talked with Bob Ibach (81-89, director of public relations)

[MustangMike]

I just thought it would be interesting to some to share my conversation with Bob Ibach who is a former Cubs employee and who's son is the assistant director of scouting with the orioles.

 

Few things he said I found interesting....although in the past

 

Prior, Cedeno, Patterson -> Miggy and Bedard, Bedard was the hold up, they offered a AA pitcher but cubs said no. The fun part was the O's were going to trade prior for texeria....a deal that was supposedly agreed on.

 

He's friends with Maddux, and Rothschild is a joke to everyone on the staff, especially Maddux. He says maddux laughs when talking about him. As with pitching, Maddux is the main guy talking Wood into changing his mechanics...as he's a stubborn kid but wants to play and is truly injured. Also said he thinks Prior is soft...although we've all heard that.

 

Lee Elia is personally coaching Corey Patterson...he he's doing it with motivation of his final stick to the cubs.

 

Ibach also said that Billy Williams would be a great hitting coach and some in the orgainzation agree...Billy apparently would do it. And all the rumors are true about Brenly according to Bob, he's next in line if Dusty doesn't pull out a miracle this year...he'll be given the full year.

 

Anyway, nothing earth shattering...just very interesting conversation.

 

http://www.ibachsportspr.com/ (Link to Bob's Site)

[minnesotacubsfan]

I just thought it would be interesting to some to share my conversation with Bob Ibach who is a former Cubs employee and who's son is the assistant director of scouting with the orioles.

 

Few things he said I found interesting....although in the past

 

Prior, Cedeno, Patterson -> Miggy and Bedard, Bedard was the hold up, they offered a AA pitcher but cubs said no. The fun part was the O's were going to trade prior for texeria....a deal that was supposedly agreed on.

 

He's friends with Maddux, and Rothschild is a joke to everyone on the staff, especially Maddux. He says maddux laughs when talking about him. As with pitching, Maddux is the main guy talking Wood into changing his mechanics...as he's a stubborn kid but wants to play and is truly injured. Also said he thinks Prior is soft...although we've all heard that.

 

Lee Elia is personally coaching Corey Patterson...he he's doing it with motivation of his final stick to the cubs.

 

Ibach also said that Billy Williams would be a great hitting coach and some in the orgainzation agree...Billy apparently would do it. And all the rumors are true about Brenly according to Bob, he's next in line if Dusty doesn't pull out a miracle this year...he'll be given the full year.

 

Anyway, nothing earth shattering...just very interesting conversation.

 

http://www.ibachsportspr.com/ (Link to Bob's Site)

 

I think Billy Williams would be an obvious choice for hitting instructor...

 

Prior for Tex??? hmmmmmmmmm.....

 

 

Good for Woody

[minnesotacubsfan]

Maddux for Pitching Coach/Player

[CubinNY]

Maddux for Pitching Coach/Player

 

Let's cut out the middle man here. Maddux for Manager/Player.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I thought Billy Williams did not want the job anymore because of the travel?

[minnesotacubsfan]

I thought Billy Williams did not want the job anymore because of the travel?

 

that was 1st base coach

[minnesotacubsfan]

Maddux for Pitching Coach/Player

 

Let's cut out the middle man here. Maddux for Manager/Player.

 

dude cant do everything

 

 

or can he????

:P

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Lee Elia is personally coaching Corey Patterson...he he's doing it with motivation of his final stick to the cubs.

 

Awesome.

 

How crazy would Lee get if Corey screwed up?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I thought Billy Williams did not want the job anymore because of the travel?

 

that was 1st base coach

 

He was 1st base coach, then hitting, then bench as I recall. He moved to the FO to get away from the travel after that.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Lee Elia is personally coaching Corey Patterson...he he's doing it with motivation of his final stick to the cubs.

 

Awesome.

 

How crazy would Lee get if Corey screwed up?

 

lol..I wonder..

[MustangMike]

Maddux for Pitching Coach/Player

 

He did say that Maddux is by far the most skilled and listened to coach on the cubs...ironic

[MustangMike]

I thought Billy Williams did not want the job anymore because of the travel?

 

I thought that as well, Bob didn't seem to agree. Its all speculation really because Williams is in Arizonia. Plus, he like Pole for pitching coach as well, he was maddux coach in atlanta wasn't he?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I thought Billy Williams did not want the job anymore because of the travel?

 

I thought that as well, Bob didn't seem to agree. Its all speculation really because Williams is in Arizonia. Plus, he like Pole for pitching coach as well, he was maddux coach in atlanta wasn't he?

 

Regardless, if Billy wanted the job, they'd have to be stupid to not give it to him. If Maddux decides to retire, I want him in the dugout next season too. I would love to see Maddux as PC and Billy as HC.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I thought Billy Williams did not want the job anymore because of the travel?

 

that was 1st base coach

 

He was 1st base coach, then hitting, then bench as I recall. He moved to the FO to get away from the travel after that.

 

I didnt realize Williams was a hitting coach, I just thought he was 1st base coach and bench

[daske17]

I thought Billy Williams did not want the job anymore because of the travel?

 

that was 1st base coach

 

He was 1st base coach, then hitting, then bench as I recall. He moved to the FO to get away from the travel after that.

 

I didnt realize Williams was a hitting coach, I just thought he was 1st base coach and bench

 

He was also the outfield defense coach for a while. Boy, an outfield defense coach could teach to hit the cutoff man.

 

If there's anyone within the current Cubs organization that could snap some sense into our hitters, it's Billy Williams, he of the 426 career home runs and .361 lifetime OBP.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I thought Billy Williams did not want the job anymore because of the travel?

 

that was 1st base coach

 

He was 1st base coach, then hitting, then bench as I recall. He moved to the FO to get away from the travel after that.

 

I didnt realize Williams was a hitting coach, I just thought he was 1st base coach and bench

 

He was also the outfield defense coach for a while. Boy, an outfield defense coach could teach to hit the cutoff man.

 

If there's anyone within the current Cubs organization that could snap some sense into our hitters, it's Billy Williams, he of the 426 career home runs and .361 lifetime OBP.

 

dammit people, ITS NOT ABOUT WALKS!!!

[RynoRules]

If the part about Prior is true, it lends credence to Stark's recent report that the Cubs have concluded that he will be oft-injured and unable to pitch through discomfort.

[moorecg]

I thought Billy Williams did not want the job anymore because of the travel?

 

I thought that as well, Bob didn't seem to agree. Its all speculation really because Williams is in Arizonia. Plus, he like Pole for pitching coach as well, he was maddux coach in atlanta wasn't he?

 

Regardless, if Billy wanted the job, they'd have to be stupid to not give it to him. If Maddux decides to retire, I want him in the dugout next season too. I would love to see Maddux as PC and Billy as HC.

 

I really like this idea...getting former Cubs (not named Sarge) for the bench makes me smile....BTW...I like Sarge, just not what he's done as a coach.

[goonys evil twin]

I thought Billy Williams did not want the job anymore because of the travel?

 

I thought that as well, Bob didn't seem to agree. Its all speculation really because Williams is in Arizonia. Plus, he like Pole for pitching coach as well, he was maddux coach in atlanta wasn't he?

 

Regardless, if Billy wanted the job, they'd have to be stupid to not give it to him. If Maddux decides to retire, I want him in the dugout next season too. I would love to see Maddux as PC and Billy as HC.

 

I really like this idea...getting former Cubs (not named Sarge) for the bench makes me smile....BTW...I like Sarge, just not what he's done as a coach.

 

I would rather get good coaches than worry about whether they have ties to the Cubs.

[Guest]

I thought Billy Williams did not want the job anymore because of the travel?

 

I thought that as well, Bob didn't seem to agree. Its all speculation really because Williams is in Arizonia. Plus, he like Pole for pitching coach as well, he was maddux coach in atlanta wasn't he?

Pole was actually Maddux' pitching coach in Chicago before he went to Atlanta.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I thought Billy Williams did not want the job anymore because of the travel?

 

I thought that as well, Bob didn't seem to agree. Its all speculation really because Williams is in Arizonia. Plus, he like Pole for pitching coach as well, he was maddux coach in atlanta wasn't he?

 

Regardless, if Billy wanted the job, they'd have to be stupid to not give it to him. If Maddux decides to retire, I want him in the dugout next season too. I would love to see Maddux as PC and Billy as HC.

 

I really like this idea...getting former Cubs (not named Sarge) for the bench makes me smile....BTW...I like Sarge, just not what he's done as a coach.

 

I would rather get good coaches than worry about whether they have ties to the Cubs.

 

Ditto. With Maddux and Williams, it's more coincidental than anything. I think they would be terrific for those positions, regardless of the team they played for.

[goonys evil twin]

Ditto. With Maddux and Williams, it's more coincidental than anything. I think they would be terrific for those positions, regardless of the team they played for.

 

I don't know about Billy. He's got very limited coaching history and has never really shown much desire to keep doing it. The great ones almost always fail when trying to teach their own craft.

[cubfan1955]

Ditto. With Maddux and Williams, it's more coincidental than anything. I think they would be terrific for those positions, regardless of the team they played for.

 

I don't know about Billy. He's got very limited coaching history and has never really shown much desire to keep doing it. The great ones almost always fail when trying to teach their own craft.

Example: Ted Williams.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Ditto. With Maddux and Williams, it's more coincidental than anything. I think they would be terrific for those positions, regardless of the team they played for.

 

I don't know about Billy. He's got very limited coaching history and has never really shown much desire to keep doing it. The great ones almost always fail when trying to teach their own craft.

 

I always wondered if he moved to the front office because of the travel or if it was just because he had very little talent to work with. Aside from Grace, there wasn't much else. Sammy had yet to do anything.

[moorecg]

I thought Billy Williams did not want the job anymore because of the travel?

 

I thought that as well, Bob didn't seem to agree. Its all speculation really because Williams is in Arizonia. Plus, he like Pole for pitching coach as well, he was maddux coach in atlanta wasn't he?

 

Regardless, if Billy wanted the job, they'd have to be stupid to not give it to him. If Maddux decides to retire, I want him in the dugout next season too. I would love to see Maddux as PC and Billy as HC.

 

I really like this idea...getting former Cubs (not named Sarge) for the bench makes me smile....BTW...I like Sarge, just not what he's done as a coach.

 

I would rather get good coaches than worry about whether they have ties to the Cubs.

 

Ditto. With Maddux and Williams, it's more coincidental than anything. I think they would be terrific for those positions, regardless of the team they played for.

 

I didn't mean to suggest that we get them just because they were Cubs, but I like the idea of both of those guys and maybe it would help install a sense of respect for the team...just thoughts...I also wouldn't mind Girardi coming back to manage...but that's just me.