Wood Getting Up to Speed

The three runs and five hits that Chicago Cub right-hander Kerry Wood gave up don’t matter. Neither do the 15 strikes or 15 balls he threw.

Less than a year after reconstructive elbow surgery, the only numbers that matter are the ones flashing on the radar gun. And when the gun shows 94-96 mph as it did Friday in Mesa, Ariz., that’s a very, very good day.

“I felt like my velocity was where it was last Saturday,” said Wood, the 1998 National League rookie of the year. “I would have liked to have thrown more strikes with the fastball and have more command. Unfortunately I didn’t, but I think we got some good accomplished out of it.

“I had a rough one today, but the arm feels good and we got some work done.”

While the rest of the Cubs were on their way to Japan, Wood threw in a minor league game Friday, working two innings against the Milwaukee Brewers’ triple-A team. It was his second start since undergoing “Tommy John” ligament replacement surgery April 8, 1999.

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Baltimore Oriole center fielder Brady Anderson is unsure if he will be able to play on opening day, even though he said that a nerve injury in his left leg is rapidly improving.

Anderson has been sidelined since March 10. The bizarre injury occurred when he iced his left knee and then felt weakness in a nerve near the ankle.

Although he fared well against live pitching Wednesday and Thursday at the Orioles’ minor league camp in Sarasota, Fla., Anderson isn’t sure when he will be healthy enough to return to the lineup.

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The New York Yankees hit nine home runs in a 19-0 rout of the Florida Marlins, who have been outscored, 35-0, in their last two games as they deal with an outbreak of mumps that has infected six players.

“The past two days have forced me to reevaluate some people and their chances of making this team,” Manager John Boles said. “I’m not going to name names, but you want people to step up and earn jobs and I haven’t seen anyone want to do that lately.

“I’m not going to erupt in front of you [media] people, I’m not going to embarrass myself or you guys, but maybe later it’ll be a different story.”

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Despite all the disappointments from the pitcher’s mound, Charlie Brown and his Peanuts’ teammates are headed to the Hall of Fame.

An exhibit titled “You’re In the Hall of Fame, Charlie Brown” will open May 20 and run through the remainder of the year, Hall of Fame officials said in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Charles Schulz, who died in February, created nearly 18,000 Peanuts strips over the last 50 years and close to 10% focused on baseball.

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Hideo Nomo, Detroit’s opening day starter, was roughed up for six runs in 5 2/3 innings in his next-to-last spring game, a 6-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Lakeland, Fla. Nomo, who had given up just 10 hits and four runs in 12 previous innings this spring, gave up nine hits, including a grand slam to Kevin Sefcik in the second inning. . . . Minnesota optioned Javier Valentin to triple-A Salt Lake, leaving the Twins with three catchers vying for the starting spot: Matt LeCroy, switch-hitter Marcus Jensen or Jeff Smith. . . . Rigo Beltran, a left-hander who was trying to win a bullpen spot with the Colorado Rockies, was optioned to triple-A Colorado Springs. . . . Right-hander Shane Reynolds will be the Houston Astros’ opening day pitcher for the fifth consecutive year when their season begins April 3 at Pittsburgh. Reynolds will match J.R. Richard and Mike Scott as franchise leaders in opening day starts.