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To: Cactus Jack who wrote (52522)	6/21/2006 12:37:50 AM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 104157

The Chicago Tribune is reporting there's a chance Kerry Wood may be done for the season based on his latest workout... chicagosports.chicagotribune.com Wood unable to turn corner Shoulder fatigue ends Cub's workout; Lee's return close By Paul Sullivan Tribune staff reporter June 21, 2006 CLEVELAND -- Kerry Wood's comeback from shoulder surgery took yet another step backward Tuesday as Derrek Lee took batting practice on the field for the first time since suffering a broken right wrist. It was a day of stark contrasts for the Cubs, who anxiously await the return of their best hitter, possibly this weekend in Minnesota, as they fret over Wood. Wood may have pitched his last game of the season, to say nothing of his star-crossed Cubs career. The club holds a $13.5 million option on him for next season with a $3 million buyout, or they could negotiate a new deal at a lower figure. Wood threw about 70 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday and experienced fatigue at around 67 pitches. Though he's eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list Thursday, the Cubs have ruled out Wood returning this weekend and don't know when he's going to be able to throw enough pitches to start a game. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said the Cubs would not shut down Wood yet. They will wait a couple of days before deciding when to give him another bullpen session. If Wood can't battle through the shoulder fatigue, will he be finished for the season? "That possibility is always there," Rothschild said. "But it takes time with these things. … As a player, until you get through it and know you're OK, there's always going to be a little bit of doubt." Wood was not made available for comment. Manager Dusty Baker said Wood was frustrated over the latest setback. "Naturally, Woody wants to pitch," Baker said. "He's a little distraught about it. He wants to pitch very badly. He wants to help us get back in this thing. It's a natural reaction, not to be real happy about this." If Wood is able to throw 60 to 70 pitches but can't throw enough to make a start, why not just stick him in the bullpen, where he wouldn't have to throw more than 20 to 30 pitches per outing? "You can sit here on the face of it and just say 'Put him in the bullpen,'" Rothschild said. "Anybody going through this shoulder stuff, it takes a lot of preparation to get loose. Even if you get him up the inning before [he pitches], he still may not be ready." Baker concurred. "It's not really a consideration at this point," he said. Rothschild said Wood's problem is in the same spot in his shoulder, and not related to anything else, such as the back problems Wood has experienced in the past. "He's pretty good until he gets to that [60-pitch] point," Rothschild said. "It's just a matter of building it up still." Meanwhile, Lee has been taking batting practice in a cage for the last several days, and told team trainer Mark O'Neal he feels good on 95 percent of his swings. Lee told reporters he felt good after taking batting practice with his teammates Tuesday and will make a decision on whether he's ready after he sees how his right wrist responds after his next session Wednesday. Lee didn't want to put a timetable on his return, but acknowledged he's ready. "He's gung-ho and ready to go," O'Neal said. "We're really trying to restrain him enough to make sure that he can be where he needs to be. He needs to be able to repeat the swings and tolerate four or five at-bats." Lee said it's ultimately his call. "I've been out two months," he said. "That's a lot of games to miss, so I'm excited to get back on the field." Copyright © 2006, The Chicago Tribune