Right-hander Matt Clement said he felt some tightness in his right biceps during a bullpen session Tuesday, but that should not prevent him from starting Friday against Milwaukee.
“It’s not sore,” he said. “It’s just a little tight and I’ve felt a version of this before without getting hit by a pitch.”
Clement, who was hit by a Kevin Brown fastball Sunday, plans to throw again on the side Wednesday. His arm is being treated with electronic stimulation and ultrasound.
“I don’t think it will hold me back,” he said of his next start. “They’d have to tell me, `You’re not going out there.'”
Cubs manager Don Baylor has no plans to do that.
“If Matt tells me he’s OK, we can take him at his word,” he said.
Hill watch: Bobby Hill keeps getting closer to the big leagues. He went 2-for-4 for Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday to boost his average to .255. He has scored 26 runs in 27 games.
Since starting 1-for-19, Hill is batting .304.
The Cubs say there’s no timetable for Hill’s promotion. But officials already are debating which player will be demoted or released from the club when Hill arrives.
Hit and miss: Joe Girardi finished the question before it could be completed.
Joe, your hitting . . .
“Stinks,” he said. “When you’re not getting any hits, sometimes it seems no matter what you do you’re not comfortable. There are times when I’ve felt like my swing’s bad, and at other times I feel like I’m not seeing the ball well.”
Girardi ended an 0-for-9 hitless streak Tuesday with his first-inning single to right. He added another single in the seventh inning to lift his average from .133 to .167.
“Defensively, I don’t let it bother me,” Girardi said. “But when you go home at night, you’re quite angry. Everyone will tell you that the fun part [of the game] is hitting.”
Earning his keep: When Girardi saw the clock strike 6:20 p.m., he shouted: “OK, all media out of the clubhouse.”
That was Girardi’s way of ribbing Todd Hundley, who served Tuesday as the color commentator for WGN-AM. Hundley subbed for Ron Santo, who missed the game because of irritation in the area of his stump.
Santo’s injury is not related to his diabetes. He fell in his home early Monday morning after the Cubs arrived at O’Hare from Los Angeles about 4 a.m. Santo kept the lights off so he wouldn’t wake up his wife, Vicki.
Santo worked Monday’s game but was “in pain all night long,” said play-by-play man Pat Hughes.
Hundley, who also served as a broadcaster in New York when he was on the disabled list, liked his view from the press box.
“It’s 1,000 times easier up here,” he said.
Hundley promised not to say a negative word about his teammates. And he stuck to that.
Injury updates: Hundley, who went on the disabled list Monday, will have X-rays taken on his left thumb Wednesday.
Kyle Farnsworth, recovering from a stress fracture in his right foot, threw off a mound Monday for the first time.
Baylor said he would rest Bill Mueller on Wednesday. The Cubs want to keep him fresh.
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SINGLE-SEASON STRIKEOUTS PER 9 IP
PLAYER RATIO YEAR
Kerry Wood 12.58 1998
Kerry Wood 11.20 2001
Dick Selma 8.59 1969
Sam Jones 8.40 1956
Jason Bere 8.38 2001
Jon Lieber 8.23 1999
Kevin Tapani 7.97 2001
Fergie Jenkins 7.89 1969
Fergie Jenkins 7.88 1970
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