It's time for change.

[illiniguy]

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.

It's times like this I wish I still lived in Peoria so I could just go watch the Chiefs tomorrow and forget about the Cubs.

[Little Slide Rooter]

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.

 

To be honest, I dont remember them being impressive, but the fact that after a 7 game losing streak, and theyre still at .500 suggests they have been.

[illiniguy]

We should throw the Dodgers out the window though, because in no way is 84 games winning this division.

[Soul]

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.

 

To be honest, I dont remember them being impressive, but the fact that after a 7 game losing streak, and theyre still at .500 suggests they have been.

 

They had Aramis Ramirez when they were impressive. Now they don't. That's the key difference here. I'm not sure what ARam's projected status is, but I've got to believe his return is still in question (in terms of timelines and effectiveness when he does return).

 

Yes, one player means that much to us, right here & right now, IMO.

[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.

 

To be honest, I dont remember them being impressive, but the fact that after a 7 game losing streak, and theyre still at .500 suggests they have been.

 

They had Aramis Ramirez when they were impressive. Now they don't. That's the key difference here. I'm not sure what ARam's projected status is, but I've got to believe his return is still in question (in terms of timelines and effectiveness when he does return).

 

Yes, one player means that much to us, right here & right now, IMO.

They weren't impressive with Aramis in the lineup either. Of course we aren't better off now but then we had bullpen problems. Now it's hitting and bullpen.

[Illini Iceman]

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.

 

To be honest, I dont remember them being impressive, but the fact that after a 7 game losing streak, and theyre still at .500 suggests they have been.

 

They had Aramis Ramirez when they were impressive. Now they don't. That's the key difference here. I'm not sure what ARam's projected status is, but I've got to believe his return is still in question (in terms of timelines and effectiveness when he does return).

 

Yes, one player means that much to us, right here & right now, IMO.

They weren't impressive with Aramis in the lineup either. Of course we aren't better off now but then we had bullpen problems. Now it's hitting and bullpen.

 

Your posts remind me of every Cubs fan I hated to have to listen to on a daily basis when I lived in Chicago. Super happy and placing orders for World Series Champs T-Shirts after the Cubs win a few games in a row and quitting on the season when things are going bad. Loving a player when he hits a couple home runs and wanting to release him when he strikes out with the bases loaded. It is a 6 month season, either take a chill pill or give up baseball and just stick to football where there are only 16 games a year to spaz out about. Maybe they will recover and still win the division and make a run in the playoffs. Maybe age, bad luck, injuries, etc will catch up to them and they will wind up being a major disappointment. It is worthy of discussion, but popping in after ever loss and Bradley out with "OMG, OMG, look what happened!!!" like the rest of weren't aware is lame.

[cubswin2009]

I haven't been happy with this team since last September. The whole offseason was a joke at the time and now looks like a huge joke in foresight and the team has been awful. Hard to believe we're even at .500. Sure feels like 10 under.

[Little Slide Rooter]

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.

 

To be honest, I dont remember them being impressive, but the fact that after a 7 game losing streak, and theyre still at .500 suggests they have been.

 

They had Aramis Ramirez when they were impressive. Now they don't. That's the key difference here. I'm not sure what ARam's projected status is, but I've got to believe his return is still in question (in terms of timelines and effectiveness when he does return).

 

 

Yes, one player means that much to us, right here & right now, IMO.

 

Without Aram, were a contender. With Aramis, were the favorites, which brings us full circle to the fact that we need to make a trade if at al possible, which Im sure it is. I think they're going to give it through the upcoming hoem stand, at which point, as the thread title sugests, it will in fact be time for change. It wont be a manager, general manager or coach being fired. Hopefully, it will be a trade for a 2nd or 3rd baseman.

[Sammy Sofa]

Your posts remind me of every Cubs fan I hated to have to listen to on a daily basis when I lived in Chicago. Super happy and placing orders for World Series Champs T-Shirts after the Cubs win a few games in a row and quitting on the season when things are going bad. Loving a player when he hits a couple home runs and wanting to release him when he strikes out with the bases loaded. It is a 6 month season, either take a chill pill or give up baseball and just stick to football where there are only 16 games a year to spaz out about. Maybe they will recover and still win the division and make a run in the playoffs. Maybe age, bad luck, injuries, etc will catch up to them and they will wind up being a major disappointment. It is worthy of discussion, but popping in after ever loss and Bradley out with "OMG, OMG, look what happened!!!" like the rest of weren't aware is lame.

 

I love you.

[A-Cal]

i can just see hendry giving up way too much in a trade for uggla

[Arnold Layne]

Your posts remind me of every Cubs fan I hated to have to listen to on a daily basis when I lived in Chicago. Super happy and placing orders for World Series Champs T-Shirts after the Cubs win a few games in a row and quitting on the season when things are going bad. Loving a player when he hits a couple home runs and wanting to release him when he strikes out with the bases loaded. It is a 6 month season, either take a chill pill or give up baseball and just stick to football where there are only 16 games a year to spaz out about. Maybe they will recover and still win the division and make a run in the playoffs. Maybe age, bad luck, injuries, etc will catch up to them and they will wind up being a major disappointment. It is worthy of discussion, but popping in after ever loss and Bradley out with "OMG, OMG, look what happened!!!" like the rest of weren't aware is lame.

 

 

Or maybe they are just not very good to begin with.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm as frustrated as anyone about the recent stretch of games. But frankly, there's little to be done right now except hope the team pulls out of the funk. Teams are not lining up to trade us a batter to replace Ramirez. Impactful trades are rarely made at this stage of the season.

 

Firing Lou or anyone else at this stage is an incredibly dumb idea. Yeah, it might make the over-reactionary fan feel better...because hell, someone has to pay for subjecting me to bad baseball. But frankly, those type of firings indicate panic which is something this team does not need right now.

 

Firing Hendry at this point would be giving up. No GM is going to come in here and fix it. If we miss the playoffs and the front office wants to place the blame on Hendry, fine. But no GM will come in mid-year with another guy's team and fix what ails us. He would just run into the same problems Hendry has right now. There aren't guys currently on the trade market which would represent a decent upgrade over what we have at a reasonable cost.

 

Anyone who thinks Hendry isn't trying desperately to make this team better given the resources he has available is either fooling themselves or too blinded by their clever use of fat jokes to realize the truth.

[A-Cal]

I'm as frustrated as anyone about the recent stretch of games. But frankly, there's little to be done right now except hope the team pulls out of the funk. Teams are not lining up to trade us a batter to replace Ramirez. Impactful trades are rarely made at this stage of the season.

 

Firing Lou or anyone else at this stage is an incredibly dumb idea. Yeah, it might make the over-reactionary fan feel better...because hell, someone has to pay for subjecting me to bad baseball. But frankly, those type of firings indicate panic which is something this team does not need right now.

 

Firing Hendry at this point would be giving up. No GM is going to come in here and fix it. If we miss the playoffs and the front office wants to place the blame on Hendry, fine. But no GM will come in mid-year with another guy's team and fix what ails us. He would just run into the same problems Hendry has right now. There aren't guys currently on the trade market which would represent a decent upgrade over what we have at a reasonable cost.

 

Anyone who thinks Hendry isn't trying desperately to make this team better given the resources he has available is either fooling themselves or too blinded by their clever use of fat jokes to realize the truth.

 

fat jokes aside, which are quite enjoyable...maybe, just maybe, what hendry is doing isn't what is best for this team/organization

 

maybe someone else can do a better overall job

 

i don't think anyone is suggesting that getting rid of hendry will make the team win the world series right now, but why wait to get a new line of thought and approach in this organization?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm as frustrated as anyone about the recent stretch of games. But frankly, there's little to be done right now except hope the team pulls out of the funk. Teams are not lining up to trade us a batter to replace Ramirez. Impactful trades are rarely made at this stage of the season.

 

Firing Lou or anyone else at this stage is an incredibly dumb idea. Yeah, it might make the over-reactionary fan feel better...because hell, someone has to pay for subjecting me to bad baseball. But frankly, those type of firings indicate panic which is something this team does not need right now.

 

Firing Hendry at this point would be giving up. No GM is going to come in here and fix it. If we miss the playoffs and the front office wants to place the blame on Hendry, fine. But no GM will come in mid-year with another guy's team and fix what ails us. He would just run into the same problems Hendry has right now. There aren't guys currently on the trade market which would represent a decent upgrade over what we have at a reasonable cost.

 

Anyone who thinks Hendry isn't trying desperately to make this team better given the resources he has available is either fooling themselves or too blinded by their clever use of fat jokes to realize the truth.

 

fat jokes aside, which are quite enjoyable...maybe, just maybe, what hendry is doing isn't what is best for this team/organization

 

maybe someone else can do a better overall job

 

i don't think anyone is suggesting that getting rid of hendry will make the team win the world series right now, but why wait to get a new line of thought and approach in this organization?

 

First of all, the biggest criticism against Hendry is that he has made a shambles of a 97-win team. On the other hand, it was Hendry who assembled the 97-win team. Can his moves this offseason be questioned? Certainly.

 

On the other hand, what good would a change right now do for the 2009 team? Probably nothing. It would signal a panic to the team. It would in essence send the message that the bosses don't think the team can win this year as assembled by the GM. The new GM isn't likely going to make any changes that Hendry wouldn't make.

 

He's going to still be bound by Lee's contract. He's still going to have the same bullpen options. He's still going to be bound by the same payroll restrictions. Now, if the idea is to go ahead and rebuild for the future, then making a change could be supported. If it's a reactionary move to a 7-game losing streak, it's not productive in the least.

 

There's also little a new GM will do during the season that would change the future direction. The only key thing that a new GM could do to change the future would be what they could get during a fire sale...and even with a new GM, I don't think that happens, or they could impact the future by what is given up to try to get back into contention.

 

If Hendry is to be replaced, it is best to do so at the end of the season. At that point, the powers can better evaluate his job in light of a full season and not just a quarter of it.

 

And back to the fat jokes...hell, I have plenty of them...but when they're used to show that Hendry must not be doing his job, they actually weaken your stance rather than improve it. It's pure propaganda.

 

I mean, do you really think that just because someone is overweight they must be lazy and not good at his job? From all indications, Hendry is an extremely hard worker...in fact, workaholic would be a good descriptor of him. Now, you may not like the decisions he makes, but it is completely false to assume he's just sitting around eating cake and laughing about how bad this team is. That kind of attitude whether in jest or not could not be further from fact. So, if you like filling posts with falsehoods, be my guest...but it discredits the rest of your ideas. Because if someone blatantly uses lies to further an agenda, I assume they may play loosely with all facts.

[Sammy Sofa]

BUT I'M ANGRY NOW.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

BUT I'M ANGRY NOW.

:-))

 

And that's what the recent attitudes seem to amount to.

 

I'm angry, so I want someone to pay for making me angry. It's comical to think that we're more upset than the team, manager, and GM. I'm sure they are just as frustrated...actually moreso, than we are.

[A-Cal]

I'm as frustrated as anyone about the recent stretch of games. But frankly, there's little to be done right now except hope the team pulls out of the funk. Teams are not lining up to trade us a batter to replace Ramirez. Impactful trades are rarely made at this stage of the season.

 

Firing Lou or anyone else at this stage is an incredibly dumb idea. Yeah, it might make the over-reactionary fan feel better...because hell, someone has to pay for subjecting me to bad baseball. But frankly, those type of firings indicate panic which is something this team does not need right now.

 

Firing Hendry at this point would be giving up. No GM is going to come in here and fix it. If we miss the playoffs and the front office wants to place the blame on Hendry, fine. But no GM will come in mid-year with another guy's team and fix what ails us. He would just run into the same problems Hendry has right now. There aren't guys currently on the trade market which would represent a decent upgrade over what we have at a reasonable cost.

 

Anyone who thinks Hendry isn't trying desperately to make this team better given the resources he has available is either fooling themselves or too blinded by their clever use of fat jokes to realize the truth.

 

fat jokes aside, which are quite enjoyable...maybe, just maybe, what hendry is doing isn't what is best for this team/organization

 

maybe someone else can do a better overall job

 

i don't think anyone is suggesting that getting rid of hendry will make the team win the world series right now, but why wait to get a new line of thought and approach in this organization?

 

First of all, the biggest criticism against Hendry is that he has made a shambles of a 97-win team. On the other hand, it was Hendry who assembled the 97-win team. Can his moves this offseason be questioned? Certainly.

 

On the other hand, what good would a change right now do for the 2009 team? Probably nothing. It would signal a panic to the team. It would in essence send the message that the bosses don't think the team can win this year as assembled by the GM. The new GM isn't likely going to make any changes that Hendry wouldn't make.

 

He's going to still be bound by Lee's contract. He's still going to have the same bullpen options. He's still going to be bound by the same payroll restrictions. Now, if the idea is to go ahead and rebuild for the future, then making a change could be supported. If it's a reactionary move to a 7-game losing streak, it's not productive in the least.

 

There's also little a new GM will do during the season that would change the future direction. The only key thing that a new GM could do to change the future would be what they could get during a fire sale...and even with a new GM, I don't think that happens, or they could impact the future by what is given up to try to get back into contention.

 

If Hendry is to be replaced, it is best to do so at the end of the season. At that point, the powers can better evaluate his job in light of a full season and not just a quarter of it.

 

And back to the fat jokes...hell, I have plenty of them...but when they're used to show that Hendry must not be doing his job, they actually weaken your stance rather than improve it. It's pure propaganda.

 

I mean, do you really think that just because someone is overweight they must be lazy and not good at his job? From all indications, Hendry is an extremely hard worker...in fact, workaholic would be a good descriptor of him. Now, you may not like the decisions he makes, but it is completely false to assume he's just sitting around eating cake and laughing about how bad this team is. That kind of attitude whether in jest or not could not be further from fact. So, if you like filling posts with falsehoods, be my guest...but it discredits the rest of your ideas. Because if someone blatantly uses lies to further an agenda, I assume they may play loosely with all facts.

 

wow...you must enjoy looking pretty far down your nose at people eh?

 

so, now because someone makes jokes it discredits their ideas and thoughts!?

 

unreal

 

also...these are all grow up men...i don't think they are going to start freaking out because their GM gets fired...

 

another thing that firing a GM midseason does allow is a different draft...just a thought...albeit an obviously discredited one

[Little Slide Rooter]

I think its time for a group hug.

[CUBZ99]

BUT I'M ANGRY NOW.

:-))

 

And that's what the recent attitudes seem to amount to.

 

I'm angry, so I want someone to pay for making me angry. It's comical to think that we're more upset than the team, manager, and GM. I'm sure they are just as frustrated...actually moreso, than we are.

 

Cub fans just watched their team lose 7 games in a row in pathetic fashion. Why wouldn't the fans be angry? Should they be sending the Cubs condolence cards? I would be more concerned if the fans didn't care. Sure there is some over reaction, but having angry fans, means having a fan that actually give a rip about what is going on with the team. These angry fans are generally the fans that go to ballgames, introduce their kids the Cubs, buy Cubs merchandise and post messages on websites that are dedicated to the Cubs (like NSBB).

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

 

wow...you must enjoy looking pretty far down your nose at people eh?

 

so, now because someone makes jokes it discredits their ideas and thoughts!?

 

unreal

 

also...these are all grow up men...i don't think they are going to start freaking out because their GM gets fired...

 

another thing that firing a GM midseason does allow is a different draft...just a thought...albeit an obviously discredited one

 

What's the point of making fun of someone because they are fat? What does it really add to what your saying? The only thing I can see that it does is try to imply that his weight has something to do with his ability to do the job. It's a ridiculous assertion. You're better off making the argument without it.

 

But once again, why fire the GM now? If it's not going to improve the team in the short term, why make a reactionary decision. Hendry is coming off a 97-win season and assembled a team that has made back-to-back playoff appearances. He's earned the right to finish this one, unless you think a new GM can make changes.

 

As for the draft, it's unlikely a new GM will make any changes in the decisions that Wilken and his staff will make. Anyone we hire mid-season would likely be promoted internally or be someone who is currently out of work. Those people will not have time to do their own research and greatly change decisions that will be made on months if not years worth of scouting. Changing GM's right now is a short-sighted, dumb, and over reactionary move.

 

And really what's worse? Looking down on people who make fat jokes or making fun of people who are fat? Really?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

BUT I'M ANGRY NOW.

:-))

 

And that's what the recent attitudes seem to amount to.

 

I'm angry, so I want someone to pay for making me angry. It's comical to think that we're more upset than the team, manager, and GM. I'm sure they are just as frustrated...actually moreso, than we are.

 

Cub fans just watched their team lose 7 games in a row in pathetic fashion. Why wouldn't the fans be angry? Should they be sending the Cubs condolence cards? I would be more concerned if the fans didn't care. Sure there is some over reaction, but having angry fans, means having a fan that actually give a rip about what is going on with the team. These angry fans are generally the fans that go to ballgames, introduce their kids the Cubs, buy Cubs merchandise and post messages on websites that are dedicated to the Cubs (like NSBB).

 

Sure you have a right to be angry, but calling for the firings of managers, GM's, hitting coaches, bullpen catchers, etc. is ridiculous and actually counter-productive to the team's performance for the remainder of the season. Be angry...be frustrated....I surely am. But also use some insight or perspective when thinking about what should be done.

[Little Slide Rooter]

BUT I'M ANGRY NOW.

:-))

 

And that's what the recent attitudes seem to amount to.

 

I'm angry, so I want someone to pay for making me angry. It's comical to think that we're more upset than the team, manager, and GM. I'm sure they are just as frustrated...actually moreso, than we are.

 

To be honest, I was quite angry tuesday-saturday, but this evening, I found myself turning off the game devoid of emotion after the Padres scored their 4th run. I flipped over to the Hawks game for an upper, but the 5-1 score proved quite the opposite.

 

I said it before, we left St Louis in a slump, and entered the worst possible ballpark to break out of slump, which might I add thank GOD we wont have to return to until next year. Were coming home to Wrigley and the Pirates which is always a cure for whatever ails you.

[JWCUB]

What we all have to realize is that it is a LONG season with a lot of highs and lows. Every team in baseball goes though slumps. The Cubs are going through a frustrating slump now. Just as Vance said, the players, couches, Lou and Hendry all know its a long season. The fans should too. I'm as frustrated as anyone about this pathetic team play this week. As a matter of fact, I just spent this whole road trip in the hospital. The only thing that kept be a little happy was knowing I was going to watch the Cubs. That turned out great. :thumbsup: Everytime the nurses would do their rounds and a game was on, they could count on my BP being elevated. And it always was. The point is, we all have bad weeks at work, does that mean we all deserve to be fired or traded? No. Lets just stick with them and see what they can do. Tha's what being a true fan is all about. I have been a Cubs fan for 25 years and have seen some really bad teams. This is not one of them. Just my input.

[CUBZ99]

BUT I'M ANGRY NOW.

:-))

 

And that's what the recent attitudes seem to amount to.

 

I'm angry, so I want someone to pay for making me angry. It's comical to think that we're more upset than the team, manager, and GM. I'm sure they are just as frustrated...actually moreso, than we are.

 

Cub fans just watched their team lose 7 games in a row in pathetic fashion. Why wouldn't the fans be angry? Should they be sending the Cubs condolence cards? I would be more concerned if the fans didn't care. Sure there is some over reaction, but having angry fans, means having a fan that actually give a rip about what is going on with the team. These angry fans are generally the fans that go to ballgames, introduce their kids the Cubs, buy Cubs merchandise and post messages on websites that are dedicated to the Cubs (like NSBB).

 

Sure you have a right to be angry, but calling for the firings of managers, GM's, hitting coaches, bullpen catchers, etc. is ridiculous and actually counter-productive to the team's performance for the remainder of the season. Be angry...be frustrated....I surely am. But also use some insight or perspective when thinking about what should be done.

 

Fair point, but when people get angry they tend to say irrational things. It adds nothing to the conversation to mock them for being angry, if anything it generally tends to make a person more angry. And there have been people calling for the firing of the GM, manager, hitting coach etc. even before the season started. I'm not one of them, but I've seen some pretty well thought out posts on the board detailing the rationale for firing Hendry and Lou.

 

I think a case could be made that Gerald Perry hasn't done a very good job this year to date. The team seems to have lost its patience at the plate and several key players have been in prolonged slumps. Is it all his fault? Of course not, but usually its the hitting coach that takes the fall for these problems. I also think the Cubs have a pretty damn good hitting coach at Iowa that I wouldn't mind seeing in Chicago.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

 

I think a case could be made that Gerald Perry hasn't done a very good job this year to date. The team seems to have lost its patience at the plate and several key players have been in prolonged slumps. Is it all his fault? Of course not, but usually its the hitting coach that takes the fall for these problems. I also think the Cubs have a pretty damn good hitting coach at Iowa that I wouldn't mind seeing in Chicago.

 

Players tend to press and become more impatient when they are struggling, especially when the entire team is struggling with them.

 

Gerald Perry has the right approach. Also, he's done an excellent job over the past two seasons. I'd prefer to wait a while longer before deciding whether he's to blame for the struggles of the offense or not.