The Cubs swapped left-handed hitters Tuesday, sending catcher Rick Wilkins to Triple-A Iowa and calling up outfielder Derrick May.
Wilkins started last season at Iowa but was called up on his 24th birthday, June 4. He made the Opening Day roster this year after hitting .298 in spring training but only got 10 at-bats in 12 games before being sent down. ”Wilkins needs to play every day,” said manager Jim Lefebvre. ”He`s too valuable to be sitting on the bench, and we`ve got two other catchers here right now.”
One of the catchers, Joe Girardi, is hitting .316 and has the best reputation among the three catchers for calling a game.The other, Hector Villanueva, is hitting only .235 but has one of the six Cubs home runs. He also calls a good game and has emerged as the unofficial personal catcher for staff ace Greg Maddux.
Also, Villanueva has thrown out three of the four men who tried to run on him. Wilkins is known for his strong arm but generally is considered a little weaker than the other two in calling a game. He was 2 for 10 at the plate.
”I don`t want to complain,” he said. ”I just think I did the best I could with only 10 appearances. At least they consider me a front-line catcher. They want to see me play every day.”
May`s way: Lefebvre said May will be in the starting lineup sooner rather than later and probably will bat fifth or sixth. May hit .261 in spring training with three doubles, three triples, one home run and seven RBIs. He was the last position player cut before Opening Day. At Iowa, he was hitting .367 with four doubles, one triple, two homers and eight RBIs in eight games.
Left-out Walton: Lost in the shuffle was former center-fielder Jerome Walton, who continues his rehab assignment in the minors. He is expected back soon but has one more thing to worry about now that May is with the club.
Using `em all: Lefebvre has used four or more pitchers seven times in the first 12 games.