Manager Lou Piniella admitted he is still learning about his bullpen, which was nearly completely reconstructed during the offseason. Only RHP Carlos Marmol remains from the bullpen that opened the 2008 season. Of most concern to Piniella was the high number of walks the relievers were issuing. He said he and his coaching staff come from "the school" that says pitchers should make hitters beat them by hitting the ball, not by getting a free pass on base.
PLAYER NEWS: --LF Alfonso Soriano now has five homers, including two key late-inning blasts. He won Friday's game with a two-out homer in the eighth. On April 11 at Milwaukee, he hit a two-run blast at Milwaukee that proved to be the game-winner.
--CF Kosuke Fukudome doubled, giving him eight extra-base hits in his last eight games. He has hit safely in seven of his last eight games. He's 13-for-31 (.419) during that stretch. He has eight walks, tying him for the team lead with 2B Mike Fontenot.
--1B Derrek Lee has enjoyed multi-hit games in three of his last four games. He was 2-for-5 Friday with two runs scored. Lee is 7-for-15 (.467) in those four games.
MEDICAL WATCH:
3B Aramis Ramirez (sore back) sat out April 13-15. He returned to action April 16.
RF Milton Bradley (right groin strain) left the April 12 game and didn't play April 13-15. He appeared as a pinch hitter April 16.
ROTATION:
RHP Carlos Zambrano
RHP Ryan Dempster
LHP Ted Lilly
RHP Rich Harden
LHP Sean Marshall
BULLPEN:
RHP Kevin Gregg (closer)
RHP Carlos Marmol
RHP Aaron Heilman
LHP Neal Cotts
RHP Luis Vizcaino
RHP Angel Guzman
RHP David Patton
CATCHERS:
Geovany Soto
Koyie Hill
INFIELDERS:
1B Derrek Lee
2B Mike Fontenot
SS Ryan Theriot
3B Aramis Ramirez
INF Aaron Miles
1B/OF Micah Hoffpauir
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Alfonso Soriano
CF Kosuke Fukudome
RF Milton Bradley
OF Reed Johnson
OF Joey Gathright
