CUBS BITS

Calvin Schiraldi's hamstring tug from stepping hard on secondbase Thursday at New York is not considered serious. "We might haveto push him back a day is all," manager Don Zimmer said. TrainerJohn Fierro added, "The tender area is no bigger than a dime." Rich Gossage is taking it slow with the recurrence of a cramp inhis neck. "We don't know if it's a muscle pressing a nerve or what,"the reliever said. "I just don't want it to turn into what it wasbefore. That was the most pain I've ever been in." Les Lancaster feels almost strong enough to pitch after hisappendectomy 10 days ago. "It was bad enough watching the guys onTV," he said. "Now I've got to watch from here without being able tohelp." Scout Charley Fox is back from scouting the Yankees, perhapsto trade Rick Sutcliffe. "They said they won't trade any of theirkids for a veteran, so there's no deal," he said. A tribute to Harry Caray is set for Nov. 19 at Bally's in Las Vegas.Frank Sinatra is part of the roast, which Chicago comic Tom Dreesenwill emcee. "I've been fried quite a few times, but never roasted,"said Caray. Scout Hugh Alexander is back one month after a life-threateninganeurysm operation. "To get to it, the doctor said he put my kidneyson the table, my liver on the table and my intestines on the table,and went lookin'," he said. Former Chicago columnist Rick Talley is preparing a book on the 1969Cubs to coincide with next spring's 20-year anniversary of the club'sheartbreaking season. To order the Monday night game souvenir program, send a $7 check ormoney order to: Cubs-Night Game Program, Gift Catalog, 1060 W.Addison, Chicago 60613.