Cubs rift story remains 'a shock' to DeRosa

June 20, 2009

Mark DeRosa doesn't know how the story started that his trade from the Cubs to the Cleveland Indians was caused by a rift with manager Lou Piniella.

''That was a shock to me,'' DeRosa said Friday, his first time at Wrigley Field since the offseason trade. ''I was interviewed by someone who asked if I thought Lou was the reason I was traded. I said I didn't know the reason, and that you look at numbers and that is probably what goes into a trade.''

DeRosa said he had a good relationship with Piniella, who arrived in 2007 when DeRosa did.

''There was never one moment in two years we didn't see eye-to-eye,'' he said. ''His door was always open. He spoke directly to you -- sometimes very directly.''

General manager Jim Hendry repeatedly has said there was no problem between Piniella and DeRosa and that the Cubs always regarded DeRosa highly. Hendry said again this week that DeRosa was traded to open a spot for a left-hander in the lineup -- that player becoming switch-hitting outfielder Milton Bradley.

DeRosa is hitting .281 with 13 home runs -- one fewer than Alfonso Soriano -- and has 49 RBI, more than any Cub.

DeRosa's first day back saw him draw a huge cheer when his name was announced in the visitors' lineup, then a standing ovation in his first at-bat. Kerry Wood got one of his own before pitching in the ninth.

Piniella thought the tributes were well deserved.

''I liked it,'' he said. ''I tip my cap to them, too.''

Jake Fox had his first start as a third baseman Friday, handling three chances but going 0-for-4 with a walk.

''I've been hoping for a chance to play,'' Fox said. ''Hopefully, I can put together some good at-bats and play some good defense.''

Fox and Micah Hoffpauir should see more action next week when the Cubs use a designated hitter in Detroit and at U.S. Cellular Field. But Piniella has been anxious to get Fox and his .357 average in the lineup despite his defensive limitations.

''Look, he's been working over there with [bench coach] Alan [Trammell],'' Piniella said. ''The young man swings the bat. We've got to find a place for him, so we're going to put him at third base against left-handed pitching and see what he does. He deserves a chance to play somewhere.''

Piniella said Fox and lefty Hoffpauir could DH next week or play first base or the outfield if Piniella chooses to rest a regular like Derrek Lee or Soriano by using him as the DH.

Angel Guzman was nursing tenderness on his right side after throwing 30 pitches Wednesday against the White Sox, but Piniella said it's not serious. He is expected to be available today.

Piniella was more anxious to use Carlos Marmol more frequently. Marmol hadn't pitched for four days before coming in Thursday and giving up two runs on three hits against the Sox in two-thirds of an inning.

''We haven't been winning, so you tend to not use your setup people,'' Piniella said. ''He didn't seem as sharp [Thursday]. I told our pitching coach [Larry Rothschild] we'll make sure he doesn't sit for more than two days [from now on]. There's a fine balance with your bullpen where you use them a little bit too much or they sit just a little bit too long.

''One thing that's helped our bullpen is we've been able to incorporate [left-hander Sean] Marshall into our scheme of things. It allows the right-handers to rest a little more.''