Reds' Dusty Baker wants to manage Kerry Wood again

Not offering Wood arbitration was a dumb move. They say they want pitching depth. You won't get any decent depth for much less than 5 million per season. So what's a year at 10 million to retain Wood.....if he decided to accept it. Now he's gone and the cubs wont even get any draft picks for him. Add Wood to the bullpen and you have, Wood, Marmol, Gregg, Gaudin, Smardz,......you can always trade pitching to get what you need.

Stupidity reigns once again. And Woody, stay away from that goof in Cincy - he'll try to ruin you again. Baker has had some very good teams to manage, especially in SF. He single handedly lost that series to the Angels and sat on his brains against Florida.....And, as far as Leslie Frazier goes, The Bears head coach chased Rivera out of town because he knew that the front four couldn't put pressure on the other QB and wanted to play some REAL BEAR FOOTBALL and blitz on 3rd and long. Take that cover two and shove it. And by the way, stop blaming Urlacher for everything, this stupid scheme has him 15-30 yards down field in pass coverage. Can't play MIDDLE LINEBACKER that way. Can you imagine the 85 Bears with Singletary that far down field 90% of the time? Or, rather using a corner or safety blitz?

CORRECTION...that last line should be RARELY using a corner or safety blitz.

Ozzie had a smart remark about one of his ex players? Surely, you jest !!! I think Hendry decided it was time to move on from some of the teams longtime mainstays. That's definitely one of the things i respect about Hendry as the Cubs GM. It's just a different day and age than what it once was, before salaries have made it near impossible to keep rewarding sentiment towards player, even though it's usually the injuries which keep the players from being able to benefit the club. And in Wood's case, even in one of his more promising years like 08 was, he still had to miss time due to injuries. And the fact of the matter is, unlike most other occupations, baseball players keep getting paid the same whether they're sitting in the dugout on the DL, or out in the field actually contributing something. Kerry has been paid a ton of money by the Cubs for doing nothing more than rehab injuries.

>>There has been speculation that Cubs manager Lou Piniella became exasperated with Wood last season when he missed about a month with a blister on his right hand.<<

This speculation explains it ALL.

If Wood takes a job for Dusty, it would leave speculation as to whether he is a masochist. Dusty nearly ruined him.

If I were Kerry I would wait until they offered 80 mil at least to play for Dusty. I mean a huge amount far beyond their best competition

Kerry Wood should go to a winning team, or at least a contender. Certainly not the Reds. Dusty Baker should just forget about it and move on.

This is the same Vikings team that allowed 48 points to the Bears earlier in the year.

Yeah! Wood might still have a few muscle and tendon fibers left that Baker can blow out by leaving him in for 10 extra pitches. After all, Woody is big, right?

WEST COAST TOM wrote:

... AND SINCE DUSTY BAKER DOESN'T KNOW THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD SQUEEZE BUNT,

In addition to being unaware of lower case lettering, you also seem to be unaware of the fact that good offenses almost never bunt, never mind rarely resorting to the suicide squeeze.(Have the Sox or Yanks even tried one this decade???)

"Small ball" is a bottom feeders strategy: there is a reason why you don't see it played among post-season teams.

Baker killed both Wood and Prior's career with over working them.

I believe Wood will end up with Texas, Arizona, Houston or the Yankees. Wood still loves to swing the bat, so he will go with Houston or Arizona.

How could Dusty Baker still be a manager?

PJW wrote:

<quoted text>
In addition to being unaware of lower case lettering, you also seem to be unaware of the fact that good offenses almost never bunt, never mind rarely resorting to the suicide squeeze.(Have the Sox or Yanks even tried one this decade???)
"Small ball" is a bottom feeders strategy: there is a reason why you don't see it played among post-season teams.

..........Ya see, that's just the point, you NEED to manage the game according to what you have to manage. Baker DOESN'T, never did, hates young kids and is the most ho drum guy in baseball. But, the chic dude still has that toothpick and his wrist bands...What a clown.

PJW wrote:

<quoted text>
In addition to being unaware of lower case lettering, you also seem to be unaware of the fact that good offenses almost never bunt, never mind rarely resorting to the suicide squeeze.(Have the Sox or Yanks even tried one this decade???)
"Small ball" is a bottom feeders strategy: there is a reason why you don't see it played among post-season teams.

pot, meet kettle.

joe wrote:

<quoted text>
pot, meet kettle.

Just curious, to whom are you referring?

It's certainly not obvious.

Sorry Orval, I was referring to PJW.

It's pretty ridiculous to think that good offenses dont bunt, squeeze, sac fly, or try to move runners over.

PJW wrote:

<quoted text>
"Small ball" is a bottom feeders strategy: there is a reason why you don't see it played among post-season teams.

That may be the dumbest thing I've read here (and there's plenty to choose from on this forum)

Small ball always prevails. Fact.

Look at the 2008 White Sox, the relied on the long ball, that only gets you so far. The Phillies had an all around great team that had the long ball as well as small ball. The Rays were another team that played a lot of small ball.

Please, think once in a while before yapping.

I'll bet Kerry feels a twinge in his arm when the phone starts ringing.

Kerry is finished people, get over it. Steve Stone called it right when he said Woodie's career will be short with the pitching motion he was using. Seemed Stoney had it right, Woods spent more time making money on the DL then actually winning games for the Cubs. I wish him nothing but the best wherever he goes as a middle reliever.

Finished? He had a 3.26 ERA and 34 saves last season.

He's always going to be an injury risk, but if he posted those numbers and he's finished, Jane Eyre and Bob Howry should be given 10-year contracts.