Bruce Miles

Nothing's hot just yet. They've been trying to get something nailed down with Glendon Rusch. I've been covering the Sox in the playoffs, and on Monday, I'll make my fourth trip of the year to Houston. For selfish reasons, that's a lot better than St. Louis because of better working conditions. I know this isn't a Sox board, but I'm glad a World Series has come to Chicago and I'm glad to be working my first. I thought I was there two years ago, but alas...

The Cubs are not "fed up" with Ramirez, and Jim Hendry is not trading him. End of story.

Livid, but under control. I really like Scioscia.

During the season, I do one column or "opinion piece" per week. Those run on Fridays. The rest of the time, I report on the news. Each reporter gives the essentials of the news. Each also tries to add his or her own interpretation of the events. I was the one who asked most of the questions of Hendry on the conference call yesterday. I asked the question about the fundamentals, given the fact that they hired all the coaches back. I also asked Hendry what he thought Larry's strengths are. I'm not sure how many people read the Cubs web site. I'm not sure how many people read all four newspapers that cover the Cubs. So each reporter has to make sure to cover all the news points (facts) while trying to put the events into some sort of context or perspective. Back to ALCS duty at Comiskey, er, the Cell.

I pick up the phone and call people. Simple as that. I talk with several people within the organization. Hendry is very accessible. He won't compromise confidential information, but he'll answer every question, even if he says he can't say something. During the Maddux negotiations two winters ago and the Sosa saga last winter, I was talking with Jim every day, sometimes two and three times a day. He always answered or got back to me.

Not yet. I'll have a better idea after some of their initial meetings this week and heading into their organizational meetings.

UK, Just yankin' your chain!!

The plan is for Wood to be a starter. I mentioned the name of Bobby Howry in today's story. The Cubs may have interest. No, I don't believe they're particularly high on Van Buren.

What is your take on the rumors surrounding Hendry/Baker extending their contracts. So far, I would say thru the media it appears that Hendry will get offered a two year deal next Spring and Baker as well. The only difference is that Baker might not accept unlike Hendry. Stating a good start is needed, runs perpendicular to recent hints that Baker would be offered before the season. If you were to put odds on the situation, what are the odds of Baker being offered 2 more years before the season? Those weren't "rumors" about the contract extensions. Those were strong indications given to media members close to the team _ given to us by various members of the Cubs family. There are several "extension" scenarios regarding Baker: He could be offered a one-year extension. He could be offered a two-year extension. He could be offered a "lowball" extension. And as I've said, there is no guarantee he'll accept. I don't think he particularly likes Chicago all that much. A good start will be important regardless, especially since I have a feeling Baker will make the whole extension thing moot by not accepting it. Nice use of the word "perpendicular," though.

Yes, it's quite possible the Cubs will trade for an impact bat this winter. Great question. Well, I've got to get ready to go to the Cell. Playoff duty. I get a trip to Boston out of it. I'll be checking in from time to time.

Dotel's name hasn't popped up in my talks with Cubs people, but I will check. I think they'll make a run at Bobby Howry. I do think their young bullpen guys pitched pretty well this year _ Wuertz was overworked by Baker for a time _ but a good veteran arm will help.

Baker is back next year. I'd say a good start is a must or things could change. But he'll be there to start the season.

Which Giles do you mean, Vance? I'd take either one!!

Guys, Dusty is NOT going to the Dodgers, for multiple reasons. You can forget that one.

Your lineups: Macias, 2B Perez, SS Lee, 1B Garciaparra, 3B Burnitz, RF Barrett, C Murton, LF Patterson, CF Williams, P Biggio, 2B Taveras, CF Ensberg, 3B Berkman, LF Lamb, 1B Lane, RF Ausmus, C Everett, SS Clemens, P And remember, I'm just the messenger.

Thanks, guys. I learned a lot of it right here at NSBB.

Lineups: Theriot, 2B Perez, SS Lee, 1B Garciaparra, 3B Murton, LF Burnitz, RF Barrett, C Patterson, CF Zambrano, P Biggio, 2B Taveras, CF Ensberg, 3B Berkman, LF Lamb, 1B lane, RF Everett, SS Ausmus, C Pettitte, P

I'm not Bruce, but I have something to say on that. In my opinion, the way the Cubs organization is structured, Andy's job is strictly business/directional care for the longterm. He's the go between for ownership and management, and is basically just supposed to make sure the franchise is heading in the right direction, both as a financial entity, and a baseball club. For the most part, he's done that job pretty well, although not really in a timely fashion. The franchise was a mess before he arrived. It was a mid-point kind of payroll team, with no farm system and terrible results on the field. The organization is pretty healthy right now. It could be a World Series champion next year without a major overhaul. They are in a position to contend every year. The two problems I have with him is his apparant 100% satisfaction with Hendry/Baker, and the loyalty he has to the good ole' boy network that has hindered the developmental side of operations. I'd love to see Andy pull Jim into his office and say, "Hey Jimbo, Dusty was a failure, get rid of him, and start fixing some of those long running problems this team has, first and foremost, the lack of OBP on offense." But I'm not sure that is a fireable offense. The Trib and Andy have given Jim, the front office and Dusty more than enough to produce a championship caliber winner year in and year out. It's up to that group to make the proper baseball decisions to get it done. If he lets this team drift back to the 70, 73, 77, 75 win embarrasment of mediocrity, then get him the heck out of there. This should be the last sub .500 season for the rest of the decade. A repeat of 2005 should be met with mass overhaul of the front office. Well, said, Goony. MacPhail has brought class, stability and professionalism to this organization. His biggest fault, at least in my opinion, is that he's too patient. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better human being at the top of an organization. And MacPhail is one reason there was no players strike in 2002. He was on the management negotiating team, and the players trusted him implicitly. What he and the rest of the organization must do is find a way to win consistently, not every so often.

So, to try to read between the lines, are you saying the majority of the blame for this season falls on Hendry, rather than Baker? It's a total team effort: Players, GM, manager, in whatever order you'd like.

If you look at the entire column, the point is not just what happened this year. It's what has happened year after year after year. Teams such as the Cardinals, Braves and Astros have enjoyed consistent runs of success. This is largely because of good decision making in front office (Jocketty, Schuerholz, Hunsicker _ and see today's Richard Justice column in the Houston Chronicle about Tim Purpura). Injuries hit all teams. The Cardinals overcame the death of a pitcher in 2002. All I was saying is that there is a reason that teams succeed year after year. That reason is based in smart planning, good decision making and sound execution on the field.

yes, this is a suprisingly dull article from miles, who i expect more from. the cards are better because of eckstein, grudz, and rodriguez? not even close, rodriguez was playing at AAA for cleveland, why isn't cleveland stupid for trading him away? eckstein won't have much value after this season, nor will grudz, who has never been the hitter that walker has, never ever, not even this year. the cards have scored more runs than the cubs because of patience (hitting philosophy) and a whole heap of good luck. their pitching has stayed healthy and they have a better bullpen. the cubs could easily win 100 games if they spend wisely this offseason. they don't need to go looking for needles in hackstacks at AAA. I never said the Cardinals were better because of Eckstein and the others. I said they were better because of BETTER DECISION MAKING, which includes acquiring the players I mentioned. Oh, yes, Eckstein will have value beyond this year. And if the Cardinals win it all with him at the top of the order, he surely has had value this year. Walker a better player than Grudz? Ask the Cubs pitching staff. The point on Rodriguez is not that he's a difference maker. It's that he's a valuable part, one that the Cardinals identified and acquired. From people I talked to in baseball, the Cubs really had no idea who he was. Followers of the team should be alarmed by that.

No, the Cubs certainly aren't showcasing Neifi. For some reason, Dusty likes him at the top of the order. For me, I'd go with Theriot and Murton 1-2 tonight. After tonight, I'd go with Murton 1 or 2. Heck, I'd throw Barrett in the 2-spot. But they don't ask me, either.

Lineups Sanchez, 2B J. Wilson, SS Bay, LF Mackowiak, RF Eldred, 1B McLouth, CF Cota, C Bautista, 3B Duke, P Theriot, 2B Perez, SS Lee, 1B Garciaparra, 3B Barrett, C Burnitz, RF Murton, LF Patterson, CF Maddux, P

Scary thought.

There's not much money in fining baseball writers.