Woody

Kerry Wood pitched arguably the best game in Major League history on May 6, 1998.  It's arguable only because a real major league third baseman, Kevin Orie, whiffed on a grounder most little leaguers would snag in their sleep (stunningly ruled a hit by the Wrigley scorekeeper).  And Craig Biggio got plunked too (I had forgotten that.)

Otherwise, Wood made Biggio, Jeff Bagwell and the rest of the Astros look foolish in just his fifth major league start.  The 20-year old had a record-tying 20 strikeouts in the most dominating performance I have ever seen.  It was riveting television, enough so that even Chip Caray's presence in the booth could not ruin it.

With news that Wood is retiring, I've been thinking a lot about Wood and the Cubs today.  Sadly, the pain of the 2003 postseason is as strong a memory as '98.  Kerry lost Game 7 of the NLCS against the Marlins (yes, there was a game AFTER Bartman), getting shelled for seven runs in 5 2/3 innings.

That rollercoaster game was more nerve-wracking for me than the Bartman-attributed collapse in Game 6.  Kerry Wood on the mound in a Game 7 with a World Series berth on the line?  I would have taken it every time. 

Wood went out and surrendered three runs in the first inning.  He then settled down, even helping his own cause with a two-run homer, and the Cubs grabbed a 5-3 lead.  But the Marlins got to Wood for three runs in the fifth and another in the sixth and ruined the Cubbies' best (last?) chance at the Fall Classic in my lifetime.

Injuries marred much of the rest of Wood's career, and instead of a Hall of Fame bust Wood will be enshrined in the What Might Have Been club.  86 wins, 63 saves, more than $70 million. (OK it's hard to feel too bad for the guy.)

But "the Kerry game" will live forever.  No thanks to you, Kevin Orie.