We are lucky if we get 5 or 6 games out of him. If they make him a closer do you think it would be a good move?
2007-01-22 08:37:59 · 21 answers · asked by Mr. Cub 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Some great answers so far I thought for sure I would get someone saying the Cubs suck and crap like that. Thanks for being respectful!!!!
2007-01-22 08:53:59 · update #1
They signed him to a low dollar amount, high incentive contract so he'll be paid depending on how healthy he can stay and he comes cheap. Kerry Wood could have made more money had he left for another ballclub.
He's not going to be a starter this year, we're not going to depend on him - and I say we because I too am a Cubs fan. Nor will he be the Cub's closer, Ryan Dempster is. Wood will be a relief pitcher, most likely the guy who comes in the 4th or 5th inning should one of the starting pitchers have a bad game but not in a setup role as that will belong to Howry and Eyre. Wood needs to demonstrate that he can pitch an inning on back to back days to be a closer. If he does that, and Dempster suffers as many meltdowns as he did last season they may make Wood the closer; although most likely they'd shift him to setup and put Howry as closer.
In the 2005 season, Wood was dominant when they put him in a relief job. And I would imagine that he would make a good closer. The lighter load of fewer innings should keep him healthy assuming he also alters his mechanics to not put so much pressure on his shoulder. It should ultimately be a good signing because the bullpen was overworked last year as the starters rarely got through 5 innings. Kerry will replace Glendon Rusch who I don't think is returning following his blood clot in the lung.
2007-01-22 16:53:50 · answer #1 · answered by badgerlicious03 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They got him at a discount, so the risk isn't as great as in the past. I actually think he will be a great closer. I think he is built for it. He has explosive strikeout type of stuff, but has proven to not be durable w/ a starters workload. Pitching one inning every other day, yet, still having a major impact might be perfect for him. Not to mention, it might be the only way for him and the Cubs to save face on his whole career so far. They need to get some kind of contribution from this guy for all the time and effort they have put into him. I hope he is successful and I thik the change and the resigning were a good move.
2007-01-22 08:48:19 · answer #2 · answered by Eho 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ever heard of cutting your losses?Kerry Wood was going to be the next big thing after that 20 strikeout game and quite frankly,he hasn't lived up to the hype.Kerry Wood will go down as bust and the Cubs really should have let him go years ago instead of hoping the hype was real.Mark Prior is in the same situation,will he ever not spend the season on the disabled list?
2007-01-22 10:02:39 · answer #3 · answered by Michael R 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I thought he was going to be the closer.
I hate the cubs for signing Ramirez and Soriano (outbidding the Angels), but I think Wood will make a fine closer.
I bet he's comeback player of the year and saves like 30-35 games.
2007-01-22 08:41:47 · answer #4 · answered by Sgt. Pepper 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They got Wood at a bargain price that was worth it. He is currently coming out of the bull pen and could serve as an emergency backup starter.
As of today Dempster is the closer and would have to lose his job in Spring Training.
Not sure if Wood would get the job. The Cubs really like the idea of him pitching 2 to 4 innings just in case as starter has a rough outing.
2007-01-22 08:56:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋
Wood should be a closer. I think that would also keep him healthy. The big mistake they made was signing Ted Lilly. He will get rocked when they play at home. Lilly better hope the wind is blowing in. They really needed to get one more good starting pitcher!! They have the bats but the pitching will be the problem. The best move they made was getting rid of Dusty!!!!!!!!!
2007-01-22 08:46:41 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, if he's not healthy, it won't help the Cubs at all, and he hasn't been healthy for a while. however, i think it is a good idea they signed him again because when he is healthy, he's really good. i think he has a lot of potential as a starter, so they should probably keep him there, unless he needs less stress on his arm, in which case he might be a decent closer.
good luck cubs! you need some!
2007-01-22 08:59:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they could convert him into a relief pitcher. Jason Isringhausen used to start, and he is a great closer. John Smoltz did very well when he was closing, too. And remember, Kerry Wood was closing towards the end of 2005.
2007-01-22 10:00:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
huge thumbs up. he regarded sturdy popping out of the bullpen final 12 months. Pitched from mid-August till end of 12 months with out soreness or problems. informed reporter in an interview he desires to stay interior the pen and grow to be a closer. i think of he would be sturdy and that i additionally wish we re-sign earlier. yet another undertaking is loyalty. that's extremely uncommon in activities. And Cubs administration mentioned wood grew to become down multi-12 months deals for additional money to stay in Chicago. You gotta understand that.
2016-11-26 19:34:26 · answer #9 · answered by schook 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wood never lived up to his potential. It also seems that he stays injured most of the time. In my opinion, I'd turn my interests toward some younger guys in the minors who show more resiliency and mental toughness than Wood. Wood is nothing more than a setup man now.
2007-01-22 08:47:07 · answer #10 · answered by kenrayf 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋