Injury leaves Wood’s career in jeopardy
Kerry Wood’s career as a Chicago Cubs pitcher might be over, and his future in baseball is in question as well.
Wood has suffered a partial tear of his right rotator cuff, the Cubs announced Saturday, and he likely has thrown his last pitch of the season.
“At least we got an answer,” Wood said. “It’s not the answer I was looking for, but we got an answer.”
Wood will take the next few weeks to decide whether or not to have arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage, but said he’s leaning towards not at this point.
“My gut feeling is no surgery,” Wood said, adding he will evaluate his options in the next couple of weeks.
Can Wood get through this latest in a long line of injuries, or does he fear this is the end of his major-league career?
“I don’t have any choice,” he said. “I have to do whatever it’s going to take to get back. (Friday) was my ‘feel sorry for myself’ day. Today it’s time to get back to work.”
If Wood doesn’t have the surgery, he will rest the arm for the next four to six weeks then begin a strengthening program that could lead to side sessions in October, Cubs trainer Mark O’Neal said.
Wood acknowledged he understands the Cubs will have to make a “business decision” on whether to bring him back next year.
Bonds out with sore knee
Barry Bonds wasn’t in the San Francisco Giants’ lineup because of a sore right knee. He said he hopes to start today in the final game before the All-Star break.
“I just twisted it on the first swing, tried to get out of the box yesterday,” Bonds said.
“I don’t ever wear spikes, I wore spikes yesterday, I caught my spike in the dirt. The dirt was softer. It’s not bad, it’s just a little bit sore.”
Damon’s role to be limited
New York Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon isn’t expected to return to the starting lineup until after the All-Star break because of a right side injury.
Yankees manager Joe Torre said the move was precautionary. Damon, who was hurt in Wednesday’s game at Cleveland, is available off the bench and was used in that capacity on Saturday night from the sixth inning on.
“I just feel safer doing it this way,” Torre said.
The Yankees are also without outfielders Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui, who are both out with left wrist injuries.
Millwood back for Texas
Kevin Millwood is scheduled to pitch off the mound for the first time in a week today and is expected to return to the Texas Rangers’ rotation after the All-Star break.
The Rangers skipped Millwood’s scheduled start Friday night because of a strained right biceps the right-hander sustained last Sunday against Houston.
Millwood became the Rangers’ No. 1 starter when he signed a $60 million, five-year free-agent deal in December. He was the A.L. ERA champion with a 2.86 mark for Cleveland last season.
Blue Jays reliever placed on DL
The Toronto Blue Jays placed right-hander Pete Walker on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder strain.