White Sox pitchers have not cornered the market on injuries. Cubs infielders rank a close second, although the severity cannot be compared.
First third baseman Bill Mueller broke his left kneecap. Then shortstop Ricky Gutierrez took an elbow to his forehead, causing headaches and dizziness.
The latest injury afflicted utility infielder Augie Ojeda, who was sidelined Thursday with back spasms.
“He was the first player here for treatment this morning,” manager Don Baylor said. “He couldn’t turn, couldn’t hit and couldn’t throw.”
Both Ojeda and Gutierrez hope to return to action Friday, but the Cubs won’t take any chances. They had Triple-A shortstop Jason Smith fly in from Iowa to be at Wrigley Field Friday morning.
If Gutierrez isn’t cleared to play, they plan to place him on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 7, the day after St. Louis’ Edgar Renteria caught him with an elbow while stealing second base.
Smith, 23, is batting .212 with three homers and nine RBIs in 49 games.
Familiar faces: Ron Coomer can joke that the Twins surged to the top of the American League Central standings the year after he left Minnesota.
“They got rid of [me] and they’re doing OK, huh?” he said with a laugh. “And I come over here and [the Cubs] are doing all right despite me. But I’m glad for them really.”
Coomer could have returned to the Twins for a seventh season as a backup first baseman, third baseman and designated hitter.
But he opted to sign with the Cubs after his dealings with Twins general manager Terry Ryan left him with a sour taste.
“I just didn’t feel real comfortable with the way the negotiations went,” he said. “But Terry had his reasons, and I have nothing against him. Things have worked out great for me. I miss Minnesota some but it’s fun to be home.”
Baylor said he hopes Coomer resists the urge to try to stick it to his former teammates this weekend at Wrigley Field.
Baylor said Coomer “was pulling off the ball” and trying to go deep last weekend at Comiskey Park, where hundreds of Coomer’s friends watched him battle the White Sox.
“I just hope he learns from that situation,” Baylor said. “Just play. Don’t try to hold personal . . . not a vendetta, but you should be able to zone in a little bit more.
“You know [the Twins] know how to pitch you and that’s OK.”
Left is right: After batting .395 over his last 13 games, Matt Stairs found himself out of the lineup Thursday for the second consecutive day. The reason was simple: Baylor did not want Stairs to face Randy Johnson, who has given up just five hits (in 27 at-bats) to lefties this season.
Stairs respected Baylor’s decision but said, “I would have loved to be in there today. There’s not one pitcher I’m afraid of.”
The Cubs will face two more lefty starters Friday and Saturday against the Twins. Baylor hadn’t decided whether to start Stairs or Julio Zuleta at first.
Catcher Todd Hundley will start one game at the most.
“I think it’s important for me to stay hot and Todd to get hot,” Stairs said. “The only way it’s going to happen is if he does put us in against some left-handers because maybe it will help us stay back and hit the ball to left field. I know Todd looks better now against left-handers than right-handers.
“I’ve always been a believer that you should put lefties in against lefties,” Stairs said. “But you can’t do it if we haven’t done it against lefties [all season].”
