Kerry Wood out for year with partially torn rotator cuff

[mul21]

To those who are questioning why they couldn't see anything right away:

 

The shoulder is the single most difficult joint to diagnose injury and repair. I personally had 3 MRIs from 3 different doctors before someone figured out I had a 90% torn labrum that was in desperate need of repair. It's not all that uncommon to not be able to see soft tissiue injuries in the shoulder unless there is a complete explosion because there is so muc stuff inthere to try to see through. Just my 2 cents.

[CuseCubFan69]

To those who are questioning why they couldn't see anything right away:

 

The shoulder is the single most difficult joint to diagnose injury and repair. I personally had 3 MRIs from 3 different doctors before someone figured out I had a 90% torn labrum that was in desperate need of repair. It's not all that uncommon to not be able to see soft tissiue injuries in the shoulder unless there is a complete explosion because there is so much stuff inthere to try to see through. Just my 2 cents.

 

It can be tough to find but when someone says they still have pain or can't get loose you have to keep looking to find out why and for Gods sakes not throw him out of the pen.

[cubfan1955]

I agree but in defense of Hendry..this hurts to write...where would you put Nomar? I think the ease of physical strain at first is what is helping him and no way he would move Lee from there. Second would have been tough and maybe that's why Hendry was trying to move Walker to put Nomar there. IMO no way could Nomar play right or left with his arm angle but after watching Jones and Pierre throw I suppose it couldn't be any worse!

 

With Hendry doing everything he could to trade Walker you would think it might have occurred to him to play Nomar at 2B and Cedeno at SS. Even if he couldn't trade Walker it would have been a pretty good luxury to have Walker coming off the bench. Then when Lee got hurt Nomar could have moved to first with Walker playing 2B. That would have been much more attractive then the Neifi, Hairston, and eventually Nevin 3 headed monster. Also I would not have minded having Nomar in the outfield. Like you said, his throwing couldn't be any worse than Pierre and Jones hitting 9 irons to the infield.

 

And as bad as this team is we could have used Nomars bat and it would not be difficult to find a spot for him to play when Lee came back.

 

Of course when he went on the DL at the beginning of the season there would have been a lot of "I told you so" flying around. Hindsight is always 20/20 I suppose.

[CuseCubFan69]

I agree but in defense of Hendry..this hurts to write...where would you put Nomar? I think the ease of physical strain at first is what is helping him and no way he would move Lee from there. Second would have been tough and maybe that's why Hendry was trying to move Walker to put Nomar there. IMO no way could Nomar play right or left with his arm angle but after watching Jones and Pierre throw I suppose it couldn't be any worse!

 

With Hendry doing everything he could to trade Walker you would think it might have occurred to him to play Nomar at 2B and Cedeno at SS. Even if he couldn't trade Walker it would have been a pretty good luxury to have Walker coming off the bench. Then when Lee got hurt Nomar could have moved to first with Walker playing 2B. That would have been much more attractive then the Neifi, Hairston, and eventually Nevin 3 headed monster. Also I would not have minded having Nomar in the outfield. Like you said, his throwing couldn't be any worse than Pierre and Jones hitting 9 irons to the infield.

 

And as bad as this team is we could have used Nomars bat and it would not be difficult to find a spot for him to play when Lee came back.

 

Of course when he went on the DL at the beginning of the season there would have been a lot of "I told you so" flying around. Hindsight is always 20/20 I suppose.

 

When he went on the DL this spring I thought for sure his career may be over or at the very least being an impact player but he is playing like the Nomar of old and I wish him well. I also think since the push was defense Hendry wanted the defensive studs Jones/Pierre since they've played the OF before out there and of course their added speed so IMO OF wasn't even an option for Nomar. Add to that the need for a lefty power bat bat. Yeah, a good hitter hits anyone but Hendry is old school and that lefty power bat was something he coveted.

[Andy]

Wood acknowledged he understands the Cubs will have to make a "business decision" on whether tobring him back next season, probably as a reliever, with a one-year deal with incentives based on appearances. The Cubs will give Wood a $3 million buyout instead of exercising a $13 million option for 2007.

This is encouraging, even if nothing else about this situation is.

[Laura]

Chicago media roundup.

 

Bruce Miles in the Daily Herald[/url]"]Wood can go one of two ways: He can opt for a conservative approach and try to let the area heal without surgery. That would mean he would not throw for 4-6 weeks.

 

The other option is surgery, the type of which is “a very difficult procedure,” according to team trainer Mark O’Neal.

 

Either way, Wood’s 2006 season is over.

 

“My gut feeling is saying no surgery,” Wood said Saturday.

 

The 29-year-old Wood underwent arthroscopic surgery on the shoulder last Aug. 31. That surgery was to repair the labrum. O’Neal said it’s not known whether the current injury would have revealed itself then. ....

 

“It revealed basically a muscle-tendon-junction partial thickness strain of his rotator cuff that pretty much explains a lot of things he’s been going through the last 2-3 weeks that have not been seen prior to this,” O’Neal said.

 

“The MRI he had done in Cincinnati was done without contrast (dye). It was not an arthrogram. It was a plain MRI.”

 

Wood has tried to play catch for the last several weeks, but he’s been able to throw at only 50 percent strength, according to O’Neal. If nothing else, this diagnosis answers some questions.

 

“Obviously, I’m not pleased with it, but at least we found something out,” Wood said. “Something wasn’t right for a little while now, for at least weeks. We got an answer. It wasn’t really what I was looking for, but we got an answer.

 

“I know I’m not crazy now.”

 

Paul Sullivan in the Trib[/url]"] If Wood doesn't have the surgery, he will rest the arm for the next four to six weeks and then begin a strengthening program that could lead to side sessions in October, Cubs trainer Mark O'Neal said. ....

 

Wood went on the disabled list June 9, four starts into his comeback from labrum surgery. But the Cubs were unable to diagnose the rotator-cuff problem until Wood had an arthrogram and MRI taken Friday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

 

Wood had an MRI of his sore shoulder two weeks ago in Cincinnati, but after consulting with Timothy Kremchek, who performed the labrum surgery, the Cubs announced Wood had a "slight muscular imbalance" in the shoulder that was causing the soreness. Wood thought the pain was something far more serious. ...

 

O'Neal said the reason the rotator-cuff problem was not detected in Cincinnati was that no arthrogram was taken of the area. The test includes an injection of dye to pinpoint inflamed areas.

 

"It's much more detailed and gives a lot more information, and that's what showed it," O'Neal said.

 

Could Wood already have had the rotator problem when Kremchek performed the surgery on his labrum last August?

 

"We've been on the phone with this countless [times] over the last 18 hours, and I think there's no answer to that," O'Neal said. "I don't think there's any way we could decide that right now, and I don't think we ever will."

 

Mike Kiley in the Sun-Times[/url]"]

Wood remains optimistic he can work out a deal to stay with the Cubs, who will turn down his $13.5million option for 2007 at the appropriate time. Wood has a $3million buyout. General manager Jim Hendry might offer him an incentive-laden, one-year deal to return and perhaps add a mutual option for 2008.

 

"Chicago and the organization has been great to me,'' Wood said. "I'm realistic. Business is business. But I'd like to finish it up here.'' ....

 

When the rotator-cuff injury happened, no one knows. Might it have been an unseen problem even when Wood had the labrum surgery? Might it have been part of the problem to begin with?

 

"That's an excellent question,'' O'Neal said. "There's no answer. It's a product of pitching.''

 

 

I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't do the most detailed imaging available before having shoulder surgery on a $10M+/yr pitcher. Is that what they're saying? He had an MRI a few weeks ago in Cincy, but are they saying that he didn't have an arthrogram before his shoulder surgery last August? It's sadly confusing trying to figure out which sets of MRIs/imaging tests are being discussed.

 

I would assume that having the arthrogram probably would have delayed the surgery another few days, but they had already delayed it so he could pitch out of the bullpen.

 

The most frustrating thing to me is the likelihood of seeing this scenario play out over and over.

[cubfan1955]

I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't do the most detailed imaging available before having shoulder surgery on a $10M+/yr pitcher. Is that what they're saying? He had an MRI a few weeks ago in Cincy, but are they saying that he didn't have an arthrogram before his shoulder surgery last August? It's sadly confusing trying to figure out which sets of MRIs/imaging tests are being discussed.

 

I would assume that having the arthrogram probably would have delayed the surgery another few days, but they had already delayed it so he could pitch out of the bullpen.

 

The most frustrating thing to me is the likelihood of seeing this scenario play out over and over.

If I were Wood I think I'd be asking why that test wasn't done at the very beginning of the problem last year. With all the tests they've done on him how could this get by for so long?

[YearofDaCubs]

I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't do the most detailed imaging available before having shoulder surgery on a $10M+/yr pitcher. Is that what they're saying? He had an MRI a few weeks ago in Cincy, but are they saying that he didn't have an arthrogram before his shoulder surgery last August? It's sadly confusing trying to figure out which sets of MRIs/imaging tests are being discussed.

 

I would assume that having the arthrogram probably would have delayed the surgery another few days, but they had already delayed it so he could pitch out of the bullpen.

 

The most frustrating thing to me is the likelihood of seeing this scenario play out over and over.

If I were Wood I think I'd be asking why that test wasn't done at the very beginning of the problem last year. With all the tests they've done on him how could this get by for so long?

Another medical screw up from this lovely organization.

[CuseCubFan69]

Woods no longer a free agent after this year. The DL just signed him to a 2 year 8 Million dollar contract.

 

It's too bad theCubs didn't the money they wasted on Miller for some extra tests for Wood. This team drives me to the point of madness when they do things like not going the extra mile to see what's going on.

[Wheelimus]

Surprised you guys think Wood is done here. It sounds like Kerry is willing to take what the club will give him to stay.

 

If he's already going to cost us 3 million, no matter what, and would instead be willing to take 4 with incentives if he actually is able to pitch {tailored to assuming he's a reliever}, then I want them to do it.

 

We've invested too much into Kerry Wood to not be the ones to get him if he can put it back together as a reliever.

 

I'm intrigued to see what a fresh Kerry Wood can do against a team with 20 or 30 pitches.

[bc2k]

I can't believe he's only 29-years-old. To think his career might be over before 30 is depressing.

[Sammy Sofa]

Like a few are mentioning, I think the slim bright side here is it's sounding like Wood realizes that his future might be in the bullpen, and if the Cubs can sign him for VERY cheap over the next 2 years, I think they should. I still love the idea of Kerry Wood: Super Closer.

[SoonerCubFan]

I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't do the most detailed imaging available before having shoulder surgery on a $10M+/yr pitcher. Is that what they're saying? He had an MRI a few weeks ago in Cincy, but are they saying that he didn't have an arthrogram before his shoulder surgery last August? It's sadly confusing trying to figure out which sets of MRIs/imaging tests are being discussed.

 

I would assume that having the arthrogram probably would have delayed the surgery another few days, but they had already delayed it so he could pitch out of the bullpen.

 

The most frustrating thing to me is the likelihood of seeing this scenario play out over and over.

If I were Wood I think I'd be asking why that test wasn't done at the very beginning of the problem last year. With all the tests they've done on him how could this get by for so long?

 

I'm not sure why one would assume this latest tear has anything to do with last year. After all, he had enough tests to result in him having surgery last fall, and he was throwing without discomfort in his minor league rehab this year. Bottom line, forget about him as a starter for at least a year or two, and if he pans out in the pen, leave him there permanently. It can still be a win-win for us and Kerry if they make the change now.

[cubfan1955]

I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't do the most detailed imaging available before having shoulder surgery on a $10M+/yr pitcher. Is that what they're saying? He had an MRI a few weeks ago in Cincy, but are they saying that he didn't have an arthrogram before his shoulder surgery last August? It's sadly confusing trying to figure out which sets of MRIs/imaging tests are being discussed.

 

I would assume that having the arthrogram probably would have delayed the surgery another few days, but they had already delayed it so he could pitch out of the bullpen.

 

The most frustrating thing to me is the likelihood of seeing this scenario play out over and over.

If I were Wood I think I'd be asking why that test wasn't done at the very beginning of the problem last year. With all the tests they've done on him how could this get by for so long?

 

I'm not sure why one would assume this latest tear has anything to do with last year. After all, he had enough tests to result in him having surgery last fall, and he was throwing without discomfort in his minor league rehab this year. Bottom line, forget about him as a starter for at least a year or two, and if he pans out in the pen, leave him there permanently. It can still be a win-win for us and Kerry if they make the change now.

Because the trainers, doctors, Cubs, and Wood himself all don't know that the rotator cuff tear wasn't already present last year when they did the surgery. They all have no idea when the tear occurred.

 

I agree though, take a flyer on him and see how he responds in the BP.

[NCCubFan]

Woods no longer a free agent after this year. The DL just signed him to a 2 year 8 Million dollar contract.

Actually, Gary Woods is a free agent. He's not under contract with anybody. :lol:

[FergieJ31]

Like a few are mentioning, I think the slim bright side here is it's sounding like Wood realizes that his future might be in the bullpen, and if the Cubs can sign him for VERY cheap over the next 2 years, I think they should. I still love the idea of Kerry Wood: Super Closer.

 

Seconded.

[CuseCubFan69]

Woods no longer a free agent after this year. The DL just signed him to a 2 year 8 Million dollar contract.

Actually, Gary Woods is a free agent. He's not under contract with anybody. :lol:

 

You do love the Woods man! What is Gary up to these days?

[erik316wttn]

Like a few are mentioning, I think the slim bright side here is it's sounding like Wood realizes that his future might be in the bullpen, and if the Cubs can sign him for VERY cheap over the next 2 years, I think they should. I still love the idea of Kerry Wood: Super Closer.

 

I really don't think they'd be able to sign him for all that cheap. Ideally, he'd be signed for a low base/high incentive contract, but I think one of the other 29 teams would be willing to give him a decent salary in order to take a chance on him.

 

I would hate to see him go, as I've had a man crush on him ever since the 20K game.

[Elrhino]

I see him going back to his hometown and pitching for the Rangers. He'll be a big draw there, and since top of the line pitchers wont come there to pitch in that stadium and they have to take chances.

[Scott G. F.]

Buy him out try and resign him for the Pen. I like Kerry Wood super closer.

Kerry Wood has heart and the drive to win. His a competitor and any team that take a chance on him beside the Cubs will be very pleased.

 

It makes me sick this happened to him. But at least he gets to hang out with his gorgous wife Sarah!!!!!

 

 

 

 

http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/images/2005/11/18/IQJ5ax5b.jpg

[imb]

So, is it official yet? Done for the year?

[bleedcubbieblue]

Like a few are mentioning, I think the slim bright side here is it's sounding like Wood realizes that his future might be in the bullpen, and if the Cubs can sign him for VERY cheap over the next 2 years, I think they should. I still love the idea of Kerry Wood: Super Closer.

 

Again, this kind of thinking is what the Cubune has programmed into our heads, and is all part of the fiscal responsibility they have drummed into those heads for as long as I can remember. I think that kind of thinking is fine as long as you can back it up, but they don't have a clue of what that phrase means.

 

First off, since Kerry has signed that extention, we have gotten very little bang for that buck. For that reason, there is no way we are picking up that option, which means we owe him at least 3 million. That will be fact. While I guess there is a chance Wood would sign for much, much less, and maybe move to the bullpen, I guess this depends on how desparate he gets, but I am sure there will be a team that will throw some money at him to take a flyer, so I think this senario is unlikely. I guess is depends if you are willing to take a chance at the money someone will be willing to throw at him.

 

I like Kerry a lot, I wish he stayed healthy, but the fact is, he has shown he can't. Maybe he will be able to down the road and become the pitcher we all had wished he had and was when healthy. But after the last 3 years, I just don't think you can take that chance. It is time to cut the cord. While he was not the sole reason why this team has gone down hill since 2003, he is a big part of it, along with Prior, with both missing as many starts as they have over the last 3 years. This is not a criticism, just fact of life, they are paid to be front line pitchers, which takes up a lot of the payroll allocated by the Cubune. While it is subjective as to where this team would have been over the last 3 years with them, I can say for certain, with a healthy Wood and Prior, pitching the entire season, we would have won a lot more games over these last 3 years, including this one.

 

BCB

[Andy]

If Wood can accept a bullpen slot, then we could have an open closer competition in 2007 spring training with Dempster or, just make him the closer and have Demp set up.

[CubbieRich]

Listen to the sheep:

 

Wood is a starter.

 

Wood is a closer.

 

Wood is a reliever.

 

This just in:

 

Wood is none of the above.

[goonys evil twin]

Listen to the sheep:

 

Is that crap necesssary?