Two injured Cubs starting pitchers are showing gradual improvement. But the prognosis is worse for two others.
The bad news first: Mike Bielecki will miss Tuesday`s start because of an inflamed tendon in his right elbow. He`ll be replaced by Shawn Boskie, who was demoted to the bullpen a week ago.
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Manager Jim Essian said he doubts Bielecki will wind up on the disabled list. ”It`s not a serious problem,” he said. ”We need to give him some time.”
The other bad news: Danny Jackson, eligible to return from the disabled list Friday, won`t be available for perhaps several more weeks. He is experiencing difficulties with his strained abdomen, which is related to the torn groin muscle that sidelined him for two months. ”He`s having some pain,” Essian said. ”I don`t think it`s day-to-day. I think it`s week-to-week.”
Now the good news: Rick Sutcliffe is expected to be well enough to be shipped out for minor-league rehabilitation after the All-Star break. The Cubs will decide after he throws in a simulated game Friday in St. Louis and throws again Sunday.
And Mike Harkey threw for the first time since his May shoulder surgery, though he was unimpressed.
”When I throw off the mound, then I`ll be excited,” said Harkey, who lobbed a ball in the outfield for 10 minutes. ”I threw the ball about 5 m.p.h.”
Meanwhile, closer Dave Smith hoped to be available Tuesday after missing almost a week with a slightly sprained right knee. ”It`s still too swollen,” Smith said. ”They don`t want me to take a chance on tearing it.”
And catcher Joe Girardi is about a week away from a minor-league rehab assignment. Girardi has been out since April 17 with disc problems in his back. ”We think he`s going to be all right by the end of the week,” Essian said.
No Dwight flight: Dwight Smith wants to set the record straight. He doesn`t want his temporary duty filling in for the injured Andre Dawson to be construed as a chance for the Cubs to showcase him for a trade. Smith has been the subject of numerous trade rumors.
”I`m not insinuating that I want to be traded,” said Smith. ”I`m insinuating that I want to play every day. I don`t want my teammates thinking I`m trying to get out of here. If the Cubs trade me, that`s the front office`s business. But I`m not going to demand a trade.”
The best of June: Les Lancaster, moved to the rotation, went 2-1 with a 2.57 earned-run average, while George Bell (.324, 4 home runs, 15 runs batted in)
and Ryne Sandberg (.320, 5 HRs, 18 RBIs) swung the hottest bats.
The worst of June: The Cubs went 10-18 and dropped 5 1/2 games off the pace, to 12 1/2 back.