Rickets gives Fleita 4-year extension

[Clem Fandango]

What's funny is that most folks can't wait to get rid of the Cub with the best plate discipline and highest walk total -- by far.

 

I like Carlos Pena a lot.

 

I like Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder better.

 

I think this is probably the mindset of the majority of the folks around here. I don't think anyone out and out hates having Carlos Pena on the team, but when you have the opportunity to sign two players who are leaps and bounds better than him, you start hoping for him to pack his bags in favor of one of those two guys.

 

If we miss out on the Fielder and Pujols sweepstakes and we wind up with Carlos Pena again, it will be a little disappointing because we didn't land one of the big fish, but he's not a bad consolation prize because he does have good plate discipline and is good at getting on base and this team needs a guy like that.

 

If we wind up with him because management decided he was the better option and they did not want to pursue Fielder or Lee as a by product of that thinking?

 

[expletive] Carlos Pena

[javy knows my name]

What's funny is that most folks can't wait to get rid of the Cub with the best plate discipline and highest walk total -- by far.

 

I like Carlos Pena a lot.

 

I like Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder better.

 

I think this is probably the mindset of the majority of the folks around here. I don't think anyone out and out hates having Carlos Pena on the team, but when you have the opportunity to sign two players who are leaps and bounds better than him, you start hoping for him to pack his bags in favor of one of those two guys.

 

If we miss out on the Fielder and Pujols sweepstakes and we wind up with Carlos Pena again, it will be a little disappointing because we didn't land one of the big fish, but he's not a bad consolation prize because he does have good plate discipline and is good at getting on base and this team needs a guy like that.

 

If we wind up with him because management decided he was the better option and they did not want to pursue Fielder or Lee as a by product of that thinking?

 

[expletive] Carlos Pena

 

What an absurdly rational response to that horse [expletive] comment. :hello:

[davearm2]

What's funny is that most folks can't wait to get rid of the Cub with the best plate discipline and highest walk total -- by far.

 

I like Carlos Pena a lot.

 

I like Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder better.

 

I think this is probably the mindset of the majority of the folks around here. I don't think anyone out and out hates having Carlos Pena on the team, but when you have the opportunity to sign two players who are leaps and bounds better than him, you start hoping for him to pack his bags in favor of one of those two guys.

 

If we miss out on the Fielder and Pujols sweepstakes and we wind up with Carlos Pena again, it will be a little disappointing because we didn't land one of the big fish, but he's not a bad consolation prize because he does have good plate discipline and is good at getting on base and this team needs a guy like that.

 

If we wind up with him because management decided he was the better option and they did not want to pursue Fielder or Lee as a by product of that thinking?

 

[expletive] Carlos Pena

I understand the reasons why just fine. It's still awfully ironic to me.

[Guest]

Aw man, Davearm got us in our own hypocrisy again!

[Magnetic Curses]

i still don't understand how that's ironic.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Good move. Smart organizations try to keep young tapers, player of suit.

 

I think were going to lose Wilken. Gut call, because I base it on nothing.

 

Looks like my gut sucks. It doesn't suck to keep him.

 

What the heck is a young tapers player of suit?

 

Phone typing...talent...Player or suit.

[Little Slide Rooter]

What's funny is that most folks can't wait to get rid of the Cub with the best plate discipline and highest walk total -- by far.

 

I like Carlos Pena a lot.

 

I like Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder better.

 

I think this is probably the mindset of the majority of the folks around here. I don't think anyone out and out hates having Carlos Pena on the team, but when you have the opportunity to sign two players who are leaps and bounds better than him, you start hoping for him to pack his bags in favor of one of those two guys.

 

If we miss out on the Fielder and Pujols sweepstakes and we wind up with Carlos Pena again, it will be a little disappointing because we didn't land one of the big fish, but he's not a bad consolation prize because he does have good plate discipline and is good at getting on base and this team needs a guy like that.

 

If we wind up with him because management decided he was the better option and they did not want to pursue Fielder or Lee as a by product of that thinking?

 

[expletive] Carlos Pena

I understand the reasons why just fine. It's still awfully ironic to me.

 

Most casual fans look at Carlos Pena and see the batting average flirting with the mendoza line and probably have no idea that he gets on base more than most .300 hitters, including Starlin Castro. This being said, my main problem with retaining Pena is that even if we do sign CJ Wilson and part ways with Carlos Zambrano, the 2012 team will likely look an awful lot like this 2011 team, and we really don't want that. If the options came down to Pena and guys like Casey Kotchman and James Loney, I might prefer Pena, although trading for Loney and giving him a 1 year trial might be a better choice than a 3/30 deal for Pena.

 

What it comes down to is that if the plan is a youth movent and building a team to compete in the next 4-5 years, and were looking at a bunch of sub .500 teams until then, there's really no need to be paying Carlos Pena 10 mil/year instead of a bunch of cheap band-aids like LaHair, Loney, and Ridling.

[jersey cubs fan]

Good move. Smart organizations try to keep young tapers, player of suit.

 

I think were going to lose Wilken. Gut call, because I base it on nothing.

 

Looks like my gut sucks. It doesn't suck to keep him.

 

What the heck is a young tapers player of suit?

 

Phone typing...talent...Player or suit.

 

Fleita is not talent. Nor is he young.

[SouthSideRyan]

James Loney is terrible.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

 

Fleita is not talent. Nor is he young.

 

Disagree on both accounts...45 isn't old and he's one of thE few FO talents this franchise has.

 

James Loney sucks and there are only three 1B options for the Cubs this offseason:

 

Fielder

Pujols

 

 

 

 

Pena

[jersey cubs fan]

 

Fleita is not talent. Nor is he young.

 

Disagree on both accounts...45 isn't old and he's one of thE few FO talents this franchise has.

 

 

Disagree all you want but you're wrong. He's been around for a very long time and is right behind Jim Hendry is terms of crappy baseball execs who screwed up the Cubs this past decade. He's also not young, so there's no point in pretending otherwise.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

 

Fleita is not talent. Nor is he young.

 

Disagree on both accounts...45 isn't old and he's one of thE few FO talents this franchise has.

 

 

Disagree all you want but you're wrong. He's been around for a very long time and is right behind Jim Hendry is terms of crappy baseball execs who screwed up the Cubs this past decade. He's also not young, so there's no point in pretending otherwise.

 

Again, I disagree.

 

The Cubs were screwed up all of last decade now? Revisionist history much?

 

45 is young.

[Magnetic Curses]

James Loney is terrible.

 

he will be signed long-term by the dodgers. coletti is just in love with that guy for some reason.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Good move. Smart organizations try to keep young tapers, player of suit.

 

I think were going to lose Wilken. Gut call, because I base it on nothing.

 

Looks like my gut sucks. It doesn't suck to keep him.

 

What the heck is a young tapers player of suit?

 

Phone typing...talent...Player or suit.

 

Fleita is not talent. Nor is he young.

 

But he is a white guy, which I never knew.

[Tarver]

 

Fleita is not talent. Nor is he young.

 

Disagree on both accounts...45 isn't old and he's one of thE few FO talents this franchise has.

 

 

Disagree all you want but you're wrong. He's been around for a very long time and is right behind Jim Hendry is terms of crappy baseball execs who screwed up the Cubs this past decade. He's also not young, so there's no point in pretending otherwise.

 

Again, I disagree.

 

The Cubs were screwed up all of last decade now? Revisionist history much?

 

45 is young.

 

Weren't you the guy who was advocating retaining Hendry too?

 

Do you work for the Cubs? Serious question.

[Tarver]

If we don't get Fielder, just save the money for Votto. Dump Pena unless he'll sign another one year deal for <$ 7 million.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Weren't you the guy who was advocating retaining Hendry too?

 

Do you work for the Cubs? Serious question.

 

No, I was the guy not losing sleep over keeping him or firing him. I'm in the camp where contracts leaving and money being reinvested properly will go a long way towards getting this franchise back on track, which for a minute there in the 2000's they were.

 

I know I'm talking crazy when I say this...but the results aren't always guaranteed to be there, even when things are done in the one and only way to do them right.

[UMFan83]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/mlb-playoffs-seeding-races-news-and-n...

 

This is from Ken Rosenthal's column. He rips on Ricketts for the Fleita extension. Here is the Cubs' part:

 

“Oneri Fleita, the Cubs' vice-president of player personnel, is very good at his job, but I don't care if he's the second coming of Branch Rickey. Cubs owner Tom Ricketts should not have awarded Fleita a four-year extension before naming a new general manager.

 

“Never mind that Fleita reportedly had interest from the Tigers; Ricketts is now on a slippery slope. Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken logically is next in line for an extension; some rival executives consider him more invaluable to the team than Fleita. The new GM might be left to hire a few special assistants, and nothing more.

 

“It's the wrong way to operate, and it shows that Ricketts may be dangerously naive. Just as managers must be allowed to pick their coaches, GMs must be given authority over baseball operations - and that includes the selections of their farm and scouting directors.

 

“Whether or not Ricketts' move scares off GM candidates remains to be seen; the Cubs' job is highly coveted, and a new GM might have kept Fleita, Wilken and other quality employees, anyway.

 

“The question is one of control. Ricketts, highly regarded by Cubs executives, could develop into a fine owner. But he already has diminished the power of his next GM.”

[jersey cubs fan]

Weren't you the guy who was advocating retaining Hendry too?

 

Do you work for the Cubs? Serious question.

 

No, I was the guy not losing sleep over keeping him or firing him. I'm in the camp where contracts leaving and money being reinvested properly will go a long way towards getting this franchise back on track, which for a minute there in the 2000's they were.

 

I know I'm talking crazy when I say this...but the results aren't always guaranteed to be there, even when things are done in the one and only way to do them right.

 

You will have a better time getting results when you don't have incompetent idiots deciding how your money will be reinvested.

[Backtobanks]

If we don't get Fielder, just save the money for Votto. Dump Pena unless he'll sign another one year deal for <$ 7 million.

 

If I were the Reds' GM, I would listen to offers for Votto this offseason. Alonzo can flat out hit, but can't play the OF. Votto could get a #1 starter. The Reds won't be able to afford him after next year @ $19,000,000.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Weren't you the guy who was advocating retaining Hendry too?

 

Do you work for the Cubs? Serious question.

 

No, I was the guy not losing sleep over keeping him or firing him. I'm in the camp where contracts leaving and money being reinvested properly will go a long way towards getting this franchise back on track, which for a minute there in the 2000's they were.

 

I know I'm talking crazy when I say this...but the results aren't always guaranteed to be there, even when things are done in the one and only way to do them right.

 

You will have a better time getting results when you don't have incompetent idiots deciding how your money will be reinvested.

 

Hence keeping Fleita and Wilken.

[SouthSideRyan]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/mlb-playoffs-seeding-races-news-and-n...

 

This is from Ken Rosenthal's column. He rips on Ricketts for the Fleita extension. Here is the Cubs' part:

 

“Oneri Fleita, the Cubs' vice-president of player personnel, is very good at his job, but I don't care if he's the second coming of Branch Rickey. Cubs owner Tom Ricketts should not have awarded Fleita a four-year extension before naming a new general manager.

 

“Never mind that Fleita reportedly had interest from the Tigers; Ricketts is now on a slippery slope. Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken logically is next in line for an extension; some rival executives consider him more invaluable to the team than Fleita. The new GM might be left to hire a few special assistants, and nothing more.

 

“It's the wrong way to operate, and it shows that Ricketts may be dangerously naive. Just as managers must be allowed to pick their coaches, GMs must be given authority over baseball operations - and that includes the selections of their farm and scouting directors.

 

“Whether or not Ricketts' move scares off GM candidates remains to be seen; the Cubs' job is highly coveted, and a new GM might have kept Fleita, Wilken and other quality employees, anyway.

 

“The question is one of control. Ricketts, highly regarded by Cubs executives, could develop into a fine owner. But he already has diminished the power of his next GM.”

 

It all depends if his contract is structured as was mentioned earlier, where he can be dumped fairly easily. If not, then I actually have to agree with Rosenthal.

[XZero771679666304]

Yeah, the Fleita extension looks pointless and stupid on its face, but we'll have to see if the contract specifics give the incoming GM any latitude in making changes.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Yeah, the Fleita extension looks pointless and stupid on its face, but we'll have to see if the contract specifics give the incoming GM any latitude in making changes.

 

Of course he's going to have latitude on moves. Expect an Assistant GM.

[XZero771679666304]

Yeah, the Fleita extension looks pointless and stupid on its face, but we'll have to see if the contract specifics give the incoming GM any latitude in making changes.

 

Of course he's going to have latitude on moves. Expect an Assistant GM.

 

I mean latitude to replace or demote Fleita and/or Wilken if he sees fit.