Prior and Wood updates

[NCCubFan]

At what point do we give up and accept the fact that Prior and Wood are never going to pitch as Cubs?

Never. They WILL pitch again; the only question is when.

[gflore34]

At what point do we give up and accept the fact that Prior and Wood are never going to pitch as Cubs?

Never. They WILL pitch again; the only question is when.

 

I hope its as Cubs...

[E.J.]

It's sad to say this, but I'm glad this is Woody's last year on his contract. I hope the Cubs decline his option and let him go.

[Old Style]

This whole situation just sucks. New year, same old depressing story. My dad turns 75 in a few weeks and has been a die-hard Cubs fan for over 50 years. It pains me to know that he never expects to see the Cubs win the World Series in his lifetime. I'm 32 and almost to the point of believeing that the Cubs won't win the World Series before I die. There are days I wish I could just walk away and be done with MLB, but I can't do it. So I will continue to be disappointed by my Cubbies year after year after year. Maybe one day our loyalty will be rewarded. :(

[NCCubFan]

At what point do we give up and accept the fact that Prior and Wood are never going to pitch as Cubs?

Never. They WILL pitch again; the only question is when.

 

I hope its as Cubs...

For Prior, at least, it's almost certain it will be, since he's under the Cubs' control through 2008. Wood should be as well; nothing about his situation suggests to me that he's going to miss the entire year.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Unnamed source says that there are whispers Wood may not be set back, but was too broken up over Acosta's death to take the hill. Take it with a grain of salt....

[Jon]

Unnamed source says that there are whispers Wood may not be set back, but was too broken up over Acosta's death to take the hill. Take it with a grain of salt....

I've certainly seen or heard that at least hinted at from a few sources. I believe Santo mentioned the other day that it might have something to do with it. At the very least, he was supposedly pretty upset. And rightfully so. I'm guessing the issue of changing around his schedule the past couple of days and his game against the minor leaguers in Mesa early next week not really being set at this point is because of the funeral and other related matters.

[Soul]

I think we should bring Prior back in a couple weeks.

 

Enough babying with these guys. He can throw. So throw.

 

Yeah that makes sense.

 

Even if they did that, you'd complain when he came back and got injured because he hadn't thrown that many pitches. Or complain when he wasn't effective. Or complain that he was on a pitch count.

 

Yes, because everything's wonderful. Nothing to complain about here! Keep drinking that koolade man.

 

What in the world are you talking about? When did I once say anything was wonderful or there was nothing to complain about?

Secondly, did you come up with that kool-aid line on your own? I've never heard that one before. Nice orignality. By the way if you want to use it, you may want to learn how to actually spell the word.

 

Finally don't accuse me of "drinking the kool-aid" simply because I don't agree with your insane idea that doesn't have the slightest bit of logic. "He can throw a ball, so obviously he should be able to start a major league game already."

Brilliant!

 

It's a hell of a lot more brilliant than letting them rot on the D/L forever while getting nothing out of them and watching them continue to suffer setback after setback.

 

You got a better idea, Mr. genious? Let's hear it. The current method obviously isn't working, so do you have something constructive to offer to the discussion, or are you just throwing insults because that's the kind of guy you are?

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Unnamed source says that there are whispers Wood may not be set back, but was too broken up over Acosta's death to take the hill. Take it with a grain of salt....

 

If that's the case, then why come up with the underarm discomfort? Just flat out say that Woody didn't feel like pitching after his buddy died. If anyone slams him for that, they have issues. Concocting an arm injury story only fans the flames.

 

the cubs media relations are truly horrible if this rumor is true.

[Jon]

Unnamed source says that there are whispers Wood may not be set back, but was too broken up over Acosta's death to take the hill. Take it with a grain of salt....

 

If that's the case, then why come up with the underarm discomfort? Just flat out say that Woody didn't feel like pitching after his buddy died. If anyone slams him for that, they have issues. Concocting an arm injury story only fans the flames.

 

the cubs media relations are truly horrible if this rumor is true.

Why? That's none of our business. And it's not like they said that he was delayed because of an arm-related issue.

 

If this was a factor, I'm guessing it was a combination of the two.

[E.J.]

Unnamed source says that there are whispers Wood may not be set back, but was too broken up over Acosta's death to take the hill. Take it with a grain of salt....

 

If that's the case, then why come up with the underarm discomfort? Just flat out say that Woody didn't feel like pitching after his buddy died. If anyone slams him for that, they have issues. Concocting an arm injury story only fans the flames.

 

the cubs media relations are truly horrible if this rumor is true.

Why? That's none of our business. And it's not like they said that he was delayed because of an arm-related issue.

 

If this was a factor, I'm guessing it was a combination of the two.

 

Yeah, but if that was the case and he was just too broken up to pitch, then tell us he had the stomach flu or something. Don't tell us he had a problem with his arm, no matter how small it may be. We've heard enough about arm/shoulder problems to last us a lifetime.

[Jon]

Unnamed source says that there are whispers Wood may not be set back, but was too broken up over Acosta's death to take the hill. Take it with a grain of salt....

 

If that's the case, then why come up with the underarm discomfort? Just flat out say that Woody didn't feel like pitching after his buddy died. If anyone slams him for that, they have issues. Concocting an arm injury story only fans the flames.

 

the cubs media relations are truly horrible if this rumor is true.

Why? That's none of our business. And it's not like they said that he was delayed because of an arm-related issue.

 

If this was a factor, I'm guessing it was a combination of the two.

 

Yeah, but if that was the case and he was just too broken up to pitch, then tell us he had the stomach flu or something. Don't tell us he had a problem with his arm, no matter how small it may be. We've heard enough about arm/shoulder problems to last us a lifetime.

Again, though, it wasn't an arm issue. It was under the arm. And they probably didn't just make it up if all of this is true, rather they just used it as the reason. It also may be the case that Wood used that as a reason himself when talking to Rothschild. It's all speculation, but it's not like the Cubs lied about a shoulder issue.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Unnamed source says that there are whispers Wood may not be set back, but was too broken up over Acosta's death to take the hill. Take it with a grain of salt....

 

If that's the case, then why come up with the underarm discomfort? Just flat out say that Woody didn't feel like pitching after his buddy died. If anyone slams him for that, they have issues. Concocting an arm injury story only fans the flames.

 

the cubs media relations are truly horrible if this rumor is true.

 

I don't know. I'm just reporting what I heard. I'm not saying there's any truth to it or not...even the source seemed somewhat skeptical.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Unnamed source says that there are whispers Wood may not be set back, but was too broken up over Acosta's death to take the hill. Take it with a grain of salt....

 

If that's the case, then why come up with the underarm discomfort? Just flat out say that Woody didn't feel like pitching after his buddy died. If anyone slams him for that, they have issues. Concocting an arm injury story only fans the flames.

 

the cubs media relations are truly horrible if this rumor is true.

 

I don't know. I'm just reporting what I heard. I'm not saying there's any truth to it or not...even the source seemed somewhat skeptical.

 

I understand - i'm not trying to go off on you, just being skeptical about the rumor itself. :)

[Brian]

Unnamed source says that there are whispers Wood may not be set back, but was too broken up over Acosta's death to take the hill. Take it with a grain of salt....

 

If that's the case, then why come up with the underarm discomfort? Just flat out say that Woody didn't feel like pitching after his buddy died. If anyone slams him for that, they have issues. Concocting an arm injury story only fans the flames.

 

the cubs media relations are truly horrible if this rumor is true.

 

Why does it matter to us if he didn't pitch because of either

A) he didn't feel like it due to the death of someone important to him

B) a minor discomfort not in his pitching arm

 

Maybe Wood didn't want people to hear that he didn't want to pitch because he was to emotional, Wood is suppose to be this big bad major league pitcher. If the Cubs had just said that Wood didn't pitch for undisclosed reasons everyone would be like 'OMGZ HE'S INJURIED AGAIN THE SKY IS FALLING OH NOES, THE CUBS LIE!!!!! AHHHHH'. They say he has a minor discompfort in his underarm/side, that sounds like something a rehabbing pitcher would have.

 

 

--- eh most of what I said has been covered while I was typing.

Edited April 24, 2006 by Brian

[badger1679666666]

FWIW, I made a thread bout this because I just overlooked this existing thread. (You can lock mine up Jon).

 

From Sunday's Chicagocubs.com:

 

Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood, who cut short his last throwing session because of some tightness under his arm, was scheduled to throw on the side Sunday and then leave for Florida to attend funeral services for his former pitching coach Oscar Acosta.

 

Acosta, who was a coach for a New York Yankees Minor League team, died this week in a car accident in the Dominican Republic.

 

If Wood passes Sunday's test, he will throw in a game on Wednesday at the Cubs' extended Spring Training facility. It does involve another team, and there are umpires, but it's not a rehab start.

 

Seems more promising but I think we're all desperate to get these pitchers back. We can hang in there with good pitching as Maddux showed today.

Edited April 24, 2006 by badger

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Unnamed source says that there are whispers Wood may not be set back, but was too broken up over Acosta's death to take the hill. Take it with a grain of salt....

 

If that's the case, then why come up with the underarm discomfort? Just flat out say that Woody didn't feel like pitching after his buddy died. If anyone slams him for that, they have issues. Concocting an arm injury story only fans the flames.

 

the cubs media relations are truly horrible if this rumor is true.

Why? That's none of our business. And it's not like they said that he was delayed because of an arm-related issue.

 

If this was a factor, I'm guessing it was a combination of the two.

 

It's none of our business if they lie to us, concocting some underarm/arm issue as the reason he didn't pitch? Geez, just put it under the reason of "personal issues" if you have to. No one is trying to get in Woody's business. Just don't make up stories (if the rumor is true - which i don't think it is).

[Blueheart05]

Unnamed source says that there are whispers Wood may not be set back, but was too broken up over Acosta's death to take the hill. Take it with a grain of salt....

 

Actually, Ron Santo said that during yesterday's game.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Unnamed source says that there are whispers Wood may not be set back, but was too broken up over Acosta's death to take the hill. Take it with a grain of salt....

 

Actually, Ron Santo said that during yesterday's game.

 

Well, I didn't hear Santo...but I heard it this morning as I was having some discussions outside the stadium.

[hawkeyecub]

I think we should bring Prior back in a couple weeks.

 

Enough babying with these guys. He can throw. So throw.

 

Yeah that makes sense.

 

Even if they did that, you'd complain when he came back and got injured because he hadn't thrown that many pitches. Or complain when he wasn't effective. Or complain that he was on a pitch count.

 

Yes, because everything's wonderful. Nothing to complain about here! Keep drinking that koolade man.

 

What in the world are you talking about? When did I once say anything was wonderful or there was nothing to complain about?

Secondly, did you come up with that kool-aid line on your own? I've never heard that one before. Nice orignality. By the way if you want to use it, you may want to learn how to actually spell the word.

 

Finally don't accuse me of "drinking the kool-aid" simply because I don't agree with your insane idea that doesn't have the slightest bit of logic. "He can throw a ball, so obviously he should be able to start a major league game already."

Brilliant!

 

It's a hell of a lot more brilliant than letting them rot on the D/L forever while getting nothing out of them and watching them continue to suffer setback after setback.

 

You got a better idea, Mr. genious? Let's hear it. The current method obviously isn't working, so do you have something constructive to offer to the discussion, or are you just throwing insults because that's the kind of guy you are?

 

Who said he's going to rot on the disabled list (what is the D/L by the way?) this year? If you aren't capable of realizing that just because someone is able to throw 25 pitches, they MAY not be able to throw 100 against major leaguers, then this is pointless. Use some common sense.

 

Secondly, what are you talking about with the insults? Look at your post "Keep drinking the koolade man". What is that? How about calling me "Mr. genious" (nice bit of irony on the spelling of genius by the way). No those aren't insults. I've seen more insults from you than almost any regular poster here. You're constantly negative and insult or throw out the "kool-aid" line when someone disagrees.

I was trying to add to the dicussion. Your idea of, "he can throw a ball, make him start" is ridiculous and I can't believe that you aren't able to realize that.

Have you ever heard of progressively and gradually bringing a pitcher back? It's a theory that nearly everyone in baseball subscribes to. I know you don't have any patience, but it's required when dealing with a pitcher with injuries. Sending him out for a start just because he can throw a ball will lead to more injuries, in which case you would complain more.

[XZero771679666304]

 

My big problem in life is that I'm addicted to a ballclub that never wins. Of that, I plead guilty. I don't feel like I'm whining. I'm just telling it like it is. It's bad.

 

By the way----remaining optimistic isn't going to help either. Unless you have found a way to influence the outcome of games from your lazy-boy. If so, please share.

 

Nobody was a bigger optimist in 2003 than me. And nobody was more optimistic heading into the 2004 season that me. If it's good, I say it's good. It just so happens that right now, it isn't. And it hasn't been for awhile. That doesn't make me a pessimist. It's just reality.

 

I will try to be sensitive to making it sound like others are ignorant. I certainly don't believe that-----in fact, I consider myself far less knowledgeable about the intricacies of the game than many on this board. But I will not stop telling it like it is--as I see it.

 

I am addicted to a ballclub that never wins too. It's painful, and I am frsutrated and angry. I think most of the others here feel the same way, but choose not to wear their misery on their sleeve. And many simply find it easier to cope if the focus on the positive, even if the positive aspects are few and far between. And I didn't say that being optimistic was more helpful, what I am saying that being pessimistic and optimistic are equal in their effect, which is really none at all. It's just how different people cope with things.

 

And as I have said to you multiple times, there is nothing wrong with being pessimistic or "calling it as you see it". You can raze the Cubs to the ground with seething, scathing commentary, that's fine. It doesn't offend me at all. In fact, I agree with a lot of what you say.

 

What is totally unacceptable is antagonizing people for not sharing your point of view, which you clearly do. You use "kool-aid", "genius", "I told you so", etc. comments ad nauseum, and it is insulting and offensive. You say you don't believe others are ignorant, but your statements are contrary to that. I think many here would agree that your tone is generally condescending and insulting.

 

By the way----remaining optimistic isn't going to help either. Unless you have found a way to influence the outcome of games from your lazy-boy. If so, please share.

 

This is what I am talking about. I never said being pessimistic was detrimental to the team, or that optimism was the key to success. I never said or insinuated I had an answer, yet you post a snide remark suggesting I did.

 

No one is blaming you for being angry with the Cubs and frustrated with the circumstances. But you should keep your vitriol directed at the right parties, not your fellow posters, even if they disagree with you.

[scs_paradise]

Apr 23 The Chicago Tribune reports Chicago Cubs SP Kerry Wood (shoulder) threw a side session on Sunday, April 23, in Mesa, Ariz., and will next fly to Tampa for a funeral service for former Cubs pitching coach Oscar Acosta. He'll pitch a three-inning simulated game against rookie-leaguers on April 26 in Arizona. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said the muscle tightness Wood experienced under his right arm on Thursday was gone and that Wood feels fine.

[FergieJ31]

...

It's none of our business if they lie to us, concocting some underarm/arm issue as the reason he didn't pitch? Geez, just put it under the reason of "personal issues" if you have to. No one is trying to get in Woody's business. Just don't make up stories (if the rumor is true - which i don't think it is).

 

Yeah I agree 100%. This rumor - if true - makes absolutely no sense.

 

Woody and Acosta were known to be very close. After Acosta resigned in 2001 due to his public feud with Baylor, I don't think I've ever seen Kerry as publically ticked off at Cub management. And given Woody's health issues, why on earth would someone issue a false statement about a "twinge" that would fuel negative speculation?

[badger1679666666]

Does anyone know how his Sunday throwing session went (Woody's)?

[Blueheart05]

From Mike Kiley in the Suntimes

 

 

BACK ON TRACK: Kerry Wood threw on the side Sunday in Arizona. If he suffered no physical setbacks, Wood is pointing toward a game Wednesday with the Mesa Cubs in the Arizona rookie league.

 

Wood will leave Arizona today to attend a memorial service for former Cubs pitching coach Oscar Acosta. They developed a close relationship when Acosta was in Chicago in 2000 and '01. Acosta, who worked for the New York Yankees, was killed in a car accident last week in the Dominican Republic.

 

Mark Prior, meanwhile, had a long-toss session Sunday and will throw on the side today. Prior should be back with the Cubs sometime in May, ahead of Wade Miller, who is on the 60-day disabled list until June 1