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Angry Kick Puts Cubs' Farnsworth on Disabled List
Reliever Expected to Miss Three Weeks After Kicking Electric Fan
CHICAGO (Aug. 28) -- Chicago Cubs reliever Kyle Farnsworth took out his frustrations by kicking an electric fan. Now he's expected to miss at least three weeks. Farnsworth was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained and bruised right knee Saturday, one day after he gave up six runs in the ninth inning to the Houston Astros.
Farnsworth, who'd been struggling, threw his glove in the stands as he left the field following the six-run ninth that helped the Astros to a 15-7 victory.
Then, as he went back to the Cubs clubhouse, he kicked an electric fan that sits in the runway from the dugout, manager Dusty Baker said. Farnsworth was on crutches Saturday and declined comment.
"He was rather upset after the game, You hate for it to happen. You wish things had been handled better," Baker said. "You know everybody has done something similar at some time in their career. There's a valuable lesson here, an expensive one."
Farnsworth, whose fastball sometimes hits 100 mph, has been booed at Wrigley Field while he's struggled the last month. That pattern continued Friday, when he gave up six hits, including a homer to Carlos Beltran.
"He's obviously had a rough go the last month or so. He pitched really well the first half. Obviously, he was frustrated yesterday and it got the better of him," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Saturday.
"You wish you could have handled your frustration differently because it affects not just yourself but everyone else. This game is tough enough to keep everybody healthy and you hate to have injuries that cost DL time that weren't done on the field."
Farnsworth is 4-4 with a 5.12 ERA in a team-high 65 games and had 69 strikeouts in 58 innings. The Cubs recalled right-hander Todd Wellemeyer from Triple-A Iowa. Wellemeyer is in his second stint with the Cubs and is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 12 games.
Cubs trainer Dave Groeschner said Farnsworth had an MRI exam, which ruled out ligament damage, but he does have a lot inflammation in his knee.
"From what he did, he almost hyperextended it," Groeschner said, estimating it be three-to-four weeks until Farnsworth can pitch.
08/28/04 16:58 EDT
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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