Prospects

[Backtobanks]

I know there are 1000 posts on Dusty as a manager, but Hendry must be getting worried that Dusty's reluctance to play and correctly use rookies not only affects the Cubs future but also the value of these prospects in a trade. The most recent case is Mitre who has probably lost all of his value in a trade. When a rookie comes up and sits for weeks at a time, or plays and not allowed to make a mistake without being replaced in the lineup, it has to mess with their minds and confidence. While I like the trade for Lawton, it sure looks like their won't be much room on this team for rookies next year. I expect them to bring back Nomar, Neifi, Burnitz, Lawton, and Walker next year, so the only spots that I see are in the bullpen. Murton might hang on as a 4th OF unless he's dealt in the off-season. So again, if these prospects aren't going to play for us, they need to be able to bring us something in a trade.

[texascub]

With Hendry trying to make the team better, if we fall flat on our faces again down the stretch this year I don't think Baker will last a long time. Hendry is intelligent and firing him during the season would leave more dead money but since last year is his last year under contract anyway, we won't be out that much money.

[NCCubFan]

Hendry is intelligent and firing him during the season would leave more dead money but since last year is his last year under contract anyway, we won't be out that much money.

Too bad that statement is a typo instead of the truth. :D

[HoopsCubs]

With Hendry trying to make the team better, if we fall flat on our faces again down the stretch this year I don't think Baker will last a long time. Hendry is intelligent and firing him during the season would leave more dead money but since last year is his last year under contract anyway, we won't be out that much money.

 

You almost get the sense that if LA were to fire Tracy, and were to offer Baker the job, that Jim Hendry would gladly let him out of the final year, and would name Atlanta 3rd base coach Fredi Gonzalez the new skipper of the Cubs.

[CubfaninCA]

My guess is that Murton gets dealt in the offseason, and perhaps they make another run for Soriano. If Wood shows he can pitch a few innings out of the pen w/out getting hurt, he may be packing his bags. Pitching out of the pen may get pretty old, pretty quick. Hope so.

 

Lawton, Nomah, Giles, Lee, ARam, Sori, Patterson & Barrett should be within the budget and could put lots of runs on the board. :D

[CubfaninCA]

Write off Cedeno too. If Nomah has any success, he's probably back and Dusty loves Neifi.

[PackLandVA]

Regardless of how much Dusty loves Perez, doesn't he only come back if Hendry decides to offer him a contract? It is Hendry, after all, that puts together the roster. It's up to Dusty to use (or misuse) the players he's given.

[CubinNY]

With Hendry trying to make the team better, if we fall flat on our faces again down the stretch this year I don't think Baker will last a long time. Hendry is intelligent and firing him during the season would leave more dead money but since last year is his last year under contract anyway, we won't be out that much money.

 

You almost get the sense that if LA were to fire Tracy, and were to offer Baker the job, that Jim Hendry would gladly let him out of the final year, and would name Atlanta 3rd base coach Fredi Gonzalez the new skipper of the Cubs.

 

I don't think there is any way Dusty Manages the Dodgers.

 

1. Depo is Billy Bean guy- The manager must be on the same page as the system.

 

2. LA is aware of Dusty's management "style" by virtue of the fact that he managed so many games against them over the years.

[CubsWin]

With Hendry trying to make the team better, if we fall flat on our faces again down the stretch this year I don't think Baker will last a long time. Hendry is intelligent and firing him during the season would leave more dead money but since last year is his last year under contract anyway, we won't be out that much money.

 

You almost get the sense that if LA were to fire Tracy, and were to offer Baker the job, that Jim Hendry would gladly let him out of the final year, and would name Atlanta 3rd base coach Fredi Gonzalez the new skipper of the Cubs.

 

I don't think there is any way Dusty Manages the Dodgers.

 

1. Depo is Billy Bean guy- The manager must be on the same page as the system.

 

2. LA is aware of Dusty's management "style" by virtue of the fact that he managed so many games against them over the years.

Beat me to it.

 

I can't see Depodesta hiring someone like Dusty.

[Illini Iceman]

Regardless of how much Dusty loves Perez, doesn't he only come back if Hendry decides to offer him a contract? It is Hendry, after all, that puts together the roster. It's up to Dusty to use (or misuse) the players he's given.

 

IMO the only way Neifi comes back next year is if he is brought back as the starting SS. I am not in any way supporting the Cubs doing that, but he has had a good enough year that one of the small market teams will offer him a 1 year contract for reasonable pay and give him the every day job. All indications from Neifi are that he still considers himself a starter, so as much as he may love Dusty and appreciate the chance Hendry gave him, he would most likely bolt to another team if Nomar or another top notch SS is signed by the Cubs in the offseason.

[CubsWin]

I expect them to bring back Nomar, Neifi, Burnitz, Lawton, and Walker next year, so the only spots that I see are in the bullpen.

What makes you expect that Lawton will be a Cub next season? Or Burnitz for that matter? I'm not as certain as you are. I don't know what to expect when it comes to those guys. I have to wait until the off-season and see what options are on the table. Dunn could be traded. Kearns could be traded. Patterson might continue to struggle in AAA and we'd have to see how he does in the AFL or winter ball if he agrees to go. Nomar might want a lot of cash, I doubt it, but its a possibility. If Cedeno continues to hit after he returns to AAA, he might be given a chance to be Nomar's back-up and they might let Neifi go. Dusty might not be in Chicago if the team fails to make the playoffs. Lots of factors are up in the air at this point.

[Backtobanks]

I expect them to bring back Nomar, Neifi, Burnitz, Lawton, and Walker next year, so the only spots that I see are in the bullpen.

What makes you expect that Lawton will be a Cub next season? Or Burnitz for that matter? I'm not as certain as you are. I don't know what to expect when it comes to those guys. I have to wait until the off-season and see what options are on the table. Dunn could be traded. Kearns could be traded. Patterson might continue to struggle in AAA and we'd have to see how he does in the AFL or winter ball if he agrees to go. Nomar might want a lot of cash, I doubt it, but its a possibility. If Cedeno continues to hit after he returns to AAA, he might be given a chance to be Nomar's back-up and they might let Neifi go. Dusty might not be in Chicago if the team fails to make the playoffs. Lots of factors are up in the air at this point.

 

I think Lawton's future as a Cub depends on what he does for the next 2 months. As for Burnitz, I think everyone in the Cub organization appreciates what he has done this year and they will resign him. There is no way Nomar could command a lot of cash and I think him and his wife have settled into Chicago and would want to return at a more reasonable salary. Dusty will be back because of his contract and the built-in excuse of injuries. After 2006, Dusty & the Tribune will part ways with kind words on both sides. As for Neifi, if a small market team offers him a starting job

he might take it, but it wouldn't surprize me to see him back as a sub. Patterson has a lot to prove in AAA and over the winter. Murton and Cedeno's futures depend on who is resigned or brought in on a trade. If they're both with the Cubs in the spring, they need to really impress people in spring training.