CHICAGO -- The last time the Cubs could count on both Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, the ivy at Wrigley Field was red.
That it's still in its brightest green might be the best reason for the Cubs to celebrate Wood's return, which is scheduled for Sunday. Barring another injury, they could have their proposed starting rotation for the entire second half of the season.
That's not the way manager Dusty Baker drew it up, but it could give them a chance to reel in the St. Louis Cardinals and see if the ivy is again red this October. They trail the Cardinals by six games entering this weekend's series at Busch Stadium.
Kerry Wood was 3-3 with a 2.82 ERA in seven starts before going on the DL with a sore arm.
"We haven't hit our stride yet," Baker said earlier this week. "We haven't played our best baseball. I think that's still to come. But I'll take where we are at the midway part of the season. We've battled and battled and battled the whole way."
That it's still in its brightest green might be the best reason for the Cubs to celebrate Wood's return, which is scheduled for Sunday. Barring another injury, they could have their proposed starting rotation for the entire second half of the season.
That's not the way manager Dusty Baker drew it up, but it could give them a chance to reel in the St. Louis Cardinals and see if the ivy is again red this October. They trail the Cardinals by six games entering this weekend's series at Busch Stadium.
Kerry Wood was 3-3 with a 2.82 ERA in seven starts before going on the DL with a sore arm.
"We haven't hit our stride yet," Baker said earlier this week. "We haven't played our best baseball. I think that's still to come. But I'll take where we are at the midway part of the season. We've battled and battled and battled the whole way."
