Entries tagged as ‘Kerry Wood’
Your culprit: Greg Couch of the Chicago Sun-Times. In a generally dumb article about why Kerry Wood shouldn’t be the Cubs’ closer, Couch writes:
Wood can never be trusted again. Not as a starter, not as a closer. In middle relief, fine.
On behalf of those who fight for the rights of middle-relief pitchers every day: go fuck yourself, Greg Couch. Why would you want someone who “can never be trusted” to ever pitch for your team? Would the innings he’d pitch in middle relief not count towards the final score of the game? Just for you, I hope the 2008 Cubs have outstanding starting pitchers, a dominant closer, and an untrustworthy Kerry Wood who yields 408 runs in 54 innings pitched of middle relief.
Categories: post by johnstevens
Tagged: Chicago Cubs, Greg Couch, Kerry Wood, middle-relief prejudice
This move was a no-brainer after Mark Prior’s last successful deal. Zing!
Actually, I don’t really mind this deal. It’s not nearly as offensive as the other Chicago team’s recent relief signing. Why? It’s a one-year deal with incentives for a guy with upside. And by “upside,” I mean that when healthy, Wood can still strike guys out at a terrific rate. In 2005 and 2007 — his two years with bullpen work — Wood struck out 77 in 66 IP and 24 in 24.1 IP. (By comparison, Linebrink’s strikeout rate recently has dropped).
Who’ll be better in 2008? Tough to say — lot’s of variables. Will Wood stay healthy? Will he be the Cubs’ closer? Will Linebrink adapt to the American League and having an insane manager? If you forced me to pick one for my team next year, I’d take my chances with Wood.
The easier question: which team will be happier in 2009? Much better chance that it’s the Cubs.
Below: Wood and close friend Mark Prior pose for a picture following the announcement of Wood’s new contract.
Categories: post by johnstevens
Tagged: Chicago baseball, disabled list, Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Ozzie Guillen is an idiot, Scott Linebrink
