Fredi Gonzalez rumor...

[C.C.]

Not the greatest source but here you go...

 

 

 

I'll leave you, then, with this information that I have heard this afternoon, and I can already hear some of you giggling about "Al's Sources"; however, I have heard that the Cubs, despite the fact that it would be a good PR move, are not interested in Joe Girardi being their next manager, and that Fredi Gonzalez is apparently high on the radar screen.

 

http://bleedcubbieblue.com/

 

The Marlins also want him and that is the more attractive job. Cubs would have to ante up a bit.

[KingCubsFan]

The Marlins also want him and that is the more attractive job. Cubs would have to ante up a bit.

Why is that a more attractive job? Because you'll get to watch expensive players leave after they hit arbitration while managing a team in an empty stadium and having Loria in your ear at all times?

[HoopsCubs]

Why is that a more attractive job?

 

Decent pay. No pressure at all. 2 World series wins in the last 9 years suggests they could win a third crown sometime in the next 5 years.

[C.C.]

The Marlins also want him and that is the more attractive job. Cubs would have to ante up a bit.

Why is that a more attractive job? Because you'll get to watch expensive players leave after they hit arbitration while managing a team in an empty stadium and having Loria in your ear at all times?

 

No, because right now they have a hell of a lot more talent then us and are very young.

Edited September 25, 2006 by C.C.

[davecubsfan]

I still say that a team with almost 100 years since a World Series win is the most pressure filled job in all of sports. Once the Cubs get past the century mark if they do, then all fans are going to get testy, not just those on a Cubs Message board.

[Guest]

I don't think the Marlins is a more attractive job. Nor do I think all free agents will spurn the cubs unless they massively overpay. Chicken little is running wild on this site.

[davecubsfan]

I don't think the Marlins is a more attractive job. Nor do I think all free agents will spurn the cubs unless they massively overpay. Chicken little is running wild on this site.

 

What you view as "Chicken Little", a lot of people view as their version of reality. We're horrid and I don't think we'll be much better next year with the FA market that's in front of us. No matter who the new manager is whether it be Dierker, Gonzalez, or Girardi, we'll still have the same fella in charge of making deals, and the same fella in charge signing the contract. A friend of mine asked why the Cubs minor league teams were so popular and well visited, and I explained to him that when you have no present, all you've got is the future to hold onto.

[Backtobanks]

The Marlins also want him and that is the more attractive job. Cubs would have to ante up a bit.

Why is that a more attractive job? Because you'll get to watch expensive players leave after they hit arbitration while managing a team in an empty stadium and having Loria in your ear at all times?

 

The Cubs have to be one of the most attractive jobs around. A guaranteed 2 years with low expectations, a full stadium, a big budget, and all the perks that go with a big city (commercials, etc.)

[soccer10k]

The Marlins also want him and that is the more attractive job. Cubs would have to ante up a bit.

Why is that a more attractive job? Because you'll get to watch expensive players leave after they hit arbitration while managing a team in an empty stadium and having Loria in your ear at all times?

 

The Cubs have to be one of the most attractive jobs around. A guaranteed 2 years with low expectations, a full stadium, a big budget, and all the perks that go with a big city (commercials, etc.)

 

And the potential to end the longest WS drought in baseball.

[RichHillIsABeast]

I don't think the Marlins job is attractive for one major reason - the Marlins' Front Office has been ripping Girardi through the media.

 

Would you want to come in and manage there after they were all over Girardi in the offseason and less than a year later they can't even talk? Somehow I doubt this is all Girardi's fault and I'd be suspicious about taking that job.

 

When you interview for a job you are as much determining if a company is good enough for you as they are trying to figure out if you're what they want.

[David]

Seriously, how anyone could say the Marlins job is more attractive than any job (besides maybe Tampa Bay), no matter how much young talent they have, is beyond me. To say that it's a more attractive position than one in Chicago (particularly right now, while expectations are minimal)...I'm speechless, and I'm not just saying that.

[Brian]

Yeah how could the Marlins job be more attractive, especially to a first time manager with the way Joe Girardi was/is being treated?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Also, the Cubs job is likely to pay twice as much as the Marlins gig.

[SouthSideRyan]

I don't think the Marlins job is attractive for one major reason - the Marlins' Front Office has been ripping Girardi through the media.

 

Would you want to come in and manage there after they were all over Girardi in the offseason and less than a year later they can't even talk? Somehow I doubt this is all Girardi's fault and I'd be suspicious about taking that job.

 

When you interview for a job you are as much determining if a company is good enough for you as they are trying to figure out if you're what they want.

 

In addition to this, I bet the manager the Cubs hire makes at least twice as much as the manager the Marlins hire.

[C.C.]

Well whatever the case it's going to be really interesting to see how all this pans out. Whoever takes the Cubs job is going to have their hands full.

[Guest]

I don't think the Marlins is a more attractive job. Nor do I think all free agents will spurn the cubs unless they massively overpay. Chicken little is running wild on this site.

 

What you view as "Chicken Little", a lot of people view as their version of reality. We're horrid and I don't think we'll be much better next year with the FA market that's in front of us. No matter who the new manager is whether it be Dierker, Gonzalez, or Girardi, we'll still have the same fella in charge of making deals, and the same fella in charge signing the contract. A friend of mine asked why the Cubs minor league teams were so popular and well visited, and I explained to him that when you have no present, all you've got is the future to hold onto.

 

not what I'm saying - I'm talking about all the people that act like no free agent would ever sign with the cubs.

[C.C.]

I don't think the Marlins is a more attractive job. Nor do I think all free agents will spurn the cubs unless they massively overpay. Chicken little is running wild on this site.

 

What you view as "Chicken Little", a lot of people view as their version of reality. We're horrid and I don't think we'll be much better next year with the FA market that's in front of us. No matter who the new manager is whether it be Dierker, Gonzalez, or Girardi, we'll still have the same fella in charge of making deals, and the same fella in charge signing the contract. A friend of mine asked why the Cubs minor league teams were so popular and well visited, and I explained to him that when you have no present, all you've got is the future to hold onto.

 

not what I'm saying - I'm talking about all the people that act like no free agent would ever sign with the cubs.

 

Well you gotta admit the now and future is pretty damn bleak. It's not going to be easy to lure free agents based on the beauty of Wrigley and Chicago, and the passion of the Fans. Alot of players want to win...

[CubFanPhilly]

Based on their respective talent levels, the Marlins over-achieved and the Cubs under-achieved this year. The Cubs have a $95 mil. payroll and the Marlins a $15 mil. payroll. The Cubs sell out nearly every ball game, the Marlins never draw until they make a post season appearance. Cub's ownership just wants to compete in their division. Marlin's ownership wants to meddle/second-guess game decisions. The Trib is a faceless entity with a CEO who's a fan. Loria is a jerk.

 

A .500 season in 2007 would be celebrated as progress by the Chicago media (and too many fans).

 

I'd take the job in Chicago.

[C.C.]

Based on their respective talent levels, the Marlins over-achieved and the Cubs under-achieved this year. The Cubs have a $95 mil. payroll and the Marlins a $15 mil. payroll. The Cubs sell out nearly every ball game, the Marlins never draw until they make a post season appearance. Cub's ownership just wants to compete in their division. Marlin's ownership wants to meddle/second-guess game decisions. The Trib is a faceless entity with a CEO who's a fan. Loria is a jerk.

 

A .500 season in 2007 would be celebrated as progress by the Chicago media (and too many fans).

 

I'd take the job in Chicago.

 

The Cubs under-achieved? Who underachived? Barrett, RAM, Pierre, Zambrano, Murton, all had good years. Heck, even Jones had a decent year with the bat. I don't think they underachieved I think they are just poorly construced and a bad baseball team. They never had a starting staff to compete with going into the season...When Williams and Rusch are counted on you have problems.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I don't think the Marlins is a more attractive job. Nor do I think all free agents will spurn the cubs unless they massively overpay. Chicken little is running wild on this site.

 

What you view as "Chicken Little", a lot of people view as their version of reality. We're horrid and I don't think we'll be much better next year with the FA market that's in front of us. No matter who the new manager is whether it be Dierker, Gonzalez, or Girardi, we'll still have the same fella in charge of making deals, and the same fella in charge signing the contract. A friend of mine asked why the Cubs minor league teams were so popular and well visited, and I explained to him that when you have no present, all you've got is the future to hold onto.

 

not what I'm saying - I'm talking about all the people that act like no free agent would ever sign with the cubs.

 

Well you gotta admit the now and future is pretty damn bleak. It's not going to be easy to lure free agents based on the beauty of Wrigley and Chicago, and the passion of the Fans. Alot of players want to win...

 

All players want to win. That is true. But most still follow the money. Why? Becasue players have egos, and they believe they can be the difference to a struggling franchise. It's not always realistic, but when the money is better at one place, they usually can rationalize the decision to follow the money.

[CubFanPhilly]

Based on their respective talent levels, the Marlins over-achieved and the Cubs under-achieved this year. The Cubs have a $95 mil. payroll and the Marlins a $15 mil. payroll. The Cubs sell out nearly every ball game, the Marlins never draw until they make a post season appearance. Cub's ownership just wants to compete in their division. Marlin's ownership wants to meddle/second-guess game decisions. The Trib is a faceless entity with a CEO who's a fan. Loria is a jerk.

 

A .500 season in 2007 would be celebrated as progress by the Chicago media (and too many fans).

 

I'd take the job in Chicago.

 

The Cubs under-achieved? Who underachived? Barrett, RAM, Pierre, Zambrano, Murton, all had good years. Heck, even Jones had a decent year with the bat. I don't think they underachieved I think they are just poorly construced and a bad baseball team. They never had a starting staff to compete with going into the season...When Williams and Rusch are counted on you have problems.

 

I won't argue that they weren't a mediocre team on paper, but they weren't a .400 team going into the season (my guess was 82-89 wins).

 

No $95 mil. team should ever be a .400 ballclub. The problem lies equally with 1) Hendry blowing several million on mediocre players (Neifi, Rusch, Dempster, Mabry, Nevin, and Blanco); 2) unfortunate circumstances such as Lee, Prior & Wood. (Hendry could've done more to insure against Wood & Prior); 3) a poor manager who did more harm than good; and 4) under-achievement by several players: ARAM (sorry, the late comeback in a meaningless season doesn't get you off the hook), Pierre (though I don't really count it against him - he just ins't good), Cedeno, Dempster, Williamson, J. Williams, Guzman, Hairston, & Mabry.

 

IMO there were only a few guys who performed as well or better than expected: Zambrano, Murton, Barrett, Marshall, Walker, Jones, Hill (of late), Maddux, Blanco, Theriot, & Mateo.

[biittner77]

The Cub's manager is a risk reward situation. If you win they'll name a street after you. If you lose you will be in good company and can fall back on the "no one can win here" excuse.

 

The only problem with taking the Cubs job is getting re hired.

[C.C.]

Based on their respective talent levels, the Marlins over-achieved and the Cubs under-achieved this year. The Cubs have a $95 mil. payroll and the Marlins a $15 mil. payroll. The Cubs sell out nearly every ball game, the Marlins never draw until they make a post season appearance. Cub's ownership just wants to compete in their division. Marlin's ownership wants to meddle/second-guess game decisions. The Trib is a faceless entity with a CEO who's a fan. Loria is a jerk.

 

A .500 season in 2007 would be celebrated as progress by the Chicago media (and too many fans).

 

I'd take the job in Chicago.

 

The Cubs under-achieved? Who underachived? Barrett, RAM, Pierre, Zambrano, Murton, all had good years. Heck, even Jones had a decent year with the bat. I don't think they underachieved I think they are just poorly construced and a bad baseball team. They never had a starting staff to compete with going into the season...When Williams and Rusch are counted on you have problems.

 

I won't argue that they weren't a mediocre team on paper, but they weren't a .400 team going into the season (my guess was 82-89 wins).

No $95 mil. team should ever be a .400 ballclub. The problem lies equally with 1) Hendry blowing several million on mediocre players (Neifi, Rusch, Dempster, Mabry, Nevin, and Blanco); 2) unfortunate circumstances such as Lee, Prior & Wood. (Hendry could've done more to insure against Wood & Prior); 3) a poor manager who did more harm than good; and 4) under-achievement by several players: ARAM (sorry, the late comeback in a meaningless season doesn't get you off the hook), Pierre (though I don't really count it against him - he just ins't good), Cedeno, Dempster, Williamson, J. Williams, Guzman, Hairston, & Mabry.

 

IMO there were only a few guys who performed as well or better than expected: Zambrano, Murton, Barrett, Marshall, Walker, Jones, Hill (of late), Maddux, Blanco, Theriot, & Mateo.

 

So true! In fact it's quite shocking! How can you possibly contruct a team that is the worst in the NL, with a almost 100 million dollar payroll? You have to almost try to do that. I still don't think we are a under achieving ballclub. Under achieving is the White Sox. We are just bad.

[C.C.]

The Cub's manager is a risk reward situation. If you win they'll name a street after you. If you lose you will be in good company and can fall back on the "no one can win here" excuse.

 

The only problem with taking the Cubs job is getting re hired.

 

No doubt. It's going to take a special manager and special team to ever win a WS here.

[Backtobanks]

Based on their respective talent levels, the Marlins over-achieved and the Cubs under-achieved this year. The Cubs have a $95 mil. payroll and the Marlins a $15 mil. payroll. The Cubs sell out nearly every ball game, the Marlins never draw until they make a post season appearance. Cub's ownership just wants to compete in their division. Marlin's ownership wants to meddle/second-guess game decisions. The Trib is a faceless entity with a CEO who's a fan. Loria is a jerk.

 

A .500 season in 2007 would be celebrated as progress by the Chicago media (and too many fans).

I'd take the job in Chicago.

 

A new manager in Florida would have to be compared to Girardi's season (over-achieved and in contention for the wild card). A new manager in Chicago would be hailed as a savior to reach .500 and have some sort of direction for the 2008 team. I totally agree with you that the Cubs' job is by far a better situation. The Marlins might be good for a new under-the-radar manager to give him a chance to get some experience.