Wood Is Good, but Cubs Wait

Kerry Wood said he’s ready to pitch again, but Chicago Cub Manager Jim Riggleman isn’t taking any chances for now.

The prized rookie, who hasn’t pitched since Aug. 31 because of a sprained elbow ligament, threw off a bullpen mound for about 10 minutes Wednesday in Milwaukee, and smiled as he walked into the dugout.

“Good, real good,” he said.

Riggleman agreed that Wood looked sharp, but he still won’t commit to pitching him again. And while no announcement will be made until Friday, it’s sounding more likely that Wood won’t pitch against the Houston Astros this weekend.

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The condition of former Kansas City Royal reliever Dan Quisenberry remained a closely guarded secret, a day after he was admitted to an undisclosed hospital. Quisenberry, 45, had surgery for brain tumors in January and June. His cancer is characterized as Grade 4, the most severe of the four grades given to such tumors. . . . A judge has denied Albert Belle’s request for a restraining order against the former girlfriend who accused the Chicago White Sox player of hitting her. Belle contends the woman has been harassing him by telephone. . . . Buddy Bell, fired as the Detroit Tigers’ manager Sept. 1, agreed to become the Cincinnati Reds’ minor-league field coordinator.