The Cubs have reassigned Richie Zisk to the farm system as minor-league hitting coordinator. Zisk, who had been working with the major-league hitters since May, will begin his new job immediately.
Manager Jim Essian said the move shouldn`t be viewed as a demotion for Zisk.
”When Richie came in, obviously he wasn`t named a coach,” Essian said.
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”He was just asked to come in and give his insights.”
Day-to-day instruction of the Cub hitters will fall to Joe Altobelli, who is expected to return from the hospital on Sunday. He has been recovering from a sore back.
– Andre Dawson suffered a bruised right elbow after being hit by a pitch from John Smoltz in the first inning of Saturday`s 7-5 Cub victory, but Dawson isn`t expected to miss much action, if any. X-rays taken at Northwestern Memorial Hospital were negative.
Dawson was hit by an 0-2 pitch after the first three Cubs to bat had reached base in the first inning, and it came on the heels of Ryne Sandberg`s inside-the-park home run.
– Essian engaged in a bit of daring in the sixth inning, using pitcher Chuck McElroy to pinch-run, and then ordering him to try to steal second.
McElroy, slated to enter the game in the next inning anyway, was tossed out in a close play.
The Cincinnati Reds recently lost star pitcher Jose Rijo when he hurt an ankle trying to steal a base. Essian acknowledged that he was bending baseball convention, but he thought he might catch the Braves napping and set up a two- out RBI for hot-hitting Chico Walker.
It was the first time McElroy had ever tried a steal in his brief major-league tenure. ”They told me, `You`re going on the first pitch,` ” he said. ”When they told me I had a big smile on my face. I thought I had it stolen.”