Kerry Wood's Thank You
by In Piniella We Trustiella on Jan 15, 2009 10:37 PM CST
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PrintI was looking through the local paper that I get, Highland Park News, a distribution of the Pioneer Press which makes local weekly papers for many Chicago suburbs, when I found something that caught my eye. Generally I'll take a look at the highschool sports section and while I was looking at it this week I saw that there had been a full page ad taken out by Kerry Wood. It is an image of him after recording the last out on September 20, 2008, the NL Central division clincher over the Cardinals, with 4 little images below of his timeline as a cub (him signing his 1st big league contract, an image of him in a Daytona cubs jersey, an image of him after the 20 strikeout game, and an image of him just pitching. Above all these pictures reads the following:
It has been an honor to have been a Chicago Cub for the last 13 years and to have played in the greatest ballpark, Wrigley Field. My deepest thanks go to my teammates and the Cubs organization for taking a chance on a kid from Texas and welcoming me into the Cubs family. Thank you Cubs fans, the greatest fans in all of baseball, for believing in and supporting me over the years. I will always be proud to have been a Chicago Cub.
Although I'm a member of a new "Tribe,"
I will forever be a Chicagoan.
Kerry Wood
It's not often that you see these kinds of things happen in professional sports anymore, and it really makes me sad to think that we lost such a fan favorite who loved this city so much.
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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This convinces me...
that Kerry Wood is the Ryne Sandberg to Sammy Sosa’s Reggie Jackson.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 15, 2009 10:41 PM CST reply actions
That is why I root
for that piece of laundry
FYI I think Eric Karros took out an ad like that.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Jan 15, 2009 10:55 PM CST reply actions
Karros...
… spent about $80,000 to buy a full-page ad in the Tribune at the end of 2003.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Here is the Karros ad
http://cubsbythenumbers.com/karros.html
Kasey
See what old Cubs Scorecards looked like at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/scorecards.html
Also, see the Cubs 2009 schedule at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/sched2009.html
Karros
That’s impressive when you consider Karros spent almost all of his major league career with the Dodgers. I don’t think he spent $80,000 taking out a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times to thank the Dodgers fans.
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
Karros...
…is one of the classiest humans beings around. I think he and Grudz for Hundley is one of the best trades the Cubs have ever made.
"Booze, broads, and bullshit. If you got all that, what else do you need?" Harry Caray
by CubbieintheSouth on Jan 16, 2009 11:09 PM CST up reply actions
Absolutely true.
I hope, perhaps, one day he might replace Santo in the radio booth when Ron decides to retire.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Have you heard..
something about this? Or is it all hope? I think that would be great. Karros is great on Fox.
by MattHaggard on Jan 16, 2009 11:46 PM CST up reply actions
I haven't heard a thing.
I would assume Karros would be interested in any Cubs broadcast job that opened up.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Hmm...
I lived on the Ft Sheridan army base in Highland Park for a few years.
make*art
by neverAcquiesce on Jan 16, 2009 2:27 PM CST up reply actions
I'm from the Ravinia area.....
about a 2 minute walk to Ravinia Festival and I know Fort Sheridan well. I’m a runner on the high school cross country team and we run through that area all the time.
"Chicago Cubs fans are ninety percent scar-tissue." -George F. Will
by In Piniella We Trustiella on Jan 16, 2009 6:56 PM CST up reply actions
I live in HP right now.
Just south of Park Avenue West. Awesome stuff.
by northernsails on Jan 18, 2009 3:09 AM CST up reply actions
I will miss Kerry Wood.
I know he got hurt a lot, but I never doubted his desire, and his willingness to play.
Good luck in all things, Kerry.
And Doggie Stalker is correct. Eric Karros forever endeared himself to me but taking out a really classy ad thanking Cub fans after ’03.
IF IT TAKES FOREVER!!
by Cubfansince1957 on Jan 15, 2009 11:28 PM CST reply actions
Eric Karros was Ron Burgandy before Ron Burgandy was Ron Burgandy
Stay classy Chicago.
Pix or it didn't happen!
Anyone got a scan of this?
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
Class Act.
I know we have said it many times about Kerry, but there aren’t many guys like him left. It almost makes me long for the days (okay not long since I wasn’t alive), where guys stayed on the teams that drafted them all the way through. Sad to say it, but 13 years wasn’t enough.
Hopefully he’s still got some juice left in 2 years and we have some money to bring him home.
I'm less sentimental
Kerry Wood chalked up 72 wins in 11 big league seasons. And was on the DL just about the same amount of times. While Wood is a class act the bottom line is he was a substantial disappointment and underperformer when evaluated against the expectations placed upon his shoulders. The Cubs didn’t get anything near the return on investment that they were banking on.
Sentimentality is great. But running the Cubs like a smart, objective baseball operation is better. And doing so in a way that leads to an actual friggin World Series title one of these days is the best.
He's no Rich Harden...
that’s for damn sure.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 16, 2009 12:02 AM CST up reply actions
When are your 2009 predictions coming out?
I’m excited for us to be able to link to them the rest of the season.
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
I could agree
with the last part of your statement, except I don’t think trading Mark DeRosa and letting Wood go only to get Gregg, Miles, and Bradley was a smart baseball decision considering we didn’t get a draft pick for Wood, and we got three pitchers, that by all accounts are pretty mediocre prospects. Especially if we now have to sign Aurilia to backup 3B and 1B. Thats more money for in my opinion less return.
Wood+DeRosa+Ceda > Miles+Aurilia+Gregg+Bradely, IMO.
While Bradley will be productive if healthy...
… I agree with the idea that having Marmol setting up Wood is better than having Gregg setting up Marmol.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Great young arm like Carlos Marmol needs to close
Carlos Marmol is the best and brightest arm in the Cub bullpen. His time had to come. It happened with the Yankees in 1997 when they let closer John Wetteland go because Mariano Rivera was waiting in the wings. It happened with the Astros several years ago when they let closer Billy Wagner go because Brad Lidge was waiting in the wings. It happened in 2003 with the Angels when they let Troy Percival go because K-Rod was waiting in the wings. Etc.
Paying $8 million plus per season for several seasons to Kerry Wood would have been bad baseball decision. Especially in light of his arm history and record of unreliability. Carlos Marmol is ready to close and it just so happens the Cubs gained desperately needed financial manuevering room in the process.
However...
… often, the key innings in a game are the 7th and 8th, when the “best and brightest arm” is brought in to put out fires, as Marmol did so often last year. The closer often comes in to a fairly easy situation — a 2 or 3 run lead with no one on base.
I’d MUCH rather have Carlos Marmol come into a tie game with the bases loaded in the 8th than Kevin Gregg.
And note that when the Angels let Percival go and promoted K-Rod, they proceeded to go from a 99-win WS champion to a 77-85 alsoran.
Just sayin’.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Agreed
I’m sure Marmol will be a lights out closer, and obviously I hope he has a great season in that role. I agree with Al though, that having Gregg come in (and he is supposed to be around $5M in arb from what I’ve heard) for the 7th/8th inning is not nearly as imposing as Marmol to Wood was.
I’m not saying the moves we have made make us any worse, I just don’t see a marked improvement in what I had described above…and if Mark DeRosa was left handed, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I just hope Milton can stay healthy. But you know what they say, hope in one hand, **** in the other and see which one fills up first.
I think the key componet to watch is Angel Guzman.
He’s a guy that has the stuff to really make an impact in the bullpen. Health has been the issue with him but being moved to the bullpen full-time might help that situation.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Jan 16, 2009 9:44 AM CST up reply actions
I agree with you.
If Guzman can become a Marmol-type setup man (he does have the stuff for that, if he has the mental makeup and stamina), that problem is solved.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I think he will put it together this year
I seem to recall flashes of brilliance last season. Now that he is healthy and has had a chance to come out of the pen a little, I think he can become a dominant 7/8th inning guy.
I just hope Cubs management doesn’t want him to start. It feels like that ship has sailed.
by dr stabbingworth on Jan 16, 2009 11:29 AM CST up reply actions
I think they realize that.
There are a number of other starting candidates, so they don’t NEED Guzman to start. His future is in the pen.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Hopefully, he'll find the health Brad Lidge found
after a number of injuries at the beginning of his career.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Jan 16, 2009 11:29 AM CST up reply actions
Well..
You and I both know that closers are where are the glory and wondrous financial rewards are and that set-up man are under-appreciated. It is very rare in today’s baseball economic environment where you see a mega-gifted talent like Carlos Marmol spend more than a couple years in a set-up role. Invariably the organization is going to clear the decks for a prized power arm like Marmol to be the closer.
It happens every year around baseball. We should be grateful that we at least got two great years of set-up duty by Marmol.
I should have added...
Right or wrong, major league teams view set-up man as fungible commodity. It’s why the Kevin Greggs, Bob Howrys and Scott Linebrinks of the world have nomadic major league existence. 99% of late inning set-up men bounce around from team to team every few years. They are acquired and teams try to milk as much as possible out of them before they turn sour and there is need to try another option.
Gregg was a closer, not a setup man, with Florida.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Gregg was closer by default more than anything
Kevin Gregg is going to come in here and I think do a fine job. But just like all set-up man he will inevitably wear out his welcome or be lured away to another team in free agency. If we can get a quality 2009 out of Gregg then I will be happy. Beyond that I won’t worry. I’m guessing he will only be a Cub for one season given that he hits free agency next winter.
That'd be fine with me.
All the walks will drive us all nuts.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
This isn't right.
2002 Angels: 99-63, Closer-Percival, no K-Rod
2003 Angels: 77-85, Closer-Percival (52 games, 33 saves), K-Rod on staff
2004 Angels: 92-70, Closer-Percival (52 games, 33 saves again), K-Rod setup
2005-2008 Angels had K-Rod closing, won the division 3 out of 4 years.
"Thank god I threw out my belt & shoelaces."-Bernies Mustache Wax on Evil BCB, 7/31/08
by Bildo1805 on Jan 16, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
+100
Marmol’s performance in the 7th & 8th
were by far more important than whoever pitch the 9th.
I’ll miss Kerry too, but w/o Marmol he would have had as many saves
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton
That's a rather incorrect and silly comment on the Angels Al.
1. The Angels had a somewhat over achieving lineup led by one of baseball’s best managers win the WS in 2002… and came back down to earth the following season. Following the 2003 disappointment, they added Guerrero, and have won 4 division titles since.
2. They didn’t part ways with Troy Percival until after the 2004 season (a 92 win 1st place finish). Percival had 33 saves that year, and the Angels got swept by the Red Sox in the ALDS. The following season, they won 95 games, K-Rod had 45 saves, and the Angels lost to the White Sox in the ALCS.
I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008
You guys are correct.
I went off BLou’s post without checking, which was my mistake. I was incorrect. Apologies.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Class act
Kerry will forever be one of my favorite Cubs of all-time.
I just have this feeling he is going to reunite with us later in his career and finally get that WC championship with us.
That would be great, but
my pessimist, cynical gut feeling is that the Cubs that were cast off this year will be part of a Cubs v Indians WS at some point in the near future and then what is karma going to do with it? Eeek.
At any rate, that ad reaffirms his dedication and love for all things Cubs. I will miss him dearly.
When there is no baseball, entertain yourself for hours with www.wikianswers.com. I asked, "Do you feel like we do?" It actually answered, "Bored? Yes." Ha!
by love the ivy on Jan 16, 2009 12:35 PM CST up reply actions
Thats good of Kerry...
I am glad he did that. Charles Carsten also did it when he left Cleveland
"I played with one of the best pitchers in history, Greg Maddux," Zambrano said"
i’d like one of those.
all i know is, that when the indians come to wrigley this season, i’ll be there in my derosa jersey screaming hard for dero and wood when they come out to play
There's nothing wrong with this team that more pitching, more fielding and more hitting couldn't help......"--Bill Buckner
But you gotta draw the line
between cheering for them to do good, and cheering for them to do good agains the Cubs.
make*art
by neverAcquiesce on Jan 16, 2009 11:09 AM CST up reply actions
Exactly.
I’ll do just that. I hope both of them have fine seasons — except for the three games they play against the Cubs, when I hope DeRosa goes 0-for-12 and Wood either blows three saves or doesn’t get in the games at all because the Cubs are winning by blowout.
And I hope we see them again at Wrigley in October.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Where DeRo goes 0-8
(cos the NL wins the ASG and only two games take place at Wrigley) and Woody rides the pine.
make*art
by neverAcquiesce on Jan 16, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions
How about
How about the CUbs are blowing out the Indians despite DeRosa going 4×4 and we still see Kerry to get in some work?
Would love to see them in October as I’m sure they would come to Wrigley to the games if the Cubs are in the series,
Barbara V. October 14, 1941 - December 19, 2008. A great lady who was a friend to all and like a second mom to her children's friends (she was my best friend's mom)
by puckishcubsfan on Jan 16, 2009 4:54 PM CST up reply actions
Glad to hear about this - gotta pic?
Almost expected it since he was always on the good side even during all the injuries. Hope he does well for the Tribe, especially when they play the team from 9 miles south. But hope he never has to get up from the bullpen bench when they’re at Clark and Addison this June.
He’s always welcome back in my view and I can imagine he’ll be at the first Cubs Convention after his retirement.
With all that though, I do now have to say it’s time to focus on the 2009 Chicago Cubs!
Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.
My hope is
in some form Kerry finds his way back to Wrigley in a Cubs uniform to finish his career. It would be a fitting finish.
This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).
New ownership can take another look at Wood in 2 years
It’s not that long, really. By then we’ll get a good idea of how well his arm is holding up.
by dr stabbingworth on Jan 16, 2009 11:31 AM CST up reply actions
Hopefully, that will be many years from now.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Jan 16, 2009 11:31 AM CST up reply actions
He'll be back
I have faith.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
Glad I saw this,
but it brought up those feelings of anger towards Jim Hendry. Everyone knows it, Wood said he would have taken a 1 year contract, he should have ended his career with the Cubs.
I'm finally moving on...
Actually, Bruce Miles says that's not true.
Woody would not have taken a 1 year deal.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Jan 16, 2009 1:15 PM CST up reply actions
Miles' comments yesterday when asked if Wood would have taken a 1 year deal:
When Wood signed with the Indians, they had teleconference. I asked him specifically if a one-year deal were feasible with the Cubs. He said no. I think he got badgered so much in his exit interview with the media that after about the 10th time, he finally said, that theoretically speaking, he’d take a one year. But it was never going to happen. And there are no hard feelings on either side about it.
Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on Jan 16, 2009 1:32 PM CST up reply actions
Good to know,
that is the first I’ve heard that. I just remember a few articles where he was quoted saying he would take a year.
Oh well, I guess I need to get past this, I have a feeling if the pen struggles the feelings will return.
I'm finally moving on...
Wood
Wishing Kerry nothing but the best. He is a class act and will always be a Cub.
by Tangled Up In Blue on Jan 16, 2009 1:12 PM CST reply actions
kerry
im just glad he,s in the a.l. so we dont have to face him a lot.maybe i,ll go to tropicana field and see him and dero this yr.
Why would Kerry do this in some rinky-dink local rag...
…and not the Chicago Tribune (or Sun-Times)?
RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)
He did. The ad was in the Trib this week. I don't remember which day, but the trib is the only paper I read and
saw it.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jan 18, 2009 12:32 AM CST up reply actions
I'll look through the Tribunes I have and see if I can find it.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I haven't seen it in the tribune earlier this week...
However it is in the Sunday Edition in the Sports Section. Class Act, enough said.
"Chicago Cubs fans are ninety percent scar-tissue." -George F. Will
by In Piniella We Trustiella on Jan 18, 2009 8:36 AM CST up reply actions
Agreed, turned the page and got choked up.
Didn’t expect to see it and it’s great. Pictures of him signing his rookie deal, in the minors, the 20k game, and a pic from 2008.
It was in my Sunday Trib.
I figured it would be about 10 minutes after posting that comment. It was also in my local Pioneer Press paper – ironically, the last issue of that particular paper as it’s been shut down.
RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)
I'm going to miss Woody... we all will.
And in the big picture, I think Hendry made an error by effectively replacing Wood with a lesser player in Gregg.
I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008
Classy
It’s always a nice gesture when players do this. I recall Eric Karros doing the same thing when he left Chicago. Didn’t C.C. Sabbathia take out a page in the paper when he left Cleveland? It’s a small thing, but it speaks volumes about the type of person he is.
When I hit a home run over the fence at Wrigley Field, I hit it over a Tru Link Fence. -Andre Dawson-
The ad is in both the Sun-Times and Tribune's Sunday editions.
It’s pretty large but if I can scan it, I will.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Sports section in the Trib...
I’m not sure about the Sun Times but I’d assume Sports section as well
"Chicago Cubs fans are ninety percent scar-tissue." -George F. Will
by In Piniella We Trustiella on Jan 18, 2009 1:26 PM CST up reply actions
Now we now....Hendry says Kerry Wood wanted three years
Also, Hendry specifically went out of his way to say that Kerry Wood was an active roster participant 64% of the time over the last 4 years. And he infers that the blister issue of last season was strange.
Good move to wave bye bye to Kerry Wood. Objective analysis needs to trump sentimentality. I wish him the best in staying healthy and effective for two years in Cleveland.
Yeah, I feel a little more emotionally settled on this issue.
Bruce Miles mentioned the other day that Kerry’s comment about being willing to accept a one-year deal was likely made more out of exasperation than anything. A three-year deal for Woody was never in the Cubs plans. And I did find Hendry’s comment on Kerry’s injury history interesting. I thought perhaps they’d put that behind him but apparently not.
At the end of the day, I’m sad to see Kerry go. I think the bullpen would be better with him in it. But I understand why the deal went down the way it did (or didn’t go down, as it were), and I’m at peace with it. I hope Woody is lights out for the Indians this year – except against the Cubs, of course.
RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)
by daver on Jan 19, 2009 10:21 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Call the Sun-Times or Tribune.
For a small fee, they will mail you a copy.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
What was the date?
Bleeding Cubbie Blue since 1985.
by Bricks and Ivy on Jan 18, 2009 5:36 PM CST up reply actions
Today, January 18.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Can someone up this ad?
"I played with one of the best pitchers in history, Greg Maddux," Zambrano said"
I'll see if I can scan it.
It’s larger than my scanner screen, but maybe I can do it.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
GOOD LUCK WOODY........
Wishing you all the best with the Tribe …..Stay Healthy…Stay Strong……
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