It still seems strange to see Kerry Wood in an Indians uniform.
For all the talk and speculation that Mark DeRosa's absence has caused, the fact Kerry Wood isn't with the Cubs seems a little bizarre. I know he's struggled with Cleveland (he's got a 6.00 ERA), but he was beloved by Cubs fans and I know there are plenty of people who wished he was still pitching on the North Side.
I caught up with Wood for a couple of minutes earlier on Friday and we talked about what the transition to a new team has been like this season after spending 10 years in Chicago. Like DeRosa, I think he's come to grips with the fact he's not in the Windy City anymore, but there is still a part of him that is getting used to wearing that Cleveland uniform everyday, instead of the Cubs' blue pinstripes:
Nick Friedell: Can you believe you're not still playing for the Cubs?
Kerry Wood: Yeah, yeah. I think it's -- we've got our season going here and we've got enough going on here [laughs] for me to worry about what else is going on. So, you know, spring training, the first couple weeks took some adjusting but after that, it was -- these guys are great, I mean, it was baseball, and we were getting ready for the season.
Kerry Wood says Chicago will always have a special place in his heart.
I'm sure you're not happy to see them [the Cubs] struggle the way they have throughout the early part of the season, but how weird has it been for you to watch them try to figure things out without you there?
KW: You know, the last couple weeks [I've been] checking, seeing how they're doing. People around here [in the Indians' clubhouse] will tell you, they mess with me and DeRosa all the time: "All right, they lost four in a row," the fans yell at you when you're warming up and stuff, keep you updated, but I really haven't had a whole lot of time to pay attention. Like I said, we've got our own stuff going on here, and I've got, for me at this point, more important things to worry about than what they're doing. Obviously, I wish them well and I think they're going to be fine.
Do you wish you could have stayed with the team?
KF: You know, I obviously wanted to finish my career here and play the rest of my career here in Chicago. It's a great city, [and] it's a great town. [The people] were great to me, but I do understand it's a business. I don't think I fit in the equation for this year's team. So, it is what it is -- that's baseball.
I talked to Mark DeRosa a couple of days ago and he mentioned that the Cubs may be struggling this year because the chemistry is so much different on this year's team, especially without veterans like you, him and [pitcher] Jason Marquis. You're obviously not in the clubhouse, but do you think that's a big deal?
KW: You know what? Chemistry -- it's like the chicken or the egg? Which one comes first -- winning or chemistry? I think you have chemistry when you start winning. Some people say you don't win until you have chemistry, so, I don't think we'll ever know the answer to that. But, we've got a good group of guys here [in Cleveland], we had a great group last year [in Chicago] -- I had a great time. I'm here in Cleveland, we've got our own set of problems we're worrying about.
Do you and DeRosa ever wonder what might have been if you guys had stayed in Chicago?
KW: I don't know. I can't speak for him, I know I just -- no. I mean, I look at the situation [the Cubs are in] now and I'm just kind of like, "Wow, I'm glad." [Laughs] With the mess that's going on right now, but like I said, I had a great time here and I spent the majority of my career here and I'll always have a special place for Chicago.
Wood says he keeps in touch with his former teammates.
Do you still talk to some of the guys?
KW: Yeah, I keep in touch. We'll send texts here back and forth and see how everybody's doing, but they've got to get their stuff going and we've got to get our stuff going, but you keep in touch, yeah.
From what you've seen, what do you think the team's biggest issue is?
KW: You know, I don't know. Like I said, I haven't seen a whole lot, I haven't watched a whole lot -- just what I see on ESPN here and there.
Do you have a specific memory you remember the most?
KW: The playoffs. The [NLCS] playoffs in [2003] is probably one of my most special memories from being over there.
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