CHICAGO–On Thursday, the Cubs improved their catching situation, calling up catcher Geovany Soto from AAA Iowa and sending down center fielder Felix Pie.

The move left the Cubs with three catchers on the roster, Soto, Rob Bowen, and Koyie Hill. Knowing that he cannot carry three catchers for long, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has lobbied Commissioner Bud Selig to allow him to make an unprecedented move and consider Bowen and Hill only one catcher.

“They’re pretty much the same guy,” Hendry said. “They’re switch-hitting catchers who are decent if unspectacular behind the plate, and who might as well bring a rolled up wet newspaper to the plate. I hope Bud Selig recognizes that.”

Hendry’s plan is to sew the two catchers to one another. The combined catcher will wear number 59, the sum of Hill’s #55 and Bowen’s #4. The number is also their expected batting average at the end of the season, .059.