Now that Jim Edmonds officially is a member of the Cubs, manager Lou Piniella will have to divide playing time in center field between Edmonds and Reed Johnson.
Edmonds is a left-handed batter, and Johnson hits right-handed. With the Pirates throwing three left-handed starting pitchers at the Cubs this weekend, Johnson probably will get all of the starts, with Edmonds seeing time late in games, if the team needs a double switch.
"Johnson deserves playing time, and he's done a nice job," Piniella said Thursday. "We're going to give both of them ample at-bats."
Edmonds made his Cubs debut Thursday in a 4-0 victory over the Padres, who released him last week. He went 1-for-4 with a strikeout, and he handled a pair of chances in center.
He batted .178 in 26 games for the Padres.
"I felt like I was starting to play a little bit better and starting to get my feet underneath me," said Edmonds, who was slowed in spring training by a calf injury.
He batted sixth in the Cubs' lineup Thursday.
CUBS 4, PADRES 0: Ryan Dempster struck out a career-best 12 and came within two outs of a complete game. He walked one and gave up six hits. During one span, he retired 15 Padres in a row. Derrek Lee hit a two-run double during a four-run fifth inning to chase San Diego starter Greg Maddux. Kerry Wood earned his eighth save in 11 chances.
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ok guys and gals.. this offense is pathetic and needs a lift from the outside..
a spark is needed.. i dont care where he comes from but i think we need a guy who can leadoff, steal bases, play 2nd base, and provide some excitement in this helpless offense..
derosa needs to go to the bench and provide the punch off the bench..
