While oft-injured Danny Jackson has come out of the Cubs` starting rotation, Rick Sutcliffe remains very much in it. He is 3-0 with a 1.88 earned-run average in seven starts since returning from the disabled list Aug. 6.
But the Cubs apparently will wait until the off-season to begin talking about a new contract for the 35-year-old Sutcliffe, who is eligible to file for free agency.
”I honestly am not concerned,” said Sutcliffe, who will make $2.175 million this year. ”They haven`t contacted me. I`m pitching, and that`s more than enough.”
Sutcliffe`s recent numbers have improved dramatically over his first eight starts, when he was 2-4 with a 6.63 ERA before being disabled with a weak shoulder at the end of May. Further proof of his recovery: 29 strikeouts in his last 43 innings after only 12 in his first 39 innings.
It`s official: Andre Dawson will be back next season. His $3.3 million contract option for 1992 automatically kicks in this week. Under terms of a deal Dawson signed last year, the Cubs agreed to pick up his option if he was available to play in 140 games. He played his 131st game Thursday and was considered available for the other nine.
You Ced it: Manager Jim Essian inserted speedster Cedric Landrum into the top of his batting order Thursday. Look for it to happen again soon.
”This will kind of warm him up,” Essian said. ”I want to see him play on turf in Philadelphia, Montreal, St. Louis.”
Essian is considering using Landrum as a leadoff hitter next season. He batted him second Thursday, and Landrum responded with a run-scoring double in the third, his first extra-base hit in 50 major-league at-bats. He also swiped his 18th base in 21 attempts after walking in the first.