Rick Renteria Named New Cubs Manager

[Soul]

When the roster consists of legitimate difference makers who can, on paper, contend for a playoff spot and THEN the team fails... then you start to question his ability, but until the FO gives him the pieces he needs to contend, I'm not sweating much of what he does in regards to bunting with Donnie [expletive] Murphy or his handling of the bullpen.

 

That's basically giving Sveum a license to suck with no consequence. After all, no matter what he does, you can't really judge because the team isn't a contender yet.

 

To me, the problem with this theory is that you might never become a contender, and part of that might be due to Sveum not getting the most out of the players he has been put in charge of developing into real difference makers in the major leagues.

 

To me, Dale was brought here to get something out of what has been given to him. If he doesn't produce measurable progress on that front, he's got to be gone.

[NOLA]

I still think calling for Sveum to be fired when it's been publicly acknowledged by our FO that they haven't given him the best team to win with is premature. We've known from day 1 this team wasn't going to win this year. Until the team is full of talent that's capable of contending for a playoff spot, then I'll reserve my personal judgement of his coaching ability. .

 

 

But, but, but...what about doing things the Cubs Way?!?

[Sammy Sofa]

When the roster consists of legitimate difference makers who can, on paper, contend for a playoff spot and THEN the team fails... then you start to question his ability, but until the FO gives him the pieces he needs to contend, I'm not sweating much of what he does in regards to bunting with Donnie [expletive] Murphy or his handling of the bullpen.

 

That's basically giving Sveum a license to suck with no consequence.

 

So he fits in just fine with everyone else running this godforsaken organization.

 

But questionable pitching decisions and random bunt shenanigans aside I'm not looking to see him fired at this point. I guess I'd still vote "no" in those approval polls, but it's a 55-45 "no."

Edited September 17, 2013 by Sammy Sofa

[Clem Fandango]

When the roster consists of legitimate difference makers who can, on paper, contend for a playoff spot and THEN the team fails... then you start to question his ability, but until the FO gives him the pieces he needs to contend, I'm not sweating much of what he does in regards to bunting with Donnie [expletive] Murphy or his handling of the bullpen.

 

That's basically giving Sveum a license to suck with no consequence. After all, no matter what he does, you can't really judge because the team isn't a contender yet.

 

To me, the problem with this theory is that you might never become a contender, and part of that might be due to Sveum not getting the most out of the players he has been put in charge of developing into real difference makers in the major leagues.

 

To me, Dale was brought here to get something out of what has been given to him. If he doesn't produce measurable progress on that front, he's got to be gone.

 

I agree, to an extent. And I think next year is the deciding year. He was given a pile of hot garbage the first two years, and the FO knew it. Castro's regression is very concerning, though it has been noted it may have been due to the organization's attempt to adapt him to their new philosophy and him simply not being able to adjust. Who knows. But if Castro and Rizzo don't improve, while the team potentially adds key pieces (Choo/Ellsbury, Tanaka, etc.), and the team ends up being no better than they are this year, then yeah... something is rotten in Denmark. But I can't fault the guy too much when some of the key offensive contributors on his roster include guys like Donnie Murphy, Dioner Navarro, and Ryan Sweeney.

 

2014 is supposed to be the transitional year where the contender starts to take shape. If it doesn't improve, he's toast.

[UMFan83]

I don't know if this means anything either way but wanted to point out that during the "trying" portion on the season (aka pre-Trade Deadline), the Cubs have gone 92-117 the last 2 years (.441 winning% - 71-91 projected) and during the post-sell off portion of the 2 seasons, the Cubs have gone 32-71 (.311 winning% - 50-112 projected).

[Clem Fandango]

That makes sense given the direction the FO has taken at the deadline the past two seasons. Dempster/Maholm/Soto (even though he sucked) last year. Garza/Soriano/DeJesus/Feldman this year. They swapped useful/valuable/affordable veteran talent to bolster the farm system and replaced them at the ML level with cheap replacement level players each season. Not sure what people are expecting Sveum to do about it to make things better.

[NOLA]

Given what Sveum has had to work with I think you can throw the W/L record out the window. That doesn't excuse him from some absolutely boneheaded decisions he has made regarding the daily line-up, the regression of some hitters or handling of the bullpen.

 

I like what's going on organizationally, and for that Hoyer/Epstein are given a pass, for now. Sveum's job is to manage the big league club. At what point do you make a change? When we decide that we're good enough for mistakes to matter? I made a minor joke about the Cubs Way, but seriously, that really should include some accountability. Sveum continually making dumbass decisions shows everyone, including players, that we're not serious about much of anything yet.

[Clem Fandango]

How much of them are boneheaded vs. experimentation? And how much of these decisions have come in the beginning of the season vs. the latter half? If you're gonna try some wackadoo [expletive] better to do it late in the season when you're 24 games out of first place than when the games still matter.

[UK1679666180]

If they unload him, I want Torey Lovullo or Dave Martinez please.

[UK1679666180]

If they unload him, I want Torey Lovullo or Dave Martinez please.

[NOLA]

How much of them are boneheaded vs. experimentation? And how much of these decisions have come in the beginning of the season vs. the latter half? If you're gonna try some wackadoo [expletive] better to do it late in the season when you're 24 games out of first place than when the games still matter.

 

I am coming dangerously close to making some meatball comment about "creating a culture of winning", but I will back off that.

My real question is whether we have a competent coach who won't have us screaming at the television when he pulls this BS during a meaningful game in 2014 and beyond. If he isn't who we need there, when do we make that switch? After we start winning a few games? If we are a surprising young team who sneaks into a WC spot? This isn't Mike Olt, who still is worth seeing if he develops. If Sveum isn't the guy, make a change. I hear what you're saying, but I don't want wackadoo [expletive]. I want a manager who builds confidence in his bullpen, allows his starters to pitch through tough innings and doesn't bat Darwin Barney 2nd in the lineup.

[neely crenshaw]

So with this fine conglomeration of talent...who do you bat 2nd against a lefty?

Sveum may have lots of things to complain about but the problem here isn't that he batted Barney 2nd 14 times all year but that there are any other choices to do so vs a lefty.

Also note that Barney does have a.234-.301 obp vs a lefty, and has hit .200 with a.300 in the 2 hole. which is better than Rizzo, Valbuena,and Castro.

It's not that Barney is a good option but we just don't have any real options especially vs a lefty

[Sammy Sofa]

Castro doesn't have significant career splits, plus he should be getting as many PA as possible. Lake has excellent numbers against LH pitchers in a small ML sample, and he too should be getting as many PA as possible. Barney has no future with the team and can go fart an entire goose for all I care.

[mul21]

Castro doesn't have significant career splits, plus he should be getting as many PA as possible. Lake has excellent numbers against LH pitchers in a small ML sample, and he too should be getting as many PA as possible. Barney has no future with the team and can go fart an entire goose for all I care.

 

I think I may need a Treymon MS Paint rendering of this to fully understand it.

[NOLA]

So with this fine conglomeration of talent...who do you bat 2nd against a lefty?

Sveum may have lots of things to complain about but the problem here isn't that he batted Barney 2nd 14 times all year but that there are any other choices to do so vs a lefty.

Also note that Barney does have a.234-.301 obp vs a lefty, and has hit .200 with a.300 in the 2 hole. which is better than Rizzo, Valbuena,and Castro.

It's not that Barney is a good option but we just don't have any real options especially vs a lefty

 

Actually, I'd rather have Valbuena or Castro there.

Barney is a known commodity, and it's known that he's not that great at baseball. The next good Cubs baseball team will not have him batting anywhere above 7th, and maybe not on this team anywhere. The other guys? Quite possibly.

[Sammy Sofa]

Petition to have the image actually depicting Barney farting the goose into neely.

[Irrelevant Dude]

If they unload him, I want Torey Lovullo or Dave Martinez please.

Dave Martinez doesn't seem to be as "hot" a candidate as he was a few years ago. Is there any reason why his name hasn't been mentioned as much recently for managerial vacancies?

[italianocubsfan7]

Free agent managers this winter: Jim Leyland, Ned Yost, Don Mattingly, Ron Gardenhire, Joe Girardi, and Eric Wedge, among others.

 

It would be worth it for the Cubs to explore other options besides Sveum. Even if the team won't be in contention until 2015 or 2016.

[jersey cubs fan]

Free agent managers this winter: Jim Leyland, Ned Yost, Don Mattingly, Ron Gardenhire, Joe Girardi, and Eric Wedge, among others.

 

It would be worth it for the Cubs to explore other options besides Sveum. Even if the team won't be in contention until 2015 or 2016.

 

On the other hand, it could be a complete waste of time.

[Guest]

Free agent managers this winter: Jim Leyland, Ned Yost, Don Mattingly, Ron Gardenhire, Joe Girardi, and Eric Wedge, among others.

 

It would be worth it for the Cubs to explore other options besides Sveum. Even if the team won't be in contention until 2015 or 2016.

Big no on any of those names for me. Especially Wedge, mattingly, and Yost.

[Guest]

Free agent managers this winter: Jim Leyland, Ned Yost, Don Mattingly, Ron Gardenhire, Joe Girardi, and Eric Wedge, among others.

 

It would be worth it for the Cubs to explore other options besides Sveum. Even if the team won't be in contention until 2015 or 2016.

Big no on any of those names for me. Especially Wedge, mattingly, and Yost.

 

Yeah. Eww.

[XZero771679666304]

Free agent managers this winter: Jim Leyland, Ned Yost, Don Mattingly, Ron Gardenhire, Joe Girardi, and Eric Wedge, among others.

 

It would be worth it for the Cubs to explore other options besides Sveum. Even if the team won't be in contention until 2015 or 2016.

Big no on any of those names for me. Especially Wedge, mattingly, and Yost.

 

Yeah. Eww.

 

I'd fine with Girardi, maybe even Gardenhire.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Who in MLB right now would you guys consider a good manager? Besides Joe Maddon.

[NOLA]

Who in MLB right now would you guys consider a good manager? Besides Joe Maddon.

 

Hurdle, Matheny, Francona, Melvin, Showalter, Girardi

 

A serious question: Mike Scioscia? He probably will be available.

I wanted Girardi when we hired Svuem. I'll take him now.

[Cubswin11]

Who in MLB right now would you guys consider a good manager? Besides Joe Maddon.

 

Hurdle, Matheny, Francona, Melvin, Showalter, Girardi

 

A serious question: Mike Scioscia? He probably will be available.

I wanted Girardi when we hired Svuem. I'll take him now.

Dear god, no