George Bell has learned not to abuse the bat rack.
The Cubs` left-fielder missed games Friday and Saturday, and may miss the rest of the season, after he sprained his right ankle tumbling down the dugout steps Wednesday in Wrigley Field.
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”I went after the bat rack, and I made a mistake when I went down the stairs,” Bell said.
Bell said he thought he`d be back by the Philadelphia series opener Monday, but manager Jim Essian seemed less optimistic.
”I don`t think it looks good,” said Essian, who Saturday started Cedric Landrum in Bell`s place, moved Ryne Sandberg into the cleanup spot and dropped Andre Dawson into Bell`s fifth slot in the order.
Bell, who has one hit in his last 12 at-bats, was angry at being called out looking by plate umpire Greg Bonin in the fourth inning.
”I think it was a real bad call,” Bell said.
– Hector Villanueva has 19 home runs in his first 284 major league at-bats, an average of one every 14.9 at-bats. By comparison, Dawson has hit 375 in 8,319 at-bats, an average of one every 22.2 at-bats. And 1990 AL home run champ Cecil Fielder hit one every 11.2 at-bats last season. Villanueva hit six homers in his first 65 at-bats after he was recalled from the minors Aug. 16. – Two ex-Cubs share the National League save record. Lee Smith notched No. 45 Saturday afternoon, tying him with Bruce Sutter, who established the record in 1984.
– Several of the Cubs met on the field Friday night with Jesse Jackson, who was in town to give Ozzie Smith the 1991 Rainbow Coalition Award for community service.