Cubs Fire Renteria, Hire Maddon

[Cubswin11]

Listening to Olney's podcast he's talking about Maddon, he said he basically thinks it's a done deal he's coming here. He seems really confident it's happening and he's talking more than it's just his opinion it's happening and more along the lines he knows it's going to happen.

[Guest]

Listening to Olney's podcast he's talking about Maddon, he said he basically thinks it's a done deal he's coming here. He seems really confident it's happening and he's talking more than it's just his opinion it's happening and more along the lines he knows it's going to happen.

 

Well, he did say this the other day

 

Buster Olney was just on ESPN radio, Ian O'Connell(sp), and was asked the following question....

What will Joe Maddon be doing next year:

A) managing the Cubs

B) managing another team

C) color commentary on TV

D) sitting at home

 

I'm not exactly going verbatim here, but his reply was something like "I'll take A, you can have B, C,& D and I'll beat you everytime."

 

He seems EXCEPTIONALLY confident that it's going to get done, he then went on to cite the deafening silence from our front office and our great young talent as reasons why it appears to be a lock.

[Clem Fandango]

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN 2h2 hours ago

Given that it's a travel day in the World Series, we could learn more today about the direction of Joe Maddon (to the North Side, IMO).

 

Oh I doubt this. I don't expect to learn any real info till the WS is over with.

 

I think it's possible more information unofficially leaks out, but don't see any real announcement coming yet.

 

To that end, Maddon’s agent Alan Nero has confirmed to Marc Topkin that the Cubs are indeed among the teams that have reached out to their camp. So there is no more thinly-veiled illusion here: the Cubs are interested in Maddon.

 

http://www.bleachernation.com/2014/10/27/your-morning-maddon-cubs-have-contacted-maddon-tampering-talk-free-agents-more/

[Guest]

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN 2h2 hours ago

Given that it's a travel day in the World Series, we could learn more today about the direction of Joe Maddon (to the North Side, IMO).

 

Oh I doubt this. I don't expect to learn any real info till the WS is over with.

 

I think it's possible more information unofficially leaks out, but don't see any real announcement coming yet.

 

To that end, Maddon’s agent Alan Nero has confirmed to Marc Topkin that the Cubs are indeed among the teams that have reached out to their camp. So there is no more thinly-veiled illusion here: the Cubs are interested in Maddon.

 

http://www.bleachernation.com/2014/10/27/your-morning-maddon-cubs-have-contacted-maddon-tampering-talk-free-agents-more/

 

Yeah, Wittenmyer had that Saturday night, IIRC.

[Guest]

Transaction Analysis: Maddon Leaves the Rays Where the Sun Don't Shine

 

That's no dis to Maddon, undoubtedly one of the top managers in baseball. His people skills are top notch, whether it's dealing with the press, communicating with his charges, or maintaining a breezy clubhouse. Players trust him enough to go along with his themed road-trips and fluid lineups without complaining about distractions, playing time, or comfort levels.

 

It helps that Maddon has earned trailblazer status. Credit that to the Rays' standing as an early adapter to the motion defense—or whatever you want to call the obsessive shifting craze sweeping the league. In all likelihood, Maddon's fondness for the shift probably comes from Gene Mauch, one of his biggest influences. Ditto for Maddon's deftness with platoons and squeeze plays, as well as his penchant for having infielders drop their knees in front of the bag to hamper base-stealers.

 

At this point you might ask: if Maddon is the total package, then why are the Rays letting him walk? This separation is the rare kind fueled by money. The short version is that Maddon wanted a higher salary than the Rays were offering, and felt the gap was too wide for a speedy resolution. It just so happened that when Friedman left, he triggered an early opt-out clause in Maddon's contract, which allowed him to forgo the final season of his deal in favor of immediate free agency. And so Maddon, like many of his past Rays players, will leave the Trop behind for the highest bidder. Whichever team wins is getting a good one—a strategist, leader, and communicator, all in a zany package.

[Guest]

Having worked as a manager - both directly over hourly employees and as a manager of other managers - I can tell you that my experience is that performance was universally better under managers that created an environment where people felt respected. The personalty of the location manager was the single most important element in determining the success or failure of that location. A bad manager can sour the barrel with remarkable speed, and given a bit of time a good one can achieve seeming miracles in a supposedly terrible environment. And I never once saw a manager whose stock and trade was getting people to work harder because they were terrified of the alternative achieve any lasting success.

 

Is it different with professional athletes, most of whom make more than the "boss" and know they can't be fired and he can? Of course - but maybe not as different as it's generally made out to be. I tend to believe the role of the manager in creating a clubhouse environment is underrated in importance by people who believe stats can explain everything in baseball, and that managers are worth at most 1-2 wins per season.

 

Even if this is true, stats still would explain it. in other words, if clubhouse chemistry matters, it only matters if the difference translates into performance. In the above examples of bad managers, I think there are a lot of people who still perform, then they go find another job.

[UMFan83]

Renteria statement:

 

@GDubCub: Renteria statement, thru agent: "I was hired nearly a year ago to be the Chicago Cubs manager. Notwithstanding all the speculation @GDubCub: (cont)…I continue to focus my offseason preparation on achieving the goal we established from the start: bringing a championship to Chicago"

[A New Era]

Renteria statement:

 

@GDubCub: Renteria statement, thru agent: "I was hired nearly a year ago to be the Chicago Cubs manager. Notwithstanding all the speculation @GDubCub: (cont)…I continue to focus my offseason preparation on achieving the goal we established from the start: bringing a championship to Chicago"

 

Ouch, Ricky you hurt me. Only because I really like you. I feel bad now.

[Sammy Sofa]

Appropriately vague. Well done, Rick.

[Cubswin11]

http://www.thescrib.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/the-bobs.jpg

 

Hey Ricky, how would you like to have Quality Assurance Coach next to your name and as many as 4 people working right underneath you?

[Dr. Cub]

http://www.thescrib.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/the-bobs.jpg

 

Hey Ricky, how would you like to have Quality Assurance Coach next to your name and as many as 4 people working right underneath you?

 

 

Naga....naga.....uh.....nagannaworkhereanymore

[Guest]

Almost certainly more of the same from Loxas (either making [expletive] up or parroting real reports), but what the hell

 

http://www.cubsinsider.com/renteria-will-stay-cubs-maddon-trigger-pulled/

 

also just noticed the url which is not what the blog actually says lol

 

 

TomLoxas @TomLoxas · 3h 3 hours ago

This is happening kids. Friday or Monday presser my only question.

 

TomLoxas @TomLoxas · 3h 3 hours ago

Good thing I'm off both days from other gig.

Edited October 28, 2014 by David

[Banedon]

Almost certainly more of the same from Loxas (either making [expletive] up or parroting real reports), but what the hell

 

http://www.cubsinsider.com/renteria-will-stay-cubs-maddon-trigger-pulled/

 

also just noticed the url which is not what the blog actually says lol

 

I'm not sure why I still follow him on twitter.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Almost certainly more of the same from Loxas (either making [expletive] up or parroting real reports), but what the hell

 

http://www.cubsinsider.com/renteria-will-stay-cubs-maddon-trigger-pulled/

 

also just noticed the url which is not what the blog actually says lol

 

There are reasons why I won’t come right out and say this is a done deal

 

Because you have no inside information whatsoever?

[Guest]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/sunday-notes-maddon-cherington-fixing-the-reds-trusting-buck-more/ - Maddon talks about depressed run scoring environment

 

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2014/10/27/7073445/joe-maddon-manager-tampa-bay-rays - Analysis of Maddon's managerial abilities

[Sammy Sofa]

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2014/10/27/7073445/joe-maddon-manager-tampa-bay-rays - Analysis of Maddon's managerial abilities

 

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly04o4NxyG1qlvj4w.gif

[Guest]

Is it just me, or is Arguello missing the point of the Cubs hoarding these bats when nobody else has offense?

 

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2014/10/its-time-to-win-maddon-would-add-new-dimension-to-cubs-plan/

 

Maddon is speaking in generalities with regard to where the game has gone, but I don't think he's going to see it as a weakness that the Cubs can hit dongs at almost every position.

[Guest]

Is it just me, or is Arguello missing the point of the Cubs hoarding these bats when nobody else has offense?

 

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2014/10/its-time-to-win-maddon-would-add-new-dimension-to-cubs-plan/

 

Maddon is speaking in generalities with regard to where the game has gone, but I don't think he's going to see it as a weakness that the Cubs can hit dongs at almost every position.

yes, not only is it not a weakness, in the current state of the game, hitting dongs might be the most precious skill. Obviously, Arguello failed macro in college.

 

They do need to cut down on the ks. I think the rise in ks has as much to do with the depressed run environment as do all the defense and bullpen slotting.

[jersey cubs fan]

Is it just me, or is Arguello missing the point of the Cubs hoarding these bats when nobody else has offense?

 

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2014/10/its-time-to-win-maddon-would-add-new-dimension-to-cubs-plan/

 

Maddon is speaking in generalities with regard to where the game has gone, but I don't think he's going to see it as a weakness that the Cubs can hit dongs at almost every position.

 

I don't quite get your interpretation of Arguello assuming Maddon would view 8 dong hitters as a weakness.

[Guest]

Is it just me, or is Arguello missing the point of the Cubs hoarding these bats when nobody else has offense?

 

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2014/10/its-time-to-win-maddon-would-add-new-dimension-to-cubs-plan/

 

Maddon is speaking in generalities with regard to where the game has gone, but I don't think he's going to see it as a weakness that the Cubs can hit dongs at almost every position.

 

I don't quite get your interpretation of Arguello assuming Maddon would view 8 dong hitters as a weakness.

 

Not exactly that. But he's talking like the Cubs would have to apply the things Maddon says about speed and such, and I don't think they would. They'd have the luxury of having those types of hitters when few teams do. I think Maddon is laying out where the game is going, but the rules don't have to apply to the Cubs as much. In the quote below, it seemed to me like Arguello is trying to turn this into Maddon having a differing voice and that he'd want to go a somewhat different direction. I don't really think that'd be the case. And I don't think Maddon and the Cubs FO would have that type of fundamental philosophical disagreement. And I think the FO would agree with Maddon in terms of the game in general.

 

 

That would seem to differ vastly from the Cubs solution, who have continued to pursue hitters who take pitches and hit for power. In fact, they've hoarded them. I do have to say I like having a different respected voice in the organization. We trust Theo and Jed -- but how can we not trust Joe too?

 

We've talked about diversifying the offense quite a bit on this site, starting with the possibility of bringing on a Denard Span type hitter. Perhaps they can balance the lineup with a few hitters who can make consistent contact as well as players who can create once they are on base. Might that be a direction the Cubs can explore if they bring Maddon into the fold?

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't think that suggesting he would want one or two contacty players in the lineup would be akin to a fundamental philosophical disagreement.

 

 

I also don't think the Cubs front office is married to the theoretical 8 dong hitting position players already in the system.

Edited October 28, 2014 by jersey cubs fan

[Guest]

I don't think that suggesting he would want one or two contacty players in the lineup would be akin to a fundamental philosophical disagreement.

 

No, but Arguello seems to make it sound that way, no?

 

That would seem to differ vastly from the Cubs solution, who have continued to pursue hitters who take pitches and hit for power. In fact, they've hoarded them. I do have to say I like having a different respected voice in the organization. We trust Theo and Jed -- but how can we not trust Joe too?

[jersey cubs fan]

No, but Arguello seems to make it sound that way, no?

 

Not to me. I read your take first and expected to see a different article than what I ended up reading.

[Guest]

btw if you think my interpretation is bad, check out the comments for all the YAY SPEED! STOLEN BASES! guys who think Maddon is going to bring us small ball (which they'll love every second of). SMH.

[SouthSideRyan]

Is it just me, or is Arguello missing the point of...

 

Almost certainly.