The Chicago Cubs made the irresponsible decision of signing Bernard Gilkey to a minor league contract on Saturday. Gilkey, a repeat drunk driver with at least 4 related arrests, was sentenced on January 18th to spend 4 months in jail for driving with a revoked license, as well as 15 days for misdemeanor speeding, which was to be served concurrently. His 5-year drunk driving sentence was suspended and converted to 5-years of suspended driving privileges and probation with 500 hours of community service, as well as drug and alcohol treatment. No explanation has been offered as to why less than four months later he is apparently free and able to report to the Cubs' extended Spring Training.

Chicago isn't even really in need of an additional outfielder. Roosevelt Brown is fully capable of covering for Moises Alou, who should return from the DL soon. Darren Lewis is an acceptable defensive replacement. Corey Patterson and Sammy Sosa have full-time positions in center and right field, and the Cubs have a number of bench players capable of playing in the outfield, including Delino DeShields and Mark Bellhorn. Also, while I'm not particularly enamored of Mario Encarnacion, he's at least in the upswing of his career. In addition to his alcohol problems, the 35-year-old outfielder has lost both his speed and power skills and gradually discarded his plate discipline.

Gilkey has had second chances in the past and abused them. Perhaps presuming he spent time in jail and received treatment for his problems, he has been rehabilitated and is truly ready to rejoin society. However, considering the obvious seriousness of his problem, less than four months seems a rather short time to make a full recovery and the lifestyle of a professional athlete doesn't exactly seem suited to aid in keeping him on the wagon. The Cubs have made a reckless decision and should hope that, if and when he decides to violate his probation and get behind the wheel of a car under the influence, he's alone and the roads are deserted.

The Cubs made another move on Saturday. Besides their ill-advised minor league signing, the team acquired Marc Deschenes from Pittsburgh for a PTBNL. The 29-year-old right-handed reliever split last season between AA and AAA. His skills are acceptable but show little upside, so it's highly likely that Chicago will lose a better player when the PTBNL is named.

Although Minnesota was expecting Luis Rivas to return as soon as he was eligible to come off the DL next week, it looks as though he will be out another 2-4 weeks. X-rays led the Twins to believe that Rivas had only suffered deep bone bruise when he was hit with a Dan Reichert pitch on April 3rd. However since over a week after the injury he was still in pain and progressing slowly, doctors decided to perform an MRI on Saturday, which revealed a hairline fracture of the ulna just below the wrist on his left arm.

Dennis Hocking has received most of Rivas' playing time so far and will likely continue to do so. Jay Canizaro will also continue to pick up additional at-bats though Warren Morris was sent down on Friday. RHP Tony Fiore was called up to replace Morris. The 30-year-old reliever isn't anything special but the Twins wanted another reliever available.

Houston pitcher Wade Miller complained of neck spasms and a dead arm following his start on Friday. The Astros think he just needs a little rest, so Carlos Hernandez will take his next start. A doctor will examine Miller on Monday, but Houston doesn't currently think it is anything serious.

However, LHP Wilfredo Rodriguez isn't quite so lucky. Rodriguez has bone chips in his shoulder and is scheduled to have them removed on Tuesday. Recovery time from this shoulder surgery reportedly takes 3-6 months, so Rodriguez is unlikely to make it to the majors this season. The 23-year-old lefty was switched from starting to relief work in AA last season. He seemed to respond well to the change and will likely make a decent lefty reliever in a season or two if he successfully recovers from this surgery.

Kevin Brown left Saturday's game in the second inning with pain in his elbow. Doctors currently believe that because he could not identify pain in a particular portion of the joint, he has torn scar tissue from the surgery he had in September of 2001 to repair a torn flexor muscle. The theory is that he put stress on the elbow in a different place when he exerted himself by throwing a 93 MPH fastball to 38-year-old catcher Tom Lampkin. He will likely miss his next start, but until he is examined further today they will not know the extent of the time he will be sidelined or if he will need to spend time on the DL.

Terry Adams will miss his next start with a strained joint above his breastbone. The condition is reportedly chronic but not serious. With a cortisone injection, anti-inflammatories, and rest, Adams should be good to after this week. Due to Monday's day of rest, the rotation will be able to remain intact.

The Phillies activated Randy Wolf from the DL on Friday. Wolf started the season on the disabled list with tendinitis in his left elbow. He pitched well in his Friday night start and felt fine afterwards.

Dave Hollins was placed on the DL with spider bites when Wolf was activated. Hollins was bitten on the leg by venomous spiders during Spring Training and his left knee has become infected. Hollins' diabetes has slowed the healing. With rest and medication, he should be fine in 10 days. Philadelphia is unlikely to miss the 35-year-old infielder.