While the Cubs maintain that Kerry Wood and Mark Prior will be ready to go when the season starts, Plan B already is in motion.
Manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday he probably will change his rotation to accommodate the injuries to Wood and Prior.
Carlos Zambrano and Greg Maddux are likely to replace Wood and Prior in Games 1 and 2 against Arizona in Bank One Ballpark. If they’re healthy, Wood and Prior could be used later in the week.
“I’m optimistic [they will be ready],” Baker said. “We may have to change our original rotation plans. And if we do that, we aren’t going to wait until the last minute to do it. We might have to do that once we come back from [Wednesday’s] off-day.”
“We’ve talked about it because we’ve had to,” pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. “You have to be ready for everything.”
Wood played long toss again Tuesday and is scheduled to throw 20 to 30 pitches off a mound Wednesday while most of his teammates enjoy their first and only free day of the spring schedule. Rothschild said the discomfort in Wood’s shoulder is gone, suggesting the inflammation is gone.
Prior, who suffered elbow inflammation, tentatively is to begin playing long toss Wednesday. There is no announced timetable for his return to the mound.
Neither Wood nor Prior addressed the media Tuesday, leaving Cubs management to speak for them. Both have been stung by criticism surrounding their twin injuries, whether it’s concerning their mechanics, durability or mental toughness.
Everyone seemingly has had a theory on why Prior and Wood have so many injuries. General manager Jim Hendry said their mental toughness shouldn’t be questioned after what the two accomplished in 2003.
“To me, you have a little setback, a little inflammation that everybody goes through,” Hendry said. “People learn to pitch through it.”
Is it fair to question Prior’s toughness?
“No, it’s not fair,” Baker replied. “But what is fair?” Baker said young pitchers have to learn to differentiate between the usual soreness and a serious injury.
“I don’t know anybody that doesn’t go out there and throw and pitch [with soreness],” Baker said. “There’s a good sore, and there’s a bad sore. You have to determine which one is a good sore and a bad sore.”
What if …
How the Cubs rotation could stack up if Kerry Wood and Mark Prior aren’t able to pitch by the start of the season:
– Carlos Zambrano (34-29 career) Ready to assume role as the new ace.
– Greg Maddux (305-174)
Led Cubs with nine second-half wins.
– Ryan Dempster (51-56)
Last start was July 28, 2003.
– Glendon Rusch (48-78)
Posted 2.76 ERA in second half.
– Sergio Mitre (2-5)
Had 6.51 ERA in nine starts last season.
Flashback
Why are Cubs fans nervous? Remember last spring when Mark Prior was injured and then missed the first two months of the season? Here’s what Prior was saying in 2004:
March 1
“I don’t foresee this being so long where I’m going to miss a whole lot.”
March 10
“I don’t plan on missing that much time. Hopefully I’m ready whenever my scheduled start is. I don’t plan on missing it.”
March 22
“Right now we’re hoping it’s the first home stand, I guess, or the end of that first road trip.”
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Edited by Chris Malcolm (ccmalcolm@tribune.com) and Drew Sottardi (dsottardi@tribune.com)
