MIAMI -- It wouldn't be surprising to see
Tony Womack show up at Wrigley Field this weekend as the Cubs' starting second baseman against the Atlanta Braves. "I'm hearing good reports on him,'' manager
Dusty Baker said Wednesday. "I'm hearing he is playing pretty good. We'll address that when I get home. It's not a bad option.''
The Cubs are off today, and Baker and general manager
Jim Hendry could have Womack in the house by Friday. The 12-year major-league veteran was in Class AAA Iowa's lineup Wednesday night in Sacramento, Calif., which is familiar turf to Baker.
"I talked to people out in Sacramento [on Tuesday], and they told me Womack was playing good,'' Baker said. "They said he wants to play good enough to force me to call him up. That's fine with me.''
What makes Womack look even better is that
Jerry Hairston and
Neifi Perez have given no offensive spark when they've started at second while
Todd Walker replaces the injured
Derrek Lee at first base.
Walker has started at second only five times in the Cubs' last 14 games, with the other starts going to Perez or Hairston. The starting second basemen are a combined 6-for-44 in that period with two runs scored and two RBI.
"It's been a tough spot, yeah,'' Baker said. Womack batted .467 with an RBI and three stolen bases in his first five games with Iowa through Tuesday. The Cincinnati Reds released Womack earlier this year, and he could be on the Cubs' roster before the Reds open a series at Wrigley on Monday.