Reliever Dave Smith will be sidelined for an indefinite period because of a sprained ligament in his right knee. He had X-rays taken Friday by Dr. Michael Schafer, the team physician.
Manager Jim Essian said Smith would not go on the disabled list and would miss only ”a few games.”
Smith said he thinks he can be back by Sunday, and it hurts him while walking more than while pitching because ”I don`t do a lot of driving off my back leg.”
Pitching woes: Also on the injured pitcher front, Rick Sutcliffe will throw a simulated game Sunday. The Cubs will pay Smith, Sutcliffe, Danny Jackson and Mike Harkey a combined $6,925,901 this year in salaries and pro-rated signing bonuses. All have been injured at one point or another, and they have a combined record of 3-12. As much as any other thing, the spate of injuries may have cost pitching coach Dick Pole his job.
Bad month: The June swoon now stands at 8-18 for the Cubs.
Long term: Bob Scanlan said the pregame meeting called by Essian may help the team in the long run, despite Friday`s 14-6 loss. After Essian talked to the players, they held an open forum. ”Anytime a team can talk about things, it`s going to help,” said Scanlan. ”Maybe things will get turned around.” Essian said there is no discipline problem with the team, and ”there`s good character” on the ballclub. He termed the Cubs` bad streak ”a temporary thing, a freak thing.”
He spells relief: Doug Dascenzo`s relief outing was his third in a Cubs uniform. He became the first position player in the 20th Century to make three such appearances for a Cubs team. On the flip side, pitcher Greg Maddux recorded his first career pinch hit, a single.
Sick bay: Luis Salazar was scratched from the opening lineup due to an upset stomach. Shawon Dunston was on the bench at the start of the game after an 0- for-5 performance Thursday with two strikeouts. He came on to add a pinch single in the ninth. He`s 4 for 24 in his last six games.
New jobs: Cardinals announcer Jack Buck and St. Louis manager Joe Torre switched roles before the start of Friday`s game, with Torre donning Buck`s sports coat and interviewing him about his new managerial position with the Cards. The two were just clowning around for the CBS camera crews, in town for Saturday`s ”Game of the Week” telecast at 12:15 p.m.
