In the wake of Todd Walker's return from the disabled list and a reduced role impending for Jerry Hairston, Corey Patterson is manager Dusty Baker's first choice to serve as the Cubs' leadoff hitter.
However, leading off is not Patterson's top choice.
"The bottom line is that I don't make the lineup," Patterson said. "If he writes me in at leadoff, I'm going to play. At the same time, if you ask me a question about it I'm going to tell you the truth. I would prefer not to lead off. I'm comfortable where I'm at in the middle of the order."
Baker said Walker would start against right-handers and Hairston would start against left-handers. The Cubs will be looking for a leadoff hitter on days Walker starts.
"I'm wrestling with that right now," Baker said. "I'll talk to (shortstop) Neifi (Perez) to see how he would handle it. I know Corey feels more comfortable down in the lineup, but (Cubs roving baserunning coach) Vince Coleman and I talked to him about the necessity of leading off. And I think he could be one of the best leadoff men around.
"But it's a mind-set. It would be our best lineup if he could do it."
Locals impress brass
Two former Southland standouts in the Cubs farm system are getting the attention of team officials.
Providence Catholic High School graduate Carmen Pignatiello was one out away from throwing a no-hitter for Double-A West Tenn on Monday. West Tenn's Brandon Sing, who hails from Joliet, is hitting .323 with 10 homers and a team-high 28 RBI.
Cubs director of player development Oneri Fleita is impressed with Pignatiello's development this season.
"The difference with him than in years past is that he has learned to command his fastball," Fleita said. "He's always had a good changeup and curveball. When you can throw a fastball on both sides of the plate, everything else is easy for him. He's not going to blow people away, but he can pitch."
Sing, who played first base last year and early this season, has seen action in both left and right field in 2005.
"He's finally growing into his body," Fleita said. "He has that big frame that has finally filled out. He's doing all the things a big man should. He's not striking out. He's learned to hit the ball to right field. Now he's working in the outfield to give himself some flexibility, and hopefully, that will help him in the future."
The rumor mill
The San Jose Mercury News reported Wednesday the Cubs recently contacted the Oakland Athletics about the availability of outfielder Eric Byrnes.
The A's have an abundance of outfielders, meaning Byrnes could be expendable.
Heading into Wednesday's action, the right-handed-hitting Byrnes, 29, was batting .189 against right-handed pitchers and .400 against left-handers this year.
The injury report
Pitcher Kerry Wood (right shoulder inflammation) is throwing off flat ground at about 90 feet. Cubs officials are not saying when he will be able to start throwing off the pitcher's mound.
Patterson did not start for the second consecutive game because of a sore left wrist, suffered in a collision with teammate Jeromy Burnitz during Monday night's game. Patterson expects to be back in the lineup today.
Boo who?
Baker isn't fond of his players getting booed at Wrigley Field. The manager felt bad for NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, who was jeered after a bad rendition of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch Tuesday.
"Booing seems big now," Baker said. "It's hard to boo Jeff Gordon. To me, this guy is one of the greatest of all time. I don't know if he's going to come back now."http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dssports/pro/261sd4.htm