Indians being cautious with Wood

Mar 15, 2010 - 10:11 PM By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX(AP) -- Kerry Wood insists everything is fine and there's no reason to worry. The Cleveland Indians aren't taking any chances.

Wood, bothered by soreness in a muscle under his shoulder, did not throw a scheduled bullpen session on Monday so he could get more rest. Cleveland's closer was scratched from a scheduled exhibition appearance on Saturday against Texas because of soreness in the lat muscle in his upper back.

He had been expected to throw on Monday at the club's complex in Goodyear, Ariz., but the Indians decided against it.

The 32-year-old Wood says the injury isn't serious and if it was the regular season, he'd be pitching. But the Indians aren't willing to take the risk and manager Manny Acta hasn't decided when Wood will pitch again. Wood had been penciled in to appear on Wednesday in an exhibition against Cincinnati.

"We'll put together a plan for him," Acta said before the Indians played the Milwaukee Brewers. "It's nothing to worry about, it's just we want to be cautious. He's our closer. He's fine. We've got plenty of days to go before the seasons starts. There's no need to rush him back out there."

Wood has been on the disabled list 12 times in his career. He said he had similar soreness in his back last season.

He went 3-3 with a 4.25 ERA and 20 saves in 58 appearances last season, his first with the Indians. It was only Wood's second season in the closer's role, having made the switch from starter in his final year with the Chicago Cubs.