The bullpen appears to be the biggest challenge facing the Cubs in the early going, but it looks as if the team will ride things out, at least for a little while.
General manager Jim Hendry has been in Des Moines watching the Class AAA Iowa affiliate, but it's unlikely he'll bring a reliever back with him when he returns to the big club later this week. The question has arisen because of the spotty performances by a bullpen that has allowed 27 hits and 25 walks in 38 innings.
Most vexing has been lefty Neal Cotts, who has given up four hits and four walks while hitting a batter in 2 2/3 innings. Manager Lou Piniella said the Cubs need for Cotts to start throwing strikes.
For the first two games of the series against the Reds, beginning Tuesday, the Cubs will send Sean Marshall to the 'pen, giving them a pair of lefty relievers. That will give Piniella another option from the left side and possibly take some of the pressure off Cotts, who threw well for most of spring training.
The name drawing interest at Iowa is righty Jeff Samardzija, who was optioned out at the end of spring training after pitching out of the 'pen for the Cubs for much of the second half last year. Samardzija is in Iowa's rotation, and he turned in a gem Saturday, giving up one hit and two runs in six innings. However, it's likely the Cubs will leave Samardzija at Iowa, at least for the time being, so that he can work on developing a full repertoire of pitches to go with an above-average fastball and splitter.
