4/21 Quick hits

How bad is it at Wrigley?

“It’s miserable out there right now,” Lou Piniella said prior to Tuesday’s game. “It’s like Opening Day almost, except it’s night. I don’t know what’s going to happen with the game but it’s certainly not good weather.”

For the home opener April 13, it was 36 degrees with gusty winds. The gates to the ballpark are open.

* Piniella on the Cubs’ 7-4 start:

“I think anybody would take a 7-4 start,” he said. “We’ve played a lot of close games. We’ve won a lot of games late. We’ve lost a few games late. We’ve got some things to sort out here, just like every other team. If we win seven of the next 11, we’ll be happy, too.”

* Geovany Soto was to receive his Players Choice Award for being the National League Rookie of the Year in 2008 prior to Tuesday’s game. Soto is 1-for-13 in the last three games. “We asked him to try to stay up the middle and right center field for the time being, get your swing down, stay on the ball a little longer,” Piniella said of Soto. “Hopefully, he’ll do that. It’ll help him.”

Soto has drawn more walks, which shows he’s being more selective. They want him to stop trying to pull the ball.

– Carrie Muskat