The Times They Are a-Changin'

The Cubs on Monday announced that Ivan DeJesus would shift from first-base coach to third-base duties and that Bob Dernier would join the major league coaching staff as the new first-base coach.

DeJesus has some big shoes to fill as third-base coach. Interim manager Mike Quade was a spectacular third-base coach during his almost four-year tenure. How do we know? Because we can't recall Quade ever sending a runner around third only to be thrown out by 30 feet. It seemed to be a weekly occurrence while Wendell Kim, was the third-base coach for two seasons (2003-04).

Dernier, who is the Cubs' roving minor league outfield and baserunning instructor, is in his fourth season as a member of the Cubs' minor-league coaching staff. He was the starting center fielder on the Cubs' 1984 NL East championship squad.

The Cubs also made several roster moves. They called up first baseman Micah Hoffpauir who completed his required 10 days at Triple-A Iowa after being demoted on Aug. 13 and activated catcher Geovany Soto from the 15-day disabled list. They sent outfielder Sam Fuld and catcher Welington Castillo back to Iowa. Why the 23-year-old Castillo was on the major league roster the last two weeks is anybody's guess. He appeared in just two games and made six plate appearances.