May 18--A day off in San Diego offered Cubs players a welcome bit of escape and relaxation.
But manager Joe Maddon and pitching coach Chris Bosio were trying to clear their minds Monday to reassemble an evolving pitching staff.
While Jason Hammel retains his spot in the rotation to start Tuesday night, the Cubs will send left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada to the mound Wednesday before Kyle Hendricks gets the call Thursday.
Wada, coming off a month-long rehabilitation stint at Triple-A Iowa, replaces Travis Wood in the rotation.
Maddon and Bosio have been discussing the domino effect these moves might have on the staff.
"It's constant, it's daily," Maddon said of his conversations with Bosio. "Just trying to put everybody in a spot to be successful, looking at the teams that are coming up and who plays well against other teams. With the day off, it permits you to reanalyze things to be a little bit. So we are still in the process of doing all that stuff."
It's early, but the Cubs are coming off a 6-1 homestand to remain within striking distance of the first-place Cardinals. Adjusting a pitching staff on the fly is part of the game.
"Those kinds of things happen," Cubs starter Jake Arrieta said. "We are in a situation where we have a guy (Wada) coming back who is ready to go. And obviously Travis is willing and able to take on any role that they throw at him. ... There are times where it might be uncomfortable with the adjustment or the change in somebody's role. But I think he will fit in nicely in that spot and be ready when he is called upon."
Bosio said he appreciates Wood's willingness to accept his reassignment. With the bullpen depleted after Friday's 12-inning game, Wood earned his first career save Saturday against the Pirates.
"We were looking for (able) bodies. And Travis was willing and obviously able," Bosio said. "His response was, 'I will do whatever the team needs.'"
Seven of the Cubs' nine victories this month have been by one run, emphasizing the importance of the bullpen. However, the relievers have had mixed results recently, particularly with Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Zac Rosscup and Brian Schlitter.
"Rondon is a very capable closer," Bosio said. "And Strop is one of the best eighth-inning guys we've had. We've got a young guy in Rosscup who is learning his craft. All in all, it is still a relatively young pen. We are an adjusting group down there.
"You find ways to win. You would like to have A-B-C games where everything goes smooth. But that's not usually the way it works."
fmitchell@tribpub.com
