Why would Mark Prior want to stay with the Cubs?

[Mark Priors Calves]

Also, in 2003, Wood started 32 games, had a 3.20 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP yet he only won 14 games on a team that won their division.

 

http://baseball-reference.com/w/woodke02.shtml

 

I know other years he could have an excuse because the Cubs stunk, but what happened that year? He has no excuse.

 

run support and the bullpen blowing leads are the two reasons a pitcher with a 3.20 ERA doesn't have more than 14 wins.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

When did Prior strike out 20 hitters in a game?

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

When did Prior strike out 20 hitters in a game?

 

February 8th ... Mesa AZ, 21 virtual MLB hitters faced Mark Prior and his 3x4 towel. Prior owned all!

[srbin84]

Also, in 2003, Wood started 32 games, had a 3.20 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP yet he only won 14 games on a team that won their division.

 

http://baseball-reference.com/w/woodke02.shtml

 

I know other years he could have an excuse because the Cubs stunk, but what happened that year? He has no excuse.

 

run support and the bullpen blowing leads are the two reasons a pitcher with a 3.20 ERA doesn't have more than 14 wins.

 

Yeah, actually, I've always blamed Wood in part for his low win totals. No question about it, this guy has gotten screwed more than his fair share by the bullpen, but he's pretty inconsistent. Wood will have a great game, a good game and crappy game and pretty much alternate the whole season. He's so dominating when he is on that his total ERA remains good, but the inconsistentcy doesn't give him or the team as many opportunites to win the game. When he is off, you can pretty much mark down as a loss.

[goonys evil twin]

Draft Tex.

[neely crenshaw]

one of the reasons the bullpen blew so many leads for wood was he has to come out because of high pitch counts and can not continue. that's part his fault but the bullpen also needs to do their job. remember we started the year with 6 finger as closer...

[badgercub]

Also, in 2003, Wood started 32 games, had a 3.20 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP yet he only won 14 games on a team that won their division.

 

http://baseball-reference.com/w/woodke02.shtml

 

I know other years he could have an excuse because the Cubs stunk, but what happened that year? He has no excuse.

 

run support and the bullpen blowing leads are the two reasons a pitcher with a 3.20 ERA doesn't have more than 14 wins.

 

Yeah, actually, I've always blamed Wood in part for his low win totals. No question about it, this guy has gotten screwed more than his fair share by the bullpen, but he's pretty inconsistent. Wood will have a great game, a good game and crappy game and pretty much alternate the whole season. He's so dominating when he is on that his total ERA remains good, but the inconsistentcy doesn't give him or the team as many opportunites to win the game. When he is off, you can pretty much mark down as a loss.

 

Wins are a team stat and a worthless stat when determining if a pitcher is good or not. How many times does this argument have to come up.

[srbin84]

Also, in 2003, Wood started 32 games, had a 3.20 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP yet he only won 14 games on a team that won their division.

 

http://baseball-reference.com/w/woodke02.shtml

 

I know other years he could have an excuse because the Cubs stunk, but what happened that year? He has no excuse.

 

run support and the bullpen blowing leads are the two reasons a pitcher with a 3.20 ERA doesn't have more than 14 wins.

 

Yeah, actually, I've always blamed Wood in part for his low win totals. No question about it, this guy has gotten screwed more than his fair share by the bullpen, but he's pretty inconsistent. Wood will have a great game, a good game and crappy game and pretty much alternate the whole season. He's so dominating when he is on that his total ERA remains good, but the inconsistentcy doesn't give him or the team as many opportunites to win the game. When he is off, you can pretty much mark down as a loss.

 

Wins are a team stat and a worthless stat when determining if a pitcher is good or not. How many times does this argument have to come up.

 

I'm at the front of the line in that agrument, believe me. I'm just pointing out that because of the inconsistency of Wood (and high pitch counts, that's another good point), his ERA isn't as good/valuable to the team as it looks.

[Andy]

When did Prior strike out 20 hitters in a game?

 

I agree. I can't give up on Prior yet. I've given up hope on Wood though. Seeing him leave wouldn't bother me in the least. I know he had the 20 strikeout game but he hasn't shown the ability to be healthy. Never mind the fact that he's not that great of a pitcher. He's above average but he's not that great. Come on, the guy hasn't even won 15 games in a season (14 is his career high)

Everything after the bolded is about Wood. I was confused for a second as well.

[Andy]

I seem to remember another California guy who would have stayed here had Hendry even given him a second look. So I don't think the fact that he's from CA would have all that much impact on Prior, either.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I seem to remember another California guy who would have stayed here had Hendry even given him a second look. So I don't think the fact that he's from CA would have all that much impact on Prior, either.

 

Especially since that guy went running back to his home state in free agency too.

[Andy]

I seem to remember another California guy who would have stayed here had Hendry even given him a second look. So I don't think the fact that he's from CA would have all that much impact on Prior, either.

 

Especially since that guy went running back to his home state in free agency too.

IMO that has a lot more to do with Ned Colletti's love of former Red Sox players (Mueller, Lowe, Nomar, etc) than with Nomar's actual wishes.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I seem to remember another California guy who would have stayed here had Hendry even given him a second look. So I don't think the fact that he's from CA would have all that much impact on Prior, either.

 

Especially since that guy went running back to his home state in free agency too.

IMO that has a lot more to do with Ned Colletti's love of former Red Sox players (Mueller, Lowe, Nomar, etc) than with Nomar's actual wishes.

 

I was actually thinking of Maddux, but I guess he's not from CA, is he. I need to turn my brain on today.

[imb]

I seem to remember another California guy who would have stayed here had Hendry even given him a second look. So I don't think the fact that he's from CA would have all that much impact on Prior, either.

 

Especially since that guy went running back to his home state in free agency too.

IMO that has a lot more to do with Ned Colletti's love of former Red Sox players (Mueller, Lowe, Nomar, etc) than with Nomar's actual wishes.

 

I was actually thinking of Maddux, but I guess he's not from CA, is he. I need to turn my brain on today.

 

Vegas baby, VEGAS!

[srbin84]

I was wondering why the heck TT would back a pessimistic/critical point about Prior, haha.

[Mark_R]

Does anyone even know what the reason Prior is on the DL for? He has just disappeared out of sight and mind. I don't know what's wrong with him.

[NCCubFan]

He was already behind schedule in Spring Training and questionable for the start of the season due to an illness during the winter. He was then set back further due to straining a shoulder muscle in Spring Training.

[CubDad4Ever]

Well some people now have there wish Greg Maddux, an underproducing Z and 3 rookies in the rotation. Dusty better not get an ounce of blame with the talent the cubs are trotting on the field. I could care less if Prior or Wood "want to come back. " they have done crap compared to old man Maddux. One of the metrics that count most is can you freakin pick up the ball and produce. I will always be a cub fan and am way proud of their effort so far. They are outmanned Coach L

[srbin84]

Prior probably isn't soft, but I think he may have Traumatophobia. It's the fear of being injured. I don't think it would hurt him to see a sports psychologist.

[goonys evil twin]

Well some people now have there wish Greg Maddux, an underproducing Z and 3 rookies in the rotation.

 

Who wished for that, aside from opposing fans?

 

Dusty better not get an ounce of blame with the talent the cubs are trotting on the field.

 

Dusty wanted the "versatile" backups that litter the lineup now with their inability to hit. And as long as guys who pitched big innings for Dusty before are hurt, there's no way you can say he better not get an ounce of blame.

[srbin84]

Well some people now have there wish Greg Maddux, an underproducing Z and 3 rookies in the rotation. Dusty better not get an ounce of blame with the talent the cubs are trotting on the field. I could care less if Prior or Wood "want to come back. " they have done crap compared to old man Maddux. One of the metrics that count most is can you freakin pick up the ball and produce. I will always be a cub fan and am way proud of their effort so far. They are outmanned Coach L

 

I love the way you phrased that point.

[SoonerCubFan]

Also, in 2003, Wood started 32 games, had a 3.20 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP yet he only won 14 games on a team that won their division.

 

http://baseball-reference.com/w/woodke02.shtml

 

I know other years he could have an excuse because the Cubs stunk, but what happened that year? He has no excuse.

 

run support and the bullpen blowing leads are the two reasons a pitcher with a 3.20 ERA doesn't have more than 14 wins.

 

Yeah, actually, I've always blamed Wood in part for his low win totals. No question about it, this guy has gotten screwed more than his fair share by the bullpen, but he's pretty inconsistent. Wood will have a great game, a good game and crappy game and pretty much alternate the whole season. He's so dominating when he is on that his total ERA remains good, but the inconsistentcy doesn't give him or the team as many opportunites to win the game. When he is off, you can pretty much mark down as a loss.

 

Inconsistency has been a recent problem but when healthy he was actually quite consistent. I tracked this pretty closely back in 2001-2003. For example, in 2003 Wood was one of the MOST consistent starters in MLB, having around 22-23 quality starts, which was topped by only a couple of other starters. I looked at every starter with 15+ wins that year, and they averaged almost 1 win/quality start. Guys like David Wells had MORE wins the quality starts. The bullpen was exactly the main reason then. Wood had 7 games with blown leads in the 8th inning or later. All of the 15+ win guys had AT MOST just TWO blown leads. Matt Morris, for instance, had ZERO that same year. By all rights, Wood should have won 19+ games in 2003, and over 15 in 2001-2002. The question now is whether he can return to 2001-2003 form, and stay healthy from here on.

[badger1679666666]

1) It is absolutely mindboggling that people still use the 15 game win plateau to judge Kerry Wood, or any other pitcher for that reason.

 

2) Regardless, Kerry Wood should have won 15 games in 1998 and 2003 for sure. He had the poorest run support of any starting pitcher for the Cubs in 2003.

[sonofsamiam]

Hard luck for Kerry Wood in 2003:

 

4/23: 2 runs in 7 IP; gets the loss (Cubs are shut out)

5/10: 1 run in 7 IP; gets a ND (Cubs win game)

5/15: 0 runs in 7 IP (3 hits and 2 BB); gets a ND (Cubs win game)

5/25: 1 run in 7 IP (allows only 1 hit); gets the loss (Cubs are shut out)

8/11: 2 runs in 7 IP; gets the loss (Cubs score 1)

8/27: 0 runs in 7 IP; gets a ND (bullpen blows game)

9/2: 2 runs in 7 IP (1 earned); gets the loss (Cubs are shut out)

9/12: 1 run in 6 IP; gets a ND (bullpen blows lead; Cubs win game)

 

If he'd just gotten the win in 3 of these games (which certainly would seem reasonable), would people have quit ragging on him?

[badger1679666666]

Hard luck for Kerry Wood in 2003:

 

4/23: 2 runs in 7 IP; gets the loss (Cubs are shut out)

5/10: 1 run in 7 IP; gets a ND (Cubs win game)

5/15: 0 runs in 7 IP (3 hits and 2 BB); gets a ND (Cubs win game)

5/25: 1 run in 7 IP (allows only 1 hit); gets the loss (Cubs are shut out)

8/11: 2 runs in 7 IP; gets the loss (Cubs score 1)

8/27: 0 runs in 7 IP; gets a ND (bullpen blows game)

9/2: 2 runs in 7 IP (1 earned); gets the loss (Cubs are shut out)

9/12: 1 run in 6 IP; gets a ND (bullpen blows lead; Cubs win game)

 

If he'd just gotten the win in 3 of these games (which certainly would seem reasonable), would people have quit ragging on him?

 

It's woody's fault. He should have gone longer than 7 IP with 2 runs or less.

 

 

 

:roll: :roll: