No surprise here, Wood to DL
As expected, the Cubs placed closer Kerry Wood on the DL today with that persistent blister problem on his right index finger. Interestingly, they did not make a corresponding roster move.
Yesterday, assistant GM Randy Bush told us in Arizona that Golden Domer Jeff Samardzija had put himself on the radar with his pitching for Class AAA Iowa. The fact that the Cubs did not make move today leads me to believe the Cubs will call Samardzija up tomorrow, if for no other reason, to give him a taste of the big leagues.
Samardzija has pitched significantly better at Iowa than he did at Class AA Tennessee. A lot of film sessions _ in part geared toward getting Samardzija to hide the ball better _ apparently paid off.
Sure, Samardzija still has a lot to learn about pitching. But having played on the huge stage that is Notre Dame football, the kid certainly isn't afraid. Samardzija will go back to Iowa in good time and return to the starting rotation, but the Cubs have been big on giving their kids a taste of the major leagues in the last couple years.
With Jim Edmonds hobbling around on a sore left knee, I can see GM Jim Hendry shopping for a hitter as well as for bullpen help. The nonwaiver trading deadline is one week from today.
Here comes Mr. Gas Can...
This is where I wish I built a room with padded walls.....
Did anyone just see the trainer from Rocky 3, and 4 on comcast?
God bless you for taking a walk. Huge at bat. we'll take that. Now hopefully Olsen implodes, and tubes one to A-ram.....
When you have an idiot like C for Century, a Sox fan running his mouth, no we cant all get along. If you have something intellegent to bring fine, but when you are a creaton and have nothing to offer, go to Gregors blogs. I know the Sox are off tonight and you have nothing better to do, go home and worry about the Piranhas...
"Ed in the Burg"
I stand by the comments I've posted here. You can not answer or respond without trash talk.
For how long have , well anyone who has pitched at any level, paid attention to ML baseball heard of using pickle juice to toughen up pitchers hands. I soaked my fingers in pickle juice all the time, I was still terrible, but it did help make the the tender parts of my fingers tougher. The questions of blisters has been on going for years. Steve Stone said just today , he had them all the time, usaully under his nail, heated up a needle and popped the blood blister. Wood does have to figure the blister problem out, but you try snapping a baseball off with only a paper cut on your finger , those seams will bite you.
When the Cubs had Ismael Valdes/Valdez back in 2000, he had chronic blister problems and used the old pickle juice remedy. I hope he took the pickles out of the jar first and made a nice corned beef sandwich.
Lets see what this kid can do IF he is called up. Obviously we need a reliever and quickly. Bob Howry is not even watchable and I laughed out loud when Brenly said that Howry gives up runs when the game isn't in question. Please. The man is human kerosine can. His 92 mph heater is a hitter's wet dream.
Marmol closing isn't a bad thing. I'm sure Wood will demand huge dollars next year as FA, and the Cubs may or may not oblige considering how many contracts go up in dollars, and what owner may be on board. See Ramirez, Soriano, Lilly, Zambrano, Lee, and even Marquis.
I would love see Huston Street, or George Sherril. According to MLBTRADERUMORS.COM The Cubs were one of 5 or 6 teams who scouted Sherril last night. Obviously the Orioles know the Cubs system well from the Brian Roberts debacle this spring. A power lefty is what this team is missing. Cotts could be your 6th inning man, followed by Sherril, Marmol, and then Wood. IF anything this could block the Cardinals or Brewers who are desperate for bullpen help.
Lastly, Zambrano really needs to watch his control. Granted he isn't walking people, but watch Blanco's glove. He's moving it each time over the heart of the plate. At some point the opposition is going to explode on him, and with the Brewers lurking the Cubs can't afford for Z to get lit up.
While I will agree Samardzia should not be propped up , I read the Sun Times daily and never saw this article from Chris DeLuca from whence you quote , whether he did or didnt makes no difference.
I dont agree with Long Hair be touted to replace a spot in the bullpen, he is not ready.
But you are not a Cub fan anyway so why the hell do you care ?
And since you want to run your mouth, you tell me with Wood going out, who would you bring up, Pigmatello ? Hope not.. Maybe the Cubs should bring up Ceda, there are no issues there correct ?
And your comment about 'Tiger Beat', you must still have Lief Ericsons poster on your wall. Tiger beat, you must have a lifetime subscription..
"While I will agree Samardzia should not be propped up , I read the Sun Times daily and never saw this article from Chris DeLuca from whence you quote , whether he did or didnt makes no difference."
It would have been easy to miss DeLuca's comments, given that very day there were fluff pieces on him in the Sun-Times, Tribune and Daily Herald (the ST and DH articles were the same articles, but with differing headlines). And DeLuca's insightful comments were "buried" in the piece.
Here's a link to DeLuca's column from that day.
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/1037570,CST-SPT-deluca03.article
If Samardzia falls or stumbles, I hope some kind bystander props him up. However, the fluff pieces and glossing over his weaknesses by "professional" writers are really unnecessary and not helpful.
"can't we all just get along?"
Our guy asked a legit question about Beckett down below, and I answered it. I'm all for serious baseball discussion and honest debate. Truth be told, I've pointed out Samardzija's "issues" in stories dated March 7, May 22, May 26 and June 23, just to name a few. You can like or not like the Cubs or like or not like what I've written, but there's a way to debate. I answer all my e-mails, and I'll be glad to respond to any and all questions and baseball debates here, as long as we keep them civil.
Bruce,
I don't know if that is directed at me, but I believe that all my questions and points in this discussion are legitimate. Apparently, the latest comment you made about Samardzija's walks was one month ago. As I pointed out, it's not as though his wild tendencies are completely a thing of the past. It seems to me that an honest, candid discussion about Samardzija would include at least some reference to walks. There was none in your initial blog post here. And in fact on July 3rd the DH had a very propaganda-ish article Samardzija.
I posted legitimate facts and questions. I stand by them and no one has attempted to address my points directly.
"What is more reasonable to expect if Samardzija pitches in MLB, that the walks would increase or decrease?"
Ok, this last sentence of mine was definitely sarcastic, "Bruce, when the Daily Herald shuts down you can always ply your trade with TigerBeat," but considering how you glossed over the issues of his walks, I stand by that comment too.
...On issues such as incorporating sabermetrics and in recognizing the importance of such stats as on-base percentage. No one but me was even writing about it at all, and that's still the case. Hendry and I have had numerous battles over those things and over how they handled information about injuries, circa 2004. That's improved markedly since then.
And when I questioned him over the phone on a conference call over the folly of signing Neifi Perez to a two-year deal, he nearly jumped through the phone to get me.
You can question all you want, but cheap shots won't be acknowledged.
I don't get to see the American League much, so I don't get to see Tiger Beat, and I'm not interested in relocating to Detroit.
Because if you go to MLB.COM and read the wonders that is Carrie Muskat you can learn all you want on the art of spinning everything bad that happens to make it look good. If I'm not mistaken, didn't the Cubs come out and state that in 2004 all releases would go through the Cubs "official" website?
You can argue all you want, C is for Century, about avoidance, but their is no way to tell how the mullet will respond until he gets up here. Some guys just "get it" when they get up to the majors, and the fact that he will be going out of the bullpen and more then likely face guys just once, instead of 3 or 4 times, he can right after them.
Speaking about favorable articles, go get excited about Joe Cowley, who wrote the most ridiculous piece of crap I have ever read last spring when he evaluated Kenny Williams moves from the offseason in April...calling David Aardsman and Andy Sisco "steals".
"You can argue all you want, C is for Century, about avoidance, but their is no way to tell how the mullet will respond until he gets up here. Some guys just "get it" when they get up to the majors, and the fact that he will be going out of the bullpen and more then likely face guys just once, instead of 3 or 4 times, he can right after them."
That's true. But that's not the point either. If a writer wants to "honestly" write about a pitcher, he should also honestly discuss what is a realistic potential hindrance to that pitchers success, walks.
"Speaking about favorable articles, go get excited about Joe Cowley, who wrote the most ridiculous piece of crap I have ever read last spring when he evaluated Kenny Williams moves from the offseason in April...calling David Aardsman and Andy Sisco "steals"."
Why did you bother to read it? Cub fans don't care about the Sox and don't pay any attention to them, in case you've forgotten that oft repeated axiom.
Thanks for your comments. However, you still have not addressed my points.
I don't know if that is directed at me, but I believe that all my questions and points in this discussion are legitimate. Apparently, the latest comment you made about Samardzija's walks was one month ago. As I pointed out, it's not as though his wild tendencies are completely a thing of the past. It seems to me that an honest, candid discussion about Samardzija would include at least some reference to walks. There was none in your initial blog post here. And in fact on July 3rd the DH had a very propaganda-ish article Samardzija.
I posted legitimate facts and questions. I stand by them and no one has attempted to address my points directly.
"What is more reasonable to expect if Samardzija pitches in MLB, that the walks would increase or decrease?"
DeLuca did write that article maybe a month or a month and a half ago. THen they promoted the mullet, and he started tearing up AAA.
I love Stonie, but come on. Wood is one of the toughest pitchers in the game. Yes, he's been DL'd numerous times, but each time he has, he's also had a legitimate injury. He's just snake bitten. He also has pitched through torn up shoulders until the Cubs are mathetically eliminated. So give him a break. We aren't talking about Mark Prior who's had the only "bone scan" I have ever heard of. Under a nail is one thing, and right in the middle of finger is a whole different animal.
Only a matter of time til Scott Olsen gets lit up.....
Great to see Johnson going to third on a flyout.
I've watched Theriot repeatedly stand at shortstop on deep flyouts to right that take the fielder to the wall and then trot back to second. With the problems this teams had manufacturing runs, the "speed" in the lineup needs to start using it. Hey, if it's outta the park, you can trot home anyway. If you're at third, you never know when there'll be a wild pitch, etc.
Theriot made an egregious baserunning error the other night in Arizona by not tagging up at second.
Exactly. I hate the camera shot of Theriot skipping back to 2nd, and I'm surprised Piniella hasn't said anything to him.
That and can anyone on this team hit to the right side to move a guy over? I love the fact that Lilly raised havoc on the bases last night.
Man, I would give anything for a a Ramirez hot streak right now....
While I hate to say anything bad about Kerry Wood, he has surprised me as much as Dempster, but to go on the DL for a freaking blister ? This is not shoulder problems, this is not elbow problems, this is not ..well all the other things that have put him on the DL, for 4 years out out of the the ten he has been with the Cubs.
Something is much worse than what the Cubs are telling us. Blister my , butt..
This Samardzija thing screams of Hendry trying to justify a 10 million dollar signing bonus.
Mr.DJ Jazzy Jeff, is no where near ready to make this team a better team, he can NOT throw strikes and if Hendry shoves this move down Piniellas throat I hate to see what will happen when he walks the bases loaded...He isnt ready, wont be ready and to have him move up this fast to say , "here he is" , is about stupid . And the guy looks like he should be in some hip hop band with hair flaying all over everywhere..If this kid was sooooooo good, he wouldnt be a story now.
If Hendry has clue one, he goes after Fuentes, nothing is given, Wood now is a problem, want to count on Howry ? He serves up a Home Run everytime he pitches.
I have been big on Marmols overuse, now who gets the game to him, or is he the next Bruce Sutter and closes from the 8th on ?
Watch Lou work him 2 innings at a time...
Lets hope Big Z goes 8 tonight..
... given that Wood has been DLed, whom do you want to replace him for the next week? The other candidates already on the 40 man reserve list:
Jon Lieber: not eligible to come off the DL until Saturday; I doubt Lou is impatient to get him back, either
Chad Fox: has yet to begin minor league rehab
Angel Guzman: ditto
Kevin Hart: just sent down because he failed to perform.
Mike Wuertz: ditto; also walked 3 men in an inning on Tuesday, which is unlikely to convince Lou that he's polished up his game already.
Jose Ascanio: 7.98 ERA in his last 10 games.
Adam Harben: 4.77 ERA in Class A+
Billy Petrick: on the DL, has been for months
Carmen Pignatiello: aside from making Lou unhappy by putting 4 left-handers in his bullpen, Carmen's ERA at Iowa is 6.54 (9.64 in the last month; on the whole, things are not improving)
Okay, how about some non-roster guys? Here are those with major league experience:
Randy Wells: a higher ERA and WHIP with a lower strikeout rate than Samardzija
Mike Burns: in a terrible slump (23 earned runs in his last 25 innings)
Hector Carrasco: very experienced, but 38 years old, Iowa ERA nearly 5 for July
We could run through the non-roster guys without major league experience too, but none of them stand out as being any more major league ready than Samardzija. The Cubs probably gave Jose Ceda, current at Double-A, a good look; barring injury we'll see him sooner or later, but at the moment he has 15 career innings above Class A. If you don't think Samardzija's ready, it's hard to see how Ceda would fit the bill for you.
So the options while Wood is on the DL are bring up Samardzija; wait until Saturday for Lieber; force a trade for a reliever. I don't much care for that last option: I still remember Hendry forcing a trade to get Antonio Alfonseca, who wasn't the answer at closer, at the cost of giving Dontrelle Willis's good years to the Marlins (who, moreover, appear to have palmed off Willis's bad years on the Tigers). So it doesn't seem like that big a deal to me to bring up Samardzija; if he's completely unready to help at all (likely enough, but sometimes you don't know unless you try), you demote him in a few days when Lieber's eligible to come off the DL or Wuertz regains command of his slider or Hendry closes a deal for an experienced arm or, surprise surprise, Wood stops doing his Ismael Valdes impression and is able to pitch again.
In one way, it sure does seem as if the Cubs are trying to justify the contract to Samardzija, who needs significantly more time to learn how to "pitch" as opposed to "throw." On the other hand, getting him a taste at this level in certain situations wouldn't be the worst thing in the world over a short period of time. There aren't many other immediate options at this time. The offense can take care of a lot of these questions. The hitters have wasted some good starts lately.
Wood on the DL?? Imagine that!
And for what? A blister? Gimme a break!! ... Players these days are WIMPS! Always either injured or fearful of getting injured.
...But a blister with a pitcher is no small thing. With as much force as Wood throws a baseball, a blister can be a significant problem. Pitchers have been plagued by this problem for more than 100 years. Even the "tough" ones have been waylayed by blisters.
what great pitchers have gone on the DL for blisters?
Ryan tried every remedy possible to relieve the pain from finger blisters, and he spent time on the DL for it. I believe he's in the Hall of Fame. Pitchers of recent vintage to have missed time because of blisters are world champion Josh Beckett and also Bartolo Colon. It's a problem more prevalent than you think.
Today's mantra: "always protect the investment", "never play in pain".
GO CUBS!!
Wood has not pitched in a live game since July 11.
How many times and when did Beckett, Colon and Ryan miss 13+ days for blisters?
A cursory check of the Internet shows Beckett has been placed on the DL at least five times (that's 15 days apiece) for blister and blister-related problems. Ryan once missed a month because of blister problems. Colon, you could check. As I said, it's been more prevalent throughout history than people may think.
For that information. I appreciate it and learned from it too!
Any legit question I can answer, I'll attempt to do so.
So only two of all the great pitchers have gone on the DL for blisters? I'm underwhelmed.
I still think professional athletes nowadays aren't nearly as tough. The money has softened them and life in general was much tougher back then.
There are countless others, from every era. Go ahead and try to pitch with a blister on your finger. Can't be done. You can go back through history, and I've done so, and read about athletes being called "not as tough" as their predecessors, and this is from the 1890s on, when baseball players from the 1880s disparaged those from the 1890s, who, in truth, were a pretty tough lot (see the NL's Baltimore Orioles from the 1890s). And even then, money always was cited. Players and fans who followed the game in the 1930s, '40s and '50s disparaged those from the 1960s and '70s. We like to romanticize and generalize about the past, but truth be told, the same things that kept athletes out today kept them out "then."
I understand your point Bruce, but you're crazy if you think players nowadays are as tough as they were in the 30's and 40's ... maybe every generation of old-timers are right!
...But today, we have better diagnoses of injuries (there were no MRIs back then and a lot of guys' careers were cut short) and teams do go out of their way to "protect" multi-million dollar investments.
I do understand where you're coming from, though.
It's easy to speak in generalities, "pitched significantly better.." and completely gloss over what should be a concern, Samardzija's control problems.
For the season Samardzija is averaging 5 walks per 9 IP. In his last 10 games it's down to 4 walks per IP. If Samardzija carried those numbers over to the Cubs he'd be among the worst in the Cubs pitching staff as far as walks.
What is more reasonable to expect if Samardzija pitches in MLB, that the walks would increase or decrease?
According to what I've read only ONE local baseball scribe has addressed Samardzija's control issues. Daily Herald and Tribune have only printed fanzine worthy articles about Samardzija.
Why is that Bruce Miles has yet to address this issue with Samardzija?
On July 3, Chris DeLuca wrote the following, breaking from Cub-fluff:
"Walks may derail Samardzija
"A closer look at his numbers, however, reveals that Samardzija has had his own control issues. In 76 innings in Class AA, he walked 42 and struck out 44. In his two starts for Iowa, he has walked eight and struck out nine in 12 innings.
"The one thing Piniella won't tolerate is walks. The big right-hander basically needed to be lights-out for the Cubs to throw him into the heat of a playoff race this season, and he has been far from lights-out."
Bruce, when the Daily Herald shuts down you can always ply your trade with TigerBeat.