Cubs Closer Wood Still Hurting, Team Needs Marmol Aid

July 29, 2008 11:05 a.m. EST

Chicago, IL (AHN) -- Unfortunately for the Cubs, their closer Kerry Wood will need some more time to heal before taking the mound again.

Wood currently suffers from a blister on his pitching hand. He tried to work on Monday, pitching a few, but was only able to do it with a protective pad. When he tried to remove it, he was unable to control his pitch.

The Cubs are evaluating their bullpen and trying to decide on a replacement for Wood, but it hasn't been easy, They're considering Carlos Marmol, Bob Howry and Jeff Samardzija, a newcomer who saved his first game on Sunday against the Florida Marlins.

"We'll pitch whoever is available and whoever is freshest," Cubs manager Lou Piniella told reporters. "I have three people who I can throw out there in the closer's role. We'll rotate them around."

As it is now, much of the talk is about Samardzija. He was in line to be the next Bo Jackson, finishing second in the Big East Conference in ERA, while also setting single-season records in receiving yards as a wide receiver. He was a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff award, for the nation's top wide receiver.

He was originally going to play in both the NFL and MLB, but decided at the last minute to focus on baseball. That's not to say several fans wouldn't mind seeing him catching passes for the Bears in the winter, but those days are over for him.

One of his original problems, however, was a high walk count compared to his average. He worked out this problem in the minors. He has focused on first pitch strikes above everything else.

"I said, 'Hey, that's enough of that. Start making guys earn their way on base,'" Samardzija said. "I think that's the difference from last year to this year, where last year I'd let it go for too long. This year, I put a stop to it early."