--Manager Lou Piniella wouldn't commit to his starting rotation past Tuesday, when RHP Jason Marquis will start against San Diego. The Cubs officially are undecided for Wednesday and Thursday's games against the Padres, but Piniella said he is leaning toward LHP Ted Lilly for Wednesday and RHP Ryan Dempster for Thursday.
--RHP Jon Lieber "is in the bullpen right now," manager Lou Piniella said Monday. Lieber started and lasted only two innings last Wednesday at Cincinnati. But with RHP Sean Gallagher getting an emergency start Sunday against Arizona, the Cubs are left without a long man, so that duty falls to Lieber. Piniella may have to choose between Lieber and Gallagher for a starter Friday, depending on whether Lieber comes out of the pen in the San Diego series. --RF Kosuke Fukudome has appeared in 37 of the Cubs' 38 games this year. Manager Lou Piniella said he'll eventually have to give Fukudome a break now and then. Piniella said 140-145 games would be "pretty nice" for Fukudome to play. Fukudome walked a season-high three times in Monday's 12-3 win over the Padres.
--SS Ryan Theriot was on base four times in Monday's 12-3 victory over San Diego. He was 2-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored. Theriot is batting .375 (12-for-32) over his last nine games. His OBP for the season is .416.
--1B Derrek Lee has a home hitting streak of 11 games. Lee is batting .365 (31-for-85) with 17 RBIs at home compared with .271 (19-for-70) with 10 RBIs on the road.
BY THE NUMBERS: 168 -- The Cubs took 168 walks into this week (36 games). At that pace, they would draw 756 bases on balls for the season. The club record is 650, set in 1975. This trend continues to be a marked departure for a team that valued free-swinging. The Cubs now are balancing aggressiveness and selectivity. The Cubs had 113 walks through 36 games last year.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I was a little scared because it's a little cold, but I think I'm OK. I just want to feel comfortable with my legs." -- Soriano on continuing to be cautious with his legs.
