Lou Piniella in 07???

[Larry Horse]

I'm just wondering who you guys do want to be the Cubs next manager, assuming Baker is gone after this season? Also, were you guys for or against getting Dusty before the 2003 season? I'm just a little curious.

 

I would have liked Girardi, but I'd say Fredi Gonzalez would be my first choice.

 

I thought Baker was a great hire at the time. I heard an interview with Bayless shortly after the hire and he said wait a few years and see what you think. I'm not a big Bayless fan, but he was right on that one.

[RynoRules]

Since few seem up to dealing with how they felt about Baker at the time he was hired, I'll jump in:

 

I loved him and was psyched. I thought he could forever change the organizations losing culture and the team and its fans would expect to win. And after 03' and the following offseason acquisitions, I figured we were well on our way.

 

The rest is history. ](*,)

 

As far as Piniella goes - and I have said this before on this bd - I don't undrerstand the problem most of you have with him. He is demanding of his players - big friggin' deal. Other than in the baseball cespool of TB, all he has done is win, including a WS.

 

Don't judge him by the choices he made during his time with the D-Rays. If you read between the lines, you'll see that he and LaMar were engaged in p*ssing contest. Not mature, I know, but I like teh fact that he doesn't take people's stuff, especially a guy like LaMar, who was as bad as any GM in the game.

[USSoccer]

I nominate IMB for manager.

 

thanx

 

no problem. i think you are a winner, and would bring a fresh new attitude to the team with your imbball.

[cubbieinexile]

Never really thought about Dusty before the World Series. up until that point he was off in SanFran with another division so it really didn't matter. Before the Series I never thought anything like wow that Dusty is great or that Dusty is a terrible manager. During the 2002 splayoffs it became clear to me that I most certainly do not want this guy managing the Cubs. He had a terrible bench and he kept using them! All they did was strikeout pathetically every time it seemed. And of course Dusty became the hot prospect for management of the Cubs so I looked more into him, and the more I saw the less I liked.

 

I was against Dusty's hiring when it happened, I was agaisnt when he was riding high in 2003, I was against when he "improved" the Cubs in 2004, and I am against now.

[cubbieinexile]

Oh and before the season if I recall my biggest choices for the Cubs manager were:

Davey Johnson

Larry Dierker

and there were I think one or two more but I forgot who they were now.

[KatJ]

I'm just wondering who you guys do want to be the Cubs next manager, assuming Baker is gone after this season? Also, were you guys for or against getting Dusty before the 2003 season? I'm just a little curious.

 

My choices in order...

 

Hershiser

Dierker

McLaren

Gonzalez.

 

How did Orel get above Larry Dierker on your list, UK? You had some serious man-love for Larry Dierker.

[UK1679666180]

Well, I still have some serious love for Dierker, but I think Hershiser is the best avail. candidate, even though he'll probably end up in LA.

 

The info. I've looked up on him is that he's extremely sharp, great work ethic, and has the ability to get his point across so it sinks in.

[rawaction]

I'd like the low profile approach. Piniella would NOT be low profile (or good for that matter).

 

I was thinking about this today actually. If the Cubs hover around .500 and fight for 3rd place again next year, what's the point in bringing in a big-name manager? A losing 2006 likely means re-building in 07 (new coaching staff definite, new management possible).

 

Gonzalez, McLaren, and Dierker would be nice. Hershiser would be an interesting choice, but I don't think it's happening.

[UK1679666180]

Hershiser would be too forward thinking, a pitching coach become a manager?

 

Dierker has the track record in the NLC, McLaren is a darkhorse, and Gonzalez has the Braves pedigree.

 

Any of those choices would be a likely improvement over Baker, even though everyone of them except Dierker and McLaren (managed a handful of games while Piniella was out) have no experience.

[RynoRules]

Please provide support for Davey Johnson and Larry Dierker, cause I just don't see it.

 

To clarify: I see Johnson, just based on his track record, but Dierker?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Please provide support for Davey Johnson and Larry Dierker, cause I just don't see it.

 

To clarify: I see Johnson, just based on his track record, but Dierker?

 

My case for Davey Johnson-

In 14 seasons as a manager:

 

* 564 Career Winning Percentage as a manager.

* Only 3 seasons below .500

*4 seasons with a 600 WP or higher.

* 6 seasons with more than 90 wins.

 

However he gets the job done, he does.

 

My case for Dierker-

In 5 seasons as manager of the Astros:

 

* 553 Winning Percentage

* Only one season below .500

* 3 seasons above 90 wins

* One season with a 630 WP.

 

He's good with the pitchers and has demonstrated good knowledge of the game. The only knock against him was his record in the post season, which personally, I don't hold against him.

 

What is there not to like about Johnson or Dierker?

 

I put Gonzalez ahead of these two because he's younger and hopefully will bring with him the Braves philosphy as he's been an understudy of Cox for the last few years.

 

Any of the three would make a great manager in Chicago, however.

[stitchface]

I think no experience may be a plus.

[cubbieinexile]

My case for Davey Johnson:

 

I like Davey Johnson because he has proven he can take a young team or a veteran team to the playoffs. He has done it for the Orioles, Mets, and Cincinnati, and he probably would have done it for LA if it hadn't been for that nut of a GM Malone. The guy is versatile he can be given a variety of styles and make it work.

 

Dierker because he can handle a pitching staff has shown a willingness to play youth and let them develop at the major league level. Dierker is like LaRussa without the ego.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I'm just wondering who you guys do want to be the Cubs next manager, assuming Baker is gone after this season? Also, were you guys for or against getting Dusty before the 2003 season? I'm just a little curious.

 

My choices in order...

 

Hershiser

Dierker

McLaren

Gonzalez.

 

No, Baker was not high on my list at the time of the hire.

 

McLaren?

 

John McLaren, TB's bench coach. Aggressive style like Lou, similar ability to relate to players as Lou, probably doesn't have the veteran fetish or the arm killing instinct of Piniella.

 

Interesting. Thanks.

 

Orel and Fredi are my top choices.

[Proven Veteran]

I'm reading "Bats", written by Davey Johnson in 1985, he starts out talking about having to play young players, without regard for your own job safety, and he mentions OBP. He is a big stats guy as well, I really would like him to manage the Cubs. http://67.18.37.15/html/emoticons/wub.gif

[CuseCubFan69]

I see Hendry as going after a firm hand if Baker is fired or let go. It's not what I want but what I think is going to happen.

 

So...Sweet Lou

Bowa

Leo the Lip's clone

Edited October 24, 2005 by CuseCubFan69

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm reading "Bats", written by Davey Johnson in 1985, he starts out talking about having to play young players, without regard for your own job safety, and he mentions OBP. He is a big stats guy as well, I really would like him to manage the Cubs. http://67.18.37.15/html/emoticons/wub.gif

 

The only reason I place Fredi above Davey Johnson is I believe Fredi Gonzalez is youn enough to be with the Cubs for a long time. I think Gonzalez could be a long term solution at manager.

 

Davey Johnson is a great manager. He wins and has the right philosophy. But you gotta know what you're going to get with Johnson, and that means understanding that he's not likely to still be there after four or five years. He's also quite abrasive as well. To me, he's much like the Larry Brown of baseball managers.

[Proven Veteran]

I'm reading "Bats", written by Davey Johnson in 1985, he starts out talking about having to play young players, without regard for your own job safety, and he mentions OBP. He is a big stats guy as well, I really would like him to manage the Cubs. http://67.18.37.15/html/emoticons/wub.gif

 

The only reason I place Fredi above Davey Johnson is I believe Fredi Gonzalez is youn enough to be with the Cubs for a long time. I think Gonzalez could be a long term solution at manager.

 

Davey Johnson is a great manager. He wins and has the right philosophy. But you gotta know what you're going to get with Johnson, and that means understanding that he's not likely to still be there after four or five years. He's also quite abrasive as well. To me, he's much like the Larry Brown of baseball managers.

 

I agree, but this team has a shot to win it now, while we still have cheap pitching. I wouldn't be against Fredi, if he can be the same kind of manager as Davey.