Kerry Wood Headed for DL yet Again

It looks like Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood's comeback has been put on hold for a little longer. After pitching an inning of relief in Sunday's game against the Angels, Wood began feeling stiffness and discomfort in his pitching arm. Wood had been slated to pitch three times in this last week of Spring Training, but with this new development those plans will change as it looks like Wood could start another season on the Disabled List.

Wood was trying to make the club as a relief pitcher this year. He suffered a partial tear in his rotator cuff which limited him to only four games in 2006. Instead of surgery, Wood opted to try and rehab the injury in the off-season. The Cubs have brought Wood along slowly this spring in hopes of him being able to make an impact out of the bullpen.

Chicago Cubs Manager, Lou Pinella had this to say, "Certainly this is a setback for him. It's a shame, because Kerry has really worked hard, put in a lot of time over the winter, and he was disappointed in the setback."

Wood started off the spring by having to miss a few days due to a bruised chest after slipping while getting out of a hot tub. He seemed to rebound fine and made his spring debut on March 3^rd. From there he pitched in three different games going one inning in each. He seemed to be on the right track until he sprained his right triceps muscle on March 11^th. This kept Wood on the sideline until March 23^rd. In his first game back, he showed signs of returning to form needing only nine pitches to retire the Giants.

In his next game against the Angels on Sunday the 25^th, Wood did not look strong. He threw eighteen pitches, and gave up two runs on three hits including a two-run homer. It was shortly after this appearance Wood began complaining of irregular discomfort. The team flew in their orthopedic specialist, Dr. Stephen Gryzlo, who will check Kerry Wood out later this week.

Wood made a huge splash when breaking into the league with Cubs in 1998. He is best remembered for his twenty strike out game against the Houston Astros that year; a year in which he went on t o win the National League Rookie of the Year award. The following year Wood needed Tommy John surgery, and his career has been hampered by arm injuries every since.

With the Cubs set to open the regular season on April 1^st in Cincinnati, it looks like they will be without their talented right hander again. According to reports, wood will begin the season on the Disabled List for the second straight year. Wood signed a $1.75 million contract this off-season to become a relief pitcher with the possibility of steeping into the closer's role if needed.

When asked about Wood's newest stint on the DL, Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry replied, "He's obviously put a lot of work in and wanted to be at the top of his game, and he feels badly that he's not 100 percent. Hopefully, we'll get him right and hopefully it won't be significant. It's not about helping us next Monday but helping us over the long haul."

With Wood now out of the picture for Opening Day and the immediate future, this more than likely opens the door for Angel Guzman. Guzman who has been out dueled for the fifth spot in the Cubs pitching rotation by Wade Miller will now step into the empty slot in the bullpen. Guzman is another promising young pitcher whose career has been slowed by injuries.

ESPN News Service. (March 27, 2007). "Wood's Shoulder Stiff day after rough outing"

Retrieved March 27, 2007 from http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2007/news/story?id=2813179

Muskat, Kerry. (March 26, 2007) "Wood Will Be Sideline for Opener" Retrieved

March 27, 2007 from http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com