Before today’s game, Kyle Schwarber shared some thoughts on the rib cage injury that will have him out three to five days (or more), and it was pretty much exactly what I’d imagine you were hoping to hear:
#Cubs Schwarber talks about injury pic.twitter.com/X48nVoqM63
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) September 4, 2015
Schwarber says he only felt rib pain on a check swing while in the cage Wednesday. Hasn't felt it at all since or with any full swings.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) September 4, 2015
Schwarber said he wanted to play Wednesday, hopes to be able to play in St. Louis. #Cubs
— Bruce Miles (@BruceMiles2112) September 4, 2015
Said his goal is to be back for STL series & he tried to stay in lineup Wed but Maddon wants to rest it. Said if it was playoffs, he'd play
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) September 4, 2015
In these situations, the things you want to hear are: he felt like he could play through it (check), he hasn’t felt anything since the initial bad feeling (check), he hopes to be back as soon as he’s cleared (check), and if it were the playoffs he’d be playing (check).
None of that is to say that it’s not an injury worth taking seriously and treating cautiously, but these are the things you like hearing from the player if you want to believe that this all really is just a matter of precaution.
In other words, Schwarber’s comments provide further support for the idea that the Cubs are playing it very safe with an injury that could get worse if it’s not given time to settle down, and are playing it safe with a guy who could be very important in the second half of September and beyond. Heck, even just the rest – after such a long season for him – can’t be a bad thing.
So, hopefully the Cubs will play well without him the next few days, and hopefully he’s able to return at some point during that Cardinals series.