It's time for change.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Mt. Lou Eruption is the only thing that can save us now.

 

If Lou was going to erupt, hed have done it by now. Hes in the same catatonic state as his offense, partially brought on by utter disbelief.

[Arnold Layne]

It's time to begone with Lou or Gerald Perry. This team is really underachieving Aramis or not. While Lou has gotten us to the playoffs 2 straight times, the Cubs have been worthless in both. I assume when we hired Lou our intention was to win a World Series not go 2 and out. And quite frankly, I don't think Lou gives a [expletive] anymore. He has yet to blow up this season despite our offensive struggles something he did 2 years in a row and fired the team up. Nothing this year. Or you could fire Gerald Perry because our offense has been nothing short of abysmal this season. All I know is something has to happen and hopefully quick because this team looks like one of the worst in baseball right now.

 

 

Fire Jim Hendry first.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Firing Lou or Perry will do nothing toward helping the team this year. It's a panic move. It would be nothing short of asinine. If there's a valid reason that a change will make the team better, then do it. However, firing Lou or Perry will not accomplish that.

 

Who would replace Lou? The Cubs would end up going with an interim manager. Who would that be? Trammel? Maybe, but I don't see the team performing better under him than they are now. Sandberg? God forbid!

 

Who else? It's just not a move a team that hopes to contend makes. Now, if we fall out of the race and the Cubs want to begin making those changes, that would be fine. Right now, it would be a shortsighted, panic-driven move to make, and makes no sense at all. This is an idea that would make great talk radio fodder, but really isn't an intelligent move at all.

[Arnold Layne]

Why are people so in love with Lou here? Dusty got us farther in the playoffs than him.

 

I love when people pretend that the playoff's aren't a crapshoot.

 

 

What happens when a team always ends up on the side of crap?

[Arnold Layne]

Yes it did, but talent alone isn't enough. Who was the one that finally gave players like Theriot and Soto a shot to play every day? Who was the manager that turned one of the least patient teams in baseball into the most (in 2008)? None of the "talent" we gained between 06 and 07 was all that renowned for patient hitting and getting on base at a high clip. Just two of several examples that illustrate why Lou is night and day better than Dusty Baker as a manager, and beyond that, one of the better managers in baseball.

 

I agree for the most part. Howver, I also can't ignore a few of his moves. I'd give Lou about a 6.8/10, a far better score than anything I would give Baker.

[Outshined_One]

Lou Piniella's an above average manager. Yeah, the Cubs could do better, but there are a ton of idiot managers out there.

 

But, then again, a number of idiot managers have won the World Series. Something tells me removing Piniella and Perry wouldn't do a whole lot of good regardless of who the Cubs hire as replacements.

[NCCubFan]

Who would replace Lou? The Cubs would end up going with an interim manager. Who would that be? Trammel? Maybe, but I don't see the team performing better under him than they are now. Sandberg? God forbid!

IT'S NICE TO BE IMPORTANT, BUT MORE IMPORTANT TO BE NICE.

[Soul]

Ghosts of '04, all over again. Injury after injury, underperforming vets. Nobody knows what's going on.

 

All we need now is a good spat between Brenly and someone on the team.

[rynefan]

Maybe it's a slump, maybe it's not. Maybe it's going to end up being indicative of the team's performance when we look back after the season, maybe they'll get it together, but to write it off as a slump is premature. I just don't see where any real "bright" spots were established to slump from so far. So they're slumping from expectations or what? Time will tell.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If you think about it, without Ramirez are offense is far from spectacular, but its not garbage.

 

-The best overall hitter on the team is locked at leadoff, and cant perfrom anywhere else in the lineup. However, when hes on his game, he knows how to get things started like no other.

-Theriot at 2 pretty much sums up what a number 2 guy does. Slaps a lot of singles and doubles and can take a walk or lay down a bunt.

-we pretty much have a slightly above average 3-5 that will be keys to contention, but isnt going to help us run away with the division.

-6-7 are guys who are doing next to nothing and getting by on the reputations they earned last year. There success wil also be very important to us

-we have a jumble of number 8 guys, none of which are worth a damn, but then again, look around the NL, and you see a lot of that.

 

While this looks discouraging, what it is is you're basic type of lineup for an NL team. In 2008, we were spoiled because we had a hell of a lineup with no easy outs 1-8. Well guess what, if you looks around the NL, there are very few lineups like that. What we do have is a starting pitching staff that trumps our competition. This team isnt going to run away with the division, however, it will contend, and even if we cant take the division, we'll be locked in a dogfight for the WC between whoever doesnt win the East betwen the Mets and Phils as well as the Cards or Brewers depending on whose in 1st, if its not us.

[Soul]

I don't know, I think the loss of Ramirez has had much to do with this team's offensive tailspin. Whether it's psychological, or because he was helping those around him, or whatever -- this club has been abysmal coping with his loss.

[Backtobanks]

If anybody needs to be fired, it's Jim Hendry. He's made some of the dumbest and unnecessary moves in the off-season/early season.

 

As usual we should blame Hendry for building the best team in the NL for the last few years. Most everyone on this board wanted Piniella to be hired (or Girardi who's doing worse with a team full of all-stars). Everybody was excited about Perry bringing in a new hitting philosophy that had the Cubs leading the league in runs. Most everyone clamored for Bradley with his outstanding offensive numbers. Posters were amazed that Hendry could get Harden for the rotation. Let me make a prediction - it will be Hendry's fault when Peavy's arm falls off after the Cubs acquire him in July. The numbers that Miles, Gregg, Bradley, Heilman, Fontenot, etc. certainly haven't been impressive, but you're fooling yourself if you think the numbers that DeRosa, Wood, Murton, Cedeno, Pie, and Hill have put up would have us running away with the NL Central.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I don't know, I think the loss of Ramirez has had much to do with this team's offensive tailspin. Whether it's psychological, or because he was helping those around him, or whatever -- this club has been abysmal coping with his loss.

 

Absolutely. as I recall in '06, the Cubs did OK the first few games aftr losing Lee before hitting that massive black hole. This team has much more going for them than 2006 nut they still have to be carefull that they dont go spiraling into obvlivion. I really think we should see what Texas wants for Blalock. its already been stated that theyd deal him for relief help. The question is how much. Obviosuly, they're not going to aquire a top of the line guy from anyone. Id try and offer up Heilman as well as 1 or even 2 of Hart, Stevens and Reinhard and throw in Jake Fox. I know that seems like a lot for a guy at the end of his contract who will probably only get 2 months of regular usage, but remember, theres no guarantee that Aramis is back in July or August or even September, and deperate times call for desperate measures.

 

Also, PetCo is the worst possible place for a team in a collective mega slump, be the pitcher Peavy or Greer or Gaudin or whoever. When your slumping this bad, its almost instinct to try to swing for the fences on every pitch to break out of it, and in PetCo, that aint gonna happen all that often.

[Soul]

I don't know, I think the loss of Ramirez has had much to do with this team's offensive tailspin. Whether it's psychological, or because he was helping those around him, or whatever -- this club has been abysmal coping with his loss.

 

Absolutely. as I recall in '06, the Cubs did OK the first few games aftr losing Lee before hitting that massive black hole. This team has much more going for them than 2006 nut they still have to be carefull that they dont go spiraling into obvlivion. I really think we should see what Texas wants for Blalock. its already been stated that theyd deal him for relief help. The question is how much. Obviosuly, they're not going to aquire a top of the line guy from anyone. Id try and offer up Heilman as well as 1 or even 2 of Hart, Stevens and Reinhard and throw in Jake Fox. I know that seems like a lot for a guy at the end of his contract who will probably only get 2 months of regular usage, but remember, theres no guarantee that Aramis is back in July or August or even September, and deperate times call for desperate measures.

 

Also, PetCo is the worst possible place for a team in a collective mega slump, be the pitcher Peavy or Greer or Gaudin or whoever. When your slumping this bad, its almost instinct to try to swing for the fences on every pitch to break out of it, and in PetCo, that aint gonna happen all that often.

 

I've been thinking about that too. Even though the Padres aren't supposed to be good, they're hot right now and we're not, and we've got many hitters who are way too agressive out there -- all in a ballpark built to just suck the life out of guys trying to hit homers.

 

It's really bad for us right now.

 

My big fear at the moment is letting this bad stretch carry over to Monday, when we should be in much better shape.

[rynefan]

I'm sure a big part of this is related to Aram being out, but it's a shame they can't get it together, all the same.

[Sosa21MVP]

These recent slump sucks but yeah I don't see the need to dump Lou or Gerald.

 

The way to get back on track is get guys healthy and get other guys back to performing to normal standards.

[Arnold Layne]

As usual we should blame Hendry for building the best team in the NL for the last few years.

 

"Waiter, I'll have what he' having!"

[cubswin2009]

7 game losing streak now.

 

ITS TIME FOR CHANGE

[NCCubFan]

7 game losing streak now.

 

ITS TIME FOR CHANGE

In 2001 the Cubs lost 8 games in a row. Then they immediately followed that up with a 12-game winning streak. Things can turn around quickly.

[Sosa21MVP]

7 game losing streak now.

 

ITS TIME FOR CHANGE

In 2001 the Cubs lost 8 games in a row. Then they immediately followed that up with a 12-game winning streak. Things can turn around quickly.

 

Ugh. Don't remind me of that team. They folded like a cheap suit in August/September. OMG JEFF FASSERO! :banghead:

[Exile on Waveland]

Histrionics!

[NonProfitCow]

Just last year the Rays and Dodgers had losing steaks of 7 or more. Step back from the ledge.

[illiniguy]

Just last year the Rays and Dodgers had losing steaks of 7 or more. Step back from the ledge.

You know we are done. Quit being reasonable.

[cubswin2009]

Just last year the Rays and Dodgers had losing steaks of 7 or more. Step back from the ledge.

Dodgers: Before Manny

Rays: We knew they were a good team during the streak.

 

This Cubs team has not been impressive at all.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Just last year the Rays and Dodgers had losing steaks of 7 or more. Step back from the ledge.

 

Yeah, but the Phillies only lost 6 in a row, maybe we just threw away the season by losing today.

 

 

In all seriousness though, these things happen. There's nothing drastic that can or should be done right now.