Saturday, April 03, 2004

Turning the Corner?



I have said for awhile now that if Kerry Wood can lower his walk totals from 100 a year to 60-70 he will turn into a 20 game winner. Naturally over the years, when i say this I get told I am crazy, and the obvious excuses come flying that its the bullpen blowing all of Kerry Wood's wins. Yeah sure, whatever.

Wood this spring might be showing signs of turning that corner from middle of the road 12-14 game winner and achieve his birth right of becoming a true staff ace and winning 20 games a year to match his gaudy SO totals.

Through 25 innings pitched this spring he has struckout 25 batters, most importantly he has only walked 8 batters in that time. Factored out over a full season and that would put him at around 72 walks for the entire season. So its no surprise to see that he has won five out of six spring starts either. Walk less, win more. Its as simple as that.

I hope this carries on over into the regular season because we are going to need a much improved Wood, what with Priors injury and all.