FearTheBako

It's amazing how many people want this. So why do you think this would be a bad thing? Please give some legit reasons Plenty have been given. Yeah, it's really been beaten into the ground ad nauseum. I'd bet serious money that if Hollandsworth kept up the TV stuff and replaced Bob in the booth people would be clamoring for Todd after a couple crappy season under Brenly. There has not been one legitimate reason in this entire thread why Bob Brenly shouldn't be seriously considered as the next Cubs manager.

It's amazing how many people want this. I'm just curious, why is everyone so opposed to this? The guy has won a World Series ring, and as far a I can see, really knows the game and the Cubs personnel. How many times have you heard him suggesting sac bunts in the first inning? He won a WS ring riding Schilling and Johnson all the way... he's not a good manager. I don't really remember him suggesting that in the 1st inning, at least not consistantly. Evens so, I don't agreed with sac bunting in the 1st inning, but if that is the only example of him being a "bad manager", thats not much of an arguement.

It's amazing how many people want this. I'm just curious, why is everyone so opposed to this? The guy has won a World Series ring, and as far a I can see, really knows the game and the Cubs personnel.

These are my thoughts exactly. It's great that we finally seem to have a big bat in the middle of our lineup, but lets see him stay consistent for a couple months before we declare "DLee is back".

I actually don't doubt that Z would really go through with this.

I'll take Peavy, purly based on my belief that he would have more of an impact in a long, World Series run.

Beacuase all and all, hes the best hitter on the team and is capable of producing a lot more runs down the lineup. While I agree Sori should be moved down in the order, I think its pretty obvious ARam is our best overall hitter.

They even booed Harden when Bruce got the single to drive in the second run. Are you certain they were not shouting "Bruce!"? This sort of confusion pops up at Springsteen shows all the time. And yeah, Glendon Rusch sucked terribly. I don't particularly care that he was "understood" to suck. When you are as awful a pitcher as Rusch is/was, part of your job is absorbing boos. I think most people were booing the guy in the Bartman seat who interfered. This is correct. Almost as stupid, I agree, but in no way were the fans booing Harden for giving up an RBI single.

WHAT IS A CLOSER? Wow, my point does get better with all caps. IS A CLOSER A SHUT DOWN PITCHER? COULD TEAMS IN NEED OF A CLOSER CONSIDER MARMOL AS ONE OF THOSE GUYS SHOULD THE CUBS BE SILLY ENOUGH TO ALLOW HIM TO BECOME? I'M YELLING AND I DON'T KNOW WHY!! is it really this hard or are you intentionally being obtuse? a closer is someone who pitches the 9th inning when their team is winning. he's the person who racks up saves. he's also the person who gets paid more than the setup men and the long relievers (assuming service time, of course). yes, teams could and will consider marmol as someone who could be a great closer. but unless carlos has been a closer, he wont get paid like a closer. think of it this way. you've got two pitchers, equal era's, equal whips. yet player A saved 44 games last year, while player B was player A's setup man. when teams X and Y are both looking to sign a closer, and both players are on the market, do you honestly feel that each player will get the same contract? or even remotely similar for that matter? if so, you need to take an hour or so and educate yourself on how the market works. Ok, we all realize that if all other numbers are identical, player A will probably get more than player B. Lets look at Brian Fuentes this year: 63.7 IP, 2.73 era, 22 bb, 82 K, 1.101 whip, 30 SAVES Signed a 2 yr, 17.5 mil contract with 9 mil club option on the third year Marmols stats: 87.3 IP, 2.68 era, 41 bb, 114 K, .927 whip, 7 SAVES Call me crazy, but I have to believe that teams out there would have LINED UP to grab Marmol at this price. I sure everyone will come back now claiming that Fuentes contract is not "closer money" and we have to look at KRod. BTW, I agree Marmol will have closing experience by the time he reaches FA so its probably a non-issue.

Is anyone saying that? I get the impression that most of us are happy about this decision.

That's absurd. "I know no arbitrator on earth would give me this contract, but I'm asking for it." "Sounds great!" It is not absurd. There is more to an arb hearing than just saves. There are a wide range of things that go into these hearings and Marmol has all kinds of numbers to warrant a contract worth "closer money".

I really can't imagine this decision having that much of a financial impact on him. I realize how contracts these days are working, but if he takes a hit because he is not recording saves, he needs a new agent. If he stays healthy and effective until free agency, I expect him to get a huge contract regardless of saves. you can't be serious. closers, with their high saves totals, get paid and get paid well. setupmen, not so much. So your saying that scouts and general managers won't realize that Marmol is one of the best, young arms in the league and they wont give him huge contract offers simply because he is not recording saves? Even if he doesn't have 1 save from now, till the time he hits free agency, I would expect his 1st free agency contract be be near market value for elite closers. Teams will be lining up to get Marmol when he hits free agency. Hopefully its a non-issue and we have extended him by that time. who's the last non closing reliever who got "elite closer" money? who's the last non closing reliever who got HALF of "elite closer" money? you're dead wrong here. Who's the last non closing reliever that has the arm that Marmol has? Lets be realistic, most of the guys with arms like his are either starting or closing games. Also, I don't agree that this will cost him money in arb, because I think he will ask for Closer money and the Cubs will ultimately accept.

I really can't imagine this decision having that much of a financial impact on him. I realize how contracts these days are working, but if he takes a hit because he is not recording saves, he needs a new agent. If he stays healthy and effective until free agency, I expect him to get a huge contract regardless of saves. you can't be serious. closers, with their high saves totals, get paid and get paid well. setupmen, not so much. So your saying that scouts and general managers won't realize that Marmol is one of the best, young arms in the league and they wont give him huge contract offers simply because he is not recording saves? Even if he doesn't have 1 save from now, till the time he hits free agency, I would expect his 1st free agency contract be be near market value for elite closers. Teams will be lining up to get Marmol when he hits free agency. Hopefully its a non-issue and we have extended him by that time.

I really can't imagine this decision having that much of a financial impact on him. I realize how contracts these days are working, but if he takes a hit because he is not recording saves, he needs a new agent. If he stays healthy and effective until free agency, I expect him to get a huge contract regardless of saves.

Those are fakes for sure, but for $16.99 its still a great deal for a jersey. I'm going to order one out of curiosity. I'm thinking I'll go with a Dawson.

I knew it wouldn't be long untill someone played the "small sample size" card. The numbers are still real, and he continues to impress with every opportunity he gets. Just like it was real when Murton put up a .907 OPS in his first 140 ABs. Or when Cedeno hit .300 in his first 80 ABs Yes, those were real. The problem is that he couldn't keep up those numbers consistantly. We gave him a shot and he didnt perform. If we give Hoff a shot and he doesn't performe, fine. If we give him a shot and he keeps up huge numbers, we have a great situation. An .832 minor career minor league OPS is impressive for a 28 year old 1B? Not overly. More impressive is what he has done over the past 1 1/2 - 2 years. Why does it matter how old he is? Are we not going to play him because he didn't peak at the typical year for a minor league prospect? Who is assuming that? Literally nobody. All he he to do is hit like he did in 00, 02, 03, 04, 05, or 07 Nice. Did you look up his stats and just stat typing years without thinking? I agree we just need him to be 00, 02, 03 Dlee, but the fact that he is batting # 3 in our lineup tells me some (coaching) think he can come close to those #'s Huh? I included 05 because that's just one of the multiple seasons he could match from his career and be fine. I never said he had to produce like all of those years. I think it's pretty obvious what I meant. And what's this "00, 02, 03" stuff? What about 2007 when he had the second best season of is career? Really Lee has had ONE down year over the last several years, which was in 2008. You don't give up on a guy immediately because of one bad year. Never once did I say "give up on him". My point is, If DLee continues to struggle, and Hoff continues to rake, Hoff needs to be in the lineup. Not saying its going to happen, but I believe it can happen.

I knew it wouldn't be long untill someone played the "small sample size" card. The numbers are still real, and he continues to impress with every opportunity he gets. Just like it was real when Murton put up a .907 OPS in his first 140 ABs. Or when Cedeno hit .300 in his first 80 ABs[quote An .832 minor career minor league OPS is impressive for a 28 year old 1B?[quote Who is assuming that? Literally nobody. All he he to do is hit like he did in 00, 02, 03, 04, 05, or 07 Sorry about the weird format that I'm respoing with. Still getting a hang of this thing. Yes, those were real. The problem is that he couldn't keep up those numbers consistantly. We gave him a shot and he didnt perform. If we give Hoff a shot and he doesn't performe, fine. If we give him a shot and he keeps up huge numbers, we have a great situation. Not overly. More impressive is what he has done over the past 1 1/2 - 2 years. Why does it matter how old he is? Are we not going to play him because he didn't peak at the typical year for a minor league prospect? Nice. Did you look up his stats and just stat typing years without thinking? I agree we just need him to be 00, 02, 03 Dlee, but the fact that he is batting # 3 in our lineup tells me some (coaching) think he can come close to those #'s

I knew it wouldn't be long untill someone played the "small sample size" card. The numbers are still real, and he continues to impress with every opportunity he gets. I probably should have quoted his career .800 + OPS through the minors. As long as he keeps hitting, how do you keep him out of the lineup? I understand that with more Ab's, his numbers might dwindle, and if so, fine, he is still a great bench bat. Its time to stop assuming DLee is going to hit like he did in '05. Hoff may very well be out best offinsive option at 1B this year. Thats reality. Before ripping sample sizes, do you first understand why people point to sample sizes as arguments? Ryan O'Malley has never given up a major league earned run. Where is that guy anyways, we have a rotation spot waiting for him. I didn't think my statement would be taken as "ripping" but ok. Yes, I do understand sample size and think it should definetly be looked at, but more important that sample size, is watching players in actions and beliving that they are for real. It's kinda ironic that in arguing for sample size, you pointed out the guy who had like 1 start in his career.

I knew it wouldn't be long untill someone played the "small sample size" card. The numbers are still real, and he continues to impress with every opportunity he gets. I probably should have quoted his career .800 + OPS through the minors. As long as he keeps hitting, how do you keep him out of the lineup? I understand that with more Ab's, his numbers might dwindle, and if so, fine, he is still a great bench bat. Its time to stop assuming DLee is going to hit like he did in '05. Hoff may very well be out best offinsive option at 1B this year. Thats reality.

The only way that #1 happens is if Lee suffers a season-ending injury, and the Cubs can't work out a trade with another team for a first baseman for the rest of the season. Item #2 is possible, but not probable. I guess that makes it a "bold" prediction. Well, Lee is already banged up, and if he plays as poorly as he did late last year, I'm not sure how long Lou will stick with him, assuming Hoff is hitting. Highly doubtful though. Yeah, definitely not happening. And poor is a little bit of a stretch: he still got on base at a .361 clip last year and had a 110 OPS+. Certainly not what you want in the three spot because of the low slugging percentage (in the 400's), but not bad enough to be benched in favor of a guy who has 73 career big league at bats. I agree that DLee should get the benifit of the doubt and I truly hope he has a great year, its just at this point, I'm starting to think that his wrist injury really did have an effect on his power. Bottom line, if Hoff keeps crushing the ball, and DLee is still hitting weak grounders, how do you keep Hoff out of the lineup?

Wow...this is sooo beyond clever I am embarrassed to show my face around here again.

In what galaxy are those realistic? In the galaxy where Hoff has a career .900 + OPS and has been tearing the cover off the ball, and Demp got votes for the Cy Young in '08.

Thought this might be kinda fun. I'll start with mine: 1. Hoff takes the majority of the playing time at 1b by the June. 2. Demp wins Cy Young.

Can't you do that buying online? I'm pretty sure Ticket Master charges extra fees for tickets purchased online. Not to mention that when you do get in front of the teller, you can purchase up to 42 tickets to whatever games you want. Better than waiting in the VWR for an hour for 1 game. From my experience, if you are within 2000 of the number, it is well worth going to Wrigley.

Last year I got lucky and maxed out my tickets. Got every Sox game, and every Saturday game from June on. Not getting my hopes up this year, nor can I even afford to max out again. I am still taking the day off as it is a pretty fun day to just hang out and get some tickets. All I'm going for this year is Saturdays from June on again. BTW, does anyone know what day is Paul Bako bobblehead day?