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ST. LOUIS - ESPN analyst Joe Morgan asked manager Lou Piniella during Sunday night's telecast if he had contemplated moving Alfonso Soriano down in the order.
Piniella didn't chide Morgan but pointed out that he has been asked about it "for quite a while."
"I played with Bobby Bonds in New York, and we traded for him from the Giants for Bobby Murcer," Piniella told Morgan. "And we put him in the 4 hole, and boy, he floundered. And all of a sudden, two months into the season, we put him back where he was familiar in that 1 hole and he really, really flourished and just had 40-40 (steals and home runs) and over 100 RBIs and was the great player he always was.
"I think Soriano is the same type of player as Bobby Bonds, so I like him in the 1 hole. He feels comfortable there."
Piniella was referring to Bonds' 1975 season in New York, though his memory was a little off. Bonds was moved to the No. 3 hole, where he hit .190 with a .301 on-base percentage, not the 4 hole, where he received only four at-bats. In the leadoff spot, Bonds hit .303 that year with a .408 on-base percentage and 25 home runs. And Bonds actually was a 30-30 man in `75, not 40-40. He finished with 32 homers, 30 steals and 85 RBIs.
EYRE IN LIMBO Scott Eyre continues to rehab in the minors, but his return date remains uncertain.
Piniella said Saturday he expected the left-handed reliever back in four or five days, but general manager Jim Hendry said Sunday there was no rush.
Hendry said assistant GM Randy Bush was watching Eyre pitch back-to-back games this week at Double-A Tennessee.
"I think we're going to do a couple more sessions to make sure he's really good when he comes back," Hendry said. "It's not like we've got to hurry up and force him."
Sean Marshall has done a credible job as the only left-handed pitcher in the bullpen, though he has pitched only six innings in 11 appearances.
"He's much improved from last year," Hendry said. "Now he'll get some more innings out of the pen that Jon (Lieber) is giving up (after moving to the rotation). So that will stretch him out for a start later, and (Sean) Gallagher is going to be a starter later, so we have some depth there."
EXTRA INNINGS Aramis Ramirez sat out Sunday's game with continued soreness in his left wrist. "No sense rushing this thing," Piniella said. ... The rumored trade of Felix Pie for San Diego shortstop Khalil Greene has not been discussed, Cubs sources said. ... Daryle Ward has some tightness in his hamstring, but Piniella said "running isn't his forte anyway."
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(c) 2008, Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Mclatchy-Tribune News Service.
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