Piniella might be Cubs top choice

[Bruce Miles]

Are you a Bears fan, Bruce?

 

 

 

 

 

If you say "no," you're dead to me. j/k :lol:

 

Yes, I am a Bears fan, and I'm old enough to have seen Bears games at Wrigley Field.

[Bruce Miles]

Kind of off the topic a bit, but since you are "in the know" more than we are Bruce, are there any names you have heard the Cubs throw around that they would like to sign, or get via trade? Also, keep up the good work, as you are the best sports writer in Chicago. :wink:

 

They've done a good bit of investigative work on Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano, whom they nearly got in 2000 in the Sammy Sosa traded that didn't happen. A lot of this will become more clear once a new manager is on board.

 

What are their thoughts on Murton?

 

They like him a lot, and believe it or not, they're well aware of the comparison of his second-half splits with those of Carlos Lee.

What they may do is see if they can get more power in center field. They do believe Murton will hit more homers than he did this season. I believe that as well. He'd be a great option at about $400,000, allowing them to spend the money elsewhere.

I'm glad to hear that, but it makes me wonder why they would be doint investigative work on Carlos Lee. Unless, of course, they are willing to move Jones or put him in CF. I'd be shocked to see that (but glad).

 

Good to hear Bruce.

 

As a follow-up, has there been any more rumblings about guys like Jones, who apparantly came here because of Dusty, and may be really upset about him leaving? Would they look to move him, or is he trying to get moved?

 

A lot of players make silly noise like that. I remember when Eric Young and Ricky Gutierrez were going to be a package deal wherever they went. Sure, they were. Jones will be a Cub next year, and he'll learn to like it. They're not looking to move him.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Are you a Bears fan, Bruce?

 

 

 

 

 

If you say "no," you're dead to me. j/k :lol:

 

Yes, I am a Bears fan, and I'm old enough to have seen Bears games at Wrigley Field.

 

You must be, like, a hundred or something. :wink:

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Kind of off the topic a bit, but since you are "in the know" more than we are Bruce, are there any names you have heard the Cubs throw around that they would like to sign, or get via trade? Also, keep up the good work, as you are the best sports writer in Chicago. :wink:

 

They've done a good bit of investigative work on Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano, whom they nearly got in 2000 in the Sammy Sosa traded that didn't happen. A lot of this will become more clear once a new manager is on board.

 

What are their thoughts on Murton?

 

They like him a lot, and believe it or not, they're well aware of the comparison of his second-half splits with those of Carlos Lee.

What they may do is see if they can get more power in center field. They do believe Murton will hit more homers than he did this season. I believe that as well. He'd be a great option at about $400,000, allowing them to spend the money elsewhere.

 

Bruce,

 

Does this mean Andruw Jones is a trade target?

[Bruce Miles]

Kind of off the topic a bit, but since you are "in the know" more than we are Bruce, are there any names you have heard the Cubs throw around that they would like to sign, or get via trade? Also, keep up the good work, as you are the best sports writer in Chicago. :wink:

 

They've done a good bit of investigative work on Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano, whom they nearly got in 2000 in the Sammy Sosa traded that didn't happen. A lot of this will become more clear once a new manager is on board.

 

What are their thoughts on Murton?

 

They like him a lot, and believe it or not, they're well aware of the comparison of his second-half splits with those of Carlos Lee.

What they may do is see if they can get more power in center field. They do believe Murton will hit more homers than he did this season. I believe that as well. He'd be a great option at about $400,000, allowing them to spend the money elsewhere.

Do they see Soriano as an option in CF, as Rosenthal (I think) suggested?

 

They won't rule out Soriano in center. He's a great offensive force. I'd find someplace for him.

[Bruce Miles]

Kind of off the topic a bit, but since you are "in the know" more than we are Bruce, are there any names you have heard the Cubs throw around that they would like to sign, or get via trade? Also, keep up the good work, as you are the best sports writer in Chicago. :wink:

 

They've done a good bit of investigative work on Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano, whom they nearly got in 2000 in the Sammy Sosa traded that didn't happen. A lot of this will become more clear once a new manager is on board.

 

What are their thoughts on Murton?

 

They like him a lot, and believe it or not, they're well aware of the comparison of his second-half splits with those of Carlos Lee.

What they may do is see if they can get more power in center field. They do believe Murton will hit more homers than he did this season. I believe that as well. He'd be a great option at about $400,000, allowing them to spend the money elsewhere.

 

Bruce,

 

Does this mean Andruw Jones is a trade target?

 

I don't know if the Braves will make him available. If they do, the Cubs will look into it.

[goonys evil twin]

Are you a Bears fan, Bruce?

 

 

 

 

 

If you say "no," you're dead to me. j/k :lol:

 

Yes, I am a Bears fan, and I'm old enough to have seen Bears games at Wrigley Field.

 

I always forget that '71 was the first year they played in Soldier Field.

[YearofDaCubs]

Piniella as manager for the Cubs? PATHETIC!! From dumb to dumber. This organization is terrible.

[Bruce Miles]

Kind of off the topic a bit, but since you are "in the know" more than we are Bruce, are there any names you have heard the Cubs throw around that they would like to sign, or get via trade? Also, keep up the good work, as you are the best sports writer in Chicago. :wink:

 

They've done a good bit of investigative work on Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano, whom they nearly got in 2000 in the Sammy Sosa traded that didn't happen. A lot of this will become more clear once a new manager is on board.

 

What are their thoughts on Murton?

 

They like him a lot, and believe it or not, they're well aware of the comparison of his second-half splits with those of Carlos Lee.

What they may do is see if they can get more power in center field. They do believe Murton will hit more homers than he did this season. I believe that as well. He'd be a great option at about $400,000, allowing them to spend the money elsewhere.

 

So they aren't necessarily sold on Juan Pierre?

 

No, they're not sold on him, and they shouldn't be, especially if he comes in looking for $8 mil a year. What happens if he strains or pulls a leg muscle? He's not going to hit you a bunch of home runs. Really, he's one leg injury from being a totally ineffective player.

[goonys evil twin]

A lot of players make silly noise like that. I remember when Eric Young and Ricky Gutierrez were going to be a package deal wherever they went. Sure, they were. Jones will be a Cub next year, and he'll learn to like it. They're not looking to move him.

 

So they aren't going to trade him, what about possibly moving to center? If they are looking at Carlos Lee, they have to either be thinking of Jones in center or benching/trading Murton.

[Fro]

If Hendry really thinks Piniella is the right guy, while not who I would have chosen, that's fine. I just wish he hadn't limited his candidates so much. It seems like there were a lot of options that were never explored.

 

Yeah, it's like a good ole boys network. They could probably find a better manager than anyone in MLB if they looked outside it.

[Banedon]

So they aren't necessarily sold on Juan Pierre?

 

No, they're not sold on him, and they shouldn't be, especially if he comes in looking for $8 mil a year. What happens if he strains or pulls a leg muscle? He's not going to hit you a bunch of home runs. Really, he's one leg injury from being a totally ineffective player.

 

Oh I completely agree. I'm glad they're looking at that as a spot to upgrade.

[Outshined_One]

The Trib says:

 

Amid a whirlwind of complicated Chicago/New York connections, the Cubs could wind up with Lou Piniella as manager because of Alex Rodriguez, and Rodriguez could wind up as a White Sox partly because of Piniella. White Sox general manager Kenny Williams, according to those in the know, long has had a "thing" for Rodriguez.

 

If we get Lou, and then the Sox get ARod, my interest in baseball will severely deteriorate. :(

 

Didn't A-Rod make Kenny Williams swear off Scott Boras clients? I swear I could remember Boras using the White Sox as leverage in getting A-Rod his ridiculous contract, despite making it seem like A-Rod was willing to sign there. Kenny Williams was really, really angry because of that.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Bruce,

 

Are Schmidt or Zito in the plans?

 

Would the Cubs take a chance on Bonds?

[CubinNY]

The Trib says:

 

Amid a whirlwind of complicated Chicago/New York connections, the Cubs could wind up with Lou Piniella as manager because of Alex Rodriguez, and Rodriguez could wind up as a White Sox partly because of Piniella. White Sox general manager Kenny Williams, according to those in the know, long has had a "thing" for Rodriguez.

 

If we get Lou, and then the Sox get ARod, my interest in baseball will severely deteriorate. :(

 

Didn't A-Rod make Kenny Williams swear off Scott Boras clients? I swear I could remember Boras using the White Sox as leverage in getting A-Rod his ridiculous contract, despite making it seem like A-Rod was willing to sign there. Kenny Williams was really, really angry because of that.

 

I don't know if were A-Rod or not, but I remember Williams or Riensdorf saying something about not dealing with Boras ever again.

 

Whatever the case, I think it is pretty foolish to simply rule out a lot of talent b/c you don't like the guy who is representing them. But the WS work in mysterious ways.

[ToupeeOnFire]

How would the Cubs wind up with Piniella as manager because of ARod if ARod went to the White Sox? That doesn't make any sense.

Dyck is speculating that since Piniella (purportedly) wasn't hired because of his close association with ARod it has driven the rift between the ARod/Jeter faction even deeper thus necessitating a trade since apparently the Jeter/Torre faction "won"...or something.

 

I have little doubt that the White Sox could become players in a potential ARod deal, but this seems like a very clumsly attempt to somehow tie two stories together.

 

Piniella to the Cubs doesn't affect a White Sox/ARod deal one iota. It does increase the Cubs chances of landing ARod however, although I'm not sure they have the talent and wherewithal to get it done.

[cubweiser03]

Well i did like the Mariner teams he managed. I never thought he got in the way of them. The really only negative i have heard on him is he is so demanding of his pitchers and doesnt tolerate crap from them. The old school saying 'hitters hating pitchers'....sometime i believe he actually hates them. Obviously he doesnt otherwise he would be a terrible manager. Just perception. Him and Dibble fighting in the locker room is classic.

 

Bruce, Thanks for the insight on Lou a couple pages back. I like hearing one of his strengths is he's adaptable.

 

And....whoa, the Cubs thinking about Soriano in CF? Just whoa. I like it!

[goonys evil twin]

Him and Dibble fighting in the locker room is classic.

 

That's something that makes me like Lou more.

[Balsa]

This is bad news any way you cut it. Piniella is probably the worst choice of all the managers we've seen so far.

 

But if we get good enough players this offseason, it might not even matter. So it's optimistic to hear they like Murton's second half, and are considering Soriano for either an upgrade in CF (what an upgrade that would be!) or maybe A-Rod for SS (again, what an upgrade!)

[Bruce Miles]

Bruce,

 

Are Schmidt or Zito in the plans?

 

Would the Cubs take a chance on Bonds?

 

No on Bonds. They'll look at both Schmidt and Zito.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Bruce, who's your choice amongst the available candidates?

[JWCUB]

Bruce, is there any talk on an Arod deal internally, or is that pure speculation by the fans and local media?

[UMFan83]

Bruce love the impromptu chat!

 

Not directed at you necessarily, but answer if you wish. Vernon Wells...could it happen and what would it take?

[oldcubsfan]

Bruce,

wouldn't it be smarter to go after pitchers like Westbrook, and 2 other mid level starters than throwing a bundle at Zito or Schimdt? I realize trades would have to be made for Westbrook and oters, but I think that would be far more effective.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

If Piniella is hired, then Scott Eyre can kiss his fat ass goodbye, because Lou makes his pitchers work. Eyre infamously stated, for those who forget, he loved the idea of signing with the Cubs to play for Dusty because he (Dusty) "doesn't make you run laps." Wonderful. And what a fitting summary of Dusty's approach.

 

Prior + Eyre + Felix Pie for A-Rod, and hire Lou. I'm in. I won't hijack, but I have a 3-way trade in mind to bring us JD Drew too, and then I'd be PLENTY pleased.

 

Warming to the Piniella idea, but still not 100% there.....