Cubs activate Johnson San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - The Chicago Cubs activated outfielder
Reed Johnson from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday.
The 31-year-old went on the shelf on June 24, retroactive to June 18, due to
lower back spasms.
In 56 games for the Cubs this year, Johnson is batting .271 with three homers
and 31 RBI since coming over from Toronto on March 25 as a free agent.
In a related roster move, the club optioned infielder Eric Patterson to
Triple-A Iowa.... More...
Alfonso Soriano took batting practice on Saturday for the first time since fracturing his left ring finger on June 11. "The most important thing is I feel good and there's no pain at all in my hand," he explains to MLB.com. Soriano admits that his left hand is still a little weak, but he hopes to be ready for the All-Star game on July 15.
The Cubs weren't able to find any issues with reliever Carlos Marmol tipping his pitches. "We thought we had found something on the plane [Thursday] night, and we looked at it further [Friday], and it wasn't much different, so we don't think that's it," manager Lou Piniella tells the Chicago Sun-Times. "The next step is we run him out there tonight if we need him and get people out." Marmol has allowed 10 runs over his last seven appearances.
Alfonso Soriano was cleared to begin swinging a bat on Thursday, the Chicago Sun-Times notes. The outfielder has been out since June 11 due to a broken left ring finger. He could take batting practice this weekend.