Cubs Must Fix Their Park

The netting in place to protect fans from falling concrete at Wrigley Field must be replaced with a permanent solution if the Chicago Cubs want to play at the ballpark next season.

Building Commissioner Stan Kaderbek said at a news conference Saturday that the most recent inspections at the 90-year-old ballpark had not uncovered any surprises, although the city will not decide until noon today whether the Cubs can play there tonight against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Regardless of that decision, Kaderbek said, the nylon netting draped underneath the upper deck is not a permanent solution to the ballpark’s crumbling concrete. Chunks of concrete have fallen from the upper deck at least three times since June.

The Cubs have been working since last month to retroactively obtain building permits for work performed on the ballpark since 2001.

Club officials have said that it is impossible to fix the problem during the season. But they plan to do complete repairs during the off-season.

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San Francisco Giant All-Star Jason Schmidt, bothered by a sore groin, had his next start pushed back four days as a precautionary move.

Schmidt threw off flat ground before Sunday’s game against the New York Mets, and then went inside to throw 15 pitches off the mound in the indoor batting cage.

Schmidt, who leads the majors with a 2.52 earned-run average, was scheduled to pitch Tuesday but will start Saturday.