CUBS IN BRIEF: Wells eager to prove to Lou he is no 'fill-in'

SAN FRANCISCO -- Manager Lou Piniella said it. And Randy Wells wasn't happy about it. And it might be one more reason for the Cubs to like the way their pitching staff looks heading into next season.

Wells, the rookie right-hander who has been the team's biggest surprise success story, gave up two runs early and lost for the 10th time Sunday -- after which Piniella gave Wells a pass, focusing on the importance of Wells pitching deep into September for the first time as a pro and calling anything he does in his final start ''a bonus.''

But Wells (11-10) was upset about giving up runs in the first and second innings, said he could have been better in a start against one-time Cy Young candidate Matt Cain and wanted no part of the ''bonus'' idea.

''I don't believe that at all, no. I hate that,'' he said. ''I'm not here as a sideshow or a fill-in. I want to stay here. I want to be part of the rotation next year. And I hate that.

''I'm here to pitch, and I'm here to pitch for a long time. And I don't like losing. I hate losing. I hate walks. I hate cheap base hits when you could have prevented them. All that is stuff for me to build off of and learn from and try to be even better next year.''

Wells certainly will get the chance. He already is penciled in among the top four in the 2010 rotation, assuming the Cubs don't add a starter over the winter. And that learning curve probably shouldn't be underestimated. Wells (11-10) has pitched 184 1/3 innings between the majors and minors -- 53 more than he has pitched previously at any level.

''We're pleased with his performance, and it's good that he's getting extended all the way through the end of September,'' Piniella said. ''You have to do that as a major-league pitcher, so you might as well get used to it.''

Not only might the Cubs not bother looking for more pitching in the offseason, but the staff -- even most of the roles -- might be set.

In addition to Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster and Wells in the rotation, Tom Gorzelanny probably has a leg up on the final starters job heading to next spring in a fifth-spot battle that should include Jeff Samardzija and Sean Marshall.

At least one of the fifth-starter candidates would wind up in a seven-man bullpen, along with closer Carlos Marmol, Angel Guzman and Aaron Heilman. Assuming John Grabow is re-signed and Esmailin Cardidad pitches next spring as he has this September, that would leave one opening for such candidates as Jeff Stevens, David Patton and Justin Berg.

''Our pitching is pretty settled,'' Piniella said.

Derrek Lee missed his third game in a row since aggravating the herniated disc in his neck Thursday night but said he expects to play Tuesday, when the Cubs open their final homestand.

••Reliever Kevin Gregg (sore rib) felt better after throwing on the side and could be ready to pitch Tuesday for the first time in more than a week.