The Cubs returned home Thursday after a 2-4 road trip, but there appeared to be no panic despite a mediocre 10-11 start to the season that included an 8-2, 10-inning loss to the Marlins on Thursday night.
Alfonso Soriano, who has questioned the team's intensity of late, said a meeting might be necessary if the inconsistent play continues. "We're supposed to play better than what we're playing right now," said Soriano, who insisted team chemistry is good.
The Cubs have been without middle-of-the-order players Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Milton Bradley for stretches, but general manager Jim Hendry was not using injuries as an excuse.
"We haven't played well; a lot of guys just aren't hitting," Hendry said. "When you have a lot of good players not hitting at the same time or maybe a clump of guys maybe not throwing as well as they can, then you're going to lose some ballgames."
Manager Lou Piniella said the Cubs' rankings in batting (11th), pitching (12th in ERA) and fielding (eighth) would have to rise.
"Until those numbers improve, you can have all the meetings you want," Piniella said. "We can send them to a spa."
MARLINS 8, CUBS 2 (10 innings): The Marlins batted around against Cubs relievers Aaron Heilman and Angel Guzman for six runs in the 10th. LHP Sean Marshall started for the Cubs and turned in seven innings of one-run ball. But setup man Carlos Marmol blew a save in the eighth, with two walks and a throwing error.
