Cubs receive good news about Wood
Right-hander Kerry Wood, bothered by stiffness in his pitching shoulder, got an encouraging prognosis from the doctor who performed his most recent surgery.
The Chicago Cubs starter flew to Cincinnati ahead of his teammates Wednesday and was examined by Dr. Timothy Kremchek, who cleaned out his rotator cuff and reinforced his labrum during a one-hour operation last August.
Wood has been bothered by stiffness in the shoulder. Kremchek described it as a normal part of his recovery from the operation.
“We were pleased with the results of the exam,” trainer Mark O’Neal said Thursday. “Basically, we’re dealing with soreness. He’s got a little joint irritation. There’s no injury there.
“Everybody knows he’s taken extra days (before) his last two starts. I think he just wanted to make sure we’re not dealing with anything that’s not to be expected.”
Wood is scheduled to start the final game of a series against the Cincinnati Reds Sunday. The Cubs will decide after he throws today whether to give him an extra day of rest or let him start as planned.
Wood lasted only 3 2/3 innings in a 4-1 loss to Houston last Tuesday. He has made four starts this season, going 1-2 with a 4.12 ERA.
The Cubs also got encouraging news on reliever Scott Williamson, who went on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with tendinitis in his right elbow. Williamson was examined by Kremchek, who rebuilt the elbow earlier in 2001. It is apparently not a new injury to the elbow, as was feared.
Sheffield set for surgery
New York Yankees right fielder Gary Sheffield will undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist but is not expected to miss the rest of the season, general manager Brian Cashman said
The surgery will be performed Tuesday by Dr. Charles Malone and will sideline Sheffield until at least September.
Sheffield originally hurt the wrist when he collided at first base with Shea Hillenbrand of the Toronto Blue Jays on April 29.
“I am told it’s not a season-ending injury,” Cashman said before the Yankees played Boston. “He experienced worse pain after he tried to come back. Surgery is being recommended. It wasn’t an option earlier.”
Harden takes Loaiza’s place
Just as the Oakland Athletics welcomed back Esteban Loaiza from the 15-day disabled list to make a start, Rich Harden returned to the DL with a strained ligament in his right elbow.
Harden (3-0, 3.86 ERA) had just come back from the DL with a torn oblique muscle and made only one start before leaving Sunday’s game with Minnesota with soreness.
Attorney: Feds after Bonds
Federal agents tried to pressure Jason Grimsley into wearing a wire during private conversations with other players to gather incriminating evidence against Barry Bonds, an attorney for the former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher said.
“It was a specific effort to target Bonds,” Edward Novak told the Arizona Republic for a Thursday story. “We were told that Jason’s cooperation was necessary to their case.”
Novak also told the newspaper that Grimsley denied volunteering names of fellow players, as reported in court documents released Tuesday. Instead, federal agents asked Grimsley what he knew about the illegal drug habits of specific athletes, such as former Mets and Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra.