Cubs Notebook
Wood may soon begin light throwing
Thursday, May 19, 2005
By Jeff Vorva
Staff writerPITTSBURGH — Kerry Wood could be throwing a baseball perhaps as soon as this weekend.
The Cubs fireballer, who is on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain, will have an MRI in Chicago either Friday or Monday. If the results are good, he will start light throwing.
"We're just trying to get a time set up," Cubs trainer Mark O'Neal said Wednesday. "We're looking for a reduction in the inflammation of the muscle and we'll see where we are then. If there is a reduction, we'll start a throwing program.
"He hasn't thrown in three weeks, so he will have some throwing to do before he goes on the mound."
Wood left an April 30 game at Houston after three innings with shoulder problems and was placed on the disabled list May 3 with a supraspinatus muscle strain in his right shoulder.
Zambrano strong in 'pen
Carlos Zambrano threw a pain-free bullpen session at PNC Park on Wednesday and is scheduled to pitch Saturday against the White Sox. He was originally slated for Friday, but the Cubs gave him an extra day of rest as a result of leaving last Saturday's game with elbow soreness.
"I don't feel anything," Zambrano said. "Everything was good today. I think it was a tired arm and I've never been through anything like this before."
Greg Maddux was moved up to pitch against the White Sox on Friday. Maddux last pitched Sunday and threw just 68 pitches in five innings. Maddux had never pitched against the White Sox until last year, when he went 1-1 with an 8.62 ERA in two appearances.
Ramirez back on bench
Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez missed his third start in the last six games Wednesday because of back spasms, but did pinch hit in the ninth inning.
Ramirez tweaked the back on a ninth-inning diving stop Tuesday night. The Cubs want him ready for this weekend's White Sox series.
"He made that dive in the ninth inning and it tightened up on him a little bit," O'Neal said. "With the quick turnaround after the night game, we're trying to use the off day (today) to give him 72 hours before he has to play again. If he had to play, he would definitely play. But we're trying to map it out for the best long-term prognosis."
Ball in Mitre's court
The Cubs have not announced their starting pitcher for Tuesday's game against Houston, but Sergio Mitre could do himself a world of good with a good showing for Triple-A Iowa at Fresno tonight.
If the Cubs promote Mitre, he would have a regular four days rest for Tuesday's game.
Mitre, who has 11 major league starts, is 2-4 with a 5.31 ERA for Iowa this year. If he struggles against Fresno, the Cubs could consider bringing up Jon Leicester or Raul Valdez from Iowa, or dip into the Double-A West Tenn pool for left-handed flame thrower Rich Hill or right-hander Ricky Nolasco.
Doing his job
Mark Prior has three straight no-decisions and hasn't won since April 25.
In his last three games, he has allowed five earned runs on 13 hits in 22 innings. He left two of the three games with the lead.
"Your No. 1 job is to give your team a chance to win ballgames," Prior said. "You just keep battling and plugging away and show up again."
Wood may soon begin light throwing
Thursday, May 19, 2005
By Jeff Vorva
Staff writerPITTSBURGH — Kerry Wood could be throwing a baseball perhaps as soon as this weekend.
The Cubs fireballer, who is on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain, will have an MRI in Chicago either Friday or Monday. If the results are good, he will start light throwing.
"We're just trying to get a time set up," Cubs trainer Mark O'Neal said Wednesday. "We're looking for a reduction in the inflammation of the muscle and we'll see where we are then. If there is a reduction, we'll start a throwing program.
"He hasn't thrown in three weeks, so he will have some throwing to do before he goes on the mound."
Wood left an April 30 game at Houston after three innings with shoulder problems and was placed on the disabled list May 3 with a supraspinatus muscle strain in his right shoulder.
Zambrano strong in 'pen
Carlos Zambrano threw a pain-free bullpen session at PNC Park on Wednesday and is scheduled to pitch Saturday against the White Sox. He was originally slated for Friday, but the Cubs gave him an extra day of rest as a result of leaving last Saturday's game with elbow soreness.
"I don't feel anything," Zambrano said. "Everything was good today. I think it was a tired arm and I've never been through anything like this before."
Greg Maddux was moved up to pitch against the White Sox on Friday. Maddux last pitched Sunday and threw just 68 pitches in five innings. Maddux had never pitched against the White Sox until last year, when he went 1-1 with an 8.62 ERA in two appearances.
Ramirez back on bench
Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez missed his third start in the last six games Wednesday because of back spasms, but did pinch hit in the ninth inning.
Ramirez tweaked the back on a ninth-inning diving stop Tuesday night. The Cubs want him ready for this weekend's White Sox series.
"He made that dive in the ninth inning and it tightened up on him a little bit," O'Neal said. "With the quick turnaround after the night game, we're trying to use the off day (today) to give him 72 hours before he has to play again. If he had to play, he would definitely play. But we're trying to map it out for the best long-term prognosis."
Ball in Mitre's court
The Cubs have not announced their starting pitcher for Tuesday's game against Houston, but Sergio Mitre could do himself a world of good with a good showing for Triple-A Iowa at Fresno tonight.
If the Cubs promote Mitre, he would have a regular four days rest for Tuesday's game.
Mitre, who has 11 major league starts, is 2-4 with a 5.31 ERA for Iowa this year. If he struggles against Fresno, the Cubs could consider bringing up Jon Leicester or Raul Valdez from Iowa, or dip into the Double-A West Tenn pool for left-handed flame thrower Rich Hill or right-hander Ricky Nolasco.
Doing his job
Mark Prior has three straight no-decisions and hasn't won since April 25.
In his last three games, he has allowed five earned runs on 13 hits in 22 innings. He left two of the three games with the lead.
"Your No. 1 job is to give your team a chance to win ballgames," Prior said. "You just keep battling and plugging away and show up again."
