Kerry Wood is in Pain. Alert the Media

Kerry Wood's back is sore. Shocking? Not so much. The entire city of Cleveland is paranoid now.

Wood, who’s had an alarmingly injury-tainted career, hasn’t thrown off a hill since last weekend due to an achy back.

The Indians will rest him for a few more days before he pitches again, all the while wondering when his spine is actually going to snap.

Continue reading this story at Fantasy Pros 911.

Mommy, I Need a Band-Aid

Most of us work pretty hard to earn a living. A lot of us use our hands every day, punch in and out and break a sweat. And sometimes we get blisters. Do we call in sick? Do we use 15 days of vacation? No.

The Chicago Cubs moved closer Kerry Wood to the disabled list Thursday, retroactive to July 14th, FOR THE 12TH TIME IN HIS 10-YEAR CAREER with a blister on his pitching hand. I realize it must be pretty tough to throw a baseball with a blister on your right index finger, but does it constitute a trip to the DL? Probably not for most people. Am I calling him a Sissypants McWhinerface? Ah, yes.

Do You Have Wood?

Did you draft Kerry Wood to your fantasy baseball team? Did everyone laugh at you when you did?

Nevermind those pesky back spasms, Wood is feeling awesome and ready to step up to the closer's role for the Chicago Cubs.

The oft-injured reliever pitched well on Saturday against the cross-town White Sox, combining a decent fastball with a good breaking ball to strike out two before retiring Paul Konerko on a fly ball to right.

Barring some sort of complication or freak injury, Wood has the closer spot in the bag. He's scheduled to pitch next against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, one day before the MLB SEASON OPENER IN TOKYO, JAPAN!

[Chicago Tribune]

Chicago Has Wood Again

A year after recovering from shoulder problems and moving to the bullpen, Kerry Wood agreed to a $4.2 million, one-year deal to return to the Chicago Cubs. And apparently, other clubs were interested in the papier-mache pitcher. We're talking multi-year offers here, people.

The 30-year-old righty may make an additional $3.45 million in performance bonuses, rounding out the hind-end of the bullpen.

So, Chicago is Wood's home, it's where he's pitched for his entire career, blah blah blah... what's important is the over/under on his return lasting 10 starts before he (inevitably) hurts himself. I'll take the under.

[Chicago Sun-Times]

Chicago Cubs Have Wood Again

The Chicago Cubs activated hard-luck hurler Kerry Wood from the 60-day disabled list Friday following his recovery from a sore shoulder that has kept him out of the big leagues since June 6th of last season.

Finally off the DL for the 11th time in his career, the 30-year-old righty made only four starts last season and pushed his 2007 comeback farther due to more discomfort.

Wood made eight rehab starts to make his way back into the Cubs pen as a short reliever.

During those minor league outings, some of his pitches were clocked in the mid-90s.

Before Friday's series opener against the New York Mets, Wood caught some bullpen pitches from Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, who was to perform during the seventh-inning stretch.

Sweet.

[MLB]

Kerry Wood Injured in Shocking Turn of Events

Less than a week before Opening Day, Kerry Wood is hurt.

This time it's actually pitching-related rather than hot-soak related, if that makes Chicago Cubs fans feel any better. He strained his right shoulder while pitching in relief on Sunday and felt more stiffness than usual on Monday. The former ace turned reliever will not be ready for the team's first game.

Wood appeared in only four games last season and was trying to make a comeback from a partially torn rotator cuff after choosing rehab over surgery.

The 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, who struck out 20 Houston Astros in one of the most impressive starts of all time, has been on the disabled list 10 times in his big league career. Make that eleven.

[Sports Illustrated]

Cubs Wrap Prior, Wood in Caution Tape

Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella will keep two of his big guns out of the first week of Cactus League games, to further nurse them back to health and avoid any sort of potential baseball-related injuries.

So far, so good for the right-handed Mark Prior, who threw 35 pitches to hitters in a live batting practice session on Sunday morning at Fitch Park. He'll have Monday off, then throw light toss and another BP session, his velocity improving each time. Prior himself expects to be ready by Opening Day without question, but he is not on pitching coach Larry Rothschild's list for the first five games.

After spending the winter rehabbing his right shoulder, Kerry Wood, is slowly but surely being groomed for the bullpen. He faced hitters on Saturday for the first time, slightly behind the other pitchers, but seems to be doing well after the hot tub incident earlier this month.

As for the rest of the starters, the Cactus League rotation will be Jason Marquis on Thursday against the Giants, followed by Carlos Zambrano on Friday vs. the Angels. Wade Miller will go Saturday against the Athletics along with Jeff Samardzija, and Rich Hill is on for Sunday against the White Sox. Ted Lilly, the other addition to the Cubs rotation, will face the Mariners on March 5th.

[Chicago Cubs]

Kerry Wood's Latest Boo-Boo

Kerry Wood is injured. Weird.

The Chicago Cubs righty was getting out of his hot tub at home like usual, and slipped and fell. Now he needs a few days to recoup, missing the Cubs' spring training kickoff, once again.

But Wood is 30 pounds lighter than last year and ready for the bullpen to take some strain off of his surgically repaired right elbow and shoulder, which he says feel stronger than ever.