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People's Choice Awards
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People's Choice: Red Carpet
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People's Choice: Backstage
REDS NOTES
Milton OK to start; so is Cubs ace Zambrano
Sunday, September 17, 2006
CHICAGO — As planned, Eric Milton and his iffy elbow are expected to take the Wrigley Field pitching mound today, but the Chicago Cubs made a quick change that doesn't please Cincinnati Reds hitters.
Instead of rookie Sean Marshall (5-9, 5.34 ERA), the Cubs are starting Carlos Zambrano (14-6, 3.50), supposedly out of action with back problems. But two doctors found nothing amiss, and Zambrano suddenly scanned the National League statistics and realized the Cy Young Award is there for the taking.
Extras
"Why not?" he asked when Cy Young was mentioned. "I have the numbers. Johan Santana is in the American League, and I will not compete against him. I will do the best as possible to finish in the top three."
Zambrano, though, hasn't dazzled the Reds — 1-2 with a 4.44 ERA in four starts this season against them, giving up 19 hits and 17 walks in 24 1/3 innings.
Chambliss suspended
Reds batting instructor Chris Chambliss was suspended for Saturday's game for coming onto the field Thursday in Great American Ball Park after he was ejected by umpire Rob Drake for commenting on Drake's Texas-sized strike zone.
What most teams don't realize is that there is a relatively new edict that coaches are not allowed to leave the dugout to argue with umpires.
"I guess there was a memo on it, but if I had known it I never would have permitted Chris to leave the dugout," said Reds manager Jerry Narron.
Said Reds General Manager Wayne Krivsky, "For those counting, Chris is the ninth coach to be suspended this season for leaving the dugout."
Keeping Lohse?
Pitcher Kyle Lohse is eligible for arbitration after the season and hopes he and the Reds can come to a contract agreement before it gets to that.
Asked if he had heard anything, he said, "No, but I never do. They always wait until the very end with me, make me sweat."
Of course, he has never negotiated a contract with the Reds, but he has with Krivsky, who negotiated contracts for the Minnesota Twins before he came to the Reds. And Lohse pitched for the Twins then.
Asked if he'd like to stay with the Reds, Lohse, said, "You always want to be where you are wanted."
Clubhouse hi-jinks
The players were loose and frivolous in the small and cramped visitor's clubhouse in Wrigley before Saturday's game.
Relief pitcher Brian Shackelford forgot to pack his glove for the trip, so his bullpen buddies purchased him a new one — one about half the size of a normal glove, a kid's glove, complete with his name and uniform number stitched on it.
Ken Griffey Jr. pointed out something on his dislocated toe, "A new millennium ice pack invented by Scott Hatteberg. It's an ice chip and a Band-Aid."
Catcher Jason LaRue spotted rookie Norris Hopper wearing gaudy gosh-awful sun glasses and lifted them from Hopper's locker, "Because anything this ugly has to be worn in batting practice."
In a bizarre twist, Notre Dame and Michigan played football Saturday, and Saturday's starting pitchers went to the same colleges — Reds starter Chris Michalak to Notre Dame and Cubs starter Rich Hill to Michigan. And the results were the same — Wolverines over the Irish.
