Iowa flooding creates need for contingency plans

TORONTO -- The flooding that hit the state of Iowa hard is affecting the Cubs' minor-league affiliate in Des Moines.

The Iowa Cubs' game Friday night was called off, and today's game is up in the air as well because of flooding of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. The organization hopes to get Sunday's game in.

The Cubs already are making adjustments with players. Pitcher Kevin Hart, who was optioned from the big club to Iowa on Thursday, could not get to Des Moines. So the Cubs put him on a plane and will have him pitch today for Class AA Tennessee.

If things don't improve, the Cubs may have to think about sending lefty Sean Marshall elsewhere to get work.

"That's an example of what you're talking about, adjusting on the fly," said Cubs assistant general manager Randy Bush, on the trip to Toronto. "He (Hart) was driving (from Chicago to Des Moines) and had to turn around. As we get information and as we get further projections, we'll adjust. We're hopeful it's just going to be a day or two."

Cubs third-base coach Mike Quade said he saw pictures of Des Moines on the computer and that Principal Park is in relatively good shape compared with other areas that have been hard hit. Quade managed at Iowa from 2003-06.

Bush said the Cubs have been in close contact with Sam Bernabe, the president and general manager of the Iowa Cubs.

"It's not very high at the ballpark right now," Bush said of the flood water. "Sam is hopeful that this is the worst of it. It's on the field, but not covering the field. It's on the warning track. It's in the dugouts, some in the outfield.

"But we're not talking like 2 feet of water on the field. He's hoping this is the worst of it. You don't know yet."