April 23, 2011

Daily Herald Pitching a concern for Cubs By: Bruce Miles

You know it's a bad day when a relief throws 89 pitches.

Or when your throws 51 in one inning.

That's how it went for the Cubs on Friday in a malodorous 12-2 loss to the Dodgers at Wrigley Field.

There wasn't a whole lot of good to be found for the Cubs, who find themselves scrambling for both starting pitching and relief pitching.

Casey Coleman, who generally has been creditable as a starter since coming up last year, could not get out of the third, when the Dodgers scored 6 runs. He ran his pitch count to 90.

Jeff Stevens came in and tossed 89 pitches, walking 6 in 3 innings but earning praise from manager Mike Quade for at least eating innings and saving the pen.

In the end, the Cubs found themselves a game below .500 again at 9-10.

“Oh, man,” Quade said. “One of those things. I don't think I've seen Casey like that since he got here last year. He just looked completely out of sync from the get-go. I really don't have a clue why. He was missing down, and when you sit there and watch, that's kind of what we want. But obviously not that often.”

Coleman will get a mulligan, said Quade, who will talk to the Cubs brass about possibly bringing up a pitcher from the minor leagues to start next Tuesday. That could be from among Jay Jackson, Thomas Diamond, Ramon Ortiz or Austin Bibens-Dirkx.

The Cubs also may have to look to bullpen help from Iowa, where Scott Maine and have done well.

“I don't know; we're going to talk about that,” Quade said. “Jeff (Stevens) is going to be down for 2-3 days or whatever. We've got to be very careful tomorrow.”

Coleman (1-1, 7.42 ERA) said he may have to develop a four-seam fastball to go along with his two- seamer to get some consistency of movement. In his 2 innings, he gave up 6 hits while walking four.

“You've got to move on,” he said. “You've got to look at the video; I've already looked at it a little bit.

There were some positives. I made some good pitches, like to Matt Kemp, (2 ) in big situations. There are going to be times where you're inconsistent, and that was definitely today.”

After Friday, it's hard to believe the Cubs shared first place in the NL Central for a day this week. Before the game, Quade talked of staying there.

“I'd love for us to separate ourselves from them in the right direction,” he said. “I believe that this is what the division is. Somebody's going to take the bull by the horns and play better than we have. I don't think .500's going to win this division. I look at our games against Milwaukee, against Houston. We'll see Cincy and St. Louis. It just seems like it could go any way. I guess time will tell.”

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Daily Herald Lilly recalls good times with Cubs and Dempster By: Bruce Miles

Ted Lilly and Ryan Dempster were fast friends during their years together with the Cubs.

On Saturday, they’ll be opponents as Dempster’s Cubs take on Lilly’s Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field. Lilly sounded Friday like he couldn’t wait.

“I couldn’t ask for a better situation,” said Lilly, a Cub from the beginning of the 2007 season through July 31 of last year, when the Cubs traded him to the Dodgers. “I can’t sit here and tell you how much respect I have for him for a person first and foremost in what I was able to learn from being around him about the way that he treated people, the way that he loved this opportunity to pitch in the major leagues, the way he would deal with adversity off the field and on the field.”

Then Lilly caught himself.

“I could kind of ... wow... without getting emotional, I don’t know how anyone could have created someone that was as unselfish as Ryan,” he said.

Lilly and Dempster also were mainstays of a pitching staff that helped the Cubs to division titles in 2007 and 2008. The Cubs didn’t win a playoff game in either of those seasons, something Lilly said still sticks with him. However, he said the overall experience in Chicago is one he won’t forget, and for good reasons.

“I have the fondest memories of my life living here in this city, Chicago, amongst the Midwestern people, the Midwestern way of life,” he said. “From a perspective, we had a lot of fun. These are a great group of guys, quite a few special friends.

“But there’s a little hole in that when I originally signed here, I had built up these dreams and aspirations of trying to be a member of the Cubs team that won the World Series. We fell short of that, so there’s a gap in the experience that way. I thought that was one of the responsibilities that (left fielder Alfonso) Soriano and myself had in coming over here, and some of the other guys. With that being said, I believe that we pushed ourselves. We continued to look for ways to get better, and we weren’t able to get it done. That would have been the ultimate, to win a World Series here. That was the dream.”

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Daily Herald Cashner, Wells progressing through rehab By: Bruce Miles

Cubs and took the next steps Friday in their cautious injury rehabs. Both played light sessions of catch from up to 60 feet on the outfield grass.

Cashner has been on the disabled list since April 8 with a strained right rotator cuff. Wells went on the DL the same day with a strained right forearm. Each pitcher threw about 35-40 tosses.

“I threw the ball well, and everything feels good, no pain,” Cashner said. “I was excited for today. I got to throw the ball and be a part of the team again.”

Because of the nature of the injuries, Wells is probably ahead of Cashner in terms of when each will return to the rotation, although the Cubs don’t have a timetable for either.

“I’ve never been hurt before, so I’ve just got to take my time and try not to rush anything,” Wells said.

The Cubs are trying to hold things together in the fourth and fifth spots of the rotation with and James Russell. Coleman was hit for 6 runs in 2 innings Friday, and Russell has been ineffective in 2 starts.

Cubs manager Mike Quade sid he had “no idea” who would pitch next Tuesday when Russell’s turn rolls around again. It seems Quade would like the Cubs to dip into the minor leagues but that he wouldn’t rule Russell out.

“Not completely,” he said. “If we have another option, if we have somebody that’s ready, I would like to explore that. Everything’s on the table.”

Innings eater:

The numbers didn’t look pretty, but reliever Jeff Stevens helped save the Cubs bullpen Friday in their 12- 2 loss to the Dodgers. Coming on in the third inning, Stevens worked 3 innings, throwing 89 pitches and walking six. It was a career high innings for Stevens, who became the first Cubs reliever to throw at least that many pitches since Angel Guzman tossed 96 in 5 innings in 2006.

“What a job by Jeff Stevens,” Mike Quade said. “Are you kidding me? We’ll see how the rest of this series goes, but those innings he gave us were incredible.”

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Cubs.com Coleman unravels in third as Cubs fall Right-hander waits out rain delay, allows six runs in final frame By: Carrie Muskat

CHICAGO -- Casey Coleman had to wait 1 hour and 14 minutes for Friday's game to start. Unfortunately for the right-hander, his outing was shorter than the rain delay.

Coleman gave up six runs on six hits in the third inning as the Dodgers roughed up the Cubs, 12-2. Juan Uribe hit a RBI single, a two-run homer and a to back Chad Billingsley (2-1), who scattered seven hits over 6 1/3 innings.

The weather wasn't the problem. During Coleman's bullpen session on Tuesday at Wrigley Field, he had to throw in much nastier conditions, trying to focus despite strong winds, heavy rain and cold. That night's game was postponed because of the inclement weather. Friday actually felt warm, he said.

"I just didn't use [the elements] to my advantage like I should have," Coleman said.

Making his third start in place of Randy Wells, who is on the disabled list with a strained right forearm, Coleman (1-1) gave up six runs on six hits and four walks over 2 2/3 innings. He needed 31 pitches to get through the first inning and only eight to retire the side in the second.

Things went haywire in the third as the Dodgers sent 11 batters to the plate. With one out, Jamey Carroll doubled, Casey Blake singled and Andre Ethier hit a RBI single, extending his hit streak to 19 games. One out later, Uribe smacked a RBI single to make it 2-0. Coleman then walked James Loney to load the bases and followed that with a walk to Jerry Sands to force in a run.

A.J. Ellis added a two-run single and Billingsley hit a RBI single to make it 6-0 and chase Coleman, who threw 51 pitches in the inning. The six runs were the most by the Dodgers in a single inning since they scored six in the second last July 3 at Arizona.

"I didn't do a good job slowing down the game like you should," Coleman said. "I had in my mind I was going to make that one pitch to get out of the inning and I was like, 'Let's go, let's do it,' and Carlos [Pena] and [Geovany Soto] were there telling me, 'Get that ground ball, we're going to do it for you.'

"I was so ready to get it and get out of that inning, I got myself in too much of a hurry. One after another, even if I got ahead of a guy, I let him right back into the count and didn't execute some pitches late in the count, and they were able to get some singles."

Cubs manager Mike Quade was surprised.

"I don't think I've seen Casey like that since he got here last year," Quade said of Coleman's first big league outing last Aug. 2 when he gave up six runs on eight hits over 2 1/3 innings against the Brewers.

"He looked completely out of sync from the get go. I really haven't a clue why. He was missing down, and you watch him and that's kind of what we want, but not that often. Just a tough day for him."

Coleman will stay in the rotation.

"Absolutely," Quade said. "I think people are allowed a mulligan or two. He's been fine."

The hero of the day was Cubs reliever Jeff Stevens, who threw nearly as many pitches as Coleman, 89, and was able to go a career-high 3 1/3 innings. He served up Uribe's two-run homer in the fourth and also walked the bases loaded in the sixth, setting up Uribe's sac fly.

"If they asked me to throw 200 pitches, I would've thrown 200 pitches," Stevens said. "We needed to pick up Casey today and I thought we did a good job of it."

However, Stevens won't be available Saturday and may not be on the list Sunday either. The Cubs are a little thin, especially with reliever James Russell filling in for Andrew Cashner in the rotation.

Billingsley benefited from the big lead. Aramis Ramirez singled with one out in the fourth, the first hit off the Dodgers' starter, and reached third when Marlon Byrd hit into a fielder's choice before scoring on a passed ball against Ellis. Darwin Barney added a RBI single with one out in the Cubs seventh.

"The guy knows how to pitch and like most veterans, he knows how to pitch with a lead," Quade said of Billingsley.

It's been a crazy week for the Dodgers, what with taking over their day-to-day operations.

"I just asked them to be ready to play," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "We talked about it in , what we expected from them, so there would be no surprises. They've been great."

Coleman will be ready next time. He had already looked at video by the time the game ended and was ready to move on. He's considering adding a four-seam fastball to his repertoire that would have less movement than his two-seamer but is one he can locate better, especially down and away. He's already moved on from Friday's game.

"I'm not worried about this," Coleman said. "You want to go out there every time and give your team a chance to win and that's been my goal every time out. ... Today, it didn't come out that way."

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Cubs.com Dempster meets Lilly as friend, foe By: Carrie Muskat

CHICAGO -- Ted Lilly was there for Ryan Dempster both as a teammate and as a friend, but on Saturday, they will square off for the first time on opposite sides.

Lilly will start for the Dodgers while Dempster will go for the Cubs in the second of this three-game series between the two teams at Wrigley Field. The Dodgers won the first game, 12-2.

"I think the guys in the lineup, I love the thought of facing them, to pitch against my ex-teammates, and I'm pretty sure they are all itching to get in the box and hit one back at my face," Lilly said.

Dempster was presented with a check for $45,000 prior to the game, from proceeds raised by sales of the Cookbook, which Lilly helped to coordinate.

Friday also was 22q Awareness Day at Wrigley, hosted by Dempster. Fans received a special Dempster photo card and support bracelets. Dempster also hosted 175 kids, nurses and supporters in the fight against 22q. Abby Oates, who is affected by 22q, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Dempster's daughter, Riley, who turned 2 on April 1, has 22q, which also is known as DiGeorge Syndrome.

"The Cubs played a big part in all of this and being supportive of us and the foundation," Dempster said. "Something like this has never happened for 22q to be at a Major League ballpark and create huge awareness. I can't say, 'Thank you,' enough."

It's perfect timing to have Lilly back at Wrigley Field.

"He was a big help to me going through everything when Riley was born," Dempster said. "He broadened his shoulders to help take some of the pressure off me and relieve me of a lot of the stress, and not just that but he's contributed financially and emotionally.

"It's been overwhelming," Dempster said. "He's a true, true friend of mine."

Lilly feels the same.

"We have a mutual feeling of gratefulness to have the opportunity to do this, to play Major League Baseball," Lilly said. "We both love the game. We love the spirit of competition. There's a commonality between each other and competition is the best way to do it.

"He's my brother from another mother."

On Saturday, that friendship will be on hold.

"That's the best," Dempster said. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Some of your best competitors are your best friends. I've competed against him for as long as I've known him. He'll bring out the best in me, and I hope I do the same."

The two will likely get together for dinner Friday night.

"I'll get to see him a whole bunch today and go out there and beat his butt tomorrow," Dempster said.

Castro bats third against Dodgers

CHICAGO -- Starlin Castro ranks among the National League leaders in hits, multihit games and batting average, and on Friday, he was in the No. 3 spot in the batting order for the second game for the Cubs. That's asking a lot from a 21-year-old.

"I'll do the same," Castro said Friday. "Leadoff, second, anywhere. I'll do my work."

Castro batted third in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader, but that was partly because manager Mike Quade gave Marlon Byrd the day off. Castro went 1-for-4 with a walk on Friday while Byrd, batting in the sixth spot, also had a hit in four at-bats.

"It's just a function of a little bit of everything -- a little performance, matchups, a lot of different stuff," Quade said of his lineup, which he promised would change on Saturday.

Castro began the season in the No. 2 hole and batted .286 there. He was moved into the leadoff spot and thrived, hitting .463. On Wednesday in the No. 3 spot, he went 1-for-4.

"With 'Cassie' there, it's just that I think he can handle it and he's playing well enough to use him as an option in the three-hole," Quade said. "I'm comfortable with him 1-2-3 right now."

Aramis Ramirez, who is the Cubs' No. 4 hitter, said he didn't expect Castro to change his approach.

"He has to do the same thing, just in a different spot in the order," Ramirez said. "There's a little more responsibility because you'll have RBI chances, but it's the same thing."

Cashner, Wells begin throwing programs

CHICAGO -- Andrew Cashner and Randy Wells felt like pitchers again on Friday.

The two Cubs starting pitchers, both on the disabled list, began their throwing programs in the rain at Wrigley Field prior to the team's 12-2 loss to the Dodgers, with each throwing about 40 times on flat ground.

"It was nice to go out and play catch and get the feel of the baseball again," said Wells, who is sidelined with a strained right forearm. "It's a long process. I've never been hurt before. I just have to take my time and try not to rush it."

Wells had a head start. He was allowed to play catch a little bit on Monday before he was re-examined by the team's orthopedic specialist. Cashner has a strained right rotator cuff, and Friday was the first time he was allowed to throw since he made his first Major League start on April 5.

"Everything feels good, no pain," Cashner said. "I was excited to come in today and get to throw the ball and be part of the team again."

There are no timetables for their returns.

"It feels real good -- just need some warm weather now," Cashner said.

Cubs undecided about Tuesday starter

CHICAGO -- The Cubs have yet to name a starter for Tuesday's game against the Rockies, and manager Mike Quade said prior to his club's 12-2 loss to the Dodgers that he wasn't sure if left-hander James Russell would get another start.

Quade said he wanted to meet with general manager Jim Hendry and assistant general manager Randy Bush first, as well as talk to Triple-A Iowa manager Bill Dancy and Double-A Tennessee manager Bryan Harper.

Russell is 0-2 with a 12.71 ERA in his two starts, giving up eight earned runs on 14 hits over 5 2/3 innings so far. Quade hasn't completely ruled out Russell for Tuesday's game. The Cubs are trying to fill Andrew Cashner's spot in the rotation.

"If we have another option, if we have someone who is ready, I'd like to explore that," Quade said. "Everything's on the table still until we take a closer look at it."

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Cubs.com Lilly leads red-hot Dodgers into showdown with Cubs By: Alden Gonzalez

Ryan Dempster and Ted Lilly are as good of friends as it gets, but they'll be opponents at Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoon.

During the second of a three-game series between Lilly's Dodgers and Dempster's Cubs, the two ex- teammates will take the mound against each other. For Lilly, it'll be his first encounter with the Cubs, his team from 2007-10 before he was traded to the Dodgers at the Trade Deadline.

Lilly was dealt to Los Angeles along with Ryan Theriot for Blake DeWitt, Brett Wallach and Kyle Smit, then signed a three-year, $33 million contract in the offseason. The 35-year-old left-hander carried a 6.00 ERA through his first three starts of the year but turned it around against the Braves on Monday with seven shutout innings.

On Saturday, he'll look to keep the momentum going for the Dodgers, who took the series opener, 12-2, and have now won five of their last six games.

To do so, he'll have to beat a good friend.

"He's my brother from another mother," Lilly said of Dempster.

Dempster and Lilly were close during their days in the Cubs' starting rotation together, with Dempster giving Lilly a lot of credit for helping Dempster through the early struggles of his daughter, Riley, who was born with DiGeorge Syndrome.

The 33-year-old Dempster hurled eight shutout innings in his only start against the Dodgers last year and will try to post a similar performance after giving up four runs or more in each of his four starts this season.

Dempster said he was excited to face Lilly.

"That's the best," Dempster said. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Some of your best competitors are your best friends. I've competed against him for as long as I've known him. He'll bring out the best in me, and I hope I do the same."

Dempster's Cubs, meanwhile, are 4-1 against left-handed starters this season. But this will be their first matchup against Lilly.

"I love the thought of facing them, to pitch against my ex-teammates," Lilly said, "and I'm pretty sure they are all itching to get in the box and hit one back at my face."

Dodgers: Ethier keeps rolling

Prior to hurting his finger, Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier started the 2010 season on fire. So far this year, he's doing it again.

After going 1-for-2 with two walks on Friday, Ethier sports a career-high 19-game hitting streak that has him batting .388 on the season. With a hit on Saturday, he'll tie Steve Garvey (1978) for the longest April hitting streak in club history, according to STATS LLC.

The last Dodgers player to notch a 20-game hitting streak in any month was Nomar Garciaparra, who hit in 22 games in a row during the 2006 campaign.

Cubs: Division race is tight

Heading into the season, the National League Central was expected to feature one of the closest races in baseball. And so far, it has lived up to the billing.

Heading into the Cubs' eventual loss to the Dodgers, four teams were separated by a half-game. The Cardinals and Reds, currently playing each other in a three-game series at Busch Stadium, were the leaders at 10-9, with the Cubs and Brewers slightly behind at 9-9.

"I'd love for us to separate ourselves from them in the right direction," Cubs manager Mike Quade said prior to Friday's game. "I believe this is what the division is. Somebody is going to take the bull by the horns and play better than we have. I don't think .500 will win this division. I look at our games against Milwaukee and Houston, and it seems like it could go any way. Time will tell."

Worth noting

• The Dodgers took four of seven games from the Cubs last season despite losing two of three at Wrigley Field.

• Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said on Friday that he was told by a Major League Baseball official that his player payroll will remain "status quo" in the wake of Wednesday's announcement that the club's operations would be taken over by the league.

• Right-hander Vicente Padilla was activated from the 15-day disabled list, with righty Ramon Troncoso being optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque after Thursday's game.

• The Cubs are currently in a stretch of 19 consecutive games against NL West teams from April 15-May 4.

• Starlin Castro batted third for the second consecutive game on Friday, going 1-for-4 with a walk.

• Quade has yet to name a starter for Tuesday's game against the Rockies, and he isn't sure if lefty James Russell would get another start.

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Tribune Cubs as dreary as weather in 12-2 loss Coleman can't get out of 3rd in wild, 90-pitch outing against Dodgers By: Dave van Dyck

It rained on the Cubs on Friday. And rained.

First, it was wet drops from the sky, and then it was Dodgers hits in what turned out to be a completely lost morning/afternoon/early evening.

To be sure, the swarms of seagulls enjoyed the pickings from a 12-2 loss more than the less-than- announced crowd of 36,595 did, especially those who sat through an hour-plus rain delay before the debacle started with the temperature at 41 degrees.

It was a lost cause from the beginning as Cubs starter Casey Coleman struggled through 90 pitches in 2 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on four walks and six hits, one of them a bases-loaded single to pitcher Chad Billingsley.

Of course, the Dodgers have their own black cloud hanging over them, with MLB taking over daily operations, although general manager and Chicago native Ned Colletti saying it was "business as usual" on the field.

The Dodgers got down to business early against Coleman, then added three more against reliever Jeff Stevens, who walked six and allowed three runs in 3 1/3 innings.

"What a job by Jeff Stevens," manager Mike Quade said. "Those innings he gave us were incredible. He saved the bullpen."

Poor Stevens gave himself up for the team as the bullpen is depleted because of short starts and injured starters. He threw a career-high 89 pitches in a career-high 3 1/3 innings, with the six walks in one game the most for a Cubs reliever since Joe Kraemer walked that many on June 12, 1990, against the Mets. And then there was Coleman, making his third start of the season.

"I don't think I've seen Casey like that since he got here last year," Quade said. "He just looked completely out of synch from the get-go."

Will Coleman, who is left with a 7.43 earned-run average, get another start?

"People are allowed a mulligan or two," Quade said.

"You have to move on," Coleman said. "There were some positives. I made some good pitches. There are going to be some times where you're inconsistent and that was today."

If Friday had no other benefit, it reinforced Quade's apparent growing belief Starlin Castro can be a No. 3 hitter despite being the youngest player in the major leagues.

Castro batted third for the second time, with Kosuke Fukudome at leadoff and Marlon Byrd moved down to sixth.

Is that what is permanently on his mind?

"I have nothing in my mind," Quade said. "I have an almost-guaranteed different lineup (for Saturday vs. lefty Ted Lilly). With Cassie there, it's just that I think he can handle it."

Castro finished 1-for-4, Fukudome had three hits and Byrd added a triple.

The Cubs were left with their second two-game losing streak of the season, a tired bullpen that might need help from the minors and a highly questionable back end of the rotation.

"We'll get this thing worked out, we will," Quade said.

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Tribune Cubs' starter woes continue On day Wells and Cashner begin rehabbing lightly, Coleman rocked — and Russell's status up in air By: Dave van Dyck

On a day that injured pitchers Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner started throwing lightly, their absence in the Cubs' rotation was highlighted.

Just after their session amid the raindrops Friday morning, manager Mike Quade strongly hinted emergency fill-in James Russell likely would be replaced. And then Casey Coleman followed with a disastrous outing against the Dodgers.

But Russell's scheduled start Tuesday is the immediate concern now.

"If we have another option, someone who's ready, I would like to explore that," Quade said. "Everything's on the table until we take a closer look."

Sometime this weekend, Quade hopes to finalize plans after talking to general manager Jim Hendry and top aide Randy Bush, who have been traveling. He also will involve minor league personnel in hopes of finding a pitcher who will last longer than converted reliever Russell, who has gone only 5 2/3 innings in two starts while allowing eight earned runs on 14 hits.

The minor league options are not plentiful. Thomas Diamond, who started toward the end of last season for the Cubs, is 0-1 with an 8.78 ERA after three starts at Triple-A Iowa. Left-hander J.R. Mathes, who started Friday night for Iowa, is 1-0 with a 3.93 ERA after three starts.

Whoever starts Tuesday could have several more chances because Wells, who has a strained forearm, and Cashner, who has shoulder tendinitis, are just beginning throwing programs after they were placed on the disabled list April 8. Neither threw off a mound Friday.

"It felt good," Wells said. "It was just a light catch. We didn't really want to push anything this early."

Said Cashner: "I was excited. I got to throw the ball and be a part of the team again. (The shoulder) feels real good. We just need some warm weather."

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Tribune Lilly offers testimonial about good friend Dempster Dodgers pitcher lauds former teammate before 1st start against him and Cubs By: Dave van Dyck

When they were teammates on the Cubs, Ryan Dempster and Ted Lilly became fast friends, working out together on pregame runs. They will be opponents Saturday when Lilly starts for the Dodgers. It also will be the left-hander's first time facing the Cubs.

"We all like competing against our friends and I'm able to do it on a stage like this. I feel pretty lucky," said Lilly, who was dealt at the trade deadline last season. "The only thing that would be better would be … if we face off in the NLCS in the deciding game. Let's hope we have that opportunity."

Saying his days in Wrigley Field were the "fondest memories of my life," Lilly was emotional Friday when talking about Dempster.

"I can't tell you how much respect I have for him," he said. "First and foremost what I was able to learn from him: The way he treated people, the way he loved this opportunity to pitch in the major leagues and the way he dealt with adversity off the field and on the field. …

"Wow, without getting emotional, I don't know how anyone could have created someone who is as unselfish as Ryan."

What book? With the Dodgers leading 8-1 in the fifth inning Friday, catcher A.J. Ellis tried to steal second base in a breach of baseball etiquette given the huge advantage.

""I'm not sure if they missed a sign or it was a hit-and-run or something," manager Mike Quade said sarcastically. "I have to brush up on my unwritten rules. It may be an L.A. and Milwaukee version."

How many runs are too many to quit running?

"I don't know. I just was curious," he said. "I was a little surprised but I believe there was a missed sign."

Geovany Soto threw Ellis out.

Hanging on: Even though the Cubs started the weekend series at .500, they were tied with the Brewers only a half-game behind the National League Central leading Reds and Cardinals.

"I'd love for us to separate ourselves, in the right direction," Quade said. "This is what the division is. Somebody is going to take the bull by the horns and play better. I don't think .500 is going to win this division. It just seems like it could go any way."

The Cubs don't play another game within their division until May 6.

Extra innings: In his first 14 games at Double-A Tennessee, former first-round draft pick Brett Jackson was hitting .426 with 11 RBIs. … On Thursday's day off, Quade attended the dedication of the Prospect High baseball field in honor of his coach, Larry Pohlman. "I was flattered and real happy to do it," Quade said. "Larry was as important as anybody (in my career.)"

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Tribune Chicago Cubs' Ryan Dempster doesn't throw money around wildly 'I'm not greedy,' he explains of conservative approach of investing mostly in municipal bonds By: Becky Yerak

Chicago Cubs veteran pitcher Ryan Dempster wants to make sure he won't have to swing at any financial in the later innings of his life.

"I'm not greedy," said the 33-year-old starter, who stashes his cash in conservative tax-free bonds, pays off credit cards monthly and isn't above stooping to pick up stray coins from the sidewalk.

On Thursday, Major League Baseball sponsor Bank of America enlisted Dempster to make unannounced visits to two branches in Chicago. He chatted with customers, handed out autographed balls and game tickets, and even dispensed advice about how to break in a glove. (Put a softball in it, tie a rope around it and use shaving cream with lanolin.)

Dempster has been a BofA customer since 2008, when the megabank acquired Merrill Lynch.

"My financial adviser worked for Merrill Lynch," Dempster said of Mark Correa, his adviser since about 2000. Dempster also has a BofA home equity loan and credit cards from BofA and Merrill Lynch.

The plastic gets paid off monthly. "I had a cousin who worked in a bank while I was growing up, and that was her" mantra, Dempster said.

No. 46 also has a foundation that raises awareness of DiGeorge syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality that can cause a wide range of health and developmental problems.

We caught up with Dempster, who's from a small town outside of Vancouver, British Columbia, at the BofA branch at 2 N. Riverside and, given the setting, asked him about some of his personal financial habits.

Q How do you bank?

A "I use my debit card, and I'm one of the few people who still uses cash."

Dempster said he also relies on ATMs and still writes checks. He monitors his accounts online and occasionally uses online bill pay. The one channel he hasn't yet tried is mobile banking.

Q If you saw a penny on the ground, would you pick it up?

A "Absolutely. Then I'd make a wish and put it in my shoe," he said, explaining that he believes the ritual will bring him luck.

Q How have you invested your money?

A "I'm a pretty conservative guy. I mostly like tax-free muni bonds. I'm more into bonds" but have a "little" invested in stocks.

Q Even though you're young?

A "I'm not greedy. I'm trying to protect what I have."

Q Post-baseball, have you thought about what you want to do?

A "I'm hoping to be retired. We're fortunate in baseball where we make a lot of money, and if I'm smart enough with my money now, when I'm done playing baseball I won't have to work, and whatever I do will be because I want to do it."

BofA, his representative later said, paid him for his branch appearances.

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Tribune Producer of Cubs documentary sued by investors By: Ameet Sachdev

Two investors in a 2009 documentary about the Chicago Cubs have sued one of the filmmakers, alleging that they lost $650,000 on the movie because of misrepresentations made by the filmmaker.

"We Believe" premiered in 2009 and went straight to DVD the following year. The movie documented the 2008 Cubs season, which ended disastrously with a three-game sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs. The movie interviewed current and former players, famous and everyday fans.

Peter Cerbin and Hilary Carr, Chicagoans who are husband and wife, agreed in 2008 to help finance the movie after meeting one of the producers, Chad Smith, the lawsuit said. Smith's wife, Susan, and Carr had become friends while working at the same Chicago furniture store, according to the suit filed Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court.

Smith told the plaintiffs in 2008 that he had already secured distributors and corporate sponsors for the movie. That turned out to be untrue, the plaintiffs said in the suit, making their $650,000 investment worthless.

Cerbin and Carr are suing the Smiths for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and civil conspiracy. The Smiths could not be immediately reached for comment. Carr declined comment.

Cerbin also was a co-producer of "Freakonomics," the movie based on the best-selling book by University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt and journalist Stephen Dubner.

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Sun-Times Dodgers ice Cubs’ Casey Coleman BY: TONI GINNETTI

Maybe a National League Central team will catch fire and make a decisive jump in the chugging-along six-team race.

Or maybe the middle-of-the-road records of four of the six teams are a preview of the rest of the season. ‘‘Someone will take the bull by the horns,’’ Cubs manager Mike Quade said. ‘‘[A] .500 [record] won’t win the division. It just seems like now it can go any way. Time will tell.

‘‘I’d love for us to separate ourselves in the right direction, but I believe this is what the division is.’’

The Cubs personify the ‘‘not great, not bad’’ look of the division. The Cubs have made nine consecutive stops at the .500 mark — 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, and so on.

They will need a victory today to keep that seesaw statistic alive after falling badly Friday, losing a rain- delayed 12-2 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The bullpen was punished again after Casey Coleman (1-1) couldn’t get out of the third inning.

The Dodgers scored a season-high six runs in the third. It was the most runs allowed by the Cubs in one inning this season.

‘‘I didn’t do a good job of slowing down the game,’’ said Coleman, who walked two in the first but escaped, then retired the side in order in the second. ‘‘I kept trying to make that one pitch [to get the third out].

‘‘I’ve already looked at video. I made some good pitches to Matt Kemp, who’s their hottest hitter. You try to take some positives. You have to move on. I just have to learn from it.’’

Coleman’s second start, filling in for the injured Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner, won’t be his last. Quade still has confidence in the young right-hander’s abilities.

‘‘Everyone is allowed a mulligan,’’ Quade said.

Coleman had won his last four starts since September.

‘‘I don’t think I’ve seen Casey like that,’’ Quade said. ‘‘He looked completely out of sync from the get-go, and I don’t have a clue why.’’

Coleman’s pitches were missing outside to lefties, and that contributed to six hits and four walks.

‘‘I definitely need to work on a four-seam [fastball], a pitch with less movement,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve thrown it before, but it’s something I haven’t had to [use]. It’s something to mess around with and have, especially on a day like this.’’

This was a day when the Cubs threw 229 pitches, with three relievers pressed into duty from an already- burdened staff. Jeff Stevens threw a career-high 31/3 innings, giving up three runs, a hit and six walks. But Quade lauded Stevens’ effort.

‘‘He saved the bullpen,’’ Quade said after and Marcos Mateo worked the last three innings. ‘‘That was the story of the day for me.’’

While the bullpen continues to toil, the lineup continues to evolve in a mix-and-match pattern that Quade sees continuing.

Friday marked the second game shortstop Starlin Castro batted third, with Kosuke Fukudome leading off and Marlon Byrd dropped to sixth against Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley (2-1). Castro was 1-for-4, Fukudome 3-for-4 and Byrd 1-for-4 with a triple.

‘‘I’ll have a guaranteed different lineup [today],’’ Quade said. ‘‘With Castro, he can handle it. And Fuke’s done a good job getting on base, so let’s try this.

‘‘There’ll be a lot of different [lineups]. It’s not totally [based on] matchups. It’s a little bit of everything.’’

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Sun-Times James Russell still in mix for Cubs’ 5th starter job BY: TONI GINNETTI

Cubs manager Mike Quade has a few days to decide who will pitch Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies.

That’s the next game that Quade will have to give the ball to a fifth starter.

Lefty James Russell (1-2, 8.00 ERA), who has had two turns in the role, remains a possibility. Russell has lasted only 52/3 innings over both starts, allowing eight runs and 14 hits.

The options at Class AAA Iowa might be limited, with Ramon Ortiz giving up three runs and seven hits in three innings in his last outing April 17.

‘‘Everything is on the table,’’ Quade said. ‘‘I have to sit down with [general manager Jim Hendry] and [assistant GM Randy Bush]. I’ll talk to [Iowa manager] Bill Dancy and the minor-league guys. They have a better feel than I do [of their pitchers].’’

The fourth and fifth rotation spots are in flux while Randy Wells [strained forearm] and Andrew Cashner [strained shoulder] recuperate. Both threw their first mild sessions Friday.

‘‘It felt good,’’ said Wells, who has been on the disabled list since April 5. ‘‘Today was just light catch. You don’t want to push anything this early. It’s been a long process, but that’s part of it.’’

‘‘Everything feels good,’’ Cashner said.

Chemistry class

Quade has lauded his players’ attitudes and perseverance since spring training, crediting the veterans for leadership and the young players for their ‘‘respect.’’

That’s team chemistry.

‘‘There are times when chemistry is overrated,’’ Quade said. ‘‘If you have a bunch of guys who are simultaneously pulling for each other and playing as a ‘team,’ you’ll win games. You still have to execute and play a certain brand of ball. If you have good chemistry, you’ll get the most out of your team.’’

Crime stopper

Geovany Soto threw out three San Diego Padres attempting to steal in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader. Soto became the first Cubs catcher in 15 years to accomplish the feat. Scott Servais did it to the on April 15, 1996, at Wrigley Field.

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Sun-Times Ted Lilly back on Wrigley mound Saturday BY: TONI GINNETTI

Ted Lilly makes the first start of his career today against the team he dreamed of taking to the World Series.

‘‘I have the fondest memories of my life in Chicago, the Midwestern way of life,’’ the former Cubs lefty said Friday. ‘‘From the baseball perspective, we had a lot of fun, and I have quite a few special friends [here]. But there’s a little hole because when I signed here [in 2007 as a free agent], I built up these dreams and aspirations of being part of the Cubs team that won a World Series, so there’s a gap in the experience. That would have been the ultimate.’’

The Cubs made two playoff appearances during Lilly’s time with the team from 2007 to last season. He didn’t get to pitch in 2008 when the Cubs were swept by the Dodgers, the team he was traded to July 31 with Ryan Theriot. Lilly re-signed with the Dodgers in the offseason after going 7-4 for them last season. His start today will be against one of his best friends, Ryan Dempster.

‘‘I couldn’t ask for a better situation,’’ he said. ‘‘I can’t tell you how much respect I have for him as a person first and foremost, and what I was able to learn from him and the way he treats people.

“And also the way he dealt with adversity on and off the field,’’ Lilly said of the Dempsters dealing with daughter Riley’s medical problem while holding back his emotions. ‘‘Wow, without getting emotional, I don’t know how anyone could have created someone as unselfish as Ryan.”

Dempster also thinks highly of Lilly.

‘‘[Dempster’s respect] means a lot,’’ Lilly said. ‘‘We all like to compete against our friends, and I’m able to do it on a stage like this. This is a special place for any player to play. The support the fans give to this team is unique. I’m grateful for the fans who came out when I was [here].’’

In December, Lilly attended the funeral of Ron Santo, and he said he thought about the late Cubs legend before returning to Chicago.

‘‘I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to him and the interviews he’d have, always so positive,’’ Lilly said. ‘‘I think he intended to leave that for everyone. The positive legacy he carried with him is still around.’’

Lilly takes the mound for the first time as a visitor at Wrigley Field against his former team carrying the dubious distinction of getting the least run support per nine innings (2.92) since the start of 2010 of any major-league starter.

‘‘This is as good an opportunity as you can ask for,’’ Lilly said. ‘‘The only thing that would be better is to have the opportunity to win World Series games. The next best would be to face off in the League Championship Series’ deciding game. Let’s hope we have the opportunity.’’

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CSNChicago.com Cubs stand by Coleman after rocky outing By: Patrick Mooney

Casey Coleman doesn't have to look over his shoulder yet. He's built up enough capital within the organization.

The Cubs know that Coleman doesn't have overpowering stuff. He got to this point because of his intelligence, his control and his ability to make the big pitches that minimize the damage.

It simply didn't happen in Friday's 12-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"People are allowed a mulligan or two," manager Mike Quade said.

It's easy to forget just how much the Cubs are asking of Coleman, who will turn 24 this summer and has only 70 innings on his major-league resume.

That's because of his pedigree - third-generation big-league pitcher - and the way he finished last season, going 4-2 with a 3.33 ERA in eight starts.

On a cold, gray afternoon - 41 degrees at first pitch - the Cubs waited 74 minutes to start Friday's game and were soon probably wondering: Why did we bother?

There was an announced crowd of 36,595, but nowhere near that many showed up, and by the end it was mostly just the seagulls circling overhead.

Coleman got through the first two innings before unraveling in the third. He looked out of character by walking in one run and ultimately couldn't stop the bleeding.

A.J. Ellis sliced a two-out, two-run single into center to give the Dodgers a 5-0 lead. Even pitcher Chad Billingsley lined an RBI single into right. The Dodgers (11-10) generated six runs on six hits during that sequence.

"I didn't do a good job of slowing down the game," Coleman said. "I had it in my mind (that) I was going to make that one pitch to get out of the inning. (I) got myself in too much of a hurry.

"One after another - even if I got ahead of the guy - I let him right back in the count (and) they were able to get some singles."

Though Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner have made progress, they've still only just begun to play catch and have no idea when they'll be able to come off the disabled list.

Quade said he has "no idea" what the Cubs are going to do for a fifth starter on Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies. James Russell hasn't been completely ruled out for another spot start yet, though the 25-year-old left-hander is best-suited as a situational reliever.

Quade will discuss the options with general manager Jim Hendry and assistant general manager Randy Bush this weekend. Quade will also make calls to the managers at Triple-A Iowa and Double-A Tennessee for their input.

"If we have somebody that's ready (in the system), I would like to explore that," Quade said. "Everything's still on the table until we take a closer look at it."

Having already survived a doubleheader this week, the Cubs will also consider bringing up a new reliever from Iowa.

Once Coleman was knocked out in the third, it fell to Jeff Stevens to eat up the next 3.1 innings. Stevens threw 89 pitches, allowed three runs and became the first Cubs reliever to walk six batters in a game since Joe Kraemer in 1990.

"If they asked me to throw 200 pitches, I would have," Stevens said. "I'll pitch in any situation. We needed to pick up Casey."

The Cubs (9-10) can look forward to Ryan Dempster, and Matt Garza starting the next three days. But there's a drop-off after the "Big Three" that will make it hard to sustain momentum.

The Cubs became just the third team since 1900 to hit the .500 mark every step of the way to 9-9, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. They will stick with Coleman, who also gave up six runs in his major-league debut last August before finding his rhythm.

"You got to move on," Coleman said. "Everyone has that one bad start. I had it last year, (which) was probably worse, but the guys in the locker room had confidence in me (and) played hard behind me. ... I'm not worried about this." --

CSNChicago.com Lilly, Dempster bonded by more than baseball By: Patrick Mooney

Theodore Roosevelt Lilly III slid headfirst into second, trying to steal a base in the third inning of a Class-A game.

This was April 2010, less than six months after shoulder surgery, and Lilly got his uniform dirty during a rehab start.

The Cubs had only invested $40 million in Lilly’s left arm. Why risk it?

For Lilly, the question was even more ridiculous. It didn’t matter if it was sandlot or Nintendo or the majors. If the object of the game is to score more runs than the other team, then he will do whatever it takes. That’s what he was taught as a kid, how he was raised in a military family.

It will be the same way on Saturday, when Lilly starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers opposite Ryan Dempster. But as Lilly talked about his close friend in the visiting dugout at Wrigley Field, a tough guy looked like he was trying to hold back tears.

“I can’t sit here and tell you how much respect I have for him as a person first and foremost,” Lilly said Friday. “What I was able to learn from being around him – the way that he treated people, the way that he loved this opportunity to pitch in the major leagues and the way that he would deal with adversity, off the field and on the field…

“Yeah, wow, without getting emotional – I don’t know how anyone could have created someone that was as unselfish as Ryan.”

Dempster and Lilly will probably go out dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. Together they drilled a sense of professionalism into the Cubs pitching staff, never pointing fingers or complaining about run support.

“I want to see which one drills the other one first,” Cubs outfielder Reed Johnson joked. “I’m sure they’ll be going back and forth yelling at each other.”

But the two pitchers are bonded by more than baseball. Dempster was reminded of that on Friday morning as his foundation hosted a large group of medical staffers and families dealing with DiGeorge syndrome, or 22q, the genetic disorder that afflicts his two-year-old daughter.

Dempster invited them to Wrigley Field so they would know that they’re not alone. That’s what Lilly – who’s worked extensively with those same charities – did for Dempster.

“He was a big help to me going through everything when Riley was born,” Dempster said. “You come to work and he broadened his shoulders to help take some of the pressure off me and that relieved a lot of the stress.

“He’s contributed financially, emotionally…it’s been overwhelming. He’s a true, true friend of mine and it shows all the time.”

Dempster – one of the most accessible players on the team – politely declined to talk to reporters when the Cubs traded Lilly at last season’s deadline for cash, utility infielder Blake DeWitt and two pitching prospects.

It bothered Dempster but worked out for Lilly, who signed a three-year, $33 million extension with the Dodgers.

Lilly was central to Tribune Co.’s huge free-agent spending spree in the winter of 2006. He helped the Cubs win two division titles and gave them 47 wins, 113 starts and a 3.70 ERA in three-plus seasons.

“I had built up these dreams and aspirations of trying to be a member of the Cubs team that won the World Series,” Lilly said. “We fell short of that, so there’s a gap in the experience in that way. I thought that was kind of one of the responsibilities that (Alfonso) Soriano and myself had coming over here.

“(But) I do believe that we pushed ourselves. We continued to look for ways to get better. We weren’t able to get it done, so I guess it’s something we have to live with. But that would have been the ultimate.”

Now 35, Lilly looks back on the friendships he made in Chicago. He thought about Ron Santo and all the positive energy the late broadcaster always brought to the ballpark. This became a second home.

On a stage like this, Lilly can’t wait to compete against Dempster again.

“The fondest memories of my life are living here in this city,” Lilly said.