Joe, Lou or Bob.. nice summary by Bruce...

[Pinktermite]

I agree that the actual manager is less important than who is on the roster, who wouldn't? Sparky Anderson had a great quote about that, about the media asking why they thought he suddenly got stupid during a particularly bad stretch the Tigers were in at the time.

 

Hendry should have been fired, too. If he does any more asinine things like depending on injured pitchers and he hires a manager that isn't a little more aggressive with crappy play, then he deserves his fate.

 

The difference between managers is miniscule unless your name is Leyland or LaRussa.

 

And am I the only one on here that observes all the negativity? Nobody seems to like any decision that the Cubs make. For God's sake, Andy MacPhail is gone!!! That's a great victory for us and with Baker being gone, there's a real chance to turn things around. And I still have trouble understanding why a guy that got 204 hits is somehow bad for a team that never had a good lead off man? Is he the best? No. Is he as bad as most of you guys think? No.

 

I'm tired of all the complaining...Juan Pierre hustles, which is more than you can say for most of these guys. And so does Jacque...I think we should get off these guys backs. The Cubs sucked because of their pitching and bad fundamentals...not because of those two guys...

 

Ok, I feel better now.

[Rob]

I think the "right" managerial hire is very important. The Cubs need a manager that is going to hammer the fundementals of the game and make sure that the players getting the job done are in the right situations.

 

Dusty Baker was somewhat pathetic in this. Perez, Patterson, and Izturis should never have batted higher than the 6-hole in the lineup. There is such a thing as the "hit and run," which I really can't remember seeing the Cubs execute in 3 or 4 seasons. Girardi was one of the better H&R artists when he played, so I am sure that is part of his plan.

 

As far as Zambrano throwing a lot of pitches late in the futile season (assuming that is the pitcher mentioned earlier), he was trying to improve his chances at winning the NL Cy Young, which would have been a plus for this horrible, horrible Cub team.

 

Your mention of the hit and run just severely soured me on Girardi.

 

The hit and run may very well be the worst call a manager can make, outside of choosing who plays. If the Cubs never again called for the hit and run as long as I lived, I'd feel much more confident in our ability to win a World Series before I die.

[Pinktermite]

Oh, one other thing, the third triad here is that the Cubs lost b/c of losing DLEE...

 

And remember, I didn't say Juan was great, he's just better than most. And probably not worth the money we'd pay to retain him. I just want people to get off the guy's back that's all.

[Andy]

Oh, one other thing, the third triad here is that the Cubs lost b/c of losing DLEE...

 

And remember, I didn't say Juan was great, he's just better than most. And probably not worth the money we'd pay to retain him. I just want people to get off the guy's back that's all.

That's probably fair. Juan played great once the calendar hit June. I find it strange that with all our offensive guys failing to catch fire until the summertime (Juan, Aramis, to a lesser extent Barrett and Murton), our best stretch of baseball came at the start of the season.

[Abe Frohman]

I think the "right" managerial hire is very important. The Cubs need a manager that is going to hammer the fundementals of the game and make sure that the players getting the job done are in the right situations.

 

Dusty Baker was somewhat pathetic in this. Perez, Patterson, and Izturis should never have batted higher than the 6-hole in the lineup. There is such a thing as the "hit and run," which I really can't remember seeing the Cubs execute in 3 or 4 seasons. Girardi was one of the better H&R artists when he played, so I am sure that is part of his plan.

 

As far as Zambrano throwing a lot of pitches late in the futile season (assuming that is the pitcher mentioned earlier), he was trying to improve his chances at winning the NL Cy Young, which would have been a plus for this horrible, horrible Cub team.

 

Your mention of the hit and run just severely soured me on Girardi.

 

The hit and run may very well be the worst call a manager can make, outside of choosing who plays. If the Cubs never again called for the hit and run as long as I lived, I'd feel much more confident in our ability to win a World Series before I die.

 

No problem, there. It's just a form of baseball that I like to watch. I like the bunt too. The trick is, the players have to execute for that form of baseball to be effective. They did it in 89, and that is the year I fell in love with the Cubs. It's good baseball, and that is just my opinion.

[Cubzfan64]

I think the "right" managerial hire is very important. The Cubs need a manager that is going to hammer the fundementals of the game and make sure that the players getting the job done are in the right situations.

 

Dusty Baker was somewhat pathetic in this. Perez, Patterson, and Izturis should never have batted higher than the 6-hole in the lineup. There is such a thing as the "hit and run," which I really can't remember seeing the Cubs execute in 3 or 4 seasons. Girardi was one of the better H&R artists when he played, so I am sure that is part of his plan.

 

As far as Zambrano throwing a lot of pitches late in the futile season (assuming that is the pitcher mentioned earlier), he was trying to improve his chances at winning the NL Cy Young, which would have been a plus for this horrible, horrible Cub team.

 

Your mention of the hit and run just severely soured me on Girardi.

 

The hit and run may very well be the worst call a manager can make, outside of choosing who plays. If the Cubs never again called for the hit and run as long as I lived, I'd feel much more confident in our ability to win a World Series before I die.

 

No problem, there. It's just a form of baseball that I like to watch. I like the bunt too. The trick is, the players have to execute for that form of baseball to be effective. They did it in 89, and that is the year I fell in love with the Cubs. It's good baseball, and that is just my opinion.

 

I agree also - the hit and run can be an awful call in baseball, but in the right situations, with hitters who have bat control, the hit and run can be effective. As you said, it's all in the execution of the play.

[Cubzfan64]

I'm surprised as well that Hendry is still part of this organization. The team ended up in last place, the manager was let go, the president resigned and yet the man who's name is first and foremost (by title at least) responsible for putting all of this together is allowed to remain to "try again."

 

Unless a lightbulb has suddenly gone off over his head, I have little to no confidence that Hendry has the ability to right this ship. He seems to be stubborn with many of his moves and decisions, and I'm seriously afraid that he's one of those folks who "if you don't learn from history, you're doomed to repeat it."

 

I would much rather have seen a full cleaning of the front office than this partial one.

[dalgreen]

I agree that the actual manager is less important than who is on the roster, who wouldn't? Sparky Anderson had a great quote about that, about the media asking why they thought he suddenly got stupid during a particularly bad stretch the Tigers were in at the time.

 

Hendry should have been fired, too. If he does any more asinine things like depending on injured pitchers and he hires a manager that isn't a little more aggressive with crappy play, then he deserves his fate.

 

The difference between managers is miniscule unless your name is Leyland or LaRussa.

 

And am I the only one on here that observes all the negativity? Nobody seems to like any decision that the Cubs make. For God's sake, Andy MacPhail is gone!!! That's a great victory for us and with Baker being gone, there's a real chance to turn things around. And I still have trouble understanding why a guy that got 204 hits is somehow bad for a team that never had a good lead off man? Is he the best? No. Is he as bad as most of you guys think? No.

 

I'm tired of all the complaining...Juan Pierre hustles, which is more than you can say for most of these guys. And so does Jacque...I think we should get off these guys backs. The Cubs sucked because of their pitching and bad fundamentals...not because of those two guys...

 

Ok, I feel better now.

 

All the negativity? I think there are some optimistic posts out there. But, come on, our negativity towards Pierre isn't necessarily all directed at him -- most of it is directed to the type of contract we think Hendry is going to offer him, based on Hendry's habit of overpaying. Now the negativity towards Pierre directly comes from him giving us nothing for the 1/3 of the season when we needed him most. Now do you think he'll get a fair contract offer or will we again overpay and neglect other areas?

[Pinktermite]

Okay, maybe I don't post as much as some of you guys, like Dalgreen here. But when has Hendry last overpaid (in dollars) for a free agent? Or by signing someone after a trade? He's made a few dumb decisions in small amounts (neifi and fat glendon...bless his pulmonary embolused soul), but these were paltry amounts and didn't help the team.

 

My assertion is that Hendry signed Aramis (after robbing the Pirates to get him) and signed DLee to an extension as well, both for fair amounts at the time. I don't think Jim will OVER pay for Pierre, he has shown his unwillingness to sign Furcal last year when the price went up.

 

If anything, Jimbo will not be aggressive ENOUGH in the free agent market and won't throw money at a Zito or a Schmidt or a CLee like he should. Criticize the Red Sox and Yankees as you see fit, but they win every year and are in the playoffs every year because they get the Randy Johnsons and Mannys and Sheffields and Matsuis of the world.

 

Until the Cubs realize that raising the payroll by 40 or more million dollars, they are doomed...

 

Now go and point out the Dodgers...who spent stupidly...or any other example you can think of. The last several world series winners (except the Marlins) spent significantly more money and traded for significant players in the years preceding their world series wins.

 

I don't see much credit given to Hendry...I only see focus on the bad things he's done...which is natural...they are losers.

[goonys evil twin]

I agree that the actual manager is less important than who is on the roster, who wouldn't? Sparky Anderson had a great quote about that, about the media asking why they thought he suddenly got stupid during a particularly bad stretch the Tigers were in at the time.

 

Hendry should have been fired, too. If he does any more asinine things like depending on injured pitchers and he hires a manager that isn't a little more aggressive with crappy play, then he deserves his fate.

 

The difference between managers is miniscule unless your name is Leyland or LaRussa.

 

And am I the only one on here that observes all the negativity? Nobody seems to like any decision that the Cubs make. For God's sake, Andy MacPhail is gone!!! That's a great victory for us and with Baker being gone, there's a real chance to turn things around. And I still have trouble understanding why a guy that got 204 hits is somehow bad for a team that never had a good lead off man? Is he the best? No. Is he as bad as most of you guys think? No.

 

I'm tired of all the complaining...Juan Pierre hustles, which is more than you can say for most of these guys. And so does Jacque...I think we should get off these guys backs. The Cubs sucked because of their pitching and bad fundamentals...not because of those two guys...

 

Ok, I feel better now.

 

All the negativity? I think there are some optimistic posts out there. But, come on, our negativity towards Pierre isn't necessarily all directed at him -- most of it is directed to the type of contract we think Hendry is going to offer him, based on Hendry's habit of overpaying. Now the negativity towards Pierre directly comes from him giving us nothing for the 1/3 of the season when we needed him most. Now do you think he'll get a fair contract offer or will we again overpay and neglect other areas?

 

I don't get on Pierre or Jones about their hustle. I get on them because they aren't good at OBP and the Cubs desperately need OBP but don't realize they need OBP.

[goonys evil twin]

Okay, maybe I don't post as much as some of you guys, like Dalgreen here. But when has Hendry last overpaid (in dollars) for a free agent? Or by signing someone after a trade? He's made a few dumb decisions in small amounts (neifi and fat glendon...bless his pulmonary embolused soul), but these were paltry amounts and didn't help the team.

 

Paltry amounts that take away from what you can offer others. $2.5m might not seem like much for a player, but if you spend $0.5m on a similar player, that's $2m more you can offer a real player that actually helps the team. Glendon accounts for even more of that. Wouldn't you rather have a AAAA version of Neifi and Rusch, for a combined salary of $650,000, and then have $5m more to spend on one good player?

[Magnetic Curses]

I think the "right" managerial hire is very important. The Cubs need a manager that is going to hammer the fundementals of the game and make sure that the players getting the job done are in the right situations.

 

Dusty Baker was somewhat pathetic in this. Perez, Patterson, and Izturis should never have batted higher than the 6-hole in the lineup. There is such a thing as the "hit and run," which I really can't remember seeing the Cubs execute in 3 or 4 seasons. Girardi was one of the better H&R artists when he played, so I am sure that is part of his plan.

 

As far as Zambrano throwing a lot of pitches late in the futile season (assuming that is the pitcher mentioned earlier), he was trying to improve his chances at winning the NL Cy Young, which would have been a plus for this horrible, horrible Cub team.

 

Your mention of the hit and run just severely soured me on Girardi.

 

The hit and run may very well be the worst call a manager can make, outside of choosing who plays. If the Cubs never again called for the hit and run as long as I lived, I'd feel much more confident in our ability to win a World Series before I die.

 

No problem, there. It's just a form of baseball that I like to watch. I like the bunt too. The trick is, the players have to execute for that form of baseball to be effective. They did it in 89, and that is the year I fell in love with the Cubs. It's good baseball, and that is just my opinion.

 

players are more effective when they're failing to execute bunts than when they're successful. whatever you've seen, it's wrong.

[Abe Frohman]

I think the "right" managerial hire is very important. The Cubs need a manager that is going to hammer the fundementals of the game and make sure that the players getting the job done are in the right situations.

 

Dusty Baker was somewhat pathetic in this. Perez, Patterson, and Izturis should never have batted higher than the 6-hole in the lineup. There is such a thing as the "hit and run," which I really can't remember seeing the Cubs execute in 3 or 4 seasons. Girardi was one of the better H&R artists when he played, so I am sure that is part of his plan.

 

As far as Zambrano throwing a lot of pitches late in the futile season (assuming that is the pitcher mentioned earlier), he was trying to improve his chances at winning the NL Cy Young, which would have been a plus for this horrible, horrible Cub team.

 

Your mention of the hit and run just severely soured me on Girardi.

 

The hit and run may very well be the worst call a manager can make, outside of choosing who plays. If the Cubs never again called for the hit and run as long as I lived, I'd feel much more confident in our ability to win a World Series before I die.

 

No problem, there. It's just a form of baseball that I like to watch. I like the bunt too. The trick is, the players have to execute for that form of baseball to be effective. They did it in 89, and that is the year I fell in love with the Cubs. It's good baseball, and that is just my opinion.

 

players are more effective when they're failing to execute bunts than when they're successful. whatever you've seen, it's wrong.

 

??????? Dustyism?

[CoolHandLuke]

I think the "right" managerial hire is very important. The Cubs need a manager that is going to hammer the fundementals of the game and make sure that the players getting the job done are in the right situations.

 

Dusty Baker was somewhat pathetic in this. Perez, Patterson, and Izturis should never have batted higher than the 6-hole in the lineup. There is such a thing as the "hit and run," which I really can't remember seeing the Cubs execute in 3 or 4 seasons. Girardi was one of the better H&R artists when he played, so I am sure that is part of his plan.

 

As far as Zambrano throwing a lot of pitches late in the futile season (assuming that is the pitcher mentioned earlier), he was trying to improve his chances at winning the NL Cy Young, which would have been a plus for this horrible, horrible Cub team.

 

Your mention of the hit and run just severely soured me on Girardi.

 

The hit and run may very well be the worst call a manager can make, outside of choosing who plays. If the Cubs never again called for the hit and run as long as I lived, I'd feel much more confident in our ability to win a World Series before I die.

 

No problem, there. It's just a form of baseball that I like to watch. I like the bunt too. The trick is, the players have to execute for that form of baseball to be effective. They did it in 89, and that is the year I fell in love with the Cubs. It's good baseball, and that is just my opinion.

 

players are more effective when they're failing to execute bunts than when they're successful. whatever you've seen, it's wrong.

 

??????? Dustyism?

 

Yeah that confuses me. Unless you mean that they can't get the bunt down and are forced to swing away with two strikes and in that case i'm not so sure they are very likely to get on base anyways, so it might have been better to move the runner up.

 

I hate sacrifice bunts by the way, but I would order the effectiveness like so: Swinging away(generally speaking)>succesful sacrifice>failed sacrifice.