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player ready...The Cubs said closer Dave Smith`s right knee will be examined Friday morning in Chicago. Smith injured it while warming up in the bullpen this week.
”When I went out and threw two nights ago, it was a little sore,” said Smith, who was unavailable in the Cubs` crushing 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday night in Three Rivers Stadium. ”When I woke up the next day, it was bruised. It might be bleeding a little.”
Manager Jim Essian said Smith might have suffered a sprained knee. With Smith out, the Cubs were forced to call on right-hander Heathcliff Slocumb, who blew his third save in four attempts.
Cleanup duty: Essian said he plans to stick with Andre Dawson in the cleanup spot, even though Dawson is riding a 3-for-32 slump.
”I haven`t seen any tentative swings,” Essian said.
Dawson, still hitting .280 with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs, continues to receive daily treatments on his sore right shoulder, but the injury doesn`t bother him on most swings.
Let`s talk: Maddux had a heart-to-heart talk with Essian and pitching coach Dick Pole Thursday afternoon. Maddux is 6-6 overall but is only 1-4 in his last seven starts. He lasted only four innings Wednesday night, snapping a string of two games in which Cub starters made it into the eighth inning. The last time three Cubs did it was last July 21-23.