On two unrelated matters:

• Dusty Baker has lost the Sun-Times' Mike Kiley, under the headline "Baker's days appear numbered." Kiley has been reporting since the end of last season that the Cubs would offer Baker a two year extension (see also here). So if Baker has lost Kiley, perhaps that means he really will be gone soon.

• Rich Hill is too good for triple-A hitters. He now has a 2.12 ERA in 63.2 innings for Iowa this year, on just 44 hits and 12 walks, while striking out 86. He struck out 182 and walked 35 between double-A and triple-A last year. We get it. He can pitch in the high minors. The problem is his 9.20 ERA in 43 big league innings in that same time frame. But no matter. With the Cubs in no danger of contending this year, Ross Barnes at Gonfalon Cubs is right: "With Wood out indefinately, the fifth spot in the rotation is back on the table. Wade Miller is beginning his rehab but is obviously a mystery at this point. Marmol, Guzman and Hill are all possibilities. At this point, I’d prefer to see Marmol and Guzman pitch regularly in Triple A and give Hill fifteen starts and a final chance to show what he can do in the big leagues. If he can’t translate his minor league success into major league success with that opportunity, the Cubs can go into 2007 with a clearer picture of the real candidates for the rotation."