Support NeoGAF

[tc farks]

That's primarily what I remember about him. Statistically his best value was for that Yankees team a few years back.

Not even close. His early seasons as a Cub were seismically more valuable. Namely 1998 and 2003.

In 98', Wood had a K/9 of almost 13 and a 20k game. The guy was as filthy as anyone could be. Injuries are a bitch, and yet he still managed a long successful career.

 

[ToxicAdam]

I read somewhere that an elite closer is comparable in worth to a solid #3 starter.

 

[Sanjuro]

Not even close. His early seasons as a Cub were seismically more valuable. Namely 1998 and 2003.

In 98', Wood had a K/9 of almost 13 and a 20k game. The guy was as filthy as anyone could be. Injuries are a bitch, and yet he still managed a long successful career.

Yeah, back when he was a starter. That version of Wood has been long dead.

 

[cuevas. PhD.]

Kerry Wood is a great pornstar name.

 

[captmcblack]

Score is saying Kerry wants to pitch today and retire tomorrow...

I remember when the Cubs had Wood and Prior at the top of their rotation. FU Dusty. The most imbecilic manager who ever existed. Who laughed in the face of pitcher abuse and helped destroy one of the best 1-5 rotations I've ever seen. Oh did that line drive hurt your elbow Mark? Better keep pitching.

*sigh*

That Cubs rotation was awesome. I miss those fireballers in Chicago...and I miss the young gun As too with Zito/Mulder/Hudson destroying people every game. Remember when it seemed like every team was bustling with young pitching talent?

I think in baseball, the most tragic thing to see is watching that great pitching talent go awry. Boom or bust hitting is whatever...but for me, watching something like the undoing of pitching Rick Ankiel, or watching the downfall of Dontrelle Willis, is more disappointing.

 

[tc farks]

Yeah, back when he was a starter. That version of Wood has been long dead.

I didn't know your reference window. 2008 was his last dominant season...66 IP of 11.4 K/9, 2.44 BB/9 and 0.4 HR/9. And secured him a fat contract with the Indians because they were dumb enough to pay it. His stint with the Yanks was very impressive, its only drawback was the duration. That was the 1 year I wouldn't have minded seeing the Yankees win another WS. Still feels weird for me to say that.

Wood was very strong last season as well, K/9 north of 10, 3.59 FIP. It's a shame he didn't have a few more years of that left in him. He's a Cub lifer though, so seeing him in the front office in some capacity will be enjoyable. And I have no doubt he enjoys helping his wife with her Chicago-based charity work.

 

[tc farks]

*sigh*

That Cubs rotation was awesome. I miss those fireballers in Chicago...and I miss the young gun As too with Zito/Mulder/Hudson destroying people every game. Remember when it seemed like every team was bustling with young pitching talent?

I think in baseball, the most tragic thing to see is watching that great pitching talent go awry. Boom or bust hitting is whatever...but for me, watching something like the undoing of pitching Rick Ankiel, or watching the downfall of Dontrelle Willis, is more disappointing.

In 2004, the Cubs 1-5 was Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano, Matt Clement and Greg Maddux. The lowest ERA+ in that group was 110. And that was after Dusty abused the hell out of them and was doing it again. E.g. Prior only threw 118 innings that year, Wood 140. It was a disappointing season that would have never went down that way if Dusty hadn't been around to fuck it up.

Pitching is so volatile and has so many cases of what could have been. But it's worse when you see it caused by a manager. I still can't help but cringe at what Dusty put Prior through in 2003-2004.

 

[Sanjuro]

I didn't know your reference window. 2008 was his last dominant season...66 IP of 11.4 K/9, 2.44 BB/9 and 0.4 HR/9. And secured him a fat contract with the Indians because they were dumb enough to pay it. His stint with the Yanks was very impressive, its only drawback was the duration. That was the 1 year I wouldn't have minded seeing the Yankees win another WS. Still feels weird for me to say that.

Wood was very strong last season as well, K/9 north of 10, 3.59 FIP. It's a shame he didn't have a few more years of that left in him. He's a Cub lifer though, so seeing him in the front office in some capacity will be enjoyable. And I have no doubt he enjoys helping his wife with her Chicago-based charity work.

The most impressive part is the markets he has played prior, then to go into NY and deliver those type of performances when it mattered the most. Not saying he had a bad end to his career. He was just your usually better than average bullpen guy.

 

[ToxicAdam]

And secured him a fat contract with the Indians because they were dumb enough to pay it.

You can't fault the Indians for that. They are located in Cleveland, so they have to overpay any free agent to come there and they were just coming off the Joe Borowski years. So, Kerry Wood looked like the messiah in comparison to what they were used to.

 

[tc farks]

You can't fault the Indians for that. They are located in Cleveland, so they have to overpay any free agent to come there and they were just coming off the Joe Borowski years. So, Kerry Wood looked like the messiah in comparison to what they were used to.

You're completely right.

 

[wsoxfan1214]

Wait, so is Wood pitching today or does he just "want to"?

And let's do this shit.

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Agreed, though I'm not sure how attached we should get to Board. Dat Boras pay bump next year may be more than the Braves will spend. He is a huge, huge asset to the club and is worth quite a bit though. Chipper retiring will free up some salary. I wonder if Kawakami is still on the books at all, or Lowe. I think Lowe is.

Also, how the heck is Derek Lowe doing so well so far this year?

Kawakami's contract ended last season.

The Braves are paying Lowe $10 million this season.

After this season, the Braves will have $23 million freed up after the Lowe and Chipper contracts are completed. It becomes $32 million if they don't invoke Hudson's $9 million option for '13, but I'm pretty sure they will.

 

[wsoxfan1214]

Pauly!

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Wow, an umpire gets punished! And it's Balkin Bob!

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and umpire Bob Davidson, embroiled in a heated nose-to-nose exchange during Tuesday's game between Philadelphia and Houston, each received a one-game suspension from Major League Baseball on Friday.

Both will serve their suspensions immediately. The Phillies are to play the Red Sox and Davidson will miss the Twins-Brewers game in Milwaukee. A Minor League call-up umpire will fill his spot.

Davidson was suspended for repeated violations of the Office of the Commissioner's standards for situation handling, MLB said in announcing the penalty.

In the eighth inning of Tuesday's game, Philadelphia starter Cliff Lee threw a curveball that struck out Astros catcher Jason Castro, but the ball bounced past catcher Brian Schneider and went to the backstop. Castro reached first base safely on the uncaught third strike.

Manuel argued with Davidson, the home-plate umpire, and was ejected. The Phils' skipper then walked out of the dugout and onto the field to hold a brief screaming match with Davidson.

The argument appeared to stem from Manuel being upset about Davidson inadvertently interfering with Schneider's path to the ball, though the manager wouldn't discuss it following the game.

Davidson, 59, has 22 years of Major League service time and first began working National League games in 1982. He worked the 2009 NL Division Series between the Rockies and Phillies.

 

[weekend_warrior]

The argument appeared to stem from Manuel being upset about Davidson inadvertently interfering with Schneider's path to the ball, though the manager wouldn't discuss it following the game.

Is there a replay of that play?

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Is there a replay of that play?

http://deadspin.com/5910548/bob-dav...y-featured-more-f+bombs-than-a-tarantino-film

 

[RBH]

This weekend we've got a few "rivalries" to watch:


-Cubs vs. White Sox
-Giants vs. A's
-Orioles vs. Nationals
-Rangers vs. Astros
-Twins vs. Brewers

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Roy Oswalt worked out this week in front of Phillies and Red Sox scouts.

 

[Talon]

Oh, yes. The dreaded Astros - Rangers rivalry.

 

[thefro]

Wait, so is Wood pitching today or does he just "want to"?

It sounds like he's going to pitch one more time out of the pen this weekend at some point, then retire.

 

[zulux21]

Pauly!

fun homerun... hopefully he is ok now... he took that pitch right to the face. It looks like it ended up just above his left eye. It would suck a ton if he was hurt as losing a hitter like he has been this season is a huge blow for any team @_@

 

[Blearth]

Oh, yes. The dreaded Astros - Rangers rivalry.

All this series does is remind everyone that the state of Texas has never won a world series.

 

[Malo]

All this series does is remind everyone that the state of Texas has never won a world series.

You are the best junior here.

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Boy, that Jeff Samardzija is a stand-up guy.

 

[cuevas. PhD.]

Pauly

 

[wsoxfan1214]

fun homerun... hopefully he is ok now... he took that pitch right to the face. It looks like it ended up just above his left eye. It would suck a ton if he was hurt as losing a hitter like he has been this season is a huge blow for any team @_@

Pauly

I hope they get him back. I have no sympathy for it being a breaking ball. If the guy just hit a home run off of you, be more careful. It's going to be taken as intentional.

Hope they make him answer for it next inning.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

All this series does is remind everyone that the state of Texas has never won a world series.

why are you still a junior anyway?

 

[zulux21]

for those who want to see the hit by pitch it's now up on the highlights I am not sure how to direct link to the video in question so you will have to click on the second video.

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

Nice call ump. haha

 

[weekend_warrior]

http://deadspin.com/5910548/bob-dav...y-featured-more-f+bombs-than-a-tarantino-film

Ha that's pretty funny. You can see the ump saying "oh yeah, fuck you Charlie, fuck you Charlie!"

 

[rekameohs]

Nice call ump. haha

If you're talking about the safe, then out call at second base, it looked like the right call to me.

Ha that's pretty funny. You can see the ump saying "oh yeah, fuck you Charlie, fuck you Charlie!"

Haha, Bob Davidson always gets in the best arguments.

 

[The Frankman]

Yes, Charlie. The ump intentionally ran into Schneider's path there to screw over the Phils. Good one.

 

[zulux21]

darn I am torn. I want the white sox to score more, but I wouldn't mind Wood having a good final outing (if this is indeed his final one)

 

[tc farks]

I just wish I was watching it. Usually I get out of work early but I got stuck today.

 

[zulux21]

I just wish I was watching it. Usually I get out of work early but I got stuck today.

it's a shame you aren't... he managed to get a strike out and is now leaving the game. hand shakes and hugs from his team, it looks like his son came up from the bench to greet him and hug his daddy before wood carried him away. more hugs in the dugout, and coming out for one last goodbye to the fans. I'm sure there will be a video for it later, but still, I am not remotely a cubs fan and it's rather touching.

 

[tc farks]

it's a shame you aren't... he managed to get a strike out and is now leaving the game. hand shakes and hugs from his team, it looks like his son came up from the bench to greet him and hug his daddy before wood carried him away. more hugs in the dugout, and coming out for one last goodbye to the fans. I'm sure there will be a video for it later, but still, I am not remotely a cubs fan and it's rather touching.

Wow. Fantastic way to go out. Thanks for describing this.

 

[McNei1y]

Still amazed that two winning teams in the area will be playing eachother tonight.

You're going down Jango!

 

[road house]

Man it was sad seeing wood leaving, meeting with his son, but it was time.

 

[tc farks]

Fun fact in honor of Wood's retirement:

Career K/9

1. Randy Johnson 10.6098
2. Kerry Wood 10.3134
3. Pedro Martinez 10.0398
4. Tim Lincecum 9.8678
5. Nolan Ryan 9.5481

 

[zulux21]

it's in the air.. and when it comes down... Rios will fail horribly @_@

 

[Square Triangle]

LOLRIOS

 

[zulux21]

and reed makes sure that rios can't screw it up again.

Hopefully reed can continue to pitch well as the closer... it's nice to finally see him there as he was the guy I felt should be the closer coming out of spring training.

 

[rekameohs]

Chris Young finally back in the lineup!!

And Stephen Drew and Daniel Hudson are coming just around the corner.

 

[Sanjuro]

Aren't many nice moments like that anymore.

 

[rekameohs]

Aren't many nice moments like that anymore.

Yeah, it's a real classy thing by the Cubs. I also like all of the ovations Chipper's getting this year.

 

[zulux21]

Daniel Hudson

Gah, just seeing that name makes me so sad @_@

I still don't get that trade at all. Lets trade a young good looking pitcher that we have for dirt cheap for a few years for a pitcher who is decent but shows sparks of greatness, who overall isn't really doing any better than our young talented pitcher... who is over payed and who we would only have control of for a short time @_@

edit: for those who weren't able to see the kerry wood goodbye mlb has a video up now

 

[clav]

David Ortiz calls Albert Pujols a bamf.

http://espn.go.com/boston/columns/m...-knows-albert-pujols-experiencing-nasty-slump

"Albert Pujols? Let me tell you something about Albert Pujols," Ortiz says. "Albert Pujols is a bad mother f---er. The baseball world needs Albert Pujols."

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Yeah, it's a real classy thing by the Cubs. I also like all of the ovations Chipper's getting this year.

Can't wait to see how the Mets crowd reacts to Chipper's final game in NY.

 

[The Frankman]

Hockey theme!


Dillon Gee

Jon Niese with dat Rangers swag

RA repping Nashville

... fuck you Jason Bay

 

[Dmncnby2k9]

damn, Gee shaved that goatee. Rangers jersey looks nice, gotta jump on the bandwagon.