Team Lou

It sounds like a few Cubs are getting a little snippy, and it’s Lou’s job to put them back in their place.  The two snippiest players seem to be Kerry Wood and Mark Prior.  Shocked that people are reporting on their injury progress, they keep copping some sort of attitude.  I don’t think either of those guys should get angry when the media and fans question their readiness for this season.  After three years of waiting on them as they sat on the DL and ****** our payroll, I for one, am ready to move on.  The latest squabble involved Kerry Wood, who pitched one inning on Friday, gave up just one hit and no runs.  Since Kerry will be pitching out of the bullpen, Lou is thinking about having Wood start the season pitching an extended spring training.  He wants to see how Wood reacts to back to back starts and wants him to get some more innings in.  When the media asked if he could go back to back, Kerry said

"It’s something we talked about before spring training, that it’s not necessary for me to go back-to-back days in spring training," he said. "Can I do it? Yeah. What’s the point right now? I have to stay on the field and continue to pitch and get better."

Wood claimed that he was being singled out and treated unfairly. He pointed out that none of the other relievers had pitched back to back games, until Bob Howry did today. 

"So why is everybody worried about me?" Wood said.

Because you can’t stay healthy you idiot and we don’t want to waste a roster spot on a reliever that can only pitch once a week.  But I’ll let Lou take over.

"He shouldn’t be questioning anybody, truthfully," Piniella said. "All I’m saying is when we [say we want] back-to-back and two-inning [stints], that’s the proper way to get the bullpen prepared for the start of a season.  With Kerry that hasn’t been the plan, obviously, and the reason I say that is because he has had a couple of setbacks. Now, if he hadn’t had those setbacks, that would be the plan."

Pinella added;

"I don’t know what was talked about in the off-season.  All I know is the way I’ve been preparing bullpens … I’ve always had pretty good success with my bullpens, kept them nice and healthy and strong all year. But you have to lay the foundation in spring training.

"You can’t not use them here that way, and then all of a sudden the first week of the season you start piling up work for them. They’re not ready for it. That’s how you hurt yourself."

Kerry Wood is lucky he is still making a paycheck.  After robbing the Cubs blind the last few years, he should do absolutely no complaining until he becomes a contributing member of this ballclub again.  Until that happens, he should keep his mouth shut and do what his manager tells him.

I know Kerry pitched well against San Fran, and Prior looked better the previous day against the Padres, but if you think that these guys should just be given spots because they had a few moments of success, then you’re wrong.  These two need to earn their way on to this team.

As I said before, that ship has sailed.

So you show them who’s the boss Lou.

We got your back.