Theo Epstein Wants Kerry Wood Back In 2012

Quote from the link:

"I'll leave the details of the meeting confidential," Epstein said. "But I have no trouble going on the record saying that Kerry Wood is a very important part of the Chicago Cubs. We want him back. He makes us a better team because of what he brings to the bullpen. He also makes us a better organization."

6 months ago Al Yellon 66 comments 0 recs |

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Good to hear.

Kerry is a Cub, and should remain with us for the rest of his career (and perhaps even after his playing days are done, if he wants).

Lots of recent Cubs stars seem to leave on sour notes (Sosa, Grace, Zambrano when he goes), but Kerry loves this team, the city and the fans. He’s the true face of the Cubs to me in so many ways.

"Hey! If the moon were made of ribs, wouldja eat it? I know I would!"

by cubs0505 on Nov 18, 2011 4:23 PM CST reply actions

He's also one of the few leaders on this team in recent years.

Now, if only the Cubs can have more guys like him.

by jeffmills1972 on Nov 18, 2011 5:08 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

bingo and he still competes and produces

A friend once told me: "I don't buy the idea that a team learns anything from a loss, the only thing they learn is how to lose games."---Knight

by Ivy Walls on Nov 18, 2011 6:31 PM CST up reply actions

I agree with this thread!

I have a feeling that when the Cubs hired Theo and the others, Kerry was thinking that it would be a good decision to give it one more shot, a shot that really has promise. A great way to end a career, too. I’m happy that Theo wants Kerry on this team. Booyah!

"IN THEO WE TRUST"

by BigJohnAZ on Nov 19, 2011 9:44 AM CST up reply actions

I'm curious where this opinion comes from

I’m not trying to be argumentative, but I’ve seen very little that leads me to believe he’s a leader.

Are there articles where players have held him up as clubhouse leader?

by Nunyabidness on Nov 19, 2011 10:28 AM CST up reply actions

Are you kidding?

Kerry is well-known to be a clubhouse leader. Just look up ‘Kerry Wood’ clubhouse leader and you will get page after page of articles, fans, and sportscasters talking about Wood’s leadership. Have you not been following the Cubs long?

就是今年！

by CubFanInChina on Nov 20, 2011 7:38 AM CST up reply actions

oops

make that ‘Kerry Wood clubhouse leader’

就是今年！

by CubFanInChina on Nov 20, 2011 7:39 AM CST up reply actions

wow - you're right. I googled 'Kerry Wood clubhouse leader' and got 37,900 hits.

of course, I then googled ‘Milton Bradley clubhouse leader’ and got 807,000 hits.

Looks like we were all wrong about ol’ Miltie… ;-)

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Nov 20, 2011 9:09 AM CST up reply actions

and i googled ballhawk clubhouse leader

and got 8430 hits, is there something we should know?

Chronologically inept since 2060
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by Cubbie-Tim on Nov 20, 2011 1:43 PM CST up reply actions

Umm... quality, not quantity?

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Nov 20, 2011 3:55 PM CST up reply actions

Settle down there francis

I know he’s your favorite Cub and all, and I hear that meme trotted out there, but I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a Cub player actually refer to him as a leader.

If you calm down a bit and show me that article, I’d appreciate it.

by Nunyabidness on Nov 20, 2011 3:54 PM CST up reply actions

Curious...

Does Santo’s take on Wood count?

就是今年！

by CubFanInChina on Nov 22, 2011 2:32 AM CST up reply actions

One more year

One more year as a player and then bring him into the organaztion in some capacity.

Wouldn’t mind seeing him do something akin to Maddux’s current job after he retires. Could be an interesting yin and yang tandem of styles of pitching if Greg stays around.

Nothing happens unless it's first a dream

by puckishcubsfan on Nov 18, 2011 4:24 PM CST reply actions

Huh?

Why do you assume he only has 1 more yr as a player? That make’s no sense. How about waiting to see how he does next yr before jumping to that assumption.

by Swoosie on Nov 18, 2011 4:44 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Yeah, I agree.

This will be Woody’s age 34/35 season. As a relief pitcher, he could easily have two or three more seasons in him. I’m glad Theo said what he did. As far as I’m concerned, the Cubs can keep signing Kerry to low-cost, one-year deals as long as he wants to pitch.

Baseball is pitching, offensive production, baserunning and defense.

by daver on Nov 18, 2011 4:48 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

What's not to like?

"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk

by vonde6 on Nov 18, 2011 5:27 PM CST up reply actions

I saw a report a few days ago...

that said Kerry would love to pitch at least another two years. Time will tell, of course…

Get 'em on, Get 'em over, Get 'em in!

by DKT on Nov 18, 2011 5:15 PM CST up reply actions

I am a fan of this.

However I am not so sure he should be a set-up guy. Its fine just having him in the bullpen as a veteran presence. His role could vary.

by Tat14 on Nov 18, 2011 4:48 PM CST reply actions

Excellent!

by Emelie on Nov 18, 2011 4:48 PM CST reply actions

Meh

"Keep looking into the past and you'll keep repeating the past" - Some Smart Guy

by Easy Ed on Nov 18, 2011 4:56 PM CST reply actions

Well, that's a step in the right direction.

Because before, you’d have gone on your usual “ex-Cubs can never return” rant.

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by Al Yellon on Nov 18, 2011 5:14 PM CST up reply actions

He's already here...so, Epstein isn't really bringing him back...

…Hendry was the fool who brought him back to Chicago in the first place. He’s worth a million a year just to keep you sentimental guys n’ gals happy. Put him in a mop up role. He can take Ortiz’s spot. Just keep him outta tense situations and he’ll do alright. Cuz we know how he handles BIG game situations, don’t we?

"Keep looking into the past and you'll keep repeating the past" - Some Smart Guy

by Easy Ed on Nov 19, 2011 1:31 AM CST up reply actions

Funny how he could breeze through those big game situations with the Yankees...

Anyway, he did make the Cubs play of the year with that behind-the-back stab to start a double play in St. Louis. IIRC, positive fallout from Wood’s magic act launched a winning streak that, had it occurred a month earlier, might have given Q and Hendry new life. Thanks, Kerry, for saving that special moment until after the point of no return for the dynamic duo. BTW, keep soakin’ that pitching hand in pickle juice.

"Elder White! Look at the talent on those Cubs!" Harry Caray, KMOX Radio, 4/22/62

"And you have to wonder – What's the matter with Broglio?" Harry, KMOX, 5/24/64

by ernaga on Nov 20, 2011 6:21 PM CST up reply actions

It's also a step back from his "Kerry Wood haz a secrut 10 year contract!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Nonsense he was spewing for most of the season

by Nunyabidness on Nov 19, 2011 10:30 AM CST up reply actions

Exaggerate much?

Those so called goal posts you accuse me of moving sometimes, are usually moved by you, now aren’t they? I know reading comprehension isn’t one of your stronger attributes, but, try to stay focused a little better, ok?

"Keep looking into the past and you'll keep repeating the past" - Some Smart Guy

by Easy Ed on Nov 19, 2011 2:15 PM CST up reply actions

LOL

“Those so called goal posts you accuse me of moving sometimes, are usually moved by you, now aren’t they?”

No, they really aren’t

And yes, I used hyperbole on the length of the contract, I know for a fact that you posted several times that you thought there was some sort of secret multi-year deal between Hendry and Wood. It was dumb then, it’s dumb now.

by Nunyabidness on Nov 20, 2011 3:48 PM CST up reply actions

You're "meh" now, Ed.

But wait ’til Theo discovers the 5 year, 60 million dollar contract Hendry drew up before he got fired and offers it to Wood.

Theo! Good job, Tommy Boy!

by shoemile on Nov 18, 2011 5:23 PM CST up reply actions

With a full NTC!

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Nov 18, 2011 5:24 PM CST up reply actions

It's so ironclad that Wood isn't even allowed to waive it.

Theo! Good job, Tommy Boy!

by shoemile on Nov 18, 2011 5:27 PM CST up reply actions

Wood only has to come to the park

on the days he is pitching. Since he’s a reliever now, when Sveum wants him to pitch, they have to call him at home and tell him to get to the ballpark. He’s to be given a special trailer where he can warm up on the way to the ballpark.

by Josh Timmers on Nov 18, 2011 11:47 PM CST up reply actions

Does he still have to come to the ballpark during the WEEKS he'll be on the DL...

…with a blister or hang nail? His special trailer should be medically equipped, too…shouldn’t it? He’s a good clubhouse guy tho, right? ; )

"Keep looking into the past and you'll keep repeating the past" - Some Smart Guy

by Easy Ed on Nov 19, 2011 1:43 AM CST up reply actions

This is wonderful news!

The whole story of him coming to Santo’s funeral and then taking a 90% pay cut to come back here is just so moving. Apparently, Santo and Wood had a very special relationship.

Bring him back! I understand the way the team is constructed now, there are more pressing issues, but spending a relatively low amount of money on a good reliever who still piles up the strikeouts is still a smart move.

by cubfanwill on Nov 18, 2011 4:56 PM CST reply actions 2 recs

Why the hell would you not want a guy back

who has proclaimed to the world that he will give you a great, big discount on his services? As long as he has something left in the tank, he should be appreciated.

by vonde6 on Nov 18, 2011 5:26 PM CST reply actions

This is good.

It’s not a huge difference maker as far as moves go, but I like the Cubs more when Kerry Wood is on the team.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Nov 18, 2011 5:26 PM CST reply actions

Agreed. And it's just one less thing for them to deal with.

All of the other stuff aside (long-time Cub, good clubhouse guy), he’s a pretty reliable righty out of the bullpen, and likely at an affordable price. Jed and Theo have enough on their plates this winter, this one should be a no-brainer.

"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin

by davidalanu on Nov 18, 2011 5:41 PM CST up reply actions

Good deal.

by sue369 on Nov 18, 2011 5:39 PM CST reply actions

Excellent! Wood's a Cub and it needs to stay that way.

BEAR DOWN!

by mikegncb34 on Nov 18, 2011 10:53 PM CST reply actions

You should've made the title......

“Epstein wants Wood”

by jballgame on Nov 18, 2011 11:08 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

good news

at least theo treated one cub legend right

by NOMAR on Nov 19, 2011 8:21 AM CST reply actions

SMH.

Theo! Good job, Tommy Boy!

by shoemile on Nov 19, 2011 4:16 PM CST up reply actions

Good news indeed

I also heard on XM last night that Theo/Jed/Sveum want to try this bullpen by committee thing (though it has a different name now … “leveraging high-risk situations with your best pitchers,” or something like that).

Anyway, with Wood, Marshall, Shark, Carpenter, Russell and Marmol we have some arms down there. The past playoffs showed how important a deep bullpen is (not that you manage the bullpen the same way in the regular season).

Above and beyond Wood’s status as Cub icon, the guy still has a few bullets left. I’d rather see him used in “high-risk” situations three times a week than in the 7th inning of a 7-2 game.

Smart managing of a deep bullpen is probably the quickest (and cheapest) way to get a few more wins out of a marginally-talented team. It is the recipe both SD and Arizona used in the last two years to be competitive. Not sure our pen is quite at that level yet, but add one or two more arms (Dolis, Belevieau?), and it could be pretty damn close.

"We gotta circle the bandwagons." - Devin Hester

by Jose's Eyelid on Nov 19, 2011 9:13 AM CST reply actions

Huh? Cubs icon? Really?

Ok…I gotta ask and I’m sure I’ll get an assload of snarky comments back, but, HOW is Wood an icon? I understand Ernie, Billy, Fergie and Ryno, who are HoFers and Santo, who should be…but Wood? C’mon…he’s won like what…90 games in his entire career?

Also…if you put him in “high risk” situations in games, you’ll be disappointed more often than not. He seems to have problems in BIG games…but, I won’t go there.

"Keep looking into the past and you'll keep repeating the past" - Some Smart Guy

by Easy Ed on Nov 19, 2011 2:39 PM CST up reply actions

You're using wins as a benchmark?

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by Al Yellon on Nov 19, 2011 4:01 PM CST up reply actions

Not many players in this day and age are as loyal to an organization as Wood has been.

That helps with the icon status. Plus he went to the playoffs with the Cubs four times.

Theo! Good job, Tommy Boy!

by shoemile on Nov 19, 2011 4:47 PM CST up reply actions

And was a key contributor to three of those four playoff teams.

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by Al Yellon on Nov 19, 2011 5:35 PM CST up reply actions

And he had a shot to cement his name in Cubs history...

…like no other pitcher after 1945 has…and bombed…big time. Game 7, starting pitcher, under a national spotlight, with a shot at the World Series, for an organization that hasn’t been there in a century. Big game pitchers win games like that.
Let me ask you this then…if Wood pitches 2 or 3 more mediocre years like last year, and being he’s this so called “icon”…does his number get retired?

"Keep looking into the past and you'll keep repeating the past" - Some Smart Guy

by Easy Ed on Nov 19, 2011 6:15 PM CST up reply actions

I wouldn't say he was mediocre last year.

He wasn’t spectacular, but he was solid. Certainly not mediocre.

by Dcr18 on Nov 19, 2011 8:27 PM CST up reply actions

Ok...that's your assessment of Wood 2011...

…your definition of solid and my definition of solid are 2 different solids, evidently. Fair enough.

"Keep looking into the past and you'll keep repeating the past" - Some Smart Guy

by Easy Ed on Nov 19, 2011 11:13 PM CST up reply actions

His bwar and fwar were both 0.5 wins above replacement last year.....

at 5 million per win, that means he was worth 2.5 million by both metrics. With us paying him 1.5 million, he produced a million more than he was paid. That is the well within a reasonable definition of “solid”; he produced more than he was paid. Additionally, if he manages to stay healthier next year (no guarantee, obviously), he’ll be even more valuable, even with some age-related decline. You might reconsider your definition of “solid”….

by DblBlueinStLou on Nov 20, 2011 12:21 AM CST up reply actions 4 recs

He got paid $1.5 million last year

What exactly did you expect out of him? He was a bargain for us.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Nov 19, 2011 10:47 PM CST up reply actions

I really had no expectations for him at all...

…he was “meh”…no more, no less….however, the 5-6 weeks on the DL in 2011, was pretty much par for the course, was it not?
$1.5M is about his ceiling. Any more than that, then you have to bring his reliability into play.

"Keep looking into the past and you'll keep repeating the past" - Some Smart Guy

by Easy Ed on Nov 19, 2011 11:38 PM CST up reply actions

his career WAR is almost right in line with his career salary IIRC

by Cubbie-Tim on Nov 20, 2011 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

One of the reasons he's loved is for his reaction after Game 7 in 2003.

He sat at his locker and took total responsibility for losing the game.

Many players would have made excuses. He didn’t.

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by Al Yellon on Nov 20, 2011 7:36 AM CST up reply actions

You're right about that, Al...

he faced it. I’ll give him credit for that. I’ve never doubted his sincerity. It doesn’t change the fact, tho.

"Keep looking into the past and you'll keep repeating the past" - Some Smart Guy

by Easy Ed on Nov 21, 2011 1:01 AM CST up reply actions

he didnt bomb

the rest of the team did around him. I recall Wood also hitting a HR to tie it and the rest of the team didn’t do squat. Keep in mind that the Cubs were With RISP: 1 for 2. for the game, that’s right 2 ABs with a RISP, that might have something to do with losing it as well. To hang this game on Wood alone is laughable and discredits you in so many ways. He had a bad game, but if you truly want to hang his Cubs career (both on the field and his off field involvement) on this game, you need to change your name from Easy Ed to Hard-head-Ed

by Cubbie-Tim on Nov 20, 2011 1:53 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

7 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings ... 'nuff said.

"Keep looking into the past and you'll keep repeating the past" - Some Smart Guy

by Easy Ed on Nov 21, 2011 1:10 AM CST up reply actions

he and his wife are both very active in the Chicago communities

they are true Cubs and the fans know it, see it, recognize it, love it and appreciate it. for whatever reason you are anti Wood and it is amazing. i have never seen someone so negative on him

by Cubbie-Tim on Nov 20, 2011 1:46 PM CST up reply actions

LSA

by daily2b on Nov 19, 2011 10:58 AM CST reply actions

Yay!

by alkappy on Nov 19, 2011 11:37 AM CST reply actions

A curious factoid from Trib article on same

“Epstein met with Wood for a casual get-together last week on Wood’s home turf in Lincoln Park. Wood made sure Epstein felt right at home, choosing a bar that caters to Boston sports fans.”

Al or anyone else know what bar that would be?

The bottom is loaded with nice people, Albert. Only cream and bastards rise

by Doggie Stalker on Nov 19, 2011 7:06 PM CST reply actions

I was wondering about that.

I do not know.

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by Al Yellon on Nov 20, 2011 7:37 AM CST up reply actions

I am not aware of any true Boston-themed bah in Lincoln Park

Most likely it’s just a regular bar that has laid claim to one of the New England teams (Patriots, BC Eagles, etc.). Grab a RedEye or a Reader and look through the ads – most of the bars seem to call themselves home for one team or another, especially college sports.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Nov 20, 2011 9:15 AM CST up reply actions

A little bit of googling

… came up with this link, a bar that — according to the comments, anyway — appears to cater to fans of all the Boston teams.

Impossible to know for sure, but I’d think this is the place.

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by Al Yellon on Nov 20, 2011 9:50 AM CST up reply actions

A good move by Theo....

Kerry Wood is a leader and team player . I look forward to seeing him pitch in Mesa .

by cubs north on Nov 19, 2011 7:42 PM CST reply actions

how is

wood an icon????this guy lives breathes and bleeds cubbie blue.if there’s one thing cub fans connect with it’s a player who loves the team as much as they do.plus he’s a good player.we’ll never know what kerry could have accomplished due to injuries.i welcome him back.

by NOMAR on Nov 20, 2011 6:34 AM CST reply actions