The Kerry Over Effect: How Wood's Retirement Will Reshape the Cubs' Bullpen

Kerry Wood, the monument of everything right about being a Chicago Cub over the last 17 years, is retiring. The Cubs got one last memorable appearance, striking out Dayan Viciedo on three pitches and getting a standing ovation from the crowd and a hug from his son as he walked off the field for the final time.

If this was Alfonso Soriano, the bleacher bums waiting in line on Waveland would already be chugging celebratory Old Styles. But this is Kid K, the man who threw 20 strikeouts in one game in his rookie year, led the Cubs to the NLCS in 2003, and took a hometown discount to come back to Chicago two winters ago. He'll take a spot somewhere in the Cubs organization, likely as an advisor on Jed Hoyer's staff with the possibility of moving into scouting, coaching or an enhanced front office role in future seasons. Regardless of his official role with the team, Wood will always be welcomed back with open arms at Wrigley.

More on Kerry Wood's legacy to come, but after the jump we look at how the move will reshape the Cubs bullpen.




Pulling the emotion out of it, this is a positive on-field result for the Cubs. Wood threw 8 2/3 innings this year, giving up 8 runs on 8 hits with 11 walks. There was no change in velocity of his fastball nor movement on his breaking pitches, Wood just couldn't locate anything.

The Cubs continued their recent roster shakeup, bringing up catcher Blake Lalli to backup Welington Castillo after an meniscus tear likely has Geovany Soto headed to join Steve Clevenger on the 15-day DL. The Cubs made room on the roster by sending down underperforming Chris Volstad. Once Soto officially moves to the DL, Travis Wood will be brought up to take Volstad's spot in the rotation.

I think Travis Wood has a better chance at being a long-term solution at the end of the rotation than Volstad. For one thing, he's under team control through 2017 and doesn't have his first arbitration year until 2014. Secondly, Wood showed potential two seasons ago with a 1.08 WHIP over 102 2/3 innings, a more consistent performance than Volstad has shown in any of his 4+ major league seasons.

I think Volstad may actually be serviceable if he can regain some consistency in Iowa. Most of his trouble has come during one bad inning late in his starts. Well, until last night - those were two consecutive disgusting innings. Volstad has command of the four standard pitches, averaging 91 mph this season on a fastball with sinking action and showing the ability to hit the strike zone with each of his breaking pitches. If he can regain the movement he had on his breaking pitches in Miami and add a few ticks to his fastball, Volstad has a chance to be a reliable big guy out of the bullpen with a chance at a long-term role on this team. Otherwise, he'll become organizational depth at Iowa and likely be non-tendered this offseason.


With that change and the ensuing returns from injury of Carlos Marmol and Lendy Castillo, the Cubs staff should look something like this going forward:

Starters:
1. Dempster
2. Garza
3. Samardzija
4. Maholm
5. Travis Wood

Bullpen:
Long-term DL/Napping in his chair/DFA'd: Lendy "Rule 5" Castillo, Michael "The Haunting of Marlon Byrd" Bowden
Long man: Casey Coleman (AAA: Chris Volstad)
7th: Shawn Camp, Carlos Marmol (AAA: Blake Parker, Scott Maine)
Setup: James Russell
Closer: Rafael Dolis