Cubs Woes Continue: Injuries, Ejections, L's, and More

Another Injured Pitcher
Last night starting pitcher Tom Gorzelanny left the game in the second inning after injuring his foot fielding a ground ball. He was charged with 6 earned runs in the Rockies 11-5 rout of the Cubs. The Cubbies dropped 3 out of 4 in a very frustrating series from a Cubs perspective. According to MLB.com, Gorzelanny plans to make his next start.

Stevens Back to AAA
The Cubs continue to send reliever Jeff Stevens back and forth between Iowa and the big league. Yesterday they selected the contract of Esmalin Caridad from AAA before the game. Lou brought Esmalin right into the action after Gorzelanny left last nights game. Caridad tossed 5 and 1/3 to help out a spend bullpen in his big league debut, but did allow 7 hits.

Ramirez Sits Monday
Armamis Ramirez has missed each of the last 2 games after leaving Saturday night's contest with a shoulder injury. Aramis says it's a little better, but the Cubs are not sure when he will be back in the lineup. He could be headed for the DL according to Gordon Wittenmyer.

Lou Tossed
Cubs manager Lou Piniella was thrown out on Sunday for arguing the call on a double play that Randy Wells hit into in the top of the second. The ejection was Lou's second this season. Click for video of the play and more.

Smoltz a fit for the Cubs?
Veteran pitcher John Smoltz was DFA by the Red Sox this week. The Cubs need pitching, and are on of the team that Buster Olney of ESPN has mentioned having interest in the righty. However, it is unlikely that any NL team would want John in a trade with some financial adjustment from the Red Sox. Smoltz, the 42-year old future Hall of Famer, has an 8.32 ERA this season, but could be a good pick up. We'll see.

Phillies Series Won't Be Easy
The Cubs have been scuffling along, and the task ahead does not get any easier. In the next series, starting tonight at Wrigley, the defending World Champion Phillies will send 2 former Cy Young winners to the hill in Pedro Martinez and Cliff Lee. The Cardinals have been playing well, so the Cubs are going to have to pick up the pace, and soon if they'd like to stay in the NL Central race. Going into today, the Cubs are 3 games back of St. Louis for the division and also 3 back of Colorado in the Wild Card race.

If you missed it, you can read my Road to Wrigley Recap by clicking here.

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That's it for now, I'll keep you posted as always!