Cubs' Kerry Wood retiring

[Renew Deal]

Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood will retire on Friday, a source familiar with the situation told ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine.

Wood, 34, is 0-2 with a 8.64 ERA and has been battling health issues all season.

Wood is best-known for his 20-strikeout game during his rookie of the year campaign in 1998, earning him the nickname "Kid K."

He was a driving force behind four playoff teams -- 1998, 2003, 2007 and 2008. He won two games against the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS in 2003, pushing the Cubs into the NLCS.

Unable to stay healthy as a starter, Wood remade himself into an effective closer. He saved 34 games for the Cubs in 2007 and priced himself out of the Cubs' plans. He signed a two-year, $20.5 million contract with the Cleveland Indians. He spent 1½ seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the New York Yankees in 2010, and was part of their bullpen as they advanced to the ALCS.
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http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7945053/chicago-cubs-kerry-wood-retiring

Wood was a great player. It's too bad he couldn't win it all for the Cubs, but he's in good company.

[sadbear]

1. He made history.

That's more than most MLB'ers will ever have. Thanks for that brilliant day back in '98. I was an undergraduate back then and able to watch it live. What an awesome, awesome performance.

[ProfessorGAC]

2. Bad Elbow Due To Bad Coaching

The Cubs pitching coaches didn't know dick about pitching when they had him and Prior.

Then they tried to CHANGE their "poor mechanics". Those idiots ruined both of those guys.

Kerry is beloved around here. He'll work for the Cubs as an ambassador, and he'll end up at the color man on TV and radio. He'll fall on his feet, and he deserves to.
GAC