From today's Sun-Times....

[Cubzfan64]

These are some quotes I read in the Sun Times this morning that interested/concerned me a little:

 

Eyre speaking:

''My wife and I wanted to play someplace closer to home,'' said Eyre, a Florida resident. ''I know Dusty and Gene Clines and Sonny Jackson, and I was told it's a fun clubhouse. Dusty runs the same type of clubhouse he ran in San Francisco.

 

Baker's laid-back approach seemed to be a major factor in Eyre's decision.

 

Eyre's agent, Tommy Tanzer, said Cubs general manager Jim Hendry and pitching coach Larry Rothschild met with Eyre and Tanzer this week at Eyre's home in Bradenton, Fla.

 

''[Rothschild's] not going to make us run 30 laps before we pitch,'' Eyre said. ''He said, 'If you're ready to pitch every day, you can do whatever you want.'''

 

 

Hendry speaking:

''It's no secret we have a lot of interest in Furcal,'' Hendry said. ''We're also looking at other possibilities to help our club, maybe closer to the winter meetings as far as trades go. Certain free agents might be available as bench players.''

 

Is it just me, or do some of these comments make you sort of shake your head? I guess I'm glad to hear the Cubs have a fun clubhouse and that everyone likes Dusty's "laid back" attitude, but at what point does a "laid back" manager decide to start kicking some rear ends when the players are simply making too many mistakes out there?

 

I hope the last comment from Rothschild was taken a little out of context too - I realize MLB players are supposed to be "big boys," but to tell them they can do whatever they want as long as they're ready to pitch when their time comes seems a bit simplistic from a pitching coach doesn't it??? Wouldn't it be good for them to have stretching sessions, some homework on the upcoming team/batters etc...? Makes me wonder if Farnsworth became what he became in Chicago because he was "allowed to do whatever he wanted" without consequence?

 

Then we have Hendry (albeit hopefully posturing for Furcal) saying something about looking for free agents for our bench???? Our bench??? I'm sorry, but I think we have a number of holes to fill that would be more important than our bench.

 

Oh well - I'm still hoping for some much better outcomes this offseason - I just hope at the end of 2006 we don't have a 5th place team that "had fun in the clubhouse."

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Baker's laid-back approach seemed to be a major factor in Eyre's decision.

 

I think there's 11 million reasons why he came to Chicago.

[cubbyvirus00]

I woulden't read too much into it. After you make alot of money, and have mics and cameras all up in your face, you tend to just rattle and say alot of things.

[YearofDaCubs]

Baker's laid-back approach seemed to be a major factor in Eyre's decision.

 

I think there's 11 million reasons why he came to Chicago.

NO doubting that one. Nobody is going to dalt out say they came here because the money they gave them was the reason.

[YearofDaCubs]

Baker's laid-back approach seemed to be a major factor in Eyre's decision.

 

I think there's 11 million reasons why he came to Chicago.

NO doubting that one. Nobody is going to dalt out say they came here because the money they gave them was the reason.

[CubinNY]

Those comments sicken me.

 

I love the Cubs but I hate this organization.

[WrigleyinEngland]

think we're getting a bit carried away, boston won the WS with the ' Idiots' so i don't think a fun clubhouse will cost us.

[Andy]

think we're getting a bit carried away, boston won the WS with the ' Idiots' so i don't think a fun clubhouse will cost us.

The difference was that the Red Sox's "Idiots" were Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez.

 

Our "Idiots" are Neifi Perez and Jose Macias. And Dusty Baker.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

think we're getting a bit carried away, boston won the WS with the ' Idiots' so i don't think a fun clubhouse will cost us.

The difference was that the Red Sox's "Idiots" were Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez.

 

Our "Idiots" are Neifi Perez and Jose Macias. And Dusty Baker.

 

So, Boston had all perfect players on their team? Perfect manager?

[YearofDaCubs]

think we're getting a bit carried away, boston won the WS with the ' Idiots' so i don't think a fun clubhouse will cost us.

The difference was that the Red Sox's "Idiots" were Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez.

 

Our "Idiots" are Neifi Perez and Jose Macias. And Dusty Baker.

Classic. :lol:

[Andy]

think we're getting a bit carried away, boston won the WS with the ' Idiots' so i don't think a fun clubhouse will cost us.

The difference was that the Red Sox's "Idiots" were Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez.

 

Our "Idiots" are Neifi Perez and Jose Macias. And Dusty Baker.

 

So, Boston had all perfect players on their team? Perfect manager?

No, I was just pointing out that most of the "Idiots" that were good clubhouse guys were also very good players in Boston. Our "clubhouse guys" are not good baseball players, and in the case of Baker, not a good manager.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

think we're getting a bit carried away, boston won the WS with the ' Idiots' so i don't think a fun clubhouse will cost us.

The difference was that the Red Sox's "Idiots" were Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez.

 

Our "Idiots" are Neifi Perez and Jose Macias. And Dusty Baker.

 

So, Boston had all perfect players on their team? Perfect manager?

No, I was just pointing out that most of the "Idiots" that were good clubhouse guys were also very good players in Boston. Our "clubhouse guys" are not good baseball players, and in the case of Baker, not a good manager.

 

So, you feel Prior/ARam/Lee are not "Clubhouse" guys? Do you feel the general baseball world views the Cubs "Clubhouse" guys as Macias and Neifi?

[WrigleyinEngland]

I don't see Walker and dempster as rubbish and i also like the attitude of prior, barrett, Murton, Cedeno

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I'm glad the players are having fun and the clubhouse mood is upbeat. That's not a bad thing. It landed us a free agent who no doubt had similar offers from several clubs. It means this team has an attraction to it beyond $$ and when we're in line for getting another quality player via trade/FA, it might just tip the balance in our favor.

[frostwyrm]

That stuff about wanting to play someplace closer to his home in Florida is total BS. Chicago is closer to Florida than California is, but it's still far away, and anyway, what is the actual difference in flight time between a California/Florida trip compared to Chicago/Florida flight? Maybe 3 hours? You can't take a nap or read a stinkin' book for 3 hours on the plane? Maybe I'm cynical, but I think $11 million dollars are why he's in Chicago.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm glad the players are having fun and the clubhouse mood is upbeat. That's not a bad thing. It landed us a free agent who no doubt had similar offers from several clubs. It means this team has an attraction to it beyond $$ and when we're in line for getting another quality player via trade/FA, it might just tip the balance in our favor.

 

I think it was mostly the money. I doubt anybody matched the Cubs offer, that is just not the rate for mediocre relief pitchers.

[CubfaninCA]

At least Baker brings a fun clubhouse. That has to count for something. Writing out a lineup card shouldn't be everything. Although, it's a big part of the job, which Baker failed at miserably last year.

[ryno-mvp23]

That stuff about wanting to play someplace closer to his home in Florida is total BS. Chicago is closer to Florida than California is, but it's still far away, and anyway, what is the actual difference in flight time between a California/Florida trip compared to Chicago/Florida flight? Maybe 3 hours? You can't take a nap or read a stinkin' book for 3 hours on the plane? Maybe I'm cynical, but I think $11 million dollars are why he's in Chicago.

 

you are 100% correct in my book....if he really wanted to be closer to home he would have taken less money to go play in tampa....i think if a japanese team would have given him 11 million he would be playing over there

[goonys evil twin]

That stuff about wanting to play someplace closer to his home in Florida is total BS. Chicago is closer to Florida than California is, but it's still far away, and anyway, what is the actual difference in flight time between a California/Florida trip compared to Chicago/Florida flight? Maybe 3 hours? You can't take a nap or read a stinkin' book for 3 hours on the plane? Maybe I'm cynical, but I think $11 million dollars are why he's in Chicago.

 

you are 100% correct in my book....if he really wanted to be closer to home he would have taken less money to go play in tampa....i think if a japanese team would have given him 11 million he would be playing over there

 

I think there is a significant difference traveling from Chicago to Florida or SF to Florida. There's got to be about 100 flights a day between Chicago and Florida, and depending on where his family is, it might only be a 2 hour trip. As a NYer with family in Chicago and family in other places, it's always easier to get to and from Chicago.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Baker's laid-back approach seemed to be a major factor in Eyre's decision.

 

I think there's 11 million reasons why he came to Chicago.

 

1095 other reasons too.