tgk

Why would they be hungover if they didnt even celebrate? :lol: Best Case, Cubs win today, Astros lose tonight and the Cards can celebrate on Rush street.

From ESPN Insider Article by Gammons: If the Marlins do not make the playoffs, they will lose $20 million-$30 million, likely cannot get a ballpark built and will have to try to trade Carlos Delgado to the Mets before Omar Minaya, the Mets' GM, starts tinkering with acquiring Manny Ramirez. If the Mets continue to dive and Carlos Beltran gets booed right on into October, it will be interesting to see the Mets' response if and when the Red Sox reiterate the offer they made in July of Ramirez for Beltran. It would save New York close to $30 million. Also of note: • Nomar Garciaparra might now be willing to move positions to take some pressure off his legs. Second and third base seem out because of his elongated arm action and angle, but center or left field would seem very possible. The Cubs plan to put Felix Pie in center field next season, but if they could sign Rafael Furcal (why shouldn't he want more than Jimmy Rollins?) and put Ronny Cedeno at second base, Nomar would seem to make a perfect fit in left field. Not that the Cubs have discussed it. Just a thought. Link: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=2158786

From Stark's Rumblings and Grumblings today. Five trades that were talked about but didn't happen. #5: • Cubs-Indians: Yes, the Indians had interest in Todd Walker. But this was another overhyped deal that "never got too far down the road," according to one baseball man who had spoken with both clubs. Unlike Matt Lawton and Todd Hollandsworth, whom the Cubs unloaded because they'll be free agents, they hold a $2.5 million option on Walker for next year. So they never felt any urge to deal him, unless it was for something that made it worth their while. The White Sox and Cardinals also made runs at Walker, but never got close.

For what it's worth, Jason Stark said on Mike and Mike this morning that didn't think there were going to be any trades. He specifically mentioned Walker, saying that he didn't think he would be moved because the Cubs hold a very good option on him for next year.

Of course, All he has to do is sign with the Cards and he'll win the MVP next year. That means us, the Cubs. Oh don't worry, we'll still get to see it. 17 times at least.

Of course, All he has to do is sign with the Cards and he'll win the MVP next year.

You know this answer. Quite possibly one of the worst GM's of all time. Because he got fired from a baseball job, that automatically makes him better than anyone with any acutal training or talent. Come on, you don't think John Kruk, Dibble or half of the other clowns who've gone from the game to the booth got the job on merit do you? They are recognizable and, usually colorful. They are told to be animated on the set, have an opinion and assert it forcefully. Whether they are right or not is immaterial. They also have an instant amount of recognition. In Phillips case, his former job gives him instant credibility, even if he did suck at it. Howard Cosell termed it the Jockocracy way back in the '70s and it hasn't changed.

See what happens when you take the time to think about it instead of just ranting. Well thought out, consise, and to the point. Probably closer to what I would have written had I taken the time to think it out rather than react. Of course, as a habitual lurker, I probably wouldn't have posted at all if I wasn't ticked. Nicely said.

Ten years may be a bit of an overstatement, but then again I went a little far this morning as well. :oops: No, I don't keep up with the minors, not like I used to. Job and Family have reduced the amount of idle time. At one point, Lewis was thougt to be next and he's the first name that came to mind. I could just have easily have typed Fontenot. It doesn't really matter. Although I didn mention, at least on Dope and Pie, that if they weren't ready sign a veteran for a year. The same would hold true with Lewis/Fontenot/Patterson at second. As for Lee and Ramirez, my thought is that if you are going to blow it up, don't do it halfway. It would be a minimum of three years before the team would be competitive again and their value would be better served in terms of who they could brind in return to help then instead of wasting their prime production over that time, kind of a Hershel Walker trade. Like I said, I may have gone a bit far, but Dusty's comments in the Trib this morning about not playing kids in Sept. pushed me off the edge. The point remains the same. . I'd rather see them start from scratch then see the cycle repeat endlessly.

Not to be picky or anything. But you're talking about a rookie left hander. Considering the Cubs success rate against unknown pitchers and this kid's stats to date, where do you think the three hits are coming from?

Tim, I'll defer to your wisdom if you think this should be in rants. :) I've been a Cubs fan for Over 20 years. I was sure they'd win it all in '84, dealt with the heartache when they blew it. The collapse in '85 hurt, '89 was terrible, I despaired when Maddux left and Sandberg first retired, suffered through the early 90s, was justified in being pessimistic in '98, dissappointed in 2001 and my heart literally broke in 2003. I haven't watched the game the same since. And with that in mind, I say blow it up. Unless you're the Cardinals (who seem to have signed a pact with the Devil) you cannot rely on retreads having career years. Every now and then you get lucky, but for the most part it doesn't work. So again, blow it up. Not a fire sale, but a youth movement with a plan. You've got two stud position players whose are signed to reasonable contracts. Trade them both for this off season for stud kids that are ready to play. Derek Lee would look great in Fenway (Hanley Ramirez would be a nice return if you can get him) and I'm sure you could find a taker for Aramis Ramirez. As for Patterson, I'd hate to see him put it together somewhere else, but it is obvious it isn't going to happen here. Get what you can for him and wish him well. (Just don't send him to St. Louis or the White Sox) Put Murton in Left, Richad Lewis at second and Cedeno at short. If Pie and Dopairk (I know it's spelled wrong) are ready, let them start next season. If not, sign stop gaps for a year who you can replace midway though the year if the kids step up. I wouldn't mind Barrett being around, you are going to need veteran leadership. Also, what you get back in trades needs to be ready to play and will affect the line-up. Lock up Z and Prior to long-term deals. Put Wood in the rotation next year and trade him at the All-Star break if he's healthy and will waive his no-trade clause. Give Hill and Williams starting spots and see what they can do. If Maddux wants to come back, (Doubtful considering the rest of the team and his previous statements about why he would return) fine. If not, use the opportunity to take a look at your next best option, whether it is someone you already have or someone who comes in via trade. Lastly, eat the final $4 mil on Dusty's contract and send him on his way. I cannot say he's been awful, but he definitely would not fit with this roster. Bring in someone who works well with a young team, give them the security of a 3-4 year deal and turn 'em loose. The Cubs would absolutely suck next year. But the profits would be there as payroll would be about 1/2 of what it is now so it shouldn't concern the Tribune too much. You could even roll back ticket prices $5 bucks or so to show the fans it's about developing the team, not cash. There would be measurable progress at the end of '07, which would serve to reignite the fan interest. By then the club can identify which kids aren't going to make it and has the money to sign a two or three top-flight free agents to take the place of the ones that won't, and be a real contender for the next several years. Does it guarantee a world championship? No. But it has worked in the past for smaller revenue teams, imagine having a team like Cleveland or Oakland at the end of '07 AND $50 mil to spend to bring in some top talent to put you over the hump. Will it happen, no. Too risky. I admit that it would difficult to watch the club struggle, but I'd happily submit to a couple MORE years of losing if I knew the club was working toward a long-tern goal rather than trying to catch lightning in a bottle every year. Oh well, just my opinion. Let the flogging begin. :lol:

I don't post much, but I'm a regular lurker around here and I have to say that I thought a lot of the criticisms of Baker were excessive. While I didn't necessarily agree with his logic, I could at least see his point most of the time. However, his latest statements have left me confused and wondering what we can do to get a manager who fits what we need. Let's review. Playing Kids in Spring: Sure they look good, but the numbers don't really count because it's against other teams kids. During the season: Can't sit the veteran, they've earned the right to be out there. During a playoff chase: Can't trust the kids, no proven history. They may not produce. (But it's okay if a veteran doesn't produce, they've earned the right to work through it. Obviously he doesn't understand that all veterans were once rookies and had to be given an opportunity at some point. Not to mention, There are several young players producing in the penant races right now. Atlanta, New York Mets, Cleveland and Oakland come to mind. Of course, they don't bring the kids up before they're ready, which is what he implied the Cubs do a few weeks when asked about Atlanta) When playing out the string: Can't do it, the numbers won't mean anything because it's against other teams kids too. Need guys who can help you. (help you do what? - Also, is it my imagination or did he imply that you shouldn't play them because they might do well?) In short, Dusty needs to manage the Yankees where he has an unlimited payroll to have an above-average veteran at every position. I really think he'd do well there. But with the Cubs pipeline starting to finally produce position players (according to MacPhail and Fleirta) It's a little difficult to see his management style fitting with the players he is likely to be given.

I don't know, we'll have to wait to see if he can pitch or not to know for sure.

Article on how the Yankees, Redsox and Cubs won't part with the best prospects in a trade. Mostly just the Yankees and Red Sox, but the Cubs do get some time: It's an insider article, so you'll need a membership to read the whole thing but a couple of tidbits: Hendry also is under pressure, in Chicago, where Cubs fans have become less patient. "We want to win today, but there has to be a steady growth with young players," says Hendry, who turned to Double-A this week and brought up outfielders Matt Murton and Adam Greenberg; had he not been hurt, Felix Pie would have been up two weeks ago. "We haven't yet done a great job developing positional players," says Hendry. "But we hope we will. Do we have a list of players we won't trade? Absolutely. I wouldn't say them publicly [Pie, Dopirak at the top]. And we can be wrong, and five years look back and think how silly we were. But that's not the way to look at it. You want young blood coming in, and in terms of business, you'd better have it or there's no way you can survive financially." I like that quote! and... The Cubs felt that the only way Corey Patterson will ever get himself straightened out is by going back to the minors and starting over. They were going to bring Pie up two weeks ago, but he hurt his ankle on a bizarre play at third. So they brought in Greenberg and Murton, who were so excited to be in the big leagues that they were at the Florida park at noon Friday, and stood in the batters box at 1:30. But Greenberg got beaned Saturday in his first at-bat. "Some players have memorable first at-bats with home runs or game-winning hits," says Greenberg, "but I'll be remembered for being beaned." He still had stitch marks in the back of his head hours after the game. "Murton's going to hit, everyone knows that now," says West Tennessee manager Bobby Dickerson. "But Greenberg can have 10 years in the big leagues because he can really play center, he can run, slap the ball and, most of all, he's a winning baseball player." http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=2105299