Move Wood to Closer for rest of strech run?

[Jazz]

Wood has been flat out dominant since being put in the bullpen, in 16 IP he has posted a 2.25 era, with only 7 hits in innings. I think he needs serious look at the closer if we are convinced he cant be depended on 2 start, for at least this season. If we are srsly in this race to the end, we need his arm in the bullpen, dempster could be a great setup for him, that 1-2 punch could win us alot of games that we woulda lost early this season. Opinions?

[Garwilly]

Woods has thrown 7 innings and given up zero runs out of the pen.

[cjbucks]

Look at the struggles of other closers around the league this year - with that in mind Dempster has really had nothing but success as a closer. If you are going to demote him to set up man even though he hasn't failed as a closer you might as well trade him.

[Backtobanks]

Dempster has been successful as a closer, but he scares me to death. I think the walks and hits he gives up will eventually come back to haunt him. Next year, I'm sure Kerry will be in the rotation and I'm hoping for the Cubs to sign Wagner.

[AAApittsburgh]

Dempster has been successful as a closer, but he scares me to death. I think the walks and hits he gives up will eventually come back to haunt him. Next year, I'm sure Kerry will be in the rotation and I'm hoping for the Cubs to sign Wagner.

I think Wagner's arm is about 40 innings away from falling off. I'd look into Ryan this offseason. If we can't get him, I'd rather get a couple good SU guys.

[ToupeeOnFire]

While I know there isn't a fancy statistic for shutting down the opponent in the 7th or 8th innings, it is just as important as holding them in the 9th. Case in point was Sunday against the Cardinals. Wood came in to a 5-3 game, pitched lights out in the 7th and 8th against their best hitters, and turned the game over to Dempster in the 9th who squeaked out a save. If Wood can be stretched out for two innings, he's more valuable in the set-up role than being a one inning closer. Besides, Dempster has gotten the job done (antacid moments notwithstanding) and I see no reason to tinker with what could be a nice 1-2 punch (at least for this year).

[Cubfanintheknow]

While I know there isn't a fancy statistic for shutting down the opponent in the 7th or 8th innings, it is just as important as holding them in the 9th. Case in point was Sunday against the Cardinals. Wood came in to a 5-3 game, pitched lights out in the 7th and 8th against their best hitters, and turned the game over to Dempster in the 9th who squeaked out a save. If Wood can be stretched out for two innings, he's more valuable in the set-up role than being a one inning closer. Besides, Dempster has gotten the job done (antacid moments notwithstanding) and I see no reason to tinker with what could be a nice 1-2 punch (at least for this year).

 

The fact that Kerry Wood can go for two innings if needed is probably the best excuse to keep him in that role. Also, Wood has not had to pitch in back to back games. Baker really isn't sure he can. We'll probably find out soon enough. But that fact is probably stopping Baker from abusing Wood.

 

Keep Dempster right where he's at.

[CubfaninCA]

Leave Dempster as the closer. Bring Kerry in whenever the heart of the order is due up.

[DivineBovine]

I think it'll happen. Dempster has been good, but Wood has proven that he would be Gagne-esque as a closer as far as I'm concerned. And if I may say so, I never doubted it anyways. His stuff is so ridiculously nasty. One hit, 12 K's in 7 ip. Nice.

 

That said, if anyone would leave him out of the closer spot even if Dempster starts blowing saves, it's Dusty.

[abuck1220]

i think wood should be moved to an operating room in a chicago hospital.

[Crash]

Kerry shouldn't be pitching. We already have a solid closer in Dempster. Is he lights out? No, but he is effective. Now it is nice that Kerry seems to be pretty good in the 7th and 8th, but every day that his surgery is put off is another day he can't be preping for next year when the games will actually count again.

[CubfaninCA]

I'd rather have Kerry miss next April, than this September. I see no reason to give up on this season. Some of you guys should consider moving to France. :)

[DarkLink715]

I think it's important to note that Wood needs much more time to warm up than most other relievers because he was always a starter. Thus, when he is put in, it requires more advance notice than most other relief pitchers. Since closers often need to warm up and pitch on short notice, I don't think Wood would be effective in that role.

 

Plus, Dempster has been as good as anyone could have expected him to be in the closer's role. Sure, he makes me sweat more than Joe Borowski in mid-August, but he's still been effective.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'd rather have Kerry miss next April, than this September. I see no reason to give up on this season. Some of you guys should consider moving to France. :)

 

Considering he'd be pitching 10-15 innings in September, and roughly 30 next April, I'd lean towards him missing this September.

[CubfaninCA]

I'd rather have Kerry miss next April, than this September. I see no reason to give up on this season. Some of you guys should consider moving to France. :)

 

Considering he'd be pitching 10-15 innings in September, and roughly 30 next April, I'd lean towards him missing this September.

 

Why not give the beloved Mitre, Hill and Welly shots next April when it's still really early?? I lean towards playing to win, and not giving up on a season.

[cbbryan]

I'd rather have Kerry miss next April, than this September. I see no reason to give up on this season. Some of you guys should consider moving to France. :)

 

I don't understand why Kerry would be out for the spring next year, if it's just a scope. I know Matt Morris had a similar situation to Kerry after having TJ and Morris had to go back in for a clean-up scope. He's been pretty solid since, but I don't remember him missing a ton of time after the scope.

 

While no one knows for sure what's really going on w/ the exception of Kerry and the Cubs.........if in fact it's just a cleaning scope as apposed to a structural issue where he would have to have something actually reattached, or rebuilt....................is it really that big of an issue.

 

My point is, he may be able to pitch the remainder of the season, have the scope, and still be ready to go in ST. Or am I off base here?

[katway]

I'd rather have Kerry miss next April, than this September. I see no reason to give up on this season. Some of you guys should consider moving to France. :)

 

I don't understand why Kerry would be out for the spring next year, if it's just a scope. I know Matt Morris had a similar situation to Kerry after having TJ and Morris had to go back in for a clean-up scope. He's been pretty solid since, but I don't remember him missing a ton of time after the scope.

 

While no one knows for sure what's really going on w/ the exception of Kerry and the Cubs.........if in fact it's just a cleaning scope as apposed to a structural issue where he would have to have something actually reattached, or rebuilt....................is it really that big of an issue.

 

My point is, he may be able to pitch the remainder of the season, have the scope, and still be ready to go in ST. Or am I off base here?

 

The problem as I see it is that no one knows if his continueing to pitch this year is causing further damage. The Cubs are speculating that it isn't. But, no one can be certain his arm isn't getting worse throwing 100 mph fastballs with debris floating around. The safest approach for Kerry's career and future durability is to shut him down and get him on the operating table ASAP.

[Houston_Cub_Fan]

cbbryan -

 

You're absolutely right. Morris had the same surgery in November of last year and has still had a very productive season. This is not major surgery. It is not a torn labrum, it's a frayed labrum. If you have to draw a medical analogy, it's like getting the cartiledge cleaned up around the knee - clearly not as invasive as needing to repair torn or detached cartiledge. The fraying causes the inflamation. It just needs to be trimmed back a little. But if the Cubs do fall irrevocably out of the race, then I would advocate for a quick shut down. Until then - let's see what he can do.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

If Kerry Wood were in the rotation all year, he'd be leading the league in walks, or would be pretty close to it. That's not a closer. Yeah, he's been good since he's been back, but he's only pitched 7 innings. I find it hard to believe his control is THAT much better since he's returned that he still won't walk a ton of guys.

 

And besides, we've been over this. WE HAVE A CLOSER. He's one of the most consistent in the league too. Yeah he might put a guy on base, but he's been doing that all year when he comes in, and he still gets the save. It's Dempster's job to lose, not Kerry's to win.

[snoodmonger]

I really don't understand the rush to replace Dempster.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'd rather have Kerry miss next April, than this September. I see no reason to give up on this season. Some of you guys should consider moving to France. :)

 

Considering he'd be pitching 10-15 innings in September, and roughly 30 next April, I'd lean towards him missing this September.

 

Why not give the beloved Mitre, Hill and Welly shots next April when it's still really early?? I lean towards playing to win, and not giving up on a season.

 

Wanting Wood to pitch 30 innings in April rather than 10-15 in September doesn't mean giving up on the season.

[CP_414]

I wasn't a fan of the idea to move Kerry to the bullpen this season. I probably would have shut him down and given him the surgery (or scope, or whatever you want to call it) weeks ago. That said, he hasn't looked this dominating in a long time. Yes it's a small sample size (8 innings).

 

With the Cubs having about 35 million in salary this offseason, I would seriously consider replacing Wood in the rotation with Burnett or Milwood. Having Dempster, Wood, and Williamson in the bullpen can make it a 7-inning game if the Cubs can get an early lead.

 

Prior, Zambrano, Burnett/Milwood, Maddux, Williams/Hill/Brownlie/Pinto

 

With Wood, Depmster, Williamson, Ohman, Novoa/Wuertz, and a loogy in the pen.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

I really don't understand the rush to replace Dempster.

 

For the first time all season the club has defined roles for the bullpen. It is starting to show. The Cubs get a lead and after the 6th, that's been about it for the other club (StL, Houston, Colorado). With the roles established, I'm hoping they drop back to 11 pitchers after this series and through the rest of August.

[cbbryan]

If Kerry Wood were in the rotation all year, he'd be leading the league in walks, or would be pretty close to it. That's not a closer. Yeah, he's been good since he's been back, but he's only pitched 7 innings. I find it hard to believe his control is THAT much better since he's returned that he still won't walk a ton of guys.

 

And besides, we've been over this. WE HAVE A CLOSER. He's one of the most consistent in the league too. Yeah he might put a guy on base, but he's been doing that all year when he comes in, and he still gets the save. It's Dempster's job to lose, not Kerry's to win.

 

Have you checked out Demp's BB/9? It's almost 6/9, last I checked. I'm not one to say that Kerry should be in that role, especially if you're not going to leave him there, but I think when you look at Dempster's statistics you can't say he's an elite closer. I think the time will come when this could be a big issue................I hope not, but I think it eventually will be an issue.