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

[goonys evil twin]

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.

 

What would respect for the team accomplish? And how would people with a history with one of the worst franchises in pro sports garner anymore respect than others from outside the organization?

 

I think the only benefit would be some fans would think it was a good thing, but as for a real benefit to the team, I don't see any.

[JakeSlater]

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)

 

Thanks for the details on the conversation.

 

What did he say the players thought of Dusty Baker, now that we heard how much of a joke Rothschild is?

[JC]

Nice info, MustangMike.

[Brian]

While we're hiring former cub greats to the coaching staff, what about Sandberg?

[rocket]

While we're hiring former cub greats to the coaching staff, what about Sandberg?

 

Reading his yahoo.com articles, I'm not sure I want him coaching.

[da bears]

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.

 

Why does this not surprise me? Fire Rothschild!

[jiml60]

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.

 

Who said this? Maddux or Bob Ibach?

[OleMissCub]

I hate the Cubs.

[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?

 

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.

 

Agreed goony, Bob was just talking about people already in the organization...which may be a problem in itself!

[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)

 

Thanks for the details on the conversation.

 

What did he say the players thought of Dusty Baker, now that we heard how much of a joke Rothschild is?

 

We didn't talk about Baker at all, all he said was he's going to be given a chance to turn it around this year beacuse of the injuries and the high paycheck. And the part about Brenly in the wings.

[MustangMike]

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.

 

Who said this? Maddux or Bob Ibach?

 

Bob said the organization thinks he's soft...but bob said he agreed and the league seems to have that idea. He also said with his age, potential, and no known structural injury reported now, he'll always been interesting to teams.

[goonys evil twin]

I'd like Bob and the boobs in the organization to take a look at how inappropriately they used him when he first came into the league and think if there's any chance maybe they are to blame for his problems now, and not some mysterious softness.

[Twiggy]

Some interesting information there. I agree Maddux for pitching coach if he would be willing once he does retire from playing. Kind of funny to think that Prior would have been traded to the Rangers though if that previous deal went through.

[jiml60]

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.

 

Who said this? Maddux or Bob Ibach?

 

Bob said the organization thinks he's soft...but bob said he agreed and the league seems to have that idea. He also said with his age, potential, and no known structural injury reported now, he'll always been interesting to teams.

 

Thanks.

[Balsa]

While we're hiring former cub greats to the coaching staff, what about Sandberg?

 

Reading his yahoo.com articles, I'm not sure I want him coaching.

 

Really? What's he written that you wouldn't like? (I haven't read them, just curious)

[E.J.]

Some interesting information there. I agree Maddux for pitching coach if he would be willing once he does retire from playing. Kind of funny to think that Prior would have been traded to the Rangers though if that previous deal went through.

 

My question is why didn't we trade Prior straight to the Rangers.

 

Teixeira>>>>>>Tejada.

[Banedon]

Some interesting information there. I agree Maddux for pitching coach if he would be willing once he does retire from playing. Kind of funny to think that Prior would have been traded to the Rangers though if that previous deal went through.

 

My question is why didn't we trade Prior straight to the Rangers.

 

Teixeira>>>>>>Tejada.

 

We already have Lee at 1b...where you gonna play Teixeira?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Some interesting information there. I agree Maddux for pitching coach if he would be willing once he does retire from playing. Kind of funny to think that Prior would have been traded to the Rangers though if that previous deal went through.

 

My question is why didn't we trade Prior straight to the Rangers.

 

Teixeira>>>>>>Tejada.

 

We already have Lee at 1b...where you gonna play Teixeira?

 

Tex could play the OF.

[CubinNY]

I'd like Bob and the boobs in the organization to take a look at how inappropriately they used him when he first came into the league and think if there's any chance maybe they are to blame for his problems now, and not some mysterious softness.

 

It seems as if the Cubs have a lot of "soft" players. Len was questioning Hill's toughness last night.

 

It is never the coaching or usage patterns, it's always the players.

[Banedon]

Some interesting information there. I agree Maddux for pitching coach if he would be willing once he does retire from playing. Kind of funny to think that Prior would have been traded to the Rangers though if that previous deal went through.

 

My question is why didn't we trade Prior straight to the Rangers.

 

Teixeira>>>>>>Tejada.

 

We already have Lee at 1b...where you gonna play Teixeira?

 

Tex could play the OF.

 

He's only played 32 games out there. I don't think Hendry is that kind of "out of the box" thinker...

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Some interesting information there. I agree Maddux for pitching coach if he would be willing once he does retire from playing. Kind of funny to think that Prior would have been traded to the Rangers though if that previous deal went through.

 

My question is why didn't we trade Prior straight to the Rangers.

 

Teixeira>>>>>>Tejada.

 

We already have Lee at 1b...where you gonna play Teixeira?

 

Tex could play the OF.

 

Hell, I'd put him at SS just to get the bat in the lineup.

[Banedon]

Some interesting information there. I agree Maddux for pitching coach if he would be willing once he does retire from playing. Kind of funny to think that Prior would have been traded to the Rangers though if that previous deal went through.

 

My question is why didn't we trade Prior straight to the Rangers.

 

Teixeira>>>>>>Tejada.

 

We already have Lee at 1b...where you gonna play Teixeira?

 

Tex could play the OF.

 

Hell, I'd put him at SS just to get the bat in the lineup.

 

Well...we've tried fielding an entire team of second baseman..time to try first basemen?

[SCCubbieFAN]

MMike, if Bob said the entire pitching staff thinks Rothchild is a joke, especially Maddux, one would think Hendry would know this and Rothchild would be long gone. Any speculatoin by Bob why he is still the PC?

[MustangMike]

I'd like Bob and the boobs in the organization to take a look at how inappropriately they used him when he first came into the league and think if there's any chance maybe they are to blame for his problems now, and not some mysterious softness.

 

Bob isn't in the organization...it was just a conversation with someone who WAS in the organization and still has ties with people on the team and in the front office.

[MustangMike]

Some interesting information there. I agree Maddux for pitching coach if he would be willing once he does retire from playing. Kind of funny to think that Prior would have been traded to the Rangers though if that previous deal went through.

 

My question is why didn't we trade Prior straight to the Rangers.

 

Teixeira>>>>>>Tejada.

 

I think because the viewed Tejada + Bedard > Texeria. Need a pitcher to make up for the loss of prior...even though he doesn't pitch anyway ironically.