Special moment for Wood

NEW YORK - Kerry Wood was on the mound at the end of a couple of big games in Cubs history. One was his 20-strikeout gem in May 1998. The other was Saturday's 5-4 victory over St. Louis, as he earned the save in the Cubs' division-clincher.

"Two different things," Wood said Monday. "An accomplishment of two hours, and an accomplishment of 150-whatever games. Both are equally gratifying and enjoyable."

Wood wound up with the baseball hit by Aaron Miles into the glove of center fielder Jim Edmonds for the final out. What happens with it Wood isn't sure.

"I took it home and gave it to Sarah," he said, referring to his wife. "I don't know what I'm going to do with it, probably hang on to it.

"It's cool to be a part of that and to be out there when it happened, more so as looking at the accomplishment of it as something that hadn't been done in 100 years, 1907 and '08 as the last time we made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

"The season has been an accomplishment. It's something that hasn't been done here in a long, long time. We're proud of that, but we've got a lot more games to go, and the most important games are still to come."

Wood said "we," but he wasn't there 100 years ago. It only seems that way, considering everything he has been through, including elbow surgery and recovering from shoulder problems. It's almost as if he has had as many lives as a cat.

"I'm using them up," he joked.

But seriously, he says he believes this Cubs team has a better shot at the World Series than the 1998, 2003 and 2007 playoff teams.

"Absolutely," he said. "I feel better about this team than any other team. There's no question that we've got the ingredients to get it done."

Wood can become a free agent after this year, but he insists that he hasn't thought about next year.

"I understand the situation here and what they're trying to do," he said. "I'd love to continue to play here for as long as I can. We'll address that when the time comes."

Decision time: Manager Lou Piniella says he hasn't decided on which position players will make the playoff roster. It's possible that call-up Felix Pie may make it.