Wood to the rotation, why not?

by APV on Jun 25, 2010 11:40 AM EDT

So Kerry Wood is not, and never will be the dominant Cleveland Indians closer many of us hoped for when he was signed. And you know what, no one is going to trade for Wood so that he can be their closer, or likely any part of their bullpen, anytime this season. And his option isn't going to vest for next season, and the club isn't going to pick it up. With the demotion of Huff and the struggles of our potential AAA rotation fill-ins, is there a good argument against giving Wood a try in the rotation? It could be bad from a long-term health perspective, but do we really care about that? It seems the only way to revive any value in Wood is to try him at a role that he might have more success at.

I don't think I'm really that serious or committed to the idea, but what are the arguments against giving Wood two weeks to ease into a transition back to the rotation. Maybe a month of good starts and someone will actually take his remaining salary off our hands by late July/early August.

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Hasn’t one of the criticisms of Wood been that he’s not throwing all of his pitches and can’t get his breaking stuff over the plate consistently? If that’s true, he’s not likely to be very successful as a starter.

'If I'm not here, 'I'll be somewhere else.'' Andy Marte

by peter m on Jun 25, 2010 12:21 PM EDT reply actions

I agree with you. I’ve always been under the assumption that since the arm surgeries, they guy just can’t physically throw the breaking pitches he used to throw in his prime. In particular, the slider comes to mind. That thing was nasty. Just watch that 20K game on the MLB Network sometime. Totally different pitcher back then.

by Mike Beckwith on Jun 28, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I like this idea the most because I’d like to find out sooner rather than later if Chris Perez can be a closer.

by NickFantana on Jun 25, 2010 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

*Does it jeopardize our credibility with free agents (or since we don’t sign free agents) maybe agents or something? Seems relatively unprecedented (we’re not talking about stretching out a youngster a la Masterson). Last case was Karsay right which was an unquestioned disaster.
*Does it stunt the growth or tradeability of people who should be in there. Carmona, Talbot, Masterson, Westbrook should all without question be in there (Carmona & Westbrook for the latter point, Talbot and Masterson for the former).
*So then you’re down to should he be in there instead of CarCar and Laffey. And despite our moronic move of not trading Laffey when his value was higher, I think you have to put CarCar in there.

by cheech99 on Jun 25, 2010 4:26 PM EDT reply actions

Why not send him to seek out and claim distant lands?

by YoDaddyWags on Jun 27, 2010 1:31 AM EDT reply actions

You have to go more distant than that, my friend. Here is the Russian flag, placed by a Mir sub on the floor of the Arctic Ocean at the north pole (2007):

by APV on Jun 28, 2010 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions

by YoDaddyWags on Jun 28, 2010 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Wait a minute, is that the moon?

by jhon on Jun 30, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

No way

by matt7 on Jun 30, 2010 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Oh. My. God.

by jhon on Jun 30, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I kinda wanna see Josh Tomlin get a shot. Not too many k’s but great control and few homeruns.

by joeee on Jun 28, 2010 1:32 AM EDT reply actions

(Assault aside.)

by joeee on Jun 28, 2010 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Could be some fun post-game wordplay. “Tomlin got battered tonight by the White Sox, who jumped on him early and kicked him while he was down…”

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jun 30, 2010 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

“The White Sox harassed Tomlin, saying he was soft and on steroids.”

“Tomlin had refused to call the White Sox by their chosen name, ‘Muhammad Ali,’ and as Tomlin absorbed the punishment of repeated blows, the White Sox taunted him with the refrain, ’What’s my name? What’s my name? What’s my name?’”

by Jay on Jun 30, 2010 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

/in sleeper hold, ala Deebo/ “go to sleep”, “go to sleep”…

by hans on Jun 30, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Wood suddenly looks pretty good after stringing together a few save opportunities.

by Roger Dorn on Jun 30, 2010 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

or so the narrative goes

by Roger Dorn on Jun 30, 2010 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Ah, narrative, it is a bitch.

by Jay on Jun 30, 2010 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

First time he’s saved three in a row for the Indians. He hasn’t really been able to get into any sort of groove as a reliever, mostly because of opportunities.

by odradek on Jun 30, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions