ESPN

As far as scary moments go, Friday’s events for Paul Konerko were right there at the top of his most frightening times in the game.

The White Sox captain was concerned about possible vision loss after getting hit in the head by Jeff Samardzija.

“In the first 20 seconds I had blurred vision and was a little worried,” Konerko said. “Once I realized it was skin that had swelled up over the eye and not the eye itself I was OK in my mind.”

Konerko missed the last two games of the Cubs series over the weekend as he waited for the swelling and bruising to subside around his left eye.

“It was definitely tough not to play those other two games with the wind blowing out 100 mph,” Konerko said. “You don’t want to miss those ones, but that’s the game we play -- sometimes you get hit and have to sit out.”

Konerko totally exonerated Samardzija for the pitch. The Cubs pitcher called Konerko in the Sox clubhouse on Saturday afternoon to see how he was recovering.

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STREAKING

1. Alfonso Soriano, LF: Yes, we did find a Cub who had a decent week. Soriano finally found his home run mojo, hitting three during the week after enduring a six-week drought to begin the season. For all the talk about trading or releasing the 36-year-old veteran, his retiring teammate Kerry Wood singled him out as a player he admired for fighting through injury and attrition in order to play every day. Besides going deep three times last week, Soriano hit .360 with 6 RBIs. Soriano has a nagging knee problem that may result in a trip to the disabled list at some point this season.

2. Anthony Rizzo, Iowa Cubs 1B: The only other Cub who had a good week plays in the minor leagues. Rizzo got all the headlines this past weekend as manager Dale Sveum said the team will consider calling him up when the Cubs begin interleague play in American League ballparks on June 8. Rizzo has dominated the Pacific Coast League with 15 home runs, 14 doubles and a .365 batting average. Bryan LaHair will have to move to the outfield when Rizzo is called up.

SLUMPING

1. The other 24 players: A total offensive melt down has contributed to the Cubs’ seven-game losing streak. They have only scored In four of their past 36 innings over four games. That statistic includes two meaningless games in which the Cubs scored four runs in the ninth inning of blowout losses. Sveum has promised a shakeup of the lineup that may find Starlin Castro back as the leadoff hitter. The strength of the team has been the starting pitching which is beginning to break down due to lack of run support.

ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine takes your Cubs and White Sox questions during a live chat at noon Tuesday. Click here to submit your questions.

ESPNChicago's Doug Padilla and Bruce Levine break down the White Sox's sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley and discuss how much longer Alfonso Soriano will stay in the lineup.

The harsh reality of Anthony Rizzo's inevitable ascension to the major leagues dictates that baseball vagabond Bryan LaHair will be faced with changing positions or teams one more time.

The 29-year-old first baseman knows that at the very least he has earned playing time on an everyday basis.

“Whatever role I have I am going to accept it,” the affable LaHair said. “If (Rizzo ‘s promotion) is going to make our team better, then that’s what I am all about. I am all about wins.”

LaHair has played 14 games in the outfield during his brief major league career but said that no one on the coaching staff has approached him about any position shift or taking any fly balls during batting practice as of yet.

“I can handle whatever they want,” LaHair said. “Just so I play somewhere.”

The former journeyman has convinced even the most hardened baseball observers that he deserves 500 at-bats in the big leagues this season. The question is: Will all of those at bats take place for the Chicago Cubs?

Before Sunday’s game, Cubs manager Dale Sveum confirmed that Rizzo could be with the Cubs by June.

“That’s definitely going to be talked about,” Sveum said. “ He has done everything he can down there (hitting .350 at Triple A- Iowa ). When you bring a guy like that up he has to play every day and that is the million dollar question, how do we get that playing time.”

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As Jake Peavy prepared to pitch in the Crosstown Classic for the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, he couldn’t help but contemplate how close he came to becoming a Chicago Cub.

The 29-year-old pitcher was nearly on his way to the North side via a deal that would have sent five young Cubs players to San Diego when the Tribune Company went into chapter 11 bankruptcy. Then-general manager Jim Hendry was told by his bosses that he could not take on the hefty Peavy contract.

“I thought I was there and I knew it was very close,” Peavy said. “I was excited about it because I love the city and I have all the respect in the world for Jim Hendry and what they were doing at that time (with two straight division titles.) I loved the pitching staff that was in place and I really thought I could help, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.”

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The aftermath of hitting Chicago White Sox captain Paul Konerko with a pitch on Friday was a bit surprising to Chicago Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija.

The split-finger fastball that tailed up and in to Konerko’s face has been interpreted as a purpose pitch on some national television broadcasts.

“I think those things create a big stir when things actually do happen,” Samardzija said. “In those cases you have to use common sense and know that I have him 0-2 and I’m throwing a splitter at 84 mph. I am not trying to hit him, I want to strike him out. There are times that you look at (a hit by pitch) as pretty obvious what has happened. Mine definitely wasn’t (intentional), but you have to have something to talk about.”

Samardzija was so concerned about Konerko’s health that he checked updates on his condition and tried calling Konerko after batting practice Saturday.

“Knowing that I did not hit Paul intentionally helped me move on after the game,” Samardzija said. “I did have to get over the initial hump of seeing a guy you know and respect take one over the eye. That is one spot for baseball guys that is sacred, around your vision. I’m sure it was a scary one for him but I had to get over the fact. It was an accident. Everyone knows Paul is a tough guy and he will bounce back big. I got word is he is all right and will be back soon so I wish him the best.”

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ESPNChicago's Bruce Levine joins SportsCenter to discuss Paul Konerko's injury and Kerry Wood's final game.

As Kerry Wood walked off the mound for the last time on Friday, he was already contemplating his post-playing days future.

“I want to stay with the team and help the guys if I can,” Wood said. “I know I enjoy teaching some of the things I have learned and I’m already close to the guys.”

Before signing again with the Cubs in 2011 Wood had a sit down with team chairman Tom Ricketts. In that meeting Ricketts told the iconic Cub pitcher that there always be a place for him and his family in the organization. The job description was left unspecified, however Wood was told that this would not be a handout or token offering.

Wood’s talents are many and a front office or broadcasting job seem possible. For now, this ultimate baseball lifer wants to be there for Cubs manager Dale Sveum and his staff.

“I want to be a part of this team and organization for a long time,” Wood said in his postgame press conference. “Baseball was the one thing I knew how to do and now (that part ) is over.”

Wood and his wife, Sarah, are hard-working parents and serious fundraisers for numerous charities, including the old and soon-to-be-opened Children’s Memorial Hospital, and it appears his future will always have a connection to the Chicago Cubs and the fan base that has loved him from Day One in 1995.

CHICAGO -- Once again the bullpen let the Chicago Cubs and starter Matt Garza down in a 9-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.

Garza left the game with two outs in the seventh inning, and James Russell closed out the inning. But Shawn Camp, making his 18th appearance in the Cubs’ 37th game, gave up a solo home run to Carlos Ruiz in the eighth, and Scott Maine and Michael Bowden combined to give up six runs in the ninth inning. The big blow was a grand slam by pinch-hitter Hector Luna off Bowden.

”It is what it is,” manager Dale Sveum said. “We have guys pitching in roles that they probably shouldn’t be pitching in, and it’s tough. They never had to do this (late-inning assignments ) before. They are thrown into this mix all of a sudden, and it’s not the easiest thing to do.”

The Cubs’ closer (Carlos Marmol ) and main set-up man (Kerry Wood) coming out of spring training have been both hurt and ineffective for the first part of the season, leaving Sveum and pitching coach Chris Bosio little choice but to go with pitchers not ready or capable of getting big-league hitters out at the end of the game.

Garza has now come out of 10 games in the last season and a quarter with a no-decision and in 2011 alone he had the lead in seven games before getting no-decisions.

”They are trying (hard),” Garza said. “They are young. We knew we were going to take some lumps. We have young guys.”

The Cubs’ pen has blown eight out of the 14 save opportunities it has had this season.

“We aren’t going to bring in (closer Rafael) Dolis in that situation,” Sveum said. “So that’s basically all we got right there.”

The front office continues to look at the wavier wire for help as Marmol tries to get recover from a hamstring injury and Wood pitches himself back into game condition .

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs catcher Steve Clevenger began the process of returning to the team on Wednesday, taking some swings in pre-game for the first time since straining an oblique on April 26.

“I took some swings today in the cage, 15 off the tee and 15 from soft toss,” Clevenger said. “It all went pretty good. I didn’t feel any pain and expect to repeat the process (Thursday).”

The rookie left-handed hitter made the Cubs as the backup out of spring training and was batting .500 (11 for 22) in limited duty behind starter Geovany Soto before the injury.

The next step for Clevenger is a rehab assignment soon.

“We are going to take it lightly over the next day or two and then increase the workload,” he said. “The medical staff is surprised. This was supposed to be a four- to six- week injury, and I’m ahead of that timetable.”

It appears a minor league stint could come as early as next week barring any setbacks.

“They haven’t told me anything yet,” Clevenger said. “The plan is to send me out after this homestand to get me some at-bats. Hopefully they can have me back for Pittsburgh (May 25).”

CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn will play left field for the first time since 2010 when the Sox visit the Chicago Cubs this weekend, manager Robin Ventura said Tuesday.

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STREAKING

1. Ryan Dempster, SP: This unlucky pitcher should have five wins. Instead he is looking for his first victory since Aug. 10 mostly due to a lack of run support. Dempster has been almost unhittable since the start of the season and much of that has to do with great command of his stuff. He has 36 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings and leads the National League with a 1.02 ERA and is second in WHIP at 0.85 in five starts. Dempster has allowed one run and nine hits in his last 15 innings. He could be the first All-Star starting pitcher who enters the game without a victory.

2. David DeJesus, RF: A solid free agent pickup in the offseason, DeJesus had a hot week, batting .350 and contributing some key hits in both wins and losses. DeJesus had a memorable night on Friday with a pinch-hit grand slam to give the Cubs a lead, and then he did it again with an RBI triple in the ninth inning to send their game against the Brewers to extra innings. Give the Cubs brass the credit for getting this move right. DeJesus has been a solid defender and has a .371 on-base percentage as the leadoff man.

SLUMPING

1. Geovany Soto, C: He makes this list for the second time as his offense continues to go down the tubes. All the good sessions he has with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo seems to go by the boards when he enters a game. Soto was 2 for 15 with one RBI this week. On the season he has a microscopic .517 OPS, third-worst in baseball among catchers with at least 80 at-bats, trailing only Oakland’s Kurt Suzuki and San Diego’s Nick Hundley. Trade talks for Soto at this point would be one-sided.

2. Alfonso Soriano, LF: Try on a 3-for-17 week with two RBIs for size as this 36-year-old slugger tries to find his offensive game. Soriano is the last highly-paid hitter not to have a home run so far this season. Like Soto, his .587 OPS is among the worst of regulars in baseball. Twenty-two of his 28 hits this season are singles. On a positive note, Soriano’s defense has been at least average and at times game-saving, as a big catch in the gap proved against Atlanta last week.

The frustrating “Groundhog Day”-like routine continued for Chicago Cubs starter Ryan Dempster on Tuesday. Dempster has allowed a total of four earned runs in his five 2012 outings but has yet to come away with a victory.

The veteran pitcher gave up just one run in seven innings of work in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves before turning over a tie game to teammate Kerry Wood in the eighth inning. Wood walked two and gave up the go-ahead runs on Dan Uggla's two-run single. After the inning the Cubs reliever threw his glove in disgust.

“Coming off of the DL (Wood) has had a couple of rough outings, but he is as professional a teammate (as) I ever played with and you know things will turn around real soon,” Dempster said.

As usual, Wood, who came off of the disabled list on May 1, was there to answer questions after the loss but ended the media session after being asked about throwing his glove. The pitcher did not use the excuse of being rusty in his second appearance after recovering from shoulder soreness.

“Shoulder is great,” Wood said. “That’s the frustrating thing. I bounced back from the injection and the shoulder feels great and my stuff feels fine. It is all about results and I didn’t have any tonight.”

The last time Dempster won a game was in Washington on August 10, 2011. That was the day before Carlos Zambrano quit the team in Atlanta never to return. Dempster has five quality starts and a 1.02 ERA this season.

“That was another dominating performance.” Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. “It’s a shame. It’s almost May 10th and he doesn’t have a win with a (1.02) earned run average. I am glad we scored one so he didn’t take the loss.”

Dempster was his usual team-first self after the game.

“It’s OK. It will come,” Dempster said. “It’s just more of a bummer because we had a chance to win three in a row. We will just come back tomorrow and try and win another series.”

A quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 3-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.

How it happened: Ryan Dempster's bad luck continued, as he left the game after seven strong innings with his fourth no-decision of the season. Dempster, who had the lowest ERA of any big league starter entering action Tuesday night, has not won a game since August 13, 2011. Dempster gave up his first earned run in three starts on Tuesday in the fourth inning. Braves right fielder Jason Heyward tripled and scored on Tyler Pasternicky's sacrifice fly. Alfonso Soriano's RBI double scored Tony Campana with the tying run in the sixth inning, sending Braves starter Randall Delgado to the showers. Soriano also made a running catch with two on in the fourth to keep the Braves from doing further damage. Kerry Wood surrendered two runs in the top of the eighth to take the loss. Wood walked two and allowed a two-run single to Dan Uggla.

What it means: The Cubs have one more attempt Wednesday to win their third straight series for the first time since last September. Coming into Tuesday’s game they had won nine of their last 15 games.

Outside the box: Team president Theo Epstein praised his manager and coaching staff before Tuesday night’s game. “I thought they had a top-notch spring training and they have been the model of consistency since opening day on,” Epstein said. “It was a pretty rough first couple of weeks and Dale handled it with a real calmness and confidence.” ... Cubs second baseman Adrian Cardenas made his first major league start. He could get more playing time due to Darwin Barney’s early season slump. ... Bryan LaHair reached base for the 26th consecutive game.

Up next: Lefty Paul Maholm (3-2, 5.13) closes out the series against Atlanta, opposing Braves righty Tim Hudson (1-0 6.55 ). Dempster will host his charity “Casino Night” on Wednesday evening at the Palmer House Hyatt.