C.C.

Agreed! I remember a time when Hendry was a Genius and Williams was trading away his farm system for worthless players. All my Sox fan couldn't stand the guy before 2005. I don't remember Hendry as Genius. I think he meant the general perception of him as a genius. After the Hunley for Karros and Grudz deal, the Hill and Beltran for Ramirez and Lofton, the Choi for Lee deal, the signing of Hawkins, Walker, and Maddux, and the Nomar trade (the Barrett trade was one of the best during that time, but doesn't factor in to this because no one knew how to judge at the time)-Hendry was widely considered to be one of the up and coming best GM's in baseball-of course, now that perception has done a 180. Thanks and that is what I meant.

Agreed! I remember a time when Hendry was a Genius and Williams was trading away his farm system for worthless players. All my Sox fan couldn't stand the guy before 2005.

Everyone is over-reacting. 120 pitches for Zambrano is not a big deal. 120 pitches for Wood is a big deal. This idea of a fixed pitch count ceiling for all pitchers without regard for the specific pitcher is silly. Did you miss the part about him "tightening up between innings?" This is incredibly stupid whether you believe in pitch counts or not. why would you risk your lone remaining ace in a meaningless game? I find your defense of baker shocking. That's what got me pissed off! The pitch count thing can be debated for years with no true answer, but if you only star pitcher is telling you he's "Tightenting" take him out and pronto!

You attempted to back it up, but it's still wrong. The Cubs didn't need a stereotypical leadoff hitter. They didn't need to get into a bidding war for marginally productive hitters. They weren't forced to give up big time talent for Pierre when they lost out on Furcal. It was Jim Hendry's incompetent management decisions that put this team into the position it was, and currently is, in. It was not some imagined need to sign Furcal. They could have and should have completely ignored the stereotypical leadoff hitter "position" and just gone out and found the best 8 hitters they could at each actual position. In other words, when I ask you if you'd like me to kick you in the balls, or slap you across your face, your answer should be neither, not whichever one you think will hurt less. So are you saying stereotypical leadoff guys don't matter or just in this particular Cubs case?

Everyone is over-reacting. 120 pitches for Zambrano is not a big deal. 120 pitches for Wood is a big deal. This idea of a fixed pitch count ceiling for all pitchers without regard for the specific pitcher is silly. This is going to open a can of worms...As it always does.

But at least they were playing for something. Hell, if we have shot at a World Series I can care less, just win.

It's nice to see a positive post! They would have to over-pay to get Schimdt in Cubbie Blue. He's already stated he wants to go to Seattle..

for some guys the price is always right True. But, with any player of real value I would think they would receive offers similar to what the Cubs would offer. Simple, Chicago is a big market and players like to play in Wrigley. I can think of worse places to play then Chicago in front of 40,000 people everyday...

I've never been a huge pitch count guy, but that was just stupid of Dusty. What was the point?

We haven't seen enough of him to give him the leadoff spot next year. Just because he's had a couple of nice games doesn't mean he's the answer.

The only problem with that is his control.

Mark (dallas): What are the chances Joe Girardi is coaching the Cubs next year? SportsNation Buster Olney: (2:34 PM ET ) Mark: I defer to fellow writers Phil Rogers of the Tribune and Chris De Luca of the Sun-Times, who both wrote over the weekend that the Cubs have little or even no interest in prying Girardi from Florida. Drew (FL): Buster, I appreciate your unbiased reporting and have made the blog a commonplace in my daily readings. As a Cubs fan, this season has been as painful as they've come, wondering if you could give me your take on a little publicized situation in Chicago with LF and Matt Murton. People claim he cant be the LF of the future because he doesnt hit for enough power, but he's the only player on the team that takes walks and his lack of power wouldnt be so overblown if not for the terrible bats in the MI. I want him to play and be the LF for the next 10 years, but can he be? SportsNation Buster Olney: (2:26 PM ET ) Drew: This is what I'd do if I were the Cubs -- commit to playing him everyday in left field the rest of the season, and then make a decision. When I watch Murton hit, he makes me think of kevin Youkilis a little, in that he's a right-handed hitter who can draw some walks, but he doesn't have the same extended at-bats as Youkilis does, and as you say, he doesn't hit for as much power... He's only got 12 at-bats in the NO. 2 slot this year -- I'd hit him there the rest of the way, to see how that works... Got nothing to lose, at this point.

Unless Derek Lee gets off the DL you have to keep Nevin and Marby to play 1st. Neifi and Rusch have another year left on their contract, so unless somebody wants them, they aren't going to get released. I'm sure in the offseason Hendry will try to peddle them, but again who's going to want either of them...

Baker sets the lineups. We're 19 games below .500 and we're not still not playing rookies as much as a team in this situation should. Big deal or not, there definitely seems to be a difference. What rookies are we not playing? I see 4 rookies basically on the squad today. 2 of them play in left field everyday, and Cedeno plays 4 out of every 5 games at second. So, the only problem is that Neifi gets some of the starts at second that Cedeno doesn't get, which is a problem, but not a huge one. I think that there have been reasons for getting a new manager in now-but right now I think they are doing a pretty good job of playing young players. I mean, for example, we haven't seen Nevin in left field lately-that's a Dusty move that has been stopped. I agree with you. We have 4 rookies in our rotation. We have either Pagan and Murton in left...The only rookie\kid not seeing time on a consistent basis is Theriot. We are bascially the Marlins, without the rookie talent.

No, the right move would have been to replace Dusty during the season, even if it was with an interim manager. At least an interim manager may have done a competent job of handling the pitching staff, as opposed to Dusty abusing Zambrano this year just as he did with Prior and Wood in 2003. Who knows, I'm on the fence with this one. If Hendry did fire him during the ASB I would'nt be upset about it...It's a bit too late now anyway.

Actually I wouldn't even consider Dierker until I actually started to read about him and he's very impressive, but you have to wonder if the first two (on your list) want to manage anymore...

I kinda disagree with you. If you fire Baker mid-season who would you get to replace him? Most mid-season replacements are "Temporary" managers anyway. The right move was for him to finish this diaster and start fresh next year.

I've actually been hearing his name for the past couple of years. Everytime a job opens his name seems to surface...Don't know much about him.

chicagosports.com Looks like exit visa is imminent. =D> Yep, I think it's obvious now. I'm just so curious to see who our next manager is?

Sorri we cant be god spelers like you...

I couldn't agree with you more. I always haven't been the biggest Hill backer but the past 2-3 starts I can see a upside. Coors field is a tough park to pitch in if you rely on breaking pitches as Hill does. I expected a bit of a set back tonight, so I'm not surprised by this. I'm more interested to see how he pitches his next start.

They probably have to have a team first. Hey now! They did pretty well last year for a very young team. I think they will get in the Tourney this year. Umm...football? This thread is football? Sheez! I feel like a a$$! I thought you guys where talking hoops. Oops.. I guess I didn't read the thread good enough. Sorry 'bout that. I know nothing about college football...So carry on gents!

They probably have to have a team first. Hey now! They did pretty well last year for a very young team. I think they will get in the Tourney this year.

You are right if they continue this dreadful play attenedence will go down, but all the Cubs have to do is sniff first place in any given month and fans will pack the place in.

I wouldn't say a disaster, but I do expect a dip in his progress. I don't think he'll get the same bite on his curveball...