Would you trade shortstop Shawon Dunston to obtain a top-notch starting pitcher?
”I think Shawon would bring a lot in a trade, but I don`t think I want to do that,” said Cubs President Dallas Green, whose club lost to the Atlanta Braves and Zane Smith (14-7) 5-2 Thursday in Game 1 of a double-header at Wrigley Field. Wednesday`s double-header had been rained out. The loss dropped the Cubs below the .500 mark at 62-63.
Dale Murphy`s 35th homer, a two-run shot in the seventh inning, led the Braves` win. It was the fifth straight victory for the Braves and the sixth in seven starts for Smith.
While pitching is an acknowledged Cub shortcoming and several pitching-strong clubs could use a talented shortstop, Green thinks the 24-year-old Dunston is too valuable a commodity to lose.
”I still think Shawon has a chance to do a lot of neat things before he`s done,” said Green.
The San Diego Padres inquired about Dunston`s availability before they made a seven-player deal with the Giants this summer. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been disappointed in the performance of Mariano Duncan (now out for the season with an injury), also would covet a shortstop of Dunston`s caliber. Green also seems to feel that trading established veteran players (Keith Moreland and/or Leon Durham) now to teams involved in a division title race would signal that the Cubs have given up on this season.
The Cubs announced Wednesday they will recall seven players from Triple-A Iowa of the American Association, effective Sept. 4. All clubs are permitted to increase their rosters to 40 on Sept. 1.
Promoted will be infielders Wade Rowdon, Mike Brumley and Paul Noce, outfielders Darrin Jackson and Chico Walker, catcher Damon Berryhill and pitcher Greg Maddux.
Rowdon, a third baseman, is hitting .327 with 17 homers and 102 RBIs in 123 games. Brumley has a .245 mark with six homers, Berryhill .285 with 16 homers and Noce .285 with 6 homers. Jackson is having his best pro season with 23 homers, 79 RBIs and a .284 average. Walker is hitting .240 with 8 homers and 25 stolen bases.
Maddux, who has been with the Cubs most of the year, is 2-0 with a 1.23 earned-run average in two starts at Iowa.
Noce and Brumley helped fill in for Dunston when he missed two months with a broken finger. Luis Quinones also platooned at shortstop. All three provided adequate service, but none showed the spectacular promise of Dunston. Manager Gene Michael will have the task of integrating the minor league players into the lineup in a week or so.
”At that time of the year, we will be able to rest some people and get a good look at some of the kids,” said Michael. ”We got a good look at some of the kids last year, and it helped.
”It will be interesting to see Berryhill, the catcher, because he looked good in spring training. Rowdon didn`t get that many at-bats in the spring, but he has had a fine year.
”I think it`s good for their experience, and I think it helps the ballclub a little. It gives a player more confidence going into next year. Especially if he has a little success, like Brian Dayett did last year. Brian Dayett went home thinking he was a big-league ballplayer.”
Michael`s job will be made easier in one sense, because he will have more players to deploy. But it also will become more difficult, because he wants to win as many games as possible while looking at the young prospects.
”I haven`t had a chance to think about how I am going to do it yet, but we worked it out real well last year,” he said. ”It won`t be as easy as last year.
”Dunston is strong and healthy now, so we want him playing every day at shortstop. If I need to spell him or Ryne Sandberg, either Noce or Brumley can go in. If I need a pinch-runner, they can go in, or Chico Walker. I have more mobility with the lineup that way.
”As far as the pitchers are concerned, when Mike Mason (sore elbow) is healthy again, we`ll activate him. That will put us at 12 pitchers, which also helps.”
Thursday`s opener again is slated for 12:05 p.m. The third game of the series probably will not be made up unless the Cubs or Braves climb back into the race. This is the Braves` last scheduled trip to Chicago this season.
The soggy and idle Cubs have lost a game in the standings to the first-place St. Louis Cardinals, who have won the last two days.
Wednesday`s bill was interrupted for 1 hour 22 minutes after one inning. Then Murphy struck out to lead off the second before another a 46-minute rain delay prompted umpiring crew chief Dick Stello to call the whole thing off.
