Volstad sinking up the joint
Winless righty only goes two innings, could be demoted
For the first time in years, Carlos Zambrano won’t be in the Cubs’ rotation for the White Sox-cubs series.
By the time the series is over, the guy who replaced Zambrano might not be, either.
After his worst start in an already-rough season, sinkerballer Chris Volstad could be headed to the minors Friday, depending on the outcome of talks manager Dale Sveum expects to have with team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer.
‘‘We’ll get together as a staff and talk to Theo and Jed and evaluate the situation, for sure,’’ Sveum said after Volstad lasted only two innings Thursday night in an 8-7 loss against the Phillies that only got that close when the Cubs rallied with two outs in the ninth for four runs.
‘‘We’ll see what our options are and go from there.’’
The only guy in the place having a worse day might have been latearriving chairman Tom Ricketts, who still appeared to be on hold with City Hall as he took his frontrow seat just in time to see Volstad’s last few pitches.
Or maybe catcher Geovany Soto, whose left knee got bad enough in batting practice that he was scratched from the lineup and is expected to find out Friday how bad the injury is.
Or the ticket scalpers having trouble unloading inventory for the crosstown series at Wrigley amid concerns that the NATO summit will keep people close to home.
Whatever the final tally in the worst-day contest, the last-place Cubs ride a three-game losing streak into the series.
Volstad (0-6), who was acquired from Miami in the Zambrano dump/trade, allowed nine baserunners and four runs in his shortest start in three years, loading the bases each inning.
Casey Coleman, who replaced Volstad and pitched four effective innings, could be an option for Volstad’s spot, but Sveum seems to want Class AAA lefty Travis Wood.
‘‘It’s a logical choice, no doubt about it,’’ said Sveum, who added that Wood’s schedule would be a factor before being told he also pitched Thursday (seven innings, one run). ‘‘Then we’re in good shape.’’
Not so much Volstad, whose ERA jumped to 7.46 as his overall winless streak reached 19 starts, dating to last year’s All-star break.
‘‘I think I’m trying too hard, trying to do different things, just a lot of forcing it instead of letting my ability take over,’’ Volstad said. ‘‘I know it’s in there. I’ve thrown beautiful games in the big leagues before. I’ve just got to tap into it.’’
Volstad only has one quality start, and he allowed four runs in it (three earned). And the Cubs are 0-8 in his starts.
‘‘There’s just no life, no command, on [any] of his pitches,’’ Sveum said. ‘‘He couldn’t keep the ball down again, keep it in. Not a real good outing at all for the situation we’re in.’’
Enough to make anybody miss Zambrano yet? The Cubs won’t go that far, but Volstad’s struggles have been especially conspicuous in a rotation that otherwise has a 10-6 record and 3.08 combined ERA.
Whether he expects to lose his rotation job, ‘‘I don’t know how you want me to answer that kind of question. I mean, I’m working and pitching and trying to show them that I deserve to be in the rotation. ... It’s up to them.’’