Is Carrie Muskat considered the mouth of Jim Hendry?

[Balsa]

Because if she is, Hendry has this to say:

 

However, the White Sox success will make Wrigley Field fans even less tolerant than before. There's a lot of frustration, judging by the e-mails I've received. The Cubs know it. Let's see what general manager Jim Hendry does this offseason.

 

MeatandPotatoes your emails are being read!

 

They don't want to be caught short as far as starting pitching goes, so they'll be looking at the free agent market or a possible trade for another arm. Names to watch are A.J. Burnett, Kevin Millwood and Matt Morris.

 

Millwood eh?

 

They did pick up Todd Walker's option for 2006, but also are high on Ronny Cedeno, who will be playing second base this winter. Who plays short? Free agent Rafael Furcal says he's interested in playing for the Cubs and would fill two gaps -- leadoff hitter and shortstop. It'd be nice to have another left-handed bat, too.

 

Actually he's a switch hitter, but sure Carrie.

 

The Cubs likely would've had Garciaparra signed by now if he was willing to move to the outfield. He still wants to play shortstop, has filed for free agency, and will likely try to find a match with a team that wants him as an infielder.

 

Well that settles that.

 

The chemistry was good on the '05 Cubs, but something was missing. The team needs someone who would police players for making a mistake so that it doesn't all come from manager Dusty Baker and the coaches.

 

Who would that be? Giles? Furcal? Burnett? That comment just confuses me.

[Prior4CyYoung]

If the cubs sign Matt Morris Im so changing teams even though i been a fan since the mid 80's.

[YearofDaCubs]

If the cubs sign Matt Morris Im so changing teams even though i been a fan since the mid 80's.

Signing Morris is a terrible move anyways. He lost velocity and wasn't all that great at the end of last year.

[wade]

Maybe this means they see that chemistry was not the problem in the first place.

[CuseCubFan69]

If the cubs sign Matt Morris Im so changing teams even though i been a fan since the mid 80's.

 

I dispised Bobby Murcer (NY thing) more than any player and the Cubs traded my favorite player (Madlock) for him. That was my all-time Cub transaction low point

[snoodmonger]

The chemistry was good on the '05 Cubs, but something was missing. The team needs someone who would police players for making a mistake so that it doesn't all come from manager Dusty Baker and the coaches.

 

This is the dumbest thiing I've read in a while. Our suckitude had nothing to do with a mediocre offense, a pitching staff in shambles, 3/4 of the season without Nomar, and a moron with a toothpick in his mouth. No, it all came down to the fact no player would police the team. That was the "something" that was missing. That cost us 30 games in the standings.

[CuseCubFan69]

The chemistry was good on the '05 Cubs, but something was missing. The team needs someone who would police players for making a mistake so that it doesn't all come from manager Dusty Baker and the coaches.

 

This is the dumbest thiing I've read in a while. Our suckitude had nothing to do with a mediocre offense, a pitching staff in shambles, 3/4 of the season without Nomar, and a moron with a toothpick in his mouth. No, it all came down to the fact no player would police the team. That was the "something" that was missing. That cost us 30 games in the standings.

 

Maybe the Cubs can aquire Hugh Douglas?

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

i love when she reads my emails. :lol:

[da bears]

The chemistry was good on the '05 Cubs, but something was missing. The team needs someone who would police players for making a mistake so that it doesn't all come from manager Dusty Baker and the coaches.

 

This is the dumbest thiing I've read in a while. Our suckitude had nothing to do with a mediocre offense, a pitching staff in shambles, 3/4 of the season without Nomar, and a moron with a toothpick in his mouth. No, it all came down to the fact no player would police the team. That was the "something" that was missing. That cost us 30 games in the standings.

 

Maybe the Cubs can aquire Hugh Douglas?

 

Only if hes willing to challenge Dusty Baker...

[CubbieRich]

If the cubs sign Matt Morris Im so changing teams even though i been a fan since the mid 80's.

Signing Morris is a terrible move anyways. He lost velocity and wasn't all that great at the end of last year.

 

Signing Morris would be a mistake. I thought that Morris's wife and Carrie are good friends, as they worked together for MLB. Didn't Morris meet his future wife at Wrigley, sitting in the bullpen when she was doing charting or stat work for MLB?

 

Nomar and Mia are building a home on the North Shore. Don't know whether it's completed or not. But I think they shouldlet him go too. My good Cub friend in Wilmette says that Jennifer Anniston is looking at properties in Lake Forest. Make your move, Jon D.

[Mark Priors Calves]

The chemistry was good on the '05 Cubs, but something was missing. The team needs someone who would police players for making a mistake so that it doesn't all come from manager Dusty Baker and the coaches.

 

This is the dumbest thiing I've read in a while. Our suckitude had nothing to do with a mediocre offense, a pitching staff in shambles, 3/4 of the season without Nomar, and a moron with a toothpick in his mouth. No, it all came down to the fact no player would police the team. That was the "something" that was missing. That cost us 30 games in the standings.

 

Does any of that discipline come from Baker?!?!?!?!?!? He's too busy making excuses for the crapfest known as the '05 Cubs to discipline anyone. How about the manager actually serving in the capacity as manager instead of being everyone's friend. Take your wristbands off and be a leader.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't think Carrie Muskat knows what she's talking about at all, when it comes to baseball, or about what the Cubs are going to do.

[TheDude]

The chemistry was good on the '05 Cubs, but something was missing. The team needs someone who would police players for making a mistake so that it doesn't all come from manager Dusty Baker and the coaches.

 

This is the dumbest thiing I've read in a while. Our suckitude had nothing to do with a mediocre offense, a pitching staff in shambles, 3/4 of the season without Nomar, and a moron with a toothpick in his mouth. No, it all came down to the fact no player would police the team. That was the "something" that was missing. That cost us 30 games in the standings.

Funny, I don't see where Carrie Muskat claims any of those things you are saying.

[CubsWin]

If the cubs sign Matt Morris Im so changing teams even though i been a fan since the mid 80's.

 

I dispised Bobby Murcer (NY thing) more than any player and the Cubs traded my favorite player (Madlock) for him. That was my all-time Cub transaction low point

I'm assuming you know the reason why the Cubs traded Madlock for Murcer. If you don't know the reason, your all-time Cub transaction low point is about to get a little lower...

[don_kessinger_was_good]

If the cubs sign Matt Morris Im so changing teams even though i been a fan since the mid 80's.

 

I dispised Bobby Murcer (NY thing) more than any player and the Cubs traded my favorite player (Madlock) for him. That was my all-time Cub transaction low point

 

Wow, we're birds of a feather. I was CRUSHED, CRUSHED, when the cheapskate Wrigley's sent Madlock out of town. He was my favorite player too, and had just won back-to-back batting titles for crying out loud!

 

And for him, they got Murcer, Mr. Warning Track Flyball Out if there ever was one. What an awful awful trade.

[CuseCubFan69]

If the cubs sign Matt Morris Im so changing teams even though i been a fan since the mid 80's.

 

I dispised Bobby Murcer (NY thing) more than any player and the Cubs traded my favorite player (Madlock) for him. That was my all-time Cub transaction low point

I'm assuming you know the reason why the Cubs traded Madlock for Murcer. If you don't know the reason, your all-time Cub transaction low point is about to get a little lower...

 

Yeah I know. It just adds to the pain. :x

[St.Paul Cub]

Being a little bit younger the trade that chapped me was Lee Smith for Schiraldi and Nipper. I didn't hate those guys (at first) but after seeing them being the reason (not Buckner) that Boston lost you knew they were going to be mental cases.

 

I didn't really see anything too far out of line or unexpected in what was written by Muskat.

[snoodmonger]

The chemistry was good on the '05 Cubs, but something was missing. The team needs someone who would police players for making a mistake so that it doesn't all come from manager Dusty Baker and the coaches.

 

This is the dumbest thiing I've read in a while. Our suckitude had nothing to do with a mediocre offense, a pitching staff in shambles, 3/4 of the season without Nomar, and a moron with a toothpick in his mouth. No, it all came down to the fact no player would police the team. That was the "something" that was missing. That cost us 30 games in the standings.

Funny, I don't see where Carrie Muskat claims any of those things you are saying.

 

Don't take things so literally. My point is, finding a guy who can police the clubhouse should be about priority 598 this off-season. However, the article assigns a fair amount of significance to that as a "need."

 

There's no reason to put any emphasis on filling intangible holes when the team is riddled with very real ones that can be addressed.

[MPrior]

The chemistry was good on the '05 Cubs, but something was missing. The team needs someone who would police players for making a mistake so that it doesn't all come from manager Dusty Baker and the coaches.

 

This is the dumbest thiing I've read in a while. Our suckitude had nothing to do with a mediocre offense, a pitching staff in shambles, 3/4 of the season without Nomar, and a moron with a toothpick in his mouth. No, it all came down to the fact no player would police the team. That was the "something" that was missing. That cost us 30 games in the standings.

Funny, I don't see where Carrie Muskat claims any of those things you are saying.

 

Don't take things so literally. My point is, finding a guy who can police the clubhouse should be about priority 598 this off-season. However, the article assigns a fair amount of significance to that as a "need."

 

There's no reason to put any emphasis on filling intangible holes when the team is riddled with very real ones that can be addressed.

 

To be fair, she was responding to a question about chemistry. I don't think she was saying that should be an offseason priority. She was saying, as far as chemistry goes, that's the missing piece.

[TheDude]

The chemistry was good on the '05 Cubs, but something was missing. The team needs someone who would police players for making a mistake so that it doesn't all come from manager Dusty Baker and the coaches.

 

This is the dumbest thiing I've read in a while. Our suckitude had nothing to do with a mediocre offense, a pitching staff in shambles, 3/4 of the season without Nomar, and a moron with a toothpick in his mouth. No, it all came down to the fact no player would police the team. That was the "something" that was missing. That cost us 30 games in the standings.

Funny, I don't see where Carrie Muskat claims any of those things you are saying.

 

Don't take things so literally. My point is, finding a guy who can police the clubhouse should be about priority 598 this off-season. However, the article assigns a fair amount of significance to that as a "need."

 

There's no reason to put any emphasis on filling intangible holes when the team is riddled with very real ones that can be addressed.

 

I just found a lot of irony in the fact that "the dumbest thing" you've read in a while wasn't actually written by anybody other than you.

 

However, to your point, I agree and disagree. I agree that Muskat seemed to indicate that leadership was a missing element that prevented the team from having success, and that it is a misguided assessment, mostly because the 2005 Cubs roster didn't need policing.

 

But I disagree that it has such a low priority. The Cubs look to be a young team again this year and it would be nice to have a leader on the team. 4/5 starting rotation could be under 30. 7/8 of the daily lineup could be under 30.

 

I'm not suggesting it's a top priority, but if you consider two (mostly) equal candidates, let the leader quality have some weight and value in the final decision.

[snoodmonger]

The chemistry was good on the '05 Cubs, but something was missing. The team needs someone who would police players for making a mistake so that it doesn't all come from manager Dusty Baker and the coaches.

 

This is the dumbest thiing I've read in a while. Our suckitude had nothing to do with a mediocre offense, a pitching staff in shambles, 3/4 of the season without Nomar, and a moron with a toothpick in his mouth. No, it all came down to the fact no player would police the team. That was the "something" that was missing. That cost us 30 games in the standings.

Funny, I don't see where Carrie Muskat claims any of those things you are saying.

 

Don't take things so literally. My point is, finding a guy who can police the clubhouse should be about priority 598 this off-season. However, the article assigns a fair amount of significance to that as a "need."

 

There's no reason to put any emphasis on filling intangible holes when the team is riddled with very real ones that can be addressed.

 

I'm not suggesting it's a top priority, but if you consider two (mostly) equal candidates, let the leader quality have some weight and value in the final decision.

 

Isn't that self-evident? Given two equal candidates, you'll take the one who's a leader over the one who isn't? Are they even equal candidates, then?

 

Besides, I would maintain we have plenty of leadership in the clubhouse. By all accounts, Demp, Wood, Lee, barrett, and Maddog are leaders. not all are necessarily vocal, but they're leaders. And if you want a guy who will tell you what he thinks, see Todd Walker. Unfotunately, that team leadership didn't get us very far. Why? Because the team wasn't very good.

[frostwyrm]

I have never understood this stuff about getting players because they are leaders or mentors. The manager and coaching staff are supposed to fill those roles, it's a major part of their job description. The quest for player-mentors is what leads to travesties like paying $9 million for Greg Maddux.