Well, looks like Kerry Wood won't be an option to replace Derek Lowe or Pedro if they leave the Red Sox via free agency after this season. The Cubbies signed him through 2006, with an option for '07.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1745946

I was just saying to a co-worker the other day that I didn't think there was any way the Cubs would let Wood get away. They certainly have the cash to keep him, and I think they like the 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation with Mark Prior.

Speaking of Chicago's North Siders, Harry Carry's restaurant bought the Steve Bartman ball for over $100,000 and blew it up amid a storm of publicity. Even Katie Couric and the Today show were there. The curious thing is that Katie was wearing a Cubs hat - isn't she Sox chairman Tom Werner's significant other?