in the seventh-inning stretch Thursday. On Friday, it'll be Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker. Saturday, it's Cubs TV broadcaster Len Kasper, and Sunday will be Bears tight end Greg Olsen. Monday, it's '70s night at Wrigley, and actor Erik Estrada will sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Next Tuesday, it's comedian Tom Dreesen. Wednesday is to be determined. On July 10, Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews will sing, followed July 11 by Bulls center Brad Miller. The doubleheader July 12 will feature NASCAR driver Kurt Busch in the day game, and Ron Santo for the night game. Tickets
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• Saturday: Cubs (Rich Harden, 5-4, 4.57) vs. Brewers (Braden Looper, 6-4, 4.90), 12:05 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Cubs (Ted Lilly, 7-6, 3.35) vs. Brewers (Mike Burns, 1-1, 3.31), 1:20 p.m. CT
• Monday: Cubs (Randy Wells, 3-3, 2.43) vs. Braves (Derek Lowe, 7-6, 4.44), 6:05 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.
