Post by John on Jun 8, 2006 17:12:02 GMT -4
Wood's pain . . . rookie's gain?: Shoulder examined; Cubs may tap Marmol
June 8, 2006
Chicago Tribune
Jun. 8--HOUSTON -- Kerry Wood's lingering shoulder issues may open a door for rookie right-hander Carlos Marmol, who figures to take Wood's starting spot Sunday in Cincinnati.
Wood flew to Cincinnati on Wednesday to have surgeon Timothy Kremchek examine his shoulder because he experienced more problems during Tuesday night's loss to the Astros. Kremchek operated on Wood's shoulder last year. The results of Wednesday's exam were not disclosed.
"Everybody realizes he has been struggling with his recovery time," trainer Mark O'Neal said. "We've had to push him back a couple of times. It's not anything we've been dealing with all along, but we've been talking to Kremchek and we happened to be going into Cincinnati."
Wood's velocity was noticeably down in his 3 2/3-inning stint Tuesday, and his command was very poor. Manager Dusty Baker said Wood would "probably not" go to the bullpen, because the Cubs don't know if he could pitch on back-to-back days.
Still, if Wood can't go more than four or five innings without feeling soreness, the Cubs may have no other option than to use him out of the pen.
Marmol, 23, was called up from Double-A West Tenn over the weekend to replace Scott Williamson in the bullpen. He has thrown in the 95-97-m.p.h. range in his two relief appearances and complements his fastball with a sweeping curve. Marmol has struck out six and allowed three hits in four scoreless innings in relief.
"This kid has made quite an impression pitching the last couple of days," catcher Henry Blanco said after catching Marmol on Tuesday. "He seems pretty good, seems like he's ready.
"Why not try him out there and see what he can do? I'm sure he's going to take advantage of the opportunity."
Marmol was a catcher when the Cubs signed him in 1999, but he switched positions in '03 and has made a smooth conversion to his new role. The Cubs would like him to develop a third pitch as a starter, though he's surviving well in the bullpen with his fastball and curve.
"He has a pretty good changeup," Blanco said. "He hasn't been using it, but the way you see his fastball and curveball right now. .. he has two real good pitches. I'm sure he'll be all right. In his next start, I'm sure he'll mix it up, throw his changeup a little more."
Baker said he loves Marmol's stuff, not to mention his unflappable mound demeanor.
"That's why we got him up here," Baker said. "I've seen more guys have success coming out of Double-A as pitchers than position players. I'd prefer to leave him in this position of long relief as a young player. [But] I've seen some great ones start in long relief. The main one was Pedro Martinez."
Wood, meanwhile, is back in limbo, the state with which he's most familiar. He said after Tuesday's start he would like to go back to pitching on his normal four days' rest, but that appears unlikely for now.
O'Neal said Wood's biggest complaint has been "scar tissue issues [from the surgery] that we've been working on all spring." He did not say whether Wood had an MRI on his shoulder. Wood is not expected to be placed on the disabled list yet, but that remains a possibility.
Baker had little to say about Wood's status.
"It's up in the air," he said. "I could tell he wasn't as loose as he has been. He fought through it. We've just got to re-evaluate things, re-evaluate him."
June 8, 2006
Chicago Tribune
Jun. 8--HOUSTON -- Kerry Wood's lingering shoulder issues may open a door for rookie right-hander Carlos Marmol, who figures to take Wood's starting spot Sunday in Cincinnati.
Wood flew to Cincinnati on Wednesday to have surgeon Timothy Kremchek examine his shoulder because he experienced more problems during Tuesday night's loss to the Astros. Kremchek operated on Wood's shoulder last year. The results of Wednesday's exam were not disclosed.
"Everybody realizes he has been struggling with his recovery time," trainer Mark O'Neal said. "We've had to push him back a couple of times. It's not anything we've been dealing with all along, but we've been talking to Kremchek and we happened to be going into Cincinnati."
Wood's velocity was noticeably down in his 3 2/3-inning stint Tuesday, and his command was very poor. Manager Dusty Baker said Wood would "probably not" go to the bullpen, because the Cubs don't know if he could pitch on back-to-back days.
Still, if Wood can't go more than four or five innings without feeling soreness, the Cubs may have no other option than to use him out of the pen.
Marmol, 23, was called up from Double-A West Tenn over the weekend to replace Scott Williamson in the bullpen. He has thrown in the 95-97-m.p.h. range in his two relief appearances and complements his fastball with a sweeping curve. Marmol has struck out six and allowed three hits in four scoreless innings in relief.
"This kid has made quite an impression pitching the last couple of days," catcher Henry Blanco said after catching Marmol on Tuesday. "He seems pretty good, seems like he's ready.
"Why not try him out there and see what he can do? I'm sure he's going to take advantage of the opportunity."
Marmol was a catcher when the Cubs signed him in 1999, but he switched positions in '03 and has made a smooth conversion to his new role. The Cubs would like him to develop a third pitch as a starter, though he's surviving well in the bullpen with his fastball and curve.
"He has a pretty good changeup," Blanco said. "He hasn't been using it, but the way you see his fastball and curveball right now. .. he has two real good pitches. I'm sure he'll be all right. In his next start, I'm sure he'll mix it up, throw his changeup a little more."
Baker said he loves Marmol's stuff, not to mention his unflappable mound demeanor.
"That's why we got him up here," Baker said. "I've seen more guys have success coming out of Double-A as pitchers than position players. I'd prefer to leave him in this position of long relief as a young player. [But] I've seen some great ones start in long relief. The main one was Pedro Martinez."
Wood, meanwhile, is back in limbo, the state with which he's most familiar. He said after Tuesday's start he would like to go back to pitching on his normal four days' rest, but that appears unlikely for now.
O'Neal said Wood's biggest complaint has been "scar tissue issues [from the surgery] that we've been working on all spring." He did not say whether Wood had an MRI on his shoulder. Wood is not expected to be placed on the disabled list yet, but that remains a possibility.
Baker had little to say about Wood's status.
"It's up in the air," he said. "I could tell he wasn't as loose as he has been. He fought through it. We've just got to re-evaluate things, re-evaluate him."