If you could rebuild the front office...

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

As it is increasingly obvious with each passing game, the Cubs front office and coaching sucks. From top to bottom, this team is quickly becoming one of the most disorganized, poorly run, and poorly coached franchises in the game.

 

We have an owner no one likes. We have a GM that is not proactive at all. The scouting in the system has gone down the sh*tter, I hated last years draft and I hate the "look for the best athlete" approach. The manager, pitching coach, and hitting coach at the majors are meh at best and the first two are holding their jobs simply on past reputation (undeserved at that).

 

So, this leads me to ask...if you could have any available owner, GM, scouting director, manager, pitching coach, hitting coach, and anything else you think is poorly run...who would you pick?

 

I have no clue on a new owner. But for GM and scouting director...Paul DePodesta and Grady Fuson quickly come to mind. DePodesta would at least give us a GM who's plan we have some idea about, and its an idea many of us support. Fuson has just an amazing eye for talent and basically got screwed out of the GM job in Texas.

 

For a manager I want someone who is a pretty fiery guy, but more in the Earl Weaver sense (as in...a logical fire) than in a Lou Piniella sense. A guy I think that CAN be like that is Lee Mazilli. He was around the Yankees orginization that for years not only won but preached getting winning with a solid approach to everything.

 

Hitting coach and pitching coach are a big question mark. I like Von Joshua alot. He's getting results with the guys down on the farm, but unfortunately the Cubs aren't seeing those results and we're the team that needs it. So I think I'd give him a shot.

 

Pitching coach is a tough one because it's hard to find a good one, but a guy with ties to a couple people in the orginization and a strong resume is out there in Tom House. That would be a reeeeaaallly long shot though, cause he runs a major pitching orginization anyway. So I'll put this down as no clue.

 

Any ideas of your own?

[badgercub]

Since this season is lost anyway, lets go from absurd to sublime and just hire Darren Daulton to manage the rest of the season, he is looking for a way back into the game.

[sunnydoo]

Since this season is lost anyway, lets go from absurd to sublime and just hire Darren Daulton to manage the rest of the season, he is looking for a way back into the game.

 

Only if we can get Dock Ellis to be the pitching coach.

[SoonerCubFan]

As for manager, how about someone out of the Cardinal's bench, like Dave Duncan or Jose Oquendo. They seem to get a lot of mileage out of mediocre guys in the middle IF and pitching staff, while the current Cubs regime turn 5 tool and golden arm talent into floundering scapegoats.

[Hacking Out Machine]

Not sure if we can raid other organizations with guys in place, but I think Mark Shapiro is among the best out there as far as GMs go. Not sure what DePodesta is doing nowadays, but I'd obviously love to have him as well.

 

As for staffs, evaluating managers is very difficult. Anyone who understands platoon splits and is aware of what situations his players excel in/suck at would be good by me. We don't currently have a guy like that, obviously. It seems like Eric Wedge has an idea about that. Actually, I'd probably look to see what National League team ranks last in sac bunts and go after that manager. Bruce Bochy is another one I like.

 

With pitching coaches, it's Leo Mazzone and everyone else(although Baltimore hasn't responded well to him so far). The Triple A pitching coach in Indianapolis(Pittsburgh's affiliate) has done a great job with their young pitchers. (Snell, Duke, Gorzelany, etc)

 

Hitting coach: anyone other than the "hack first, ask questions later" crew we have now. Will Clark? (Just kidding)

 

This is a very good question....I'm interested in what replies you get!

[scs_paradise]

As for manager, how about someone out of the Cardinal's bench, like Dave Duncan or Jose Oquendo. They seem to get a lot of mileage out of mediocre guys in the middle IF and pitching staff, while the current Cubs regime turn 5 tool and golden arm talent into floundering scapegoats.

 

hiring Oquendo would be enough for me to turn the cubs off for good. I can't stand that guy.

[Wilmo]

I'd start with owner, who else, Mark Cuban.

 

GM Billy Beane, imagine what he could do with Cuban type money to play with.

 

Manager would be Bobby Cox.

 

Pitching coach, I would have to reunite Bobby with Leo Mazzone.

 

Hitting coach. I don't know if he would be a good teacher or not, but he is my all time favorite non-Cub hitter...Tony Gwynn.

 

Bench coach would be Zimmer, I don't know if he could help any, but I love Don freaking Zimmer.

 

Base coaches, I would have Ozzie Guillen (just to piss off the Sox fans) and Tony LaRussa (just to piss off the Cards fans)

 

What???? I can dream can't I?