I don't follow the Cubs all that close (though I was a Die-Hard Cubs Fan in 1984!! I even had the pin and card!!), but a DL visit for Wood because of a blister is not exactly something that would scare me too much...

And OTOH, it will give him some rest, which he probably needed (from what little I know, he's been ridden this year).

This isn't a surprise; they've been talking about this for several days now.

A blister is kind of a blah way to record his 12th DL visit, after some of his previous arm injuries. What's next for visit 13? An ingrown toenail? Really bad paper cut?

Do Cubs fans expect Marmol to be perfect every time out? “I think so,” he said. “Last time I was there they were booing me. I don’t know why.”

There is a gulf of difference between perfect and blowing a 5 run lead.

Cubs won't need a closer to sweep the D-backs, at least.

maybe the Cubs can take a note from the Cardinals and convert Kerry Wood into an outfielder

I think Josh Beckett's a good example of a blister not being anything to scoff at, but this is obviously preferable to any shoulder or arm issues. Hopefully the offense can build off today and Marmol won't really be needed in the Arizona series (the boy needs his rest, too).

There is a gulf of difference between perfect and blowing a 5 run lead.

Cubs won't need a closer to sweep the D-backs, at least.

Marmol vs. Lyon should be good.

Also, Kerry Wood is listed as having batted left-handed three times in 2000 against RHP. When the hell did that happen?

Marmol vs. Lyon should be good.

Marmol is actually pretty good

Apparently every pitcher on my fantasy team must go on the DL (though I only have one spot for a DL)...one of my teams-my current pitchers on the DL include Percival, Carmona, and Harang. And now add Wood. Plus in other leagues I have Marcum, Wainwright, and Bedard.

10: You obviously should stop playing fantasy baseball. Or draft guys like Willie Harris

eh, its an ESPN league,so my teams are pretty loaded regardless.

There is a gulf of difference between perfect and blowing a 5 run lead.

True. There's also having been worked pretty heavily throughout the year, having your manager use you with 6, 4 and 4-run leads in your previous 3 appearances anyway, then bring you in with a 5-run lead, not have good control or decent stuff that day, but have him leave you out there for 10 batters anyway.

I'm curious -- when else in MLB history has a pitcher been left out there to blow a 5-run lead in the 9th inning? I remember Tom Gordon did something similar (right in the middle of his "record" consecutive save streak). Usually, at some point, it occurs to the manager that he might want to change pitchers. Perhaps the most ridiculous pitching decision I've seen since leaving Park in to give up his 2nd grand slam of the inning to Tatis.

Marmol struck out 70 of the first 198 batters faced this season. He's now 0 for his last 18 and just 7 for his last 57. So that's going from K'ing about 40% of the batters he faced to about 12%. He's hurting (hopefully just needs a rest). And no, he didn't have anything close to that kind of streak last year.

Apparently every pitcher on my fantasy team must go on the DL

I flipped over to BBTF to see stores about Billy Wagner not feeling right and Wood headed to the DL, and thought "Well, there go my only 2 closers."

If they both get hurt, that will be 5 players currently on the DL out of 22.

not to worry, cubbiedumb, I mean dom, Mark Prior is slated for 140 pitches tomorrow. On the wii. He'll still get hurt. Playing against Rich Harden. Who will also get hurt. Oh wait, they split up Prior and Wood? Next you'll tell me Sonny is no longer with Cher. Oh the horror.

no one in the history of anything anywhere ever gave a carp about anyone else's fantasy team. Not yours, not mine, not Doug Glanville's.
Now who wants a gently used "Big Unit?" Anyone? Taking any offers except Ivy-League middle infielders.

I remember Tom Gordon did something similar (right in the middle of his "record" consecutive save streak).

I remembered it the same way, though looking it up at BBRef, it appears Gordon only faced four batters (walking two and allowing two hits) before Jimy yanked him in favor of Wasdin (who was only slightly better, getting one out and three hits and getting charged with the loss).

Maybe someone can further illustrate the point that #15 was attempting to make.

I'm sure that the Cubs will bring Kerry Wood back too soon, he will be bad and reinjure himself, and will require season ending skin graft surgery.

And I think tedz is saying that he doesn't give a rat's patoot about anybody's fantasy team.

when else in MLB history has a pitcher been left out there to blow a 5-run lead in the 9th inning?

Kinda: On 9/7/07 Julio DePaula entered the bottom of the 9th with a 10-4 lead on the White Sox and was allowed to stay in until the score was 10-9 (Joe Nathan would allow the tying run to score, also charged to DePaula).

Toronto Star

The biggest piece in the Jays' trade puzzle remains A.J. Burnett. Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi maintained Friday that he "can't see" Burnett leaving Toronto because interest in the starter has been next to non-existent ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

Interestingly, however, Chicago Cubs special assistant Ken Kravec took in yesterday's game.

Insiders observed that Kravec does not visit major league parks unless on some specific assignment.

There is a gulf of difference between perfect and blowing a 5 run lead.

I watched this game, and from an outside fan perspective, it was definitely a team effort.

I am shocked--shocked!--that nobody in this thread has sarcastically said they were shocked. #15 came close.

Maybe the initial headline will be right sooner or later. He still hasn't found his way there yet.

It is a change, though. Instead of trying to figure out when he's going to come OFF the DL, now it's a matter of figuring out when he's going to go ON the DL.

MLB.com

Cubs closer Kerry Wood will see a hand specialist on Thursday in Chicago in hopes of determining why a blister on his right hand isn't healing the way the team expected.

Wood has not pitched since July 11 because of the blister, and the Cubs thought the All-Star break would be enough time. However, he has yet to get in a game, and was not available Wednesday against Arizona.

"We thought the four days off at the All-Star break would be enough and he'd be ready to go in Houston," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We were expecting that and so was Woody."
...
Instead of being able to throw, he was limited to throwing changeups only on Wednesday at Chase Field in a brief side session.

"He's not capable of throwing a full bullpen where he throws his fastball, throws his slider," Piniella said. "I think that would send him totally backwards."