7/7 Gm 1 Chicago (Prior 5-2) at Atlanta (Ramirez) 12:00 CST

[Mizzou]

A prediction : Should the Cubs put forth another lackadaisical effort while losing Game 2, Baker gets fired tonight.

Let's hope your prediction comes true. I for one would celebrate if that happened.

 

There's the post of the year. Hoping for a Cub loss. I hate Perez, but I don't hope he goes 3 for 55 just so he might sit. Hoping for a loss is just as bad as players quitting.

 

I'd sacrifice one game if it meant that Dusty would be fired, you bet. I'm sure most of the posters on this board would as well.

[ryno-mvp23]

Does anyone else think that Dusty might be very close to being fired?

 

no....we can hope all we want but hendry would never do it midseason with that much money left on his contract

[Mizzou]

Does anyone else think that Dusty might be very close to being fired?

 

no....we can hope all we want but hendry would never do it midseason with that much money left on his contract

 

If we're paying Sammy 12 million to not play for us, then we can pay Dusty however much he is owed to not manage for us. How much is he slated to make next year, by the way?

[Brian]

gotta go 4-0 to go tot he break above .500 :roll:

 

I'm particularilly looking forwarded to getting owned by Al Leiter :oops:

[johnnyba99]

Does anyone else think that Dusty might be very close to being fired?

 

no....we can hope all we want but hendry would never do it midseason with that much money left on his contract

 

If we're paying Sammy 12 million to not play for us, then we can pay Dusty however much he is owed to not manage for us. How much is he slated to make next year, by the way?

 

I wrote a letter to the Cubs expressing that I understand the financial implications on them to pay out Bakers contract and that I am willing to manage the team for a mere $100,000 per year and they could fire me anytime they wished.

[goonys evil twin]

A prediction : Should the Cubs put forth another lackadaisical effort while losing Game 2, Baker gets fired tonight.

Let's hope your prediction comes true. I for one would celebrate if that happened.

 

There's the post of the year. Hoping for a Cub loss. I hate Perez, but I don't hope he goes 3 for 55 just so he might sit. Hoping for a loss is just as bad as players quitting.

 

The Cubs are going to lose more games this year, one way or the other. In fact, they are going to lose lots of games, even if they go on a fantastic second half run. If somebody truly thought that getting swept again would be the nail in the coffin, I don't see anything wrong with rooting against the team for one game. If it achieves a greater goal of getting rid of the incapable Baker, it's got to be a good thing.

 

Personally, I don't think a loss would affect Hendry's view on Baker. I believe it would take a collapse of monumental proportions the rest of the year to get Dusty fired, and even then I wouldn't be convinced that a move was imminent. But if I knew that a loss this evening would be the end of Dusty in Chicago, I wouldn't have a problem rooting for that to happen.

[YearofDaCubs]

A prediction : Should the Cubs put forth another lackadaisical effort while losing Game 2, Baker gets fired tonight.

Let's hope your prediction comes true. I for one would celebrate if that happened.

 

There's the post of the year. Hoping for a Cub loss. I hate Perez, but I don't hope he goes 3 for 55 just so he might sit. Hoping for a loss is just as bad as players quitting.

Hoping for one loss which would cause Baker to be fired would be a godsend for the fans and players of this team.

[Brian]

I'd manage the Cubs for free

[J.R.]

one loss which would cause Baker to be fired would be a godsend for the fans and players of this team.

[JC]

Firing Baker would have to come fromt he unhappy Trib execs. As we have discussed, Hendry's future is tied to Baker's for the most part. Andy MacPhail isn't going to unilaterally get rid of Hendry, and Hendry isn't going to get rid of Baker. However, if Mariotti's "suits" are in a tizzy over the $100M payroll and crappy results, pressure could be applied.

 

Amazingly, I may not want Baker fired. I want him and his entire staff gone at the end of the season. I'm worried that if its done piecemeal, some remnants of Dusty could remain. Plus, going the interim route is usually nonsense. Would you really want Dick Pole managing the rest of the year while still paying Dusty $2M? Meh. Every option sucks.

[Mizzou]

Can Dick Pole possibly be a worse manager than Dusty? Hell, can anyone for that matter? He is terrible at gametime decisions and he is terrible at managing his players... what is it that he IS good at? And there are better options out there. Just a couple days ago, there was an article in a Philly newspaper quoting Jim Leyland saying that he wanted the job of Phillies manager this year... I'm sure Chicago would interest him as well.

[Chocolate Milk]

Firing Baker would have to come fromt he unhappy Trib execs. As we have discussed, Hendry's future is tied to Baker's for the most part. Andy MacPhail isn't going to unilaterally get rid of Hendry, and Hendry isn't going to get rid of Baker. However, if Mariotti's "suits" are in a tizzy over the $100M payroll and crappy results, pressure could be applied.

 

Amazingly, I may not want Baker fired. I want him and his entire staff gone at the end of the season. I'm worried that if its done piecemeal, some remnants of Dusty could remain. Plus, going the interim route is usually nonsense. Would you really want Dick Pole managing the rest of the year while still paying Dusty $2M? Meh. Every option sucks.

 

Perhaps we should sacrifice our coaching staff and most of our team to our gods. That might work out.

[Omar]

Wouldnt it be great if Yankees fired Torre?

[muntjack]

That AB by Hairston was the best of the game by a cub. It perfectly illustrates why we will never be a great team under Dusty. AB's like that (even when they end in an out) are productive for SO MANY reasons, NONE of which Baker endorses.

 

Occasionally our first-pitch approach will be successful, but never consistently. Any pitcher (Davies, Colon, Eischen, Ramirez) can easily take advantage of it.

 

This is maddening.

 

Here's what I don't get about the obsession with the number of pitches a player sees per AB. Nomar has been one of the best hitters in the league over his career, and yet swings at everything, if Neifi Perez takes 2 pitches before he makes his out it's still an out. Fact is he just can't hit, so does it matter if he grounds out on pitch 1 or 8? I'm not convinced it does. I do however think that several players swing at a bunch of bad pitches and they are not good enough hitters to make up for poor pitch selection.

 

 

If a hitter sees 8 pitches in an AB, thats about 1/12 of a normal pitch count. If 12 guys see 8 pitches, even if NONE of them get on base, the starter will have 96 pitches by the end of the fourth inning. I'm also pretty sure it's easier to hit a pitcher when he is fatigued, and worried about walking guys.

 

There are other advantages in long AB's, such as seeing a pitchers entire repertoire so he can't suprise you in the fifth inning, giving your pitcher more time to rest, etc.

 

Nomar is one the modern era's best hitters, so he has gotten by prettu well with his approach. If you notice, though, he has thrived in a lineup that has always had other hitters who work the count.

[ZZ Thorn]

A prediction : Should the Cubs put forth another lackadaisical effort while losing Game 2, Baker gets fired tonight.

Let's hope your prediction comes true. I for one would celebrate if that happened.

 

There's the post of the year. Hoping for a Cub loss. I hate Perez, but I don't hope he goes 3 for 55 just so he might sit. Hoping for a loss is just as bad as players quitting.

Hoping for one loss which would cause Baker to be fired would be a godsend for the fans and players of this team.

 

I don't really think so - I bet if they ran a poll on "should Dusty be fired" on chicagosports.com he'd still get a majority of support. I do think his firing would make a very vocal minority happy - and I think it'd make the generally silent majority roll their eyes less at the vocal minority, who the majority would wish would stop obsessing over Dusty, at least in postal form.

 

As far as the players, they are definitely Dusty fans. They would be very upset if he was fired and no manager could come in and get them to play great this year.

[CubinNY]

Wouldnt it be great if Yankees fired Torre?

 

Naw, the Yankees are smart. They've called up a rookie to play CF and one to play 2nd base b/c the proven vet isn't getting it done.

 

Go figure, what will they think of next.

[dalgreen]

Can Dick Pole possibly be a worse manager than Dusty? Hell, can anyone for that matter? He is terrible at gametime decisions and he is terrible at managing his players... what is it that he IS good at? And there are better options out there. Just a couple days ago, there was an article in a Philly newspaper quoting Jim Leyland saying that he wanted the job of Phillies manager this year... I'm sure Chicago would interest him as well.

 

I think you are over simplifying the problem. Dusty is one problem, I don't care if you think he's a big problem, but he's still just one problem. We need guys who can hit and know how to play the game. Or do you really think Burnitz is capable of having an MVP year under a new manager? We need players. A new manager means this team will still suck just suck with a new manager.

[USSoccer]

Can Dick Pole possibly be a worse manager than Dusty? Hell, can anyone for that matter? He is terrible at gametime decisions and he is terrible at managing his players... what is it that he IS good at? And there are better options out there. Just a couple days ago, there was an article in a Philly newspaper quoting Jim Leyland saying that he wanted the job of Phillies manager this year... I'm sure Chicago would interest him as well.

 

I think you are over simplifying the problem. Dusty is one problem, I don't care if you think he's a big problem, but he's still just one problem. We need guys who can hit and know how to play the game. Or do you really think Burnitz is capable of having an MVP year under a new manager? We need players. A new manager means this team will still suck just suck with a new manager.

 

Agreed. Dusty is one of several major flaws with this team. Unfortunatley, Dusty exacerbates many of the player's flaws by failing to put them in a position to succeed, over, and over, and over...

[dalgreen]

A prediction : Should the Cubs put forth another lackadaisical effort while losing Game 2, Baker gets fired tonight.

Let's hope your prediction comes true. I for one would celebrate if that happened.

 

There's the post of the year. Hoping for a Cub loss. I hate Perez, but I don't hope he goes 3 for 55 just so he might sit. Hoping for a loss is just as bad as players quitting.

 

I'd sacrifice one game if it meant that Dusty would be fired, you bet. I'm sure most of the posters on this board would as well.

 

So, you've given up on the wild-card? I haven't. But I know we can't throw away one-loss if we still have the wild-card in our minds. Now if you've given up on the season, then one loss doesn't matter.

[ZZ Thorn]

Can Dick Pole possibly be a worse manager than Dusty? Hell, can anyone for that matter? He is terrible at gametime decisions and he is terrible at managing his players... what is it that he IS good at? And there are better options out there. Just a couple days ago, there was an article in a Philly newspaper quoting Jim Leyland saying that he wanted the job of Phillies manager this year... I'm sure Chicago would interest him as well.

 

I think you are over simplifying the problem. Dusty is one problem, I don't care if you think he's a big problem, but he's still just one problem. We need guys who can hit and know how to play the game. Or do you really think Burnitz is capable of having an MVP year under a new manager? We need players. A new manager means this team will still suck just suck with a new manager.

 

YES BUT WE NEED A SCAPEGOAT!!!!!!

[tbird]

firing baker would not solve anything unless a lot of other changes took place. this team has two, count em two hitters. they lack a lead off man unless you count hariston which i'm not sure i do. the so called stength because of injuries or some other reason is preforming poorly. i would rather see hendry go, after all he put this team together. it is hendry who stated in the tribune he wanted veterans for the bench, not baker. today he played the 3 board favorites, combined 0 for ll and a misplayed fly ball.these players may not be the answer either. hendry cannot continue to sit on his hands and watch the team crumble around him. either trade one of your big three pitchers for a top hitter and bring up hill, nolasco, etc. other teams do it. what about murton, pie sing mcghee or theriot. they might perform as well as many of our other players. it is time to find out. if you get rid of baker and continue with the same players i feel their will be no improvement and maybe even worse performances since the players apparently like baker.

[Mizzou]

A prediction : Should the Cubs put forth another lackadaisical effort while losing Game 2, Baker gets fired tonight.

Let's hope your prediction comes true. I for one would celebrate if that happened.

 

There's the post of the year. Hoping for a Cub loss. I hate Perez, but I don't hope he goes 3 for 55 just so he might sit. Hoping for a loss is just as bad as players quitting.

 

I'd sacrifice one game if it meant that Dusty would be fired, you bet. I'm sure most of the posters on this board would as well.

 

So, you've given up on the wild-card? I haven't. But I know we can't throw away one-loss if we still have the wild-card in our minds. Now if you've given up on the season, then one loss doesn't matter.

 

Where did I say that? How could you have possibly come to that conclusion?

 

No, I'm not giving up on the season. But if you told me that a Cubs loss tonight would lead to Dusty Baker being fired, I would hope for a Cubs loss. That doesn't mean that I'm giving up. On the contrary, that means that I still have hope.

 

In regards to your previous post to me... no, Dusty's not the only problem. But he is the biggest problem. He keeps putting guys in positions to fail. Neifi leading off, Remlinger facing lefties, etc. Get a guy who knows his player's abilities and this team will be so much better.

[badger1679666666]

firing baker would not solve anything unless a lot of other changes took place. this team has two, count em two hitters. they lack a lead off man unless you count hariston which i'm not sure i do. the so called stength because of injuries or some other reason is preforming poorly. i would rather see hendry go, after all he put this team together. it is hendry who stated in the tribune he wanted veterans for the bench, not baker. today he played the 3 board favorites, combined 0 for ll and a misplayed fly ball.these players may not be the answer either. hendry cannot continue to sit on his hands and watch the team crumble around him. either trade one of your big three pitchers for a top hitter and bring up hill, nolasco, etc. other teams do it. what about murton, pie sing mcghee or theriot. they might perform as well as many of our other players. it is time to find out. if you get rid of baker and continue with the same players i feel their will be no improvement and maybe even worse performances since the players apparently like baker.

 

Would you have said any of same things to the Marlins in 03, or the Astros when they fired their manager and went on a tear?

 

Me thinks not. Teams have been known to turn around when managers get fired, and I'm sure the team is sick of Dusty's moronic lineups he trots out their daily. They might fight better for a manager with at least half a brain.

[dalgreen]

A prediction : Should the Cubs put forth another lackadaisical effort while losing Game 2, Baker gets fired tonight.

Let's hope your prediction comes true. I for one would celebrate if that happened.

 

There's the post of the year. Hoping for a Cub loss. I hate Perez, but I don't hope he goes 3 for 55 just so he might sit. Hoping for a loss is just as bad as players quitting.

 

I'd sacrifice one game if it meant that Dusty would be fired, you bet. I'm sure most of the posters on this board would as well.

 

So, you've given up on the wild-card? I haven't. But I know we can't throw away one-loss if we still have the wild-card in our minds. Now if you've given up on the season, then one loss doesn't matter.

 

Where did I say that? How could you have possibly come to that conclusion?

 

No, I'm not giving up on the season. But if you told me that a Cubs loss tonight would lead to Dusty Baker being fired, I would hope for a Cubs loss. That doesn't mean that I'm giving up. On the contrary, that means that I still have hope.

 

In regards to your previous post to me... no, Dusty's not the only problem. But he is the biggest problem. He keeps putting guys in positions to fail. Neifi leading off, Remlinger facing lefties, etc. Get a guy who knows his player's abilities and this team will be so much better.

 

My point is usually the wild card winner can come down to the final game or final two games of the season. One loss could mean the difference between making the wild card and missing out. So, giving away a game just to have a manager fired doesn't make sense if you still think we have a shot at the wild card.

[dalgreen]

firing baker would not solve anything unless a lot of other changes took place. this team has two, count em two hitters. they lack a lead off man unless you count hariston which i'm not sure i do. the so called stength because of injuries or some other reason is preforming poorly. i would rather see hendry go, after all he put this team together. it is hendry who stated in the tribune he wanted veterans for the bench, not baker. today he played the 3 board favorites, combined 0 for ll and a misplayed fly ball.these players may not be the answer either. hendry cannot continue to sit on his hands and watch the team crumble around him. either trade one of your big three pitchers for a top hitter and bring up hill, nolasco, etc. other teams do it. what about murton, pie sing mcghee or theriot. they might perform as well as many of our other players. it is time to find out. if you get rid of baker and continue with the same players i feel their will be no improvement and maybe even worse performances since the players apparently like baker.

 

Would you have said any of same things to the Marlins in 03, or the Astros when they fired their manager and went on a tear?

 

Me thinks not. Teams have been known to turn around when managers get fired, and I'm sure the team is sick of Dusty's moronic lineups he trots out their daily. They might fight better for a manager with at least half a brain.

 

Come on. Do you really think the Astros would've won had they not gotten Beltan and if the Marlins didn't bring up Cabrera? In 2003, we won the division because Houston choked and because we got Lofton and Ramirez who were better than playing Goodwin and Harris. So, no, the manager alone won't make a difference.