Kerry Wood on Boston's radar

[riverside sluggers]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/11/18/fishing_for_a_big_marlin/?page=4

 

The Cubs, Rangers, and Yankees are also said to be interested in signing him. A trio of Wood/Okajima/Papelbon... me like

[BSN07]

He's an injury risk to say the least, but I guess if the price is right hes worth a flier...

[riverside sluggers]

1 year deal with an option for 2nd year (incentive based), why not? The Sox would still have MDC as insurance to take on the 7th inning role

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I like this idea. Low risk, high reward.

[Anuj09]

Sounds like Wade Miller type deal except in the bullpen which is fine withe me

[example1]

Yep. Go for it. A name-recognition type guy, give him the chance to win a WS, and if it doesn't work out then he can just leave. No brainer.

[Cocos Disciples]

Good idea. He's got some really good stuff. His K/9 over his career is gaudy, although the K/BB is pretty mediocre.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Good idea. He's got some really good stuff. His K/9 over his career is gaudy' date=' although the K/BB is pretty mediocre.[/quote']

 

High K/9 with average-to-bad K/BB as a starter is a leading indicator for disproportionate success pitching in relief.

[a700hitter]

WHat was his velocity like last season?

[ksushi]

91-94ish. Him and Mark Prior are ridiculous tragedies compared to what their ceilings were. They both touched 99+ with fantastic stuff and control.

[a700hitter]

This smells like one of those low cost hoping to catch lightning in a bottle moves from 2005 like Wade Miller and Mat Matei. If the team is already re-tooled with young studs, there is no reason to fill with long shot crap like this. Build a pen with healthy arms, and take this team for another run at the big trophy.

[ksushi]

But given the overall uncertainty of the relief market in general wouldn't you like a relatively low cost and potentially very high reward acquisition to fill the role Gagne ended up doing in just general garbage time relief? You need him to be the garbage time guy, and he could end up being the guy getting key outs if young kids like Buch and Lester don't make it out of the fifth - if he ends up realizing his upside. There isn't a lot to lose and its not like there is a lot to be had on the FA market. He has monster stuff and huge potential but a worrisome injury history. The Sox have been amazing in managing injured/fragile arms. I bet if we can keep him on the field, he'll be a great acquisiton. If it doesn't work out, Hansen or potentially Masterson late in the season could get looks in that role but again there isn't any pressure to fill that roster spot with an impact arm, because we already have 3 in the back of the rotation in MDC/Oki/Pap.

[CrespoBlows]

This smells like one of those low cost hoping to catch lightning in a bottle moves from 2005 like Wade Miller and Mat Matei. If the team is already re-tooled with young studs' date=' there is no reason to fill with long shot crap like this. Build a pen with healthy arms, and take this team for another run at the big trophy.[/quote']

 

Wood did have success in 24.1 innings pitching in relief. His elbow is probably better suited for that role, anyway.

 

He's a high impact arm at the back of the bullpen, if he can stay healthy, if he can't, this team can afford to absorb $3-$4 million dollars.

[ksushi]

He'll probably get something like what Dotel got. 5 mil, one year? Sounds reasonable. I'd do it.

[Mr Crunchy]

ya

if he stays healthy he could be another eric gagne....

f*** kerry wood

he and prior, with games 6-7 theres for the taking in wrigley,against a 25M payroll from miami,

owe the entire city of chicago an apology

keep these gaggers away from the youngsters we have

[ksushi]

Wonderful contribution.

 

I mean, when you don't have to count on them whats the big deal? I don't think you can be considered a gagger if you fail at filling a MR role... Was Seanez a gagger? I don't think so, his role wasn't important, he sucked, we DFA'd. Moving on. The question with a Kerry Wood is if you are prepared to pay a premium for his upside, and eat it if the risk wins out over the reward. It would be a luxury to have a talent like Wood in our bullpen knowing full well that if he does hit the DL and does nothing for us, it doesn't cripple our staff like it did Chicago's because we have enough arms to get the job done.

[CrespoBlows]

ya

if he stays healthy he could be another eric gagne....

f*** kerry wood

he and prior, with games 6-7 theres for the taking in wrigley,against a 25M payroll from miami,

owe the entire city of chicago an apology

keep these gaggers away from the youngsters we have

 

Wood in the postseason - 3.79 ERA

[yankees228]

Wood in the postseason - 3.79 ERA

 

Which includes pitching a gem in the deciding game 5 of the 2003 DS in ATL.

[jacksonianmarch]

Kerry Wood is not a guy you go out and get if you need pen help. Think about it. The sox have a 3 headed monster in the pen with paps/oki/manny. Throw in the likelihood that Timlin is coming back and the probability that Lopez has a spot and you have 5 guys taking up spot. Then factor in that Tavarez is back and there are 6 spots right there. With guys like Hansen, Hughes, and others waiting, and with the fact that 4 of your pitchers are considered innings eating kinds of starters, what is the utility in locking up 7 spots in the pen in the event that you want to go to 14 position players and only 11 pen arms. If I were the sox, Wood would be so far from my mind, that I would let some other team take the chance.

 

Consider that he stays healthy, he will need work to be useful and effective. And how much work will he get when the bridge from the 6th on is set?

 

And if he comes in and eats a spot away from a NR invitee, how much would that benefit you should he go down? Essentially, the only way to take on Wood and be benefitted by him would be to get him and use him a lot. And a team like the sox doesnt need to do that.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Kerry Wood is not a guy you go out and get if you need pen help. Think about it. The sox have a 3 headed monster in the pen with paps/oki/manny. Throw in the likelihood that Timlin is coming back and the probability that Lopez has a spot and you have 5 guys taking up spot. Then factor in that Tavarez is back and there are 6 spots right there. With guys like Hansen, Hughes, and others waiting, and with the fact that 4 of your pitchers are considered innings eating kinds of starters, what is the utility in locking up 7 spots in the pen in the event that you want to go to 14 position players and only 11 pen arms. If I were the sox, Wood would be so far from my mind, that I would let some other team take the chance.

 

Consider that he stays healthy, he will need work to be useful and effective. And how much work will he get when the bridge from the 6th on is set?

 

And if he comes in and eats a spot away from a NR invitee, how much would that benefit you should he go down? Essentially, the only way to take on Wood and be benefitted by him would be to get him and use him a lot. And a team like the sox doesnt need to do that.

 

I'd take a chance on Wood for the right price.

 

1) Lopez is gone; Timlin may be gone. Boston's bullpen can count on Papelbon, Okajima and Delcarmen, but that leaves 3-4 slots open. Boston needs at least eight pitchers for 6-7 slots; there's room for Wood.

 

2) Wood doesn't need frequent use. He did better with infrequent use. All of his runs in 2007 were allowed on just one day's rest, save for one outing in Coors Field against the late-season Rockies. He had no trouble going two innings--his struggle in 2007 was pitching on short rest, reasonable for an ex-starter converting to the pen.

 

3) Kerry Wood still strikes out over nine men per game. In fact, the small sample size of 2007 could be removed from the heart of his career as a starter. Wood is still second all-time in K/9 rate per Baseball Reference, and everything about his pitching--save about 3 mph of velocity--is right out of his prime.

 

You ask how much Wood would benefit Boston were he to go down. I counter, how much would it help Boston were he to hold up, allowing opposing batters roughly a .200/.300/.300 batting line? Okajima would become the lefty, and Wood would become the set-up guy, and baseball historians would someday marvel that Wood and Papelbon once pitched together for a year before Wood moved, Eckersley-style, to the second half of his HOF career.

 

I'll acknowledge it'd be a gamble. I'd take the chance for a few million dollars to sign him for a year...I'd pay more for a contract with a team option second year.

[ksushi]

Jacko,

 

The Sox don't need bullpen help. That is why I would take a high-priced flier on wood.

[playjacoby46]

yeah it seems like he likes the big stage based on past performances with chicago. if the price is right why not take a shot on him? i like it, go for him.

[zackredsox]

I think I'd be happier if they signed Kerry Underwood.

[Cocos Disciples]

I think I'd be happier if they signed Kerry Underwood.

 

I doubt she's very good at baseball.

[schillingouttheks]

I think I'd be happier if they signed Kerry Underwood.

 

Carrie*

 

Give the woman some respect.

[TheKilo]

Carrie*

 

Give the woman some respect.

 

I'd give her respect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All night long.

[schillingouttheks]

 

I was waiting for someone to jump on the "respect" that she, um, "deserved."

[das11209]

Cubs resign Kerry - Carrie may still be available.

http://rotoworld.com/content/HeadLines.aspx?sport=MLB&hl=226634

[Mr Crunchy]

why are we gambling here?

i am of the mindset that pitching wins,we have depth for the 1st time in our lives at this position??

 

you take the 3.79 postseason era and translate that to the american league (5+) and you got a stiff,a complete f***ing stiff under pressure.

4 years later hes a gamble?

how many surgeries has he had?

how many years has he been shut down early?

 

i gamble with the intent on winning

do you guys who like wood play cards??

[TheKilo]

why are we gambling here?

i am of the mindset that pitching wins,we have depth for the 1st time in our lives at this position??

 

you take the 3.79 postseason era and translate that to the american league (5+) and you got a stiff,a complete f***ing stiff under pressure.

4 years later hes a gamble?

how many surgeries has he had?

how many years has he been shut down early?

 

i gamble with the intent on winning

do you guys who like wood play cards??

 

He signed for Piniero money and his upside to Piniero is so much higher.

 

Ever hear of the concept of high risk, high reward?