Cubs notebook: Kendall in for Soto for Game 3
Lou Piniella has decided to leave his most powerful postseason weapon on the bench.
<p class="MsoNormal">Piniella said veteran Jason Kendall would catch today in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against Arizona, and rookie Geovany Soto will sit.
<p class="MsoNormal">Twice Friday during a news conference, the Cubs skipper was asked about the move and refused to elaborate.
<p class="MsoNormal">Later, Piniella told the Daily Southtown: "We have a young pitcher (Rich Hill), and I'm going to catch my experienced catcher."
<p class="MsoNormal">It also probably didn't hurt that Kendall, who lost his starting job to Soto in recent weeks, is hitting .355 lifetime (11-for-31) against today's Diamondbacks starter, Livan Hernandez.
<p class="MsoNormal">Soto is hitting just .167 in the two playoff games but has the Cubs' lone home run of the postseason and has driven in two of their five runs.
<p class="MsoNormal">Lilly wants another chance
<p class="MsoNormal">There are many Cubs fans hoping with all their might that their heroes sweep two NLDS games at Wrigley Field to send the best-of-five series back to Phoenix for a decisive Game 5 on Tuesday.
<p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps the Cub who has the most hope that it becomes a reality is left-hander Ted Lilly. The Cubs pitcher, who'd get the start in Game 5, wants a chance to make up for his awful performance in Game 2, when he allowed<span style=""> </span>six runs in 3 1/3 innings in an 8-4 loss Thursday night at Chase Field.
<p class="MsoNormal">"This is something I'm going to have a hard time with," Lilly said.
<p class="MsoNormal">"Certainly, I want to get another opportunity to pitch and redeem myself. I didn't do us much good in a big game. You look over the season and I could care less how many games I won. It's a matter of once you get to the postseason, winning here is what it's all about. I'll continue to work the next few days and prepare for Tuesday."
<p class="MsoNormal">A radio reporter told Lilly that last week Cubs pitcher Steve Trachsel said he was too strong for a recent start against Florida because of a lengthy time off between starts. Lilly was allowed to pitch just two innings Sunday as a tuneup for Thursday.
<p class="MsoNormal">Lilly made a sour face at the reporter and said, "You know what? I've got absolutely zero excuses. I guess if I wanted to find excuses, I could come up with some B.S. But I don't think that's going to get me anywhere."
<p class="MsoNormal">Throwing a mitt fit
<p class="MsoNormal">If the Cubs lose this series, Lilly's throwdown of his glove after he gave up a second-inning homer to Chris Young could go down in Cubs video infamy, along with the Steve Bartman play and the Leon Durham miscue.
<p class="MsoNormal">Soto called for a curveball but Lilly shook him off. Lilly went with a fastball but left it up and Young put it out.
<p class="MsoNormal">"I was upset with myself for not executing the pitch," Lilly said. "I still believe if I located that ball I'd get a good result."
<p class="MsoNormal">Looking good
<p class="MsoNormal">From the stands, it appeared the maligned Wrigley Field outfield is in much better shape since it was resodded during the final week of the regular season.
<p class="MsoNormal">During the final homestand, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh players complained the outfield was dangerous, calling it, among other things, a cow pasture and a monster truck rally arena.
<p class="MsoNormal">How improved the field really is will be judged today by the outfielders.
<p class="MsoNormal">-- The Daily Southtown