Wood, DeRosa return to Wrigley
Just because the White Sox have left town doesn't mean things will settle down at Wrigley Field.
Don't look now, but here come the Cleveland Indians, featuring two of the most popular ex-Cubs in recent memory: infielder Mark DeRosa and reliever Kerry Wood.
The Indians and Cubs play three at Wrigley starting today, and both Wood and DeRosa are scheduled to meet the media in the visiting dugout late in the morning.
Both also figure to be the recipients of loud ovations from Cubs fans.
"I would think they're going to have a great welcome back," said first baseman Derrek Lee, a Cub since 2004. "Both those guys played well and are good people, and the fans liked them. Woody, I mean he was basically Mr. Cub in my time here. I'm expecting some loud ovations for those guys."
DeRosa has been on a tear with the bat, and that should only fuel the fire of Cubs fans, many of whom are still fuming about the trade that sent him to Cleveland last New Year's Eve for three minor-league pitchers.
DeRosa is on a seven-game hitting streak, and he brings a .280 average along with 13 homers and 48 RBI back to Wrigley. On top of that, the Cubs still haven't found an adequate replacement at third base for the injured Aramis Ramirez.
DeRosa fit that bill perfectly in the past.
"Good people, they should be welcome with open arms here," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "Kerry was here a long, long time. He had a lot of success. He went through a lot physically. And last year, he did a real nice job for us in the bullpen, closing. And DeRosa, yeah, he played all over the field, mostly at second base but had a really, really big year for us. Yeah, they're both very popular, and they should be received very well here."
And the pitching? Lost amid the hitting heroics in Thursday's 6-5 win over the White Sox was a decent performance by starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who went 7 innings, giving up 6 hits and 3 runs, including a 2-run homer to Alexei Ramirez in the seventh.
"I thought he pitched well," Lou Piniella said. "How can you fault a pitcher for giving you 7 good innings of work?"
Carlos Marmol was charged with 2 runs in the eighth on 3 hits, and Piniella said the Cubs have to pitch him "a little more often to get him a little sharper, and we will."
Sean Marshall and Kevin Gregg (1-1) followed Marmol into the game, with Gregg getting his ERA down to 3.99.
Pedro unlikely: Although the Cubs have looked at free-agent pitcher Pedro Martinez, at the player's request, it remains a long shot they would sign him.
Martinez has been telling media in the Dominican Republic that he'd like to sign with the Cubs or Rays.
Hitting remains more of an acute need for the Cubs, who also are strapped for money.
"No, sir," Lou Piniella said when asked whether he has talked to GM Jim Hendry about Martinez. "It's never come up, to be honest with you. In fact, since the start of the season, not one name has come up, whether it be pitching or hitting in the two and a half months. Nothing's come up. And Pedro certainly hasn't. Now, Jim might tell you differently, but I'm not aware of anything."
Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians at Wrigley Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet today and Sunday; Channel 9 Saturday
Radio: WGN 720-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Rich Harden (4-3) vs. Cliff Lee (4-6) today at 1:20 p.m.; Ted Lilly (7-4) vs. Tomo Ohka (0-1) Saturday at 12:05 p.m.; Randy Wells (0-3) vs. Jeremy Sowers (1-4) Sunday at 1:20 p.m.
At a glance: The series marks the triumphant returns of fan favorites Kerry Wood and Mark DeRosa to Wrigley Field. Like the Cubs, the Indians have been disappointments this year. Cleveland is 29-39, last in the AL Central. DeRosa is batting .280 with 13 homers, 48 RBI, an OBP of .348 and an OPS of .827. He's riding a seven-game hitting streak. Wood is 2-2 with a 4.63 ERA, 8 saves in 10 chances and a 1.37 WHIP. The Cubs' Derrek Lee is 1-for-11 vs. Wood, and Alfonso Soriano is 1-for-7, a homer, off Wood.
Next: Atlanta Braves at Turner Field, Monday