Kerry Wood Shut Down Again

sighyoung · Post by **sighyoung** » March 15 07, 7:22 pm

This time, triceps soreness.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/b ... index.html

Another setback
Cubs' Wood strained triceps in previous appearance
Posted: Thursday March 15, 2007 7:41PM; Updated: Thursday March 15, 2007 7:58PM

By John Donovan, SI.com

MESA, Ariz. -- First, it was Mark Prior and his problems. Now it's Kerry Wood again.

Stop us if you've heard this one before.

The Cubs announced Thursday -- reluctantly -- that one-time ace Wood, scheduled to pitch out of the bullpen this year, won't throw for the next several days because of soreness in his triceps. This comes on the heels of news that former ace Prior, struggling to regain his velocity and command, probably won't make the team's five-man rotation coming out of spring training.

"Something came up," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Thursday afternoon in Mesa, declining further comment on the oft-injured Wood. "It's just a little, minor setback."

General manager Jim Hendry revealed, minutes later, that Wood has a strain near his elbow. The injury was thought to have occurred the last time Wood threw in a game, March 11. Hendry said Wood was striding too far on the mound at Ho Ho Kam Park, trying to avoid a hole in the pitching surface, and that put the additional strain on the arm.

"It's not in any area he was cut on," Hendry said. "I'm not anticipating any long-term difficulties." Wood has been limited to just 86 2/3 innings in the past two seasons.

Post by **Michael** » March 15 07, 7:23 pm

At least he was able to avoid the hot tub.

Leroy · Post by **Leroy** » March 15 07, 7:25 pm

And here I thought it was Dusty's fault.

stlmark · Post by **stlmark** » March 15 07, 7:28 pm

I stopped reading when I read this:

'Stop us if you've heard this one before.'

I stopped because I read this before!

clevername · Post by **clevername** » March 15 07, 7:28 pm

you know, it's not really fair.

This sounds like a relatively minor injury, one that we wouldn't bat an eye at if it happened with a Cards pitcher. (of course, with Wood and Prior it does seem to sometimes start with a "minor" injury...)

It happens to Wood and it's an ESPN/CNNSI story with an obligatory Prior mention.

Leroy · Post by **Leroy** » March 15 07, 7:30 pm

clevername wrote:you know, it's not really fair.

This sounds like a relatively minor injury, one that we wouldn't bat an eye at if it happened with a Cards pitcher. (of course, with Wood and Prior it does seem to sometimes start with a "minor" injury...)

It happens to Wood and it's an ESPN/CNNSI story with an obligatory Prior mention.

East coast bias.

Cronos · Post by **Cronos** » March 15 07, 7:31 pm

Guess this means Dempster is definitely going to be the closer.

Yeesh. I have less sympathy for Wood then Prior, but yikes. That old gag picture of LaRussa with the Kerry Wood voodoo doll is looking more and more realistic.

clevername · Post by **clevername** » March 15 07, 7:35 pm

Cronos69 wrote:Guess this means Dempster is definitely going to be the closer.

I don't know that this keeps him from competing for the rest of spring training. It's just a few days.

I think the plan is for Dempster to start as the closer, anyway, right? The thinking is that Wood will eventually take the job when Dempster stinks, as expected.

sighyoung · Post by **sighyoung** » March 15 07, 7:36 pm

clevername wrote:you know, it's not really fair.

This sounds like a relatively minor injury, one that we wouldn't bat an eye at if it happened with a Cards pitcher. (of course, with Wood and Prior it does seem to sometimes start with a "minor" injury...)

It happens to Wood and it's an ESPN/CNNSI story with an obligatory Prior mention.

True--if Wood sneezes, it'll be front page news.

Then again, with the Cubs' history, he'd wind up on the 60-day DL.

haltz · Post by **haltz** » March 15 07, 7:37 pm

It finally feels like Spring.