ReadytoPlayCF

Every manager is going to have "blemishes." It's not like Lou has some amazing history that blows them or all other candidates out of the water. I just want a manager that isn't going to over-manage and lose games, because that's what a manager has far more impact over than teams actually winning. Very fair opinion. In my Cubbie Dreams, the Ricketts setup a sound and definate philosophy of how to win, then hire great baseball people to put the philosophy to work at every level of the franchise. Over time the Cubs have mostly homegrown talent who already play the game within the franchise's philosophy. With this accomplished the manager could be far less manipulating. And I realize the vast majority on this board probably agree with this. But our current situation is far from that dream scenario and I do think Lou's "crazy" decisions are warranted. Crazy decisions are never warranted I didn't write crazy decisions are warranted; I wrote "crazy" decisions to quote most opinions of this move.

Every manager is going to have "blemishes." It's not like Lou has some amazing history that blows them or all other candidates out of the water. I just want a manager that isn't going to over-manage and lose games, because that's what a manager has far more impact over than teams actually winning. Very fair opinion. In my Cubbie Dreams, the Ricketts setup a sound and definate philosophy of how to win, then hire great baseball people to put the philosophy to work at every level of the franchise. Over time the Cubs have mostly homegrown talent who already play the game within the franchise's philosophy. With this accomplished the manager could be far less manipulating. And I realize the vast majority on this board probably agree with this. But our current situation is far from that dream scenario and I do think Lou's "crazy" decisions are warranted.

Dusty Baker won the first playoff series in 95 years and he should've been tossed on his ass before the NLCS was over. Stellar history? What happened to Lou's stellar history when he went to Tampa?? Or the World Series in Cincinnati or his 116 wins in Seattle. How'd that 116-win team do in the playoffs? Ah, I guess that's not his fault. Managers only get credits for the wins! Touche. But once again, who can the Ricketts hire who does have a stellar resume? Dierker and Valentine have a lot of blemishes too.

Lou hasn't won. He's managed teams that have won. People want him gone not because he doesn't "fit" with what we want so much as he's continually making inexplicably bad decisions and it's getting worse as the years go on. If I could have any input as to who the Ricketts should hire as manager I'd be perfectly happy if they could get someone like Larry Dierker or Bobby Valentine. And I'm not saying Lou is a GREAT manager and should never be fired. I guess my main point is that there are so many decisions a manager makes in one season, let alone several seasons, that a fanbase ends up with a long list of "horrible" decisions and wanting a change NOW. Valentine or Dierker or anyone could be better than Lou, but within a couple of seasons all of their "horrible" decisions would be listed. I'l bet you could go to any message board for any team and most of the fans are overly critical of their manager ~ warranted or not. The manager of a team may be overrated to a degree, but I do believe the human element of a team is too overlooked by today's stat based fan, myself included. Therefore I am holding out the possibility that Lou's unconventional moves may have some merit based on his success here.

Dusty Baker won the first playoff series in 95 years and he should've been tossed on his ass before the NLCS was over. Stellar history? What happened to Lou's stellar history when he went to Tampa?? Or the World Series in Cincinnati or his 116 wins in Seattle.

I'm just saying it seems really strange to me to get rid of the manager who has won like Lou has because he doesn't fit what the wannabe managers and GMs on the board would do themselves. And which manager should the Ricketts hire who has a stellar history?

others have already mentioned it, but you are giving Lou too much credit for taking a team with a top payroll to the playoffs 2 out of 3 years....that certainly isn't the only 'stat' that really matters regarding whether we should trust Lou's decisions or not. The Cubs haven't been to the playoffs 2 out of 3 years since the first decade of the 1900's. Chicago has been a major market during that entire time. Some credit has to go to Lou, Hendry, or the Tribune. And all I've read on here is how terrible the whole regime is. Then how in the hell did this horrible regime do something no one had done in 100 years?

Lou Piniella has led the Cubs to 2 division titles in his 3 years here. That is the only stat I am concerned with as a fan. Especially concerning the bad contracts and strange personalities he has been given. Baseball, and all of life, is played by humans. I love Strat-O-Matic and other sim games, but they are not realistic to the real world of humans. Piniella is very unconventional, but he seems to have a keen understanding of his group of humans. A quick analogy: pure socialism is the best economic system ever devised...on paper. It allocates the resources the best and most efficient way possible. But it doesn't work with humans!!! Human greed is not satisfied in pure socialism. Pure capitalism doesn't work either in the human world because it only satisfies human greed. It has to be a mix of the two systems to have a chance to work with humans. The debate will always be what kind of mix, but history has proven that the extremes of both systems have failed every time. Sports work the same way. If you just go by the pure stats and statistical models, I truly believe you will fail. And if you only go by the eyeball test and gut feeling, then you will fail too. It has to be a mix. Piniella seems to side more with gut feelings and uncoventional means to motivate his players, but 2 titles in 3 years speaks for itself. I'm not ready to kick him out the door when his success has been the best in the last 100 years of Cubs history. Moving Theriot to 8th in the lineup and moving Byrd to leadoff doesn't make sense in a logical statistical world, but it may make sense in a human world. Theriot was put back to the top of the lineup yesterday and snapped out of his slump. Not all of Lou's moves will, or have worked, but I'm betting on the side of the only stat that really matters...winning 2 out of the last 3 division titles.

I'm a believer in his new change-up. I think he can still be a good pitcher.

I'm sad for his family and friends and for the fact he was so young and thus likely would have learned later what to do and not do when drinking. If I'm mad about something it's his parents and the parents that went on the trip. I would never allow my kid to go to Panama City Beach until they are out of my house and making their own decisions. My thoughts exactly. It is unbelievable parents of high school kids, even seniors, would allow, and even promote (from the looks of it), a trip to a drunkfest; amongst other things.

Good. Thanks.

Dempster pitched great today (Sunday) going 7 shutout innings. But doesn't 7 IP with 92 pitches seem extreme at this point?

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/03/cubs-ramirez-leaves-game-with-triceps-soreness.html MESA, Ariz. -- Aramis Ramirez left Saturday's game against Cincinnati with right triceps soreness, the Cubs announced. Ramirez left after the top half of the third inning. He missed two months of the 2009 season after dislocating his left shoulder diving for a ball. "There's nothing wrong there," manager Lou Piniella said. "He'll be ready to go in a couple days, probably after (Monday's game in) Tucson. He wasn't going to Tucson anyways."

I am one of the many fans who fall in love with prospects because of their possibilities. Because of that I didn't like the way Lou and Hendry handled both Hill's and Pie's situation. But in reality, Lou was hired to win big NOW, so he had/has to have a very short line on young, unproven, prospect type players. Hill and Pie may or may not be good long term in the majors, but they needed a team not as desperate to win now as our Cubs have been lately. I still root for Hill and Pie because I have rooted for them for so long now, but if they indeed pan out it is not the fault of the Cubs or Lou...just the situation, imo.

Left-hander Rich Hill, the other potentially key player the Orioles got in a trade with the Chicago Cubs over the winter, delivered a very encouraging performance during his batting practice session. Reserve catcher Guillermo Quiroz called it "the best left-handed stuff I've ever seen." The first three are fairly easy, based on recent comments by Kranitz and Trembley. Guthrie and Koji Uehara are locks, and Kranitz was very complimentary of Rich Hill's performance after a rocky start here. The fourth guy could be Hennessey, but Kranitz said he has one "sleeper." These are some excerpts from recent Baltimore Sun articles. His first start in ST is this Sunday. He may never find the zone consistently again, but... Pie played his first game today (in CF) and went 1-2 with an outfield assist to home, but did commit an error.

That would be tragic. Webb and Kazmir should not have been allowed to pitch in this game. Damn, call up some more pitchers and finish it tomorrow morning.

If I were a Reds fan I would be so upset...Harang threw 103 pitches on Thursday and then 63 more today in relief. Then Volquez throws 39 today on top of his 92 on Friday. Today's game is not worth risking those two guys.

You aren't really going to use this year's numbers to tell if a player's good or not, are you? I thought you were better than that. But I guess if you want to play that game, I have a question for you. There's another SS putting up these numbers: .152/.226/.238 Do you think it would be dumb to trade for him? Well if so, you just turned down a trade for Troy Tulowitzki, wtg dude. Tulowitzki as a rookie put up superior production to anything Greene's ever done. And he's not hitting FA next year asking for 8 figures per year. Greene is signed through 2009. $4.5 M in 2008 and $6.5 M in 2009.

If I had to guess, Lou wouldn't mind getting Edmonds in the deal too as the LH CFer. The Padres would have to pay a lot of the salary, but I am guessing (hating the idea), but I think it is possible. Greene/Edmonds/mid-level prospect for Pie/Cedeno. (Greene is signed for this year and one more)

This quote should be used anytime someone (like Sam Smith) writes about how newspaper men are "real journalists" who have journalistic standards that separate them from bloggers. I'm actually starting to believe this may be the case. I could see both of those moves happening. Don't know that I would agree with either, but sadly I see it coming to that if it's gonna happen at all. I am more and more convinced that Lou does not want to start Pie at all. Maybe as a late inning defensive replacement. His tone and demeanor yesterday when he said his biggest concern in CF made me think that he wants a starter in CF, not just a RH platoon. I think Crisp would be an every day player with Lou. I don't agree with this at all, but he knows a hell of a lot more about baseball than I do...

Hill did say he had a blister after his last start, but said it would not be anything to be concerned about...

Possible Hill doesn't make rotation to begin the season?

The box score says he has indeed left the game. Pat said he got up and walked off the field just fine and I did see him hold up a hand after he took the tumble as if to say "no need to come out, I'm fine," but the way he landed on his hands and wrists when he took the tumble really worries me. I thought he grabbed at his left shoulder...

Can Hoffpauir play RF?

Wonderful... :banghead: