If It's Spring, the Cubs Pitchers Must Be Ailing

Spring comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb....

April showers bring May flowers...

Spring training brings injured Cubs' pitchers.  And none more so than those perennial walking wounded pair of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.

Despite all of the promises, despite all the assurances they are both in danger of starting the season on the disabled once again.  Prior, who is 26 years old, was 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA last year.  He went out with a strained right shoulder.  He is 0-1 with an 18.90 ERA in just two appearances.  18.90?  That's what happens when you allow seven runs and eight hits in 3 1/2 innings with five strikeouts and no walks.  At least the no walks is positive, right? 

"How many innings has he pitched?" manager Lou Piniella asked Monday.  "You need 25 or so innings.  In fairness to the person, is he going to be ready?"  Prior is scheduled to start Thursday against Seattle and Peoria.  The hope is that he can pitch three or four innings.

Working his way back from a torn right rotator cuff, 29-year-old Wood threw 25 pitches off a mound at the Cubs' spring-training complex in Mesa.  There's no indication on his availability to start the season, having strained his right triceps on March 11 pitching against Milwaukee.

Last year Wood was 1-2, 4.12 ERA.  So far this spring his ERA is 12.00 in just three appearances in spring training.  "Until we get him back out there and get him on a schedule, you just don't know," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said.  "Hopefully he could, but it has to work for the team an dit has to be in his best interests."

If Wood feels good, he could pitch Thursday or Friday.  Although Wood's velocity has been clocked at 95-96 mph, is he ready?  "The deeper you get into spring, the less likely it becomes," Rothschild said of Wood's opening-day availability.  "We'll get him back out there and see where he is and make those decisions when it's appropriate."

Sigh.  Wait till next year!