Injury intrigue and Eyre to DL
The Cubs put lefty Scott Eyre on the DL this morning and recalled righty reliever Jose Ascanio from Iowa. Eyre's strained left groin won't let him pitch this weekend, and the Cubs are short of pitching to begin with. Ascanio is just getting back into the swing of things after missing a couple weeks at Iowa because of a death in the family.
Turns out Ryan Theriot is banged up after all, just as we suspected yesterday. When I asked The Riot if his hand or thumb was bothering him yesterday, he said no. Lou Piniella also played that game, saying yesterday was just a day off. Turns out The Riot has some swelling around the right thumb area. Teammate Mark DeRosa kidded Theriot that he got hurt by getting jammed. When I wasked Lou how Theriot got hurt, he said he didn't want to say. When I brought up being jammed, he more or less came clean.
The reason the Cubs were so secretive about it is they don't want other teams knowing how to pitch guys when they're hurt. If the Sox and upcoming teams know Theriot's thumb hurts when he gets jammed, they'll pound him inside.
On a lighter note, DeRosa kidded Theriot about "sitting on his averge," which is .317 with a nice .391 OBP.
Lineup:
Fukudome, RF
DeRosa, LF
Lee, 1B
Ward, DH
Ramirez, 3B
Edmonds, CF
Soto, C
Fontenot, 2B
Cedeno, SS
Figure DeRosa to get more outfield time than infield time until Reed Johnson gets back. Lou also said his comments about Eric Patterson were not meant to be "what they came out in the papers." It was pretty clear to everybody listening that Lou doesn't want to see much, if any, more of Patterson in left. I think it all came out in the papers just the way he said it and meant it.
Does anyone know the over - under on runners LOB for tonights game ? I say bet the over, the Cubs continue to leave double digit guys on base... Patterson and Ward as your corner outfielders ? That should never happen again.
I believe Lou has seen enough of Patterson in left field. Ward probably will DH tonight. They've got to tread water until Reed Johnson gets back Thursday.
That's what I like about him. He says it like it is.. Cubs seem to be struggling right now.
Bruce, we desperately need some starting pitching. The pitching has been awful this week. Of course, we need Zambrano healthy, but beyond that they need to desperately find another arm in that #2 slot. I've been a huge Ryan Dempster proponent since he's worn Cubbie blue, but the winless record on the road is no fluke. Neither he or Lilly are #2. Any new CC Sabathia rumors yet?
I seriously doubt the Cubs have what the Indians want for Sabathia. I'd look to Oakland instead, if you know what I mean.