Chicago needs win in big way

Rich Hill loosened his arm and legs during a light workout Friday, not far from where the ivy on the Wrigley Field walls is beginning to turn from green to brown.

The Chicago Cubs’ season will fade away, too, if they don’t find a way to escape a 0-2 deficit against Arizona today.

Against the young, eager and talented Diamondbacks, the Cubs will count on Hill, hope their top hitters find their strokes and rely on a home crowd that is always raucous.

“We’re in a good position here coming home,” Hill said. “We get to play in front of a great crowd; some of the best fans in baseball. We’re down 0-2, but we have a great advantage going into this series in these next two games.

“Like I said, you’ve got to look at it from a positive standpoint – not, oh, we’re down 0-2.”

But another loss and the No. 99 pops up – 99 years since the Cubs’ last World Series title – and counting.

Manager Lou Piniella brought the 1995 Seattle Mariners back after losing the first two games to win three straight from the Yankees.

“It can be done,” Piniella said.

Phillies concerned

It might have been just a coincidence.

More than an hour before Game 2 of their National League Division Series game, Phillies general manager Pat Gillick and his top lieutenants, Ruben Amaro Jr. and Mike Arbuckle, visited the umpires’ room at Citizens Bank Park.

While it was all hush-hush, it’s not a stretch to suppose they were there to discuss the fact that television cameras showed Colorado Rockies reliever Manny Corpas pour some sort of liquid on the front of his shirt while warming up in the bullpen Wednesday, then reaching down and rubbing dirt on the same area.

Corpas then came into the game and put the Phillies down in order with some nasty breaking balls, which caused some suspicious minds to wonder whether he doctored the baseball, or at least used the concoction to get a better grip on the baseball.

So it might have been just a coincidence. But with one out and a runner on first in the bottom of the second inning Thursday, and a 1-1 count on Carlos Ruiz, Colorado starter Franklin Morales went to his mouth. Third-base umpire Derryl Cousins immediately threw up his arms and enforced the rule that prohibits a pitcher from putting his hand to his mouth while on the mound.

“I saw (the video). It’s not like we won’t ask questions. (But) we won’t make a big deal about it,” manager Charlie Manuel said.

“In my mind, I don’t know how much it affected him.”

Glavine declines

Mets pitcher Tom Glavine declined his $13 million option with New York, making himself eligible for free agency.

The 41-year-old lefty, who got his 300th win this year, gets a $3 million buyout.

Bradley not suspended

San Diego outfielder Milton Bradley was fined but not suspended for his confrontation last month with umpire Mike Winters.

Winters previously was suspended for inciting Bradley.

Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president in charge of discipline, said Bradley was not suspended “because no contact was made” during the eighth-inning screaming match at San Diego on Sept. 24. Bradley sustained a torn knee ligament during the incident.

Clearing the bases

Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez will have back surgery next week and is expected to be ready by spring training. … Lawyers for Hearst Corp. have filed to appeal a U.S. District Court decision denying their request to make public the names of baseball players implicated in obtaining steroids. … Baltimore vice president of baseball operations Jim Duquette resigned after two seasons. … Closer Jason Isringhausen will be back in St. Louis next year, after the team picked up his $8 million option.