Boskie's Injury Lingers

Shawn Boskie threw off the mound Wednesday for the first time intwo weeks, but his neck muscle problem still was evident.

"He still feels it," pitching coach Billy Connors said. "Samespot."

Boskie had hoped to get back into the rotation for the team'sWest Coast trip beginning Tuesday, but that now seems out of thequestion.

"We'd probably start him in the bullpen for a while anyway whenhe comes back," Connors said.

Jeff Robinson had started in Boskie's place but will be replacedby Jim Bullinger, who will make his major-league starting debutSaturday.

Bullinger, a converted shortstop, had been a starter until thisspring when the Cubs converted him to reliever.

"He's started before and has the capability," manager JimLefebvre said. "We'll try it and see how it works out."

GOOD GRACES: Second-guessers still wondered if Mark Graceshould have been charged with an error Monday after he dropped apickoff throw from Robinson against Marquis Grissom. No rulerequires an error on such a play, one of many that are strictly thejudgment of the official scorer.

Grace, who has a career-high 73-game errorless streak, wasphilosophical about the matter.

"If I'm getting special attention because of the streak, I don'twant that. If I deserve an error, I should have one.

"I was expecting one, but I don't know how they score thosethings. Errorless streaks are like hitting streaks. They're goingto end sometime."

BAD TIMING? Cubs front office personnel had their firstpreliminary playoff planning meeting Monday - before second-placeMontreal swept the three-game series.

NOTES: Reliever Dave Smith undergoes arthroscopic surgeryMonday on his right elbow, then expects to be back rehabbing with theteam. A 1948 replica Cub uniform worn and autographed by Ryne Sandbergduring the Cubs-Phillies nostalgia game June 21 went for $3,500 inthe Phillies' annual fundraiser for ALS. It was the top price paidfor an item in the event that raised $348,262.