[CuseCubFan69]

Bruce,

 

You are just hired to be the GM on May 1st 2004 for the Chicago Cubs. What would be the first 3 things you would do to improve the team.

[CubFanPhilly]

Bruce:

 

1) Care to give any odds on: a) Alou being re-signed?; b) Gonzalez?; c) Sosa extended?

 

2)

Cruz control: The jury is still out on the trade of pitcher Juan Cruz to Atlanta, but if there's any deal that might haunt Jim Hendry, it's this one.

 

What verdict do expect the "jury" to reach? So far, the return on the trade looks shaky at best.

 

Thanks.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Thanks for taking the time Bruce. Do Hendry or any of his aides consider sabremetrics or other advanced statistics when evaluating players? Being a former scout Hendry is probably a tools guy, so is there anyone coming from the other side of the spectrum?

[Mushimus]

Thanks Bruce for the chat,

 

If Brendan Harris has a down year at triple A (when he returns from injury) which 2b will Hendry likely to keep, Walker or Grudzielanek? What are your feeling on Harris as major leaguer as early as next year and batting at the top of the order?

[Mushimus]

Last year Lofton gave the Cubs a different look in the leadoff spot with his speed and OBP. In 05 will Hendry focus on trying to sign or acquire a true leadoff hitter as a major priority?

[seattlecub]

in '05, there are 4 spots that need filling, not counting bullpen, as i see it -- #5 starter, 2b, lf and ss. my hope/prediction (in that order) is that the cubbies target renteria for ss, have guzman in the rotation 9assuming no more health crapouts) and go one vet and 1 rook at 2b and lf. i'm pretty sure that clement is gone and that, if not guzman, one of the farm arms takes over that spot. so my question is where do you see the cubs going on 2b, ss and lf?

 

seattlecub

[seattlecub]

there's been a little talk of clement being dealt for an arm at the deadline. between need for arms and excess system shortstops among contenders, my targets if i were gm would be anaheim, kansas city and texas (at least if you count them as contenders or near-term contenders). do you see this as a possibility, and if so, what positions/teams etc. do you think might be targeted?

 

seattlecub

[ShawonDunston]

I was wondering how some old Cub favorites are doing and what are they up to?

 

Sandberg is deeply involved with the team as some sort of coach, correct?

 

What about Shawon Dunston? I saw an article on cubs.com about him visiting the team while they were at spring training. What is he up to now? Any likelyhood that he joins the Cubs in some manner?

 

Also, what about the Hawk, Andre Dawson? He has sure kept a low profile since retiring. What is he doing now?

 

Any updates on any of these guys would be tremendous.

 

Thanks!

[rawaction]

Any idea of the plan for Mark Prior when he returns? Will he do rehab in the minors and/or be on a strict pitch count when he rejoins the rotation? How worried are the Cubs about his longterm health?

[rawaction]

How much of a reality were the rumors (before he was injured) of the Cubs thinking of getting Grudzielanek some games at SS to get his and Walker's bats in the same lineup? With an achilles injury, is it still a possibility?

[JC]

Bruce,

In the off season, was there much talk off getting rid of the shortest, worst third base coach in the majors, Wendell Kim? I heard some rumblings, but they were quickly quelled. Do you have any additional insight? In that same vein, while loyalty is often perceived as good, do you see Dusty's loyalty to some coaches (Kim, Sarge, etc.) and players (Lenny Harris, Eric Karros, Alf, etc.) as a character flaw/hinderance?

[JC]

As a baseball insider, despite the "Hush Order" mandated from the Commissioner, do you get the sense that baseball is worried about the steroid issue or that it simply hopes it will again blow over? As an avid fan, this issue truly shakes my faith in the game, and while there are those who believe that it doesn't matter if guys are juicing, I think the vast majority of fans are outraged, or at least distressed, by players' (i.e. Fehr's) responses to this issue. Where do most Cubs fall on this issue, if you know.

[ZZ Thorn]

What are the odds of Alou's option being picked up? Not good I'd suspect because it's so pricey, but what are his chances of coming back to the team if he takes a hefty pay cut?

[HoopsCubs]

Bruce,

 

Thanks for taking our questions.

 

(1) When do you anticipate the Cubs will go back to 11 pitchers and 6 reserve players as opposed to the 12/5 they are operating with now? Will that change be timed with Mark Grudzielanek's return?

 

(2) I feel Jim Hendry unnecessarily rushed into the Juan Cruz deal with Atlanta. Was Richard Lewis the guy he wanted with Pratt as the throw-in, or vice versa? If it was Lewis, then I will withhold judgment. But if Pratt was the main guy, did Hendry really believe that Pratt would be any better than Jimmy Anderson or Glendon Rusch for the role he was looking to fill?

 

(3) I am not an expert on the farm, but why is Ronny Cedeno on the 40 man roster? With Grudz, Walker, Ramon and Macias on board, wouldn't it have been smarter for Hendry to expose Cedeno to waivers, and use that 40th spot for Scott McClain, or the aforementioned Anderson or Rusch?

 

 

Thanks,

Hoops

[goonys evil twin]

3 parter for Mr. Miles:

 

1) What sort of dollar figure do you think the Cubs will be willing to add to the payroll in July?

 

2) Was the early fan support expected, and therefore included in the budget, or were they cautiously optimistic and now pleasantly surprised to the point of willing to change the budget?

 

3) Do you think the Prior mystery is at all tied into the desire to sell as many tickets as possible before the season began?

[goonys evil twin]

Bruce,

 

Do you think the Cubs regret in any way not making more of an effort to convince Kaz Matsui that Chicago was as good a destination as NY, LA or Seattle were, ala Theo Epstein reversing Schilling's anti-Boston sentiment? Or are they comfortable with possibly being stuck with Gonzalez not only this year, but the next couple as well?

 

 

Last year the Cubs went pretty heavy after catchers in the draft. A couple seasons ago they were all over athletic middle infielders. With no first rounder, do you see them focusing on a specific position this June, and which position would that be? OF, potential leadoff guys, college relievers who could progress quickly but might not have a ton of upside, more middle infielders?

[Jon]

Looks like I beat everyone to this question. Why on earth would Dusty send Zambrano back to the mound in the 8th inning with a wet infield and a 9-1 lead after already throwing 96 pitches? Is there any way to justify this? I don't mean to seem picky (especially right after a nice and easy "W"), but with 7 guys in the bullpen, I just don't see any reason to keep him in the game.

[cubsla]

It seems two years ago when rothschild was working with baylor, that cubs pitchers were taken out after reaching 110 pitches. do you know what ?

what is his philosophy on pitch counts and how does it differ with dusty.

 

Also. I would like to see a story with tom house, prior's guru when he was young, over how the cubs have handled it and the issue of pitch counts.

 

thanks, buck

[LeftCoastCubFan]

The Cubs have made great strides as an organization with the development of the farm system, the promotion of Jim Hendry as GM, and the hiring of Dusty Baker. We have a great chance at being competitive for the next 3 to 5 years. We have made wise and economical moves to this point (other then the Maddux splurge), but haven’t really targeted top of the line free agents. Are the Tribsters really committed to winning, or are they just willing to continue to spend a percentage of the revenues (albeit increasing)?