Kerry Wood Impressive in Mesa

by neonverse1 on Jul 19, 2007 8:18 PM CDT

Here's the link:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2942735

Of course, it's just the Arizona Rookie League, but this is still encouraging. Lou is a bit cautious, as he should be.

Wouldn't it be great, though, to send a healthy Kerry Wood into a tight ballgame in August? In September? In October?

Wood's possible return to the bullpen would be like Dusty used to put it: "It's like making a trade without having to make a trade." Or something to that effect.

Any thoughts?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I think until...

Kerry Wood is actually on a major league roster for a month, I'm content to not give him or his "impact" a second thought.

by Damen Jackson on Jul 19, 2007 8:14 PM CDT reply actions

Agreed.

However, there are some encouraging signs. It is enough to give a small amount of hope.

And isn't that what keeps us going as Cubs fans?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 19, 2007 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions

true

but we have been burnt by this fire too many times

by tbizzle83 on Jul 19, 2007 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions

the past is the past...and medical sometimes is

still a mystery. If Wood is actually healthy which the reports are now stating he is, than the situation comes down to him gravitating through the minor league system probably Peoria on the road somewhere away from Chicago---then Florida---Tennessee which will tell you how effective he is, then any fine tuning in Iowa. Let's say he goes to Peoria for a week, Daytona another week and Tennessee, that is basically 3 weeks.

The stars line up in Mid-August where adding him to the bullpen will depend on performance and need. I can speculate that if Wood is effective bring him up in a spot held by Petrick's.

The spot however is held by Petrick Marmol right now...(Dempster-Howry-Ohman-Marmol-Wuertz-Eyre-?

Milw-09-24-98--Brown in for defense--bases loaded--flyball--HE DROPPED THE BALL!!!NO NO NO, cubs lose 8-7

by Ivy Walls on Jul 20, 2007 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions

re: I think until...

I agree completely. The question isn't whether Kerry Wood can pitch well, it's whether he can pitch well and stay healthy. I'm sure he's been working on his mechanics, but what happens when he gets into a pressure situation late in the game -- late in the season -- in a major league game? Does he revert back to his old mechanics and blow out is shoulder yet again?

I hope he gets a chance to find out, as long as it doesn't cost the Cubs any games.

Brew Crew: We are coming for you. (And we mean it this time.)

by daver on Jul 19, 2007 10:31 PM CDT up reply actions

I just

posted something about that in the recap. You must have written this while I was posting over there
I'm with the 'wait and see' camp on this one. I think it will be great if he can come back and be effective, as he is showing right now, but I also think it is important that the club plans on playing without him and try to go get some more relief.

Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity - Einstein

by cubbieblue86 on Jul 19, 2007 8:16 PM CDT reply actions

Sorry if I overlapped

your comments in the recap. Great minds think alike, I guess!

All we are saying... is give Pie a chance

by neonverse1 on Jul 19, 2007 8:19 PM CDT up reply actions

No Problem!

n/t

Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity - Einstein

by cubbieblue86 on Jul 19, 2007 8:21 PM CDT up reply actions

if

it doesnt work out this time i think its time to let him go. i hate to say it. wheres mark at???

by tbizzle83 on Jul 19, 2007 9:41 PM CDT reply actions

yup

cant keep paying him MLB money for rehab starts and simulated games

Dinosaurs? "Didn't exist. You can't say there were dinosaurs when you never saw them." -Carl Everett

by NDcubsfan on Jul 19, 2007 11:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree about Wood...

there are only so many setbacks you can have before it's pretty much over. The guy hasn't been healthy since 2003.

Prior finally had arm surgery to repair the damage in his shoulder early this year. He's probably out for the first half of next season.

by SouthernCub on Jul 20, 2007 5:53 AM CDT up reply actions

I love his motivation to get back in the game

His 18 month son...

by JFCubFan on Jul 19, 2007 10:14 PM CDT reply actions

but

on the other hand if he DOES come thru. our bullpin will really be unstoppable.

by tbizzle83 on Jul 19, 2007 10:53 PM CDT reply actions

Time will tell

Wood's great, no doubt. But I'm with those who say we need to have thirty day under his belt before making a judgment. The guy is a solid community leader and makes Chicago proud. I'd hate to cut him loose and call it a career...but how many times can you reconstruct an arm?

As for Prior..that's just a bummer.

by CUB27 on Jul 19, 2007 11:05 PM CDT reply actions

Wood

Until he can pitch several months in a row in the majors without coming down with an injury, I'll reserve judgment. But I can't help but be excited when I read articles like this.

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Jul 20, 2007 8:46 AM CDT reply actions

Wood headline

Whenever I see the word miracle associated with anything to do with either Wood or Prior, I think that it is a miracle that they merit newspaper coverage or even that anyone cares. When they come back to the Majors and pitch consistently for 10 straight games without coming up injured, call me. Till then we Cub fans are better off paying attention to the Boys in Blue who are actually fighting the good fight. Out of sight, out of mind.

by victor @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Jul 20, 2007 10:25 AM CDT reply actions

Lights out in '05 except...

At times at end of season but also had tendency to give up a big (solo) HR now and again as i recall...he wasn't perfect but mowed 'em down for the most part.

Seems like his control was sharper or has been. I recall as a starter, many innings where he'd have control problems, often escaping but throwing a lot of pitches and having tough innings. This was even when he was "healthy.''

Probably better than Petrick at this point but will be fragile; no way can he pitch 2 days in a row, I'd guess...

to see him back in a starting role at some point would really be something...I think Cubs will stick with him longer than Prior.

by writerinwrigley on Jul 20, 2007 10:30 AM CDT reply actions

If he ends up in double A in TN

I'll drive the 90 minutes up there, get some pixes of his warm ups and game, shake his hand, lay hands on him and pray for him to get even better .. it would be a miracle to see him back on this team in a stretch drive pinch in September and October.

I've been a big Wood fan for years but sadly, I agree .. we've been down this road too many other times, but I'm a pulling for him big time

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Jul 20, 2007 11:30 AM CDT reply actions

It would be a great story

but the fact that he had pain throwing half speed so recently, really has me worried. For it to just go away and allow him to throw 95 is great, but you have to think a setback could be highly likely.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jul 20, 2007 11:53 AM CDT reply actions

I have nothing against Wood

...but I think it's probably best for the Cubs to let him walk after this season. We (as Cubs fans) have this odd idea that Wood and Prior will come back with a vengance and take us all the way--like they almost did in 2003. We did a good thing by signing Lilly and Marquis (rebuilding the rotation), but Wood is a distraction. The most he'll be from here on out is a streaky injury-prone reliever.

by Rev Gunia on Jul 20, 2007 5:01 PM CDT reply actions

.. the Eternal Gamble will likely go on ..

I think there are a lot of Cub fans who obviously are ready to stick the proverbial fork into Wood and Prior and pronounce them "done." That's understandable and from the long term perspective of the baseball business history, it certainly made sense. As far back as winter of 2005, even the Cubs knew it and were trying to assemble the 06 team without reliance upon them, unlike the previous three years. I'm not one of them, obviously. Anything is possible - no one can predict the proverbial comeback until the chance is taken. And the Cubs have obviously been doing just that. It's called equity return: a whole bunch of investment in a dubious effort that is hoped will pay off. The Cubs organization, still dazzled by memories of what once was and what might be, is still hoping in an outside sort of way that they might both somehow come back. That kind of thinking obviously persists. It will remain to the next owners to decide if this was irrational exuberance that needs to be cut free or whether it's a cagey decision, after years of operations, towel drills and rehab, to see if a phoenix can rise from the ashes to justify the expense.

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Jul 21, 2007 6:22 AM CDT up reply actions

wood

would be a great feel good story but kerry pitched 5 innings in spring training and went on the dl.not a good sign.kerry will always be welcome in chicago aka conventions,singing 7th inning stretches,maybe even an announcer.but i think his career is over.

by NOMAR on Jul 21, 2007 5:48 AM CDT reply actions