Wood's Session today

[BRASKYS SCOTCH]

Bad contracts aside, his shoulder is repaired now. There's a 95% success rate over 20 years with surgically repaired labrums, and it happens to a lot more people than just those who throw 95+ for a living. It's understandable to be a bit skeptical, but you should understand the injury and recovery process before jumping to conclusions.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Wood had the same surgery Matt Morris did last year, right? He's 2-0 on the year, but anyone know how he's looked and where his velocity is at, etc.

 

I remember Morris' last year with the Cards and you could tell the pop and velocity wasn't there.

 

It's not entirely accurate to say that Wood had the same surgery as anyone or to look at anyone to gauge how he should come back. There are varying degrees of damage that are done to the labrum, and the repair isn't necessarily the same for different people.

 

Having said that, any loss of velocity that Morris may or may not have can likely be contributed to the fact that he's now on the wrong side of 30, and really has been on the decline since that "breakout" season in 2001.

 

I thought Kerry went in for arthroscopic surgery to repair his rotator cuff and doctors found some fraying of the labrum that they repaired additionally. With Morris, I believe it was a torn labrum from the beginning. I think Wade Miller's injury may be more akin to Morris' situation.

 

Regardless, Kerry's value to this club is as a starter.

[Neuby]

Wood has been throwing all spring basically right? If thats the case I'm not sure he'll be on too restrictive a pitch count when brought up to the majors.

[Roast]

So in a thread about woods rehab throwing today we have heard:

 

Some people like wood and think he'll be good.

Some people dont like wood and think he sucks.

 

Then on page three we found out he looked good. great.

[UMFan83]

I think the Cubs should give him all the leeway he wants to take his time considering they almost cost him his career by coming back to pitch that playoff game in 98. It did cost him his best pitch as well. Some say it would have happened anyway, but it sure didn't help pitching him that game.

 

For the record though, as an impressionable 15 year old, I really wanted him to pitch that game too.

[NCCubFan]

I thought Kerry went in for arthroscopic surgery to repair his rotator cuff and doctors found some fraying of the labrum that they repaired additionally. With Morris, I believe it was a torn labrum from the beginning. I think Wade Miller's injury may be more akin to Morris' situation.

I thought it was Wood's labrum all along. I don't recall anything being done on his rotator cuff.

[mhuber92211]

Kap said something about Woody thinking he'll be rehabbing for a week I thought in the Minors (2 starts) starting next week. I don't think this is official at all though.

It's a pretty safe guess, though. His pitch count should be high enough after two minor league rehab starts. If that's the case, he could be pitching on 4/25 and 4/30 with a return to the mound in San Diego on 5/5.

 

I hope that is the case because in all likelihood I will be there for my first Petco experience!

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I thought Kerry went in for arthroscopic surgery to repair his rotator cuff and doctors found some fraying of the labrum that they repaired additionally. With Morris, I believe it was a torn labrum from the beginning. I think Wade Miller's injury may be more akin to Morris' situation.

I thought it was Wood's labrum all along. I don't recall anything being done on his rotator cuff.

 

You are correct. It was the labrum. Nothing wrong with the rotator cuff.

[Blueheart05]

I love this quote in today's Daily Southtown

 

It was just three years ago that Wood beat the Atlanta Braves twice in the Division Series to propel the Cubs to the National League Championship Series, where they fell short against the Florida Marlins.

 

"It seems like about 15 years ago," Wood said. "The last couple years have been kind of rough. It's all behind me now. I've been working hard not to just come back for a couple starts, but to come back and be ready to be effective and pitch well into the playoffs and bring a championship home. I'm looking forward to getting back."

 

I think Woody is going to be in 2003 form (if not better) when he returns.

[Soul]

I love this quote in today's Daily Southtown

 

It was just three years ago that Wood beat the Atlanta Braves twice in the Division Series to propel the Cubs to the National League Championship Series, where they fell short against the Florida Marlins.

 

"It seems like about 15 years ago," Wood said. "The last couple years have been kind of rough. It's all behind me now. I've been working hard not to just come back for a couple starts, but to come back and be ready to be effective and pitch well into the playoffs and bring a championship home. I'm looking forward to getting back."

 

I think Woody is going to be in 2003 form (if not better) when he returns.

 

Well, I hope he comes back strong too. I just won't believe he's really back until I see him making regular starts, that's all. I think that's reasonable considering the injury history. But I do hope all is well.

[YearofDaCubs]

Have you guys read the articles from today? Some comments from Rothschild and Wood seem insinuate loss of stuff. I hope not.

 

The slider was good, which to me is a telltale sign. When the arm speed comes back, his slider is going to be pretty close to what it used to be.”

[UMFan83]

From the Trib:

 

A minor-league rehab stint is likely after that, and though no timetable has been set, Wood could return to the Cubs by the second week of May.

 

First it was the last week of April, then it was first week of May, now its speculated to be the second week of May. Slowly the time table goes further and further away.

 

Makes me wonder if, even with the knee setback, he could have been ready much earlier if he wasn't pitching in a futile attempt to finish .500 last year.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Have you guys read the articles from today? Some comments from Rothschild and Wood seem insinuate loss of stuff. I hope not.

 

The slider was good, which to me is a telltale sign. When the arm speed comes back, his slider is going to be pretty close to what it used to be.”

 

Strength and conditioning. The recovery process includes about 4 months of doing basically nothing with that shoulder. The stuff will still be there, he just needs the arm strength (speed).

[Blueheart05]

Have you guys read the articles from today? Some comments from Rothschild and Wood seem insinuate loss of stuff. I hope not.

 

The slider was good, which to me is a telltale sign. When the arm speed comes back, his slider is going to be pretty close to what it used to be.”

 

I think it normal. The rehab is designed to rebuild the arm. It sounds like they're hopeful that he'll continue to regain his stuff.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Who is this Kerry Wood guy of whom you all speak? Does he play for the Chicago Cubs or something? I've heard of a guy named Kerry Wood that is in the Simulated Baseball Hall of Fame, but I tend to follow real baseball with the Chicago Cubs, so I don't follow things like make-believe ballplayers all that closely. I prefer to focus on the 2006 Chicago Cubs starting rotation of Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux, Glendon Rusch, Sean Marshall and Jerome Williams. It looks pretty good so far.

[Blueheart05]

From the Trib:

 

A minor-league rehab stint is likely after that, and though no timetable has been set, Wood could return to the Cubs by the second week of May.

 

First it was the last week of April, then it was first week of May, now its speculated to be the second week of May. Slowly the time table goes further and further away.

 

Makes me wonder if, even with the knee setback, he could have been ready much earlier if he wasn't pitching in a futile attempt to finish .500 last year.

 

I think Rothschild is being extra cautious. Plus, the team is continuing to win so it's buying extra rehab time for all the guys.

[badgercub]

From the Trib:

 

A minor-league rehab stint is likely after that, and though no timetable has been set, Wood could return to the Cubs by the second week of May.

 

First it was the last week of April, then it was first week of May, now its speculated to be the second week of May. Slowly the time table goes further and further away.

 

Makes me wonder if, even with the knee setback, he could have been ready much earlier if he wasn't pitching in a futile attempt to finish .500 last year.

 

I don't recall the Cubs putting any kind of timeline on his return, in fact didnt' they make a point of not doing that. I think any timelines have just been speculation by the media.

[BeerHere]

The team being 4 games over .500 and pitching well certainly has something to do with the slowed rehab.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

From the Trib:

 

A minor-league rehab stint is likely after that, and though no timetable has been set, Wood could return to the Cubs by the second week of May.

 

First it was the last week of April, then it was first week of May, now its speculated to be the second week of May. Slowly the time table goes further and further away.

 

Makes me wonder if, even with the knee setback, he could have been ready much earlier if he wasn't pitching in a futile attempt to finish .500 last year.

 

Uh, I think it's always been thought the last week in April if things were ahead of schedule, first week in May with no setbacks, and second week in May if there were difficulties/they wanted to take it slow. This isn't different than what's been said.

[gflore34]

Beyond the Astros, who might add Clemens in May, is there any other team in Baseball that's going to potentially, add the likes of a Wood and Prior to their rotation? Its almost like a block-buster mid-season trade but, in May rather than July. I know its a Pipe Dream to think that Prior and Wood will join the rotation and actually sick around for more than one cycle but, the potential or hope is there...

[Chocolate Milk]

I feel like a complete idiot for this but...I'm pretty excited for the prospect of getting Wood, Prior and Miller in the rotation. The rational side of me wants me to punch myself in the face repeatedly but I'm the perpetual optimist as a sportsfan. I can't help myself.

[gflore34]

I feel like a complete idiot for this but...I'm pretty excited for the prospect of getting Wood, Prior and Miller in the rotation. The rational side of me wants me to punch myself in the face repeatedly but I'm the perpetual optimist as a sportsfan. I can't help myself.

 

I know how you feel, the ever hopeful Cub Fan in me thinks Wood and Prior will make it back and be effective. But, the realist in me thinks it never happen, good things like that only happen to Cardinals, etc. not the Cubs.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Beyond the Astros, who might add Clemens in May, is there any other team in Baseball that's going to potentially, add the likes of a Wood and Prior to their rotation? Its almost like a block-buster mid-season trade but, in May rather than July. I know its a Pipe Dream to think that Prior and Wood will join the rotation and actually sick around for more than one cycle but, the potential or hope is there...

 

Kinda like the one last year when we got Wood, Williamson, and Nomar back right around 8/1?

[gflore34]

Beyond the Astros, who might add Clemens in May, is there any other team in Baseball that's going to potentially, add the likes of a Wood and Prior to their rotation? Its almost like a block-buster mid-season trade but, in May rather than July. I know its a Pipe Dream to think that Prior and Wood will join the rotation and actually sick around for more than one cycle but, the potential or hope is there...

 

Kinda like the one last year when we got Wood, Williamson, and Nomar back right around 8/1?

 

Let's hope it works out better than last season' "trade" did...

[Soul]

Have you guys read the articles from today? Some comments from Rothschild and Wood seem insinuate loss of stuff. I hope not.

 

The slider was good, which to me is a telltale sign. When the arm speed comes back, his slider is going to be pretty close to what it used to be.”

 

I think it normal. The rehab is designed to rebuild the arm. It sounds like they're hopeful that he'll continue to regain his stuff.

 

All pitchers lose a little as they grow older. Wood will be no different. Hopefully he will realize he can't rely on a super-snappy breaking ball and lightning fastball forever and learn how to change speeds, locate, out-guess the hitter, etc.

 

 

You know, pitch.

[sethuel1]

I feel like a complete idiot for this but...I'm pretty excited for the prospect of getting Wood, Prior and Miller in the rotation. The rational side of me wants me to punch myself in the face repeatedly but I'm the perpetual optimist as a sportsfan. I can't help myself.

 

If you want me to, I'll come over and punch you in the face. You only live about 2 blocks away I think.