Update on Wood

[thedaymen]

If the Cubs resign him to an incentive laden one year deal, I want a team option for the second. I don't want to rehab him and have him get healthy on our dime so the Yankees can give him more money and take him.

[SoonerCubFan]

Yeah...I'm not sold on this until someone other than Baker makes a concrete statement indicating that Wood cannot be a reliever.

 

"You can sit here on the face of it and just say 'Put him in the bullpen,'" Rothschild said. "Anybody going through this shoulder stuff, it takes a lot of preparation to get loose. Even if you get him up the inning before [he pitches], he still may not be ready."

 

 

I concede. He now has no value, has largely contributed to the Cubs demise since '03, and has accumulated a fortune larger than the GDP of Somoa.

 

I hear ya (assuming I believe the LR quote as gospel, which I don't) - he can't start AND he can't relieve doesn't leave much to work with.

 

But, I don't concede. So what if it takes him a while to loosen up? Just do it. As I've said before, just have him on a regular outing schedule of a couple of innings every couple of days until he gets the kinks worked out. Either an extended 60 day rehab in the minors (now with about 45 days left), or just have him loose for the 6th or 7th inning of every Maddux start to work 2+ innings. That should keep him under the 60 pitch limit, get him built into the role, and even give a shot at being a real contributor.

[Jon]

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.

 

Jon, I assume the latest revelations may have changed your stance on these issues. I would suggest that instead of prematurely conceding that he can't hold up to starting (as his vast injury history seems to blare out), they are now overdue. I, like you, was long supportive of Wood as a starter, but these developments on top of the way he looked out of the pen last year have me 100% convinced otherwise.

What revelations? All that has been said is that the doctors believe his arm is sound, he's going to keep working, and isn't giving up. Everything else has been media speculation based on relatively vague uncertainty over Wood's current position. Sure there's a possibility that he might not start again this season, but what's actually being said doesn't suggest that it's the likely possibility.

 

Cubs.com[/url]"]I threw 60 pitches or so and felt great, threw the ball great," Wood said. "And then I just hit a wall."

 

...............

 

"Each day I get more and more doubts," Wood said. "You can't give up. You've got to keep going. [Head athletic trainer] Mark [O'Neal] has worked hard with me all year long, so we've got to keep going and working hard, and hopefully it gets better."

 

...............

 

"I tried to pitch my way through it, and it hasn't worked out well so far," Wood said. "I've just got to try to get it ready to go throw again in the bullpen and see if we can strengthen it. And hopefully I'll start recovering better."

 

The good news is that team doctors say Wood's arm is sound.

 

"Structurally, they're pretty sure there's nothing damaged or anything," Wood said. "If I had a torn rotator [cuff] or my ligament was bothering me again, I wouldn't be able to do what I did yesterday."

I suppose the lack of endurance in this session shouldn't be that big of a surprise considering he didn't pitch for 7 or 8 days, but obviously he shouldn't have felt like he did. Regardless, the reality isn't nearly as grim right now as the media is presenting it.

 

And he may have an ugly injury history, but outside of this injury, he hasn't had any other major structural problems since about 1999, I believe.

[SoonerCubFan]

What revelations? All that has been said is that the doctors believe his arm is sound, he's going to keep working, and isn't giving up. Everything else has been media speculation based on relatively vague uncertainty over Wood's current position. Sure there's a possibility that he might not start again this season, but what's actually being said doesn't suggest that it's the likely possibility.

 

Oh, there's certainly rampant media overspeculation, no doubt. But I'm referring to the more ominous direct quotes such as these:

 

"Pitching my way through it hasn't worked that well so far,'' (Wood) said.

 

"The first 50 or so pitches, he felt normal, very good,'' O'Neal said. "Then we kind of hit -- I don't want to call it an inevitable wall -- but we kind of hit that level where he started to get back into some of the sensations he was feeling in his last two starts. As far as fatigue and not being able to put a lot on the ball."

 

I hope I'm wrong, but I see nothing hopeful about pursuing starting for him for at least a year, if ever. I do see a very real alternative that could be win-win all around. We'll see how it plays out.

[Jon]

What revelations? All that has been said is that the doctors believe his arm is sound, he's going to keep working, and isn't giving up. Everything else has been media speculation based on relatively vague uncertainty over Wood's current position. Sure there's a possibility that he might not start again this season, but what's actually being said doesn't suggest that it's the likely possibility.

 

Oh, there's certainly rampant media overspeculation, no doubt. But I'm referring to the more ominous direct quotes such as these:

 

"Pitching my way through it hasn't worked that well so far,'' (Wood) said.

 

"The first 50 or so pitches, he felt normal, very good,'' O'Neal said. "Then we kind of hit -- I don't want to call it an inevitable wall -- but we kind of hit that level where he started to get back into some of the sensations he was feeling in his last two starts. As far as fatigue and not being able to put a lot on the ball."

 

I hope I'm wrong, but I see nothing hopeful about pursuing starting for him for at least a year, if ever. I do see a very real alternative that could be win-win all around. We'll see how it plays out.

I see those as pretty in line with what happened in his last simulated game, but I'd expect Wood to be really frustrated. He expected to be hitting his stride right about now, not spending more time on the DL. He also said that all he can do is keep going, which is all he can do right now.

[CuseCubFan69]

I'm curious on what kind of workouts Wood does in between starts because I just get this picture in my head of a guy on his couch eating nachos.

 

Another thing.....I'm curious on how much of this damage was done when he was in High School? I thought I read he pitched both games of double headers and if this is true it's possible he damaged body parts during his maturing development and that they may never be able to fixed.

[impaler_240]

He is already a millionaire so I doubt he cares much about his future as a MLB pitcher. He played the system, and he won. 8) I wish Kerry the best, but don't look to him as a valuable piece of this team going forward.

[badger1679666666]

He is already a millionaire so I doubt he cares much about his future as a MLB pitcher. He played the system, and he won. 8) I wish Kerry the best, but don't look to him as a valuable piece of this team going forward.

 

Players that get to the level of Kerry Wood, don't do so solely for financial gain. Yeah he's set financially, but if you've every played a sport, you know there is a competetive fire/desire innate within. I'm sure he wants to play and win a WS. As merely a very good high school athlete, all I wanted to do was win. Downtime between seasons sucked. You do get some athletes that only care about money, but Woody has never struck me that way.

[impaler_240]

He is already a millionaire so I doubt he cares much about his future as a MLB pitcher. He played the system, and he won. 8) I wish Kerry the best, but don't look to him as a valuable piece of this team going forward.

 

Players that get to the level of Kerry Wood, don't do so solely for financial gain. Yeah he's set financially, but if you've every played a sport, you know there is a competetive fire/desire innate within. I'm sure he wants to play and win a WS. As merely a very good high school athlete, all I wanted to do was win. Downtime between seasons sucked. You do get some athletes that only care about money, but Woody has never struck me that way.

 

I was a successful high school and college athlete (golf) so I understand the competitive drive. If you read my post again, I never said that Wood is a mooch or greedy, I said that he successfully played and beat the system. I am sure he wants to win as much as anyone. :cry:

[SoonerCubFan]

I see those as pretty in line with what happened in his last simulated game, but I'd expect Wood to be really frustrated. He expected to be hitting his stride right about now, not spending more time on the DL. He also said that all he can do is keep going, which is all he can do right now.

 

Well, it's been nice working this one over with you. Like I said, I'd love to see him get back to his 2003 form as a SP, but I still see his only hope of being truly dominant in a sustainable role as being out of the pen. Time will tell, I just hope whatever path he takes is the right one, and benefits the Cubs not some other team.

[Too Tall]

I was a successful high school and college athlete (golf) so I understand the competitive drive. If you read my post again, I never said that Wood is a mooch or greedy, I said that he successfully played and beat the system. I am sure he wants to win as much as anyone. :cry:

Sorry, this is going to be off topic, but you said you were a college golfer.. Would you happen to have any tips on putting.. I am horrible. I shoot low 40 - 44 for 9 but have 18-22 puts, 18 if I'm lucky that day.. I was just looking up some tips online before checking nsbb and read your post so I thought I'd ask. Thanks.

 

Sorry to post off topice..

We gotta let him go. We can't just rely on this guy for his five or six crappy starts every year. Don't give me that "WELL IF HE PLAYS FOR THE RAGNERS HE'LL BE GOOD AND WE LET HIM GO" stuff. What does it matter what he does elsewhere? He wouldn't have done it here with our miscoaching staff. It's the same deal with Patterson, Garciaparra, and so forth. There are too many variables here, and most of them are Dusty Baker's assistants. If he has a Cy Young year in Dallas, good for him, but he's never going to have one here. Let him go.

[badger1679666666]

We gotta let him go. We can't just rely on this guy for his five or six crappy starts every year. Don't give me that "WELL IF HE PLAYS FOR THE RAGNERS HE'LL BE GOOD AND WE LET HIM GO" stuff. What does it matter what he does elsewhere? He wouldn't have done it here with our miscoaching staff. It's the same deal with Patterson, Garciaparra, and so forth. There are too many variables here, and most of them are Dusty Baker's assistants. If he has a Cy Young year in Dallas, good for him, but he's never going to have one here. Let him go.

 

Shouldn't we let Dusty and his assistants go then?

[Monco]

We gotta let him go. We can't just rely on this guy for his five or six crappy starts every year. Don't give me that "WELL IF HE PLAYS FOR THE RAGNERS HE'LL BE GOOD AND WE LET HIM GO" stuff. What does it matter what he does elsewhere? He wouldn't have done it here with our miscoaching staff. It's the same deal with Patterson, Garciaparra, and so forth. There are too many variables here, and most of them are Dusty Baker's assistants. If he has a Cy Young year in Dallas, good for him, but he's never going to have one here. Let him go.

 

Shouldn't we let Dusty and his assistants go then?

yes.

[impaler_240]

I was a successful high school and college athlete (golf) so I understand the competitive drive. If you read my post again, I never said that Wood is a mooch or greedy, I said that he successfully played and beat the system. I am sure he wants to win as much as anyone. :cry:

Sorry, this is going to be off topic, but you said you were a college golfer.. Would you happen to have any tips on putting.. I am horrible. I shoot low 40 - 44 for 9 but have 18-22 puts, 18 if I'm lucky that day.. I was just looking up some tips online before checking nsbb and read your post so I thought I'd ask. Thanks.

 

Sorry to post off topice..

 

I play to around a zero, and I have found that there is really no way to improve your game other than working on the short game. I am sorry to say I have no secrets, just practice all you can.

[NCCubFan]

He is already a millionaire so I doubt he cares much about his future as a MLB pitcher. He played the system, and he won. 8) I wish Kerry the best, but don't look to him as a valuable piece of this team going forward.

 

Players that get to the level of Kerry Wood, don't do so solely for financial gain. Yeah he's set financially, but if you've every played a sport, you know there is a competetive fire/desire innate within. I'm sure he wants to play and win a WS. As merely a very good high school athlete, all I wanted to do was win. Downtime between seasons sucked. You do get some athletes that only care about money, but Woody has never struck me that way.

 

I was a successful high school and college athlete (golf) so I understand the competitive drive. If you read my post again, I never said that Wood is a mooch or greedy, I said that he successfully played and beat the system. I am sure he wants to win as much as anyone. :cry:

But you also said he doesn't care about his future. I seriously doubt that's true.

[NCCubFan]

We gotta let him go. We can't just rely on this guy for his five or six crappy starts every year. Don't give me that "WELL IF HE PLAYS FOR THE RAGNERS HE'LL BE GOOD AND WE LET HIM GO" stuff. What does it matter what he does elsewhere? He wouldn't have done it here with our miscoaching staff. It's the same deal with Patterson, Garciaparra, and so forth. There are too many variables here, and most of them are Dusty Baker's assistants. If he has a Cy Young year in Dallas, good for him, but he's never going to have one here. Let him go.

We don't need to let him go; we just have to have other options if he continues to have injury problems in the future. If we can re-sign him to a low salary plus incentives deal, we should.

[gflore34]

We gotta let him go. We can't just rely on this guy for his five or six crappy starts every year. Don't give me that "WELL IF HE PLAYS FOR THE RAGNERS HE'LL BE GOOD AND WE LET HIM GO" stuff. What does it matter what he does elsewhere? He wouldn't have done it here with our miscoaching staff. It's the same deal with Patterson, Garciaparra, and so forth. There are too many variables here, and most of them are Dusty Baker's assistants. If he has a Cy Young year in Dallas, good for him, but he's never going to have one here. Let him go.

We don't need to let him go; we just have to have other options if he continues to have injury problems in the future. If we can re-sign him to a low salary plus incentives deal, we should.

 

I believe that's a good option, its a win, win situation, if he doesn't pan out, a large sum of money would not have been lost. If does regain his form, that's a bonus as well. However, if resigned I would still go about the building of the staff as if Wood was going to be a non-factor, the same applies to Prior (until he proves he can begin a season of the Active roster).

[Fro]

One has to wonder about Prior and Wood, especially with the new ESPN magazine article talking about how many pitchers are/were on HGH and steroids to help their velocity/stuff and recovery time between outings.