Ron Santo returned to Wrigley Field on Friday and said he plans to resume his normal work schedule, including Cubs road games, “as long as I feel good.”
After being sidelined for 10 games with an irregular heartbeat, the 67-year-old WGN Radio analyst was back behind the microphone. He said he was “feeling great” and even sang during the seventh-inning stretch.
“My heart is the same as it was two years ago, which is good news,” he said. “I really have not felt bad. In fact, what I couldn’t believe was that I felt so good.”
But Santo, a diabetic since childhood who has lost both legs to the disease, is realistic about his health, which has caused him several hospitalizations in recent years.
“I’m going to have these [episodes] for the rest of my life,” he said. “I’m going to have some setbacks.”
Santo has been amazed during his absence at the “wonderful passion the fans have and the respect they have. I love it.”
It’s catching
Backup catcher Henry Blanco has what manager Lou Piniella called a “little herniated disc” in his neck and received a cortisone shot.
“If we don’t have to use him for a day or two, much the better,” Piniella said. “This guy’s a trooper. He’s been playing with some discomfort and pain and we appreciate that.”
Blanco was the batter whom Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina grabbed around the neck (“He was mauled at home plate by the opposing catcher,” Piniella said) after trying to sacrifice bunt on April 20. But Piniella would not blame the injury completely on that.
“I’m sure that didn’t help,” he said. “[Molina] had him in a full Nelson headlock.”
Miller ‘not 100 percent’
Disabled Wade Miller (back spasms) threw about 20 pitches off a mound Friday and said he “was not 100 percent but OK.”
Miller threw some fastballs but decided to back off. “We’ll try again Sunday,” he said.
Although he said he was not in pain, Miller is on a slow pace to return after losing his starting job. He will go on a minor-league rehab “whenever I feel good enough to do it.”
Extra innings
Derrek Lee’s home run, his 88th as a Cub, tied him with Randy Jackson for 25th on the team’s career list … Even with Carlos Zambrano allowing four runs Friday, the Cubs have outscored opponents 23-19 in first innings.
