Good News...Wood and Prior Threw Off a Mound on Friday

[ThePenguin11]

The good news continues. According to Bruce Miles, Link, Wood threw 20 more pitches from a mound on Tuesday.

 

Another day: Right-hander Kerry Wood threw 20 pitches from the mound Tuesday as he continues his rehab from shoulder surgery. Saturday, Wood threw 10 pitches.

 

 

That's weird, yesterday I was sure I heard that Wood threw 40 pitches off the mound. Could it have been Miller? Either way, they both seem to be progressing very well.

 

Zambrano

Prior

Maddux

Wood

Miller

 

That's what I'd like to see after May 1st. Rusch and Williams are nice to have, but I think this rotation has a chance to dominate. The only other pitcher I won't mind seeing in the rotation is Angel Guzman, if he earns it. If Maddux is really, truly in shape and Wood, Miller and/or Guzman are the major contributors for the rotation this year, the Cubs have a great chance to be special this year. Lotta big if's, but I'm a little optomistic about the rotation staying healthy.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The good news continues. According to Bruce Miles, Link, Wood threw 20 more pitches from a mound on Tuesday.

 

Another day: Right-hander Kerry Wood threw 20 pitches from the mound Tuesday as he continues his rehab from shoulder surgery. Saturday, Wood threw 10 pitches.

 

 

That's weird, yesterday I was sure I heard that Wood threw 40 pitches off the mound. Could it have been Miller? Either way, they both seem to be progressing very well.

 

Zambrano

Prior

Maddux

Wood

Miller

 

That's what I'd like to see after May 1st. Rusch and Williams are nice to have, but I think this rotation has a chance to dominate. The only other pitcher I won't mind seeing in the rotation is Angel Guzman, if he earns it. If Maddux is really, truly in shape and Wood, Miller and/or Guzman are the major contributors for the rotation this year, the Cubs have a great chance to be special this year. Lotta big if's, but I'm a little optomistic about the rotation staying healthy.

 

Yes, there are a lot of "if's", but this has the potential to be a very dominating rotation.

 

Imagine this rotation.

 

1. Zambrano (3.05 ERA; 225 BAA)

2. Prior (3.23 ERA; 234 BAA)

3. Wood (3.54 ERA; 219 BAA)

4. Maddux (4.08 ERA; 271 BAA)

5. Miller (4.14 ERA; 245 BAA)

 

That's a very solid if not very good rotation. Those numbers are simply three year averages. I believe all of those pitchers, with the exception of Maddux, have a good chance to exceed those numbers if healthy.

 

The health is the key for this rotation. If our pitchers can get healthy and make their scheduled starts, this team will be right there among the best. Is that couting on too much? Maybe. But the potential is definitely there.

[Jon]

Cubs.com[/url]"]Arms race: There's good news to report on Mark Prior, Kerry Wood and Wade Miller. Prior threw about 50 pitches in the bullpen on Thursday, and is continuing to make progress.

 

"We're still building arm strength," Rothschild said. "Hopefully, pretty soon we get some hitters, and then go from there."

 

As of now, Prior could face hitters next week and is expected to be inserted into the spring rotation the second time around.

 

"We'll just see how he does the next few days, and I'll figure out his schedule," Rothschild said.

 

Greg Maddux also threw early Thursday on the back field, and Rothschild said the 39-year-old right-hander is "ready to go."

 

Wood also is making good progress in his sessions and is continuing to increase the number of pitches he throws off a mound versus how many he throws in long toss. Wood has thrown off a mound twice.

 

"He's progressing," Rothschild said of Wood, who is rehabbing from arthroscopic shoulder surgery in late August. "The arm strength is real good and it's been good to see. We'll just keep progressing with him."

 

Miller, who had similar surgery to Wood, also has done well.

 

"He's done great," Rothschild said of Miller. "You get different doctors and the programs are a little different. He's still in his long toss program. He had the surgery a little later than Woody. He has another week of long toss, and then we'll start flat ground and go towards the mound."

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Was something wrong with Maddux too?

[Jon]

Was something wrong with Maddux too?

Nope. They just wanted him to pitch today so he could stay on his schedule but had to do it in a simulated game since Z was starting against Oakland.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's an article from Bruce on Prior.

 

Right-hander Mark Prior took a big step toward making his Cactus League debut when he threw about 50 pitches during two separate sessions Thursday in the HoHoKam Park bullpen.

 

“Good,” said pitching coach Larry Rothschild when asked how Prior looked to him. “He made some progress. We’re still building the arm strength. Hopefully pretty soon we get some hitters and go from there.”

 

Prior will throw again Saturday, and if that goes well, it’s possible he could face hitters in live batting practice within a week.

 

[snoodmonger]

From the Trib

 

Mark Prior still is scheduled to start the second game of the season.

 

"I expect it, but you don't really know," Baker said.

 

Baker didn't say whether Prior would make his Cactus League debut next week, as had been planned.

 

So what exactly is going on with Prior? Is he injured? I know there was the Will Carroll thing, but I thought that was allegedly false.

[Sarcastic]

From the Trib

 

Mark Prior still is scheduled to start the second game of the season.

 

"I expect it, but you don't really know," Baker said.

 

Baker didn't say whether Prior would make his Cactus League debut next week, as had been planned.

 

So what exactly is going on with Prior? Is he injured? I know there was the Will Carroll thing, but I thought that was allegedly false.

 

The original issue was a mysterious illness that caused him to be hopsitalized. It set him back a bit, so he's been going more slowly, but he was supposed to start the season, I believe.

[Jon]

Both Prior and Miller threw 50 pitches off the mound yesterday according to WGN Radio. Sounds like Wade is now ahead of Wood.