Top 3 Managerial Candidates

[Laura]

At this point I think I'd be content with any new manager not named Lou Piniella. Despite these deplorably low expectations, I'm confident the Cubs will fail to meet them yet again.

 

That's where I'm at now, too. :?

[UK1679666180]

Where there is Lou... there is bench coach John McLaren!

 

(For those not around ESPN in late '02, I wanted McLaren to replace Kimm).

 

:)

[A New Era]

The biggest positive in BB's favor is his MAN LOVE FOR MURTON!!!

 

Hendry allows a lot of player acquisition input from his manager (Dusty was 90% according to Hendry).

 

I'd have to believe that BB keeps Murton, especially since BB has noted that the "big bats" available in LF don't give that much more production than Murton for the money and Murton is developing nicely.

 

 

 

I'll be happy with either BB or Girardi in the dugout. Louie P can wait another couple of years for an immediate contender.

 

Are you my long lost twin or something? Because I've said the exact same things.

[A New Era]

The interview:

 

Jim: I like guys who catch the ball, do you?

Lou: Yeah. Who the ^&%$ doenst like guys who catch the ball.

Jim: Good. How can we improve our RISP with 2 outs?

Lou: What the *&^% is RISP? Im all about W's.

Jim: Next

 

I actually like Lou, just not sure i want him managing my Cubs.

 

Oh common, you know you'd like to see this at Wrigley Feild.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkqly-uGPX0

[RichHillIsABeast]

The biggest positive in BB's favor is his MAN LOVE FOR MURTON!!!

 

Hendry allows a lot of player acquisition input from his manager (Dusty was 90% according to Hendry).

 

I'd have to believe that BB keeps Murton, especially since BB has noted that the "big bats" available in LF don't give that much more production than Murton for the money and Murton is developing nicely.

 

 

 

I'll be happy with either BB or Girardi in the dugout. Louie P can wait another couple of years for an immediate contender.

 

Are you my long lost twin or something? Because I've said the exact same things.

 

8)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Where there is Lou... there is bench coach John McLaren!

 

(For those not around ESPN in late '02, I wanted McLaren to replace Kimm).

 

:)

 

Let's skip the middle man, then.

[UK1679666180]

He's been known as Lou's right hand man for quite some time. He was Lou's strategy guy, did more than most bench coaches. Very aggressive coach, unlike Lou was a player's coach, young and veteran players liked him as Crawford publically wanted him to stay as manager in lovely TB, but will get on players when necc. as well as umps (one of few bench coaches I've seen get suspended).

 

If he was a poss., I would hope he'd get a look.

Baldelli was among three Rays veterans who gave glowing reviews of McLaren, who has spent the past 14 seasons working on Piniella’s coaching staff, from Cincinnati to Seattle to Tampa Bay.

 

“[McLaren] knows everybody,” said catcher Toby Hall. “He knows who can come in in the eighth, he knows who can run and steal, he knows the personnel. He deserves it. Now that they’re down to the nitty gritty, he’s the right fit for our team.

 

“I’m just employee No. 44, but I’m backing him 110 percent because of the knowledge he has and the ability he has.”

 

Once the field of 10 candidates was trimmed to three (including Valentine) last week, both Hall and Crawford asked their agents to contact the team and give McLaren their endorsements.

 

“Yeah, I told my agent to give them a call and tell them that, you know, I thought McLaren would be good for the organization because he knows all of us,” Crawford said. “To be honest with you, we like him. He’s been around. He’s been able to learn. I think he’s ready.

 

“I’m just kind of sitting around, waiting to see what’s happening. I’m not trying to be the GM or nothing like that. Right now, my mind’s set on getting to spring training and having the best season I can next year.”

 

Said Baldelli: “If Mac got the chance to manage this team, I think he’d be a great manager. I think he should’ve gotten the opportunity a long time ago. It’s his time to get a chance to run his own show. I think the fact that he knows everybody on this team and has been around them the last three years should only help him.”

 

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/93467_mclaren30.shtml

Edited October 4, 2006 by UK

[cubweiser03]

The interview:

 

Jim: I like guys who catch the ball, do you?

Lou: Yeah. Who the ^&%$ doenst like guys who catch the ball.

Jim: Good. How can we improve our RISP with 2 outs?

Lou: What the *&^% is RISP? Im all about W's.

Jim: Next

 

I actually like Lou, just not sure i want him managing my Cubs.

 

Oh common, you know you'd like to see this at Wrigley Feild.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkqly-uGPX0

 

Lou makes for great theatre, no doubt about that. Will Lee Elia come back to chicago if Lou comes? Now we are talking fireworks!

[CuseCubFan69]

The interview:

 

Jim: I like guys who catch the ball, do you?

Lou: Yeah. Who the ^&%$ doenst like guys who catch the ball.

Jim: Good. How can we improve our RISP with 2 outs?

Lou: What the *&^% is RISP? Im all about W's.

Jim: Next

 

I actually like Lou, just not sure i want him managing my Cubs.

 

Oh common, you know you'd like to see this at Wrigley Feild.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkqly-uGPX0

 

Lou makes for great theatre, no doubt about that. Will Lee Elia come back to chicago if Lou comes? Now we are talking fireworks!

 

That's what scares me.....another side show and I'm sick of those when it comes to the Cubs.

[cubweiser03]

Is there some Dark Horse candidate we might be missing? Could there be somebody on a playoff team that Hendry wants to interview but needs to wait until they are eliminated? Could this be why they have communicated a vauge timetable of when a manager might be hired. Just wondering out loud.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Is there some Dark Horse candidate we might be missing? Could there be somebody on a playoff team that Hendry wants to interview but needs to wait until they are eliminated? Could this be why they have communicated a vauge timetable of when a manager might be hired. Just wondering out loud.

 

1. Trey Hillman

2. Cecil Cooper

3. Tony Pena

 

All dark horses, but I've seen each name mentioned before in various places, and each fits your supposition of "teams still in the playoffs"; Hillman is in Japan.

 

Still, my vote goes to Peoria Joe, I want him.

[tgk]

 

It sounds to me that he was implying that Girardi was not good at collaborating with the rest of the baseball people in the Marlins organization. I'm not sure that is the type of person who would make a good choice.

 

I'm also certain that these issues will likely keep Hendry from pursuing Girardi.

 

This from Buster Olney (Insider article: http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=olney_buster#20061004)

 

. . .Girardi may have strong opinions, he may believe strongly in his own opinions, but it's worth considering his side of this:

 

1. From the outset, nobody was totally honest with him about the degree to which the Marlins intended to cut their payroll. Girardi was stunned by the roster slashing but was still professional and never complained publicly.

 

2. After Girardi's confrontation with owner Jeffrey Loria, there was a concerted effort within the front office to damage Girardi's public reputation, through newspaper leaks about confrontations and disagreements that he had with the front office staff. And again, Girardi maintained his professionalism and did not fire back.

 

3. In the end, the Marlins played far above expectations, with the players responding to Girardi.

 

General manager Larry Beinfest probably should've been allowed to hire Gonzalez, the guy he wanted, after last season; all of this could've been avoided. You have to trust Beinfest's judgment, writes Dave Hyde.

 

But somebody in the front office shares enormous blame for how this played out, and one or more persons has blood on their hands for the way Girardi was stabbed in the back.

 

 

I don't know what to think personally. Good thing I'm not writing the checks.

[CoolHandLuke]

I want Razor Shines for his name alone.

[frostwyrm]

Piniella or Brenly would be my guess. Hendry is fighting for his job and will do the safe thing and stick with big names that have won in the past. A GM on the hot seat is not going to take a chance on an unknown manager, and I don't think that's Hendry's style anyway.

[hardcorecubfan]

Piniella or Brenly would be my guess. Hendry is fighting for his job and will do the safe thing and stick with big names that have won in the past. A GM on the hot seat is not going to take a chance on an unknown manager, and I don't think that's Hendry's style anyway.

 

But big names go bigger budget, with signing of possible Ramirez and Pierre. Where do we cut? Joe may be a cheaper option that frees money up for other free agents.

[C.C.]

Piniella or Brenly would be my guess. Hendry is fighting for his job and will do the safe thing and stick with big names that have won in the past. A GM on the hot seat is not going to take a chance on an unknown manager, and I don't think that's Hendry's style anyway.

 

I don't know if this will be his and his only decsion. I think upper management is going to have more input on this issue. I can honestly say that if it was up to Hendry Dusty wouldn've gotten a two year extension.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Hendry could be waiting for the Yankees to be eliminated so he can talk to Larry Bowa.

[Backtobanks]

McDonough in the Trib seemed to emphasize that the new manager ought to understand the uniqueness of the city, the fans, and the Cubs. To me that sounds like Girardi should have the inside track with Brenly 2nd and Piniella third. Of course, he also stated that the decision would be Hendry's.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm starting to think Hendry wants to hire Larry Bowa. He has managerial experience, understands the city, and brings fire and determination. Kent Help US!

[frostwyrm]

My money's on Piniella because he is the safest possible choice.

[Vinestal]

I dont think Piniella really wants to manage again. He left Seattle in order to be closer to his family in FL Chicago is a long way from Tampa. I remember reading the Seattle papers when he left Seattle it sounded almost as if he was going to retire but took the Tampa job because it was so close to home anyway. Im really hoping he stays at home.

[Rob]

I dont think Piniella really wants to manage again. He left Seattle in order to be closer to his family in FL Chicago is a long way from Tampa. I remember reading the Seattle papers when he left Seattle it sounded almost as if he was going to retire but took the Tampa job because it was so close to home anyway. Im really hoping he stays at home.

 

I'm really hoping he has some secret medical condition that makes him allergic to baseballs.

[CuseCubFan69]

I dont think Piniella really wants to manage again. He left Seattle in order to be closer to his family in FL Chicago is a long way from Tampa. I remember reading the Seattle papers when he left Seattle it sounded almost as if he was going to retire but took the Tampa job because it was so close to home anyway. Im really hoping he stays at home.

 

I'm really hoping he has some secret medical condition that makes him allergic to baseballs.

 

There is, it's called young players.

[UK1679666180]

FWIW, my dark horse candidate would be Torey Lovullo (AAA manager of the Bisons). BA helps provide validity by naming him best managerial prospect of the Int. League.

 

Raisin would be glad to know that he's also a Bruin.

[CuseCubFan69]

FWIW, my dark horse candidate would be Torey Lovullo (AAA manager of the Bisons). BA helps provide validity by naming him best managerial prospect of the Int. League.

 

Raisin would be glad to know that he's also a Bruin.

 

Torey played for Columbus under the Yanks right? I sat next to his parents and a lot of his family here in Syracuse, they were loud and pretty excited to see him play.