I have to admit, I'm optimistic

[gflore34]

While I'm glad Dusty is being shown the door, I too, remain very skeptical of Jim Hendry' ability to field a competitive team. A quality GM with the resources such as Hendry' doesn't give us a team of composed of the Freddie Bynum's, Neifi Perez' and Glendon Rusch's of the Baseball World.

[cub4life78]

In my opinion it's illiniguy's train of thought that keeps this organization down. Is it your contention it's ok to suck? Sure sounds like you're creating a scapegoat if I've ever heard one for these clowns. For someone to get on another's case for not being optimistic about this club is.....amazing to say the least.

[wastra]

While I'm glad Dusty is being shown the door, I too, remain very skeptical of Jim Hendry' ability to field a competitive team. A quality GM with the resources such as Hendry' doesn't give us a team of composed of the Freddie Bynum's, Neifi Perez' and Glendon Rusch's of the Baseball World.

 

I agree with that. On a lot of rosters, you can bury 1 or 2 of those guys. But it makes no sense to have 3-4 of them on the same roster when you have a manager who openly proclaims that he wants to use all of his bench as often as possible. That's bad strategery to not make the roster match the managerial style.

[Knyption]

I am as upset with the cubs as anyone.

 

People shouldn't be shot down for bieng optimistic though.

 

Everyone has a certain way to react to situations such as whats going on with the cubs now.

 

I'm kinda seeing a little relief by getting rid of MacPhail. He pretty much set hendry up in a messed up situation with the sosa, wood and other contracts that hendry really didn't do. Hendry does have resources to make a winner in terms of payroll, but between bad contracts and injuries he has had some bad luck.

 

I am hoping that the ISSUE about OBP and OPS which seems to be not very important to the cubs was more of a BAKER/MACPHAIL influence then Hendry. When Hendry first became GM he seemed sharp, I don't know if he ran out of gas or just has had some very unfortunate circumstances ruin his plans...

 

Truthfully its probably a little of both.

 

He did bring in Baker after all and has pretty much made some personell deciscions that didn't work out.

 

I will give Hendry one last chance to get back on his feet before i disown him as a fan of the cubs.

 

Listening to the New CEO Marketing guy (forget his name) He said at the press conference that they will win and Hendry will have all the resources he needs to do it. We will see if thats another smoke screen or if its real.

 

But at least there is a little hope

 

Although still grim my outlook on the cubs is Better than Saturday Today....

[Cubfanintheknow]

John McDonough is certainly talking the talk.

 

But who's the last guy to come into the organization and say, "Our goal is to win championships."

 

I'm happy about the changes, but I'll hold off on the optimism until I start seeing some results.

[TB_11]

There may not be reasons for optimism, but there are reasons for less pessimism. With Dusty and Macphail gone, the Cubs have achieved addition by subtraction.

 

Reasons for optimism will come when this team shows significant improvement in what characteristics they value in players this offseason.

[wastra]

There may not be reasons for optimism, but there are reasons for less pessimism. With Dusty and Macphail gone, the Cubs have achieved addition by subtraction.

 

Reasons for optimism will come when this team shows significant improvement in what characteristics they value in players this offseason.

 

 

That could be true. I might be used to such an overwhelming feeling of pessimism that I mistook the lessening of that for optimism :twisted:

[C.C.]

There may not be reasons for optimism, but there are reasons for less pessimism. With Dusty and Macphail gone, the Cubs have achieved addition by subtraction.

 

Reasons for optimism will come when this team shows significant improvement in what characteristics they value in players this offseason.

 

They subtracted, lets see how they add.

[soccer10k]

I'm going to wait at least until I know ARam is going to be back next year before becoming the least bit optimistic about 2007.

[CubinNY]

I'm going to wait at least until I know ARam is going to be back next year before becoming the least bit optimistic about 2007.

 

That is just the first step, too. Right now the Cubs are not a good team. It really won't matter who is manager unless the talent level on this team rises significantly. Getting a healthy Mark Prior would be great, too.

 

the funny thing is that I blame Dusty less for the debacle of this season then any other season, and it's the worst of his tenure.

 

No, this team is Jim Hendry's mess and I hope he can fix it, but I'm not optimistic.

[A New Era]

I'm guardedly optomistic from some of the same reasons.

 

-Doesn't look like Pierre is going to be back

-Jones might not want to be here and might make that known

-Some of those players you named like Bynum, ect I think Dusty had ALOT of say in getting players like that

-I've never heard MacPhail say clearly "It's time to win the World Series for these fans"

-I think the Tribune has the resources and understands that if they don't make some POSITIVE CHANGES (IE: raise payroll, have true comitment to winning the WS) then they will jeopordize their relationship with the fans. I think after this season they realize they HAVE to win now.

 

So yes I will remain guarded. But MacPhail and Dusty are gone. And either Brenly or Girardi would be a huge improvement over Baker. If you get someone like Brenly in there who knows the importance of OBP, maybe HE can have some say in who Hendry gets in the off-season. .

[RockTheIvy]

It's the first time in three years that I have a good feeling going into an offseason.

 

A lot has to do with today's personnel changes. It seems like FINALLY the team has decided that losing is not acceptable for the organization or with fans any longer. I'm only GUARDEDLY optimistic about our future, given tha Jim Hendry is our GM, but I'm at least mildly optimistic that changes are brewing.

 

I am optimistic because I beleive Juan Pierre wants to leave since Dusty is gone. I am optimistic that Jaques might also leave (via trade) since he cited Dusty as the reason he came here in the first place, making it easier to upgrade our offensive outfield without dealing or benching Murton.

 

And maybe I'm just naive to think it will be different this time. I don't know. You'd think with all the management changes we've been through, I'd learn not to get hopes up, because one incompetent group jsut seems to replace the next every time we go through this. But I think thinngs have changed from the Trib's perspective since the last whoelsale management changes we've had. They're investing more in the franchise now, and paying a higher and higher payroll every year. And with the pressure they're getting to sell the team (which is as much a PR asset to the trib as a financial one), they have to realize that "loveable losers" isn't goign to cut it any longer.

 

I wouldn't be. You'll only be let down.

Dude give it a rest. Does every post have to be attacking the cubs? Yeah things are bad. But, hey thats why the allow trades and free agents.

 

Come on, the Cubs suck! We've earned the right to say things like that and to be pessimistic.

[Neuby]

The only thing that really worries me going into this season that the Cubs will not be able to add Payroll due to the Tribunes stock troubles. If the Cubs spend big on two free agents and make a trade for an impact bat. This Cubs team can make a run in the weak central.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

-Some of those players you named like Bynum, ect I think Dusty had ALOT of say in getting players like that.

 

Yesterday, Hendry said that Dusty and he never really disagreed on personnel so I think Hendry likes these types of players too.

[frostwyrm]

I have actually gotten less optimistic. Going into 2006 I thought the Cubs could field a strong contender in 2007 if they fell out of contention quickly and developed young pitchers and dumped some vets at the deadline. Lots of young pitchers got chances this year but other than Hill nobody really showed enough to get me excited for 2007. I was hoping at least one other SP would emerge from the pack, plus a few good relievers. Jerome Williams was a total bust. Cedeno was also disappointing, Pie never made it up the bigs, and Izturis is just depressing to think about. Trading Pierre at the deadline was a no-brainer, but it didn't happen. Hill was the only real bright spot. Theriot is still a question mark. He's good enough to have a hot streak at the MLB level, but so is Neifi Perez.

[A New Era]

-Some of those players you named like Bynum, ect I think Dusty had ALOT of say in getting players like that.

 

Yesterday, Hendry said that Dusty and he never really disagreed on personnel so I think Hendry likes these types of players too.

 

Right. But Girardi or Brenly aren't going to ask Hendry to go out and get those types of players. so. . . . .?