It's Time

[dew1679666265]

I agree, but there's a big, big difference between 4 games under .500 and 10 back of the WC with 50 games left and the same scenario with 130 games left. There's still time to improve, but improving enough will be difficult.

 

The worrying thing to me is that the Cubs supposedly have played the "easy" part of their schedule. My numbers might be a bit off, but as of today, the combined record of the Cubs' opponents is 116-133 (.465). It would be one thing if the Cubs had played a really difficult stretch against teams like the Cardinals, Phillies, Padres, and Giants...but the Cubs haven't played any of those teams yet.

 

If this team can't post a winning record against teams like the Pirates and the Astros, they're in serious trouble.

 

Yeah, the 1-5 stretch we just had really hurts. We'll need to play a bit above our heads for a while to have a good chance at the postseason.

[dew1679666265]

Nuts & Gum wrote:

mean, you can't really slam Ricketts if he promotes Sandberg. I defy anyone to show me an owner that wouldn't go with such an obvious golden choice in terms of making the fans and the media happy.

 

The owner of the Orioles hasn't made Cal Ripken Jr. Manager of the Orioles.

 

What do I win?

 

Does Ripken want to manage?

[SouthSideRyan]

He's not Sandberg, but we didn't hire Joe Girardi, who actually had experience with the '06 Marlins(who everyone thought would be terrible, but wasn't) in '07.

[jersey cubs fan]

He's not Sandberg, but we didn't hire Joe Girardi, who actually had experience with the '06 Marlins(who everyone thought would be terrible, but wasn't) in '07.

 

But they went with a much bigger "star" manager in Piniella.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

He's not Sandberg, but we didn't hire Joe Girardi, who actually had experience with the '06 Marlins(who everyone thought would be terrible, but wasn't) in '07.

 

But they went with a much bigger "star" manager in Piniella.

a choice made mostly because of FIRE and INTENSITY

[SouthSideRyan]

Can we consider Bobby Valentine a star please?

[dew1679666265]

He's not Sandberg, but we didn't hire Joe Girardi, who actually had experience with the '06 Marlins(who everyone thought would be terrible, but wasn't) in '07.

 

Girardi isn't nearly the legendary figure in Chicago that Sandberg is, I don't think. Ryno appeals to hardcore and non-hardcore baseball fans alike, while probably a large majority of casual fans in Chicago likely had little idea of who Joe Girardi was before the Yankee job (and maybe still don't know him).

[hardcorecubfan]

How can Nady and Fontenot be spun as scapegoats at this point?

 

That was a poor choice of words, they are the sacrificial lambs that are used as a token of Hendry's idea of "look I am trying something" philosophy.

 

Trying what?

 

I do not know, but he has to act like he is trying something in order to save his job and getting rid of these guys will be the least offensive to people

[Guest]

a choice made mostly because of FIRE and INTENSITY

 

And instead of FIRE and INTENSITY, we got calm, cool and mentally [expletive].

[Sammy Sofa]

How can Nady and Fontenot be spun as scapegoats at this point?

 

That was a poor choice of words, they are the sacrificial lambs that are used as a token of Hendry's idea of "look I am trying something" philosophy.

 

Trying what?

 

I do not know, but he has to act like he is trying something in order to save his job and getting rid of these guys will be the least offensive to people

 

And it would be the least meaningful, too. It wouldn't placate anyone in the media or the fans, and it's not necessary since both are actually of some use, so what's the point?

[Sammy Sofa]

Nuts & Gum wrote:

mean, you can't really slam Ricketts if he promotes Sandberg. I defy anyone to show me an owner that wouldn't go with such an obvious golden choice in terms of making the fans and the media happy.

 

The owner of the Orioles hasn't made Cal Ripken Jr. Manager of the Orioles.

 

What do I win?

 

Wait, what? When did Cal ever make efforts to manage the Orioles? It should be obvious I'm talking about the type of situation Sandberg is in, not just beloved players randomly being asked to manage out of the blue.

[SouthSideRyan]

Willie Randolph?

[Sammy Sofa]

That whole year with the Mets will forever be treasured in their fans' hearts.

[Soul]

Nuts & Gum wrote:

mean, you can't really slam Ricketts if he promotes Sandberg. I defy anyone to show me an owner that wouldn't go with such an obvious golden choice in terms of making the fans and the media happy.

 

The owner of the Orioles hasn't made Cal Ripken Jr. Manager of the Orioles.

 

What do I win?

 

Wait, what? When did Cal ever make efforts to manage the Orioles? It should be obvious I'm talking about the type of situation Sandberg is in, not just beloved players randomly being asked to manage out of the blue.

 

I'll grant you it would create much buzz and excitement.

 

I sure hope it doesn't wind up hurting us.

 

Please get a good GM. And please do it after this year.

[Backtobanks]

Just a thought - I wonder if anybody on the Cubs suggested ARam get his eyes checked. His struggles might be corrected by checking his eyesight.

[SouthSideRyan]

Just a thought - I wonder if anybody on the Cubs suggested ARam get his eyes checked. His struggles might be corrected by checking his eyesight.

 

Aramis Ramirez refusing to listen to Cubs optometrist.

[bhogg]

this is turning into 2006 for me. That year, I woke up every morning hoping that Baker had been fired. I didn't give two craps whether or not the cubs won games.

 

 

Might as well fire Lou, bring up Sandberg and see how that works for them.

[Sammy Sofa]

this is turning into 2006 for me. That year, I woke up every morning hoping that Baker had been fired. I didn't give two craps whether or not the cubs won games.

 

 

Might as well fire Lou, bring up Sandberg and see how that works for them.

 

Why would they do that? Lou is gone at the end of this year even if they do fire him, and it's pretty clear they're looking at Sandberg as someone they want managing for at least a few years. Why saddle him and the perception of him as a manager with a bad team?

[Exile on Waveland]

Eh, 4 games under .500 on May 10 wouldn't cause me to panic even if I had high expectations coming into the season.

 

My mind is much more focused on securing the best possible opportunities starting in 2011.

 

4 games under .500, 10th place in the wild card.

 

It's a fairly daunting task.

 

Not that I expect this team to contend, but I don't see how being in "10th place" right now has much cogency at all. Sure, that's a lot of teams to pass but 130 games is an exceedingly long time to do so. They're a half game behind three of those teams (Florida, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles) and only five games back of the wild card leader (San Francisco).

[Soul]

Eh, 4 games under .500 on May 10 wouldn't cause me to panic even if I had high expectations coming into the season.

 

My mind is much more focused on securing the best possible opportunities starting in 2011.

 

4 games under .500, 10th place in the wild card.

 

It's a fairly daunting task.

 

Not that I expect this team to contend, but I don't see how being in "10th place" right now has much cogency at all. Sure, that's a lot of teams to pass but 130 games is an exceedingly long time to do so. They're a half game behind three of those teams (Florida, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles) and only five games back of the wild card leader (San Francisco).

 

I'm with you. 10th place or not, it's too early for me to draw any conclusions.

[inari]

Just a thought - I wonder if anybody on the Cubs suggested ARam get his eyes checked. His struggles might be corrected by checking his eyesight.

 

This isn't Major League.

[chasinf5s]

i really dont think Ricketts will allow a trade of any talent down in the minors to be honest. He has said all along that the farm will be a huge part of his ownership and i just cant see him saying well Jim trade away, hak ju lee, jackson (both) or vitters for mediocre talent at the trade deadline. I can totally see Lee, Lilly etc being traded for prospects though.

[bhogg]

this is turning into 2006 for me. That year, I woke up every morning hoping that Baker had been fired. I didn't give two craps whether or not the cubs won games.

 

 

Might as well fire Lou, bring up Sandberg and see how that works for them.

 

Why would they do that? Lou is gone at the end of this year even if they do fire him, and it's pretty clear they're looking at Sandberg as someone they want managing for at least a few years. Why saddle him and the perception of him as a manager with a bad team?

 

 

I'd rather Ryno have a less than stellar interim job and ride off into the sunset. I'm not looking forward to the day when the masses, myself included, are screaming "Fire Sandberg!" It's gonna happen.

 

In all honesty, Lou is not to blame in this mess. It's spread quite evenly from Hendry right down the line to the players.

 

 

It's just depressing to know this team has, maybe, a 1 / 1,000,000 chance of turning this crap around.

[erik316wttn]

this is turning into 2006 for me. That year, I woke up every morning hoping that Baker had been fired. I didn't give two craps whether or not the cubs won games.

 

 

Might as well fire Lou, bring up Sandberg and see how that works for them.

 

Why would they do that? Lou is gone at the end of this year even if they do fire him, and it's pretty clear they're looking at Sandberg as someone they want managing for at least a few years. Why saddle him and the perception of him as a manager with a bad team?

 

 

I'd rather Ryno have a less than stellar interim job and ride off into the sunset. I'm not looking forward to the day when the masses, myself included, are screaming "Fire Sandberg!" It's gonna happen.

 

In all honesty, Lou is not to blame in this mess. It's spread quite evenly from Hendry right down the line to the players.

 

 

It's just depressing to know this team has, maybe, a 1 / 1,000,000 chance of turning this crap around.

 

Do you mean that Lou isn't the only one to blame, or that he is completely blameless? Because if it's the first statement I agree wholeheartedly, but if it's the second I couldn't disagree more.

[Sammy Sofa]

"The masses" will never be screaming for Sandberg to be fired. "The masses" are nowhere near even wanting Lou to be fired.