Nomar Garciaparra strained his left wrist during batting practice Friday. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
CHICAGO -- First, it was his right Achilles. Now, Nomar Garciaparra is battling a strained left wrist injured during batting practice Friday. But he was ready to play Monday night.
Garciaparra was examined Monday by the Chicago Cubs medical staff and did not start that night's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, the third straight game he's missed. However, he did take grounders at short and batting practice, and said it was possible he could play Tuesday.
"It's something, you have to go out there and gut it out," Garciaparra said Monday. "(Cubs manager Dusty Baker) said, 'I'm going to give you one more day. It might pay off in the long run.' You have stuff you play through and just deal with it."
His Achilles has been a problem since Spring Training, but Garciaparra injured his wrist during batting practice Friday night in Houston. He played that night, and had two hits, including a home run.
"It was during BP, one of those things you do every day," Garciaparra said. "I played that day and I thought it was just one of those things. You get some zings here and there and this one stayed with me and didn't go away. I had some swelling and I'm still working through it."
Could he play Tuesday?
"There's a possibility," Garciaparra said. "Right now we're going day to day, and that's the attitude we're taking right now. (The wrist) is going to tell me. There's been some discomfort. There was a reason for the exam but at the same time it's more symptomatic and you have to listen to it."
Nomar Garciaparra / SS
Born: 07/23/73
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 190 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
As for his Achilles, he's been able to manage that.
"Everything we've been doing up to this point and everything we've been saying has held true," Garciaparra said. "It hasn't gotten worse. Like I said from day one, there are going to be days here and there."
Garciaparra's right wrist was a problem in 2001 and required surgery, limiting him to 21 games that season with the Boston Red Sox. He bounced back in 2002 and batted .310 and tied for the league-lead with 56 doubles.
It's not unusual to have a few aches and pains.
"You go out there and guys have injuries, especially late in the season, and you try to perform the way you can," Garciaparra said.
The Cubs have not discussed putting the shortstop on the disabled list or giving him more time off. Garciaparra was batting .333 in 17 games since joining the Cubs in the four-team trade on July 31.
"It's too early to say," Baker said about extended time off. "Sometimes you're a checked swing away of re-hurting it. We just have to wait this thing out."
"As of right now," Garciaparra said, "we're looking at present day and we'll worry about the rest when it comes."
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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Nomar Garciaparra / SS
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