Kerry Wood’s control woes and Ismael Valdes’ blistered pitching hand have manager Don Baylor concerned, despite 9-8 and 1-0 victories started by Wood and Valdes on Friday and Saturday.
Wood and Baylor maintained that there is nothing physically wrong with Wood’s pitching arm, including the elbow on which he had surgery in April 1999.
Baylor said faulty pitching mechanics were the cause of Wood’s control problems in Friday’s outing, in which he yielded five runs, four hits and five walks in four innings.
“We’ll make the call on Monday or Tuesday whether Wood misses a turn,” Baylor said. “If he does, it will be to work on his mechanics, not because of any physical reason.”
Scott Downs would replace Wood in the rotation if Wood misses a turn, Baylor said.
“My arm feels fine,” Wood said. “I just didn’t have it [Friday]. Usually I can work through poor control and I don’t show emotion. But yesterday I couldn’t work through it, and I showed emotion.
“If I skip a start, it won’t be the first time this season. I had only two starts in 16 days earlier this year.”
A blister forced Valdes out of Saturday’s game after three innings. “He’s tried formulas and vitamin C, but this blister has taken on a life of its own,” Baylor said. “He may have to take time out of the rotation.”
Sign of the times: Does somebody know something? The sporting goods store on the corner of Clark and Addison, across from Wrigley Field, has a huge sign in its front window: “Clearance sale: All Sammy Sosa items.”
Lucky date: Sunday is June 18 in an even-numbered year. So look for outfielder Brant Brown to have a big day at the plate. Brown hit a total of six home runs on this date in 1996 and 1998.
On June 18, 1996, Brown hit the first three homers of his big-league career. No. 1 was a pinch homer in the first game of a double-header against the Dodgers. Nos. 2 and 3 came in the second game. Two years later to the day, Brown hit three homers in a game against the Phillies.
Rumor central: Sosa isn’t the only Cub name being mentioned in possible trades. Everybody needs pitching, and General Manager Ed Lynch said Saturday he has received calls from teams interested in starters Kevin Tapani and Valdes and relievers Rick Aguilera, Tim Worrell and Todd Van Poppel. Valdes’ blisters, a seasonlong problem, may dim the interest in him.
Aguilera earned the save Saturday, No. 15 of the season and No. 304 of his career. He moved into a 10th-place tie with Jeff Montgomery among career saves leaders. Aguilera has converted his last nine save chances and allowed no earned runs over his last 10 outings.
Vlad man: Add Mark Grace to the growing army of admirers of Vladimir Guerrero, the Expos’ 24-year-old right-fielder.
“Guerrero is the future mega-superstar of this game,” Grace said. “He is the total package. He does not have one weakness. He can hit a waste pitch … and hit it out of the park.
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“He hit one ball [Friday] that was a foot and a half inside, and he doubled against us on a pitch that was five inches inside. He’s a monster hitter. And he can run and throw.”