WASHINGTON -- A large contingent of Cubs went on a tour of the White House Friday, including Derrek Lee, Carlos Zambrano, Reed Johnson, Jake Fox, Micah Hoffpauir and Sam Fuld.

They also took family members and friends with them but didn't get a chance to meet with President Barack Obama.

"It was cool to see the White House," Lee said.

Lee had been at the White House once before, during a dinner with President George W. Bush and other players in 2006.

During a trip to the White House press room, Fox had a picture of himself taken on his phone, standing in front of the podium with the presidential seal in the background.

"Scary, isn't it?" Fox said.

How about the one of Zambrano in the same pose?

Unless there is a constitutional amendment, there's no chance the Venezuelan native ever will preside in the White House.

Rotation watch: Sean Marshall may have to move back to the rotation if Ted Lilly can't rebound from his knee problems. Despite some injuries, and inconsistency from Rich Harden, the Cubs' starters rank third in the National League with a 3.77 ERA.

"We've pitched really, really well, and without Lilly stepping up to pitch the way he pitched the first half, we wouldn't be in the spot we're in," Marshall said. "It's unfortunate about [Ryan] Dempster's toe injury, but stuff like that happens. It's just crazy it happened during the middle of the season. We've had Randy Wells step up; he has been awesome."

Extra innings: Several Cubs, including Johnson, Dempster and Ryan Theriot, will visit war veterans hospitalized at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Saturday. ... Theriot is one of five shortstops with 100 or more hits.