Len Kasper Interview

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Listening to it now. This is FANTASTIC.

 

"Well, the little things are what win baseball games"

 

"no, no, no, no....."

[rocket]

i love len's mancrush on dunn

[sherwood921]

Wow...great job Len.

 

Watch him get run out of town now...

[jmajew]

I don't know if i agree 100% with the notion that managers don't win titles. I believe they are part of the equation and that in order to win you need the right manager to handle the players. Like Dusty Baker would not be a good fit for the 2003 Marlins.

 

Other than that I love Len. He knows his baseball. I also love the fact that he is passionate enough about it that he is willing to argue for what he believes.

 

I don't know if anyone else feels this way but Hendry and Baker seem to feel that just because they have their jobs that their opinions have to be right. I believe it is healthy for them to have to debate and explain why they believe certain things. I know their opinions may not change but atleast we can learn where they are coming from. Hopefully making their decisions more understandable. The fact we are left in the dark makes it hard for fans to understand why they are doing these things.

[chuckywang]

Ned Youst is a solid baseball man.

 

Kasper has been around the game from broadcasting and knows OBP and Slugging are keys to an effective offensive game.

 

No one is fooled anymore..not even the Cubs fan base.

 

We know garbage when we see it.

 

From Dusty's little league philosophy of "no - Walks"

 

To Hendry's Dumpster Diving aquistions the latest being Iszturis....

 

Cub nation is fed up. Fed up with this crap. We are the best fans in the world

and we have the worst GM in pro sports and the worst manager in pro sports guiding are beloved Cubs into the toilet!

 

Oh gosh, this is gonna get me in trouble, but...

 

Cubs fans are not the best in the world. We are great fans, no doubt. We are NOT the best in the world. How do you even quantify that? Because we sell out every game, even though we're horrible? Because we question each and every move that our front office and manager make?

 

As much as I hate to say it, we aren't any better than Cardinals fans. We're no better than Red Sox fans. We're no better than Yankee fans. We're definitely up there, and among the best, but I think saying we're the best is very egocentric.

 

Sorry for the semantical rant. We are great fans, no doubt. The best? How can you say?

 

The "best fans in the world" don't throw garbage onto the field when things aren't going your team's way. The "best fans in the world" have more class than that. The "best fans in the world" would respect themselves and the game. It was a sad day for me as a Cubs fan when I saw that kind of crap after the Pierzynski homer in the top of the 9th.

[chuckywang]

I don't know if i agree 100% with the notion that managers don't win titles. I believe they are part of the equation and that in order to win you need the right manager to handle the players. Like Dusty Baker would not be a good fit for the 2003 Marlins.

 

Other than that I love Len. He knows his baseball. I also love the fact that he is passionate enough about it that he is willing to argue for what he believes.

 

I don't know if anyone else feels this way but Hendry and Baker seem to feel that just because they have their jobs that their opinions have to be right. I believe it is healthy for them to have to debate and explain why they believe certain things. I know their opinions may not change but atleast we can learn where they are coming from. Hopefully making their decisions more understandable. The fact we are left in the dark makes it hard for fans to understand why they are doing these things.

 

It's interesting though. I agree with Len that I think that most major league managers could have been with the past few World Series champions and managed them to a title. Managers don't have much to do with Randy Johnson/Curt Schilling/Josh Beckett totally dominating the Yankee hitters. They also don't have much to do with David Ortiz hitting walk off homers.

 

However, by the same token, I wonder if Len Kasper thinks that Grady Little should be criticized for leaving in Pedro Martinez in the ALCS.

[soccer10k]

"All those things you mentioned aren't nearly as important as getting on base, and the Brewers are 15th in the [NL] in on-base percentage. They're not as important in earned run average, which they're last in the league."

 

Awesome interview.

[Andy]

Len was already one of my 5 favorite current nonplayers involved in baseball, I think that interview moved him to the top of the list no question. This guy echoes mine and many of this board's sentiments exactly and knows what it takes to win. If only our front office and coaching staff were so intelligent.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Someone give this man a front office position.

[Banedon]

Gah....can't listen to it at work, and I forgot to listen to it at home last night....

[CP_414]

Gah....can't listen to it at work, and I forgot to listen to it at home last night....

 

It's still on http://www.sportsradio1250.com., but it was moved down to the bottom of the page in the Audio Archives section. I don't know how long it will be there, but it should be up tonight.

[Banedon]

Gah....can't listen to it at work, and I forgot to listen to it at home last night....

 

It's still on http://www.sportsradio1250.com., but it was moved down to the bottom of the page in the Audio Archives section. I don't know how long it will be there, but it should be up tonight.

 

Is it streaming? or can it be saved in it's entirety?

[Butterscup1679666578]

Gah....can't listen to it at work, and I forgot to listen to it at home last night....

 

It's still on http://www.sportsradio1250.com., but it was moved down to the bottom of the page in the Audio Archives section. I don't know how long it will be there, but it should be up tonight.

 

Is it streaming? or can it be saved in it's entirety?

 

It can be saved, it's an MP3.

[Irishoshea21]

Gah....can't listen to it at work, and I forgot to listen to it at home last night....

 

It's still on http://www.sportsradio1250.com., but it was moved down to the bottom of the page in the Audio Archives section. I don't know how long it will be there, but it should be up tonight.

 

Good stuff...

[Jon]

Wow. Just got around to listening to it. I cringed a bit when he said "horses," emphasized injuries a bit too much, and wished he had gone further and critiqued the small ball decisions that Dusty and other managers make, but still refreshing.

[soccer10k]

Wow. Just got around to listening to it. I cringed a bit when he said "horses," emphasized injuries a bit too much, and wished he had gone further and critiqued the small ball decisions that Dusty and other managers make, but still refreshing.

 

I definately didn't like it when he said "horses" either but didn't mind the injury part too much. Not great, but not horrible.

[Drew Doughty]

Wow. Just got around to listening to it. I cringed a bit when he said "horses," emphasized injuries a bit too much, and wished he had gone further and critiqued the small ball decisions that Dusty and other managers make, but still refreshing.

 

I definately didn't like it when he said "horses" either but didn't mind the injury part too much. Not great, but not horrible.

 

well, i don't mind horses so much. it's just become such a joke because dusty's "horses" are guys like freddie bynum and neifi perez.

[rocket]

Wow. Just got around to listening to it. I cringed a bit when he said "horses," emphasized injuries a bit too much, and wished he had gone further and critiqued the small ball decisions that Dusty and other managers make, but still refreshing.

 

I definately didn't like it when he said "horses" either but didn't mind the injury part too much. Not great, but not horrible.

 

well, len isn't wrong for pointing out that it isn't really fair to expect the cubs to do amazing when lee, wood, and prior all go down with injuries.

 

the big problem is that, assuming those 3 are healthy, the cubs still aren't that good, and still have a horrible organizational philosophy when it comes to acquiring new players.

[soccer10k]

Wow. Just got around to listening to it. I cringed a bit when he said "horses," emphasized injuries a bit too much, and wished he had gone further and critiqued the small ball decisions that Dusty and other managers make, but still refreshing.

 

I definately didn't like it when he said "horses" either but didn't mind the injury part too much. Not great, but not horrible.

 

well, len isn't wrong for pointing out that it isn't really fair to expect the cubs to do amazing when lee, wood, and prior all go down with injuries.

 

the big problem is that, assuming those 3 are healthy, the cubs still aren't that good, and still have a horrible organizational philosophy when it comes to acquiring new players.

 

It was more that he used the word "horses" and the fact that it's Dusty's word than what Len meant by using it.

[Banedon]

That was an excellent piece of audio.

[A New Era]

Wow. Just got around to listening to it. I cringed a bit when he said "horses," emphasized injuries a bit too much, and wished he had gone further and critiqued the small ball decisions that Dusty and other managers make, but still refreshing.

 

I definately didn't like it when he said "horses" either but didn't mind the injury part too much. Not great, but not horrible.

 

well, len isn't wrong for pointing out that it isn't really fair to expect the cubs to do amazing when lee, wood, and prior all go down with injuries.

 

the big problem is that, assuming those 3 are healthy, the cubs still aren't that good, and still have a horrible organizational philosophy when it comes to acquiring new players.

 

You honestly beleive that? You beleive that if Lee, Wood, and Prior were playing all year and even a shadow of their former selves the cubs still aren't good?

 

No they would be good. The problem is Mr. Dumb ass actually going into the season "relying" on 2 of the most overhyped and injury prone pitchers of this decade.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Wow. Just got around to listening to it. I cringed a bit when he said "horses," emphasized injuries a bit too much, and wished he had gone further and critiqued the small ball decisions that Dusty and other managers make, but still refreshing.

 

I definately didn't like it when he said "horses" either but didn't mind the injury part too much. Not great, but not horrible.

 

well, len isn't wrong for pointing out that it isn't really fair to expect the cubs to do amazing when lee, wood, and prior all go down with injuries.

 

the big problem is that, assuming those 3 are healthy, the cubs still aren't that good, and still have a horrible organizational philosophy when it comes to acquiring new players.

 

You honestly beleive that? You beleive that if Lee, Wood, and Prior were playing all year and even a shadow of their former selves the cubs still aren't good?

 

No they would be good. The problem is Mr. Dumb ass actually going into the season "relying" on 2 of the most overhyped and injury prone pitchers of this decade.

 

With Lee, Prior, and Wood at 100% this season, this team would still not be good.

[CubColtPacer]

Wow. Just got around to listening to it. I cringed a bit when he said "horses," emphasized injuries a bit too much, and wished he had gone further and critiqued the small ball decisions that Dusty and other managers make, but still refreshing.

 

I definately didn't like it when he said "horses" either but didn't mind the injury part too much. Not great, but not horrible.

 

well, len isn't wrong for pointing out that it isn't really fair to expect the cubs to do amazing when lee, wood, and prior all go down with injuries.

 

the big problem is that, assuming those 3 are healthy, the cubs still aren't that good, and still have a horrible organizational philosophy when it comes to acquiring new players.

 

You honestly beleive that? You beleive that if Lee, Wood, and Prior were playing all year and even a shadow of their former selves the cubs still aren't good?

 

No they would be good. The problem is Mr. Dumb ass actually going into the season "relying" on 2 of the most overhyped and injury prone pitchers of this decade.

 

With Lee, Prior, and Wood at 100% this season, this team would still not be good.

 

That is a really interesting question..taking our opening day lineup (Cedeno at short, and Walker at second), and Wood, Prior, and Lee at 100% healthy, I can't see how'd we be any worse then the Cardinals are, and probably a good amount better.

Let's match up the hitters and pitchers on both teams

Hitting-Pujols-Lee

Rolen-Ramirez

Edmonds-Barrett

Taguchi/Rodriguez-Jones

Encarnacion-Murton

Miles/Luna-Walker

Eckstein-Pierre

Molina-Cedeno

 

If you can see much of a difference in that offense, then feel free to chime in-looking at thier stats, this looks like a very similar offense. Pujols and Rolen would each be a bit better, but Barrett, Jones, and Walker have all been better for the Cubs. The other 3 matchups are almost dead even.

 

Pitching

Carpenter-Zambrano

Marquis-Prior

Suppan-Wood

Mulder-Maddux

Ponson/Reyes-Young starter (Marshall)

 

Obviously, if Prior and Wood are healthy we have a much better starting rotation then them-it's not even close. That just leaves the bullpen and bench. Both bullpens have been pretty good this season, and the Cardinals still have the edge on the bench. So a similar offense and bullpen, and the Cubs significantly better starting rotation beats the Cardinals edge on the bench, which makes the Cubs if healthy better than the Cardinals this year. Was it smart to rely on Prior and Wood to be healthy? No-but if they were healthy, we would have been a good team.

[RynoRules]

If Lee, Prior and Wood had been healthy and relatively productive we'd be in the WC race. That doesn't say much about this team, of course, b/c several of the teams that are within 4 games of the lead are are several games under .500.

 

EDIT: And I think that those of you who are killing Len for using the word "horses" are over doing it a bit. Its just a term, but some of us are treating it like a four letter word.