Cubs Quick Hits

• Geovany Soto is starting to feel better. He says his hits have started to fall in more. After winning the Rookie of the Year Award a year ago, Geo has really gone down hill this season.
• Despite missing 2 months, Aramis Ramirez is still second on the team behind only Derrek Lee in runs scored. Aramis is hitting .405 at Wrigley Field.
• Cubs manager Lou Piniella says he will go with Carlos Marmol as the team's closer in 2010, "He's done enough and shown enough, and we have confidence in him enough that going into spring training next year it's his job."
• The Cubs starting pitcher have done a great job so far this month, 8-2 with a 1.72 ERA.
• Angel Guzman has been out with a sore tricep, but he should be ready today.
• According to the Sun-Times, the plans are not clear yet for 2010. Jim Hendry and Lou Pineilla are assured of coming back, 4 players on the roster are free agents, 9 others will be seeking raises through arbitration, and $117.5 million is committed to 10 players under contract for next season.
• Soriano's arthroscopic surgery revealed "acute inflammation" and loose cartilage was cut away and washed out. He was officially put on the DL, which means he has been there each of his first 3 seasons with the Cubs.
• Sam Fuld jammed his thumb when he made a sensational catch on Monday. His MRI came back and there is no ligament damage or break in the thumb. Fuld is expected to be out for about a week.
• Carlos Zambrano could be put on the market this off season. Read more for Gordon Wittenmyer.
• The Cubs have announced their tentative 2010 schedule. They open in Atlanta on April 5, and the home opener is April 12 against the Brewers.
• Kyler Burke has been named the Cubs Minor League Player of the Year, and Casey Coleman wins the Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors.

The Cubs are just 8.5 back in the Central and 5.5 back in the Wild Card with their recent win streak. If they can keep it up, there's still a chance!