Ramirez still feeling shoulder pain
There are a few things Aramis Ramirez knows and a few others he doesn't know as he recovers from the dislocated left shoulder he suffered last weekend in Milwaukee.
Ramirez says he's still in pain.
"It still hurts; it's only been about 3-4 days," he said Wednesday as he relaxed without the sling on his arm. "It's going to be like that for a while. But I'm doing exercises."
Ramirez, 30, suffered a similar injury while with the Pirates in 2000. He also dislocated the shoulder in 1998. He said the biggest difference this time is that he had to have the shoulder popped back into place. That's initially painful, and the chance for additional trauma is greater.
After getting the sling off for good, he'll continue doing range-of-motion and strength work for three weeks or so, meaning he'll be a month without baseball activity. That could made a minor-league rehab stint necessary.
"If I don't play for two months, I'm going to have to go out and see some pitches," he said. "I just don't want to jump into the fire. But who knows? We'll see."
Oh, Henry: Former Cub Henry Blanco caught Tuesday's series opener for the Padres. Blanco was the Cubs' backup catcher from 2005 through last year. He and the Cubs couldn't agree to terms on a new deal last off-season.
"You're asking the wrong guy," he said when asked why he's gone. "We did everything we could, but it didn't happen."
When asked if there were any hard feelings, he said: "Not really. I still got a job. Of course, I miss these guys (former Cubs teammates) now, but I've got to get used to my new teammates."
Big Z on schedule: Ace pitcher Carlos Zambrano threw "a nice bullpen session" Wednesday, according to Cubs manager Lou Piniella. Zambrano may do some fielding work on the mound today and run the bases. He'll then get set to head out on a rehab start for Class A Daytona over the weekend.
Piniella confirmed that Zambrano will make his return start for the Cubs May 22 at San Diego. Zambrano is on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring.
This and that: Pitcher Ryan Dempster faces no discipline by Major League Baseball for hitting Milwaukee's Ryan Braun last weekend. ... First baseman Jake Fox continued his hot hitting at Class AAA Iowa Tuesday, hitting his 13th and 14th homers. He also drove in 5. Sam Fuld was on base four times, going 2-for-5 with 2 walks a double and 3 runs scored.