Wood has seen highs and lows
PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE | Pitcher's role different, but he's glad to be here
PHOENIX -- Amid the champagne celebration and emotional explosion of the Cubs clinching the division Friday, one moment was singularly special for Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild.
The sight of a jubilant Kerry Wood, soaked in liquid as well as personal spirits, embraced by an equally emotional Ron Santo, stayed with Rothschild.
''It was just ...'' he said, pausing to find the words. ''There's still work to be done, but it was great to see. I think that was the most emotional part of the celebration that night. It was special to see.
''He's worked hard to get there. I can't tell you how many lonely days he had rehabbing. He worked hard. The trainers kept us posted every day, but it was hard work, and the rehab was mostly on his own.''
Wood smiles when reminded he is a rare player for another reason, a modern-day Cub who has been a member of three playoff teams.
''But I was rehabbing in 1998 for most of it,'' he said of the team's quick exit after winning the National League wild card and falling in three games to Atlanta. Wood did make a start in the series, a valiant effort to end his rookie of the year season whole.
He would spend the better part of the next two years trying to get back to pitching after elbow surgery. And it led to another breakout season in 2003 with All-Star credentials and a division championship. It was back to Atlanta for a very different postseason.
''Things went well in Atlanta in 2003,'' he said. ''I felt great in that series. I felt way more nervous in Game 1 than in Game 5 for some reason.'' He won both, including the Game 5 clincher in Atlanta.
''It was fun. I remember that series and try to forget most of the next series,'' he added, yet still with a smile remembering the painful finish to the League Championship Series against the Florida Marlins, that Game 7 in his hands as well.
''But you know what? It's seven more games of experience,'' he said.
The moments of success, and the peaks and pitfalls of postseason play surely helped him in the bitter months of more surgery and rehabbing that followed in 2005 and 2006. And again this season when his career looked in doubt, Wood opting against more surgery on his fragile shoulder and choosing to try a strengthening program.
Wood has admitted there were times early this summer when his arm ached so badly he was ready to give up. But his ''one more try'' turned into the turnaround.
Since returning to the mound Aug. 5 at Wrigley Field, Wood the relief pitcher has been climbing in stature. His 1-0 record and 2.53 ERA in his last 10 appearances include 13 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings. Wood the relief pitcher is the same presence on the mound that Wood the electric starter was.
''I feel great. I have a good idea of what I want to do when I get in there,'' he said. ''It's going well of late, and I just want to keep it going.''
And in this playoff series, does Wood the relief pitcher think about what it would be like to have the last out that clinches a playoff series, instead of being the starter who holds the reins?
''I think all of us do, somewhere down the road,'' he said, smiling again. ''Just like everyone who plays the game, you want to make the last out or be the guy who gets the last hit and all that stuff. It's part of the game.''
And he's back to being a big part of it.