After You Fire Baker...What Do You Do?

[Wheelimus]

I think it's pretty apparent at this point that Dusty needs to be going on the last train to Gonesville. But after you fire him, what do you do? What do we do with the guys who are here, and what do we do with the guys we aren't going to want next year?

 

First off, we have to bring in a manager who understands they're just here to keep things from getting REALLY ugly, and may not be the new skipper. We need to really think this through, and find the manager who is going to take us to the next level. I vote Ryne Sandberg, hell to mend fences, even Mark Grace, lol. Or maybe even Brenly if he's willing, with the understanding he can return to the booth next year if he isn't the manager.

 

Now, for the guys we have. We have to start changing things up. Get rid of the dead weight, move on so to speak. So here are the guys I'd build with, but a few may surprise.

 

Jacque Jones - Yes, I'm going to say it. He's failing because he can't hit a lefty to save his life. Against righties, he's pulling .310/.344/.571. I'll take that against righties, especially with the free agent market the way it is. No, I take some of the guys I'm not keeping, and try to turn them into Bizzaro Jacque Jones. Guy who kills lefties. You do it right, and I'll take a .900 OPS out of right field.

 

Matt Murton - The kid is having a hard time with righties, killing lefties. I'd try to find a 5th outfielder who could take a few of the harder assignments. Make sure the manager gets that it's just a handful of starts, just to give the kid a better chance to succeed.

 

Michael Barrett - Can't beat the offense. Heh, keep working on the defense kid.

 

Derrek Lee - Obvious

 

Aramis Ramirez - Has got to get out of the funk though

 

Ronny Cedeno - He's going to be real good. Let him work through it when he struggles

 

Todd Walker - Prove you're ready to put out the best team you can in 2007, and sign him to a one year extension right now. Hell of a hitter

 

Felix Pie - I know, in minors, but keep him and bring him up. His .806 OPS would look nice on the team right now, but maybe he flourishes in the bigs. Nurture him, keep him in close contact to the Iowa guys when able, bring him along to succeed and develop. Put him in center field.

 

So, the rest of them, I put out word that they're available for trade, and if I don't get any takers, I DFA them and let them rot at Iowa. You'll get a fair return for Pierre, not what we gave but enough. Perez will be for a ball of balls to some team with a hole at sucky middle infielder. Might find a taker for Mabry, bag of balls maybe. Hairston might bring a little return. Got to try, and probably have to eat some cash. Take your medicine Jim...

 

As for my pitchers, here's my keepers.

 

Greg Maddux - Do it, take a chance. The Tribune maybe even gets some balls and says they won't count it against next years payroll limit, just to prove they're serious about winning. One year extension, good old 200 inning clause for another year if you must. Can't have enough good pitching.

 

Carlos Zambrano - Yeah

 

Mark Prior - He's got to heal, and he has to stay healthy. He's running out of chances

 

Kerry Wood - You just can't give up the talent, especially if he's looking good. Everything in life is a gamble. Do you think a better bet is going to be on the market for a price we can afford? Work out a 1 year extension. Do something. Or if you don't, you start working now. Ask him what it takes to take a trade, probably his option next year being picked up. We may have to eat a little cash to get a good return. Do it. We need talent right now more than money.

 

Wade Miller - At least see what he can do later this year to see if he's in your cards for 2007.

 

Sean Marshall - I think he'll be good, bad starts nonewithstanding.

 

Eyre/Howry/Williamson/Dempster. Extend Williamson. Prove you're serious about keeping the pen intact.

 

Everyone else is fair game, put it out that you'll entertain all offers. Who knows, maybe a team freaks and overpays for Hill or Guzman because they think they're just rotting in the Chi-town wasteland. If it can improve the pathetic offense, take a chance.

 

That's what I'd do :D Beyond that, think long and hard about how to play winning baseball in this era, and hire the guy who is best suited to run with it.

[rocket]

This organization's philosophy HAS to change. If it doesn't, then it doesn't matter if we fire/keep Dusty. The results will be the same.

[LoneStarCubFan]

For the remainder of the season you have to clean up the roster as best you can.

 

1. Find a RH platoon option for Jones.

 

2. Play Mabry at first and Walker at 2B against RH until Lee gets back.

 

3. Eat Neifi's salary and send him on his way.

 

4. Play Theriot at 2B when Walker is at 1B against LH until Lee gets back.

 

5. Put Cedeno in the No. 1 spot and leave him there.

 

6. Eat Rusch's contract or get what you can for him.

 

7. Bullpen should be: Dempster, Howry, Eyre, Williamson, Novoa, Ohman

 

8. Fix the freakin' bench. When Lee gets back it should look like this: Blanco, Hairston, Mabry, RH OF Platoon TBA, Pagan, anybody but Neifi or Bynum

 

9. If this team is nowhere near the division lead or the WC by late July, call up Pie, put him in center and leave him there. Deal Pierre at the deadline.

 

10. Assuming Prior comes back, I'm not sure what I'd do with Miller when he's ready. Bullpen I guess with Novoa going to Iowa.

 

11. Offseason- Use all the excess pitching to find a fix for right field, decide what you want to do at 2B, re-evaluate Cedeno at SS. If there is a better long-term option, make a change.

[bhogg]

After you fire baker, you PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[snoodmonger]

Despite the fact Ronnie leads the team in BA at .288 ( :shock: ), his .310 OBP does not merit a permanent leadoff slot.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

After firing Dusty, I'd fire Hendry and MacPhail.

[Chocolate Milk]

1. Fire Dusty

2. ?????????

3. Win World Series!

[hardcorecubfan]

This team needs a Scrap Iron (Phil Garner) type of guy or Jim Leyland who told his players that they were stinking up a the field.

 

A mover and a shaker who doesn't care what the fans or players think because he just wants to win.

 

Like Billy Martin but not as extreme as Lou Piniella

[Sammy Sofa]

I'd really like to see Maddux finish his career with the Cubs, but honestly, he may be the best bargaining chip to use in a big trade this year. Target a team that needs the pitching desperately...there was all that talk of getting Tejada from Baltimore earlier this season...maybe package Marshall and Maddux and Cedeno and offer them? Sell Maddux and Marshall as a duo...they seem attached at the hip; Maddux seems to want to teach him and Marshall wants to listen. Maddux has the history with Mazzone who is now in Baltimore. I'd think Baltimore would certainly want a little more bat in the deal for Tejada, so toss in a prospect who might have a little pop that can be spared (someone besides Pie...but who?). Or hell, toss in Hill and see if that makes them bite. And of course, this hinges on the Cubs' management doing what they should have done already and shelling out for another quality and RELIABLE starter. Yeah, this means gambling on Wood and Prior AND Miller, but if you toss in Big Z and another quality starter picked up, that's a more than workable starting line up. Then you have Lee, Ramirez, Tejada, Walker, Barrett and Murton all hitting in the same line up...plus Jones hitting righties. Pierre would be the big offensive black spot there, but heck, if he keeps tanking, let's try out Pie (though NOT as a lead off hitter. I'd much rather see Walker in that role).

 

Walker

Murton

Lee

Tejada

Ramirez

Barrett

Jones

Pie

pitcher

 

Works for me.

 

This has been my idiot armchair GM post of the day. Please feel free to mock me mercilessly.

[Wilson A2000]

Dusty's gotta be fired soon. As soon as any GM gives his approval for the manager, the manager is usually fired the next week.

[Productive Outs]

Despite the fact Ronnie leads the team in BA at .288 ( :shock: ), his .310 OBP does not merit a permanent leadoff slot.

 

exactly. on the flip side, murton's .370ish OBP and low SLG is perfect for the leadoff spot right now.

[texascub]

Despite the fact Ronnie leads the team in BA at .288 ( :shock: ), his .310 OBP does not merit a permanent leadoff slot.

 

He does have a low OBP, but I think he also brings the most for the leadoff position on the team right now. He makes solid contact most of the time, he's not afraid to take pitches, he's able to lay down some good bunts, and he's also probably the fastest on the team.

[jaydee]

sign Sammy Sosa