ZMovieman

Wow. The A's front office has to be embarrassed about either a perceived about-face or ineptitude for not getting it signed right away. I would not find this reassuring if I was one of the 20 A's fans in Oakland. :?: Sorry. Bad joke about the empty stadiums the A's have even in the playoffs...

Wow. The A's front office has to be embarrassed about either a perceived about-face or ineptitude for not getting it signed right away. I would not find this reassuring if I was one of the 20 A's fans in Oakland.

Just updating. Tracy is now the manager of the Pirates. So where would Macha fall, since he's always wanted to manage Pittsburgh?

Some buffoon writes a web article and that means something somehow? You oughtta know better than that. Who's in the playoffs and who isn't? That's all that matters. Like I said, individual stats: overrated. Team wins: the name of the game. Wow Soul. You're missing the point. What CPatt and the rest have been saying is true, Kenny Williams simply isn't a good GM. The article proves it without discrediting Pods' year. Lee's importance to the Brewers is far more than Pods to the White Sox, as the VORP is stating. He's fortunate that Pods became a sparkplug. Would a good GM make a trade to acquire the SAME OF/DH (Everett) twice in back to back midseasons? Seems like a waste of prospects to me. Let me see what I'm gathering here, your argument is based off of what? Miracles and luck? No doubting the White Sox have been good this year, but come on. Statistically they shouldn't even been close (hence my comment that they will fall hard in the standings next year). You should know better... What that mediot fails to realize as do most others who look at that trade, is that it was also a salary dump, which saved the White Sox 7 million, which they used to sign AJ, El Duque and Iguchi. And there is the winning answer. Now the big question for us Cub fans: How will Hendry spend the freed up Sosa money? Sometimes you can't reason with people. Honestly, we should make this a poll question. Who would you rather have as your GM: Hendry or Williams? Who has made more bad trades and signings? Honestly, this is the first year I can remember Williams' moves actually working to even some degree. I'll take Hendry thank you.

Girardi's been given permission to speak with Florida. Wouldn't be surprised if he takes it. However, things could get complicated if NYY loses tomorrow. Wouldn't put it past Steinbrenner to throw a fit and fire Torre in a rash decision. Then would NYY have the ability to grab Girardi back or would it be Girardi's decision after that?

Derrek Lee might be the player of the year. Might be? I don't think there is any question (at least statistically) that he IS the player of the year. The only question would be whether voters think the player of the year is also the MVP. Sadly, they won't.

When do the free agent classifications (A, B, C, and the like) get announced? I'm assuming it's after the World Series, but not sure. I'm kind of curious as to what compensation the Cubs may have to give/receive based on offseason signings. Anyone know?

Some buffoon writes a web article and that means something somehow? You oughtta know better than that. Who's in the playoffs and who isn't? That's all that matters. Like I said, individual stats: overrated. Team wins: the name of the game. Wow Soul. You're missing the point. What CPatt and the rest have been saying is true, Kenny Williams simply isn't a good GM. The article proves it without discrediting Pods' year. Lee's importance to the Brewers is far more than Pods to the White Sox, as the VORP is stating. He's fortunate that Pods became a sparkplug. Would a good GM make a trade to acquire the SAME OF/DH (Everett) twice in back to back midseasons? Seems like a waste of prospects to me. Let me see what I'm gathering here, your argument is based off of what? Miracles and luck? No doubting the White Sox have been good this year, but come on. Statistically they shouldn't even been close (hence my comment that they will fall hard in the standings next year). You should know better...

For memories sake Vance, your top three were Fredi Gonzalez and who else?

It'll all work out when Los Angeles plants the White Sox on their butts. Seriously, I'd be surprised if the White Sox win two against them. Kudos to a great season and then welcome back down to earth next year. For those of you interested in the "great" general managing of Kenny Williams, take a read at this article about the Lee-Pods trade: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/jacob_luft/10/07/oct07.chatter/index.html

Agreed. With the exception of Clement's performance, the Boston staff wasn't that bad (at least kept their big offense within striking distance). The shame was that Boston was unable to stagger their rotation to allow for Schilling to get one crack at it.

I don't buy the argument that if the Sox win, then the pressure is on the Cubs. The fan base will still be there and the argument can be made that other franchises (like Cleveland, Houston, and San Franscisco) also haven't had great success in the span of time when the Cubs became the Lovable Losers. Simply put, a Sox win won't motivate any more than a Yankee win or Cards win. It will just provide plenty of headaches and nauseating tributes to Ozzie Guillen. :(

As painful as it would be, I'd probably go Cards too. At least we know they are a talented bunch. The White Sox are a bunch of overachieving misfits. I know they had the best AL record, but player for player, would you not overall take Cards players over Sox players? I'd reluctantly tip my hat to a talented Cards team, then look to knock them off next year. Sox are a joke.

Ken Macha can be added to the list now too. Doesn't he have ties to Pittsburgh? If that's the case, I wonder if the Pirates would go for him or Tracy. Also, would Macha go to LA instead of (hopefully) Dusty?

The White Sox are a classless organization, as has been discussed in other threads. I can never bring myself to root for them under any circumstances. I'd pull for the Yankees over them in the AL (as painful as that is to say). If its White Sox-Cards, I will disavow baseball for the duration of the World Series and then try to block the result out of my mind.

Makes sense about McKeon, though I didn't know that. Apparently there's talk of McClendon as a bullpen coach.

So I thought it might be fun to guess where some of last year's managers end up. These are just the ones I remember off the top of my head who haven't secured jobs for next year. If there is a firing or resignation (hopefully involving Baker this offseason), feel free to add them to the list. Lloyd McLendon - Bench coach somewhere Jim Tracy - Pittsburgh skipper Lou Piniella - Either a year out of baseball or a position with the Yankees. Alan Trammell - Los Angeles. No reason, just a hunch. Jack McKeon - Retired. Out for good. Any thoughts?

I agree that if we got Abreu and Giles that CF would not be a pressing need. I wouldn't condone this personally, but I thought I'd field thoughts on this topic. Bringing Pie up next year is rushing him, but with that supposed lineup, would the protection actually HELP his progress, even if he's batting 8th? Just asking.

So much for that lead...

Would it really kill Dusty to bat Murton in front of Lee? Especially when it's Macias AND Perez in front of him? I think I'm going to cry.

I'm more inclined to go with Selig's proposal. And you gotta figure that the player's union knows that if a 3rd offense happened under their plan, Selig would jump to his plan and boot him entirely.

So the '05 Marlins are beginning to sound like the '04 Cubs...

When Walker is healthy, I'd place him behind only Lee and Ramirez for consistency over the course of this season offensively. Walker is a welcome breath of fresh air for a team that seems to gag every time they see more than one pitch. As for his defense, everyone's right: he's really not that bad. I'd say the only detriment is that Walker + Nomar turning the double play is slow. But Walker by himself is far better than people give him credit for. As for Grudz, I like the guy, but you are drinking the Kool-Aid if you think he's a better player than Walker. While it may not show statistically (as comparing .292 and .305 isn't all that far off), I think over the course of his career, you can count on Walker more than Grudz. I'm sure that was the Cubs thinking. There is no way that Walker's option is not picked up this offseason. At worse, he becomes valuable trade bait towards a bigger need. But unless he nets us something huge and needed, Walker should (deservedly) be a Cub next season regardless of his mouth.

I love how yesterday's Chicago Tribune's was all doom and gloom, but after last night's win, they have done a 180° about how they'll make it after all. I loved Rick Morrissey's quote: "The Sox aren't choking. They're trying to extricate themselves from the middle of a monumental collapse brought on by a relative lack of talent. There's a difference." OMG, I was laughing my a** off.

Might as well ask what we've all been thinking...