Hendry on channel 9 WGN shortly.

[YearofDaCubs]

I actually like Neifi. If Dusty would only have enough common sense to hit him 7th or 8th there would be no problem.

Nah, I would rather have Cedeno or Walker in his spot. The only business Neifi has on a 100mil payroll team is a bench-type role.

[Clogged Basepaths]

The Angels "Plan" is to have a great bullpen and Vladimir Guerrero.

 

Interesting part about that, we need to make their pitching coach our new Manager (Bud Black). They manage to get by with ALL righties in the bullpen. How the hell do you do that!? Who faces the lefties? Do they just walk all of them? I'm confused now, need to lay down.

[Andy]

I actually like Neifi. If Dusty would only have enough common sense to hit him 7th or 8th there would be no problem.

Nah, I would rather have Cedeno or Walker in his spot. The only business Neifi has on a 100mil payroll team is a bench-type role.

The only business Neifi has on a 100mil payroll team is AAA shortstop.

[stitchface]

Neifi is a great late inning sub for your good hit poor field ss or 2b. too bad we don't have such a ss anymore and are trying to get rid of the 2b.

[Warren Brusstar]

I hate Hendry's and Dusty's obsession with Neifi as much as anyone. But it's absurd to imply that the Cubs can't win with Neifi playing SS and hitting 8th. The White Sox bolstered the notion that a dominant defensive SS can make a huge difference -- moreso than any defensive position on the field. Neifi is much like Juan Uribe, although not quite the same power. Frankly, the anti-Neifi rhetoric has gotten out of control on this board.

 

That said:

 

1. $2.5 million was way too much to pay for Neifi; and

2. My head will explode if Dusty ever hits Neifi higher than 8th. Ever.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The Angels "Plan" is to have a great bullpen and Vladimir Guerrero.

 

Interesting part about that, we need to make their pitching coach our new Manager (Bud Black). They manage to get by with ALL righties in the bullpen. How the hell do you do that!? Who faces the lefties? Do they just walk all of them? I'm confused now, need to lay down.

 

Some of their righties have good splits against lefty hitters (too lazy too look up stats, but Shields comes to mind).

[MPrior]

The Angels "Plan" is to have a great bullpen and Vladimir Guerrero.

 

Interesting part about that, we need to make their pitching coach our new Manager (Bud Black). They manage to get by with ALL righties in the bullpen. How the hell do you do that!? Who faces the lefties? Do they just walk all of them? I'm confused now, need to lay down.

 

Some of their righties have good splits against lefty hitters (too lazy too look up stats, but Shields comes to mind).

 

Also, when your bullpen is just that flat-out filthy, who gives a crap if they're all righties? I'd take their all-righty bullpen any day of the week.

[CuseCubFan69]

My question is.....is Walker better than a middle reliever? This offense is not effecient and is trading a player that could be productive the right thing to do when you "supposedly" have all this young quality pitching in the minors?

 

Let me add that Sisco would have never had the numbers he had at KC for the Cubs because of how Baker mismanages the pen. I wonder how many good players are going to be traded because of Bakers faults.

[Warren Brusstar]

My question is.....is Walker better than a middle reliever? This offense is not effecient and is trading a player that could be productive the right thing to do when you "supposedly" have all this young quality pitching in the minors?

 

Let me add that Sisco would have never had the numbers he had at KC for the Cubs because of how Baker mismanages the pen. I wonder how many good players are going to be traded because of Bakers faults.

 

Other than his stubborn refusal to admit that Remlinger should not be used as a LOOGY and his decision at the beginning of last year to go with Rusch in the bullpen and Dempster in the rotation, how has Baker "mismanaged the pen?"

 

 

Don't get me wrong -- Baker's faults are legion. Yet, his "mismanagement of the bullpen" is a purported fault that is repeated ad nauseum despite the fact that I have not heard a single compelling argument (other than the ones cited above) as to why this is so.

[CubinNY]

My question is.....is Walker better than a middle reliever? This offense is not effecient and is trading a player that could be productive the right thing to do when you "supposedly" have all this young quality pitching in the minors?

 

Let me add that Sisco would have never had the numbers he had at KC for the Cubs because of how Baker mismanages the pen. I wonder how many good players are going to be traded because of Bakers faults.

 

Other than his stubborn refusal to admit that Remlinger should not be used as a LOOGY and his decision at the beginning of last year to go with Rusch in the bullpen and Dempster in the rotation, how has Baker "mismanaged the pen?"

 

 

Don't get me wrong -- Baker's faults are legion. Yet, his "mismanagement of the bullpen" is a purported fault that is repeated ad nauseum despite the fact that I have not heard a single compelling argument (other than the ones cited above) as to why this is so.

 

He has a repeate history of:

 

overusing guys while leaving others with many day between outings.

 

Bringing the wrong guy in to face a batter

 

Using a guy for one batter who should be used the entire inning.

 

Double switches for no good reason

 

Besides isn't the part I bolded enough?

[CuseCubFan69]

My question is.....is Walker better than a middle reliever? This offense is not effecient and is trading a player that could be productive the right thing to do when you "supposedly" have all this young quality pitching in the minors?

 

Let me add that Sisco would have never had the numbers he had at KC for the Cubs because of how Baker mismanages the pen. I wonder how many good players are going to be traded because of Bakers faults.

 

Other than his stubborn refusal to admit that Remlinger should not be used as a LOOGY and his decision at the beginning of last year to go with Rusch in the bullpen and Dempster in the rotation, how has Baker "mismanaged the pen?"

 

 

Don't get me wrong -- Baker's faults are legion. Yet, his "mismanagement of the bullpen" is a purported fault that is repeated ad nauseum despite the fact that I have not heard a single compelling argument (other than the ones cited above) as to why this is so.

 

He has a repeate history of:

 

overusing guys while leaving others with many day between outings.

 

Bringing the wrong guy in to face a batter

 

Using a guy for one batter who should be used the entire inning.

 

Double switches for no good reason

 

Besides isn't the part I bolded enough?

 

Plus:

 

Getting some guys work in a blowout when the Cubs are winning that haven't pitched. No reason to have a starter still pitching when the score is 8-1 and you have 12 pitchers on the staff.

 

Overusage of pitchers that just came off surgery.

 

Putting young players in difficult situations in their first time up and then not pitching them for around 10 days. If they fail how does this help them?

[Warren Brusstar]

Responding to these in order:

 

overusing guys while leaving others with many day between outings.

 

I can't respond one way or the other. Clearly, he used Wuertz a lot in the first half of the season last year. But Wuertz was our only reliable reliever during that time frame.

 

Bringing the wrong guy in to face a batter

 

Sounds like a lot of hindsight to me.

 

 

Using a guy for one batter who should be used the entire inning.

 

Ditto

 

Double switches for no good reason

 

I view that as lineup mismanagement, which is distinct from bullpen mismanagement. And in any event, I don't see how that would have made Sisco a worse pitcher if he were still with the Cubs.

[Warren Brusstar]

My question is.....is Walker better than a middle reliever? This offense is not effecient and is trading a player that could be productive the right thing to do when you "supposedly" have all this young quality pitching in the minors?

 

Let me add that Sisco would have never had the numbers he had at KC for the Cubs because of how Baker mismanages the pen. I wonder how many good players are going to be traded because of Bakers faults.

 

Other than his stubborn refusal to admit that Remlinger should not be used as a LOOGY and his decision at the beginning of last year to go with Rusch in the bullpen and Dempster in the rotation, how has Baker "mismanaged the pen?"

 

 

Don't get me wrong -- Baker's faults are legion. Yet, his "mismanagement of the bullpen" is a purported fault that is repeated ad nauseum despite the fact that I have not heard a single compelling argument (other than the ones cited above) as to why this is so.

 

He has a repeate history of:

 

overusing guys while leaving others with many day between outings.

 

Bringing the wrong guy in to face a batter

 

Using a guy for one batter who should be used the entire inning.

 

Double switches for no good reason

 

Besides isn't the part I bolded enough?

 

Plus:

 

Getting some guys work in a blowout when the Cubs are winning that haven't pitched. No reason to have a starter still pitching when the score is 8-1 and you have 12 pitchers on the staff.

 

Overusage of pitchers that just came off surgery.

 

Putting young players in difficult situations in their first time up and then not pitching them for around 10 days. If they fail how does this help them?

 

Not to parse to fine a line, but I view your first two points as issues relating to his handling of his starters. And I agree with you.

 

Perhaps I should be more direct in my question:

 

Which of these purported Baker failures would have made Andy Sisco a worse pitcher if he had been with the Cubs?

 

I'll hang up and listen for my answer.

 

:D

[Guest]

My question is.....is Walker better than a middle reliever? This offense is not effecient and is trading a player that could be productive the right thing to do when you "supposedly" have all this young quality pitching in the minors?

 

Let me add that Sisco would have never had the numbers he had at KC for the Cubs because of how Baker mismanages the pen. I wonder how many good players are going to be traded because of Bakers faults.

After the Eyre signing I don't see how it makes sense to add another reliever. (Unless we unload a few in a deal for some outfield help.)

 

By my count our bullpen is overstocked as it is:

 

Dempster

Eyre

Williamson

Rusch/Williams (whichever doesn't start)

Novoa

Wuertz

Ohman

Mitre

Wellemeyer

Koronka

JVB

 

Some of those young guys will be in AAA, I'm sure, but some won't. I'm pretty sure Mitre and Welly are out of options, so if they don't make the big club in 2006 they're probably as good as gone. As it stands I can't see the Cubs going with anything less than seven relievers which again gives us a 12 man staff and an undermanned bench. Even then Hendry would still need to trade a chip or two or risk losing a couple of those arms for nothing.

 

I guess the question I'd be asking (if Hendry is indeed intent on trading Walker for more relief help) is whether or not he'd be more productive than whatever bat we could get for a package of Mitre+Welly.

[Warren Brusstar]

My question is.....is Walker better than a middle reliever? This offense is not effecient and is trading a player that could be productive the right thing to do when you "supposedly" have all this young quality pitching in the minors?

 

Let me add that Sisco would have never had the numbers he had at KC for the Cubs because of how Baker mismanages the pen. I wonder how many good players are going to be traded because of Bakers faults.

After the Eyre signing I don't see how it makes sense to add another reliever. (Unless we unload a few in a deal for some outfield help.)

 

By my count our bullpen is overstocked as it is:

 

Dempster

Eyre

Williamson

Rusch/Williams (whichever doesn't start)

Novoa

Wuertz

Ohman

Mitre

Wellemeyer

Koronka

JVB

 

Some of those young guys will be in AAA, I'm sure, but some won't. I'm pretty sure Mitre and Welly are out of options, so if they don't make the big club in 2006 they're probably as good as gone. As it stands I can't see the Cubs going with anything less than seven relievers which again gives us a 12 man staff and an undermanned bench. Even then Hendry would still need to trade a chip or two or risk losing a couple of those arms for nothing.

 

I guess the question I'd be asking (if Hendry is indeed intent on trading Walker for more relief help) is whether or not he'd be more productive than whatever bat we could get for a package of Mitre+Welly.

 

No offense to the guys in question, but Wellemeyer, Mitre, amd Koronka are one step above worthless. I'd be shocked if any of them spent a significant span of time on the ML roster in 2006.

[MPrior]

My question is.....is Walker better than a middle reliever? This offense is not effecient and is trading a player that could be productive the right thing to do when you "supposedly" have all this young quality pitching in the minors?

 

Let me add that Sisco would have never had the numbers he had at KC for the Cubs because of how Baker mismanages the pen. I wonder how many good players are going to be traded because of Bakers faults.

 

Other than his stubborn refusal to admit that Remlinger should not be used as a LOOGY and his decision at the beginning of last year to go with Rusch in the bullpen and Dempster in the rotation, how has Baker "mismanaged the pen?"

 

 

Don't get me wrong -- Baker's faults are legion. Yet, his "mismanagement of the bullpen" is a purported fault that is repeated ad nauseum despite the fact that I have not heard a single compelling argument (other than the ones cited above) as to why this is so.

 

He has a repeate history of:

 

overusing guys while leaving others with many day between outings.

 

Bringing the wrong guy in to face a batter

 

Using a guy for one batter who should be used the entire inning.

 

Double switches for no good reason

 

Besides isn't the part I bolded enough?

 

Plus:

 

Getting some guys work in a blowout when the Cubs are winning that haven't pitched. No reason to have a starter still pitching when the score is 8-1 and you have 12 pitchers on the staff.

 

Overusage of pitchers that just came off surgery.

 

Putting young players in difficult situations in their first time up and then not pitching them for around 10 days. If they fail how does this help them?

 

Systematically destroying any use that Mike Remlinger, LaTroy Hawkins, or Chad Fox might have had on this team.

 

Overusing guys like Michael Wuertz - who is actually really good - to the point that he was no longer effective, and may have actually damaged his career through overuse.

 

Letting a young guy in ONCE. And if he doesn't perform perfectly, never seriously considering him as an option out of the pen again.

 

The other side of the Weurtz issue is this - when Wuertz isn't being overused, and is on his game, he is filthy. In these situations, when Wuertz is blowing through the Cardinals lineup, for example (this happened), what does Dusty do? As soon as the lefty Larry Walker comes up to bat, he takes Wuertz out for Remlinger, who not only fares poorly against lefties, but who has had particular trouble with Larry Walker (who is over .400 lifetime against him).

 

How about pitching an old guy (with a SERIOUS elbow injury history who has just come off a surgery) two days in a row to protect a 7-run lead? If I were Chad Fox, I'd want Dusty's head. Chad Fox's career is over, and it probably didn't have to be.

 

Having so little faith in his bullpen that after Z has pitched 7 spectacular innings, and begins to get into a tiny bit of fatigue-related trouble in the 8th, rather than going to the bullpen, he just lets Z stay in there, damaging his arm and giving up three runs in the process. Which not only tires Z out, but it sullies his otherwise incredible start, often gives up the lead (or at least makes it a tighter game than it should be), and inflates his ERA. It also doesn't instill much confidence in the young bullpen arms.

 

Allowing Hawkins to close again and again and again and again, no matter how many times he has demonstrated that he can't do it.

 

Deciding to keep Rusch in the pen, Dempster in the rotation, and Hawkins in the closer role despite Hawkins' previous performance and Hendry's desire that Dempster be the closer.

 

If it weren't for Dusty Baker, we'd have a damn good bullpen. Dempster would have been closing all year (and no, he's not as good at it as his save pct. indicates, but he's definitely good), Hawkins would have been setting up, which he is exceptionally good at, and Remlinger would have been used effectively, and would have been making a significant contribution to our bullpen. Not to mention Michael Wuertz, who could probably set up now and then to rest Hawkins or Remmy, and would make one mean middle reliever if used correctly. Ohman would be a good LOOGY (at least Dusty hasn't screwed that up totally). And, to top it off, Chad Fox might still be contributing.

[CuseCubFan69]

Perhaps I should be more direct in my question:

 

Which of these purported Baker failures would have made Andy Sisco a worse pitcher if he had been with the Cubs?

 

I'll hang up and listen for my answer.

 

:D

 

He would have been used like Hill was or any other young pitcher that Baker has. Let him come into an inning with no one on base but Baker doesn't seem to grasp this thought. Look at what he did to Sanchez against St. Louis for how Baker puts young guys in.

[Guest]

No offense to the guys in question, but Wellemeyer, Mitre, amd Koronka are one step above worthless. I'd be shocked if any of them spent a significant span of time on the ML roster in 2006.

I wouldn't call them worthless, though I do admit that none of them figure to play any signfiicant role for the Cubs. My point is only that, aside from Koronka, they have to play for the MLB club or the Cubs will almost definitely lose them. Hendry isn't the type to just give away players for nothing, so it stands to reason some of these guys will have to be traded at some point this offseason.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Hendry is the master of speaking while saying nothing. I know its his job to play it close to the vest but its really impressive how he can give interviews without saying anything.

[YearofDaCubs]

Hendry is the master of speaking while saying nothing. I know its his job to play it close to the vest but its really impressive how he can give interviews without saying anything.

That is true. All his interviews are almost identical.

[JeffH]

I had to laugh last night during the WGN sequence with Hendry.

 

The first word out of his mouth was "obviously".

[goonys evil twin]

After the Eyre signing I don't see how it makes sense to add another reliever. (Unless we unload a few in a deal for some outfield help.)

 

By my count our bullpen is overstocked as it is:

 

Dempster

Eyre

Williamson

Rusch/Williams (whichever doesn't start)

Novoa

Wuertz

Ohman

Mitre

Wellemeyer

Koronka

JVB

 

Mitre, Novoa, Welly, Koronka and JVB are completely unreliable.

 

The pen right now is Dempster, Eyre, Williamson, Wuertz, Ohman. None of which has a history of consistent great pitching in the bullpen. Rusch/Williams are both garbage time relievers or long guys (while both might be starting in the rotation in April).

 

That being said, if Hendry is just going to keep signing marginal relievers, I'd rather he just ignore it and hope things work out (which is essentially what he's already doing) and focus exclusively on the offense. If a good starter emerges, feel free to improvise.

[Magnetic Curses]

After the Eyre signing I don't see how it makes sense to add another reliever. (Unless we unload a few in a deal for some outfield help.)

 

By my count our bullpen is overstocked as it is:

 

Dempster

Eyre

Williamson

Rusch/Williams (whichever doesn't start)

Novoa

Wuertz

Ohman

Mitre

Wellemeyer

Koronka

JVB

 

Mitre, Novoa, Welly, Koronka and JVB are completely unreliable.

 

The pen right now is Dempster, Eyre, Williamson, Wuertz, Ohman. None of which has a history of consistent great pitching in the bullpen. Rusch/Williams are both garbage time relievers or long guys (while both might be starting in the rotation in April).

 

That being said, if Hendry is just going to keep signing marginal relievers, I'd rather he just ignore it and hope things work out (which is essentially what he's already doing) and focus exclusively on the offense. If a good starter emerges, feel free to improvise.

 

agreed. are we supposed to be totally mesmerized by the fact that he threw a ton of money at a free agent? is it supposed to cover up the fact that he's not doing his job? instead of just half-assing it, he's now using his whole ass, which is totally unsettling. i hope he realizes that nobody is impressed with the fact that he overpaid for yet another marginal talent. putting something you found in a sewer in your display case is not wonderful.

[fromthestretch]

After the Eyre signing I don't see how it makes sense to add another reliever. (Unless we unload a few in a deal for some outfield help.)

 

By my count our bullpen is overstocked as it is:

 

Dempster

Eyre

Williamson

Rusch/Williams (whichever doesn't start)

Novoa

Wuertz

Ohman

Mitre

Wellemeyer

Koronka

JVB

 

Mitre, Novoa, Welly, Koronka and JVB are completely unreliable.

 

The pen right now is Dempster, Eyre, Williamson, Wuertz, Ohman. None of which has a history of consistent great pitching in the bullpen. Rusch/Williams are both garbage time relievers or long guys (while both might be starting in the rotation in April).

 

That being said, if Hendry is just going to keep signing marginal relievers, I'd rather he just ignore it and hope things work out (which is essentially what he's already doing) and focus exclusively on the offense. If a good starter emerges, feel free to improvise.

 

I don't know if I would say that Novoa is completely unreliable. He was shaky at times, but I think he could turn out to be a decent reliever. I don't think anyone has seen enough of JVB at the major league level to lable him an unreliable.

 

Welly, Koronka, and Mitre are guys that could be (and should be) involved as part of any trades the Cubs make. I don't view any of them as particularly effective, and they probably don't have much of a role on the 2006 roster.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't know if I would say that Novoa is completely unreliable. He was shaky at times, but I think he could turn out to be a decent reliever.

 

What other word could you use to describe him? He's got good stuff, and at times could have a great outing. But overall he sucked. His WHIP was 1.6. That's the very definition of reliable. If he was reliable, you would be willing to bet pretty good money that he'd put up a solid line next season, and I would be willing to bet there aren't many people willing to do that. He's unreliable. You have no idea what he'll give you next year, or on a day-to-day basis.