Quade believes Coleman will get it turned around in Iowa
The return of Randy Wells from the 15-day disabled list Saturday meant Casey Coleman (2-4, 7.25 ERA) was the one caught in a numbers game and ultimately shipped off to Triple-A Iowa.
“We sent Casey out to try and get him fixed, get him back to where he was last year command-wise,” Cubs manager Mike Quade said. “And he will.
“This is a tough place to fix yourself up here. He’ll go down there and he’ll be back to being the guy he needs to be. It’s such a huge issue with him command-wise. He’s got to be down in the strike zone consistently.”
Pitching coach Mark Riggins expects it to be a short stay in Iowa for Coleman.
“He just needs to get his confidence back and his location,” Riggins said. “I don’t think it will take that long. He should be back soon.”
In other rotation news, Riggins said Matt Garza will throw a side session Sunday and probably won’t go on a rehab mission, while newly-acquired Rodrigo Lopez will make his first start as a Cub on Monday against Houston.
Enough already:
There’s been a black cloud hanging over the Cubs for much of the season — literally and figuratively.
We all know about their 22-28 record, but how about these other numbers when it comes to weather:
Ÿ The average game-time temperature in the Cubs’ first 26 home games was 51 degrees.
Ÿ The first-pitch temperature has been below 50 degrees 16 times.
Ÿ Three games have been postponed already this season.
The game-time temp Saturday was 61, but of course the last few innings were played in light rain.
One ... and the bonus:
Digger Phelps took a rare mulligan after his first attempt at throwing the ceremonial first pitch Saturday came up just a bit short.
His second try made it all the way to the plate.
Sure could’ve used them:
The fact that Pirates starter Paul Maholm had Cubs hitters off-balance all afternoon made injuries to Reed Johnson (back) and Jeff Baker (groin) all the more frustrating for Cubs manager Mike Quade.
That’s because Johnson is 7-for-11 against Maholm while Baker is 7-for-14.
“Breaks my heart; have you seen their numbers?” Mike Quade said before Saturday’s loss to the Pirates. “Reed I’m most concerned about. We’ll be really careful with him. Bake probably needs a day or so before we can cut him loose on the field.”
That might not be the same timetable for Johnson.
“If you push it too much it can wind up being season-long,” Quade said. “They’re treating him and taking a really hard look at him.”
Baker pinch-hit in the ninth and grounded out to second.
He’ll be back:
Catcher Geovany Soto (groin) continued his rehab stint in Tennessee on Saturday night and team officials said he may be back in time to play Sunday afternoon in Chicago, but a Monday return seems a more likely scenario.
He said it:
“For the most part I attacked ... I just attacked in kind of a timid way.”
— Randy Wells, on his pitching performance Saturday