Kerry Wood

Since coming up with the Cubs in 1998, Kerry Wood has always been sitting on the cusp of stardom. He won thirteen games in twenty-six starts that year. Since then, his best year was 2003 when he won fourteen games and struck out 266.

The past three years, Wood has just been a name on the roster. If you look at his record, he seemed to alternate between pitching well and pitching poorly from start to start.

Now Wood has been given new life, beginning a career in the bullpen. He could stretch his career another ten years working as a set-up man or as a closer. Still, he appears to be haunted by old images.

It has only been three appearances, but the old pattern has remained: one good, one poor, one good. If the next outing is a poor one, we know what 2007 is going to bring: Dr. Wood and Mr. Hyde.

It was another good day in Mesa as nearly everyone pitched well. Jason Marquis had another decent start, giving up one run in four innings. Wood pitched well, as did Ryan Dempster, Rocky Cherry and non-roster Les Walrond. Only Sean Gallagher stumbled, giving up two runs on three hits in one inning of relief.

Cherry picked up his third save of the spring. He is still a dark horse for the last spot on the roster, but he certainly is turning heads. At this pace, Dempster should be watching his back.

Catcher Jake Fox is not about to unseat either Michael Barrett or Henry Blanco, but he has hit home runs in each of the last two games. Today’s was a three run shot that effectively won the game for Chicago.

Another nice surprise was Matt Murton throwing out a runner at home. Maybe Murton has been getting tips from Pie and wants to show that Cliff Floyd is not the starting left fielder on this team after all. No one doubts Murton’s bat (hitting .304 for the spring), but he will definitely turn away any naysayer by showing that he can win games with his glove.

My prediction that Prior would be sent down with the first cut (delayed from tonight until tomorrow) was shot down, but Piniella is sending him to a minor league camp for his next start. Do not be surprised if Wade Miller or Angel Guzman start the season in the rotation and Prior starts in Iowa. Eventually, Prior will be back, but it is becoming more and more likely that he will not be ready by April.

Carlos Zambrano will start and Jeff Samardzija will pitch tomorrow. Floyd will be in left. It will be a fun day against the Giants, culminating in the first cuts of spring. This is what makes spring training exciting!