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player ready...Another hurt back.
The Cubs have had all kinds of trouble recently with players hurting their backs.
Shortstop Shawon Dunston missed all but 18 games this season with a back injury that required surgery. And, at one time or another, shortstop Rey Sanchez, catcher Joe Girardi, pitcher Shawn Boskie, outfielder Jerome Walton and Triple-A prospect Kevin Roberson all have had back problems.
Now, add Ryne Sandberg to the list.
Sandberg missed Thursday`s series finale against the Giants with stiffness in his lower back.
”He woke up with it and being so cold here in San Francisco we decided it was better to just let him rest,” manager Jim Lefebvre said.
Bad bunches: Trainer John Fierro says the brace of back injuries is troubling, but not particularly uncommon. ”Injuries always seem to come in bunches like this,” Fierro said. ”One year it will be knees. The next year it will be backs. Let`s hope next year what we get are a bunch of light headaches.”
Harkey`s hurt: Starting pitcher Mike Harkey left with one out in the sixth inning when he strained a groin muscle running to cover first base. The injury is believed minor. Harkey`s status will be re-evaluated daily. ”It`s still too early to tell if he`ll have to miss a start,” said Lefebvre. ”The doctors tell us he doesn`t have a tear or anything, but we`ll see how he feels tomorrow.” Harkey spent time on the disabled list with a groin pull when he was in the minors in 1988, but he says that was far worse than the new injury. ”That one came in April when it was cold, about 30 degrees, and it took a long time to heal,” said Harkey. ”This one isn`t the same.”
Kal`s day: Outfielder Kal Daniels celebrated his 29th birthday Friday. Daniels hasn`t played since Aug. 12 and hasn`t started a game since Aug. 8. He has been suffering from the flu. but the real reason he hasn`t played much is because Derrick May is doing a better job. May is batting .350 (21 for 60) in his last 19 games.