WHY WOOD SHOULD BE ON THE RADAR

(Photo: NY Daily News)
When the Yankees acquired Kerry Wood last year from Cleveland I just thought he would be a reliever who came in the sixth or seventh inning and wouldn't pitch in many pressure spots. I say this because when he was with the Indians last year he was shaky at best, posting a 6.30 in 23 games pitched, although he was battling through shoulder issues. But once he put the pinstripes on he shined, and was clearly more than a sixth or seventh inning guy.(Photo: NY Daily News)
Last year Wood was perfect with the Yankees, or at least close to it. In 24 games pitched he had an incredible 0.69 ERA, while punching out 31 batters in 26 innings. He also learned a new cut fastball--to go along with his hard 4-seamer and his sharp slider--taught to him by the great Mariano Rivera of course. Last year when Wood was in pinstripes, it seemed like all the Yankees had to do was get a lead after seven innings, hand it to Woody in the eighth, and Mo in the ninth, and see ya tommorow night.

It's too bad Kerry Wood didn't return to the Yankees in favor of heading back home to Chicago to play with the Cubs. The Cubs gave him just a one year deal worth just a little more than $1 million, he also has a full no-trade clause. But, the Yankees wanted to sign him before they wanted to sign Rafael Soriano. And since they couldn't sign Wood, they signed Soriano instead, and thus far that hasn't worked out yet.

But right now the Yankees are hurting in the bullpen. Joba is going to be out the rest of the season, and the majority of next season with Tommy John surgery. Rafael Soriano is already out due to an injured elbow, and so are lefties Pedro Feliciano and Damaso Marte. Soriano could be back by the All Star break, and so could Feliciano, yet Soriano hasn't played toss yet while Feliciano just started--so they're both still aways. Obviously, the Yanks need an arm in the 'pen and Wood makes the most sense for a number of reasons.

1. He has pitched in New York and has been effective, so you know he can handle the pressure.
2. He's very cheap. He signed a 1+ million dollar deal and will have just a fraction left on that deal.
3. The Yankees wouldn't have to give up much for him. The Cubs would be high out of their minds if they even asked for one of the "Killer B's", or Jesus Montero, or any top prospect the Yankees have, becasue you already know that Brian Cashman can be reluctant to part ways with those guys even for the best pitchers in baseball.
   

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, along with relievers Grant Balfour, Heath Bell, Michael Wuertz, and Matt Capps, Wood could become available immediately. And right now the Yankees bullpen is in a world of hurt. Make the move Cashman!



--Jesse Schindler, BYB Staff Writer







--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Associate Editor




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SIX NAMES YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

Yankeeland feels confused right now, and I get it. Many things are happening. Yes, we won 2 in a row to the Cleveland Indians after a horrendous series against the Red Sox, but injuries are piling up and rumors are floating around like crazy. What to do, what to do. Let's break this down:

• Bartolo Colon: Add him to the list of Yankee injuries. Colon has a strained left hamstring and got the injury today. He was rolling before it happened. He was into the 7th until he hurt himself covering first. It stinks. Read about it HERE. A hammy is never a good injury because it takes alittle while to get better, plus add Colon's age into it and who knows when the guy would be back. Maybe he could shoot some stem cells into that. I'm joking, but this is serious because the New York Yankees have injury after injury and Colon was our guy. But if you think about it, many of us have had this concern in the back of our minds about Bartolo and Freddy Garcia. Can they sustain a full season, or will they break down? Well, I guess we know at this point, huh? We'll try and keep you posted on this story the best we can.

• Joba Chamberlain: If you live under a rock and didn't realize it, Joba will be having his Tommy John Surgery on Thursday, according to Joe Girardi. Read it HERE. This is a blow to the Yankees bullpen, no doubt, and you have to worry about what's going to happen next. To me, you don't want to over work Robertson, but you also don't want to rush the kids up from the minors and blow their arms out due to immaturity. Tough call. Glad I'm not the GM. Get well soon Joba.

• Kevin Whelan: Speaking of kids, Whelan took take the place of Joba and Chris Dickerson will go down. I'll miss Dickerson, I liked the kid. Anyway, in Scranton, Whelan had 27 innings pitches and has a 1.67 ERA with 30 strikeouts. Read HERE. Nice. Lets see how he does. In his first game in pinstripes, Whelan pitched 0.2 innings and walked 4 and gave up 1 earned run.

• Carlos Zambrano: It's the rumor that won't go away. Carlos Zambrano to the Yankees maybe? Few have reported on it, but lord knows there is the Joe Girardi, Chicago connection and it wouldn't surprise me if Zambrano was one day a New York Yankee. Reports are from Cubbies Crib. Zambrano would be willing to waive his no trade clause if it meant going to the Yankees, among other teams. This rumor just keeps on ticking. I wrote about it in HERE COMES MR. FIX IT back in February and I must say, rumors are usually true, especially if they last this long. Stay tuned.
  

• Phil Hughes: Joe Girardi said that Hughes had thrown 30 pitches and looked good. Reports are his velocity is up the 90 to 92 mph. Girardi also said that next Tuesday he will make a start in the Gulf Coast League. Coincidentally, I stated in WHY THERE'S A HUGHES FACTOR that it would be unfair to move Colon out of the starting rotation once Phil Hughes comes back. Strangely, the timing of Colon's injury and the progress of Hughes is in sync. It is possibly that Hughes comes back before Colon does, therefore would be back in the rotation, but I guess we'll just have to see.

• Grant Balfour: Balfour has been solid this year, and his name came up this winter as a possible Yankee get and now it seems he's being discussed again. Read HERE. The rumor is the Yankees have asked about Balfour, now it's just a question of whether or not they go for it.

Rumors and updates everywhere on Bleeding Yankee Blue. We may not be the biggest blog, but we try to give it to you short and sweet, and with a smile.

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