Wood as closer

[Sammy Sofa]

I never warmed up to Prior, I don't think anyone really did.

 

I sure did. It's hard not to when someone pitches as flat out awesome as he has for the Cubs. It's not like he's come across as some kind of terrible human being...why wouldn't people "warm up" to him?

[RichHillIsABeast]

I never warmed up to Prior, I don't think anyone really did.

 

I sure did. It's hard not to when someone pitches as flat out awesome as he has for the Cubs. It's not like he's come across as some kind of terrible human being...why wouldn't people "warm up" to him?

 

I love Prior.

[BigbadB]

<----------Huge Prior fan!

[CubColtPacer]

I never warmed up to Prior, I don't think anyone really did.

 

I sure did. It's hard not to when someone pitches as flat out awesome as he has for the Cubs. It's not like he's come across as some kind of terrible human being...why wouldn't people "warm up" to him?

 

I wholeheartedly agree with this. Prior was my favorite pitcher in 03-don't get me wrong, I loved Wood, but Prior made it look so easy that it was wonderful. I went to game 2 of the Atlanta series, and the Braves fans were talking about how impressive Wood was, but that they weren't sure if Prior was any good or not. I turned around and asked him if they had ever seen him pitch, and they said no. I said "Wait for game 3...you're in for a treat." Then he went out and beat Maddux in that game-also the Bonds-Prior staredown from earlier that season was beautiful as well. By that time, I think everyone was prepared for some of the Wood injuries (we had been hearing about his mechanics for years) but the Prior injuries hurt badly because they were so unexpected. I'd love to see him make a comeback and be that pitcher again, and I hope his shoulder cooperates one day.

[ltb]

I don't think Wood can handle the workload of a closer. He needs to be used as a 2 innings every 3 days type of setup man. And he will dominate at that. If we need him more often (2IP/2 days) down the stretch, that will probably be fine, but if Lou rides him hard early in the season, I wouldn't expect him to be healthy later.

[BCVM22]

I couldn't agree more. This has been a somewhat depressing off-season, but one of the things I look forward to most next year at Wrigley is seeing Wood come out of the pen late in a game with the Cubs clinging to a slim lead. The crowd will go absolutely nuts when he starts mowing guys down.

 

This is one of the best mental images of baseball I've had all offseason. Wrigley during this would rival Dodger Stadium in Gagné's heyday. No Metallica/AC-DC theme song needed, just the place going nuts.

[C.C.]

I couldn't agree more. This has been a somewhat depressing off-season, but one of the things I look forward to most next year at Wrigley is seeing Wood come out of the pen late in a game with the Cubs clinging to a slim lead. The crowd will go absolutely nuts when he starts mowing guys down.

 

This is one of the best mental images of baseball I've had all offseason. Wrigley during this would rival Dodger Stadium in Gagné's heyday. No Metallica/AC-DC theme song needed, just the place going nuts.

 

I pray Wood is healthy next year. He really is a blast to watch when he is on.

[soapy]

<----------Huge Prior fan!

 

Really, Prior's second half of 2003 was absolutely stunning (at age 22?). I don't see how anyone wouldn't get caught up in that.

 

10-1; 1.52 ERA; 95K; 16BB

[TruffleShuffle]

<----------Huge Prior fan!

 

Really, Prior's second half of 2003 was absolutely stunning (at age 22?). I don't see how anyone wouldn't get caught up in that.

 

10-1; 1.52 ERA; 95K; 16BB

 

please stop, you're making me depressed

[Soul]

I don't think Wood can handle the workload of a closer. He needs to be used as a 2 innings every 3 days type of setup man. And he will dominate at that. If we need him more often (2IP/2 days) down the stretch, that will probably be fine, but if Lou rides him hard early in the season, I wouldn't expect him to be healthy later.

 

I think he'll be fine as closer. But I don't know Lou will do that. He might do as you say.

[soapy]

<----------Huge Prior fan!

 

Really, Prior's second half of 2003 was absolutely stunning (at age 22?). I don't see how anyone wouldn't get caught up in that.

 

10-1; 1.52 ERA; 95K; 16BB

 

please stop, you're making me depressed

If I'm going to be depressed, I'm going to bring others down with me!

[Mark Priors Calves]

I love Mark Prior.

[C.C.]

I love Mark Prior.

 

He's a whimp! Get on the bump and pitch!

 

 

:wink:

[Soul]

I love Mark Prior.

 

He's a whimp! Get on the bump and pitch!

 

 

:wink:

 

I've got a feeling he's going to this year. I just feel good about both Rich Hill & Marky Mark.

 

Hill's ready to show what he can really do. Prior's got the motivation of knowing he's on the cusp of losing all that he wanted to achieve in this league.

[C.C.]

I love Mark Prior.

 

He's a whimp! Get on the bump and pitch!

 

 

:wink:

 

I've got a feeling he's going to this year. I just feel good about both Rich Hill & Marky Mark.

 

Hill's ready to show what he can really do. Prior's got the motivation of knowing he's on the cusp of losing all that he wanted to achieve in this league.

 

I don't feel good about Prior. I think this is the year when he finally will realize he'll need surgury. I feel better about Wood then I do about Prior.

[Amazing_Grace]

A couple of things to remember about the first inning.

 

First, teams set up their entire lineup based on the first inning with their best hitters usually hitting 1-5 in some order based on OBP, speed, and power. You aren't facing pitchers and weak hitting shortstops and catchers in the first inning. As a closer, you usually don't face a team's "ideal" lineup. Often times it's a pinch hitter coming in cold off the bench or the worst part of the batting order. Sometimes you might face the heart of a lineup, but not all the time.

 

Second, teams usually hit and see the ball better the second and third time through the batting order. They have (if they're not being coached by Dusty) seen several pitches and had a chance to adjust to the pitcher's speed, breaking pitches, and delivery. The fact Kerry's worst inning is the third and not the first lends credence to this. The third inning is often when you go through the top of or the heart of the order a second time if you assume a few hits/walks in the first 2 innings.

 

The pattern may indicate that hitters are more successful as the game progresses rather than less successful against Wood. The 6th is another troublesome inning (perhaps another time the heart of the order comes up), but his numbers start to look better and better beyond this point because after about the 6th, a struggling starter is often pulled. The 7th and beyond numbers will always be better for any pitcher because they reflect where said pitcher was having a good game and stayed in longer than had they been struggling.

 

To me, it looks like Kerry's pattern suggests he might actually be more well suited to relief than to starting. He comes in for a couple innings with velocity likely higher than the player he's relieving (unless it's Z), and by the time hitters adjust, someone else is in the game. As a closer, of course he goes only one inning usually. I also agree with the poster that mentioned pitching more often might make it easier to find the control sooner into the game. It stands to reason the more often you use a skill, the more likely it will be consistent from one use to another. Kerry should be a good closer if he can handle the workload or a good middle reliever if he can't.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I couldn't agree more. This has been a somewhat depressing off-season, but one of the things I look forward to most next year at Wrigley is seeing Wood come out of the pen late in a game with the Cubs clinging to a slim lead. The crowd will go absolutely nuts when he starts mowing guys down.

 

This is one of the best mental images of baseball I've had all offseason. Wrigley during this would rival Dodger Stadium in Gagné's heyday. No Metallica/AC-DC theme song needed, just the place going nuts.

 

I believe Kerry is on record as being a big metalhead. So his theme music should be....??

[snoodmonger]

I couldn't agree more. This has been a somewhat depressing off-season, but one of the things I look forward to most next year at Wrigley is seeing Wood come out of the pen late in a game with the Cubs clinging to a slim lead. The crowd will go absolutely nuts when he starts mowing guys down.

 

This is one of the best mental images of baseball I've had all offseason. Wrigley during this would rival Dodger Stadium in Gagné's heyday. No Metallica/AC-DC theme song needed, just the place going nuts.

 

I believe Kerry is on record as being a big metalhead. So his theme music should be....??

 

...played by Sammy's boombox. Think how fired up Woody would get.

[frostwyrm]

I couldn't agree more. This has been a somewhat depressing off-season, but one of the things I look forward to most next year at Wrigley is seeing Wood come out of the pen late in a game with the Cubs clinging to a slim lead. The crowd will go absolutely nuts when he starts mowing guys down.

 

This is one of the best mental images of baseball I've had all offseason. Wrigley during this would rival Dodger Stadium in Gagné's heyday. No Metallica/AC-DC theme song needed, just the place going nuts.

 

I believe Kerry is on record as being a big metalhead. So his theme music should be....??

 

"Balls to the Wall".

[CuseCubFan69]

I couldn't agree more. This has been a somewhat depressing off-season, but one of the things I look forward to most next year at Wrigley is seeing Wood come out of the pen late in a game with the Cubs clinging to a slim lead. The crowd will go absolutely nuts when he starts mowing guys down.

 

This is one of the best mental images of baseball I've had all offseason. Wrigley during this would rival Dodger Stadium in Gagné's heyday. No Metallica/AC-DC theme song needed, just the place going nuts.

 

I believe Kerry is on record as being a big metalhead. So his theme music should be....??

 

"Butterfly Kisses"

[RichHillIsABeast]

It looks like Wood has incentives in his contract for games FINISHED. :D

 

link

 

The old adage "less is more" may prove its legitimacy with Kerry Wood, who, after several botched comebacks to the rotation, enters 2007 as the Cubs' likely closer. Interestingly, Wood's newly signed contract for a bare $1.75 million over one year includes incentives for games finished. Might his reduced workload lead to the second coming of Dennis Eckersley? OK, that's a little premature, and Wood still bears close watching during Spring Training. Remember, though: Wood's lack of success has always been the result of poor health, not ineffectiveness. The makeup and power-pitching repertoire is all there for the 29-year-old to revive his career as a top-10 closer.

 

 

See u later, Dempster!

[Derwood]

isn't Wood notorious for taking a long time to warm up? how does that affect his use in the bullpen?

[Soul]

isn't Wood notorious for taking a long time to warm up? how does that affect his use in the bullpen?

 

He looked good in some limited BP duty, but ultimately I don't think anyone knows.

[Abe Frohman]

I couldn't agree more. This has been a somewhat depressing off-season, but one of the things I look forward to most next year at Wrigley is seeing Wood come out of the pen late in a game with the Cubs clinging to a slim lead. The crowd will go absolutely nuts when he starts mowing guys down.

 

This is one of the best mental images of baseball I've had all offseason. Wrigley during this would rival Dodger Stadium in Gagné's heyday. No Metallica/AC-DC theme song needed, just the place going nuts.

 

I believe Kerry is on record as being a big metalhead. So his theme music should be....??

 

"Balls to the Wall".

 

I'm thinking "Harvester of Sorrow."

[Soul]

I couldn't agree more. This has been a somewhat depressing off-season, but one of the things I look forward to most next year at Wrigley is seeing Wood come out of the pen late in a game with the Cubs clinging to a slim lead. The crowd will go absolutely nuts when he starts mowing guys down.

 

This is one of the best mental images of baseball I've had all offseason. Wrigley during this would rival Dodger Stadium in Gagné's heyday. No Metallica/AC-DC theme song needed, just the place going nuts.

 

I believe Kerry is on record as being a big metalhead. So his theme music should be....??

 

"Balls to the Wall".

 

I'm thinking "Harvester of Sorrow."

 

That, or "Respect"