Bradley Signs with Cubs 3/$30 million (p. 33)

[cubsfan26]

Easy bench will be Hoffpauir, Miles, Bako(or whoever), Johnson and Gathright. Pie/Cedeno will most likely be traded(in a deal for Peavy or for low level talented prospects), and if we don't sign a Rich Aurilia type Hoffpauir is a lock to make the team. Because otherwise we don't have anybody who can back up at 1b. Lou isn't a stupid, he's not gonna have a bench with no power, so everyone needs to chill out about that. Plus I don't think it's a sure thing that we will have a five man bench again. With DeRosa no longer on the roster, it could cause the Cubs to carry a extra postion player.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

also, miles doesn't even figure to get many at-bats as a lefty. fontenot will get all those. the majority of miles' time figures to be against lhp as a 2b.

 

Miles is also going to be our power lefty off the bench.

 

After Hoffpauir.

 

I'm still waiting to hear how Hoff is going to fit on a 5 man bench.

 

If Cedeno is a goner, and it looks like he is, Hoffpauir has no competition unless they bring in someone else.

[jersey cubs fan]

Easy bench will be Hoffpauir, Miles, Bako(or whoever), Johnson and Gathright. Pie/Cedeno will most likely be traded(in a deal for Peavy or for low level talented prospects), and if we don't sign a Rich Aurilia type Hoffpauir is a lock to make the team. Because otherwise we don't have anybody who can back up at 1b.

 

I can't imagine the Cubs preferring to have one guy who can backup 1B and one guy who can backup 2B/SS/3B.

 

I just can't imagine this team operating with one backup middle infielder. It's very un Cubs like.

[cubsfan26]

Easy bench will be Hoffpauir, Miles, Bako(or whoever), Johnson and Gathright. Pie/Cedeno will most likely be traded(in a deal for Peavy or for low level talented prospects), and if we don't sign a Rich Aurilia type Hoffpauir is a lock to make the team. Because otherwise we don't have anybody who can back up at 1b.

 

I can't imagine the Cubs preferring to have one guy who can backup 1B and one guy who can backup 2B/SS/3B.

 

I just can't imagine this team operating with one backup middle infielder. It's very un Cubs like.

 

 

Which is why it's possible that we actually might have a 6 man bench this season instead of 5.

[jersey cubs fan]

Easy bench will be Hoffpauir, Miles, Bako(or whoever), Johnson and Gathright. Pie/Cedeno will most likely be traded(in a deal for Peavy or for low level talented prospects), and if we don't sign a Rich Aurilia type Hoffpauir is a lock to make the team. Because otherwise we don't have anybody who can back up at 1b.

 

I can't imagine the Cubs preferring to have one guy who can backup 1B and one guy who can backup 2B/SS/3B.

 

I just can't imagine this team operating with one backup middle infielder. It's very un Cubs like.

 

 

Which is why it's possible that we actually might have a 6 man bench this season instead of 5.

 

The only thing more uncubs like would be a 6 man bullpen.

[CubColtPacer]

Easy bench will be Hoffpauir, Miles, Bako(or whoever), Johnson and Gathright. Pie/Cedeno will most likely be traded(in a deal for Peavy or for low level talented prospects), and if we don't sign a Rich Aurilia type Hoffpauir is a lock to make the team. Because otherwise we don't have anybody who can back up at 1b.

 

I can't imagine the Cubs preferring to have one guy who can backup 1B and one guy who can backup 2B/SS/3B.

 

I just can't imagine this team operating with one backup middle infielder. It's very un Cubs like.

 

 

Which is why it's possible that we actually might have a 6 man bench this season instead of 5.

 

I believe the Cubs spent more time with 13 pitchers than 11 last year. When the team had 11 pitchers for about 2 1/2 weeks in 2007, Lou was in the media with a new quote every other day that the 12th pitcher would be back very soon. Plus, pretty much every MLB team is carrying 12 and sometimes 13 pitchers now. Of all the teams to possibly buck that trend and carry a 6 man bench, the Cubs under Lou are likely to be near the bottom of the list.

 

Hoffpauir's best chance IMO is if the Cubs decide to go with one reserve OF, which they have done in the past. His second best chance is if they go with one middle IF, which they did for a while in 07 but they weren't thrilled about. His worst chance would probably be that they go without that 12th pitcher.

[UK1679666180]

I'd rather see the Cubs become less of a micromanaging team with pinch-hitters, double switches, etc. and use 12 pitchers to allow to monitor starter workload closer (espec. Harden and Zambrano).

 

Except for the rare extra-inning marathon, there is no reason to burn out a bench unless a manager is overmanaging with 13 position players.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'd rather see the Cubs become less of a micromanaging team with pinch-hitters, double switches, etc. and use 12 pitchers to allow to monitor starter workload closer (espec. Harden and Zambrano).

 

Except for the rare extra-inning marathon, there is no reason to burn out a bench unless a manager is overmanaging with 13 position players.

 

But every player on our bench has such specifically defined skills that having a 5 man bench leaves you with a guy who can field, a guy who's fast, a guy who can catch, a guy who doesn't strike out, and Reed Johnson.

[davearm2]

Seriously, stubborn and unreasonable?

 

That's just ridiculous. Hendry has said he felt the need to trade DeRosa so they could get more lefthanded. The player they brought in to replace him is a switch hitter. The only other bat they've added effectively replaces another LH bat.

 

The only people being unreasonable are those who insist Hendry didn't deal DeRosa in an effort to get more left handed and that the addition of Miles is the only thing he's done to actually get more left handed.

 

It's crystal freaking clear.

The point remains that your insistence that Miles replaces DeRosa is a gross oversimplification that badly mischaracterizes the situation.

 

Miles will assume something like 1/3 of the 500 or so ABs that DeRosa leaves behind. The other 2/3rds will be absorbed by Fontenot and various OFs.

 

I think you realize this but for whatever reason have become so entrenched in your position that you're refusing to acknowledge the fundamental truth here. Fontenot and others are what made DeRosa expendable, not Aaron freaking Miles.

[Eric Clipperton]

Easy bench will be Hoffpauir, Miles, Bako(or whoever), Johnson and Gathright. Pie/Cedeno will most likely be traded(in a deal for Peavy or for low level talented prospects), and if we don't sign a Rich Aurilia type Hoffpauir is a lock to make the team. Because otherwise we don't have anybody who can back up at 1b. Lou isn't a stupid, he's not gonna have a bench with no power, so everyone needs to chill out about that. Plus I don't think it's a sure thing that we will have a five man bench again. With DeRosa no longer on the roster, it could cause the Cubs to carry a extra postion player.

 

Actually, Lou IS stupid. Or at least he manages the team like he is.

LEFTIES

VETERANS

VERSATILITY

To Lou, these three qualities serve as Viagra fueling his old, wrinkly, managerial boner.

[Moises a loo]

To Lou, these three qualities serve as Viagra fueling his old, wrinkly, managerial boner.

 

Ew. Dude.

 

And have we forgotten Dusty already? Let's try to appreciate what we have.

[cubsfan26]

He just mentioned what most Major League managers do, and how they like their teams put together.

[treebird]

Easy bench will be Hoffpauir, Miles, Bako(or whoever), Johnson and Gathright. Pie/Cedeno will most likely be traded(in a deal for Peavy or for low level talented prospects), and if we don't sign a Rich Aurilia type Hoffpauir is a lock to make the team. Because otherwise we don't have anybody who can back up at 1b. Lou isn't a stupid, he's not gonna have a bench with no power, so everyone needs to chill out about that. Plus I don't think it's a sure thing that we will have a five man bench again. With DeRosa no longer on the roster, it could cause the Cubs to carry a extra postion player.

 

Actually, Lou IS stupid. Or at least he manages the team like he is.

LEFTIES

VETERANS

VERSATILITY

To Lou, these three qualities serve as Viagra fueling his old, wrinkly, managerial boner.

 

i like the new guy.

[apete6]

Easy bench will be Hoffpauir, Miles, Bako(or whoever), Johnson and Gathright. Pie/Cedeno will most likely be traded(in a deal for Peavy or for low level talented prospects), and if we don't sign a Rich Aurilia type Hoffpauir is a lock to make the team. Because otherwise we don't have anybody who can back up at 1b. Lou isn't a stupid, he's not gonna have a bench with no power, so everyone needs to chill out about that. Plus I don't think it's a sure thing that we will have a five man bench again. With DeRosa no longer on the roster, it could cause the Cubs to carry a extra postion player.

 

Actually, Lou IS stupid. Or at least he manages the team like he is.

LEFTIES

VETERANS

VERSATILITY

To Lou, these three qualities serve as Viagra fueling his old, wrinkly, managerial boner.

 

I agree. Lou is a slightly better white version of Dusty. The 2004 team could have won 97 games if everyone was healthy all season as well.

 

The one thing Lou does better is deal with the media/meatball fan group and stick with younger players if they are doing well. The actual in game management is pretty much the same.

[cubsfan26]

You're also forgetting that Lou knows how to make a line-up card, and knows that walks are good. Dusty thinks too many players that walk equals bad. People can say whatever they want about Lou, but I think he's way better then Dusty. I don't think the 2004 Cubs had that much worse luck then the 2008 Cubs either. Yes Prior/Wood missed 10 plus starts each(Glendon Rusch pitched pretty good filling in though), but we didn't have perfect luck last year either. Soriano missed 53 games, Rich Hill lost it(only 12 starts from Harden), Howry was awful and even Zambrano missed some starts. There's no doubt in my mind that the 08 Cubs played much closer to their ablity then the 04 Cubs did. When that happens you gotta give your manager credit.

[CubinNY]

Easy bench will be Hoffpauir, Miles, Bako(or whoever), Johnson and Gathright. Pie/Cedeno will most likely be traded(in a deal for Peavy or for low level talented prospects), and if we don't sign a Rich Aurilia type Hoffpauir is a lock to make the team. Because otherwise we don't have anybody who can back up at 1b. Lou isn't a stupid, he's not gonna have a bench with no power, so everyone needs to chill out about that. Plus I don't think it's a sure thing that we will have a five man bench again. With DeRosa no longer on the roster, it could cause the Cubs to carry a extra postion player.

 

Actually, Lou IS stupid. Or at least he manages the team like he is.

LEFTIES

VETERANS

VERSATILITY

To Lou, these three qualities serve as Viagra fueling his old, wrinkly, managerial boner.

 

I agree. Lou is a slightly better white version of Dusty. The 2004 team could have won 97 games if everyone was healthy all season as well.

 

The one thing Lou does better is deal with the media/meatball fan group and stick with younger players if they are doing well. The actual in game management is pretty much the same.

I think Lou is a much better in-game manager than Dusty. I can't see anyone this side of Ned Yost who is worse. IMO, Lou's biggest strong suit is that he doesn't tolerate relief pitchers who cannot through strikes. On the other hand, this leads to severe overuse of some relievers while others sit on the bench and rot until they are traded. He does have all those bad qualities that Clipperton pointed out though. He's pretty old school, but he doesn't tend to over-manage like LaRussa. All and all, he's mostly good.

[DiamondMind]

I can't believe people are complaining about a manager that led us to back-to-back division championships. Please save me the comment of 'with our payroll, a monkey could do it'. That's not true. I could give about 100 examples of talent-laden teams that completely failed, but what's the point.

 

Lou is awesome.

[Derwood]

I can't believe people are complaining about a manager that led us to back-to-back division championships. Please save me the comment of 'with our payroll, a monkey could do it'. That's not true. I could give about 100 examples of talent-laden teams that completely failed, but what's the point.

 

Lou is awesome.

 

so because he did some things well means he's immune from criticism over the things he did poorly?

[inari]

I can't believe people are complaining about a manager that led us to back-to-back division championships. Please save me the comment of 'with our payroll, a monkey could do it'. That's not true. I could give about 100 examples of talent-laden teams that completely failed, but what's the point.

 

Lou is awesome.

 

 

There's probably 100's of examples of managers who led their teams to back to back division titles that are incompetent. I like Lou, but that's a poor argument.

[Derwood]

Dusty Baker lead us to Game 7 of the NLCS, Lou to two 3 and out NLDS losses.

 

Thus, Baker >>>>> Lou

 

It's basic math

[cubbinalltheway]

I agree. Lou is a slightly better white version of Dusty. The 2004 team could have won 97 games if everyone was healthy all season as well.

 

The one thing Lou does better is deal with the media/meatball fan group and stick with younger players if they are doing well. The actual in game management is pretty much the same.

slightly better than dusty? hahahahaha, please explain that.

[manbearcub]

I am going to keep track of all the pointless double-switches Lou makes this year. You know, the ones where he decides to double switch even though he isn't going to use the pitcher more than the end of that inning.

 

I fully expect to lose count by June.

[17 Seconds]

I think Lou is an awful in game manager, but a decent manager overall.

 

To say he's even close to as bad as Dusty is really really stupid though.

[Backtobanks]

I can't believe people are complaining about a manager that led us to back-to-back division championships. Please save me the comment of 'with our payroll, a monkey could do it'. That's not true. I could give about 100 examples of talent-laden teams that completely failed, but what's the point.

 

Lou is awesome.

 

It's amazing how everyone thinks Lou is awesome for leading us to back-to-back division championships, but the GM that put those two teams together is a doughnut-eating idiot.

[cubsfan26]

It's amazing how everyone thinks Lou is awesome for leading us to back-to-back division championships, but the GM that put those two teams together is a doughnut-eating idiot

 

 

Thats just how fans are, some think Hendry has done a good job but Lou is an idiot. Then there are fans who think Hendry is a idiot and Lou has helped him put a good team together. Then there are fans who think both guys are idiots, and the Cubs are just doing well because they spend money. Fans just like who they like, some can't forgive Hendry for a some poor moves he made over the years ago, and some can't forgive Lou for making some bad in game decisions. I think some bad moves both have made, stick with some people more then others and the good things about Hendry/Lou don't have the same impact on those people.

 

 

 

Of course there are alot of fans who realize Hendry has made alot more good moves then bad, and Lou does alot more good then bad with the roster. But I think we will always see these mix of reactions from Cubs fans. IMO, I think Hendry, Lou and the Tribune Company all deserve some credit. Hendry for spending the money on the right players and putting a good team together, Lou for getting the roster to play up to it's potential, and for the Tribune for giving us the resources we need to get better. But if you give everyone credit for the success, who can the fans blame when something they don't like happens? There almost always has to be a scapegoat for fans. Right now Hendry is taking some heat for making some questionable moves. But if alot of those moves work out and the Cubs aren't playing great baseball(even for a short period of time), Lou will start taking the heat.