Bruce Miles on McPhail

[JC]

Link

 

The good news -- the payroll should remain the same (that is, it won't get reduced):

 

MacPhail noted that as long as revenues continued to support it, the Cubs would continue to have a “relatively high (player) payroll that’s going to allow you to do certain things at the major-league level.”

 

Of course, the burning questions remain: 1) Will the money be used wisely? and 2) If the talent isn't there, will management have enough sense to put the money back in their pocket for a rainy day?

 

The bad news -- MacPhail seems to be missing the point that if you develop Rookies of the Year, it would be nice if they played on your team, as Bruce points out:

 

“Now on my 11th season, I counted it the other day, we’ve had three Rookies of the Year. We’ve had at least six all-stars come up through our system in those 11 years.

 

***

 

To put MacPhail’s take into proper perspective, two of the those Rookies of the Year —— infielder Eric Hinske and pitcher Dontrelle Willis —— won the award with other teams. Pitcher Jon Garland went to the All-Star Game as a member of the White Sox.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Link

 

The good news -- the payroll should remain the same (that is, it won't get reduced):

 

MacPhail noted that as long as revenues continued to support it, the Cubs would continue to have a “relatively high (player) payroll that’s going to allow you to do certain things at the major-league level.”

 

I wonder if MacPhail looks at the payroll number including or excluding the Sosa salary for this year. I sure hope he's referring to the 100+ million not the 85ish million like some sources like to report as the payroll for this year.

[JC]

Link

 

The good news -- the payroll should remain the same (that is, it won't get reduced):

 

MacPhail noted that as long as revenues continued to support it, the Cubs would continue to have a “relatively high (player) payroll that’s going to allow you to do certain things at the major-league level.”

 

I wonder if MacPhail looks at the payroll number including or excluding the Sosa salary for this year. I sure hope he's referring to the 100+ million not the 85ish million like some sources like to report as the payroll for this year.

 

IIRC, I believe MacPhail has previously referenced the $100M payroll.

[Derwood]

As long as he's taking credit for Hinske and Willis' ROY awards, why not mention Hollandsworth? What backwards logic. Why boast about trading away future stars?

[dalgreen]

I would love to know MacPhail's answer to why there's a blatant disparity between pitching and position talent that has been produced. Is it scouting? Is it player development? It's really incredible to have produced few real major league talented position players. It's based on this that I have higher hopes on Murton's future than Dubois' or Pie's future.

[JC]

I would love to know MacPhail's answer to why there's a blatant disparity between pitching and position talent that has been produced. Is it scouting? Is it player development? It's really incredible to have produced few real major league talented position players. It's based on this that I have higher hopes on Murton's future than Dubois' or Pie's future.

 

Link

 

The Sun-Times address your question, but doesn't really answer it.

 

Asked if the Cubs should have developed more position-player talent by now, MacPhail said: "If you ever develop a surplus of pitching, you can get whatever you want position-player-wise. I'm confident the formula is going to get us there. Despite what appears now to be a hovering-around-.500 year, I'm confident we are going the right direction.''

 

In my opinion, if you are going to create this so-called "surplus", then you trade it for young positional talent, not over-the-hill stop gaps. At the same time, I don't really see that this surpless has even emerged. The Rule V draft prohibits you from stockpiling ML-ready arms (lest Andy forget the Sisco Fiasco).

 

Its all double talk. I no longer have much use for MacPhail.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Great, so we'll have a high payroll next year. Who wants to bet that the extra money goes to offering Neifi and Macias extensions with HUGE raises? You can have all the money in the world MacPhail, but if you don't spend it right, you might as well have none.

[dalgreen]

Great, so we'll have a high payroll next year. Who wants to bet that the extra money goes to offering Neifi and Macias extensions with HUGE raises? You can have all the money in the world MacPhail, but if you don't spend it right, you might as well have none.

 

I think there's a chance that one of the two will be back, but I don't think either will get a huge raise. In fact, I might be in the minority, but I never really had a problem with one of them being on the team, it was the ridiculous fact that both of these guys were on the team that ticked me off. But, I agree with you that it's how one spends the money and not necessarily how much you have to spend.

[JC]

In fact, I might be in the minority, but I never really had a problem with one of them being on the team, it was the ridiculous fact that both of these guys were on the team that ticked me off.

 

I wouldn't mind one of them either, provided we had a proper bench of 6 guys and they were the true 25th man. But, to have two redundant players (perhaps even 3 with the return of Hairston while Nomar, Corey and Walker are getting the lion's share of PT at their positions), it is absolutely insane to have them all on the team. They are the same player, with minor variences in positional strength.

[Derwood]

In fact, I might be in the minority, but I never really had a problem with one of them being on the team, it was the ridiculous fact that both of these guys were on the team that ticked me off.

 

I wouldn't mind one of them either, provided we had a proper bench of 6 guys and they were the true 25th man. But, to have two redundant players (perhaps even 3 with the return of Hairston while Nomar, Corey and Walker are getting the lion's share of PT at their positions), it is absolutely insane to have them all on the team. They are the same player, with minor variences in positional strength.

 

Clearly, you'd want Perez back over Macias, unless it means he's getting starts 4 days a week.

[SpanishFortCub]

I'd:

 

1. Bid adieu to Walker, Garciaparra, Burnitz via letting them go and Patterson via a trade.

 

2. I'd move Ronny Cedeno to 2B and let him play there next month on an every-day basis.

 

3. Sign Rafael Furcal to a free agent deal.

 

4. Pray Pie can handle CF at the major-league level.

 

5. Sign Brian Giles to a free agent deal and make him my RF and No. 3 hitter in front of Lee and Ramirez. .

 

6. Begrudgingly make Matt Murton my LF and hope he develops some power and a better throwing arm. I'd hit him second behind Furcal. Unless, that is, Austin Kearns can be acquired in a deal for Patterson, Hill, Mitre, etc.

 

7. That would make my everyday lineup: Furcal, Murton (Kearns -- please, God), Giles, Lee, Ramirez, Barrett, Pie, Cedeno, Pitcher. Not great, but not horrible.

 

8. Given the reality that the Cubs won't be able to afford Burnett (though I'd go after him hard if Giles is unattainable and they're forced to play Corey Patterson), I'd move Wood back into the rotation after getting his shoulder cleaned up and pursue B.J. Ryan. Not sure what I'd do with Dempster, and if Wagner were willing to come for a reasonable deal, I'd make that happen too.

 

I haven't studied the dollars, but if Sosa, Burnitz, Corey, Hollandsworth, Macias, Perez, Garciaparra, Walker are all off the books, there is some serious available money.

[rocket]

4. Pray Pie can handle CF at the major-league level.

 

No, please don't do this.

[soapy]

4. Pray Pie can handle CF at the major-league level.

 

No, please don't do this.

 

Join. Please don't rush him.

[cubbyvirus00]

4. Pray Pie can handle CF at the major-league level.

 

No, please don't do this.

 

Join. Please don't rush him.

 

How good is Greenburg? maybe he can handle CF for a year?

[Derwood]

4. Pray Pie can handle CF at the major-league level.

 

No, please don't do this.

 

Join. Please don't rush him.

 

How good is Greenburg? maybe he can handle CF for a year?

 

His OBP is 1.000 for his career!

[dalgreen]

Regardless of the ideas for 2006, I still think it was silly for Hendry to suggest an overhaul isn't needed for this team. By my estimates, I can only see at most eight of the twenty-five players safe for next season.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's the moves I'd like to see us make.

 

1. Sign Nomar to a low base, high incentive contract.

2. Sign Brian Giles to a 2 year deal with team option for third year.

3. Sign BJ Ryan for the pen.

4. Trade some minor leaguers for a proven outfield bat, hopefully Adam Dunn, or grab Manny off waivers if he's placed there again.

5. Sign a stop gap CF (ie. Kenny Lofton) to allow Pie to begin the year at AAA. If he performs well, he can be moved up later in the season.

6. Keep Todd Walker.

 

 

My hopeful line-up:

 

CF Lofton

2B Walker

1B Lee

RF Giles

3b Ramirez

LF Dunn (or other trade target)

SS Garciaparra

C Barrett

 

I think that team would be much improved over what we have now.

 

My rotation:

Prior

Zambrano

Wood

Maddux

Williams/Hill (One of these would likely be moved in a trade for my outfield bat)

 

 

I'm not going to try to suppose the bench at this point, because there's just too many variables. I'd have Cedeno on it to play infield and give Nomar a day off once or twice a week. I'd likely place Greenberg on it as he gives a good OBP player that can play multiple outfield positions. I wouldn't mind having Hollandsworth back or someone with similar skills. Blanco will be back as he signed a two year deal before the season.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Yeah, I don't get it when Hendry says we don't need an overhaul. I understand the whole premise of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", but to be fair, if this team wasn't broken, they'd be going to the playoffs. It seems like they are becoming happy with mediocrity again. Oh, wait, they aren't even mediocre anymore, they're just bad.

[JC]

Regardless of the ideas for 2006, I still think it was silly for Hendry to suggest an overhaul isn't needed for this team. By my estimates, I can only see at most eight of the twenty-five players safe for next season.

 

With MacPhail now appearing as Hendry's enabler, this offseason is worrisome. I've been a pretty consistent MacPhail supporter, but I now just see him as an undersized rudder. He tried to provide direction, but it wasn't enough.

[Derwood]

What I cant' figure out is why the 2003 Cubs got motivated under Baker, but the 2005 didn't. Where did it all go wrong?

[dalgreen]

Here's the moves I'd like to see us make.

 

1. Sign Nomar to a low base, high incentive contract.

2. Sign Brian Giles to a 2 year deal with team option for third year.

3. Sign BJ Ryan for the pen.

4. Trade some minor leaguers for a proven outfield bat, hopefully Adam Dunn, or grab Manny off waivers if he's placed there again.

5. Sign a stop gap CF (ie. Kenny Lofton) to allow Pie to begin the year at AAA. If he performs well, he can be moved up later in the season.

6. Keep Todd Walker.

 

 

My hopeful line-up:

 

CF Lofton

2B Walker

1B Lee

RF Giles

3b Ramirez

LF Dunn (or other trade target)

SS Garciaparra

C Barrett

 

I think that team would be much improved over what we have now.

 

My rotation:

Prior

Zambrano

Wood

Maddux

Williams/Hill (One of these would likely be moved in a trade for my outfield bat)

 

 

I'm not going to try to suppose the bench at this point, because there's just too many variables. I'd have Cedeno on it to play infield and give Nomar a day off once or twice a week. I'd likely place Greenberg on it as he gives a good OBP player that can play multiple outfield positions. I wouldn't mind having Hollandsworth back or someone with similar skills. Blanco will be back as he signed a two year deal before the season.

 

With the lineup you have listed, you have to think seriously about the bench. You can no longer assume Nomar will play 100 games, I'm not sure with Lofton and Giles' age, you can assume them being injury-free, either. One thing I do know, as evidenced during this season, we do need to get better defensively. That's why I can take Walker or Garciaparra but not both next year.

[Chocolate Milk]

undersized rudder

 

=D>

[rocket]

What I cant' figure out is why the 2003 Cubs got motivated under Baker, but the 2005 didn't. Where did it all go wrong?

 

Better starting pitching? I don't have any numbers, but I don't think the 2003 offense was any better than this year's offense.

[dalgreen]

What I cant' figure out is why the 2003 Cubs got motivated under Baker, but the 2005 didn't. Where did it all go wrong?

 

I don't really believe in that motivation stuff. I believe it's with the players. Remember, we weren't that good until Lofton and Ramirez came to the team. We basically have too many guys that don't know how to play baseball the right way. In addition, you need a lineup with balance. You need to have power guys with small guys who can work the count, get on base, and guys who play good defense. Defensively, Grudz, AGonz, Miller and Lofton are much better than Walker,Perez/Nomar, Barrett, Patterson/Hairston. Perez alone may be the best defensively in the group.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What I cant' figure out is why the 2003 Cubs got motivated under Baker, but the 2005 didn't. Where did it all go wrong?

 

Better starting pitching? I don't have any numbers, but I don't think the 2003 offense was any better than this year's offense.

 

Very crude, but 2005: 4.44 Runs/Game. 2003: 4.47 R/G. Very close.