jersey cubs fan

As a special advisor Roberto Alomar special advises.

Is that a cocaine joke?

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I doubt that happens. Lame duck managers are avoided when possible. A new GM probably gets to hire a new manager. It's also the best option for making sure you get a chance to make a second hire.

But it looks like he didn't throw at all for a 9 day period in the 19 days since he last started. He threw a side on the 21st then next was off flat ground on the 30th. Seems like an odd accelerated program to get him back onto the mound with just a couple side sessions during a nearly 3-week layoff. I imagine he's got to be limited tonight, although Quade hasn't been particularly careful with his starters this year.

No, but while he's here it's probably best that he plays. If/when a better option emerges then send him back to AAA.

- Kevin Goldstein This is a guy the publications hadn't mentioned till about an hour ago. - Keith Law That doesn't sound like fun.

Then stop discussing Z's anger management.

Oh I heard you loud and clear buddy boy.

Of all people?

Quit playing the victim with this nonsense.

Seems like a wasteful use of resources to try to be better on paper than the Yankees when you only need to be better than the Cardinals and Brewers. By being better on paper than the Yankees, you leave a lot less up to variance for a lesser Brewers or Cardinals team beating you out. Yeah, the Cubs should be in a position where they dominate this division, not just occasionally flirt with the leaderboard.

But you can't get into the World Series without making the playoffs. And you don't have to be the best playoff team to make the World Series. I agree it's going to take a while to turn this into a perennial contender, which they should be no question. But they could turn back into an 88 win team next season without a hell of a lot of work, and that's all you need to have a shot.

I think the second half of the Tribune ownership did some real things. The biggest mistakes they made was not hiring the right baseball people. But in the early 90's they went out and got a hot shot young exec in Andy MacPhail to run things and make a commitment to building through the minor league system. They also spent more and more every year on payroll, giving unprecedented resources to the team. They also laid the groundwork for the first real upgrades to Wrigley Field and got them done.

You aren't really going out on a limb saying you would trade Zambrano for the right prospects. So would I, if it was possible. But it's pretty ridiculous to preemptively blame the so-called NSBB group think for discovering that some people might actually disagree with something you say.

So he gets pissed when the team loses. What a jerk.

I don't know, but based on the Wells treatment, they should have him rehab in Iowa and let Russell/Coleman start this one instead. Wasn't Garza's injury just a bone bruise? It would seem that wouldn't require rehab versus a muscle/tendon issue where you need to rebuild strength. Taking two weeks off from starting games is an issue now matter how it happens though.

He signed an extension through 2013 last fall and has the team poised for another postseason appearance. I doubt he'll be available.

Stop saying this like it's fact. With the money coming off the books the Cubs could very easily be competitive as early as next season. No, it's by no means a lock, but that so many people have this automatic assumption that the Cubs are going to so hopelessly suck and can do nothing about it for the next 3+ seasons is absurd. It certainly isn't a fact but has there been any indication otherwise? The payroll was cut coming into this season. Attendance is WAY down this year and I think it is foolish to assume that the money coming off the books will automatically be put back into the payroll for 2012. What exactly has Ricketts done or said that makes you think he's committed to winning at all costs? Are you serious? Ricketts is going to respond to dwindling attendance by cutting the payroll by 25% and not put anything back into it? Ricketts knew when he bought the team that the payroll was right up to the limit and actually a little more than he could handle. So yeah because of moves made before he was owner, we've been struggling to do anything that adds payroll to the team. But there has been nothing said or done to indicate that Ricketts is going to randomly cut the payroll down to 80M or whatever. That's insane. All he said was that we can't assume all the money coming off the books will go back into payroll. Not any of it. I think it's still up for debate, but my assumption would be something less than 100% will be spent on big league roster. He's on record as saying they will transition some of the total money spent away from big league roster toward prospect acquisitions.

What are you talking about? This team has been terrible and he's been good. I was referring to the first half last year. So his struggles once coincided with the team's struggles, but he's pitching well while the team is nosediving. That doesn't add up to "he seems to be at his worst when the team is struggling." He was really good in 2005 and 2006, he was better than people care to admit in 2010.

I'm about ready to write him off. Or maybe see if he has any trade value. Wow, 374 OPS. I had no idea it was that bad. .223/.288/.438 for the career. (HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STARTING AT FIRST BASE THIS SEASON!!!)

What are you talking about? This team has been terrible and he's been good.

Garza didn't do a rehab start did he? Has he just been doing side sessions?

My opinion on the matter has often been misconstrued as support for Hendry. However, I don't feel it's unreasonable to have an idea of who our alternatives are before firing him. I don't think anybody would be happy to be in a situation where the only person willing to even interview for the job was Jim Bowden. In short, it's not about firing Hendy... it's about hiring somebody better. But nobody is asking for him to be fired and then start looking into replacements. A list should have been made before the sale was completed. That list should have been narrowed down a very long time ago. It's mind boggling to me that people are so hung up on the idea that it could be worse. The Cubs lost 87 games last year and are on pace to lose 93 this season. Things already are terrible. I don't really think it's on the fans to decide who the right person is before calling for Hendry's head. It's not the fans duty to have a better idea than Hendry who to acquire before they can criticize his job acquiring players. This isn't some impatient nonsensical complaint. This isn't calling for the head of a guy who can only get the team into the playoffs but not beyond. This is an organization that has done a terrible job with the resources they have had and it's on Jim Hendry. He has to be replaced.

I find it very useful myself. I don't even bother. I just tune some people out (or try to). I tried it out, but while I might have missed the initial post that would have pissed me off, it invariably pissed off someone else who then quoted it, displaying it for me to see and then be pissed off by it. A veritable piss spiral.