It sounded like a good idea at the time.
The Cubs sent Kerry Wood from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh on Sunday night to give him extra time to rest for Tuesday night's start at PNC Park. The team figured it would be better for Wood to go to Pittsburgh, rather than have him travel to Miami for Monday's doubleheader against Florida.
The move, however, had a painful ending.
Wood, who has a history of back problems, did not have a backboard in his bed in the Westin Hotel in Pittsburgh. After he woke up, he was suffering tightness in his lower back.
The right-hander pitched through the pain Tuesday at Pittsburgh, allowing three runs over seven inning. He was sent to Chicago on Wednesday to be examined by team orthopedist Dr. Stephen Gryzlo.
The variety of beds in which athletes sleep while on road trips can wreak havoc on their backs. Last year, Wood said he would consider sleeping on a floor rather than some of the soft beds in team hotels.
"He had a bad bed without a bed board," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "We didn't know if he could even pitch. We didn't know if we would have him come game time. We thought about moving (Carlos Zambrano) ahead. You don't know what a gutsy performance that was.
"From now on we have to check and make sure he has a bed board."
Cubs trainer Dave Groeschner said Wood showed up early on Tuesday and his staff went to work on the pitcher.
"We treated him several times," Groeschner said. "He wanted to pitch no matter what. He was pretty adamant about pitching. We did whatever we could to get him ready."
Wood's next appearance is scheduled to be against the New York Mets on Sunday. The Cubs list Sunday's starter as "to be announced."
While the Cubs hope Wood will be back Sunday, it's not a given.
"You don't know if he sustained more tightness (Tuesday night)," Baker said. "The back is a delicate thing. The back kind of lets go when it wants to let go."
If Wood can't go against the Mets, its possible Matt Clement, who's turn in the rotation will be skipped, could get the nod. Another possibility is Sergio Mitre, who was with he Cubs earlier this season before being sent to Triple-A Iowa.
Looking ahead
Pending the Wood and Clement situations, it appears Greg Maddux is in line to face the Atlanta Braves, his former team, in the regular-season finale Oct. 3 at Wrigley Field.
The way the National League wild-card race is going, that game could determine if the Cubs make it to the playoffs.
Looking way ahead
Cubs insiders believe the team will open the 2005 regular season in Arizona against the Diamondbacks.
Look for the North Siders to also play one of their final exhibition games in Las Vegas before opening the season.
Stop the hop?
Sammy Sosa got caught hopping during Tuesday night's game.
Sosa thought his fourth-inning drive would clear the right-field wall. The ball hit the top of the wall and bounced back into play. Sosa was thrown out trying for a double.
Baker said he's not thinking of curbing the hop.
"Sammy was hopping before I got here," Baker said. "But it seems like his hop is off. He wasn't hitting home runs for a while. It didn't look good. I'm just glad it didn't cost us (the game)."
Short hops
Pittsburgh pitcher John Van Benschoten was scratched from today's start because of a stiff shoulder. Nelson Figueroa, who allowed one earned run in his last nine innings of relief work, will get the nod. ...
The Cubs sent Kerry Wood from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh on Sunday night to give him extra time to rest for Tuesday night's start at PNC Park. The team figured it would be better for Wood to go to Pittsburgh, rather than have him travel to Miami for Monday's doubleheader against Florida.
The move, however, had a painful ending.
Wood, who has a history of back problems, did not have a backboard in his bed in the Westin Hotel in Pittsburgh. After he woke up, he was suffering tightness in his lower back.
The right-hander pitched through the pain Tuesday at Pittsburgh, allowing three runs over seven inning. He was sent to Chicago on Wednesday to be examined by team orthopedist Dr. Stephen Gryzlo.
The variety of beds in which athletes sleep while on road trips can wreak havoc on their backs. Last year, Wood said he would consider sleeping on a floor rather than some of the soft beds in team hotels.
"He had a bad bed without a bed board," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "We didn't know if he could even pitch. We didn't know if we would have him come game time. We thought about moving (Carlos Zambrano) ahead. You don't know what a gutsy performance that was.
"From now on we have to check and make sure he has a bed board."
Cubs trainer Dave Groeschner said Wood showed up early on Tuesday and his staff went to work on the pitcher.
"We treated him several times," Groeschner said. "He wanted to pitch no matter what. He was pretty adamant about pitching. We did whatever we could to get him ready."
Wood's next appearance is scheduled to be against the New York Mets on Sunday. The Cubs list Sunday's starter as "to be announced."
While the Cubs hope Wood will be back Sunday, it's not a given.
"You don't know if he sustained more tightness (Tuesday night)," Baker said. "The back is a delicate thing. The back kind of lets go when it wants to let go."
If Wood can't go against the Mets, its possible Matt Clement, who's turn in the rotation will be skipped, could get the nod. Another possibility is Sergio Mitre, who was with he Cubs earlier this season before being sent to Triple-A Iowa.
Looking ahead
Pending the Wood and Clement situations, it appears Greg Maddux is in line to face the Atlanta Braves, his former team, in the regular-season finale Oct. 3 at Wrigley Field.
The way the National League wild-card race is going, that game could determine if the Cubs make it to the playoffs.
Looking way ahead
Cubs insiders believe the team will open the 2005 regular season in Arizona against the Diamondbacks.
Look for the North Siders to also play one of their final exhibition games in Las Vegas before opening the season.
Stop the hop?
Sammy Sosa got caught hopping during Tuesday night's game.
Sosa thought his fourth-inning drive would clear the right-field wall. The ball hit the top of the wall and bounced back into play. Sosa was thrown out trying for a double.
Baker said he's not thinking of curbing the hop.
"Sammy was hopping before I got here," Baker said. "But it seems like his hop is off. He wasn't hitting home runs for a while. It didn't look good. I'm just glad it didn't cost us (the game)."
Short hops
Pittsburgh pitcher John Van Benschoten was scratched from today's start because of a stiff shoulder. Nelson Figueroa, who allowed one earned run in his last nine innings of relief work, will get the nod. ...
