Bradley Saga Continues

Cubs General manager Jim Hendry said he planned to speak to right fielder Milton Bradley about Bradley's comments Tuesday about not being "comfortable" at Wrigley Field because of the "adversity and hatred" he said he faces.

Bradley signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Cubs last winter.

"It's hard to be comfortable when you don't get a hit and get booed every time," Bradley said. "When I go home and look in the mirror, I like what I see. My family is there. I have people I can talk to who are very supportive, in spite of everything and all the adversity and the hatred you face on a daily basis."

A day later, he said he doesn't regret signing with the Cubs, but that he wants the games to get over quickly so he can get out of Wrigley.

"All I'm saying is I just pray the game is nine innings so I can be out there the least amount of time as possible and go home," he said.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella and left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who has heard his share of boos from the bleacher fans, both said they'd urge Bradley to block out the booing.

NOTES

--LHP John Grabow worked a scoreless eighth inning Wednesday. He extended his scoreless-innings streak with the Cubs to 10, over 12 games. The Cubs obtained Grabow in a July 30 trade with Pittsburgh.

--RHP Rich Harden recorded his 14th quality start of the season Wednesday. That matches his total from last year. His career best is 18, set in 2004 with Oakland. He lowered his ERA from 4.04 to 3.99.

--Soriano was back in the lineup Tuesday after missing three games with a sore left knee, which he said had bothered him since April. Soriano said he may have an MRI performed next Monday. He hopes to avoid offseason surgery.

--C Koyie Hill started behind the plate as Piniella continues splitting time between backup Hill and No. 1 man Geovany Soto, who has had a bad year at the plate.

"(Soto) came into the season with a lot of expectations, too, after winning a Rookie of the Year award," Piniella said. "We thought that the numbers he put up last year were repeatable."

--RHP Carlos Marmol, the newly anointed closer, walked three and gave up two runs in the ninth inning Wednesday. He had entered the game with a seven-run lead. Marmol has walked 55 in 59 1/3 innings.

"This young man's got such good stuff that all he needs to do is find home plate more consistently," Piniella said. "We're going to continue to give him the ball in that closer's role, but boy, he makes it hard on himself."