Carlos Zambrano Hospitalized; Jeff Baker Partially Blind

Despite the Cubs 1-0 win today over the Dodgers, which also clinched a series win for the Cubs, their still were some scary moments during today’s game. As the Cubs had to send one player to the hospital for appendicitis symptoms and, another player left the game because he could not see.

First, with Carlos Zambrano, who was sent to the hospital before the game after suffering through what is believed to be appendicitis related symptoms, however reports are that Zambrano will not need an appendectomy, and he is day-to-day.

Here is what manager Lou Piniella had to say about the Zambrano injury…

"“He’s got some pain in his … where appendicitis is,” Piniella said, pointing to his lower-right abdomen. “He was at the hospital all day.” ESPN CHICAGO"

It is also unlikely that this alters the plan for Zambrano to return to the rotation next week against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Now to what appears to be the more serious injury, and that is the injury that Jeff Baker sustained during today’s game in the eighth inning. As during the inning, Baker lost complete vision out of his right eye and was immediately taken out of the game. Baker was sent to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he met with team specialist John Rosin, and results of the tests are still pending.

"“Baker had vision problems and couldn’t see out of his right eye,” Piniella said. “It was a little scary.”Baker was examined by Dr. Jon Rosin, the team opthamalogist. The team expected to know more on Friday.“We had to get him out of there,” Piniella said of Baker. MUSKAT RAMBLINGS"

Hopefully, Baker’s injury is not as harmful as it potentially could be, and he can be back with the Cubs soon. If baker needs to go on the DL, then I would suspect that either Darwin Barney or Chad Tracy would get the call up.