Sammy Sosa gingerly stepped down the stairs to the home clubhouse Wednesday, his bad back causing him considerable pain.
"I feel like I'm 95 years old right now," he said.
The Chicago Cubs' star was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a sprained ligament in his lower back, an ailment that was brought on by two violent sneezes Sunday in San Diego.
"You know the first day it happened, I knew it was something really serious. I couldn't even stand up," Sosa said Wednesday.
"I went through a lot of pain. Right now I feel better. Yesterday I went to the doctor. It will take some time."
Sosa's setback is the latest in a string of injuries for Chicago.
Pitchers Kerry Wood (triceps), Mark Prior (Achilles' tendon) and Mike Remlinger (shoulder), second basemen Mark Grudzielanek (Achilles') and Todd Walker (shoulder) and shortstop Alex Gonzalez (broken wrist) comprise the list of banged-up Cubs.
Sosa said he's surprised, too, that a sneeze started his problems.
"It's amazing to me. It's something that happened," Sosa said. "But you know that's life and you got to deal with it."
And a sore back is nothing to sneeze at, especially for a player who swings as hard as Sosa.
"You got to go through a lot of pain and it's not easy," he said. "It's something you don't have control over. It happened. I don't know how it happened or why it happened. It's my back and you got to be very careful with that. You have to let it heal."
Sosa, batting .291 with 10 homers and 24 RBIs, is on the DL for the fifth time in his 16-year career.
He was on the DL last season after having the nail on his right big toe removed, causing him to miss 18 games. He was also suspended seven games for using a corked bat. The Cubs were 13-12 without him.
"We were without Sammy 25 games last year and handled it. I think we have a better bench than last year and better replacements," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said.
Baker said he would mix and match right fielders, depending on who was pitching. Jose Macias got the start Wednesday night. Todd Hollandsworth was there Tuesday night.
Baker said he could also use Damian Jackson, Tom Goodwin and Jason Dubois, who was called up Wednesday from Triple-A Iowa.
Sosa's No. 3 spot in the batting order was taken by Moises Alou, who moved up from the cleanup spot.
NO MORE FOR MONDESI: The Pittsburgh Pirates finally ran out of patience with absent outfielder Raul Mondesi, terminating his contract Wednesday when he didn't show up for the start of a three-game series against San Diego. The Pirates cited breach of contract in ending all dealings with Mondesi, who was hitting .283 with two homers and 14 RBIs when he left them May 7 to return to his native Dominican Republic and fight a lawsuit.
Mondesi was not disappointed by the Pirates' decision.
"I feel relieved now," Mondesi told The Associated Press. "I want the best for the Pirates, and considering my situation in the Dominican Republic I wasn't going to be much help to them at this moment. I have an issue to resolve and the Pirates have a schedule to complete. I understand that they've taken this measure."
BONDS' BACK ACTING UP: Barry Bonds' back started hurting again and the San Francisco Giants star was out of the lineup for Wednesday night's game with the Chicago Cubs.
"We're not making plans for him to play (today)," Giants manager Felipe Alou said before the game. The Cubs and Giants end their series this afternoon.
Asked if Bonds might head to the disabled list, Alou said: "I'm afraid, yeah, of course. My feeling is 50-50."
OTHER MOVES: The Indians acquired pitcher Andrew Brown on Wednesday, completing last month's trade that sent outfielder Milton Bradley to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Cincinnati Reds ended outfielder Austin Kearns' rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Louisville Wednesday and placed him on the major league roster.
The Florida Marlins placed utilityman Wil Cordero on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with right knee inflammation.