b_wiggy_66

This is terrible. Thanks to the fact that sweet Lou was hired, we get this dope back next year. If Lou truly is hired I will displeased anyways, but if he brings Rothschild back I will be pissed. He has been with these players for over 5 years now and has not helped to develop any of them into solid pitchers(Big-Z not included) The only positive out of this is it sounds like Lou is going to get a short deal. They must have showed him that they want to win now and are going to spend the money this offseason.

They picked a good night to have Dusty on, he gets to talk about his favorite subject: Role Players all night.

He's out of the lineup, but I'm sure Dusty will give good old Neifi a shout out.

Dusty will be one of the analysts on tonight. That should be interesting. LOL "Um........ I don't know man, wow, Um...... he's pretty good"

Good! Use this money for Matsuzaka(he is the real deal) and Suppan we need pitching. Also lock up Big-Z while were at it.

I really don't want Piniella. After listening to him do Baseball all season and duirng this ALCS he sounds like Dusty except he doesn't preach as much and will probably yell occasionaly. (My 100th Post, Sweet)

Piniella is to old for this job. We need someone who will be here for a long time and end this constant changing of managers on the North Side. He is already 62 and he is going to cost a lot more than Girardi. Save that money and use it for players.

Another thing that would come with this would be more Japanese advertisement, media coverage, and memorabi8lia sales. These would all add to the Cubs already great revenue and give them another market to draw from.

There is no way they trade Derrek Lee. He is now the face of this organiztaion and they will not be trading him. I don't think I would want Bonderman either, with that big slider he throws hes almost guaranteed to need Tommy John in a few years.

With Aramis getting a small raise and the money you will need to lock up Zambrano, its almost as if you get one choice: Matsuzaka, Zito, Schmidt, Soriano, or C. Lee.

Its Official: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/10/sports/AS_SPT_BBL_Matsuzaka_Majors.php Even thought I think that he ends up with the Yankees, the CUbs should still make a run at him. He is downright filthy and I did not know that he was only 26, even better. They need pitching and this guy could be that #2 guy behind big Z.

While his average may have slipped, he still had a very respectable 365 OBP. The only Cubs who had a higher OBP than that were Theriot in his limited AB's and Lee and Barrett. Murton matched him in this area. His low BA does not affect his ability to get on base. With that 365 OBP, he produced a 490 SLG, his lowest in three years. That SLG combined with his OBP gave him a 855 OPS. Only three Cubs were better, Theriot (who won't repeat these numbers over a full season), Ramirez, and Barrett. Looking at only BA as a metric for Dunn is asinine. He's still extremely productive. Furthermore, he's only 26, there is time for him to improve his game. His adventures in the field are overplayed. The clutch argument against Dunn is a joke. With a man on third, with less than two outs, Dunn has a 355 OBP. In close and late situations, he has a 389 OBP. With runners in scoring position with two outs, he has a 410 OBP. In a line-up where he could be sandwitched with two good hitters as he could in Chicago, Dunn would be a great asset. With bases loaded, he batting 273, his OBP was a poor 214, but in those situations he slugs 636. Dunn would be a huge upgrade for this team. I think the argument can be made that in those type of situations, he is not driving the runs home. I would think that is one instance where his Batting average would matter. He is a run producer, those are situations where he needs to HIT, not walk. Sure the walk helps and the OBP is great, but it isn't bringing the run home. Hitting .094 with a runner at third and less than two outs is atrocious, regardless of his OBP. I'm for getting Dunn despite this, but I don't think he is worth what it will take. I'd rather have him get on base, not make outs and allow for a better chance for an even BIGGER inning, rather than hitting sac flies. In out lineup he'd be hitting ahead of Ramirez and Barrett. I'd rather Ramirez come up with one out and a man on first and third than with two outs and none on with a run in. But hey, thats just me, I like to score lots of runs. A run producer, which Dunn is, is supposed to drive in runs not take walks with runners in scoring position. Wanting someone to take a walk over a hit with RISP is crazy talk. I think that OBP is an important stat, but you put a little to much emphasis on it. Dunn is a middle of the order guy when there is a RISP situation it is his job to get that run home, period. He had 90 RBI this year and thats with 40 homers. Assuming some of those were more than solo shots which some were. That means more than half of his RBI were off of homers. He also lead MLB in errors by outfielders with 12, a fielding % of .960 is terrible for an outfielder. To put that in perspective that is the same amount of errors that Aramis had and he is an infielder. Keep Dunn out of the North Side.

Good thoughts, but according to most of the reports I've seen, unfortunaley, it seems like Izturis is one of the cornerstones their trying to build around, and it seems like hes one of their guys.

Keep Adam Dunn far away from here. His 2-time(in a row mind you) strike out record for a season. His avg. has gone down every year now and dropped to .234 last year. He also is a butcher in left field and even an easy fly out is an adventure with him. Sure he hits a lot of homers but he strikes out a ton. I got on some Reds blogs to see what they were saying and it seems almost all of them want him to go. THey said he is not clutch and with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs for his career he is only batting .094 and only has 12 sac flys for his career. I saw enough of that this year we don't need a K machine like him, we need people who are going to make productive outs if their gonna get out at all.

I think Torre retires. Bring in Girardi now and lets get this offseason in gear.

Anyone know much about Bochy? I know he's been around a while and had some sucess. Where's Bruce at?

I read this in John Heymans article on SI talking about Bonds and this was mentioned in it: On a more mundane level, Bonds has been slowed some by knee problems this year, and some think he'd be better off switching to the DH position. But Borris was quick to point out that Bonds finished fifth in range factor out of 11 qualifying left fielders in the National League, behind only Alfonso Soriano, Dave Roberts, Jason Bay and Matt Murton, and that Bonds' fielding stats resemble the 1994 season, when he won one of his eight Gold Glove awards. This season he has 188 putouts in 115 starts, compared to 198 putouts in 112 starts in 1994, six assists compared to 10, and three errors, same as in '94. This is interesting, many people think that Murton is not good defensively and cannot cover much ground. Turns out he's better than I thought. Just another reason to make him a starter in '07.

Of the three choices I have heard in print or on the radio I think the majortity of poeple want Girardi by a big margin. On here though, I think the opinion is more split and all three of the choices have lots of support here on NSBB.

This from the New York Daily News today: Sheffield is gone regardless, but if the Yankees fail to advance to the ALCS, Mussina has very likely pitched his last game here, A-Rod may well wind up on the trade block and even Torre's job status will become a matter of conjecture. Even though George Steinbrenner has gotten older and seemingly more detached, you have to believe the most humiliated Yankee of all by Rogers' effort last night was indeed The Boss. I think that Mussina would be a good addtion to thie team. He would be that durable #2 guy that we are looking for behind Big-Z. I know he is getting older(is 38) but for a two year deal I think he would work well. He has pitched over 175 innings a year for the past 10 years, which proves he is durable. Just a thought.

I couldn't agree more. He also has a history of riding pitchers to much and burning their arms up just like Dusty.

This is one of the big reasons why I want Girardi. I think the effect that Kranitz had with the young pitchers in FLorida would translate back to the pitchers that he already knows here from when he was with the Cubs. Kranitz is just another perk that Girardi has going for him. I also have seen Rothschild here for over 5 years now and the only consistent and healthy pitcher during that time has been Zambrano. Also something that has been overlooked is that Girardi was a good defensive catcher and called good games behind the plate. I think that his advice and experience would help out Michael Barrett tremendously. Calling games is not one of Michaels specialties, and I think that Girardi would be a good mentor for him.

He's a good young arm, their not gonna let him go. I have heard that Jason Jennings or Brett Myers could be on the block this offseason. I would take a long look at both of them and see what kinda of talent their looking for in return.

Why? Cause he was a hell of a hard worker, and pretty good on the basepaths from what I remember. I think he'd be a good 1st or 3rd base coach. And he's a pretty vibrant guy, and I like having coaches that are likeable. Why not? Well, he sucked, had a horrible approach, and there's no evidence whatsoever that he has any qualifications to coach. Perfect example of a crappy hustler by the way. Ramirez jogging is 800 times better than Dunston running out another ground ball out. Boy, for someone who's a NSBB Hall of Famer, you sure have a nice attitude. :? And what's the attitude you don't like? The fact that I'm not enamored with bringing back failed ex-Cubs to coach this team? The fact that I'm not enamored with mediocrity or nostalgia for a team that has been nothing but terrible for most of my life? The fact that I actually what the Cubs to hire the best people and find the most productive players they can, regardless of past affiliation to the team? You don't like that attitude? I get what your saying, but who would you want then? All of these good coaches you talk about probably already have jobs. Thats why they are good.

This is would I think would be the best: Manager: Girardi Pitching Coach: Rick Kranitz Hitting Coach: Mark Grace Bench Coach: Rick Sutcliffe 1st Base: Shawon Dunston 3rd Base: Chris Speier Unrealistic but that would be a very fun staff to watch and see work together.

Well thanks and I agree that the offense needs to be addressed as well, but I believe that the starting pitching should be 1st priority. They need a couple of guys (not just one in Zito or Scmidt) like a Padilla, Wolf, Suppan, Lilly, heck I even think that Jeff Weaver will bounce back next year, and he is very durable. I'm not real big on Zito he walke 99 guys this year and his fly ball pitching would not bode well in Wrigley. However, if they could get Schmidt or Matsuzaka and still get one of those other guys, obviously that would be the best case scenario.