Cubzfan64

If I had a choice, overall I would rather have Ramon Hernandez. Offensively they are fairly similar and age-wise they're also the same. Defensively, Hernandez is clearly the superior player - the question remains as to whether Barrett can still develop, or if "he is what he is." The reality of the situation imho is that Hendry really likes Barrett and is likely not even considering trying to pursue Hernandez. I hope that's not the case because every possible situation should always be considered - if there were a way to improve the club by signing Hernandez and packaging Barrett in a trade, it should definitely be explored.

Barrett could really be an huge asset to the team if he can work hard and become a better defensive catcher and "caller of games" for our pitchers. All said and done, if I had a choice I would rather our catcher be an excellent defensive catcher who can call a great game and throw runners out, but that means the team has to get that extra production from other spots on the field and we just haven't had that luxury. If we can work on those other positions as well as our overall OBP, Barrett is the kind of guy who could potentially make for interesting trade bait down the road. For now, I have no problem with him being our catcher and I just hope he has the ability to progress in his defense in the process.

We probably agree much more than you think! We agree on respecting his passion and desire to win, and I agree with you that worrying about your job everday is NOT a good situation. That said however, I personally think there's a "healthy" degree of fear that has a purpose as a real motivator to do the best job you can - I'm guessing it lies somewhere between George's impulsiveness and hot headedness and what we've seen from the Cubs the last few years.

The way you just responded was not only articulate, but respectful which is all I expect from any discussion. For what it's worth - although I obviously can't prove it - I wouldn't have gone to any Cub games for the last 2 years even if I lived in Chicago. Your reasoning makes very good sense, however it also points out how much more "power" fans in Chicago and around Wrigley Field can weild by their actions than I can from here in New Hampshire. I'm just curious in general (not asking you specifically) - what other means do fans have for expressing their disappointment in the direction of their favorite team other than by letters to ownership and/or not attending games/buying merchandise? If people think going to the games and booing will change anything, that only works when the ownership has a competitive nature and hates to lose themselves - hates it enough to make changes when changes are necessary. If the ownership is primarily there to make a business profit, what the heck do they care if you go to the game and boo, as long as you spend money for tickets, hot dogs and beer. You keep saying that ownership doesn't care. If they don't care, why do they spend 100m on payroll? If the seats are getting filled regardless, couldn't they spend 100K? 30m? 50m? 70m? Why spend top 5 in payroll? Please answer this question. Direct your anger at the people who are not going out and spending that money wisely, but please acknowledge that spending 100m on payroll is a sign of caring. No - you're absolutely right and in one of my other responses I did respect the fact that ownership is spending a significant amount of money and I'm certainly not saying that they should be spending twice as much because that alone doesn't solve the problem - what I AM saying is that they should be getting value for the money that they are spending and they should be holding those who they hand the money over to accountable for how and where it's spent. Jim Hendry needs to get the most out of the money he's allowed to spend, and the "powers that be" should be evaluating and drafting the best possible players to help build the minor league system. You said it yourself that the Cubs are in or near the top 5 teams in baseball as far as payroll - that means if they are not in the top 5 teams in baseball as far as success is concerned, something is wrong. Injuries and bad years happen, but overall, there's little excuse for the Cubs organization to not be able to field a contending team 7-8 out of 10 seasons. Like I said before, it's time for Jim Hendry to step up and use the money he's being given to put together a contender, and if Dusty Baker and his coaches aren't capable of getting the most out of what's given to them to work with, then THEY need to be held accountable as well. Say what you will about George Steinbrenner, but I would take an owner as passionate about competition and winning as him any day of the week.

The way you just responded was not only articulate, but respectful which is all I expect from any discussion. For what it's worth - although I obviously can't prove it - I wouldn't have gone to any Cub games for the last 2 years even if I lived in Chicago. Your reasoning makes very good sense, however it also points out how much more "power" fans in Chicago and around Wrigley Field can weild by their actions than I can from here in New Hampshire. I'm just curious in general (not asking you specifically) - what other means do fans have for expressing their disappointment in the direction of their favorite team other than by letters to ownership and/or not attending games/buying merchandise? If people think going to the games and booing will change anything, that only works when the ownership has a competitive nature and hates to lose themselves - hates it enough to make changes when changes are necessary. If the ownership is primarily there to make a business profit, what the heck do they care if you go to the game and boo, as long as you spend money for tickets, hot dogs and beer.

As pessimistic as I tend to be, I don't feel like the window of opportunity is closed just yet - I do hear it closing, but there's still a slight breeze coming through. That said, I feel like this offseason (and unfortunately next offseason even more so) - will go a very long way as far as telling me whether the Cub organization is really going to commit itself to putting a seriously contending team on the field. After 2 seasons, it's very clear that this team lacks disciplined hitters and guys who can get on base from an offensive standpoint to compliment guys like Lee and Ramirez - and it's also clear that above average starting pitching is necessary to be serious contenders. If the organization does little or nothing to address those needs, the only chance the Cubs have of contending is if luck falls on their side next year and I don't hold much hope for that happening. The 2006 season has started this morning - it's time for Hendry and the Cubs to make some right decisions and do what needs to be done to give their fans something to cheer about!!! Get to work Jim!!!

This quote is one that bugs me as a Cubs fan. I firmly believe in my heart that a part of the Cubs ineptitude at winning any WS lies at the feet of all of us fans who continue to financially support the franchise despite the ultimate success we desire. There's a fine line imho between rooting for and supporting "your" team as a fan, and blind loyalty. Because baseball and in this case specifically the Chicago Cubs are very obviously run as a business, we (fans) are essentially the customers. As customers of other businesses, we often feel at a loss to control any aspect of our supplier's lives - however the truth is that as customers we have the ULTIMATE power in that we can choose tell our suppliers that as much as we may like them and value them, we simply can't justify continuing to do business with them if they don't drastically improve their product. Filling the stands ever year at Wrigley Field despite the record or successes of the Cub team is simply telling your supplier that no matter what the quality of the product, we're gonna keep buying it blindly year after year - in this day and age of baseball as a business, if I'm the ownership and I have stockholders to answer to, I take advantage of the unique position that puts me in and I make just enough effort to keep those seats filled and I don't care one whit whether my product quality is really improved or not. The only other option I have available to me as an owner/supplier is to invest in a "business manager" who is very skilled at consistently producing a quality product with a limited budget and I fear that those folks are very few and far between, and much of it ends up being a luck factors as much as anything else. I consider myself a fan of the Chicago Cubs, but unltil they provide me with a product that I feel they are capable of providing, I won't "invest" in that company - I can be a fan by reading about them in the news or following their games online - I won't spend money at their ballpark and just take whatever they give me as a consumer. I could see this argument if the Cubs were only spending 50m on the team. They spent 100m on the team last year, which was top 5 in baseball. Be upset with the people who make the decisions on plays on the team, but don't be upset with the ownership that gives the decision makers plenty of cash to put what should be a top 5 team on the field. I probably didnt' make my case as clearly as I would have liked, because I agree with your comment as well. I am clearly disappointed in the folks who make the decisions regarding player personnel moves as well as onfield player decisions, however I also lay some blame on the ownership for not getting the most for their money. They have to share in the responsibility the organization has to their fans even though they've ponied up a reasonable and respectable amount of money - they in turn have to hold those people one step below them responsible for the success and failure of the team as well who in turn hold those below them responsible etc... When those things happen, a baseball organization contends - maybe not every year (due to injuries, bad years by key players etc...), but more often than not. This organization is clearly doing something (or more likely some thingS) wrong or at least more poorly than their competition and has been doing so for a very very long time. I want to see that changed as much as the next Cub fan and hope springs eternal for me every offseason that "this" might be the year things turn around. Hopefully that starts this time.

"Cubs crushed by New Hampshire fan boycott." Give me a break - did I say I expected to change the team by my sole actions? You assume an awful lot by your sarcastic response to what I felt was a legitimate interpretation of a possible part of the Chicago Cub lack of success over the years. For what it's worth I've only lived in New Hampshire for 2 years - before that I've lived in Chicago, Central Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan since I was born and have been to so many Cub games I can't count them all. I visit the area a half dozen or more times per year but I haven't been to any games the last couple seasons that I can recall simply because I've been very disappointed in the entire organization. I also send 1-3 letters per year to Cubs ownership in which I commend them for good moves and decisions and express disappointment as a fan in other moves. In my opinion being a fan is similar to voting - if I don't participate in the experience, I don't feel I have much of a right (bad choice of words, but can't think of the one I want to use) for complaining about the result. I found this forum a little over a year ago after sifting through 100's of crappy posts on other "Cub" forums just to find 1 non confrontational, non sarcastic, non-abusive response that made sense (whether I agreed or disagreed with it). I'm disappointed in the rude response - if you disagree, disagree (as the first responder did) and state your points - anything beyond that is just sarcasm and unnecessary imho. Here's to hoping the organization works to take positive steps forward this offseason!

This quote is one that bugs me as a Cubs fan. I firmly believe in my heart that a part of the Cubs ineptitude at winning any WS lies at the feet of all of us fans who continue to financially support the franchise despite the ultimate success we desire. There's a fine line imho between rooting for and supporting "your" team as a fan, and blind loyalty. Because baseball and in this case specifically the Chicago Cubs are very obviously run as a business, we (fans) are essentially the customers. As customers of other businesses, we often feel at a loss to control any aspect of our supplier's lives - however the truth is that as customers we have the ULTIMATE power in that we can choose tell our suppliers that as much as we may like them and value them, we simply can't justify continuing to do business with them if they don't drastically improve their product. Filling the stands ever year at Wrigley Field despite the record or successes of the Cub team is simply telling your supplier that no matter what the quality of the product, we're gonna keep buying it blindly year after year - in this day and age of baseball as a business, if I'm the ownership and I have stockholders to answer to, I take advantage of the unique position that puts me in and I make just enough effort to keep those seats filled and I don't care one whit whether my product quality is really improved or not. The only other option I have available to me as an owner/supplier is to invest in a "business manager" who is very skilled at consistently producing a quality product with a limited budget and I fear that those folks are very few and far between, and much of it ends up being a luck factors as much as anything else. I consider myself a fan of the Chicago Cubs, but unltil they provide me with a product that I feel they are capable of providing, I won't "invest" in that company - I can be a fan by reading about them in the news or following their games online - I won't spend money at their ballpark and just take whatever they give me as a consumer.

It would be worth it just on the off chance that he and Steinbrenner might get into a shouting match somewhere in front of a microphone in 2006.

Yeah, it's right up there with letting a 6'9" lefty with crap tons of talent go rule V. . . . Yup - sounds like at least 2 stupid teams.

Thanks for all the info. I just thought it very odd that ANY team would just waive a guy who can throw 100+mph - one would have thought there would have been someone out there who might have traded for him.

I don't know anything about his past history, but I noticed a graphic last night that he had been waived by Anaheim in 2004. Anyone know what the reasoning was behind them waiving a guy who can throw 100 mph? He either had to have major control issues in their system or something - nobody gives up on an arm like that for nothing. Just curious.

I went to high school with 3 of Tony Kubek's kids. One son was a couple years older, a daughter was a year younger and his other son was in my class. Mr. Kubek ended up coaching (or assistant coaching - I don't recall) our boys basketball team. His son in my class of course was a full time starter (even though he was pathetic). Basically Tony and his 2 sons acted as though they were God's gift and of course they hung with the "jock" crowd throughout school. I was always too shy to ask for autographs when I was a young kid, and now that I'm well past my shyness, I feel like I'm too old to ask for autographs. My trip to Cooperstown for the HOF induction was both wonderful as well as saddening. Seeing some of my idols brush off young kids seeking an autograph or a handshake if they didn't have the $100 it cost to get one left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm sure the majority of the guys were nice, but it only takes seeing a couple bad sights to sour you. I'd love to meet a ball player in a situation where I could just sit down and have a conversation with them one on one for awhile - just to shoot the sh*^.

Boston would love to rid itself of Manny's contract so they can spend it elsewhere this offseason. Imho it won't take much more than a team willing to pick up the whole $ amount and give up a player or two - I'll bet the Mets could get him for Cameron straight up if they take on his whole contract. Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but I think Boston wants that money to play with asap and I honestly think they've had their fill of Manny.

Personally I like the guy, but 2005 was just the same ol' same ol' for Matt Clement, and I don't think it's worth trading any talent to get him back. I expected him to put together a career year in Boston since he actually had a good offense behind him, but his continued struggles with his control kills him every time. The media and fans in Boston are saying the exact same things about Matt Clement as we Cub fans were while he was with us... "The guy has great stuff, but he can't seem to harness it often enough to become a consistent #2 or even a #3 type starter for a full season."

Since the Cubs seem to be run strictly as a business, the only thing I can think of that would pressure them to put a winning team on the field is a boycott of the ballpark (meaning loss in revenue) with the expressed message that the fans won't return until the team is improved. The odds of that happening are slim to none, and slim is out of town unfortunately (imho at least). I'm a Cub fan and I root for the team on the field every day, but it doesn't mean I approve of how the ownership does their job - and the only way I can show that is by not going to the ballpark.

Vance - I would try to do the exact same thing - Dunn is one of the few players out there that can provide protection for Ortiz and make the fans quickly forget Manny. It would be a VERY good move if it could be pulled off.

In my opinion, Boston has an excellent good potential to be a VERY active team this offseason. There is a very real possibility that Grafanino, Millar, Mueller, Ramirez and Damon won't be with the team in 2006 - there's also a good possibility that Arroyo or Clement is moved as well. I think it's all going to hinge on what happens with Manny - so many of their "next" moves hinge on what they do with Manny. They can't afford to sit around and wait to make a deal with him because moving him frees up alot of cash they can use to try to sign free agents and/or make other moves. I would really like to see the Cubs make some phone calls to Theo Epstein (assuming he's still the GM in a couple weeks). I have to believe something can be worked out to benefit both teams! Boston has a few potentially excellent starting arms down in the minors - it would take a good deal to get one of them, but perhaps if we "took Manny and his contract off their hands," they may give up one of those arms if we send them something reasonable in return. Should be a good offseason regardless.

I'll be extremely shocked if Theo isn't back with the Red Sox soon. They aren't stupid and they know where they would be without him - 2 million or so dollars a year is about the cost of a backup infielder - Boston would be insane to let him go.

I would pay Damon $10 mil/year if it was only for a year or two, but under the circumstances I'll be shocked if some idiot team out there doesn't lock him up for 4-5 years which imho would be a mistake for them. Damon/Boras will find some way to cash in on his "status" as a baseball "rock star" quality guy who has had 2 very good years with the bat and has very much made a name for himself with many fans by his "idiot" comments, hairstyle and outlandish behavior. I sincerely hope the Cubs pass on overpaying him to play for them - the Cubs organization has done a pretty poor job (again imho) over the years in buying low and selling high. If they were to sign Damon, it would be another case of buying high. I also would be concerned that the last 2 years have seen him get pretty banged up. You know it affects his speed and I believe it affects his arm in CF which was never very good to start with. Damon is a classic case of "take advantage of what you can get when you've had 2 exceptional seasons." I don't blame him for aiming for as high as he can get, I just don't want to be on the buying end of it.

I think both cities have plenty of wEIners, I think what he was referring to was wIEners! Stupid editor for missing that simple one.

I've read alot of the "Dusty bashing" that has gone on alot of the season and at times I've agreed while at others I think it's been exagerated. The way this season is ending with Perez and Macias playing everyday and hitting 1/2 is simply inexcusable in my opinon. If Baker is doing this in order to try to achieve a .500 record, then that's inexcusable as well. Hendry seems to be (at least publicly) be a very hands off GM - hire the manager and let him do his job while you do yours, however if he stands by and condones this idiotic decisionmaking, then he shares in the blame and his actions (or lack thereof) are also inexcusable. If I had to bet money on it, here are the reasons I think Dusty is playing Perez and Neifi where/when he is (in no particular order): 1. He's pigheaded and stubborn - those are "his guys" and he's not going to sit them because of that - I'm guessing he thinks they "deserve" this somehow 2. He won't disrespect them by sitting them on the bench and playing "no-name" kids. 3. He's making a statement to the fans and press that "he's in charge" of this team and what happens on the field is totally up to him and doesn't care what anyone else thinks (including statistics) 4. He wants to make it over .500 so somehow the Cub organization can spin the season as a success of some kind (God knows how), and he clearly has absolutely zero faith in anyone who isn't a veteran ballplayer. 5. He wants to lose his job so he can come back and point the fingers of blame at everyone else so he's forcing the situation. 6. He's simply not a smart manager It's probably a combination of a bunch of those things and probably more. I stood by and kept quiet during most of the Dusty bashing, but these decisions have put me over the edge and I can't support him anymore.

I wouldn't be surprised to see someone like George Steinbrenner take a chance on him if it doesn't cost too much. No matter what I think of Sammy and how he left the Cubs, I'm sorry to see him end his career this way if this is the way it's going to go.

I'm sure this has been covered in other threads, but I'm absolutely disgusted that with us having no chance to get into any playoffs in 2005 we still see Perez and Macias on a regular basis (not to mention hitting 1 & 2 today!!) I believe we have a pretty good idea what we can expect from both of them over the course of a season - wouldn't this be a perfect chance to let some kids play and find out what they can do facing major league pitchers - maybe find a diamond in the rough???? I know Baker is an "I play the veterans" type of manager, but for God's sake, doesn't logic dictate that you may as well use these last games to see what your young players can do? I can't believe he's stubborn & pigheaded enough to keep trotting those guys out there - I'm sure he's doing it out of "loyalty" to them or some other such horse dooky. I'm disgusted with Baker for doing this at this point of the year where the team is - and I'm disgusted with Hendry for allowing it.