If you suddenly were in charge...

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

Let's say that suddenly you were in charge of the Cubs. How would you run things for the duration of the season and this off season?

 

First moves: trade Holly, Neifi, Macias, Burtitz for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, and even pick up the rest of their contracts for the year.

 

Going to be stuck with Baker for the rest of this season, so I'd all but force him to play the youngins. Oh, and although I love Die Hard, he's no where to be seen either. I'd maybe put out a contract (the kind involving the mafia) on Baker. Heck, I'd rather let Darren manage. Seriously. I would just tell Darren what to do, and he'd probably listen.

 

Cedeno starts at short. Walker is resigned and will start at second. The trade I'd go after most would be for Soriano. Then Walker becomes the Uber pinch hitter. I'd like that a lot. If it involves moving Wood, then I would also try to get Zito, but that's stretching it. No Garciapara, no Neifi.

 

I'm not sure how Maddox's contract is structured, but if it is a team option, he's gone too. This team has more than enough young arms that even when they FAIL, wouldn't be producing at a much lower clip than Maddox. Van Buren, Pinto, Hill, Williams, Angel (if he ever gets healthy) and others, take your pick. If Wood is gone and Zito isn't landed, I'd go for Millwood. Now, if the price is right for Damon, then that's a no brainer, but its going to be a bidding war, and I'd just assume having Giles. I'd go after him fairly agressively. If there is no Soriano, then maybe two good bats would be picked up on the FA market in the OF. Otherwise, Pie gets his shot, Murton gets his shot, and if Patterson is looking good in ST, then he and Pie fight it out. If both succeed, then Patterson get's traded when he actually has value. Hairston becomes the utility man (like a super-Macias, but that isn't saying much).

 

Then the only other FA signing would be for a closer. Wagner (if he wants to play) or BJ Ryan (or both...he's a FA right?) would be the guys. The Cubs would have MORE than enough money for these moves. Only two/three signings. I really don't think these moves (apart from outsting Baker) are unrealistic, and I'd get them done.

 

 

Who's with me?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd fire Baker and name an interim manager. I'd trade Burnitz, Neifi, and Macias if anyone was interested.

 

Murton would start every day if left, Cedneo every day at short, and Fontenot would get a look at a number of positions.

[imb]

fire baker, make myself coach, and party like that kid in little big league

[rawaction]

I'm with Vance.

 

My everyday lineup.

 

LF- Hairston

2B- Walker

1B- Lee

3B- Nomar

RF- Murton

C- Barrett

SS- Cedeno

CF- Patterson

 

Shut down Wood. Limit the innings of Zambrano and Maddux. Limit Prior's pitch count. Let Hill spot start/long relieve for Zambrano/Maddux. Play Fontenot at several positions (2B, 3B, even OF if he can).

[Transmogrified Tiger]

fire baker, make myself coach, and party like that kid in little big league

 

Would you start Wegman?

[treebird]

fire baker, make myself coach, and party like that kid in little big league

 

Would you start Wegman?

 

only against the cardinals. he kills the cardinals.

[Beer Kaese]

I'm with Vance.

 

My everyday lineup.

 

LF- Hairston

2B- Walker

1B- Lee

3B- Nomar

RF- Murton

C- Barrett

SS- Cedeno

CF- Patterson

 

Shut down Wood. Limit the innings of Zambrano and Maddux. Limit Prior's pitch count. Let Hill spot start/long relieve for Zambrano/Maddux. Play Fontenot at several positions (2B, 3B, even OF if he can).

 

Everything I've ever read has said Murton doesn't have the arm to play right. I could see moving CP to right to get Hairston (CF) and Murton (LF) in the lineup everyday. I'd also have CP between Barrett and Murton in the lineup.

[rawaction]

I'm with Vance.

 

My everyday lineup.

 

LF- Hairston

2B- Walker

1B- Lee

3B- Nomar

RF- Murton

C- Barrett

SS- Cedeno

CF- Patterson

 

Shut down Wood. Limit the innings of Zambrano and Maddux. Limit Prior's pitch count. Let Hill spot start/long relieve for Zambrano/Maddux. Play Fontenot at several positions (2B, 3B, even OF if he can).

 

Everything I've ever read has said Murton doesn't have the arm to play right. I could see moving CP to right to get Hairston (CF) and Murton (LF) in the lineup everyday. I'd also have CP between Barrett and Murton in the lineup.

 

I actually originally had Corey in RF. But it's not really important about getting an arm in RF right now. Just get Murton on the field. I'd like the Cubs to go out and get a RF, who produces like a RF and thus can move Murton to LF. Giles doesn't have a RFs arm, but I'd stick him there in a minute for his offense.

[EricG]

I'd just put Hairston in RF.

[nilodnayr]

 

Everything I've ever read has said Murton doesn't have the arm to play right. I could see moving CP to right to get Hairston (CF) and Murton (LF) in the lineup everyday. I'd also have CP between Barrett and Murton in the lineup.

 

A trend I've noticed (and i dont know if its recent or not) is that more and more teams really arent valuing putting an arm in RF. Alou, Lawton, Huff, Sosa, Green are just a few that come to mind, I'm sure there are more. CP doesnt have a good arm either. And with that OF, Murton would be leading off in my lineup.

[RynoRules]

fire baker, make myself coach, and party like that kid in little big league

 

Would you start Wegman?

 

only against the cardinals. he kills the cardinals.

 

The only problem with that kid was his love for Jerry, the veteran he idolizes but who is on he extreme downside of his career. Remember his excuse for letting Jerry pinch hit in a tough situation: "He's a pro. He'll come through." Remind you of anyone we know?

 

Also, that movie rules just b/c of this line:

Lonnie Ritter: Kids today are amazing. I played winter ball down in Venezuala, they had kids half his age, every one of them speaking Spanish. That's a hard language.

[Roast]

First move would be to fire the entire coaching staff, save Chris Spier. Dusty, Dick, Larry, Sarge, all of them. All gone.

 

Trade Macias and Neifi to anyone interested. If no one is interested. Release them.

 

Trade Burnitz, If no one is interested, then keep him for the rest of the year , then do not resign him.

 

Make my everyday lineup:

 

Hairston RF

Walker 2B

Lee 1B

Aram 3B

Murton LF

Barrett C

Patterson CF

Cedeno SS

 

When september 1st rolls around in a couple days, take hairston out of right, play some of our young OF talent there. Every day. And play the kids every chance I get.

 

After the season ends. Try my darndest to get Dunn from Cinci. If that fails, Try to get Manny from Boston (with them taking some of his salary, if possible). If that fails, look elsewhere for a big power, good OBP guy.

 

Resign Nomar for as cheap as possible. If he is too expensive, let 'em go.

 

Resign Walker at all cost.

 

See who is interested in Cpatt, if no one is, hang on to him.

 

KEEP WOOD.

 

Get a bullpen. Go sign one or two solid middle releif guys. Or, BJ RYAN.

 

Sign one starting pitcher. I think Burnett is available?

 

 

Thats my not so masterful plan.

[LoneStarCubFan]

Hot Pants and Halter Top Night

[Flames24Rulz]

trade Burnitz, Holla, Neifi and Macias immediately.

 

shut down ARam and Wood for the rest of the season so they are 100% healthy at Spring Training next year.

 

my lineup for the rest of the season:

 

Hairston RF

Walker 2B

Lee 1B

Nomar SS

Barrett C

Murton LF

Cedeno 3B

Patterson CF

 

in the offseason, keep both Walker and Hairston, sign Furcal and Giles as well as some bullpen help.

 

06 lineup:

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2B

Lee 1B

ARam 3B

Giles RF

Murton LF

Barrett C

Hairston CF

[mul21]

1. Send an edict to Baker that he will be repeatedly kicked in the groin if the young guys don't play the rest of the year. I don't think it's a good precedent to just let go of all the vets. Even though I despise Dusty, he does have a point that young guys can learn something from the vets.

 

2. Play Nomar to see if he's worth keeping. We should already know by now if Cedeno can play, but we don't. It has to be determined if he is worth keeping around at all, let alone at the price he'll be asking.

 

3. Baker is gone at season's end. Period, end of story, no questions asked.

 

4. Neifi is back as a bench guy. The other bench holes are filled with veteran FA's. Burnitz's option is not picked up, Walker's is.

 

5. If Nomar is back, Cedeno is at Iowa waiting for Nomar to get hurt. Lee at 1st, Walker at 2nd, Ramirez is back at 3rd after a mandated lower body conditioning program in the offseason, Murton is the everyday LF, CP or Randy Winn in CF, and a FA or trade for RF (Giles, Huff, or someone else beyond my thought process right now).

 

6. Prior, Z, Wood, Maddux, and Millwood in the rotation. Dempster, Novoa, Wuertz, Ohman, Bartosh or another LOOGY, and BJ Ryan in the pen. Williams is the longman/swingman.