A wiser Wood: Cubs' right-hander prepares himself for a successful season: young hurler continues to learn the art of pitching and hopes to rely more on his teammates and less on strikeouts - Kerry Wood; Chicago Cubs - Brief Article - Interview

Baseball Digest, May, 2002 by Mike Kiley

KERRY WOOD IS TRYING TO change his image as a pitcher with more fire than flair. The immature days of "Kid K" are behind him, his flaming flirtation with striking out the world just a memory of his more zestful youth.

He has grown up quickly in four years, ready to turn 25 in June with a better feel for what gives him and his team the best chance to succeed. His development can be seen in his comeback from a career threatening injury after his 1998 season in which he was named the National League's Rookie of the Year.

Wood finished his first major league season with a 13-6 record, 3.40 ERA and 233 strikeouts--including a 20-strikeout performance against the Houston Astros on May 6, 1998. In '99, he missed the entire year after undergoing "Tommy John" surgery.

His first step towards a comeback was in 2000, when he finished with an 8-7 record in 23 games and fanned 132 batters in 137 innings. Wood regained his strength and stamina for the 2001 campaign and returned to some dominating outings to end his season with a respectable 12-6 record, 3.36 ERA and 217 strikeouts in 174 innings.

More important, his approach to hitters changed. Four years ago, Wood believed strongly in the strikeout, considering it a cure-all for every ill. However, he now understands a complete pitcher is much more than a whiff artist. The 6-5, 230 pound right-hander discovered ground outs and pop-ups can be every bit as fulfilling as the adrenaline from a punchout.

"I had the same approach for most of my starts," he said last season. "Throw strikes, let them put the ball in play and let the guys behind me make plays. Where I get myself into trouble is when I start thinking I need to get myself out of it by striking everybody out."

Wood showed the positive results of a broader theory of pitching in a 6-2 victory last season against Arizona. When the Diamondbacks opened the third with Mark Grace's walk, Luis Gonzalez's RBI triple and Jay Bell's walk, Wood might have been on the verge of collapse in the past.

Instead, former pitching coach Oscar Acosta told him to pitch Steve Finley inside, looking not for a strikeout but a pop-up to keep that runner at third. Wood did just that; Finley popped out, David Dellucci rolled out, and Wood held onto a 1-1 tie by striking out Damian Miller.

"He popped it up and I got out of a jam," Wood said. "That's opposed to when I thought after I walked a few guys that I had to strike out the side to get out of a jam."

Wood also is less concerned about walking batters. "My philosophy now is I don't care how many walks I give up," he said. "I'm not going to let it bother me unless they score. So if I walk the bases loaded, just don't let them score.

"I have got enough to reach back and get out of any jam. Many times I throw better ... in a jam. I don't want to make it a habit, but ... I have enough to get out of them."

Wood doesn't feel the burden of having to prove he is the No. 1 starter. The only number that matters for the club is wins.

"I don't feel as much pressure now to go out there and do everything myself," Wood said. "We have a great defense and we have a lot of depth in our pitching--starting and bullpen.

Jon Lieber, a 20-game winner for the Cubs in 2001 and former teammate Kevin Tapani have helped Wood change. They don't see themselves as strikeout pitchers, and Wood has incorporated some of that thought process.

"I watched Lieber and Tapani go out and give up ground ball after ground ball," Wood said. "We're in the dugout and into it ... saying, `It'd be big to get a ground ball here.'

"And, boom, there's your ground ball. This year pitchers will be trying to put this team on its shoulders and go. We will use everybody behind us."

Strikeouts always will have their place in Wood's game. But pitchers can't live by strikeouts alone. Wood has learned that valuable lesson.