Kerry's Frayed Labrum

[MPrior]

1st inning splits

 

Thanks.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

His three year splits as shown here, don't look too bad for the first inning.

 

My guess is based on health concerns etc, Wood would be used two innings at a time every three to four days.

[ZZ Thorn]

It was the same thing with sinkerball Dempster - has trouble in the first inning.

 

But Demp and Wood, unlike say Mitre, have overwhelming stuff. Demp has adapted darn well, I think Kerry will too. I think he'll do very well. I don't see Kerry friggin Wood, aka big time baller whose main problem is injury, is going to do badly as a reliver. He's not Mitre.

[biittner77]

MY biggest concern with Wood the reliever is that since he knows he doesn't have to pace himself he might try to throw it through the backstop on every pitch. This usually leads to wildness and lots of walks.

 

That being said, he could be valuable on a regular basis used for 2-3 innings as someone suggested earlier.

[LoneStarCubFan]

Dempster- Closer

Wood- Set-up

Williamson- Set-up

Wuertz-situational

Ohman-situational

Rusch-situational, spot starter

Remlinger- Mop-up, long relief

 

That looks like a bullpen you could go to war with.

 

Run Wood out there to throw gas for one inning then bring in Dempster and his sinker and the 8th and 9th look pretty good for the Cubs.

 

The key is that Wood never throws more than one inning and Dusty doesn't use him every damn day. If they manage it right this could be the best bullpen in the league by the end of the year.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If Wood is going to the bullpen, I think the optimal way to utilize him is to get a 2-3 inning save every three to four days. I would try to bring him in during the seventh or eighth innings and let him finish out the game. Then, I'd likely not use him for 2-3 games. This usage pattern should maximize his effectiveness and also help rest the pen while keeping Wood healthy.

[10man]

Not a bad proposal, vance. That would be like having Woody still on a starters schedule (start-rest-side session-rest-etc.) except that his "starts" would only last a maximum of 3 innings. I like it.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Not a bad proposal, vance. That would be like having Woody still on a starters schedule (start-rest-side session-rest-etc.) except that his "starts" would only last a maximum of 3 innings. I like it.

 

Exactly. It's not that you couldn't use him in an emergency, but just try to prevent it if possible.

 

With Novoa, Wuertz, Ohman, and Dempster to mix and match in the late innings, You could go two to three days without using Wood. When Wood was brought into a game, it would give Dempster a rest assuming Wood didn't have to throw too many pitches in the 7th and 8th innings of his work.

 

Three inning saves were not uncommon back 20 years ago. I think Wood would be good at getting those and then for the next three days or so, go back to conventional bullpen usage.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Shut him down. He's unreliable and a distraction. Maybe he'll be ready to go by opening day next year. Quite frankly I could care less at this point, as I continue to read that his mechanics are part of the cause for continual injuries. He may never get it. What a waste of talent.

 

He may never get it? Why aren't the coaches who supposedly fixed his mechanics getting any blame?

[10man]

Shut him down. He's unreliable and a distraction. Maybe he'll be ready to go by opening day next year. Quite frankly I could care less at this point, as I continue to read that his mechanics are part of the cause for continual injuries. He may never get it. What a waste of talent.

He may never get it? Why aren't the coaches who supposedly fixed his mechanics getting any blame?

Realistically, at this stage of Kerry's career, can coaches still make changes to his delivery that Wood will actually keep?

[imb]

At this stage? he's what? 28?

 

Its just muscle memory, if someone shows him the way to pitch without hurting his shoulder, and he tries hard enough, he can do it.