Update on Wood

[FergieJ31]

Likeable? Definitely.

 

I do wish he would have changed his delivery much earlier, though. But that's all water under the bridge now.

 

I will say it's kind of hard to tell a guy who has achieved a level of greatness that he needs to change. The tendency is to continue doing what got you the success in the first place.

 

Yes, I couldn't agree more with the bolded part above. Someone once said (might have been Stone - I forget now) that throwing the 20k game in his fifth career MLB game might have been the worst thing that could happen to him.

 

It seems to me he DID try to change his mechanics, several times. Every year for the past three years, the annual "Wood-Watch" has included breathless proclamations of "Wood has new mechanics! Less violent delivery! Doesn't throw across his body! Doesn't throw the arm-killing slurve anymore! etc. etc." I believe the "mechanics" thing was VASTLY overplayed in the media. It made experts out of everyone. Z's delivery is abysmal by comparison, and he's never missed a single start in his career due to a pitching-related injury. Ever watch films of Bob Gibson? The guy was practically on the first-base line by the time he delivered a pitch, and he was never injured. The truth is, part of his problem is simply genetic: he's gifted enough to throw 95-100, and throw absolutely filthy breaking balls, but the underlying infrastructure (mainly ligament resiliency) just isn't there to support that violence year after year, especially after the abuse he got in 03.

 

Anyway, I agree there's not much new in that SunTimes article vs what was reported yesterday, but the part that really makes me think Wood is done as a Cub - and possibly as a baseball player - is the bit about him being too distraught to talk to media. Kerry has always been a stand-up guy ... I don't think I've ever heard of him begging off talking to the media. This is a guy who talked to reporters after NLCS game 7 and tearfully proclaim he choked. He doesn't shy away from the tough interview, that's what makes me worry that he's done, and he KNOWS he's done this time.

 

I'll say this much though: there will inevitably be a team that takes a flyer on him next year, and I hope to God it's an AL team. I want to be able to root for a successful comeback for him -- he's just such a good kid (well, guess he's not a kid anymore). But if he's an Astro, for instance ... man that would suck.

[SoonerCubFan]

The difference being, though, that Smoltz was about five years older, under contract (I believe), and the Braves had a need for it. Wood still needs to gain the remaining 4-5 mph on his fastball during this rehab, But even if the Cubs were looking to re-sign him, it's not going to be as a bullpen pitcher, where there is a real possibility of him overdoing it or being subject to harmful usage patters. Not with three late-inning bullpen pitcher with multi-year deals. So, in my opinion, it would benefit everyone more if Wood can take his time rehabbing this as they're doing (where he can throw in a controlled setting and communicate with Rothschild/O'Neal) and start again later on.

 

Actually, Smoltz was injured all of 2000, came back in the reliever role in 2001 at exactly the same point of impending free agency, re-signed with his old team, and had 3 great years as closer following his one year bullpen exposure, and later was able to go back to starting. The 5 year older argument actually seems more to Wood's benefit than against. As for need, I'd suggest that if he could be as dominant as he was in relief in 2005, Dempster could always be supplanted. The only question is whether this braintrust could figure out how to get him transitioned over. Lastly, it seems clear to me that this insistence on throwing 60+ (let alone 100+ needed for an effective starter) pitches per outing has proven beyond a doubt to be harmful to him, at least at this stage. Again, there is an easy way to get him converted, and is the only way I see for him to have any hope of saving his career for himself and hopefully as a Cub.

[Andy]

Dusty, Larry and Co. have now officially ruined one player's career, Prior's already on the way, Murton's starting down the path, and Felix Pie, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall are on deck.

[Scott G. F.]

Dusty, Larry and Co. have now officially ruined one player's career, Prior's already on the way, Murton's starting down the path, and Felix Pie, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall are on deck.

 

Pratt, Hawkins, Patterson, Hill, Choi...shall I continue?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Dusty, Larry and Co. have now officially ruined one player's career, Prior's already on the way, Murton's starting down the path, and Felix Pie, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall are on deck.

 

Pratt, Hawkins, Patterson, Hill, Choi...shall I continue?

 

Hawkins and Patterson maybe, but Pratt and Hill were broken before that. Choi wasn't exactly headed for stardom either.

[Scott G. F.]

Dusty, Larry and Co. have now officially ruined one player's career, Prior's already on the way, Murton's starting down the path, and Felix Pie, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall are on deck.

 

Pratt, Hawkins, Patterson, Hill, Choi...shall I continue?

 

Hawkins and Patterson maybe, but Pratt and Hill were broken before that. Choi wasn't exactly headed for stardom either.

 

Dubois, Remlinger, Farnsworth, Sosa....

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Dusty, Larry and Co. have now officially ruined one player's career, Prior's already on the way, Murton's starting down the path, and Felix Pie, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall are on deck.

 

Pratt, Hawkins, Patterson, Hill, Choi...shall I continue?

 

Hawkins and Patterson maybe, but Pratt and Hill were broken before that. Choi wasn't exactly headed for stardom either.

 

Dubois, Remlinger, Farnsworth, Sosa....

 

Dubois was a AAAA player, Remlinger and Sosa were getting old, and Farnsworth hasn't exactly been ruined -- he's just good every other year.

[baseball7897]

Dusty, Larry and Co. have now officially ruined one player's career, Prior's already on the way, Murton's starting down the path, and Felix Pie, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall are on deck.

 

Pratt, Hawkins, Patterson, Hill, Choi...shall I continue?

 

Hawkins and Patterson maybe, but Pratt and Hill were broken before that. Choi wasn't exactly headed for stardom either.

 

Dubois, Remlinger, Farnsworth, Sosa....

 

All 4 of these guys are bums.

[Scott G. F.]

Dusty, Larry and Co. have now officially ruined one player's career, Prior's already on the way, Murton's starting down the path, and Felix Pie, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall are on deck.

 

Pratt, Hawkins, Patterson, Hill, Choi...shall I continue?

 

Hawkins and Patterson maybe, but Pratt and Hill were broken before that. Choi wasn't exactly headed for stardom either.

 

Dubois, Remlinger, Farnsworth, Sosa....

 

Dubois was a AAAA player, Remlinger and Sosa were getting old, and Farnsworth hasn't exactly been ruined -- he's just good every other year.

 

okay, Stoney, Chip, Veres, Dave Tumbus, Yosh, Wellingmeyer, Kelton...

[Jon]

The difference being, though, that Smoltz was about five years older, under contract (I believe), and the Braves had a need for it. Wood still needs to gain the remaining 4-5 mph on his fastball during this rehab, But even if the Cubs were looking to re-sign him, it's not going to be as a bullpen pitcher, where there is a real possibility of him overdoing it or being subject to harmful usage patters. Not with three late-inning bullpen pitcher with multi-year deals. So, in my opinion, it would benefit everyone more if Wood can take his time rehabbing this as they're doing (where he can throw in a controlled setting and communicate with Rothschild/O'Neal) and start again later on.

 

Actually, Smoltz was injured all of 2000, came back in the reliever role in 2001 at exactly the same point of impending free agency, re-signed with his old team, and had 3 great years as closer following his one year bullpen exposure, and later was able to go back to starting. The 5 year older argument actually seems more to Wood's benefit than against. As for need, I'd suggest that if he could be as dominant as he was in relief in 2005, Dempster could always be supplanted. The only question is whether this braintrust could figure out how to get him transitioned over. Lastly, it seems clear to me that this insistence on throwing 60+ (let alone 100+ needed for an effective starter) pitches per outing has proven beyond a doubt to be harmful to him, at least at this stage. Again, there is an easy way to get him converted, and is the only way I see for him to have any hope of saving his career for himself and hopefully as a Cub.

But it hasn't proven harmful. He's still in the midst of building up arm strength and there's no indication that he's done any damage to his shoulder in the process. There hasn't been anything to determine that he can't build up his arm strength. He hasn't really gone backwards at this point, he's just not moving forwards. But prior to this, he was (albeit slower than you'd want) building up arm strength. A move to the bullpen would essentially be taking him out of this rehab process and prematurely conceding that he can't start.

 

There's no place for him in the bullpen (rather, we need room for Wuertz) and they're not playing for anything. He needs to focus on building up arm strength and not getting guys out. Let him fully rehab from this and see where he is then. There's still a lot of time left in the season.

[Jon]

It's worth noting that the Sun-Times article said nothing that wasn't already reported and only loosely speculated that there's a possibility that he could be done for the season.

 

Any updates on Wood's towel throwing? He's probably just going to keep throwing that towel all over the place until the used car market picks up and he can find a new job.

I thought he was enjoying his time on the DL and isn't looking to work.

[baseball7897]

It's worth noting that the Sun-Times article said nothing that wasn't already reported and only loosely speculated that there's a possibility that he could be done for the season.

 

Any updates on Wood's towel throwing? He's probably just going to keep throwing that towel all over the place until the used car market picks up and he can find a new job.

I thought he was enjoying his time on the DL and isn't looking to work.

 

Alot if not every pitcher uses the towel drill to work on mechanics. The drill works on extension the more extension the more velocity you will have. The towel drill is a good off-season exercise to keep your mechanics in line.

[Andy]

Dusty, Larry and Co. have now officially ruined one player's career, Prior's already on the way, Murton's starting down the path, and Felix Pie, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall are on deck.

 

Pratt, Hawkins, Patterson, Hill, Choi...shall I continue?

Hawkins you could make an argument, but Hill and Pratt aren't good enough to have a ruined career, Patterson's career is taking a turn for the MUCH better in Baltimore, and if Dusty helped ruin Choi, so did LA and Florida who refused to play him also.

[fromthestretch]

Dusty, Larry and Co. have now officially ruined one player's career, Prior's already on the way, Murton's starting down the path, and Felix Pie, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall are on deck.

 

Pratt, Hawkins, Patterson, Hill, Choi...shall I continue?

Hawkins you could make an argument, but Hill and Pratt aren't good enough to have a ruined career, Patterson's career is taking a turn for the MUCH better in Baltimore, and if Dusty helped ruin Choi, so did LA and Florida who refused to play him also.

 

Florida did play him regularly during the time he was there, and he produced. Cubs let him rot on the bench after the concussion, and LA never really gave him a fair shot, especially right after they acquired him.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Alot if not every pitcher uses the towel drill to work on mechanics.

 

Completely false.

[baseball7897]

Alot if not every pitcher uses the towel drill to work on mechanics.

 

Completely false.

 

Your completely false.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Alot if not every pitcher uses the towel drill to work on mechanics.

 

Completely false.

 

Your completely false.

 

It's "you're", and no, the towel drill isn't all that common at all. There's a reason it's so well known that Prior does it.

[mg420]

bad mechanics, subborn attitutude & questionable work ethic = usless, hurt pitcher. too bad they couldnt have dumped him to texas when he was worth something. i would say his days of 95+ are long gone and unless he can learn to pitch at 90, he doesnt have much value imo. time to dump wood, trade maddux by the deadline & prior by next year and see what marmol, marshall, hill & guzman can do along with miller & z.

Wait, who says Wood has a stubborn attitude and questionable work ethic?

wood has refused to change his delivery (which probably has alot to do with his inability to stay healthy) for several years now. i guess he made some progress on that front this year but it looks like too little too late. as far as his work ethic goes, that is an assumption on my part. he seems to have gotten out of shape the last few years and gained some weight. not every pitcher can be like clemens but he is way too young to be slacking off in the conditioning department imo.

 

that's a pretty baseless and stupid assumption.

 

 

 

God this sucks. I am uber depressed. I guess I will always have that game 7 HR against the Marlins to give me chills - "Kerry Wood plays longball"

 

My favorite player ever on the Cubs, and his career with us will fizzle to an end.

 

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

 

perhaps it is but no more so or less so than many assumptions on this board. when i see wood looking like he gained 20 lbs after several extended stays on the dl, i assume it's due to lack of conditioning but i guess it could be due to other factors (but i cant seem to think of one myself). i deeply apologize for my obviously baseless observation.

[ronsanto10]

is woody done as a Cub??

[Jon]

It's worth noting that the Sun-Times article said nothing that wasn't already reported and only loosely speculated that there's a possibility that he could be done for the season.

 

Any updates on Wood's towel throwing? He's probably just going to keep throwing that towel all over the place until the used car market picks up and he can find a new job.

I thought he was enjoying his time on the DL and isn't looking to work.

 

Alot if not every pitcher uses the towel drill to work on mechanics. The drill works on extension the more extension the more velocity you will have. The towel drill is a good off-season exercise to keep your mechanics in line.

The towel drill is widely credited to Tom House. I can't recall ever seeing another major league pitcher use it. Those kinds of drills are rare in the majors. The only other time I've seen it was during the WBC. Some of the Cuban pitchers did it prior to warming up in the bullpen.

 

But nobody else on the Cubs does it.

Edited June 21, 2006 by Jon

[Roast]

Alot if not every pitcher uses the towel drill to work on mechanics.

 

Completely false.

 

Your completely false.

 

That may qualify is the most childish comeback I've ever seen on this board.

[DiamondMind]

Who cares anymore?

[ronsanto10]

wood maybe done for the year.....could this be the end for him as a cub?

 

 

http://www.comcast.net/sports/mlb/index.jsp?cat=BASEBALL&fn=/teams/2006/06/21/418629.html

[Outshined_One]

Dusty, Larry and Co. have now officially ruined one player's career, Prior's already on the way, Murton's starting down the path, and Felix Pie, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall are on deck.

 

Chad Fox says hi.

 

Alot if not every pitcher uses the towel drill to work on mechanics.

 

Completely false.

 

Your completely false.

 

YOU'RE A TOWEL!

[illiniguy]

Dusty, Larry and Co. have now officially ruined one player's career, Prior's already on the way, Murton's starting down the path, and Felix Pie, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall are on deck.

 

Chad Fox says hi.

 

Alot if not every pitcher uses the towel drill to work on mechanics.

 

Completely false.

 

Your completely false.

 

YOU'RE A TOWEL!

That, my friends, is why OO is a superstar. Haha Towely.