Wood ready to go after 27-pitch outing

MESA, Ariz. -- Out of the hot tub, into the Cactus League. That's the idea, anyway, for Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood, who said he felt great during a 27-pitch session of throwing to hitters Tuesday and said he's fully recovered from the chest bruise he got slipping in his hot tub just before camp opened.

Wood is the last projected member of the Opening Day staff to be scheduled to work a game. He said he plans to talk this morning to pitching coach Larry Rothschild about when he'll throw next and when he'll pitch in a game.

''I sure would like to get into a game before the seventh or eighth,'' he said. ''I know that.''

That's a reference to manager Lou Piniella suggesting Wood might be skipped in Cactus League games the first time through the staff rotation. But that was before Wood threw again Tuesday.

''It felt great,'' he said. ''Just the location wasn't where I wanted it. The slider wasn't where I wanted it. But my arm felt great. I had pretty decent pop on the ball and got a little feedback from the guys.''

Wood, who moves from the starting rotation to the bullpen this year, appears to have regained much of his strength after spending most of last year on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. His only setback this spring involved the hot tub.

Rothschild said Wood will throw again Friday before being scheduled for a game appearance. Cactus League play starts Thursday.

''He's still not caught up, but his arm speed's there and his velocity's pretty much there,'' Rothschild said. ''It's just a matter of sharpening things up and getting out there enough and really keeping him healthy.''

The Cubs aren't holding Wood back, Rothschild said. They're just making sure he gets his work in.

Wood, 29, said he appreciates the normal feeling of that work this year -- no extra treatments and lengthy warmup sessions to prepare for a throwing session.

''That's the biggest difference,'' he said. ''I'm not really concerned about the shoulder right now.''

SHORT HOPS: Starting pitching matchups for the Cubs' first four Cactus League games: Thursday at HoHoKam Park, San Francisco's Barry Zito vs. Jason Marquis; Friday at HoHoKam, Los Angeles Angels' Joe Saunders vs. Carlos Zambrano; Saturday in Phoenix, Oakland's Rich Harden vs. Wade Miller; Sunday at HoHoKam, White Sox' Jon Garland vs. Rich Hill.

•  •  The Cubs move from Fitch Park to HoHoKam today for the rest of camp, with the minor-leaguers taking over Fitch. HoHoKam gates open to fans at 9 a.m. today for workouts.

gwittenmyer@suntimes.com