Fukudome gets some time to regroup
Kosuke Fukudome got another night on the bench Tuesday as the Cubs started Tyler Colvin in right field.
However, Fukudome's hitting coach, Kyosuke Sasaki, has rejoined the team from Japan. Sasaki came up last year and was with the Cubs earlier this year.
"It's the right time," manager Lou Piniella said. "We're giving Fuke a little time off. He's been struggling a little bit. With the hitting coach coming in, we'll give him a chance to work a few days with him.
"It gives me a chance to play Colvin a little bit, too."
Fukudome entered Tuesday batting .185 in June after hitting .253 in May and .344 in April.
Colvin and Fukudome both are left-handed batters, and the Cubs will be facing lefties for the next three days and in four of the next five games, so Xavier Nady could see playing time.
Grabow back: The Cubs activated left-handed reliever John Grabow from the disabled list Tuesday and optioned righty Mitch Atkins to Class AAA Iowa. Atkins came up over the weekend but did not pitch.
Grabow had been out since May 31 with a left-knee sprain. He is fresh off a rehab stint at Class AAA Iowa.
"I threw pretty good," he said. "Four games. One bad one. The rest were real good. Just glad to be back. I've just got to move forward now and help this team win. That's all I'm thinking about."
Grabow said the knee is fine. He has struggled this year, going 0-3 with a 9.45 ERA in 23 games.
Ramirez swings: Third baseman Aramis Ramirez tested his left thumb Tuesday, and the report was good. Ramirez has been on the DL since June 8. It's possible he could go on a short rehab stint.
"I talked to Rudy specifically about him," said Lou Piniella, referring to hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. "He said he swung the bat OK and that his hand, thumb didn't bother him much at all.
"He'll continue to work here for about a week or so, and he'll be able to come off the disabled list."
Minor matters: Center fielder Brett Jackson, last year's top pick out of Cal-Berkeley, hit for the cycle, going 4-for-6 with a walk-off, 2-run homer in the 11th as Class A Daytona beat Lakeland 6-4 Monday. Jackson's hitting line entering Tuesday was .291/.405/.450 for an OPS of .855. He had 11 doubles, 6 triples, 4 homers and 29 RBI.