Wood closing in on job as closer
MESA, Ariz. -- Kerry Wood is throwing almost nothing but strikes.
That alone may earn him the job as Cubs closer. Wood threw 5 of his 6 pitches for strikes Sunday as he made quick work of the Los Angeles Angels in the ninth inning of the Cubs' 4-1 victory.
Manager Lou Piniella has said he will make the decision in about a week on the Cubs' closer. Read into this what you will of Piniella's response when asked if Wood was making the decision easier or tougher.
"Woody's making it easier, not tougher -- easier," Piniella said after the 1 hour, 53 minute ballgame. "But let's wait on that decision. But he's making it easier. He's been throwing strikes. He's been going after the hitters. His velocity has been good. He's mixing in some nice hard sliders. He's getting ahead of the hitters.
"He's really throwing the ball well this spring. We just want to see him back to back."
Piniella said Wood has been hitting 95-98 mph on the radar gun and that he'd likely get his chance to pitch on back-to-back days later this week.
More impressive has been the control. Wood was 6-for-6 in pitches-for-strikes his previous time out, making his innings fast and efficient.
"I try to do that all the time," he said. "Obviously, you can't afford walks anytime. Especially late in the game, they kill you. I'm just trying to get ahead of guys."
Even though Wood has downplayed talk of competing with Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry for the closer's job, he looks to have the lead now. In seven games this spring, Wood has pitched 7 innings, giving up 6 hits and 3 runs. He has walked no one and struck out four.
On Sunday, the Cubs sent Howry to the minor-league camp, where he pitched 2 innings. Marmol faced the Angels and gave up a seventh-inning home run to Erick Aybar.
For the most part, Marmol has pitched well, but Piniella has voiced concern about him getting "under" too many pitches of late.
"My fastball, I'm not locating very good, but today I felt pretty good," he said. "I threw a lot of strikes with my fastball. I know that I'm going to pitch. I don't worry about it. Whatever decision they're making is fine for me."
Wood came back from nonsurgical shoulder rehab to pitch in 22 games out of the bullpen last year. He says the most important thing this year is feeling good, not the closer's derby.
"I feel great," he said. "I've been throwing the ball well, and the ball's been coming out. I'm just getting ready for the season.
"It would be great (being the closer). Whatever happens, I'm just glad to be healthy and part of a hopefully winning team and get a chance to be in the postseason. Honestly, I don't put too much thought into it. I think we've got a great bullpen. We've got great arms down there with guys who know how to pitch."
Cubs 4, Angels 1
Cubs' record: 7-12
At the plate: Mike Fontenot opened the scoring with a two-out solo homer in the second. Alfonso Soriano hit his second homer of the spring, a drive to left in the eighth inning. Soriano was 3-for-4.
On the mound: Carlos Zambrano pitched 6 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit, a one-out triple to Sean Rodriguez in the sixth inning. He threw 73 pitches, 47 strikes. Carlos Marmol gave up a homer to Erick Aybar in the seventh. He also gave up a single but struck out two. Michael Wuertz (0.00 ERA) struck out two in a 1-2-3 eighth. Kerry Wood threw 5 of 6 pitches for strikes to earn the save in a perfect ninth.
Next: The Cubs are off today. Jason Marquis pitches for the Cubs on Tuesday against the Royals' John Bale at HoHoKam Park.