Wood to start on DL
MESA, Ariz. -- Kerry Wood's chances to open the season on the Cubs' active roster ended when the injury-plagued right-handed pitcher suffered another setback Sunday.
Wood is headed to the disabled list after the Cubs said today he felt more stiffness than normal in his surgically repaired right shoulder. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Wood would be evaluated further by the team's medical staff today. "We're not worried about Opening Day right now," Hendry said. "Let's get him right."
(AP)
Hendry spoke after he, Wood, manager Lou Piniella and trainer Mark O'Neal met in Piniella's office. Wood wore an ice pack on his shoulder.
A team source confirmed Sunday that Wood was hurt again after he pitched one inning of relief. He is headed to the disabled list for the 11th time in his 10 major-league seasons.
Wood, already a long shot to make the roster because of how far behind he was in his spring work, declined to talk to reporters after the game, responding with profanity to one request.
He gave up three hits, including a two-run home run, in one inning against the Los Angeles Angels and struck out a batter.
''He wasn't as sharp today, obviously,'' said manager Lou Piniella, who didn't reveal Wood's setback during his postgame group session with media. ''Forget the three runs. He just didn't throw the ball as well as he did the time before. His fastball didn't have the life of the last time. We'll see how he feels [today].''
Wood, who threw a powerful nine-pitch inning in his previous appearance Friday, looked uncomfortable at times Sunday, especially after a fastball got away from him well high and outside while pitching to Howie Kendrick with one out and one on.
Catcher Michael Barrett went to the mound after that pitch. Barrett was not available to the media after the game.
Kendrick singled on the next pitch, before Jose Molina grounded to third -- one of several tough plays fill-in Mark DeRosa made at third base Sunday -- followed by Kendry Morales' two-run homer.
Wood, whose spring was delayed from the outset because of a chest bruise suffered when he fell in his hot tub, had pitched only four innings this spring before Sunday.
Despite an offseason program that resulted in 30 pounds of weight loss and impressive sharpness from the start of camp, he has been kept on a slow-and-deliberate pace.
After an apparent disagreement Friday between Wood and Piniella over the pitcher's status for the start of the season, they met Saturday morning and came away with a plan that gave Wood three more appearances this week to show he's ready.
Even without saying Wood was hurt again, Piniella said Sunday that Wood was not scheduled for another appearance at this point.
''I've tried to impress on Kerry that there's plenty of time,'' Piniella said when asked about the hard-nosed Wood's potential for wanting to rush the process. ''The better foundation you can build the better. But, again, these kids are all competitive and they want to compete and they want to pitch and they want to help the ballclub.''
Wood's setback appears to lock in the seven-man bullpen and allows the team to break camp with two full-fledged long relievers (lefty Neal Cotts and right-hander Angel Guzman). The five others: closer Ryan Dempster, set-up men Scott Eyre and Bob Howry, and short/middle men Will Ohman and Michael Wuertz.