Closer Dave Smith, with three blown saves in four days, is experiencing swelling in his right tricep.
Smith is taking an anti-inflammatory medication for the injury, which he said he first suffered while lifting weights last year in Houston.
”It`s not in the elbow-tendon area,” he said. ”I`m not worried about it. . . . I don`t want to push it four or five straight days this early in the season.”
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Smith has appeared in seven of the Cubs` first 15 games. That`s a pace of 76 appearances; he hasn`t appeared in more than 55 in five years.
Smith received a message from Mitch Williams on Tuesday morning, a day after Smith gave up a game-winning homer to Felix Jose here. The message:
”Way to go.”
”It`s nice to have friends, isn`t it?” said Smith, who became pals with Williams during spring training.
Girardi update: Tests on Joe Girardi`s back were encouraging, but the catcher was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for rest and medication, head trainer John Fierro said.
”It didn`t show a ruptured disc, but it showed an inflamed or slightly bulging disc,” Fierro said.
Girardi will remain in the hospital for four days. He`s taking anti-inflammatory drugs, Fierro said.
The prognosis was positive-the Cubs feared Girardi would need back surgery-but he probably won`t be ready for several days after May 2, the day he`s eligible to come off the disabled list.
In another injury-related note, Mark Grace returned to the lineup after missing only one start with a bruised elbow.
Miller time: Manager Don Zimmer will take time out Friday to film a commercial for Miller Lite with Cincinnati Reds manager Lou Piniella.
In it, the two skippers jokingly argue the merits of grass versus artificial turf.