Cubs feel sound on mound
Piniella indicates he may keep Pagan over 12th pitcher
MESA, Ariz. -- Forget Kerry Wood and Mark Prior (and judging from e-mails, a lot of Cubs fans already have).
There might not have been room on the Cubs' roster for the former co-aces, regardless of their problematic shoulders. Not after a poor outing by Michael Wuertz, a missed play in left field and a resulting blown save opened the strong possibility the Cubs might take an extra outfielder north instead of a 12th pitcher.
There might not have been room on the Cubs' roster for the former co-aces, regardless of their problematic shoulders. Not after a poor outing by Michael Wuertz, a missed play in left field and a resulting blown save opened the strong possibility the Cubs might take an extra outfielder north instead of a 12th pitcher.
''The more I see this thing, the more I'm looking at the possibility of 12 outfielders,'' manager Lou Piniella said in an apparent Freudian slip.
(AP)
''The more I see this thing, the more I'm looking at the possibility of 12 outfielders,'' manager Lou Piniella said in an apparent Freudian slip.
What he meant, he said, was keeping versatile and able backup outfielder Angel Pagan to use as a defensive replacement in left field late in games to help protect leads. And that might leave right-handed reliever Wuertz, whom Piniella already had said would make the team, out of the picture when camp breaks.
Wuertz, who missed the first two weeks of games because of shoulder soreness, pitched poorly Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals. Afterward Piniella said, ''He's not quite ready.'' He'll get another chance today against the Colorado Rockies, Piniella said.
''It's going to get interesting here over the next few days, that's all I'm saying,'' Piniella said. ''It's really food for thought.''
Interesting?
Wood and Prior already are out. Piniella made that official before the game Tuesday when he named Wade Miller his fifth starter -- a move that probably will result in Prior being optioned to the minor leagues if it's determined after his final start today that he's healthy enough to avoid the disabled list.
The word from Piniella came one day after the Cubs acknowledged Wood's aching shoulder would put him on the DL again.
Neither pitcher was available to media Tuesday after Piniella announced his decision with Prior.
''What am I supposed to say?'' said Piniella, who hadn't specifically told Prior he was out of the mix to open the season. ''Miller's come to camp, he's done his job, he's earned that position. Let's be fair to Miller, too.''
Piniella stressed the original plan for both injury-plagued pitchers was that they be brought along at paces their bodies could handle -- and that there never was a timetable for either one.
The Cubs say they're prepared for the absences of both and have the depth to handle it.
''We're fine,'' Piniella said. ''I've got [Angel] Guzman champing at the bit. I've got [Rocky] Cherry champing at the bit. We sent out [Les] Walrond, and we were very happy with him. And Prior becomes part of the depth equation when he's ready. We're actually in pretty good shape.''
If they can get away with 11 pitchers when the season opens, that creates even more depth.
And when -- or if -- Wood and Prior are able to join the staff becomes less important.
''I haven't been worried about it at all for either one of them,'' general manager Jim Hendry said. ''I just want them to get healthy and then stay healthy.''
In the case of Prior, Hendry said, ''I'd much rather have him completely healthy and have the foundation under him so he can continue that success rather than worry about 'make a start here,' 'make a start there,' 'not quite there,' 'have a setback.'''
Piniella said he was encouraged by the word he got Tuesday from the medical staff about Wood.
''He feels better,'' Piniella said.
But Wood hasn't thrown since Sunday, either. And he has iced his surgically repaired shoulder and taken anti-inflammatory medication, the Cubs said. What he does next -- and when -- will be determined day-to-day, based on tolerance, Piniella said.
So far Wood's shoulder, which still has a tear in the rotator cuff discovered last August, has been unable to withstand pitching one inning at a time every two or three days. Wood pitched only five innings this spring.
''Whatever he can do, we'll allow him to do it,'' said Piniella, adding that might include some throwing as early as this week. ''Not off a mound. But maybe -- maybe -- on the side. Maybe.''
Sounds like a long process for Wood. And Prior? A lot more might be known by late this afternoon, when he gets through with the Rockies -- or the other way around.
''Whenever they are ready, they're ready,'' Piniella said.
Good thing for the Cubs they don't need as many pitchers as they thought they would.