Bruce Miles Should Manage This Club!

[HoopsCubs]

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/sportsstory.asp?id=100223

 

Are you listening Mr. Hendry and Mr. Baker? You tell them Mr. Miles:

 

"Speed without OBP is useless."

 

Just classic. Such a simple sentence, yet so powerful and matter-of-fact! Hey, when does Mr. Miles come back and chat with us?

 

 

Hoops

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

That was an excellently written article. Once again, Bruce, hit the nail right on the head.

[TheDude]

I liked this artcile by Miles much more than the one written the other that was discussed in the Baseball Discussions forum.

 

But still, I don't like the definitive stamp he (and many in this community) put on the OBP vs. speed at the top of the lineup.

 

In my mind, it isn't a vs. situation. You put speed with plus OBP at the top of the order. Doesn't have to be the best OBP on the team, but at least above average. And with speed.

[louisvillecub]

Great article. Nice to see a sportswriter in chicago tell it like it is.

[HoopsCubs]

I liked this artcile by Miles much more than the one written the other that was discussed in the Baseball Discussions forum.

 

But still, I don't like the definitive stamp he (and many in this community) put on the OBP vs. speed at the top of the lineup.

 

In my mind, it isn't a vs. situation. You put speed with plus OBP at the top of the order. Doesn't have to be the best OBP on the team, but at least above average. And with speed.

 

My take on the article was that he was suggesting OBP was far more important than speed, if you could only get one trait. Rafael Furcal and Ryan Freel were good at both OBP and in the stolen base department, but it's hard to find both traits.

 

I did some quick research on 4 other NL lead-off hitters: Jose Reyes and Juan Pierre had a combined total of 104 stolen bases, but both had OBPs lower than .320. Brady Clark and David Eckstein had a combined total of only 20 stolen bases, but both had OBPs nearing .370. Whose offenses do you think did better - Mets and Marlins or Brewers and Cardinals? I think that was Mr. Miles point. A slow guy on 1B is better than having a fast guy sitting in the dugout after making an out.

 

Hoops

[USSoccer]

Hopefully the other beat writers in this town will write similar articles to pu some pressure on Hendry to make better baseball decisions. I'd rather see articles like this one than articles just saying the Cubs should throw money at Damon, Furcal, etc.

[louisvillecub]

Hopefully the other beat writers in this town will write similar articles to pu some pressure on Hendry to make better baseball decisions. I'd rather see articles like this one than articles just saying the Cubs should throw money at Damon, Furcal, etc.

 

THat would be great. However, I can't imagine Sullivan writing anything remotely as intelligent as Bruce Miles.

[Magnetic Curses]

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/sportsstory.asp?id=100223

 

Are you listening Mr. Hendry and Mr. Baker? You tell them Mr. Miles:

 

"Speed without OBP is useless."

 

Just classic. Such a simple sentence, yet so powerful and matter-of-fact! Hey, when does Mr. Miles come back and chat with us?

 

 

Hoops

 

agreed, a much better article than his last one.

 

this was more in-line with what he's been doing, writing about topics that other journalists aren't smart enough to pick up on.

[Roast]

Miles is smart

[Bruce Miles]

Thanks, guys. I learned a lot of it right here at NSBB.

[CubfaninCA]

Nice article.

 

He pretty much touched all the bases: odds choices for the 1 and 2 spot, bad situational and fundamental baseball, key injuries to Wood & Prior, and early bullpen troubles.

 

Only thing I can think of that would top it off is the questionable signings of Nomar & Burnitz. Hendry didn't get much of a return from that $13 million investment. Also, 170 combined games from Walker & Nomar really hurt.

[CubfaninCA]

Thanks, guys. I learned a lot of it right here at NSBB.

 

They need to expand your column to 1000 words, especially when articles address the Cubs problems. :)

[Illini Iceman]

I liked this artcile by Miles much more than the one written the other that was discussed in the Baseball Discussions forum.

 

But still, I don't like the definitive stamp he (and many in this community) put on the OBP vs. speed at the top of the lineup.

 

In my mind, it isn't a vs. situation. You put speed with plus OBP at the top of the order. Doesn't have to be the best OBP on the team, but at least above average. And with speed.

 

My take on the article was that he was suggesting OBP was far more important than speed, if you could only get one trait. Rafael Furcal and Ryan Freel were good at both OBP and in the stolen base department, but it's hard to find both traits.

 

I did some quick research on 4 other NL lead-off hitters: Jose Reyes and Juan Pierre had a combined total of 104 stolen bases, but both had OBPs lower than .320. Brady Clark and David Eckstein had a combined total of only 20 stolen bases, but both had OBPs nearing .370. Whose offenses do you think did better - Mets and Marlins or Brewers and Cardinals? I think that was Mr. Miles point. A slow guy on 1B is better than having a fast guy sitting in the dugout after making an out.

 

Hoops

 

While I generally am more supportive of Dusty than a lot of other posters here, (which, considering the beating he takes on a daily basis, is not too hard) I have to admit that the Maias / Perez duo at the top of the order defies logies and makes me seriously question his baseball knowledge.

[Derwood]

Any chance of landing A-Rod and his .420 OBP?

 

:lol:

[BigbadB]

Thanks, guys. I learned a lot of it right here at NSBB.

 

Well put article. My sentiments exactly. What's weird is that all the energy in previous years has been focused on ownership opening up the pocket books. These last few years, ownership has given them all the wiggle room necessary to make the necessary improvements, and now management is the one feeling the most pressure.

 

It scares me to know that with 25 million more dollars made available to improve this club that they really aren't any better than the team they assembled for 25m less just 3 short years ago. It scares me to think that if the team can't do any better than they were with all that extra money spent, why should they fork out all that extra money? The seats get filled.

 

I can certainly agree with them that they shouldn't go all Steinbrenner on everyone to try to win a World Series. It hasn't worked for him either.

 

I'm afraid that Tribune will tighten the reigns very soon if the product on the field doesn't start playing like a 100m team.

[CubfaninCA]

Thanks, guys. I learned a lot of it right here at NSBB.

 

Well put article. My sentiments exactly. What's weird is that all the energy in previous years has been focused on ownership opening up the pocket books. These last few years, ownership has given them all the wiggle room necessary to make the necessary improvements, and now management is the one feeling the most pressure.

 

It scares me to know that with 25 million more dollars made available to improve this club that they really aren't any better than the team they assembled for 25m less just 3 short years ago. It scares me to think that if the team can't do any better than they were with all that extra money spent, why should they fork out all that extra money? The seats get filled.

 

I can certainly agree with them that they shouldn't go all Steinbrenner on everyone to try to win a World Series. It hasn't worked for him either.

 

I'm afraid that Tribune will tighten the reigns very soon if the product on the field doesn't start playing like a 100m team.

 

Prior & Wood were 100% 3 years ago. They pitched 40% of the games in 2003. They were 100% for what 5-10% of the games this year?? Yes, the Cubs could have done better w/ more obp and a better organized lineup, but they still wouldn't have made the playoffs. Take away Smoltz and Hudson from ATL or Carpenter and Mulder from St. Louis or Clemens and Oswalt from Houston and they're probably sitting out the playoffs too.

[BigbadB]

Thanks, guys. I learned a lot of it right here at NSBB.

 

Well put article. My sentiments exactly. What's weird is that all the energy in previous years has been focused on ownership opening up the pocket books. These last few years, ownership has given them all the wiggle room necessary to make the necessary improvements, and now management is the one feeling the most pressure.

 

It scares me to know that with 25 million more dollars made available to improve this club that they really aren't any better than the team they assembled for 25m less just 3 short years ago. It scares me to think that if the team can't do any better than they were with all that extra money spent, why should they fork out all that extra money? The seats get filled.

 

I can certainly agree with them that they shouldn't go all Steinbrenner on everyone to try to win a World Series. It hasn't worked for him either.

 

I'm afraid that Tribune will tighten the reigns very soon if the product on the field doesn't start playing like a 100m team.

 

Prior & Wood were 100% 3 years ago. They pitched 40% of the games in 2003. They were 100% for what 5-10% of the games this year?? Yes, the Cubs could have done better w/ more obp and a better organized lineup, but they still wouldn't have made the playoffs. Take away Smoltz and Hudson from ATL or Carpenter and Mulder from St. Louis or Clemens and Oswalt from Houston and they're probably sitting out the playoffs too.

 

You might want to rethink including Atlanta in your theory. They had Smoltz as a closer last year and they didn't have Hudson. They won the division with Russ Ortiz, Mike Hampton, John Thomson, Horacio Ramirez, Jaret Wright and Paul Byrd. I wouldn't want any of those guys pitching in the Cub rotation. Those guys helped Atlanta to 96 wins. I dream about 96 wins with our rotation.

 

My point is how many years will the Tribune continue to open the pocket books for a team that fails to win anymore games than they won when they were paying like a midmarket team? Forget the excuses. They won't want to hear excuses. I'm not saying it's going to happen. I'm just saying I'm worried it will happen if they don't start showing some results. Results, in their eyes, should be expected if you boost the payroll.

[Tim]

Thanks, guys. I learned a lot of it right here at NSBB.

 

Well put article. My sentiments exactly. What's weird is that all the energy in previous years has been focused on ownership opening up the pocket books. These last few years, ownership has given them all the wiggle room necessary to make the necessary improvements, and now management is the one feeling the most pressure.

 

It scares me to know that with 25 million more dollars made available to improve this club that they really aren't any better than the team they assembled for 25m less just 3 short years ago. It scares me to think that if the team can't do any better than they were with all that extra money spent, why should they fork out all that extra money? The seats get filled.

 

I can certainly agree with them that they shouldn't go all Steinbrenner on everyone to try to win a World Series. It hasn't worked for him either.

 

I'm afraid that Tribune will tighten the reigns very soon if the product on the field doesn't start playing like a 100m team.

 

Prior & Wood were 100% 3 years ago. They pitched 40% of the games in 2003. They were 100% for what 5-10% of the games this year?? Yes, the Cubs could have done better w/ more obp and a better organized lineup, but they still wouldn't have made the playoffs. Take away Smoltz and Hudson from ATL or Carpenter and Mulder from St. Louis or Clemens and Oswalt from Houston and they're probably sitting out the playoffs too.

 

You might want to rethink including Atlanta in your theory. They had Smoltz as a closer last year and they didn't have Hudson. They won the division with Russ Ortiz, Mike Hampton, John Thomson, Horacio Ramirez, Jaret Wright and Paul Byrd. I wouldn't want any of those guys pitching in the Cub rotation. Those guys helped Atlanta to 96 wins. I dream about 96 wins with our rotation.

 

My point is how many years will the Tribune continue to open the pocket books for a team that fails to win anymore games than they won when they were paying like a midmarket team? Forget the excuses. They won't want to hear excuses. I'm not saying it's going to happen. I'm just saying I'm worried it will happen if they don't start showing some results. Results, in their eyes, should be expected if you boost the payroll.

As long as the Cubs are turning a profit, I expect the Trib to maintain the payroll where it is.

[YearofDaCubs]

Bottom line, Baker has to go.

[Diffusion]

I did some quick research on 4 other NL lead-off hitters: Jose Reyes and Juan Pierre had a combined total of 104 stolen bases, but both had OBPs lower than .320. Brady Clark and David Eckstein had a combined total of only 20 stolen bases, but both had OBPs nearing .370. Whose offenses do you think did better - Mets and Marlins or Brewers and Cardinals? I think that was Mr. Miles point.

 

I should hope it wasn't his point. You've quite deliberately tried to imply there that the only reason why the Brewers and Cardinals score more runs than the Mets and Marlins is because they have lead-off men with a high OBP.

 

An offence involves nine men. The leadoff man is important, because he sees the most plate appearances, and I believe also the most plate appearances with the bases empty. Therefore it's imperative that he gets on-base as frequently as possible, and it's also preferable that he can cause things to happen when he's on the basepaths. That doesn't mean that he and his OBP or speed are the be all and end all, though.