Cubs' Wood to Have Shoulder Examined
By Jim Cour, AP Sports Writer

PEORIA, Ariz. - Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood returned to Chicago on Thursday to have his right shoulder examined.

Wood felt tightness in his pitching shoulder on Wednesday and left a spring training game before the third inning. He had an MRI exam before heading to Chicago, Cubs manager Dusty Baker said.

"He's such a valuable commodity," Baker said.

Wood missed two months last season because of tendinitis in his right triceps. He was sidelined for the 1999 season after elbow ligament replacement surgery.

"After what happened last year, this is just precautionary," Baker said. "It was just a matter of him going back and seeing our team doctor. Right now, it's nothing. We just decided to do this for a precautionary sake."

Slated to be the Cubs' opening-day starter, Wood might miss a scheduled spring-training start. Baker said Wood make the right decision to come out of Wednesday's game.

"You don't want to take a chance," Baker said. "I'm glad he is mature enough to stop when he felt that tightness. In the past, he might have kept trying to pitch. You just got to be safe at this point."

Baker said Wood will be back in Mesa on Friday.

Wood was 8-9 with a 3.72 ERA in 22 starts last season.

In a way, I hate the Cubs. I'm a pretty relaxed guy, except for when it involves the Cubs. I genuinely dread what bad news will surface each and every day. What way is that to live!? Damn you Cubbies! Damn you!

Go Cubs!