Wood *MAYBE* ahead of schedule

[CubbieRich]

The Cubs have paid the last 2 years $530,303.00 per start for this pitcher?

I'll wait for your answer.

 

Is anybody arguing that his injuries are not a huge concern? No.

 

The argument is that wins is the most worthless pitching stat, ever. If you want to knock him, use Starts. Not wins.

 

Wins have been the #1 measurement of a successful starting pitcher since baseball began and will continue to be so. As much as everyone wants to wish it away and makeup their own stat du jour, wins are what counts. Anything else is just excuse making.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The Cubs have paid the last 2 years $530,303.00 per start for this pitcher?

I'll wait for your answer.

 

Is anybody arguing that his injuries are not a huge concern? No.

 

The argument is that wins is the most worthless pitching stat, ever. If you want to knock him, use Starts. Not wins.

 

Wins have been the #1 measurement of a successful starting pitcher since baseball began and will continue to be so. As much as everyone wants to wish it away and makeup their own stat du jour, wins are what counts. Anything else is just excuse making.

 

Why measure a pitcher with a number that he has less than 50% of the control over? It seems rather assinine to me.

[Mizzou]

The Cubs have paid the last 2 years $530,303.00 per start for this pitcher?

I'll wait for your answer.

 

Is anybody arguing that his injuries are not a huge concern? No.

 

The argument is that wins is the most worthless pitching stat, ever. If you want to knock him, use Starts. Not wins.

 

Wins have been the #1 measurement of a successful starting pitcher since baseball began and will continue to be so. As much as everyone wants to wish it away and makeup their own stat du jour, wins are what counts. Anything else is just excuse making.

 

Wins count for the team, sure. But if you're going to judge a pitcher on his win loss record, then why not judge every player on his win loss record? What Murton's record last year?

[USSoccer]

The Cubs have paid the last 2 years $530,303.00 per start for this pitcher?

I'll wait for your answer.

 

Is anybody arguing that his injuries are not a huge concern? No.

 

The argument is that wins is the most worthless pitching stat, ever. If you want to knock him, use Starts. Not wins.

 

Wins have been the #1 measurement of a successful starting pitcher since baseball began and will continue to be so. As much as everyone wants to wish it away and makeup their own stat du jour, wins are what counts. Anything else is just excuse making.

 

Hello, CubbieRich :D

 

Using your logic, last year Roger Clemens was a bad starting pitcher. In 2004 Randy Johnson was bad. In 2003, Kerry would put up great numbers, but only won 14. Was he also bad?

 

Just because people have ben judging a player a certain way for a long time doesn't mean it's flawed. History is filled with examples of conventional wisdom being disproven and replaced with a new way of thinking.

 

Also, from 2001-2003, Wood made 93 starts. Is it a coincidence that he's been injury plagued since his league leading pitch count of 2003? If you were Dusty Baker, would you let a guy with an iffy health history throw 143 pitches in a May game in 2003? Or throw close to 4000 pitches in a single season?

 

Wood is absolutely fragile, but he's not a bad pitcher. He is overpaid based on what he's given us the past 2 seasons, but he's still not a bad pitcher.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Wins count for the team, sure. But if you're going to judge a pitcher on his win loss record, then why not judge every player on his win loss record? What Murton's record last year?

 

:wink: ..... well, since you asked......

 

Team record by starting left fielder

                   W    L     pct

Grieve              1    0   1.000
Dubois             20   15   0.571
Murton             19   19   0.500
Hairston            5    5   0.500
Hollandsworth      28   32   0.467
Lawton              6   11   0.353
Gerut               0    1   0.000

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Wins count for the team, sure. But if you're going to judge a pitcher on his win loss record, then why not judge every player on his win loss record? What Murton's record last year?

 

:wink: ..... well, since you asked......

 

Team record by starting left fielder

                   W    L     pct

Grieve              1    0   1.000
Dubois             20   15   0.571
Murton             19   19   0.500
Hairston            5    5   0.500
Hollandsworth      28   32   0.467
Lawton              6   11   0.353
Gerut               0    1   0.000

 

We traded our best LF for Gerut!

[Fred Hornkohl]

Wins count for the team, sure. But if you're going to judge a pitcher on his win loss record, then why not judge every player on his win loss record? What Murton's record last year?

 

:wink: ..... well, since you asked......

 

Team record by starting left fielder

                   W    L     pct

Grieve              1    0   1.000
Dubois             20   15   0.571
Murton             19   19   0.500
Hairston            5    5   0.500
Hollandsworth      28   32   0.467
Lawton              6   11   0.353
Gerut               0    1   0.000

 

We traded our best LF for Gerut!

 

It just boggles the mind, doesn't it ??? :wink:

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Wins count for the team, sure. But if you're going to judge a pitcher on his win loss record, then why not judge every player on his win loss record? What Murton's record last year?

 

:wink: ..... well, since you asked......

 

Team record by starting left fielder

                   W    L     pct

Grieve              1    0   1.000
Dubois             20   15   0.571
Murton             19   19   0.500
Hairston            5    5   0.500
Hollandsworth      28   32   0.467
Lawton              6   11   0.353
Gerut               0    1   0.000

 

We traded our best LF for Gerut!

 

It just boggles the mind, doesn't it ??? :wink:

 

Yes it does!

[Mizzou]

Wins count for the team, sure. But if you're going to judge a pitcher on his win loss record, then why not judge every player on his win loss record? What Murton's record last year?

 

:wink: ..... well, since you asked......

 

Team record by starting left fielder

                   W    L     pct

Grieve              1    0   1.000
Dubois             20   15   0.571
Murton             19   19   0.500
Hairston            5    5   0.500
Hollandsworth      28   32   0.467
Lawton              6   11   0.353
Gerut               0    1   0.000

Geez, we would have been 162-0 last year if Dusty would have started Grieve everyday. That idiot!

[Coach C]

You must view a starting pitcher over his career, not just one season. Yes Clemens, Johnson, Maddux, etc.. all have had a bad year. Some even have a few poor years 'win wise', but they have a history of keeping their teams in the game and winning the majority of the time.

 

Wood's claims to fame are the 20 strikeout game in 1998 and a good year in 2003. Other than that he is injured, the highest paid pitcher on the Cubs and not living up to anyone's expectations. The whiners for Kerry will look at any small obscure stat that serious baseball people discount and then claim that Wood is doing his job. It's quite funny to read. I destroyed the WHIP myth months ago to them and many fled the scene.

 

I wish Wood was the 20 game winner, Cy Young pitcher we thought he might turn into, but he is far from it. But he'll be gone next year and the Cubs will have $12 million off the payroll to spend it more wisely.

 

I don't know... that line somewhat scares me, especially like overpaying Neifi to name one...

[Jon]

Wood threw 10 or 11 pitches off the mound today, according to Dusty.

[Roast]

Wood threw 10 or 11 pitches off the mound today, according to Dusty.

 

 

That is pretty freaken awesome.

[Laura]

Cubs.com[/url]"]Kerry Wood threw 12 pitches off the mound on Sunday, the first time he threw off the mound since he had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Tuesday.

 

"He threw about 12 pitches off the mound and a bunch off flat ground," said Rothschild. "It's pretty amazing to watch."

 

Wade Miller, rehabbing from arthroscopic shoulder surgery, had Sunday off and will throw off the mound for the second time on Monday.

[badger1679666666]

And to think I thought his leg was gonna fall off from routine meniscus surgery.

 

:roll:

[bc2k]

Not only has Wood recovered well, apparently Miller looks to be ready in early May as well.

 

Link.

 

Starters Wade Miller and Kerry Wood are in a race to return to the big leagues, and it looks nip-and-tuck.

 

 

 

Miller threw 10 pitches off the mound Thursday, his first time on the hill in spring training. He had right shoulder surgery after last season.

 

Wood played long toss Friday in the HoHoKam Stadium outfield with pitching coach Larry Rothschild. Wood, who had right shoulder surgery in August, underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles.

 

 

I still think if we can have a healthy Prior to start the season and a healthy Wood and Miller to complete the rotation in May that we will be a strong contender this season.

 

This news makes Baker's 4-man rotation plan all the more genius. :roll:

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Baker said right-hander Kerry Wood, coming off knee surgery last week, looked crisp throwing from flat ground Monday.

 

''If you go out there and see him, you would never think that he had an operation or there was anything wrong with him,'' Baker said. ''I can tell he has some zip and velocity on the ball. You have to get over that mental block, too, of having an operation, and it seems like he is past that already.''

 

 

Link.

[Laura]

Wood is supposed to be a guest on WGN radio Sports Central at some point tonight.

[Balsa]

How terribly ironic would it be if we started Wood before Prior?

[badger1679666666]

Wood is supposed to be a guest on WGN radio Sports Central at some point tonight.

 

If anyone could summarize this that would be awesome.

 

And BalsoWoodKeyBoard - I was thinking about making the EXACT same post lol. I have a strong feeling it will go down that way.

[USSoccer]

How terribly ironic would it be if we started Wood before Prior?

 

I think it would be terribly awesome.

[Laura]

When I tuned in, Wood was already talking. If anyone heard the first part, chime in. Andy Masur did the interiew; I assume it was taped. Maybe they'll put up the audio in a few days.

 

Knee feels great and felt fine right after the surgery - better walking on it than sitting down. He did a lot of lower half work in the off-season while rehabbing his shoulder, worked on a lot of 'balance stuff' and that helped with the knee surgery.

 

He's tired of the injuries and problems popping up and knows everyone else, too. Nothing he can do but get back to work and focus on coming back and pitching.

 

Intends to remain a starter, believes he still has a lot of innings left in him. He was fine with bullpen work last season because he knew it was the only thing he could bring to the table and the only way he could help the team. Still things he wants to accomplish as a starter.

 

He closed with saying good things about the current team -- great mix, working hard, want to win, good clubhouse types, etc.

 

Afterwards Kap took calls from angry Cubs fans.

[Bgbird68]

You must view a starting pitcher over his career, not just one season. Yes Clemens, Johnson, Maddux, etc.. all have had a bad year. Some even have a few poor years 'win wise', but they have a history of keeping their teams in the game and winning the majority of the time.

 

Wood's claims to fame are the 20 strikeout game in 1998 and a good year in 2003. Other than that he is injured, the highest paid pitcher on the Cubs and not living up to anyone's expectations. The whiners for Kerry will look at any small obscure stat that serious baseball people discount and then claim that Wood is doing his job. It's quite funny to read. I destroyed the WHIP myth months ago to them and many fled the scene.

 

I wish Wood was the 20 game winner, Cy Young pitcher we thought he might turn into, but he is far from it. But he'll be gone next year and the Cubs will have $12 million off the payroll to spend it more wisely.

 

I don't know... that line somewhat scares me, especially like overpaying Neifi to name one...

 

And I don't buy the old "The Cubs will have x number of dollars to spend". The same thing was said about the "Sammy money" and I'd be very interested to see last years payroll compared to this years. I don't think there's a big difference.

[BigbadB]

And I don't buy the old "The Cubs will have x number of dollars to spend". The same thing was said about the "Sammy money" and I'd be very interested to see last years payroll compared to this years. I don't think there's a big difference.

 

It's not that they didn't have Sammy's money to spend, it's how they spent it. A lot of players got raises this year, and a lot of other players were paid much more than they deserve.