Could Wood become a starter again?

[forbez18]

I know, I know, Wood is to fragile to throw him into the rotation and expect him to be able to sustain any consistency to depend on. However, as the Cubs current rotation stands, they do not have any consistency out of their 4th or 5th pitchers. The experiment of trying Wood as the closer does not seem to be working, but he proved yesterday that he is still an effective pitcher.

 

So could the Cubs, if they decide to carry 13 pitchers for a bit, use Wood as the long man and stretch him out for the next month. Then slide him into the rotation and use him down the stretch if the Cubs are still in contention. If you could line up Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster, and Wood in the playoffs, I would certainly like our chances much more then with Z, Lilly, Demp, and Marquis.

 

Just wanted to know if it would be possible or not.

[soapy]

i don't think anything should be out-right dismissed, but i don't see any way they would do that this year. he'll probably need to show he can make it through a full year of bullpen duty before he can convince anyone (including himself) that starting might be an option again.

 

if he stays healthy all season and wants to try it, it might be an option next year.

[abuck1220]

it is kind of frustrating that marmol, wood, and marshall are all in the pen (and hill in AAA), while marquis, lieber and dempster are in the rotation.

[nolanwood]

How exactly does the experiment seem to not be working? .179 BAA, 0.81 WHIP, 14:3 K/BB

 

Give it time...it's only been a month. I'd also encourage you to look around the league and examine where some other veteran closers are this early in the season. Removing Wood, Marmol and Marshall from the bullpen to replace Dempster, Marquis and Lieber doesn't solve any problems we have. Wood and Marmol make our bullpen stronger, which we REALLY need. Removing them and substituting the aforementioned players does way more damage than good.

 

There's only one MAJOR problem we need to solve at the moment -the abysmal production we're getting from the leadoff spot.

[C.C.]

If he can stay healthy coming out of the pen for a year, I'd be willing to give it a go next year.

[flynnhicks03]

it is kind of frustrating that marmol, wood, and marshall are all in the pen (and hill in AAA), while marquis, lieber and dempster are in the rotation.

 

Not sure why you're throwing Dempster in with those guys. Seems like he's been pretty solid.

[mdwilla]

Only If Wood can stay healthy for a whole year should there be any thoughts of him returning to the rotation. Hopefully Woody Can start getting him self ready in Nov after the Cubs win it and then make the switch back to starting the key will be him in camp next spring healthy again.

[javy knows my name]

I know, I know, Wood is to fragile to throw him into the rotation and expect him to be able to sustain any consistency to depend on. However, as the Cubs current rotation stands, they do not have any consistency out of their 4th or 5th pitchers. The experiment of trying Wood as the closer does not seem to be working, but he proved yesterday that he is still an effective pitcher.

 

So could the Cubs, if they decide to carry 13 pitchers for a bit, use Wood as the long man and stretch him out for the next month. Then slide him into the rotation and use him down the stretch if the Cubs are still in contention. If you could line up Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster, and Wood in the playoffs, I would certainly like our chances much more then with Z, Lilly, Demp, and Marquis.

 

Just wanted to know if it would be possible or not.

 

So you've already written Hill off this year? Yikes

 

And about Wood - I absolutely refuse to even consider Wood as a starting option again. If he got hurt again, I would be crushed

[jersey cubs fan]

In a couple years, maybe. But it's pointless to think about it in the short-term. Kerry and the Cubs came to grips with the fact that his arm can't handle the long outings. It's not going to happen. If he finishes the year healthy, maybe, perhaps, possibly he'd do it next year. But as as a free agent, I'm guessing he'd sign a deal with a team that would want him as the closer and want to keep him healthy. I would bet if he ever starts again, it won't be until 2010 at the earliest.

[abuck1220]

it is kind of frustrating that marmol, wood, and marshall are all in the pen (and hill in AAA), while marquis, lieber and dempster are in the rotation.

 

Not sure why you're throwing Dempster in with those guys. Seems like he's been pretty solid.

 

so far, yeah.

[CuseCubFan69]

In a couple years, maybe. But it's pointless to think about it in the short-term. Kerry and the Cubs came to grips with the fact that his arm can't handle the long outings. It's not going to happen. If he finishes the year healthy, maybe, perhaps, possibly he'd do it next year. But as as a free agent, I'm guessing he'd sign a deal with a team that would want him as the closer and want to keep him healthy. I would bet if he ever starts again, it won't be until 2010 at the earliest.

 

I wonder if he saw what happened to Smoltz and is thinking maybe this is where I belong?