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March 24, 2005

Under The Knife

Spring Training Updates

by Will Carroll

It's only about a week until we get back to baseball, when I can get back into the rhythm of UTK and watch the baseball season unfold through my unique lens. The more I look at the teams, the more I realize just how important that injuries are to their prospects. Almost every team can be described with "they should be good if they can stay healthy," and even the teams that shouldn't be contenders might be if they can keep their best nine on the field all season. It's a long season ahead and everyone's getting into shape, myself included.

Let's see where we are by saying those magic words: powered by cough medicine and codeine, on to the injuries …

• Barry Bonds threw a pity party Tuesday, and it was much easier for the media to take him at his word than to do the research to figure it out. There are a couple factors in play here. First, Bonds really does seem mentally worn down. When one considers that he was able to go through things like his father's death without breaking down, it might just be that he is finally tired. This rehab period might be the best thing for him, especially if the media will take its focus off him just a bit. It will also distance his passing of Babe Ruth on the home-run list from the steroid hysteria just a bit, making that moment better for both Bonds and baseball.

  As far as his knee is concerned, Bonds is back at square one, meaning he has about six weeks of rehab before being game-ready. Bonds, knowing how much of the Giants' chances rest on his bat, had been pushing it to be ready for Opening Day. Tom Gorman did a great job breaking down what Bonds has going on in his knees, but I also get the sense that we don't yet have the whole story. I'd expect Bonds to be back in the lineup somewhere around May 15; that's slightly behind the normal schedule, but includes some time for Bonds to go slow, as he'll do now that Stan Conte is in charge of the rehab, and to get some swings in the minors. Bonds is going to pass Hank Aaron, just not until next year.

• The Cubs bullpen is an interesting mix right now. Heading into spring training, there was a battle expected among Joe Borowski, Ryan Dempster and LaTroy Hawkins for the closer tag. Instead, Dempster has been pushed to the rotation in place of Glendon Rusch, despite Dempster's poor spring and Rusch's fine 2004. Borowski had sealed up the closer slot until a comebacker broke his forearm, specifically the ulna. He should be back in six weeks, depending on how quickly he can regain his command. Instead of Hawkins slotting in, the Cubs appear enamored of Chad Fox. He's healthy for now and throwing well. To sum up, it's a mess and only getting worse.

• The rotation isn't much better. Kerry Wood is doing well with his shoulder bursitis, ignoring more chatter about moving to the pen, and getting ready to toss in the home opener. Mark Prior is also making progress, likely staying off the DL. He's expected to be ready for a start on April 12, the first time the Cubs need a fifth starter. Wood and Prior have been pushed hard by the coaching staff, called out in the press, and both have seemed to be distancing themselves from the problem. Watch the language surrounding both closely for more clues as to what's happening behind closed doors. Sammy Sosa was a problem in the clubhouse, but I'm not sure he was THE problem.

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