Wood closing in on closer role

[Mizzou]

According to the article below, Lou is leaning toward Kerry for the closer job. To me, this is the ideal setup. Have Marmol be the guy that comes in a tight situation, and maybe pitch the following inning, followed by Howry or Eyre setting up in the 8th, with Kerry fanning the side in the 9th. Sorta like the Nasty Boys Part II.

 

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[BCVM22]

I really like that, to be honest. Marmol as the fireman, Howry setting up and Woody closing it out. And if Marmol doesn't pitch earlier in the game, he's still available in the 9th just in case. Best scenario, if you ask me.

[PrimeTime]

I like it..98 MPH heat in the 9th.. :D If it dosen't work out, then you can always switch Marmol there.

[imb]

Oh man, we're in a series of tough, one-run games, good thing we're up 3-2! Let's put in Woody and go home.

 

Can't boss, he's pitched two days in a row.

 

Oh, well pitch Marmol then!

 

Well he threw 3 innings yesterday.

 

Oh, Howry, then?

 

Nope, he pitched in the 8th.

 

.......f it, put in wood

 

*walk* *walk* *walk*

 

AHHHHHHHHHH

[erik316wttn]

Because Kerry used to be a starter, does he have a little more stamina than most relievers would? Could he pitch 4 or 5 outs if needed to close out the game?

 

I'm not at all suggesting this should be a regular or even a semi-regular occurance, but if the pen is pretty wiped out and there's about 4-5 hitters in a row that he's done well against over his career, why not?

[Post Count Padder]

I prefer it that way.

[Schwarber Fan]

I find it amusing that there has been a report saying that each of the 3 closer candidates has the edge.

[Roast]

Because Kerry used to be a starter, does he have a little more stamina than most relievers would? Could he pitch 4 or 5 outs if needed to close out the game?

 

I'm not at all suggesting this should be a regular or even a semi-regular occurance, but if the pen is pretty wiped out and there's about 4-5 hitters in a row that he's done well against over his career, why not?

Well the obvious answer would be no because of how cautious they've been with pitching him over 1 inning at any point since coming back.

 

Maybe this season he's stretched out enough to where he can - but I really think they won't want to take any chances. That said, I'm sure he could handle it.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I wish they would turn Wood back into a starter and turn Dempster back into a reliever.

[shnsajax]

Based on Howry's spring and last season, he probably should not be considered a closer till after May.

[CubColtPacer]

Because Kerry used to be a starter, does he have a little more stamina than most relievers would? Could he pitch 4 or 5 outs if needed to close out the game?

 

I'm not at all suggesting this should be a regular or even a semi-regular occurance, but if the pen is pretty wiped out and there's about 4-5 hitters in a row that he's done well against over his career, why not?

Well the obvious answer would be no because of how cautious they've been with pitching him over 1 inning at any point since coming back.

 

Maybe this season he's stretched out enough to where he can - but I really think they won't want to take any chances. That said, I'm sure he could handle it.

 

They weren't very careful with him pitching more than 1 inning..he went over 1 inning 6 different times last year.

 

What they were careful about was pitching him back to back. He went in both halves of a doubleheader on September 15th, and that was the only time he didn't have at least a full day off between outings.

[ISUCubsFan]

I'm in favor of this, mainly because it keeps Marmol in the "fireman" role where he can be most valuable. Also, I have to think that the Cubs will experiment pitching Wood back-to-back eventually after he proves he can stay healthy, it's just a matter of how long that will take.

[RedFlash]

I wish they would turn Wood back into a starter and turn Dempster back into a reliever.

 

Ultimately, vance, I do believe KW will return to the rotation. It may not happen for a couple of yrs, but I could see a day in which KW is back in the rotation.

[seanimal]

I don't think Kerry Wood will ever be a realistic option for SP ever again. That being said, there's probably at least 15 teams willing to attempt to ride that plane into the sea.

[hawkcub]

KW is not going to be a stater again. That ship has passed.

[AlwaysaCub]

I don't think Kerry Wood will ever be a realistic option for SP ever again. That being said, there's probably at least 15 teams willing to attempt to ride that plane into the sea.

 

+1

 

There are many teams who would take a chance on him.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

While Wood as a SP may not be a great option, it would be a better risk/option than throwing Dempster out there as a starter.

[Jon]

Kerry may very well get interest from teams regarding a starter's role, but I'd almost be surprised if he attempted a comeback to the rotation. He's well aware of just how close he came to having to call it quits and I'd have to believe he'd chose more years out of the bullpen than running a high risk of only getting another year or two out of that arm as a starter.

[KingCubsFan]

While Wood as a SP may not be a great option, it would be a better risk/option than throwing Dempster out there as a starter.

Wood would just get injured, Dempster would take his spot in the rotation and we'd be left with Dempster in the same position and a Wood-less bullpen

[ctcf]

Per Rotoworld citing Cubs.com just now:

Kerry Wood, who faced three sure minor leaguers to close out Sunday's game and earn his first save of the spring, drew praise from manager Lou Piniella afterwards.

"Woody's making [the decision] easier, not tougher," Piniella said. "Let's wait on that decision. But he's making it easy." Wood in the closer's role makes plenty of sense, given that he's primarily a one-inning guy and his command makes him a weaker choice to enter games with men on base, but the Cubs shouldn't pretend he's getting the job because he's the team's best reliever. That's Carlos Marmol, who has allowed one run to Wood's three this spring and was as dominant as any late-inning guy in the league last year. Even with Wood likely to have the job initially, Marmol is still the better bet for the entire season.

[wvcbxl]

Citing Cubs.com for analysis is never a good idea, IMHO

 

As the "best reliever", Marmol should get the fireman role, as has already been stated by many on this site.

 

BTW, the best reliever (statwise) so far this spring has been Wuertz: 6IP, 3H, 0BB, 11K looks good enough to me.

[CuseCubFan69]

Citing Cubs.com for analysis is never a good idea, IMHO

 

As the "best reliever", Marmol should get the fireman role, as has already been stated by many on this site.

 

BTW, the best reliever (statwise) so far this spring has been Wuertz: 6IP, 3H, 0BB, 11K looks good enough to me.

 

Was that an 83/84 change he was throwing yesterday? He looked really sharp and with the above mentioned, Howry, Eyre and probably Hart, this team will have a nice pen. I'd feel quite comfortable with a combo Howry/Wuertz 7th, Marmol 8th and Wood in the ninth.

 

I hope this teams fascination with lefty/righty doesn't force them to keep Cotts.

[rawaction]

Citing Cubs.com for analysis is never a good idea, IMHO

 

As the "best reliever", Marmol should get the fireman role, as has already been stated by many on this site.

 

BTW, the best reliever (statwise) so far this spring has been Wuertz: 6IP, 3H, 0BB, 11K looks good enough to me.

 

I'm pretty sure no team can boast having guys like Wuertz and Hart as the #4 and 5 RHs out of their pen. With those 2, Marmol and hopefully guys like Petrick and Pignatiello, the Cubs should be able to have a pretty good and cheap pen for the near future. Of course, they'll probably re-sign Wood, Howry, and spend about 5M/year on another LOOGY.

[CubColtPacer]

Citing Cubs.com for analysis is never a good idea, IMHO

 

As the "best reliever", Marmol should get the fireman role, as has already been stated by many on this site.

 

BTW, the best reliever (statwise) so far this spring has been Wuertz: 6IP, 3H, 0BB, 11K looks good enough to me.

 

The only reason they cited cubs.com was to get the quote from Lou. There was no analysis in there.

[biittner77]

Oh man, we're in a series of tough, one-run games, good thing we're up 3-2! Let's put in Woody and go home.

 

Can't boss, he's pitched two days in a row.

 

Oh, well pitch Marmol then!

 

Well he threw 3 innings yesterday.

 

Oh, Howry, then?

 

Nope, he pitched in the 8th.

 

.......f it, put in wood

 

*walk* *walk* *walk*

 

AHHHHHHHHHH

 

If the Cubs go with a 3 man pen I could see how that would be a problem.