The Cubs had the day off Thursday before beginning a weekend series against the Cardinals, and the day of rest will cost Shawn Boskie a day of work.
Boskie, the only starter besides Greg Maddux to win thus far, got bumped when Jim Lefebvre juggled the rotation to accommodate the second off day this week. The Cubs had a day off Monday, too.
Maddux pitched last Sunday at Wrigley, and, if there had been a game every day this week, Danny Jackson would have pitched Monday, Mike Morgan Tuesday, Frank Castillo Wednesday, Boskie Thursday and Maddux again Friday.
But because of the off days, Jackson and Morgan each got pushed back a day with Jackson throwing Tuesday and Morgan on Wednesday.
With a second off day on Thursday, Lefebvre decided to come back with Maddux and let him pitch with his normal four days rest in the series opener against the Cardinals Friday night.
That messed up Castillo and Boskie, who threw back-to-back impressive games in their first starts last week.
Castillo gave up three hits and one run in eight innings against St. Louis last Friday but left without a decision in a game the Cardinals eventually won 2-1 in 11 innings.
Boskie came back the next day and pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and only one run in a 5-1 victory-his first as a starter since last June 12.
Not true: Speaking of Boskie, he was upset about a report that quoted him as saying former pitching coach Dick Pole stopped believing in him last season. Boskie says he never said that, and it isn`t true. What is true, he said, is that he has enjoyed working with Pole`s successor, pitching coach Billy Connors. But Boskie said he has a lot of respect for Pole.