Kerry slowly looking better. .

[A New Era]

I find it funny no one is talking about Kerry (well honestly I don't considering how the Cubs are doing). But as he makes a few starts he has slowly been improving his IP, ERA, and pitch selection.

 

Reds are obviously a better team then Florida so it's good to see he actually pitched better against the better team. I look foward to his next start.

 

That is all. Thank you.

[Shavo]

I won't lie. I was proud of my Woody watching this game.

[A New Era]

I won't lie. I was proud of my Woody watching this game.

 

eww. sorry, I had to do it. :oops:

[cubfan1955]

I find it funny no one is talking about Kerry (well honestly I don't considering how the Cubs are doing). But as he makes a few starts he has slowly been improving his IP, ERA, and pitch selection.

 

Reds are obviously a better team then Florida so it's good to see he actually pitched better against the better team. I look foward to his next start.

 

That is all. Thank you.

It's kind of a touchy subject for me because I think Hendry will let him walk at the end of the year no matter how good he pitches. And when he does you just know Wood will turn the corner to greatness.

[Fred Hornkohl]

I find it funny no one is talking about Kerry (well honestly I don't considering how the Cubs are doing). But as he makes a few starts he has slowly been improving his IP, ERA, and pitch selection.

 

Reds are obviously a better team then Florida so it's good to see he actually pitched better against the better team. I look foward to his next start.

 

That is all. Thank you.

It's kind of a touchy subject for me because I think Hendry will let him walk at the end of the year no matter how good he pitches. And when he does you just know Wood will turn the corner to greatness.

 

Take your solace from the fact that Ernie Broglio has a higher career batting with the CUBS than Lou Brock did.

[Monco]

Wood pitched very well today. The defense didn't help him out though. His velocity is still short a few mph.

[Brian]

I've completly changed my stance on Wood, I was original against the option be picked up but if his arm stays on all year I say Hendry has to pick it up (or work out a new deal). I don't want this to turn into an Alou situation (declining an expensive option and LF hasn't been the same since and he's hitting like crazy since leaving (though not always healthy)).

[Neuby]

If the Cubs are still tanking it come July and Wood has pitched well enough to warrant a bidding war I would love to get some of Boston's young guns with the hope that Wood would be open to returning to the Cubs at a discounted rate given his inability to stay on the mound. It won't happen but it would be nice.

[badger1679666666]

I want to know where the people claiming he is damaged goods and that his career is over are, because he was throwing 90-94 the first two games.

 

He game out today getting up to 96, and that velocity will only get better with more games and innings.

 

I just wish people wouldn't be so knee jerk around here but that's like wishing for Dusty to become a good manager.

[louisvillecub]

He did look good. However, let's hope that he doesn't develop more shoulder soreness like he has after his previous two starts...

[Fred Hornkohl]

There's definitely cause for optimism. Here it is by the numbers.....

 

Wood                    IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
05/18  vs. Wash        5.0    5    4    4    0    6    3    71  0.00 10.80  5.40  1.00  7.20
05/23  vs. Flor        5.0    2    3    3    5    3    1    86  9.00  5.40  1.80  1.40  5.40
05/29  vs. Cincy       6.0    5    2    1    1    4    0    85  1.50  6.00  0.00  1.00  1.50

totals                16.0   12    9    8    6   13    4   242  3.38  7.31  2.25  1.13  4.50

[badger1679666666]

He did look good. However, let's hope that he doesn't develop more shoulder soreness like he has after his previous two starts...

 

Well as he said last weekend and today, the soreness is normal. All SP get sore the day after they pitch. As long as he bounces back quickly it's all good. If they have an extra day off to give them then they should.

[Abe Frohman]

I think, obviously, when Wood keeps the pitch count down and does not walk batters, he is going to be real tough - no matter how many he wiffs.

 

It was nice to see KW throw less pitches per inning and only walk one. Let's see if he can do this consistantly. That is the key.

[MarkPrior]

Wood pitched very well today. The defense didn't help him out though. His velocity is still short a few mph.

 

While I agree, though not scored as errors, there were 2 plays in the field made by the Cubs in the field that hurt Kerry, Murton/Pierre flyball and Walker's groundball(s) (the backhand attempt), but Kerry overcame and I was very impressed. However, he was throwing 94-95 and topped out at 96 I believe the first 2 innings and reduced to it to about 88-90 the rest of the game. I don't expect anything more than that. So if you're wishing his velocity, the reference you made to being short a few mph, be at 98, 99 think again. He won't throw that hard again. He can still be an effective pitcher even when not throwing mid-90s.

 

Again, I was pretty impressed with him today. His curve looked good, and his fastball seemed to have adequate movement. And even though you could attribute my optimism to just his start today, regardless, I am praying he will be a Cub in 2007, and takes a paycut or deferrment or something.

[baseball7897]

Nice to see Kerry Wood get his first vitory since July 05. He showed a nice changeup today and threw alot more 2 seam fastball's. Maybe he realized you dont need to strikeout every batter to win a ball game. Good job Kerry

[CubfaninCA]

I find it funny no one is talking about Kerry (well honestly I don't considering how the Cubs are doing). But as he makes a few starts he has slowly been improving his IP, ERA, and pitch selection.

 

Reds are obviously a better team then Florida so it's good to see he actually pitched better against the better team. I look foward to his next start.

 

That is all. Thank you.

 

I"m trying not to get my hopes up, and crossing my fingers that he doesn't get hurt again.

[soccer10k]

I find it funny no one is talking about Kerry (well honestly I don't considering how the Cubs are doing). But as he makes a few starts he has slowly been improving his IP, ERA, and pitch selection.

 

Reds are obviously a better team then Florida so it's good to see he actually pitched better against the better team. I look foward to his next start.

 

That is all. Thank you.

 

I"m trying not to get my hopes up, and crossing my fingers that he doesn't get hurt again.

 

He'll be back on the DL by July.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'll happily admit I was very impressed with him today, and in several other innings over his first two starts. I'm still not sold as to whether he'd be more useful as a Cub or as trade bait, but hey, I hope whatever happens works out best for the team. But it's the Cubs, so it won't. Oh well.

[CubfaninCA]

I find it funny no one is talking about Kerry (well honestly I don't considering how the Cubs are doing). But as he makes a few starts he has slowly been improving his IP, ERA, and pitch selection.

 

Reds are obviously a better team then Florida so it's good to see he actually pitched better against the better team. I look foward to his next start.

 

That is all. Thank you.

 

I"m trying not to get my hopes up, and crossing my fingers that he doesn't get hurt again.

 

He'll be back on the DL by July.

 

You're probably right. Just watch the Cubs go on a little run.. Get fans hopes up a little and then Wood gets hurt.. again.

[BigSlick]

I won't lie. I was proud of my Woody watching this game.

 

Enjoy it while it lasts.

 

You wont see him after this year.

[cubfan1955]

Take your solace from the fact that Ernie Broglio has a higher career batting with the CUBS than Lou Brock did.

LOL...that makes me feel a lot better about that deal! :lol:

[cubfan1955]

I won't lie. I was proud of my Woody watching this game.

 

Enjoy it while it lasts.

 

You wont see him after this year.

That's my feeling too. Hendry will try to lowball him so far Kerry has to walk away. That is IF Hendry even offers him a contract. It wouldn't surprise me for Hendry to pull a Nomar on him and tell him to try to find the best deal and so long Kerry.

[Outshined_One]

That's my feeling too. Hendry will try to lowball him so far Kerry has to walk away. That is IF Hendry even offers him a contract. It wouldn't surprise me for Hendry to pull a Nomar on him and tell him to try to find the best deal and so long Kerry.

 

I dunno about that one. I think Kerry has had a positive relationship with the Cubs during his tenure and has been generally well-liked. Plus, he and his wife really like Chicago.

 

Granted, that doesn't always mean a guy is 100% for sure coming back, but I think Hendry and Wood's agent will work out an agreeable, incentive-based deal.

[cubfan1955]

That's my feeling too. Hendry will try to lowball him so far Kerry has to walk away. That is IF Hendry even offers him a contract. It wouldn't surprise me for Hendry to pull a Nomar on him and tell him to try to find the best deal and so long Kerry.

 

I dunno about that one. I think Kerry has had a positive relationship with the Cubs during his tenure and has been generally well-liked. Plus, he and his wife really like Chicago.

 

Granted, that doesn't always mean a guy is 100% for sure coming back, but I think Hendry and Wood's agent will work out an agreeable, incentive-based deal.

I hope you are right. For some reason I just have a feeling Hendry thinks he got burned on the last contract he gave to Kerry. No evidence, just a feeling.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

Unless Kerry goes under the knife, I don’t see any scenario that he won’t be back.

 

Zambrano is a free agent after next season and since any contract extension isn’t likely to be resolved till spring training; Hendry will have to go into the off-season assuming it’s his last year. So this will be the last hurrah of the big 3 hoping for a finally healthy Wood and Prior.

 

Factoring in the cost of the buyout, Kerry will cost the Cubs 10.5 mil in 2007 which is cheap in the scheme of the market.