The Cubs get a two-fer with Teddy Ballgame today. Lefty Ted Lilly will go on the DL with an inflamed left shoulder. He'll also have his left knee scoped Monday. He expects to miss 4-5 starts. That's probably an optimistic view. My guess he's out at least a month.
To take Lilly's spot on the roster, the Cubs called up Justin Berg from Class AAA Iowa. Berg is a sinkerballer who will go to the bullpen. At Iowa, he was 4-1 with a 2.00 ERA. He allowed only 1 homer in 36 innings. Pitching has been a problem at Iowa this season. Mitch Atkins had another rough outing in a 16-8 loss last night, when the Cubs had to use infielder Nate Spears to finish on the mound.
Lilly said the shoulder "got my attention" the day after his rough start in Philly this week.
The upshot is that once Ryan Dempster comes off the DL, the Cubs will have a rotaton of Carlos Zambrano, Dempster, Rich Harden, Randy Wells and Kevin Hart. Lou did not seem to think the Cubs would try to acquire a veteran starting pitcher in a trade.
Lou also said veteran reliever B.J. Ryan will report to Iowa Monday. The reports say Ryan has been throwing well in Arizona. He could join Sean Marshall as a second lefty in the pen before long. Lou called Marshall "an interesting choice" to rejoin the rotation but that for now, that choice would leave the Cubs without a lefty in the pen.
"I don't think that's the best of all worlds," Lou said.
Lineup
Johnson, Cf
Theriot, SS
Lee, 1B
Ramirez, 3B
Fukudome, RF
Soriano, LF
Fontenot, 2B
Hill, C
Hart, P
