Kerry Wood. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
(WSCR) Kerry Wood was there during that fateful game in October when Steve Bartman reached his hand over the railing at Wrigley Field to catch a foul ball.
Wood watched as the Cubs later blew a 3-0 lead en route to their elimination in Game 7 of the NLCS.
Now, however, a retired Wood had a simple message for Bartman.
“Sorry,” Wood told The Dan Patrick Show when asked what he would say to Bartman today. “There’s not a whole lot else to say. I respect the fact that he never went out and talked about it or tried to write a book, tried to make money off it. I think he was just a huge Cubs fan in the wrong place at the wrong time. I feel bad for the guy.”
Wood also discussed his decision to walk away from baseball.
“It was a grind to get the body ready every day and be ready to go throw and get ready for the game,” Wood said. “That grind is all worth it when you’re helping the team and you’re successful and you’re getting guys out and you’re a part of a solution. Things change. It’s still a grind and that grind gets harder to get the body ready every day. Then, the results aren’t there. You feel like you’re not helping the team. You’re actually a part of the problem. I think the body and mind were telling me it’s time. “
Even if the Cubs were in contention, Wood’s decision would be the same.
“I don’t think I could (keep play,)” Wood said. “I really felt I was handcuffing Dale (Sveum) not being able to use me in back-to-back days. The body wasn’t responding. … I spent enough time on the DL. I didn’t want to end that way.”
