Cubs Use Good Wood to Beat Marlins in 13

Random thoughts (or as close as we get to such things around here) while wondering whether Chicago Cubs manager Rick Renteria can figure a way to give pitcher Travis Wood more at-bats.

Today’s World Cup coverage features Bethany Dempsey. Video below.

* A Wood pinch-hit double drove in the winning run Monday in Miami in a 13-inning, 5-4 decision. Not counting fellow pitcher Brian Schlitter (1-for-1 batting this season), Wood is tied for the third-best batting average on the team (.276, the same as Anthony Rizzo).

* With Wood being the winning pitcher Sunday and providing the winning run Monday with his bat, it’s unclear what he can do for an encore. Maybe he will enter the game as a pinch-runner and steal his first base of the season in support of scheduled starter Jeff Samardzija. Hey, with a two-game winning streak, Cubs fans may start to think anything — such as a three-game winning streak — is possible.

* Speaking of Wood’ batting prowess, his .552 slugging percentage is the best on the team for any hitter with at least two at-bats.

* In 29 at-bats Wood has two doubles, one less than third baseman Mike Olt has in 150 at-bats.

* Speaking of ballplayers who could hit, Hall of Fame outfielder Tony Gwynn died Monday at age 54. It may be mere coincidence, but No. 19 for the San Diego Padres (the only big-league team he played for) batted .300 or better for 19 consecutive seasons.

* As sad as Gwynn’s death is (and it certainly is that because he appears to be universally respected and/or beloved for the person — as well as the ballplayer — he was, the thought that his cancer was the result of chewing tobacco is at least equally as sad. Here’s hoping the Major League Baseball Players Association in its next contract will choose to honor Gwynn’s legacy by agreeing to ban smokeless tobacco.

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