Just goes to show how easy it can be to lose $28 million.
That`s what Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux could have lost Saturday night if his career had ended when he was hit on the knee with a one-hop line drive off the bat of Vince Coleman of the Mets in Game 1 of the double-header.
Maddux was lucky. He only suffered a painful bruise and was able to keep pitching.
The near miss came only two weeks after Maddux turned down a $27.5 million contract offer from the Cubs that also included another $1 million in incentives.
– The Mets got one pitcher back for Saturday`s double-header, but lost one and may have lost two. Reliever John Franco, who leads the Mets with 11 saves, came off the disabled list after a month with stiffness in his elbow. He took the roster spot vacated by fellow reliever Paul Gibson, who has shoulder problems. Starter Bret Saberhagen, just back after missing six weeks with an inflamed finger, had to leave Game 1 after only three innings with a recurrence of his injury. He was examined by the Mets` team physician, and his status will be re-evaluated daily.
– The Cubs had their share of health problems during the double-header, too. Third baseman Steve Buechele left after four innings of the first game with a sore rib cage. He sat out the second game. Andre Dawson`s knees were bothering him after the first game. He sat out the nightcap, but came in to pinch-hit for winning pitcher Jeff Robinson in the eighth inning. Dawson was expected back Sunday. Buechele`s status was listed as ”day to day.”
– Infielder Jose Vizcaino hit his first major-league home run in the second game. Vizcaino only has four home runs in his professional career, the other three coming when he was with the Dodgers` Triple-A club in Albuquerque.
– As good as the Cubs pitchers have been of late, they still have a tendency to get themselves in trouble by walking the leadoff batter. Three times during the double-header, Cubs pitchers walked the first batter in an inning. That makes 16 times in the last 14 games that Cubs pitchers have started started an inning with a walk.
– Dwight Gooden is expected to throw in the bullpen Sunday. Gooden is on the disabled list with a tender shoulder. He pitched for 25 minutes at full speed Friday and said he felt fine.