He may be the best of both worlds. He may be the staff ace the Cubs have been searching for since Kerry Wood's 20K performance. He may also be the hitting pitcher without the attitude of Carlos Zambrano.
Clearly, this was the best trade the Cubs have made in a long time. Reliever Sean Marshall for Travis Wood.
T. Wood in 2013 has pitched 21 games. His record is 7-7. 2/79 ERA, 1.079 WHIP. The lack of run support has been a key to the Cubs pitching staff not having better records. In 2012, his record was 6-13 in 26 GP, 4.27 ERA and 1.191 WHIP. In 47 games for the Cubs, Wood is 13-20.
Kerry Wood's first two years are slightly different. In 1998, he went 13-6, 3.40 ERA and 1.212 WHIP in 26 games. He did not pitch the next season due to injury. In 2000, he went 8-7, 4.80 ERA, 1.453 WHIP in 23 GP. In his first 49 games for the Cubs, K. Wood was 21-13, but on a better ball club.
T. Wood's batting far exceeds the majority of the regulars in the line up. In 2013, he is hitting .293 BA, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB.
In contrast, Zambrano in 12 seasons hit 24 HR, 71 RBI and had a .238 BA. His best Cub homer year was in 2006 when he hit 6, with 11 RBI but a low .151 BA. In 2008 he had his best overall year at the plate, 4 HR, 14 RBI. 337 BA.
People tend to gravitate towards Jeff Samardzija or Matt Garza as an "ace" pitcher because they throw harder. But the speed of a fastball is only one element to a quality pitcher. How to pitch is different than just throwing a baseball at 97 mph. Many teams have inquired about T. Wood in trade talks. Since it is hard to develop starting pitchers, the Cubs should keep T. Wood and build the staff around him.
Showing posts with label KWood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KWood. Show all posts
July 29, 2013
May 7, 2013
HERO WORSHIP
On CSN-Chicago last night, the sports panel continued to fawn over Kerry Wood and his 20 strikeout performance against the Astros. It was early in Wood's career, and showed the Cub nation his potential. Potential that would quickly fade to a broken career.
The panel said Wood's 20k performance was "the greatest game ever." That is an insane and delusional comment. The hero worship of Wood has gotten out of hand. It may be a fond memory for some people, but it does not rank as the greatest game ever. It is not even close.
What about the 21 no-hitters pitched in the majors?
Or the greatest feat in history of the game on its biggest stage: the most famous perfect game in baseball history belongs to Don Larsen of the New York Yankees.
The only perfect game in World Series history, Larsen’s came on October 8, 1956 during Game 5 of the series. He struck out seven Brooklyn Dodgers and only allowed one 3-ball count (and that came in the first inning).
In all, Larsen only needed 97 pitches to dispatch the 27 Dodgers who stepped to the plate.
Or what about what “Red” Barrett of the Boston Braves accomplished on August 10, 1944.
Barrett pitched a complete game, 2-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds – and only needed 58 pitches to do it. He walked and struck out nobody. The game took only one hour and fifteen minutes.
Or what about baseball's golden era's best pitcher, Sandy Koufax? He threw four no-hitters, second only to Nolan Ryan’s 7, but his perfect game on September 9, 1965 was his finest. Koufax struck out 14 Chicago Cubs, the most strikeouts ever recorded in a perfect game.
Or what about the greatest "loss" ever by a pitcher?
On May 26, 1959, Pittsburgh Pirates starter Harvey Haddix retired 36 straight Milwaukee Braves, only to eventually lose the game. In one of the most amazing games in baseball history, Haddix dazzled for 12 straight innings, allowing not a single base runner. The problem was his team was struggling on their own against Braves starter Lew Burdette. They had managed 12 hits in the game, but Burdette scattered them and didn’t allow a run.
In the 13th inning, Haddix allowed the leadoff hitter to reach on an error, ending his bid for perfection. The next hitter sacrificed, and then Haddix intentionally walked Hank Aaron. Next, Joe Adcock hit what looked like a home run, but it was ruled a double when Adcock passed Aaron rounding the bases.
Haddix lost the no-hitter, shutout, and game 1-0.
There are hundreds of other examples of great pitching performances throughout the history of baseball. Wood's 20k outing is a footnote. It does not compare to the historical or unique game examples cited above. Sports fans tend to dwell on the silver lining moments in dreadful losing seasons. The Cubs have been losers so long that now they tend to worship their own losers. Wood should have been better, but in typical Cub fashion, his career crashed and burned by injury. Sports fans now gravitate toward Wood because he is a nice guy - - - who finished last.
Wood was 86-75 in his 14 year career. He had 63 saves. His career ERA was 3.67 and 1.267 WHIP. He is not a Hall of Fame candidate. He was not the best pitcher in his era. The last time he had a season WAR over 2.0 was 2005. He was supposed to be the next Nolan Ryan.
But Ryan lasted 27 years in the majors. He compiled a 324-292 record. His career ERA was 3.19 and 1.247 WHIP. Ryan is a Hall of Fame pitcher for a reason.
Cub fans need some perspective on Kerry Wood.
The panel said Wood's 20k performance was "the greatest game ever." That is an insane and delusional comment. The hero worship of Wood has gotten out of hand. It may be a fond memory for some people, but it does not rank as the greatest game ever. It is not even close.
What about the 21 no-hitters pitched in the majors?
Or the greatest feat in history of the game on its biggest stage: the most famous perfect game in baseball history belongs to Don Larsen of the New York Yankees.
The only perfect game in World Series history, Larsen’s came on October 8, 1956 during Game 5 of the series. He struck out seven Brooklyn Dodgers and only allowed one 3-ball count (and that came in the first inning).
In all, Larsen only needed 97 pitches to dispatch the 27 Dodgers who stepped to the plate.
Or what about what “Red” Barrett of the Boston Braves accomplished on August 10, 1944.
Barrett pitched a complete game, 2-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds – and only needed 58 pitches to do it. He walked and struck out nobody. The game took only one hour and fifteen minutes.
Or what about baseball's golden era's best pitcher, Sandy Koufax? He threw four no-hitters, second only to Nolan Ryan’s 7, but his perfect game on September 9, 1965 was his finest. Koufax struck out 14 Chicago Cubs, the most strikeouts ever recorded in a perfect game.
Or what about the greatest "loss" ever by a pitcher?
On May 26, 1959, Pittsburgh Pirates starter Harvey Haddix retired 36 straight Milwaukee Braves, only to eventually lose the game. In one of the most amazing games in baseball history, Haddix dazzled for 12 straight innings, allowing not a single base runner. The problem was his team was struggling on their own against Braves starter Lew Burdette. They had managed 12 hits in the game, but Burdette scattered them and didn’t allow a run.
In the 13th inning, Haddix allowed the leadoff hitter to reach on an error, ending his bid for perfection. The next hitter sacrificed, and then Haddix intentionally walked Hank Aaron. Next, Joe Adcock hit what looked like a home run, but it was ruled a double when Adcock passed Aaron rounding the bases.
Haddix lost the no-hitter, shutout, and game 1-0.
There are hundreds of other examples of great pitching performances throughout the history of baseball. Wood's 20k outing is a footnote. It does not compare to the historical or unique game examples cited above. Sports fans tend to dwell on the silver lining moments in dreadful losing seasons. The Cubs have been losers so long that now they tend to worship their own losers. Wood should have been better, but in typical Cub fashion, his career crashed and burned by injury. Sports fans now gravitate toward Wood because he is a nice guy - - - who finished last.
Wood was 86-75 in his 14 year career. He had 63 saves. His career ERA was 3.67 and 1.267 WHIP. He is not a Hall of Fame candidate. He was not the best pitcher in his era. The last time he had a season WAR over 2.0 was 2005. He was supposed to be the next Nolan Ryan.
But Ryan lasted 27 years in the majors. He compiled a 324-292 record. His career ERA was 3.19 and 1.247 WHIP. Ryan is a Hall of Fame pitcher for a reason.
Cub fans need some perspective on Kerry Wood.
September 24, 2012
HANGER ONS
Roger Clemens announced that he won't say whether he will try a major league comeback in 2013. The new Astros owner was looking for a publicity stunt one shot game this season to bring some fans to the ball park after Clemens pitched in a low minor league contest this summer. The idea of Clemens making a "come back" at his age brings the skeptics to the forefront. One reason is that Clemens wants to get himself "off" the hall of fame ballot next year so he is not part of the steroid era big names.
Another reason is ego. Clemens has an ego the size of Texas. He does want he wants to do, and no one can tell him otherwise. If he sees someone like Jamie Moyer hanging on to a major league job, Clemens may believe he is better and wants to prove the world wrong like in his perjury case.
But the underlying reason may be as simple as Clemens has nothing better to do than to hang on to baseball. For most of his life, he has been a pitcher. He really knows little else. Unless he has started businesses while playing, his retirement of sitting at home and going to his children's events, pales to the memory of pitching at Yankee Stadium.
Ex-ball players who don't want to give up the baseball life, hang on in many ways. Some go into coaching. Some go into broadcasting. Some start baseball clinics.
Kerry Wood is another former player who wants back into the game. He continually pops up during Wrigley Field broadcasts, hinting that he is going to have a role in the organization. What that role will be is unknown. Some believe he had a side agreement with former GM Jim Hendry about post-career position. But there is a new front office in town. And the Boston boys appear to want to scrub away all reference to past Cubs as they try to rebuild the club in their own image.
Wood said he would like to stay involved in the team. He also suggested that the Cubs bring back other players, like Ryne Sandberg or Sammy Sosa. Sandberg is going to be a major league manager, and the Cubs burned that bridge a long time ago. Sosa left the team in a feud that was never healed, and his Congressional testimony does not help in any PR sense. Wood is dreaming if he wants to put the band together and hang out in the clubhouse like the country club setting under his former field managers. There are times when ex-players need to move on.
Another reason is ego. Clemens has an ego the size of Texas. He does want he wants to do, and no one can tell him otherwise. If he sees someone like Jamie Moyer hanging on to a major league job, Clemens may believe he is better and wants to prove the world wrong like in his perjury case.
But the underlying reason may be as simple as Clemens has nothing better to do than to hang on to baseball. For most of his life, he has been a pitcher. He really knows little else. Unless he has started businesses while playing, his retirement of sitting at home and going to his children's events, pales to the memory of pitching at Yankee Stadium.
Ex-ball players who don't want to give up the baseball life, hang on in many ways. Some go into coaching. Some go into broadcasting. Some start baseball clinics.
Kerry Wood is another former player who wants back into the game. He continually pops up during Wrigley Field broadcasts, hinting that he is going to have a role in the organization. What that role will be is unknown. Some believe he had a side agreement with former GM Jim Hendry about post-career position. But there is a new front office in town. And the Boston boys appear to want to scrub away all reference to past Cubs as they try to rebuild the club in their own image.
Wood said he would like to stay involved in the team. He also suggested that the Cubs bring back other players, like Ryne Sandberg or Sammy Sosa. Sandberg is going to be a major league manager, and the Cubs burned that bridge a long time ago. Sosa left the team in a feud that was never healed, and his Congressional testimony does not help in any PR sense. Wood is dreaming if he wants to put the band together and hang out in the clubhouse like the country club setting under his former field managers. There are times when ex-players need to move on.
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