erik316wttn

I agree. Someone who will be loyal to his players, but someone who also won't make excuses for them when they keep screwing up, someone who will give young players a fair shot, and someone who will kick these guys in the butt when it's warranted. I'm not talking a Billy Martin or a Larry Bowa type guy, but we need someone who won't let these guys slack off. We need this, too. That's the most important thing, but he can't possess that and not have any of the other stuff either.

Oh that would be sweet. I want to be there when they finally implode the Metrodome. I hate that place. Stupid cheater Vikings. grrrrrr

I'd love to see the luxury tax money have to be pumped back into the team somehow, either payroll or stadium improvements or whatever. Maybe not 100%, but absolutely no less than 80% or so. That sucks that owners just pocket that money. The Seligs were notorious for that in Milwaukee before they sold the team. Does anyone with insider knowledge know if luxury tax money is a big issue when the owners and the union sit down and negotiate the CBA?

When I lived in Dallas, I went to a the Stars games. I had a good time, but really don't enjoy it on TV. I don't follow it enough to care. Yeah, hockey is one of those sports that doesnt translate to TV well.

What's another good market? I know they'd draw in Vegas and they'd have casino sponsors out the wazoo, but then there's that whole "Gambling" issue... it wouldn't fly. You'd have to take ALL MLB games off the books, not just Marlins games. IIRC, the other biggest markets without a team are Portland, Vegas, Charlotte, and New Orleans, not in any particular order. Charlotte is a hole. Been there once, never plan to again. They couldn't keep the Hornets, so who says a team would do well there? Portland is in the pacific northwest and would need a dome because of all the rain. Vegas we've already said. Don't know much about what kind of a market Nawlins would be.

What's another good market? I know they'd draw in Vegas and they'd have casino sponsors out the wazoo, but then there's that whole "Gambling" issue... it wouldn't fly. You'd have to take ALL MLB games off the books, not just Marlins games, and I don't think that would fly.

My dad and I would change that to "The official WGN 'Who Let One Fly" contest? Harry, Steve, or Thom? Pick the one to turn green and pass out first!!" Yeah, kinda immature, but it was male bonding. What more do you want? :P

I very much doubt it, as that would be the loss of 25 jobs. The union would have a fit. They've tried contraction before. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried it again. If they contracted KC do you think they'd have an expansion team in the AL in a few years time in a better market (Northern VA, Portland, Vegas, etc)? KC really isn't a bad market when the team is managed correctly. (Even when it isn't; the Royals still routinely outdraw the Marlins.) You may be surprised to learn that the franchise also had the highest payroll in baseball as recently as the early '90s. They're in a rough spot now, but if/when management ever gets its act together it's a pretty good location for a franchise. I don't think the Royals are a good candidate for contraction, just as I wouldn't have contracted the woefully inept Cubs franchise of the mid-late 70s. The Florida franchises, on the other hand... Nobody would miss the D-Rays, that was a mistake from the start. However, the Marlins have won 2 WS in the past 8 years.... kind of hard to make a case for contraction in that case.

per ESPNEWS.

I very much doubt it, as that would be the loss of 25 jobs. The union would have a fit. MLB can cut two teams after the 2006 season without the approval of the MLBPA. Part of the last CBA. I doubt it happens, though, as the owners have to notify the players of any contractions prior to the expiration of the current agreement. That means if the owners decide to contract two teams, you can bet the farm that the players will make managment's life a living hell when negotiations over the new CBA start. I didn't know that, but I agree with your point. The Union would NOT negotiate in good faith if the owners contracted.

I very much doubt it, as that would be the loss of 25 jobs. The union would have a fit. They've tried contraction before. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried it again. If they contracted KC do you think they'd have an expansion team in the AL in a few years time in a better market (Northern VA, Portland, Vegas, etc)?

I very much doubt it, as that would be the loss of 25 jobs. The union would have a fit.

KC is a perfect example of why MLB should have a minimum cap. You have to spend X amount every year in payroll. Don't like it, sell the team to someone that will put a better product on the field. And I think if we ever see an MLB salary cap in our lifetimes, there will have to be a salary floor included.

Something tells me that won't be an issue. If the Cubs fail to make-up any ground before September, and they keep running out the likes of Burnitz & Co. everyday, then perhaps the Cubs fans who still think this regime is doing well will change their mind. If the argument is you can't use kids when trying to contend, then what would be the defense for not using kids when you can no longer pretend that you are contending? But even if they fail to make up any ground, they will still be able to say they are "in the race" until there are very few games left, at which point many casual fans who still back the Cubs brass won't care what happens. I'm waiting for the same to dopes to wait for this team to finish with 83ish wins and argue for keeping Dusty around because he's the first manager in a long time to lead the team to three consecutive +.500 seasons. Hey, CP20, what about the non-casual or serious fans who still back Hendry despite not agreeing with him sending Murton down? Or did you mean that only fans that don't pay enough attention and aren't really serious about the Cubs winning would still think Hendry is a GM worth having? And, MPC, just a friendly word of advice, be careful who you call "dopes" on this board. Name-calling and insulting entire sections of Cubs fans just because you disagree with them tends to be poo-pooed around here. I was not intending to call Baker supporters dopes, it was meant for some Cub fans that use the last 50 years of Cub futility as enough cause to support a manager who has raised the standard of performance the last few years by posting 2 plus .500 seasons. People that want to keep Baker around are fine with me, I disagree with them, but they can have their opinions. It frustrations me to hear fans that will use another 83 win season as justification to show what a great job Baker has done the past two seasons. I know a huge portion of Cub fans expect and demand more out of our team now, moreso than ever before and I don't want to have to settle mediocrity anymore. No offense intended to anyone. I agree totally. I'm one of those fans with that crazy new expectation of winning. 83 wins, and a decreasing win total for 3 years (or 2, whatever) does not cut it for me. I'd be for a sub-.500 year this year if it means getting rid of Dusty, and I'd be for an around .500 year next year if it means we sow the seeds to build a consistent winning team.

Gracie would be interesting. Or Joe Girardi. Give him a job in the system somewhere and see how he does, then if he does well promote him.

Starting to? You're more patient than me, my friend. I was sick of it a LONG time ago. I was maybe thinking that it wasn't all Jim's fault, but this move convinced me. He needs to go along with Dusty.

Maybe we should ask Matt Murton and Ronnie Cedeno what Dusty thinks of playing young players. Oh, well, we'd have to catch up to them in Iowa first.

God forbid a young rookie should hit. Dusty hates being proven wrong and getting sent down to the minors is the punishment. At least Murton will play every day. I really don't see how anyone can defend the Dusty/Hendry regime at this point.

Me too, I dig the alternate jerseys. Yeah! I have another rider on the blue jersey BandWGN. Let's make them see the light, even by force if we have to!

Someone tell me what is so bad about the blue? I happen to really like the blue.

And just because nobody has said it in this thread yet... Moises pees on his hands!! Seriously, though, the Cubs won't make the playoffs. Managment should just do the youth movement thing for the rest of the year and then see what we need to do in the offseason. They shouldn't concern themselves with aging OF's and delude themselves into thinking they have a shot.

I will put more heed into this when I hear a major media outlet report that there is a "rumor." Right now theres a rumor of there being a rumor.

But what a start to his ML career.

Am I the only one that likes the alternate blue jersey?

I'd like to see a winning team befoer I see them worrying about new unis.