Manager Jim Lefebvre says he won`t fine catcher Rick Wilkins for missing a bunt sign in the bottom of the ninth inning of Thursday`s night`s loss to the Astros.
The missed sign turned out to be important because a successful bunt would have put the tying run in scoring position. Instead, that runner only got as far as third base when Dwight Smith delivered a two-out pinch single.
”Nobody feels worse about it than Rick,” said Lefebvre. ”It was an honest mistake and he`s the kind of player who learns from his mistakes.
”I`ve never been big on fines because if you fine a guy for not doing something, then you have to reward him when he does something right. And most of these guys already have those rewards built into their contracts.”
– That pinch hit by Smith was nothing new. He leads the National League with 13 pinch hits in 45 at-bats this season. Smith is one of only six Cubs in history with at least 40 pinch hits. Four players share the all-time lead with 46: Thad Bosley, Larry Biittner, Phil Cavaretta and Bob Will. Next is Dom Dallesandro with 45.
– Outfielder Kal Daniels was back with the team Friday. Daniels missed Thursday night`s game with the flu. He wasn`t even in the ballpark in the bottom of the ninth inning when Lefebvre needed a left-handed pinch-hitter against Houston bullpen ace Doug Jones. Lefebvre had to send up right-handed hitting Joe Girardi, who grounded out to end the game with the tying run at third.
– Shortstop Rey Sanchez sat out Friday`s game with stiffness in his lower back. He had precautionary X-rays taken, but they were negative. Sanchez said he was a little sore, but hoped to be back in the lineup soon. His replacement, Jose Vizcaino, was 1 for 4 with an RBI and a key relaythrow to cut down a Houston run.
– Lefebvre says he and General Manager Larry Himes have yet to begin serious talks on which minor leaguers they want to bring up after the major-league rosters are expanded Sept. 1. The process will be sensitive this year because of the upcoming National League expansion draft. A youngster from Double-A ball might come up and have a sensational month and draw the attention of the Florida Marlins or Colorado Rockies.
– One promising youngster having a sterling year in the Cubs` system is switch-hitting catcher Matt Walbeck at Double-A Charlotte. Walbeck, 22, is batting .302 with a .360 on-base percentage. He is 11 for 27 (.407) in his last eight games.
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– Two familiar ex-Cubs are continuing to struggle at Triple-A Iowa. Third baseman Gary Scott is 15 for 73 (.206) in the last 21 games. His average has plummeted from .299 on July 22 to .273 as of Friday. Catcher Hector Villanueva is on an almost identical slide. Villanueva was batting .297 on July 22. He is down to .269 after going 17 for 67 (.254) in the last 21 games.
– Jeff Santo, son of Cubs broadcaster Ron Santo, is in Northwestern Memorial Hospital recovering from a severe bout of food poisoning. He was rushed to the hospital with a 104-degree fever and massive dehydration late Wednesday night. He was still running a high fever and being fed intravenously Friday, but was improving.