By Jeremy Harris
Overshadowed byย RH Edwin Jackson’s disastrous two-yearย stintย in the Cubs’ rotation and albatross contract was the severe regression of LH starter Travis Woodย this season.
In his all-starย campaign of 2013, Wood tossedย 200 innings, allowing 163 hits and 66 walks.ย Amongย the 79 qualifying starters, Wood rankedย third in BABIP (batting average on balls in play) (.248); 19th in ERA (3.11); ninth in batting average against (BA) (.218); and 21st in WHIP (1.15).
What a difference a season makes. ย His decline is part of the reason the Cubs continue to become even bigger long shots among those who bet on baseball. In 173.2 innings, Wood yielded 190 hits and 76 walks,ย andย his ERA spiked toย 5.03.ย Among 87 qualifying starters, Wood ranked fifth worst inย BB/9ย (3.94); also fifth worst in BABIP (.320); sixth worst in BA (.270); third worst in ERA (5.03); andย last in WHIP (1.53).
As an aside, Jackson would have ranked below Wood in many of these categories had he pitched enough innings to qualify.
In three of his last four seasons, Wood’s ERA has exceeded 4.00.ย So it is natural forย the Cubs’ brass to be circumspect about Wood’s future in the rotation.ย Under club control for two more seasons, there is ample time for Wood, 27,ย to redeem himself and become a piece of the Cubs’ core moving forward.
However, Wood might be better utilized as a Loogy, the new term ascribed to a left-handed relief specialist who is summoned to face left-handed and weak right-handed hitters or to turn around a switch hitter who is better hitting from left side.ย This is because, despite dreadful overall numbersย this season, Wood was actually exceptional against left-handed hitters.
In 48 innings against lefties, Wood yielded a BA of .214, an OPB of .268, .an OPS of .619ย andย a WHIP of 1.04.ย He produced a 4.0 BB/SO ratio, 2.1 BB/9, .261 BABIP, 8.25 K/9, 0.75 HR/9 and walk rate of 5.7%.ย Among 83 left-handed pitchersย who logged a minimum of 20 innings against left-handed batters, Wood ranked 24th in WHIP and 37th in OPS.
No hyperbole, these are dominant numbers.
Conversely, in 125.2 innings facing right-handed batters, Wood allowed a BA of .293, an OBP of .381, an OPS of .837 and a WHIP of 1.72.ย He generated a measly 1.6 SO/BB ratio, 4.7 BB/9, .339 BAPIP, 1.15 HR/9 and walk rateย of 11.1%.
No exaggeration, these are deplorable numbers and, unlessย improved, make Woodย nonviable as a starter.
Wesley Wright, under club control for next season, is the only left-handed throwing mainstay in the Cubs’ bullpen at present.ย Wright his career pitching effectively against left-handed hitters but has also achieved decentย results against right-handers.ย In 138 career innings against lefties,ย Wright has yielded a .234 BA, .315 OBP and 1.25 WHIP to go with a 26.6% SO rate, 8.3% walk rate and .320 BABIP.ย ย
In 161.2 innings against right-handed hitters, Wright, 29 in January, hasย allowed a .260 BA, .354 OBP andย 1.53 WHIP.ย He has also produced aย SO rate of 18.5%, walk rate of 11.5% and BABIP of .287.ย
It is significant thatย Wright has proven capable ofย pitching effectively against hitters from both sides of the plate because, given the limited role of a Loogy, facing a tough left-handed hitter or two or three in a four-batter sequence, the rest of bullpen needs to have the versatility and durability to accommodate a Loogy.ย Carrying two “Loogies” would not be feasible.
Good organizations are creative in finding ways to put their personnel in the most advantageous positions.ย We previously proposed that the Cubs make Edwin Jackson a relief pitcher, perhaps filling the long role possibly being vacated by free agent RH Carlos Villanueva.ย If Jackson were to flounder in that role,ย then the Cubs would beย justified, havingย explored all reasonable options to salvage him,ย in releasing Jackson and eating whatever outstanding money is remaining on the $22 million he is owed through 2016.
In a one-inning scoreless reliefย outing against the Milwaukee Brewers last Saturday in the Cubs’ season-series finale-admittedly a smidgeon sample size–Jackson pitched with poise and rhythm, exhibited excellent body language and sported a fastball that touched 96 MPH.ย ย For Jackson, in our opinion, it should be the bullpen or bust, and we’re hoping the Cubs will give him an opportunity next season to reinvent his career like so many erstwhile starters.
In the case of Travis Wood, the Cubs would be completely justified inย granting him another opportunity as a starter,ย an option that should no longer be afforded to Jackson given hisย indescribably awful two-year stint in the Cubs’ rotation.ย ย Butย if the Cubs bolster their rotation during the offseason making Wood the odd-man out–and his trade value has been depreciated by his 2014 campaign–or theyย believe converting him to a Loogy would beย best for the club irrespective or what additions they make, he could pay big dividends in theย bullpen.
Would it not be a luxury for the Cubs to have a Loogy in the late innings of close games to face left-handed hittersย such asย Matt Carpenterย andย Matt Adams of the St. Louis Cardinals; Jay Bruceย and Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds;ย Pedro Alvarez of the Pittsburgh Pirates;ย and Scooter Gennett of the Milwaukee Brewers?
Perhaps Travis Woodย could be the Loogy to quietย opposing left-handed thunder.
