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player ready...Lost in all the excitement over the Cubs of late is the job that pitcher Jeff D. Robinson has done.
Robinson has worked mainly in long relief, but has stepped up lately as a spot starter and a closer.
It was Robinson who, in a start, set the Cubs` pitching staff on a string of 27 consecutive scoreless innings last week. And it was Robinson who got his first save of the year against the Pirates Monday night.
”It`s kind of strange, but I enjoy being used in all these different roles,” said Robinson, who is 1-2 with a 2.13 earned-run average in 27 appearances this season.
Robinson says that`s because he learned a valuable lesson when he pitched for Pittsburgh from 1987-89 under manager Jim Leyland. Robinson was 20-19 with 17 saves for the Pirates.
”It really comes down to a simple thing Jim Leyland taught me, and that is to go in their and get guys out,” said Robinson. ”It doesn`t matter what the situation is. My job is just to get them out.”
– As expected, reliever Heathcliff Slocumb has been returned to the roster and infielder/outfielder Jeff Kunkel has bveen sent back to the minors to get the number of pitchers back to 11. Kunkel was gone before Tuesday`s game, and Slocumb was around in time to warm up before the ninth inning. But he wasn`t eligible to play because of a rules technicality. He will be available for Wednesday`s series finale.
– Joe Girardi`s run-scoring double in the second inning Tuesday was only his third extra-base hit of the season. Girardi, who was 2 for 4, has 51 singles, two doubles and one homer. Despite the lack of power, Girardi is having an impressive season at the plate, batting .286 through 64 games, including 2 for 5 as a pinch-hitter.
– After Tuesday`s victory, Mike Morgan is 8-1 lifetime in Wrigley Field with a 1.34 ERA.
– Left-hander Mike Sodders was sent to the Dodgers to complete the June 27 deal for Kal Daniels. Sodders, 26, was assigned to Bakersfield of the California League. He was 4-5 with a 3.57 ERA for Double-A Charlotte.