I'm not at home right now and don't really have time to discuss things going on in the Cubs world.  So, while we've been talking about it for a while in the SB, I thought I'd just open a thread in which you could post your comments about the Kerry Wood departure.

I'll just say this - it's a real bummer for a bunch of reasons, but it's hardly the end of the world.  In a sport where people come and go constantly, it's just a fact of life.  Got comments?  Post 'em if you've got 'em.

Rob checking in:

What we have here is yet another casaulty of the Free-Agent Era. (using my old man voice) Back when I was a youngun, star players were basically indentured servants to their club. If someone as popular, yet brittle, as Woody was around, the club would low-ball him, and he'd have no choice but to accept the Cubs' contract and spend the rest of his days with us. Sooner or later he'd move down the ladder until eventually he was the last man out of the bullpen, to be trotted out in blow-outs or on Ladies' Day.

Of course, if he wasn't making millions every year, he'd probably have hung it up three years ago, when his arm wasn't coming around, and nobody could figure out the problem. Then we wouldn't have him around, anyhow.

I always felt he was the heart and soul of the team, and I figured if and when the day would come when he left, I would seriously consider turning in the Die-Hard card and following cricket or tennis or some shit like that. However, with us being so close to a champion, and with our ability to pick up a Kevin Gregg or whatever his name is for Chump Change, Wood is an unnecessary luxury that we really didn't need.

Sooner or later, I will have digested this well enough to give the man the tribute he deserves, probably when he signs elsewhere. Right now, I'm just like the rest of you, waiting for my Peavy/Dempster/Roberts fix.