CubinNY

Good point. Last spring there was a series of articles in the NY Times about Wright quoting annymous scouts about his potential. In addition, on WFAN, Mike Francessa and Chris Russo discussed Wright all the time. Let me state this again so no one misunderstands my point here: Wright is a special baseball player. He has a shot at a very long and very good career, but he is nowhere near an elite defensive thirdbaseman. He probaly will be better than average in the near future, but not great. You said (or implied) that the plan was to move him to first base, because he couldn't hack it at 3rd. I simply want to know where that notion comes from. He's good defensively. I said or implied no such thing. I said his eventual future will be at first base (about the age of 30). And I've already explained where that notion comes from. But let us put the opinons aside for a secondd. He is averaging an error a week at third base during the 1.5 years he played the position. How is that good? In what way shape or form is that good? If Rolen averaged an error a week would he still be good? How about Aramis? I've seen him play 3rd base a lot as I watch a lot of Mets games. He is not a great third baseman defensiverly. He will get better, there is no doubt. The hype around this kind of talent is always this way.

I think you mean OldCubsfan.

The Cubs have to win today and tomorrow or the St. Louis serise was pretty much a wash. Come on Angel, Neifi, and Jerry. Make some lemonaide.

Hmm... It's ok with me. I don't want I date until he is slated to start. I like the way the Cubs are handling the rehabing pitchers, at least with the media anyway.

Point taken, let's move on. I hope Lee earns his money!

I would guess what the players have to say is far more important than the opinion of people on a message board. The players know who is a good manager and who is a bad manager. It really is no surprise why people who work in baseball have such a low regard for most message boards. I truly doubt that there ever has been decision made in baseball based on the opinions expressed on any message board. How do you know what people in baseball think about message boards? You can doubt all you want. However just to shine a little light on your dark, dark existence, at least one organization in baseball thinks enough of someone who posts on a message board that they hired him to work for them. His name is Voors Mckracken and he works for the Boston Red Sox. Be that as it may. I would think you are partially correct. It would seem to me that upper management would want a happy clubhouse. But winning trumps everything except for losing. The players can profess their undieng devotion to a manager but if he is a bad manager that won't save him. I am glad Lee likes Dusty, I am also glad that Lee signed an extension with the Cubs. In case you don't know, which I am almost sure you don't, Lee's ties to Dusty go way back well before Lee was even a prospect. Dusty knew Derrek when he was a teenager and his friends with his father Leon. Nice. Way not to make it personal. Before you start taking sides do a search and read his posting history. With him it is always personal.

I'd appreciate an update as well. I am looking forward to going to a number of games when we move to Memphis.

I would guess what the players have to say is far more important than the opinion of people on a message board. The players know who is a good manager and who is a bad manager. It really is no surprise why people who work in baseball have such a low regard for most message boards. I truly doubt that there ever has been decision made in baseball based on the opinions expressed on any message board. How do you know what people in baseball think about message boards? You can doubt all you want. However just to shine a little light on your dark, dark existence, at least one organization in baseball thinks enough of someone who posts on a message board that they hired him to work for them. His name is Voors Mckracken and he works for the Boston Red Sox. Be that as it may. I would think you are partially correct. It would seem to me that upper management would want a happy clubhouse. But winning trumps everything except for losing. The players can profess their undieng devotion to a manager but if he is a bad manager that won't save him. I am glad Lee likes Dusty, I am also glad that Lee signed an extension with the Cubs. In case you don't know, which I am almost sure you don't, Lee's ties to Dusty go way back well before Lee was even a prospect. Dusty knew Derrek when he was a teenager and his friends with his father Leon.

You have a very ironic screen name.

Managing a baseball team is not a popularity contest. If the Cubs don't perform then the manger has to go. Great managers not universally loved by their players: Bobby Cox Billy Martin Casy Stengel Leo Derousher Jim Leyland Chuck Tanner Dick Williams Joe McCarthy Sparky Anderson

Good point. Last spring there was a series of articles in the NY Times about Wright quoting annymous scouts about his potential. In addition, on WFAN, Mike Francessa and Chris Russo discussed Wright all the time. Let me state this again so no one misunderstands my point here: Wright is a special baseball player. He has a shot at a very long and very good career, but he is nowhere near an elite defensive thirdbaseman. He probaly will be better than average in the near future, but not great.

I am on the get well soom Mark, Kerry, and Wade bandwgn.[/i]

Of course I have Dunn on my fantasy team I am both :x :x and somewhat :) but mostly :cry: at Glendon Rusch's performance.

You've followed his career closely but didn't know he wasn't a rookie last year? Look, Wright is going to be very good offensively. That does not automatically make him very good defensively.

I once saw Walt Terrell hit two HRs in the same game against some nameless Cub pitcher

Pat is incredulous at the Aryo HR

Exactly. Getting beat two out of three here would make the sweep seem like a season ago.

Rusch has got to go

He may have made some rookie mistakes last year, but I've never seen anything but excellent reports about David Wright's defense. Here's what Baseball America said about him, as a minor leaguer: He makes all the plays at third base. He's one of the best in the minors at charging bunts and choppers, and he also shows a major league arm with good accuracy. And I've heard scouts on the radio and read in print that his ultimate future is at first base. I am going by what I've seen living outside NYC and heard here. After about the first month of the season rookie "jitters" likely wear off. Regardless, Wright wasn't a rookie last year. In 2004 he played 68 games at 3rd and made 11 errors. I cannot find Wright's minor league numbers, but thus far his error rate has been fairly consistent his 1.5 years in the bigs. Please note. I said he would be my pick for the best overall 3rd baseman so let's not try and paint a picture that I am saying he is terrible. He is not terrible. In five years he will be nearing 30 and a move to 1st base is not all that unusual.

I agree Tim. I don't know for how long Wright will be at 3rd though, but I'd say for the next five years he will be near the top. But his long- long term future is at 1st. I'm not sure why you say that. I've only seen him play 5-7 games, but he's looked good there when I've watched him. He certainly has the athleticism to play there (and then some). If you're talking when he's 35-40, I might agree, but that's around 12+ years from now. I agree with Tim. I've seen at least 10 games of him, and I think he is pretty good. Here is an excerpt from his ESPN scouting report: Baserunning & Defense As good as Wright is at the plate, he is just as solid in the field. He has great hands for third base and an above-average arm. He can field bunts cleanly, and he moves well to his right and left with his outstanding range. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/scouting?statsId=7382 Don't believe ESPN's scouting report. As of the end of last year he averaged 1 error every six games. Last year he led all of major league baseball in errors at his position. He has a strong but inaccurate throwing arm and little range. This is not to say he won't get better, because he probably will.

I doon't think one can take seriously anything a player says about a current manager. And quite frankly, I don't care what a player says. Look at Joe Morgan. He is the poster boy for playing smart baseball, but when he talks it is almost like he was a different human being then the one who played baseball.

If Dope can rebound from the injured foot he will be of high value. However, I never really thought of him as much of a 1st base prospect. I think he had over 20 errors there last year. Dope has DH written all over him. 20 errors at first base is absolutely terrible. I could be wrong on the number, but I am pretty sure it was unussaly high.

I agree Tim. I don't know for how long Wright will be at 3rd though, but I'd say for the next five years he will be near the top. But his long- long term future is at 1st.

If Dope can rebound from the injured foot he will be of high value. However, I never really thought of him as much of a 1st base prospect. I think he had over 20 errors there last year. Dope has DH written all over him.

Who are you? Tim Russert? He does the same thing every Sunday. "Mr. So-and-so, you said [something that does not look good in the present]. Do you stand by those remarks". Opinos should change as conditions change. Just because Dusty makes a good move on Tuesday it does not make his bad move on Monday any less bad.