Dwight Smith, who played five games for the Cubs' Class A Daytonateam, returned from Florida and was reactivated after Thursday's 5-2loss.
"I really enjoyed the little rehab with the youngsters - and wegot some talent coming - so I've got to come up here and workharder," laughed Smith, who was 5-for-16 with four doubles with theDaytona team.
But Smith, who has been out with a cracked thumb since July 8,admitted he wasn't laughing when he was told of the plans to send himto the minors.
"You know when I first left, I was a little disappointed anddiscouraged, not thinking I would need it," the veteran outfieldersaid.
"But I got down there and the minor league pitchers startedlooking like they were throwing 106 (m.p.h.) in the first game.
"So it was well-needed. I got a few kinks out after not playingfor a month so the five days really helped a lot."
To make room for Smith, the Cubs optioned utility man DougJennings to Class AAA Iowa in what manager Jim Lefebvre said was "oneof the toughest calls I've had to make."
"Doug did a hell of a job for us," said Lefebvre of Jennings(.255, 8 runs, 8 RBI), whose five pinch hits all went for extrabases. "He'll definitely be back in September."
HUMAN TRICKS: So just how dumb are baseball fights? Cubsreliever Dan Plesac remembers wrenching his knee scaling the commonoutfield bullpen wall at Milwaukee County Stadium to join onemidfield shove fest with the White Sox.
"And then I'm running next to Bobby Thigpen to get to theinfield before we fight, and walking back with the Sox pitchersafterward," Plesac said. "So what's that?"
IN THE BEGINNING: In the Cubs' 13 second-half wins, theirstarters have combined for a 2.84 ERA and lasted 82 1/3 innings.
In the Cubs' eight second-half losses, their starters havestruggled to a 6.27 ERA and lasted just 41 2/3 innings.
HELPING HANDS: The Cubs' flood aid fund has raised $300,000, atotal which will be matched by a charitable foundation.
They will continue to accept donations at a table on the mainconcourse behind home plate when the team returns home for a weekendseries with San Francisco next Friday.
The Cubs' annual fund-raising cruise on Lake Michigan alsoraised $75,000 for Cubs Care charities.
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