Cubs win 8-3 against the Diamondbacks; Kerry Wood is good to go

The Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-3 at Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale today in their final Cactus League road game.  Jay Jackson started for the Cubs, followed by Jeff Samardzija.  Then, Kerry Wood pitched in relief for the first time in a week and said, "My body feels ready to go."

Cubs reliever Kerry Wood feels ready to go for Opening Day (USPresswire photo)

Darwin Barney was in the leadoff spot today, while David DeJesus got the day off.  Cubs manager Dale Sveum said they've noticed a mechanical flaw with DeJesus that they think they've corrected.  DeJesus is hitting .207 this spring.  Sveum said, "It could actually have a huge impact on why the numbers haven't quite been there the last year, and in spring training."

The Cubs have also been working on more aggressive base running this Spring.  Second baseman Darwin Barney said, "We're trying to take advantage of anything we can.  Being a good base-running team is something they've been preaching before spring training started, and everybody is really conscious about it."  Sveum said, "I think they're (the team) really buying into it. We've scored some runs because of it.  You make these mistakes early on, and now at the end of spring training, everybody is hovering and doing the right thing."  Let's hope this will pay off during the regular season!

The Cubs will play their final Cactus League game tomorrow at 2:05pm CST against the Milwaukee Brewers at HoHoKam Park, where Travis Wood (who is headed to Triple-A Iowa) will start.  Only 3 more days until Opening Day!