The Cubs sent another player to the hospital today:

Another day at Cubs camp, another trip to the hospital for a non-baseball issue.

This time it was right-hander Jose Ascanio, who was sent to the hospital today to be examined for injuries suffered Saturday night in a one-sided fistfight at a Scottsdale convenience store.

Ascanio, the reliever acquired from Atlanta in December for Will Ohman, was not seriously injured but suffered bruises and abrasions to the left side of his face.

``He got beat up pretty good last night,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ``He got punched a few times by a guy that was looking for some money. He didn't get robbed. But the guy asked for money and evidently the young man said, `I don't have any money,' and the guy punched him a few times.''

On the positive side, Ascanio didn't injure his pitching hand by fighting back. Still, I would think a professional athlete could have taken a robber in a fist fight. Maybe the thug had a weapon.