Kerry Wood: Torn Rotator Cuff - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

Jpup · 07-09-2006, 01:03 PM

MILWAUKEE -- The career path of Chicago pitcher Kerry Wood is as busted up as the Cubs season this year.

The team revealed Saturday night that the right-hander has a partial tear in the rotator cuff of his throwing shoulder and that he will miss at least four weeks. Wood's Cubs career, which started with such promise, might be over. And his future in the game may well be in jeopardy.

Wood underwent an arthrogram at Northwest Memorial Hospital Friday, and the exam revealed the tear. The team said Saturday the options are conservative treatment or possible arthroscopic surgery on Wood's shoulder. A final decision hasn't been made on treatment.

"My gut feeling is saying no surgery and strengthen it," Wood said. "I've still got to get more opinions."

Cubs trainer Mark O'Neal told the Chicago Tribune that if Wood opts to forgo surgery, he would rest the arm for the next four to six weeks and then begin a strengthening program in October.

The Cubs have a $13 million option on Wood for 2007 but will most certainly exercise their $3 million buyout. Depending on Wood's health, they could re-sign him to an incentive-laden contract.

Wood told the Tribune that he wants to return and has a strong relationship with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry.

"But again, business is business," Wood said. "And I'm sure we'll talk about it later."

After experiencing shoulder problems last season, Wood worked out of the bullpen before undergoing labrum surgery Aug. 31. After resisting the idea of converting to a reliever this season, he now acknowledges that his future might be in the bullpen.

"Once we get through the rehab process ... it's going to be a decision we make down the road," he told the Tribune.

Four starts into this season's comeback, Wood experienced discomfort in the shoulder and went on the disabled list June 9. He underwent an MRI on June 26 in Cincinnati and consulted with Timothy Kremchek, who performed the labrum surgery. The doctor diagnosed a muscular imbalance, but Wood did not feel like he was improving. The arthrogram, which is more detailed and provides more information, revealed the tear.

"I know I'm not crazy now," Wood said.

Wood had a huge year as a rookie in 1998, including a major league record-tying 20-strikeout game in his fifth major league start en route to the National League Rookie of the Year Award. But he was shut down at the end of the year with arm problems.

Wood missed the 1999 season after elbow ligament replacement surgery, had double-digit wins from the 2001 through 2003 seasons, went 8-9 in 2004 when he had a triceps injury and then had an injury-filled season a year ago, when he went 3-4 and was on the DL three times.

This year looks like much of the same.

"Obviously, I'm not pleased, but at least we found something out," Wood said. "I knew something wasn't right for a little while. It's not what I was looking for, but we got an answer."

The pitcher who was once compared to Roger Clemens for his power style and Texas roots faces an uphill battle to come close to fulfilling his immense promise. Injuries have left him over 270 wins behind the durable Rocket. Wood's not ready to walk away, however.

"If I want to keep playing baseball, I have to be positive and keep doing the work that it will take to get back," he said.

"Obviously, my goal is to pitch again as soon as possible. That's the bottom line. Whether it's the end of this year, next year or three years from now, my goal is to get back and be successful in the big leagues."

Matt700wlw · 07-09-2006, 01:04 PM

That's shocking.

Tornon · 07-09-2006, 02:56 PM

And speaking of Cubs pitchers, Prior missing his start today due to a strained oblique. Simply amazing

LoganBuck · 07-09-2006, 03:04 PM

Kerry Wood: A cautionary tale

Remember that when you wish for Homer Bailey to be called up. Kerry Wood was abused and baseball fans everywhere missed out on a chance to see a healthy Wood.

Odds that he finds the Reds bullpen within 5 years- 1:3

OldXOhio · 07-09-2006, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpup

MILWAUKEE --
The team revealed Saturday night that the right-hander has a partial tear in the rotator cuff of his throwing shoulder and that he will miss at least four weeks. Wood's Cubs career, which started with such promise, might be over. And his future in the game may well be in jeopardy.

If we're talking about an injury as "season ending" and "career jeopardizing", isn't it a little silly to say he's out at least four weeks? Now I'm no doctor, but I'm guessing rotator cuff tears for a pitcher don't heal that quickly.

KronoRed · 07-09-2006, 03:59 PM

Time to call it quits Kerry

Caveat Emperor · 07-09-2006, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tornon

And speaking of Cubs pitchers, Prior missing his start today due to a strained oblique. Simply amazing

The heck with rotator cuffs and strained obliques, I want to know how Kerry Wood's labia is doing.

http://www.redszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47978

KronoRed · 07-09-2006, 05:07 PM

Do you really? I mean..really..think about it...

RFS62 · 07-09-2006, 05:07 PM

Is anyone surprised?

Heath · 07-09-2006, 05:14 PM

Didn't Balfour have a torn rotator cuff as well?

Methinks Kerry Wood could be a closer.

RFS62 · 07-09-2006, 05:19 PM

His throwing motion doomed him from the start.

Caveat Emperor · 07-09-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RFS62

His throwing motion doomed him from the start.

Yet Prior was the poster boy for fantastic and effortless mechanics, and he's still riding the DL-Express with Kerry.

I think the bottom line is that there's as much guesswork in all of this as there is actual knowledge and science.

RFS62 · 07-09-2006, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

Yet Prior was the poster boy for fantastic and effortless mechanics, and he's still riding the DL-Express with Kerry.

I think the bottom line is that there's as much guesswork in all of this as there is actual knowledge and science.

The only thing those two have in common is Dusty.

Wood's violent throwing motion across his body has been a ticking time bomb, and has gone off a few times already.

WMR · 07-09-2006, 06:11 PM

How old is Kerry Wood?

EDIT: He's 29.

realreds1 · 07-09-2006, 06:28 PM

Remember when Steve Stone said Wood should go sell tires for a living if he wouldn't change his pitching mechanics?

07-09-2006, 01:03 PM	#1
Jpup Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern KY Posts: 6,967	Kerry Wood: Torn Rotator Cuff MILWAUKEE -- The career path of Chicago pitcher Kerry Wood is as busted up as the Cubs season this year. The team revealed Saturday night that the right-hander has a partial tear in the rotator cuff of his throwing shoulder and that he will miss at least four weeks. Wood's Cubs career, which started with such promise, might be over. And his future in the game may well be in jeopardy. Wood underwent an arthrogram at Northwest Memorial Hospital Friday, and the exam revealed the tear. The team said Saturday the options are conservative treatment or possible arthroscopic surgery on Wood's shoulder. A final decision hasn't been made on treatment. "My gut feeling is saying no surgery and strengthen it," Wood said. "I've still got to get more opinions." Cubs trainer Mark O'Neal told the Chicago Tribune that if Wood opts to forgo surgery, he would rest the arm for the next four to six weeks and then begin a strengthening program in October. The Cubs have a $13 million option on Wood for 2007 but will most certainly exercise their $3 million buyout. Depending on Wood's health, they could re-sign him to an incentive-laden contract. Wood told the Tribune that he wants to return and has a strong relationship with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry. "But again, business is business," Wood said. "And I'm sure we'll talk about it later." After experiencing shoulder problems last season, Wood worked out of the bullpen before undergoing labrum surgery Aug. 31. After resisting the idea of converting to a reliever this season, he now acknowledges that his future might be in the bullpen. "Once we get through the rehab process ... it's going to be a decision we make down the road," he told the Tribune. Four starts into this season's comeback, Wood experienced discomfort in the shoulder and went on the disabled list June 9. He underwent an MRI on June 26 in Cincinnati and consulted with Timothy Kremchek, who performed the labrum surgery. The doctor diagnosed a muscular imbalance, but Wood did not feel like he was improving. The arthrogram, which is more detailed and provides more information, revealed the tear. "I know I'm not crazy now," Wood said. Wood had a huge year as a rookie in 1998, including a major league record-tying 20-strikeout game in his fifth major league start en route to the National League Rookie of the Year Award. But he was shut down at the end of the year with arm problems. Wood missed the 1999 season after elbow ligament replacement surgery, had double-digit wins from the 2001 through 2003 seasons, went 8-9 in 2004 when he had a triceps injury and then had an injury-filled season a year ago, when he went 3-4 and was on the DL three times. This year looks like much of the same. "Obviously, I'm not pleased, but at least we found something out," Wood said. "I knew something wasn't right for a little while. It's not what I was looking for, but we got an answer." The pitcher who was once compared to Roger Clemens for his power style and Texas roots faces an uphill battle to come close to fulfilling his immense promise. Injuries have left him over 270 wins behind the durable Rocket. Wood's not ready to walk away, however. "If I want to keep playing baseball, I have to be positive and keep doing the work that it will take to get back," he said. "Obviously, my goal is to pitch again as soon as possible. That's the bottom line. Whether it's the end of this year, next year or three years from now, my goal is to get back and be successful in the big leagues." __________________ "My mission is to be the ray of hope, the guy who stands out there on that beautiful field and owns up to his mistakes and lets people know it's never completely hopeless, no matter how bad it seems at the time. I have a platform and a message, and now I go to bed at night, sober and happy, praying I can be a good messenger." -Josh Hamilton

07-09-2006, 01:04 PM	#2
Matt700wlw Making sense of it all Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 26,149	Re: Kerry Wood: Torn Rotator Cuff That's shocking. __________________ An excited shade of Red

07-09-2006, 02:56 PM	#3
Tornon Who, What, Where, When? Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,533	Re: Kerry Wood: Torn Rotator Cuff And speaking of Cubs pitchers, Prior missing his start today due to a strained oblique. Simply amazing

07-09-2006, 03:04 PM	#4
LoganBuck I hate the Cubs Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 5,627	Re: Kerry Wood: Torn Rotator Cuff Kerry Wood: A cautionary tale Remember that when you wish for Homer Bailey to be called up. Kerry Wood was abused and baseball fans everywhere missed out on a chance to see a healthy Wood. Odds that he finds the Reds bullpen within 5 years- 1:3 __________________ Whenever you get mad over a called strike or ball on a close pitch, it's the equivalent of being mad at the QB pump-faking one time before throwing a pass in your average NFL game. ---Caveat Emperor

07-09-2006, 03:59 PM	#6
KronoRed The Lineups stink. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: West N. Carolina Posts: 55,349	Re: Kerry Wood: Torn Rotator Cuff Time to call it quits Kerry __________________ Go Gators!

07-09-2006, 05:07 PM	#8
KronoRed The Lineups stink. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: West N. Carolina Posts: 55,349	Re: Kerry Wood: Torn Rotator Cuff Do you really? I mean..really..think about it... __________________ Go Gators!

07-09-2006, 05:07 PM	#9
RFS62 Hey Cubs Fans Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: New York Posts: 16,572	Re: Kerry Wood: Torn Rotator Cuff Is anyone surprised? __________________ "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~ Mark Twain

07-09-2006, 05:14 PM	#10
Heath This one's for you Edd Join Date: May 2005 Location: Dayton Area Posts: 8,471	Re: Kerry Wood: Torn Rotator Cuff Didn't Balfour have a torn rotator cuff as well? Methinks Kerry Wood could be a closer. __________________ Some people play baseball. Baseball plays Jay Bruce.

07-09-2006, 05:19 PM	#11
RFS62 Hey Cubs Fans Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: New York Posts: 16,572	Re: Kerry Wood: Torn Rotator Cuff His throwing motion doomed him from the start. __________________ "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~ Mark Twain

07-09-2006, 06:28 PM	#15
realreds1 Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 664	Re: Kerry Wood: Torn Rotator Cuff Remember when Steve Stone said Wood should go sell tires for a living if he wouldn't change his pitching mechanics?

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