Guess what? After a month Wood's arm is sore
Lou announced this afternoon after the Seattle game that Wood is suffering some soreness in his triceps and will be out of the ST rotation for a few days.
Read all about it here:
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42 comments
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sonofabitch
by deadcatbounce on Mar 15, 2007 7:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Again.
by Al on Mar 15, 2007 7:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Certainly
Dempster
Howry
Eyre
Cotts
Ohman
Guzman/Miller??
Cherry???
That's not nearly as impressive as the thoroughly unimpressive bullpen they were set to begin the season with anyway.
There's one guy (Howry) in the bullpen that I'd want to have the ball in a tight game. If Wood and Wuertz were healthy, there would have been 3, which isn't great, but it's something you can live with.
by Maddog on Mar 15, 2007 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If...
I realize spring stats don't mean much, but sometimes someone like this does surprise during March and goes on to become an effective major league pitcher.
I sure hope he does exactly that.
by Al on Mar 15, 2007 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cherry
However, my concern about his spring stats isn't so much that they're just spring stats so much as when he's gotten them. He's pitched the 9th inning and has seen competition, quite frankly, that's younger and more inexperienced than he is. He should be dominating those kinds of hitters. I'd like to see what he can do against some MLB hitters and I expect we'll see him get in a game or two earlier than the 9th pretty quickly.
by Maddog on Mar 15, 2007 10:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would agree, and also...
I would think Lou would want him to face major league hitters, and soon.
by Al on Mar 15, 2007 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interestingly
Assuming Prior is not ready for opening day and I'm thinking that's 90 percent sure right now.
We can get Miller in the rot to start.
Guzman in the pen to start.
That would give us more time to see if Prior can get back to close to being in shape before we make any decisions long term this seasom.
May 1st comes aroumd. We know if Prior has bounced back and then can make a decision.
by kerrysotherwife on Mar 15, 2007 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is this..
Just some soreness. I'm not gonna blow it out of proportion. Just take it for what it's worth.
And if he had been stuggling during spring training like Prior, I would understan all the moaning and groaning, but that's just not the case.
by Patblue on Mar 15, 2007 7:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
not just soreness.
by Maddog on Mar 15, 2007 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
True.
For example, I have a torn ligament on my finger. But I do not need surgery, and it will heal on its own. Obviously this isn't comparable to a major league pitcher trying to pitch, but the point is, strains (tears) can be of varying severity.
Also remember that due to the federal HIPAA laws, the Cubs may not legally be able to say anything even if they wanted to.
by Al on Mar 15, 2007 8:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability...
The upshot: it has certain restrictions about what employers can and cannot disclose about employee's health.
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB and the players also introduces new restrictions on club disclosure of player injury information.
by cwyers on Mar 15, 2007 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
HIPAA
by frustratedfan on Mar 15, 2007 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have a feeling...
by Al on Mar 15, 2007 8:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
One day after he is retired...
by DTJchris on Mar 15, 2007 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know this isn't easy
That's not to say he's not feeling pain or injured, but I think the likelihood is slim. I think Prior is healthy...AND bad.
Whatever damage he had in his shoulder has likely healed in an improper way and it's limiting his motion. This may not be operable at this point either. It may be. It also may be that he's just had enough damage in there that he's lost his velocity. If that's the case, he'll need to actually learn how to pitch, which he never learned. If that's the case, it's not unreasonable to think he may resurface in 2-3 years as a completely different pitcher and maybe even have a 5-6 year period where he's an effective, perhaps solid, number 3 starter. That is probably the best case scenario for Mark Prior at this point.
I think the people who run the Cubs are incompetent buffoons, but they aren't THIS incompetent. If something was really wrong with Prior they'd be trying to figure out what it is. Since that's not happening, at least to this point, I think we're left with the knowledge that his velocity is likely gone forever and that he'll have to reinvent himself if he ever wants to pitch at this level again.
Sad, I know, but it's probably the most likely scenario at this point.
I don't think Mark Prior will be a Cub on May 15th. They'll give him some time to see if he comes around, but I think they'll release him on or around the 15th of May.
by Maddog on Mar 15, 2007 10:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Beyond the shoulder problem...
At the time it seemed as if that could be season-ending. Yet he came back in a month. Maybe he changed something in his delivery at that time which affected his shoulder AND his elbow.
Now, if he has to do what you suggest -- which is to reinvent himself, taking maybe two or three years, why couldn't he do this in the Cubs' minor leagues, rather than for someone else.
Curt Simmons is an excellent comp here. He was a young power pitcher for the Phillies, got hurt, came back at a slightly lower level, then got hurt again. It took him about three or four years to return to a starting rotation, but after he did he had some fine years in his early and mid 30's for the Cardinals, helping them win the 1964 pennant when he was 35.
Simmons wound up throwing 3348 career innings (84th on the all-time list) and went 193-183 with a 3.54 ERA. I could see Prior doing something like that.
And why not as a Cub?
by Al on Mar 15, 2007 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right.
It's very accurate to say that most damaging injury to Prior has been the broken elbow. Immediately after he returned we saw the same stuff we saw in 2006 and same stuff we're seeing now.
Why not for the Cubs? I don't think it's a big deal if it is with the Cubs or not with the Cubs, but it's a long-term investment if Prior does need to re-invent himself. It will take upwards of 3 years and maybe even 4 for it to be at the point where he could consistently get MLB hitters out again. And the upside is that of a middle of the rotation starter. Is it worth the investment knowing that the farm system should produce someone who is more than capable of being a mid-rotation pitcher?
by Maddog on Mar 16, 2007 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
By the end of 05
I had a new thought today on the whole thing. I wonder if all the reaction to him being held back a week made Pinella push him into that first start.
I hope not. I don't want our manager ever doing one thing just because the fans or media thinks it should be so.
(as a factor yes but never ever have a manager give in to fan pressure. Another sport but if Lovie listened to the fans and media we would have not made it to the Super Bowl if he had gone to Griese)
An example last year is people called Hendry a wimp not to fire Baker. Actually he was not being wimpy. Being wimpy is doing something you feel wrong because of pressure.
by kerrysotherwife on Mar 16, 2007 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right.
But it is more than just a sore arm. I don't expect him to be out much longer than they said, but he hasn't pitched in nearly a week and we're probably looking at 2 weeks without pitching in a game before he goes back out there. That means about 10 days left in spring training. I don't see how he's going to be ready to go.
by Maddog on Mar 15, 2007 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am no pro athlete
I strained my hamstring and tore it on two seperate occasions.
Believe me there's a difference.
by kerrysotherwife on Mar 15, 2007 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Look...
A strain is a tear and is always a tear. You cannot strain a muscle without tearing it.
by Maddog on Mar 15, 2007 10:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
By the way,
And they do this ALL OF THE DAMN TIME!
by Maddog on Mar 15, 2007 10:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes
You tear muscle fibers every time you exercise. If it hurts, they call it a minor strain, and figure there was some minor muscle damage. It does not necessarily mean there was any damage to the attachment complex. You could strain your hamstring playing basketball and go out and play the next day.
If they are calling it a minor strain, and they are being truthful (the biggest if here), then this is a small setback. Calling it a tear, while technically accurate, is inflammatory, if you ask me. The last thing they need to do with Kerry Wood is make things sound worse than they are.
by tomas21 on Mar 16, 2007 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But...
They did the same exact thing with Prior and his moderate strain of his subscapularis. The interesting thing being that Jose Contreras was diagnosed with a moderate tear of his subscapularis a couple years earlier and Prior missed almost exactly the same amount of time Contreras did because they had the same exact injury.
This is in a place in Woody's arm that shouldn't really affect his pitching so why on earth would I cry out that he's done or whatever?
by Maddog on Mar 16, 2007 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
According to my doctor
Technically a strain is a tear you're right but there's still a difference.
If you, me and Al went out and injured our hamstrings millimeters of difference could decide what our doctors say it is.
And it would be a crazy coincidence wouldn't it that 3 members of the same group strained their hamstrings on the same day.
Especially since tonight I'm just going to a night before St. Paddy's Day party. Not planning on anything strenous.
by kerrysotherwife on Mar 16, 2007 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And
I know someone who had the same injury as Kerry to his elbow (the one Kerry had to require TJ surgery) and he has told me about the recovery and PT he had to go through to just be a regular person. To describe it as reattaching your elbow is really not much of an exaggeration.
A lot of Cub fans know a lot about shoulders and elbows. Don't you wish we didn't have reason to?
by kerrysotherwife on Mar 16, 2007 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is a difference
I broke my ankle in a car accident several years ago (foot turned to the right at a 90 degree angle). It required 6 hours of surgery, 14 screws, a 4 inch metal plate on the inside of my right ankle and an 8 inch plate on the outside of my right ankle. My ankle to this day is still swollen and if weren't the running I do (I began this after the accident)--at least 5 miles per day--my ankle gets stiff and it's painful to move anywhere. By the time I wake in the morning, it's stiff and hurts to walk at all until I get it stretched out.
A wide receiver for the Iowa Hawkeyes had the same exact injury to his ankle, which required the same number of screws and two plates (inside and outside of his ankle). Just 4 weeks later this hardware was removed and he was playing football again.
I was in a boot 8 weeks after the surgery and it took me 6-8 months to get the strength back in my leg. And if I tried to turn on the dime like a wide receiver does, my ankle would probably shatter.
The only difference between our injuries was how they occurred and how they were taken care of (he received the best medical care possible and I received less than stellar medical care).
But, yes, the injuries we often discuss are mighty painful and the normal amount of pain these pitchers go through is probably more pain than most of us could handle in the first place...even if they're healthy they have an enormous amount of pain in their arms that we don't have.
Would I rather not know about them? No. I'm glad I've learned what these injuries are.
by Maddog on Mar 17, 2007 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your doctor
You're right in that our doctors may decide to call it a strain while another calls another one a tear, but there is no difference. A strain is and always has been a tear. You cannot strain a muscle without tearing it. By definition, if you've strained the muscle, you've torn it. The grades of the strain/tear are the degree of severity (Grade 3 being a complete rupture). If you remember, Nomar strained his groin in 2005. He had a Grade 3 strain and was also referred to often even by the Cubs medical staff as a ruptured muscle (tear).
Millimeters and inches and yards don't matter here. A strain is a tear and a tear is a strain. They are the same EXACT thing.
by Maddog on Mar 17, 2007 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like Woody, but...
by madog93 on Mar 15, 2007 8:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm beginning to feel that way, too
by danimal15 on Mar 15, 2007 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isn't the money
I mean, as long as we're paying 'em, what's the harm in keeping them on the DL as necessary. If they improve and can be of help to the team, then that's just extra bonus points.
by helen on Mar 15, 2007 9:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
There's no real harm in it,
by madog93 on Mar 15, 2007 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think this needs to be said...
by cwyers on Mar 15, 2007 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I fail to see,
by madog93 on Mar 15, 2007 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rehab and Triple A
If they can make it back it's good and we can throw a parade. If they don't they don't.
Fact is if they can get healthy and near to form this season by the All Star Break even we're in much better shape.
by kerrysotherwife on Mar 15, 2007 9:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
With the Cubs luck
Anyone else have the thought of if Prior can get the velocity going and Kerry is shelved at the start maybe he takes that spot?
I had a nightmare of this scenario.
Fall of 08. Cardinals are in playoffs with Wood and Prior. Sunday afternoon I turn on a football game Bears and Packers. A revitalized Grossman is leading his team to victory.
Problem is the team is the Packers.
All 3 guys some fans wanted to throw in the towel on.
by kerrysotherwife on Mar 15, 2007 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stop thinking like this!
If they come through later, fine. We all need to move on from these two characters -- haven't we placed our hopes in this dynamic duo TOO MANY TIMES?
Let's see about the arms we have -- the healthy ones. Prior's a head case. Wood's delivery is going to doom his career, unless he can change it.
(RE: Steve Stone)
So -- move on. Nothing to see (or pitch) here.
No more speculation of 'what should have been.'
It ain't. Forget about them. Let somebody else take a chance -- if either one can pitch for the Devil Rays, great. They're shot in Chicago, and sometimes the only things to do is cut your losses.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Mar 15, 2007 10:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm
by massey1984 on Mar 16, 2007 11:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I feel
by sue369 on Mar 16, 2007 12:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
wood
by NOMAR on Mar 17, 2007 8:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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