NewsAramis, Bradley scratched in matinee
Piniella adjusts lineup; Cubs anticipate return of Lilly, Big Z
By Andrew Simon / MLB.com
08/14/09 6:22 PM ET
CHICAGO -- At the All-Star break, Cubs manager Lou Piniella said his club had to "get healthy and stay healthy."It hasn't happened yet.
Aramis Ramirez and Milton Bradley both were scratched from Friday's lineup less than an hour before game time.
Ramirez has not played since Saturday because of left shoulder soreness. Supposedly his shoulder was good enough for him to play Friday, but Piniella said before the game that Ramirez had a head cold that was "really, really bad." Jake Fox started in his place at third base.
After the game, which the Cubs won, 17-2, over the Pirates, Piniella said the team sent Ramirez home early with an infection of the tonsils.
Bradley, who has stayed healthy of late, was experiencing some minor tightness in his right hip after making a running catch in right field Thursday against the Phillies. Sam Fuld took his spot in the lineup.
Piniella said Bradley would be reevaluated Saturday morning but that he could have played Friday if it had been necessary.
Catcher Geovany Soto, who came off the disabled list Aug. 7, was not in the lineup either -- the second time in three games -- but Piniella said he is not hurt. He just plans to give backup Koyie Hill more playing time.
Meanwhile, there was some good news for the Cubs.
Ted Lilly is scheduled to start Monday in San Diego, and Carlos Zambrano might be not far behind him. Zambrano went on the disabled list Saturday with back spasms. However, the move is retroactive to Aug. 2, meaning Zambrano will be eligible to be activated during the series against the Padres.
Piniella said Zambrano likely will be ready at that point.
"I talked to him today, and his back is much better," Piniella said. "He's working hard, so I would think after the 15-day period, he'll be able to pitch."
Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells are scheduled to start on regular rest the two days after Lilly, meaning the logical spot for Zambrano's return would be Thursday in Los Angeles. That would be the spot in the rotation currently occupied by Tom Gorzelanny, who will make his third start with the Cubs on Saturday.
Piniella hopes his club gets back to full strength soon as it tries to chip into a four-game deficit in the National League Central going into Friday night.
"You have to stay healthy," Piniella said. "That's part of the equation with any team, whether it's the Cubs or any other team or any other sport. You get your top people hurt, it makes it much tougher, and it's been tough on us. I'm the first to admit it, but why complain about it? Nobody wants to hear it and the other team basically doesn't care -- the team you're playing. So you just go and do the best you can."
Andrew Simon is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
