The Chicago Cubs place Kerry Wood on the D.L.
The Cubs have placed closer Kerry Wood on the 15-day disabled list due to a blister on his right index finger. Wood has not pitched since July 11th because of the injury and his D.L. stay is retroactive to that date making him elgible to return to action on July 26th if he’s able. Wood has pitched in 44 games for the Cubs this season and he is 4-2 with 24 saves, a 3.02 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. He has only allowed 32 hits in 44.2 innings this season while whiffing 55 batters. The Cubs have finally found a role that suits Wood and has kept him healthy for the most part.
Kerry Wood got used and abused his first years in Chicago. I blame the management for him now being a closer but he is great at it. He probably would have won 20 - 30 games a year had they not pushed him so much.
I think the Cubs wanted Wood to be a starting pitcher early in his career because it’s harder to find a elite starting pitcher than a closer. I don’t think he would have won 20-30 games per season because no one really does that. But, he could have been a 15-18 game winner regularly possibly if he had stayed healthy. It does appear that the Cubs have found a role for Wood in which he excels and stays reasonably happy so Cubs’ fans should be happy with that as Mark Prior is already toast.