A word to the wise: Stay away from Padres pitcher Greg Harris if you value your health.
Harris faced the Cubs Monday night, making his first start since he broke the middle finger on his throwing hand June 21 trying to bunt.
But Sunday, the day before he was to come back, Harris was involved in a two-car accident. No one was seriously hurt, but the other driver was shaken up.
”My car swerved and I smoked somebody,” Harris said. ”That`s the way my whole season`s gone. I can`t wait for `93.”
Live for today: Somebody who isn`t looking ahead to 1993 is Cubs manager Jim Lefebvre, who likes the way things are going for his team. ”We`re playing some good baseball lately,” Lefebvre said. ”We`re still in this thing until they put that little `X` next to our name in the standings that says we`re eliminated. Right now we`re shooting for second place. When we get there, we`ll talk about first.”
Sign of the times: The $32.5 million package Cal Ripken Jr. signed with Baltimore is certain to serve as a bellwether for Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux. The deal includes five years in salary plus $2 million for services after his playing days. ”I think it`s a good sign,” Lefebvre said. ”It shows that Baltimore wants to keep its star player and that is good for baseball.” Asked how that would affect the Cubs` chances of signing Maddux and aging star Andre Dawson, Lefebvre said that was out of his realm of responsibility. But he did say: ”They`re great players and for us to go to the next level, they have to be on this team.”
One Smith: Reliever Dave Smith, out for the season with an elbow injury that will require surgery, rejoined the team in San Diego after a couple days`
rest. Smith was scheduled to have surgery last week, but the operation had to be postponed because his blood was thin from anti-inflammatory drugs he was taking.
Another Smith: Outfielder Dwight Smith started his third consecutive game in center Monday night. The string will end Tuesday when the Padres pitch left-hander Jim Deshaies. Smith, a lefty, will sit out and Doug Dascenzo will be back in center.
Double streak: Two great home run droughts that began with the same swing on June 26, 1991, are still going. Maddux hasn`t allowed a homer to a right-handed hitter since that day. And the guy who hit that one, Jose Lind, hasn`t homered since.
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