Woody Woody Woody Woody WOOODY!!

I'm one of them...   I'm one of those die hard Cubs fans who's fallen head over heals in love with the likes of Wood.  I understand the unwillingness to see him for what he's become.   I've even fallen for the busts, like many other Cubs fans have,  such as M. Prior, H. Choi,  J. Pierre and many others from the past.    I wasn't quite as passionate about them as I was for Wood,   but they still help me would the Wood scenario into perspective.

Here's another perspective (and mine quite honestly):

Wood...  is NOT a closer.    Does anybody else remember him in the past as a starter?    How he'd usually seem to struggle in the 1st inning,  then seem to gradually pick up some heat and start sitting them down one after the other (after the other... after the other)?   He was great to watch!  He WAS a great starter!!    He just didn't always seem to start off on the right foot.

So why should I try to convince myself that he can just magically waltz into the 9th inning and save games.  I mean,  I know the Cubs coaches and front desk are convinced he can get the job done...  so why shouldn't I as well?   The Cubs faithful don't seem to be thinking straight on this,  they're still living another day off his memories.    That's fine if THEY are, but the coaches need to start coaching with their heads,  and not their hearts.  

Let's face it,  there are guys that can come in off the bullpen and do it and there are guys that can't.  Marmol...   there's a prime example of a guy that can walk into any stage of the game and break some batters' hearts.    I see the point the Cubs are trying to make with him (and I can't say I disagree one bit),   why save him for just the last inning when we're already ahead when we can use this weapon for 1 1/2  to 2 innings if necessary as a set-up man.    I can't argue with Lou's call yesterday to pull big Z (like some reporters were),   he was done...  Zombrano even said it himself in the post game interviews.     Marmol did his job and practically gave us the win on a silver platter by sitting down 4 in a row.    It's a sad day for Cubs when we can't count on Wood to close it out and get the job done.   I guess I'm just getting tired of saying to myself,  "can't they just pitch Marmol the last 3 innings EVERY day".   

If skinny was manager,  I'd tell him "Wood... I still love ya'...  but I'm gonna have to sit ya!"