Wood, Garciaparra likely teammates at West Tenn
By Paul Sullivan
Tribune staff reporter
July 28, 2005, 11:18 PM CDT

Kerry Wood and Nomar Garciaparra may rehab together next week at Double-A West Tenn and could rejoin the Cubs in time for their series against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium on Aug. 5-7.

Everything depends on their progress, but Garciaparra will report to Wrigley Field on Friday after a two-game rehab stint at Class A Peoria and Wood will throw off a mound Friday to see if the cortisone shot he received July 21 will allow him to start throwing without pain in his shoulder.

Both could receive their marching orders Friday. West Tenn plays at home Saturday and Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday. Triple-A Iowa plays on the West Coast next week and the Cubs would like the two to be close in case they are brought up to New York next weekend.

"It's more important that [Wood] gets used to a routine than where he's necessarily pitching," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said.

Rothschild said Wood felt much better after throwing a bullpen session Wednesday. The key to adapting to the new role, Rothschild said, will be "how quickly he can get ready, how quickly he can recover and really how he feels. More importantly, the day after he throws an inning or two, then maybe has a day off and throws again. We'll see how he rebounds from that."

Rothschild said Wood is likely to start throwing one inning only. Wood spoke with WGN-AM on Wednesday, but declined Thursday to address the rest of the media.

Garciaparra went 0-for-1 with two walks and a run scored at Peoria on Thursday.

Reliever Scott Williamson, rehabbing at Triple-A Iowa, may be ready to join the Cubs in about 10 days. Williamson has allowed one hit in three innings in his first three appearances.


It's gonna be nice to get those 3 back. Will be sad to see some guys get sent down (Cedeno probably and then 2 pitchers maybe?).