According to the Score AM670 ,the cubs have a new manager...

[Balsa]

670 has been doing exclusively football stuff for the last few hours.

[NewUserName]

I dont think that Piniella is the same as Dusty, I still think this is a lateral move though.

 

As for winning next year like the Tigers I have this question, What free agent acquisitions did the Tigers make this season? Kenny Rogers!! Picked up Casey and Neifi during the season.

 

The Tigers have been filling in the pieces the last 2 to 3 years while their young pitching has been improving. Except for IRod and Maggs almost everyone else on the Tigers came from their organization or was picked up off the scrape heap from somewhere else. Even Maggs and IRod were considered less than the the stellar players that they started as.

 

I really think that the reason the Tigers are as good as they are is because they let some young pitchers take their lumps for the last couple of years and they have finally started to arrive. Certainly not because they made some newfound commitment to winning. I also think they would have been pretty good if they would have kept Trammel as their manager.

 

I said this about 50 times last season and I will say it probably at least 50 times this off season. Building a winning team from a losing team in one off season with free agents is not a successful formula. The 1997 Marlins are the only team that it has worked for. If the Cubs win next season it will have a lot more to do with Prior, Hill, Marshall, Guzman, Murton, Theriot or Cedeno improving.

 

Lastly for those who complain about the Cubs building from within I ask when? Not in my lifetime. If we sign Clee, Schmidt and Zito that will be about 40 million a year that is going to be a big albatross in a couple of years and not win a WS next season.

[Southpaw191679666239]

Can we stop bashing The Score for having football coverage? That's what they normally do on Sunday during the regular season. Here's the lineup for today:

 

12:00am - 6:00am  Sporting News
6:00am - 7:00am Pro Football Weekly
7:00am-8:00am Early Action
8:00am-9:00am Fantasy Football with Super Fan Dan and Jeff Agrest
9:00am - 12:00pm Hub Arkush
Noon-7:20pm Sporting News Radio-Around the NFL
7:20pm - 10:30pm Sunday Night Football: Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos
10:30pm-11:30pm Latin Baseball

 

Piniella isn't even a "done deal" yet, so it's not like they would break their contractual obligations for a "non-story".

[cubweiser03]

I said this about 50 times last season and I will say it probably at least 50 times this off season. Building a winning team from a losing team in one off season with free agents is not a successful formula. The 1997 Marlins are the only team that it has worked for. If the Cubs win next season it will have a lot more to do with Prior, Hill, Marshall, Guzman, Murton, Theriot or Cedeno improving.

 

Lastly for those who complain about the Cubs building from within I ask when? Not in my lifetime. If we sign Clee, Schmidt and Zito that will be about 40 million a year that is going to be a big albatross in a couple of years and not win a WS next season.

 

How many are from within the Mets and Cards? Off the top of my head the Mets have Reyes and David Wright from their system. The rest are FA.....Pedro/Beltran/Floyd/Wagner/Glavine/Valentine. Cards only home grown are Yadier/Pujols. The rest are trades and FA.

 

Relying totally on FA is probably not a wise move but a balance of building from within and some very good FA can be successful formula too.

 

I dont care how you get the talent, just get it. And its ok to overpay for a few FA players, especially the top notch players.

[questionmarkgrace]

I fully expect a big off season and I expect the Cubs to be major contenders.

 

not if jim hendry takes two weeks to make every decision. hopefully lou's assertiveness will rub off.

[Sammy Sofa]

If the Cubs win next season it will have a lot more to do with Prior, Hill, Marshall, Guzman, Murton, Theriot or Cedeno improving.

 

Errrr...an "improved" Cedeno MIGHT get him up to Neifi's level...I think he's best left out of the equation altogether short of some kind of miracle turnaround.

[UK1679666180]

color me happy.

 

This means that the cubs are finally ready to win. No more grand schemes of building from within or whatever ploy they've gone with in the past.

 

The best thing about this is that if it blows up in their face, it'll only be a year, maybe two in doing.

 

 

I fully expect a big off season and I expect the Cubs to be major contenders.

 

 

Lou is not wanting for money. Lou doesn't need to make a name for himself. Lou wants a WS ring. He wouldn't come to chicago if he didn't think there was a legit shot at a ring.

 

What? When have the Cubs tried to build from within? They're going to try & win now coming off a 90+ loss season and a declining farm system.

 

It's ironic that it's the exact scheme that they've tried forever, including hiring a "proven" manager.

[Outshined_One]

How many are from within the Mets and Cards? Off the top of my head the Mets have Reyes and David Wright from their system. The rest are FA.....Pedro/Beltran/Floyd/Wagner/Glavine/Valentine. Cards only home grown are Yadier/Pujols. The rest are trades and FA.

 

How many of their top guys were acquired via trades using prospects from their respective farm systems?

[Jazz]

How many are from within the Mets and Cards? Off the top of my head the Mets have Reyes and David Wright from their system. The rest are FA.....Pedro/Beltran/Floyd/Wagner/Glavine/Valentine. Cards only home grown are Yadier/Pujols. The rest are trades and FA.

 

How many of their top guys were acquired via trades using prospects from their respective farm systems?

 

That's beside the point he was trying to make. NUN said that a team cannot win if it is based mostly upon outside acquisitions. Players acquired through trades fit that mold.

[bhogg]

a healthy combination of youth and FA signings is exactly what the Cubs are poised to do.

 

Murton and Hill are young. Heck, Z can still be considered a youngster. That's about as many as Detroit is trotting out there. Nevermind that we could have a guy like Marshall in the rotation as well. . . or a little youth in the 'pen.

 

It's not like we have to sign 5 or 6 FA's. Signing 2 big guns wouldn't hurt -- one pitcher and one big bat.

 

 

We're a lot closer than we may think. I really think the insane amount of injuries has clouded our view on what this team could be.

[CuseCubFan69]

It seems to me the Score is too much like the Daily News in NY, they jump to conclusions to make money and get us talking about them and often are not accurate.

[Omar]

What source isn't saying that Cubs are close to getting Piniella?

 

We know that. We just need someone to confirm that we've actually signed him.

[NewUserName]

I did not say that building within is the only way to win. I said that we will not win a WS next year by signing Schmidt, Zito, CLee and Soriano. This is a proven to be an ineffective way of building a winner.

 

As for the Mets none of those free agents is worth what they are paying them and without Reyes and Wright they wouldnt be where they are right now. I didnt say not to get free agents. It is just foolish thinking that we are going to contend next year because of some big shopping spree. I just think that if the Cubs are a winning team next year it will have more to do with the improvement of the players I mentioned than it will be becuase we upped our payroll to 110 mill.

 

Also there is a difference between trading for players and signing them as free agents. A free agent is usually at the end or past his prime and will be getting paid for numbers he put up in his prime. There are exceptions (Beltran and Maddux are 2 that come to mind) but these players have even a higher price tag on them. Trading for players gets you what you trade for. Anywhere between 20 and 40.

[JeffH]

If the Cubs are a very good team next season, it will be largely because of unexpected good performances by guys already on the team (Prior, Dempster, Izturis) and continued improvement by key young players (particularly Murton and Hill).

 

Add a few nice acquisitions to that and you've got the makings of a WS winner. Unlikely, yes. Impossible, no.

[CubinNY]

If the Cubs are a very good team next season, it will be largely because of unexpected good performances by guys already on the team (Prior, Dempster, Izturis) and continued improvement by key young players (particularly Murton and Hill).

 

Add a few nice acquisitions to that and you've got the makings of a WS winner. Unlikely, yes. Impossible, no.

Don't forget the firebrand manager who won't put up with no crap no-how.

 

Sweet Lou is a more intense version of Dusty Baker. Jim will have, once again, got wrong man.

 

Can anyone imagine what Lou's reaction will be to the first Marrotti column after a four game losing streak?

 

If Lou is hired, my only hope is that somehow Hendry can bring in enough talent so that bad decisions can be overcome.

 

I am hopeful but not optimistic.

 

I really hope this rumor is not ture.

[Omar]

I'm not too familier with Lou... but can someone tell me about his handling with double switches?

 

Does he give up like Dusty after the 5th?

[soapy]

color me happy.

 

This means that the cubs are finally ready to win. No more grand schemes of building from within or whatever ploy they've gone with in the past.

 

The best thing about this is that if it blows up in their face, it'll only be a year, maybe two in doing.

 

 

I fully expect a big off season and I expect the Cubs to be major contenders.

 

 

Lou is not wanting for money. Lou doesn't need to make a name for himself. Lou wants a WS ring. He wouldn't come to chicago if he didn't think there was a legit shot at a ring.

 

What? When have the Cubs tried to build from within? They're going to try & win now coming off a 90+ loss season and a declining farm system.

 

It's ironic that it's the exact scheme that they've tried forever, including hiring a "proven" manager.

Agreed. I don't see how this siginfies that the Cubs are "ready to win". They've been down this road before. I'm not happy about the move. I think it's pretty much lateral but...whatever. I'm more interested in what players are going to be brought in. I'm not as excited as many of you though. The Cubs have been spending money. Hendry had $100 million at his disposal this year and put together the worst team in the NL. I have little faith that he can put together a championship team with an extra $15 million.

[Monco]

Piniella can stomp his feet and yell all he wants. Jones will still make bad throws and get doubled off of second. Izturis still won't hit. Everyone will still run on Barrett. Cedeno will make too many errors,hit poorly, and not take a walk. Dempster will still walk too many to be a closer.

Freddy Garcia pitched 238 innings one year for Piniella in 34 games. So don't think he will ease up on Big Z.

 

115 million budget,if it happens will not make a difference if its not spent wisely. They paid almost 100 mil to the players and 4 mil to the manager last year to finish last.

 

If he brings Rothschild back,that will tell you that it is still business as usual.

[JeffH]

Can anyone imagine what Lou's reaction will be to the first Marrotti column after a four game losing streak?

 

If Piniella winds up breaking a chair over Mariotti's head, his hiring will have been a roaring success.

[Laura]

Jon Heyman / SI.com[/url]"] Cubs were expecting to begin negotiations Monday that they hope will result in Lou Piniella becoming their next manager but could even move things up a few hours, as Piniella is done with his FOX announcing duties thanks to the quick-ending ALCS. Piniella already has taken himself out of the running for the Giants and Nationals jobs, yet another sign he's ready to sign with the Cubs.

 

Piniella has been GM Jim Hendry's choice from the start, and while insiders say new Cubs head honcho John McDonough liked Peoria, Ill., native and ex-Cub Joe Girardi from a marketing standpoint, Hendry always viewed Piniella as best-equipped to kick-start the Cubs and maybe steal a woefully weak division in 2007.

[CuseCubFan69]

Jon Heyman / SI.com[/url]"] Cubs were expecting to begin negotiations Monday that they hope will result in Lou Piniella becoming their next manager but could even move things up a few hours, as Piniella is done with his FOX announcing duties thanks to the quick-ending ALCS. Piniella already has taken himself out of the running for the Giants and Nationals jobs, yet another sign he's ready to sign with the Cubs.

 

Piniella has been GM Jim Hendry's choice from the start, and while insiders say new Cubs head honcho John McDonough liked Peoria, Ill., native and ex-Cub Joe Girardi from a marketing standpoint, Hendry always viewed Piniella as best-equipped to kick-start the Cubs and maybe steal a woefully weak division in 2007.

 

Now Hendry can go on vacation because he's hired the kick butt guy to manage the team that will win the WS. It's just that simple, thanks Tigers.

[CUBZ99]

color me happy.

 

This means that the cubs are finally ready to win. No more grand schemes of building from within or whatever ploy they've gone with in the past.

 

The best thing about this is that if it blows up in their face, it'll only be a year, maybe two in doing.

 

 

I fully expect a big off season and I expect the Cubs to be major contenders.

 

 

Lou is not wanting for money. Lou doesn't need to make a name for himself. Lou wants a WS ring. He wouldn't come to chicago if he didn't think there was a legit shot at a ring.

 

What? When have the Cubs tried to build from within? They're going to try & win now coming off a 90+ loss season and a declining farm system.

 

It's ironic that it's the exact scheme that they've tried forever, including hiring a "proven" manager.

Agreed. I don't see how this siginfies that the Cubs are "ready to win". They've been down this road before. I'm not happy about the move. I think it's pretty much lateral but...whatever. I'm more interested in what players are going to be brought in. I'm not as excited as many of you though. The Cubs have been spending money. Hendry had $100 million at his disposal this year and put together the worst team in the NL. I have little faith that he can put together a championship team with an extra $15 million.

 

Dusty had the Cubs within 1 game of the World Series for the first time in almost 60 years. So bringing him in wasn't the worst move in the history of the Cubs franchise.

 

I would rather have a manager that is a proven winner than hire an unproven and pray it works out. I am glad that Hendry is not trying to hire a sub .500 manager with the hope that the guy will all of the sudden become a winning manager once he comes to the Cubs.

 

Also, a team with a $115M payroll should never have to rebuild and foreit their whole season.

[Omar]

If Piniella never managed the D-Rays, his record would be 1319-1135... That's a .537 win pct instead of a .517. Just thought I'd throw that in.

[bc2k]

I don't know what the negatives of Lou Piniella could be, but I'm definately aware of his positives. He's a gem and I'm thrilled we have him.

[NewUserName]

If you go by past records Piniella is not a better hire than Dusty was before 2003. The only advantage would be that Piniella actually won a WS as opposed to Dusty but that was way back in 1990.