Jake Arrieta's second stint with the Cubs did not go well. He's not the first Cubs pitcher to come back to the team for another go-around and in most cases, the results were like Arrieta's -- not good.
Ken Holtzman came back to the team in the middle of the 1978 season after have been traded after the 1971 season. He went 6-12 with an ERA north of 5.
Dallas Green brought back Fergie Jenkins to eat up some innings in 1982. Fergie was 20-24 for a couple of pretty lousy Cubs team in '82 and '83. The high point of the second go-around was his 3000th career strike out on May 25, 1982.
Rick Reuschel was traded to the Yankees just before the mid-season strike began in 1981, He got hurt and didn't pitch in 1982. The Yankees released him and the Cubs brought him back. He was still not 100% and was 6-6 over parts of the '83 and '84 seasons. The Cubs let him go after 1984 and he went on to have much better success with the Pirates and Giants.
Greg Maddux returned to the Cubs for the 2004 season after spending the previous 11 with the Braves. He was 16-11 in 2004, not bad at all for a 38-year-old. He also picked up his 300th win that season. The next year he was under .500 for the first time since 1987 though he did pick up his 3000th strike out in August. He was 9-11 in 2006 when the Cubs traded him to the Dodgers.
Kerry Wood came back to the Cubs in 2011 after spending the previous two with the Indians and Yankees. He was not used as a closer and by 2012 he was done. He retired on May 18 after recording one final strikeout.
In most cases, if you are thinking about bring back a former player, think with your head, not your heart.
I was around to enjoy Maddux and Wood coming back, even if they weren't their once dominant selves.
ReplyDeleteHaving Maddux come back and get number 300 as a Cub was great fun. Somewhere, I have the 300 win scorecard sold at the park. Nice little bit of memorabilia.
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