The Curious Case Of Kerry Wood

Once upon a time, Kerry Wood leaving the mound to "Go Cubs Go" meant something totally different.

Now, back-to-back blown saves by The Artist Formerly Known as Kid K, has led to back-to-back come-from-behind wins for his former teammates.

As a long-time fan of Wood (pause), I wish him the best against everyone ... except the Cubs.

And don't tell anyone, but KW has more blown saves than Kevin Gregg.

Finding Fandom Part 1: Anyone seen first base?

I write about basketball and I love basketball. The athleticism, the flow of the game and the moments when the outcome hangs in the balance. But this roundballer grew up in a sandlot like many children all around the world. 

There was a time in my life where I lived for the feel of the hard sand underneath my cleats while I stared down the batter from third base. I was on my toes praying he would hit a screamer down the third-base line so I could dive to my right, eat some dirt and throw him out at first. 

I loved everything about baseball. I loved sitting on the bench and watching the game and I loved hitting the ball to the fence and even striking out. But then something happened at the beginning of last year and I lost my love. 

Now I am on a mission, with the help of Luis Medina, Stile Smith and the other baseball enthusiasts I know, to reclaim my love for the sport. 

For some reason, I started focusing on all of the negatives of the game last year. I thought players were paid too much, I thought I could care less about steroids and didn't want to hear anymore conversations about them. I didn't understand why we praised hitters when they failed 7 out of 10 times. 

I didn't know why I would sit and watch a three-hour game for 15 minutes of actual action. I didn't know why baseball was putting asterisks next to the records set by men who took steroids but continued to honor records set by men who didn't want to play with people because of the color of their skin. 

I was just fed up with the game and lost my passion for what I used to hold so dear. And it was sad because I saw my favorite team, the Chicago Cubs, win 97 games and a second consecutive division championship, but I just didn't care all that much. 

So on the eve of spring training, it is my hope I can find my old friend. I feel like baseball is a best friend I had a nasty fight with, but there is always a second chance and I think this season could be it. 

Instead of focusing on the money, drugs and politics involved in the game, I am going to try to focus on the grass, the sunshine, the crackerjacks and the seventh inning stretches. The greatness in the game is still there, but it is buried under a pile of dirt higher than a pitcher's mound. 

So when the Cubs take the field tomorrow, I will feel a little excited again, but I don't think I will love the game. I will be focused on the Milwaukee Bucks needing a win in Dallas. But slowly and surely, with the help of the baseball experts here and maybe even some advice from you the reader, I will once again love the game. 

And throughout the season, for as long as it takes, I will update this series until my love for the game is once again found.

After all, I miss the feeling I got when me and my dad watched Kerry Wood hit a double against the Atlanta Braves during the 2003 playoffs that led to a win. I'm right here baseball, come back and get me. 

Cubs no longer have Wood

If there was one bullpen that started more fires than it put out last season, it was that of the Cleveland Indians.

And when you have Joe Borowski closing out games, you might as well be throwing gasoline on the fire. So in comes another ex-Chicago Cub. This one a flame thrower.

His name, Kerry Wood.

Wood will likely be known to Cubs fans as this generation's Greg Maddux. A bright star whose future could have been better had he stayed healthy and in a Cubs uniform. Like Maddux, Kid K was loyal to the North Siders to a fault and was meant to win a title wearing those familiar blue pinstripes.

But it was never meant to be.

Wood will take his 34 saves, 86 strikeouts and oft-injured flipper to Jacobs..er..Progressive Field for two years and $20 million with an option for a third year. And the Cubs will get nothing in return as they did not offer the former phenom salary arbitration.

And that's no way to rebuild the farm system, seeing it will be depleted if this Jake Peavy trade will ever get done.

What's the hold up anyway? Oh, right.

Former Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood agrees to a deal with Cleveland Indians [Chicago Tribune]

Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune

Reunited, and it won't feel good for Wood

Dusty Baker congratulates Kerry Wood on a job well done after throwing 159 pitches in six innings

It looks as if Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker wants to finish what he started five years ago.

Baker managed the 2003 Chicago Cubs to a National League Central Division championship and within five outs of the pennant as starting pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior were abused like a rented mule or white powder in the Bobby Brown household.

Either way, one could argue that Baker's abuse of a pair of aces damaged the Cubs' chance of winning during his time at the helm. Yet, that's not stopping him from wanting to reunite with his former wounded ace.

"We have a closer already in [Francisco] Cordero, who we have under contract for a few more years," Baker said Monday. "But somebody can use Kerry Wood. I am going to call him. I like Kerry Wood as a person, not just as a ballplayer, but as a person. I will give him a call and see what's up."

I don't believe it. Dusty, if you liked Wood as a person then why did you use him so much to the point his arm turned into spaghetti towards the end of your tenure in Chicago. I hope Kerry has caller ID and turned away as soon as he saw 'Baker, Dusty' pop up.

Could you imagine the voicemail?

"Hey dude, it's Dusty. Remember, we used to be cool in the Chi? Anyway I was wondering if you wanted to play in Cincinnati. You know, white people love Cincinnati because it's really in Kentucky. Call me back, dude."

And to be honest, I'm not sure how Baker could work up the nerve to say he liked Woody as a ball player. It's tough to make a judgement like that when said player pitched only one healthy season under your watch.

Thankfully, Wood has a guardian angel. A shocking one at that in Reds GM Walt Jocketty, who once held the same position with the rival St. Louis Cardinals.

Jocketty squashed Baker's dreams of putting an end to Wood's career once and for all.

"It would be pretty tough with (Francisco) Cordero as our closer," Jocketty said. "I love (Wood's) talent. But I imagine there are going to be offers out there for him to close."

I never thought I'd see the day a former Cardinal looked out for the well-being of a soon-to-be former Cub. But it came. I guess the apocalypse is closer than I thought.

Photo Credit: Tribune.com Sports

Daily Dosage: Not So Frequent Flier Miles

The St. Louis Cardinals won a baseball game behind the strength of an Aaron Miles walk-off grand slam. You're kidding right? I'm sure that made these girls quite happy. You know what would make me happy? A situation that involves myself, those girls, a bottle of Patron and Barry White's greatest hits.

Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before. It looks like Kerry Wood is going to visit the DL for the 12th time in his star-crossed career. The flame throwing closer has been sidelined with blister issues on his right index finger and now it looks like the only thing that can heal it is some time off.

Carlos Marmol, your time has come. Marmol was the popular choice in Spring Training to win the closer's role, and that popularity grew as Marmol man-handled the opposition while Wood struggled early.

Since that time, it's been a bit of a role reversal. Wood has a solid grasp on the job, converting 24 saves this season. Marmol has struggled of late, seeing his ERA balloon past the 4.00 mark.

Expect Marmol to assume his new duties beginning tonight in Arizona against the Diamondbacks...where last we saw him, he was giving up what would turn out to be game-winning home run.

It's A Celebration, Bitches. Congrats go out to one of the greatest hitters in the history of the Chicago White Sox. Harold Baines was honored with a statue at U.S. Cellular Field joining former star players Minnie Minoso, Carlton Fisk, Billy Pierce, Luis Aparicio and Nelly Fox in being immortalized in bronze.

Baines collected 2,866 base hits, posted a career .289 batting averagewith 384 home runs and 1,628 runs batted in during his 22-year career. Those numbers are usually reserved for sure-fire hall of famers, but Baines might be snubbed, seeing that he spent most of his career as a designated hitter.

One must wonder who will be the guy who paves the way for DHs to make the hall? It looks like it's up to an elite hitter such as Edgar Martinez or current greats like Jim Thome, Frank Thomas and David Ortiz to do the job that Harold made famous.


Quality Linkage

• A .322 OBP doesn't go as far as it used to. That's why the Brewers acquired Ray Durham. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Cat Fight!!! (Deadspin)
• Former Trojan to side with Big Blue? Carson Palmer does not like THE Ohio State University. (Fanhouse)
• Marcus Camby has reached the lowest point of his life. (Boston Globe) I want to hit the lowlight of my life and still make $10 million that year.