The Kerry-go-round continued at Wrigley Field on Tuesday when Kerry Wood was pronounced OK to make his start next Tuesday in San Francisco.
Manager Jim Riggleman said he has decided not to skip Wood in the rotation after his Wednesday start against Arizona to give him a 10-day rest. Instead, Riggleman said Wood is likely to miss a start to be determined later.
“I think probably somewhere in August we will (skip him),” Riggleman said. “But not necessarily his first time through. . . . If he feels as good after he pitches tomorrow as he has felt for the last week, then we won’t bump him.”
Wood said he’s going through a “dead arm” phase and that his arm is simply tired. What everyone wanted to know was why he would be able to pitch against Arizona on Wednesday and not next week if his arm is tired now. The Cubs answered that by deciding not to skip Wood in the first place.
Fossas, extinct: The latest stop on the Tony Fossas’ world tour ended Tuesday when the Cubs released the 40-year-old who had a 9.00 earned-run average. Fossas replaced Bob Patterson in the bullpen and opposing batters combined to hit .379 against the two left-handers.
“We don’t really have the luxury of having a third left-hander in the bullpen,” Riggleman said.
Riggleman’s decision to use Fossas during the seventh inning of Sunday’s 6-3 loss to Colorado reportedly infuriated Riggleman’s bosses. He brought Fossas in during a 3-3 tie and watched him give up two walks and two singles in a four-run inning. Left-handers Terry Mulholland and Felix Heredia were available to pitch at the time.
Shortstop Jose Nieves, who hit .290 at Class AA West Tenn, was activated. Riggleman said the Cubs need another infielder because of nagging injuries to Jeff Blauser and Manny Alexander. Blauser’s groin problem is not serious enough to place him on the disabled list.
Mulholland Falls: With Fossas gone, Mulholland has given up on any notion of being used in the fifth starter’s spot. The Cubs are talking to Mulholland’s agent, hoping to extend Mulholland’s contract for 1999. But he doesn’t plan to return as a setup man.
Has his success as a setup man typecast Mulholland in a relief role?
“In the Cubs’ eyes maybe,” Mulholland said. “I know I can still get outs as a starter.”
Karma chameleon: Rod Beck is all for tradition, but one Wrigley Field tradition he doesn’t much care for is the raising of the “L” flag up the center-field flagpole after every Cubs home loss. Beck doesn’t mind flying the “W” flag after Cub victories, but he doesn’t think the Cubs should be the only team in baseball to advertise the fact they’ve just lost a ballgame.
“I think it’s bad karma,” Beck said. “I’m not blaming anything for it. But I’m a believer in positive energy and karma. When you lose a ballgame and fly an `L’ over the park, you leave a bad aura around the ballpark and it can go all the way into the next day.
“They do it, obviously, so the people on the (train) can see whether we won or lost. It’s a good theory, but maybe they can change it to where they can drive by and when they don’t see any flag they can assume it’s an `L.’ Or maybe they can fly a `W’ for “Wanted to win.”
Beck was serious, for the most part.
“It’s not a strong theory,” he said. “But it’s something to make you think.”
