Soriano hops onto 15-day DL

Alfonso Soriano said "the hop" has nothing to do with it.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said age has nothing to do with it.

Whatever, Soriano finds himself on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf, an injury he suffered catching a flyball in the first inning of Tuesday night's game against the Reds at Wrigley Field.

The 32-year-old left fielder came up limping upon landing after one of his trademark "hops" he uses to catch flyballs.

However, he said he had discomfort in the calf last week and that the pain didn't hit him Tuesday until he took steps after the hop.

Soriano was wearing a boot Wednesday and said he'll probably have to wear it for three or four days.

"I had a little feeling in Pittsburgh," he said. "But not big at all."

About the hop causing the injury, he said: "No, no, no, no. After it. I did like two little jumps. When I started running, normal running, that's when I felt it. It's not the jump."

Hendry signed Soriano to an eight-year, $136 million contract in November 2006.

Before the 2007 season, Soriano had never been on the disabled list. But last year, he missed five games in April with a strained left hamstring. In August, he was on the DL for three weeks with a strained right quadriceps.

The Cubs expressed confidence Soriano won't miss more than the 15 days. They also denied the former basestealer might be breaking down.

"I don't think it has anything to do with age," Hendry said. "He had a hamstring situation in Texas once, too, that he didn't take the DL, but he missed some games. … No, I don't think it's age at all. He's got the kind of body that could play well into his late 30s, I would feel."

For the Cubs' sake, Soriano had better be able to play that long, because he's in only the second year of his long and expensive contract.

Don't expect "the hop" to disappear once Soriano reappears. Hendry was asked what he thought of that hop.

"I certainly don't think it causes injuries," the GM said. "Obviously, he's like a lot of great athletes in the past. He's so well put together and such a lean, muscular type of guy. He's kind of a unique type of athlete. Those type of people can have muscle-pull problems."

Down time for Soriano

Left fielder Alfonso Soriano had never been on the disabled list until 2007, his first season with the Cubs. Here is a look at his down time since he signed an eight-year, $136 million contract before last season:

• Missed five games in April 2007, but did not go on the DL with a strained left hamstring

• Spent three weeks on the disabled list, Aug 6-28, 2007 with a strained right quardiceps

• Placed on 15-day DL Wednesday because of a strained right calf