A-Ram update

[Post Count Padder]

Per Rotoworld:

 

Aramis Ramirez - Third Baseman Oct. 5 - 9:43 am et

 

 

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, people close to Aramis Ramirez say he wants to see who replaces Dusty Baker as manager of the Cubs before making any decisions on his future.

 

A clause in Ramirez's contract allows him to become a free agent this offseason, and whoever the Cubs bring in to run the show will definitely influence whether A-Ram leaves the team.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

[Banedon]

Hard to blame him for that.

[muntjack]

Just ask A-Ram who he wants, and hire him.

[daske17]

Given A-Ram's historical lack of hustle (yes, I know that term rankles some on this board), do you think he would be less inclined to sign with the Cubs if it meant someone hard-nosed like Girardi is hired?

 

I think he wants a manager that will just let him do his thing and not pressure him to anything beyond that. I bet the closest he would find from the Cubs current pool is Brenley.

[goonys evil twin]

Given A-Ram's historical lack of hustle (yes, I know that term rankles some on this board), do you think he would be less inclined to sign with the Cubs if it meant someone hard-nosed like Girardi is hired?

 

I think he wants a manager that will just let him do his thing and not pressure him to anything beyond that. I bet the closest he would find from the Cubs current pool is Brenley.

 

I'm guessing he'd walk out on Bowa. Not sure about Girardi.

[Banedon]

Another note from the Suntimes:

 

Sources said Pierre and Blanco are more likely to go through the free-agency process.

[Mizzou]

Another note from the Suntimes:

 

Sources said Pierre and Blanco are more likely to go through the free-agency process.

Thank God.

 

And I could see Aramis walking if Joe Girardi is brought in.

[goonys evil twin]

Another note from the Suntimes:

 

Sources said Pierre and Blanco are more likely to go through the free-agency process.

Thank God.

 

And I could see Aramis walking if Joe Girardi is brought in.

 

I hope going through the free agency process isn't just another way of saying "they are going to try and milk Hendry for as much as they can get." Going through the process does not guarantee they won't be Cubs, it just means they won't sign pre-free agency discounted contracts with the Cubs.

[daske17]

Given A-Ram's historical lack of hustle (yes, I know that term rankles some on this board), do you think he would be less inclined to sign with the Cubs if it meant someone hard-nosed like Girardi is hired?

 

I think he wants a manager that will just let him do his thing and not pressure him to anything beyond that. I bet the closest he would find from the Cubs current pool is Brenley.

 

I'm guessing he'd walk out on Bowa. Not sure about Girardi.

 

I'd walk out on Bowa.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Speir needs to be retained for his glovework w/ Ramirez. I think that could help Aramis stay, even if we have a hard-nosed manager.

 

All the managers we are looking at except Brenly are hard-nosed guys. Well, BB seems jovial in the booth, but he's a competitive guy. I don't think he'd put up with ARam's slacking.

 

ARam just needs to hustle. It's not hard. It's a lot easier to hustle and play the game the right way compared to dealing with the "you don't hustle and you make how much" rants from fans.

[ToupeeOnFire]

If the Cubs can re-sign Aramis while Pierre and Blanco walk (all things considered, you had a decent season Hank, which you're not likely to duplicate), then it will be like Christmas in October.

 

My worry is that Hendry will drag his feet on the managerial search, giving Aramis no choice but to opt for free agency. Inexcusable, but I expect it at this point.

[Andy]

Given A-Ram's historical lack of hustle (yes, I know that term rankles some on this board), do you think he would be less inclined to sign with the Cubs if it meant someone hard-nosed like Girardi is hired?

 

I think he wants a manager that will just let him do his thing and not pressure him to anything beyond that. I bet the closest he would find from the Cubs current pool is Brenley.

Based on the way Brenly hammered Aramis for not hustling most of this season, I'd even say that's doubtful.

[Electron Blue]

ugghh.

 

I really don't like how A-ram doesn't always hustle (not saying it's a Huge problem, it mostly just annoys me). But I really don't like how I'm all of a sudden hoping the cubs hire a manager who allows him to continue it - just so he stays . . .

 

That doesn't sound very clear, but anyone know what I mean?

[goonys evil twin]

ugghh.

 

I really don't like how A-ram doesn't always hustle (not saying it's a Huge problem, it mostly just annoys me). But I really don't like how I'm all of a sudden hoping the cubs hire a manager who allows him to continue it - just so he stays . . .

 

That doesn't sound very clear, but anyone know what I mean?

 

It looks clear to me and makes a lot of sense.

 

I don't like lack of hustle, but if he produces, I can live with it. I'd hate for this offseason's theme to turn into "I decided I like guys who hustle."

[jtownie]

To me, if this is all true, is that it's probably a negiotiating ploy. Regardless, I think ARam would be more worried about what direction the Cubs are going to go in terms of player personnel than who is going to manage this team. Either way, I'm skeptical of any source that is close to or says is a friend of said player.

[tgk]

ugghh.

 

I really don't like how A-ram doesn't always hustle (not saying it's a Huge problem, it mostly just annoys me). But I really don't like how I'm all of a sudden hoping the cubs hire a manager who allows him to continue it - just so he stays . . .

 

That doesn't sound very clear, but anyone know what I mean?

 

It looks clear to me and makes a lot of sense.

 

I don't like lack of hustle, but if he produces, I can live with it. I'd hate for this offseason's theme to turn into "I decided I like guys who hustle."

 

I understand the sentiment, but I can't help but think that is absolutely the wrong way to do things. Look, I love Aramis' production, but if you hire a manager to make him happy the guy has no chance. This is from an article on Jim Leyland that I saw on ESPN the other day. I think it's in this weeks magazine. It's a good article about his career but one quote jumped into my head when I read this thread.

 

If that move was descended from the sensitive side of Old Man Leyland, the fiery side reared its head not long after. Star catcher Pudge Rodriguez got into a tiff with a coach. In front of the entire team, Leyland made it clear what would and wouldn't be tolerated.

 

"That showed us that nobody is bigger than this team," reliever Todd Jones says. "It really set the tone so it never had to be addressed a bunch of different ways again. Because he did that right on the one guy he had to do it. Not that [Pudge] was a problem, but if he'll do it to him, he'll do it to us."

 

If you hire someone to placate Ramirez, they'll have lost the team before they walk in the door. Hire the best manager you can, negotiate in good faith with Ramirez and offer him a fair to plus contract. If he still chooses to leave, so be it. But choosing manager that is most likely to allow Ramirez to "loaf" on occasion is a recipe for disaster (IMHO)

[UMFan83]

Think all these players want to stick it to the fans for blaming Dusty for the teams struggles and forcing him out the door?

 

Good, if they don't want to be Cubs, let them leave. It might set us back a year or two, but starting over might not be a bad idea IMO. Of course with his job on the line JH won't start over, he'll just lock us into a bunch of mediocre players longterm in order to try to win now.

 

Seriously though, its the freaking manager. If you aren't going to come back because you might have to hustle or be held accountable for your actions, then please leave. I don't care if you are ARam or Pierre (Not Z, you have to stay).

Edited October 5, 2006 by UMFan83

[MPrior]

Just ask A-Ram who he wants, and hire him.

 

Seconded. Retaining Aramis is far more important than who our manager winds up being.

[CubsInNC]

Could it be that Aram's pushing this to see if he wants to negotiate a long-term deal now? Let's say, hypothetically, that the Cubs are sold during 07, and prepare to start '08 with new ownership. Now, that new manager, the GM, the president, etc are all potentially gone from there and someone new can take this team in an entirely new direction. Bring in their guys, etc. Would it be the least bit surprising that ARam wants to know those possibilities as well, before agreeing to be here for the next 5 years? If my relationship with the manager was important to me (dunno why), and going into negotiations it seemed as whoever came in was a 1yr lame duck, would you want to stick around?

 

I can understand at least 1 reason for it.

[Lefty]

ugghh.

 

I really don't like how A-ram doesn't always hustle (not saying it's a Huge problem, it mostly just annoys me). But I really don't like how I'm all of a sudden hoping the cubs hire a manager who allows him to continue it - just so he stays . . .

 

That doesn't sound very clear, but anyone know what I mean?

 

It looks clear to me and makes a lot of sense.

 

I don't like lack of hustle, but if he produces, I can live with it. I'd hate for this offseason's theme to turn into "I decided I like guys who hustle."

 

Then you better hope the World Series doesn't turn on a hustle play.

[Rob]

Could it be that Aram's pushing this to see if he wants to negotiate a long-term deal now? Let's say, hypothetically, that the Cubs are sold during 07, and prepare to start '08 with new ownership. Now, that new manager, the GM, the president, etc are all potentially gone from there and someone new can take this team in an entirely new direction. Bring in their guys, etc. Would it be the least bit surprising that ARam wants to know those possibilities as well, before agreeing to be here for the next 5 years? If my relationship with the manager was important to me (dunno why), and going into negotiations it seemed as whoever came in was a 1yr lame duck, would you want to stick around?

 

I can understand at least 1 reason for it.

 

He could always negotiate another out clause, this time based on team payroll or record or something. I mean, Mike Lowell had one based on whether or not the Marlins had a new stadium.

[biittner77]

I don't like lack of hustle, but if he produces, I can live with it. I'd hate for this offseason's theme to turn into "I decided I like guys who hustle."

 

I guess Pete Rose is out then. :D

[Mizzou]

Seriously though, its the freaking manager. If you aren't going to come back because you might have to hustle or be held accountable for your actions, then please leave. I don't care if you are ARam or Pierre (Not Z, you have to stay).

Completely agree.

[wade]

ugghh.

 

I really don't like how A-ram doesn't always hustle (not saying it's a Huge problem, it mostly just annoys me). But I really don't like how I'm all of a sudden hoping the cubs hire a manager who allows him to continue it - just so he stays . . .

 

That doesn't sound very clear, but anyone know what I mean?

 

It looks clear to me and makes a lot of sense.

 

I don't like lack of hustle, but if he produces, I can live with it. I'd hate for this offseason's theme to turn into "I decided I like guys who hustle."

 

Then you better hope the World Series doesn't turn on a hustle play.

 

They gotta get there first.

[Banedon]

ugghh.

 

I really don't like how A-ram doesn't always hustle (not saying it's a Huge problem, it mostly just annoys me). But I really don't like how I'm all of a sudden hoping the cubs hire a manager who allows him to continue it - just so he stays . . .

 

That doesn't sound very clear, but anyone know what I mean?

 

It looks clear to me and makes a lot of sense.

 

I don't like lack of hustle, but if he produces, I can live with it. I'd hate for this offseason's theme to turn into "I decided I like guys who hustle."

 

Then you better hope the World Series doesn't turn on a hustle play.

 

Um...gotta get to the World Series before that matters. I'd rather have a good player that occasionally may not hustle, than a mediocre player that gives it his all.