I'm for starting either Guzman or Hill and sending Marmol back down (he could use more development since he's still fairly new to pitching). Either way, I think the Cubs need to commit to giving Guzman or Hill at least five starts regardless of performance so they can pitch without feeling like they're looking over their shoulders.
Bynym and Womack are both listed as day-to-day, which doesn't sound like they're going on the DL. I haven't seen anything about what the Cubs are doing to make room on the roster for Lee. Ideally, Womack would just be released (he won't help with the future; Murton may).
1966 was the infamous year when new manager Leo Durocher proclaimed that the Cubs were not an 8th place team, then proved himself right by finishing 10th. That season was followed by six consecutive winning seasons, however.
It isn't actually necessary for him to contact one of us to register (he can do that on his own), but if he wants to contact one of us with questions before he registers he can send an e-mail to one of us. I don't want to post my e-mail address here since anybody can read it, but if you'd like it to pass on to him send me a PM and I'll give it to you that way. If he asks anything I can't answer I can always pass the question on to Tim or 1908.
Murton is likely to get a stay of execution. Bynum and Womack both left tonight's game early due to injury, prompting Lee to be activated a day earlier than scheduled. If at least one of the injured players has to go on the DL, there would be no need to demote Murton to make room for Lee on the roster. And if Bynum goes on the DL Murton may regain his full-time starting LF job.
How about Bobby Dickerson as interim manager and Von Joshua as interim hitting coach? They worked together for several years at West Tenn and had success with many of the Cubs' prospects in AA. Maybe some of that success could carry over to the major league level.
Winning a World Series is ALL that matters. If doing so means helping another team also win one, fine. I'd rather the Cubs, Sox, and Cardinals all win a Series than none of them. The Cubs matter, period.
In the limited amount of broadcast I'm actually getting between the dead air of what's supposed to be the Internet broadcast of the Djaxx game, it sounds like Negron got hurt.
Agreed. That's what the Braves did in 1990. They finished last again for what seemed like the umpteenth time in a row, but they did it with youngsters who were the foundation of the dynasty to follow. They improved all the way to first place the next year and have since won their division every year until this year. I'd be happy with a last place finish if it were with a new GM, a new manager, and playing youngsters who have a chance to be the Cubs' future. But it's inexcusable and intolerable with this bunch.
ALL of us want a winner right away. We're all frustrated at the incompetence this organization has shown lately. However, making the best possible trade is NOT going to delay winning a World Series; hopefully it would make it closer. And the fact that your hatred for the Sox is blinding you to the issue of improving the Cubs that's your problem. Not mine, not other Cub fans', and certainly not the Cubs organization's.
They're still in the race until they're mathematically eliminated. However, they're in a deep coma on life support with virtually no chance of meaningful recovery. Time to pull the plug and get a head start on 2007. I think I have a greater chance of winning the lottery jackpot than the Cubs do of making postseason this year.
McPherson was out yesterday with back spasms (day-to-day), so I picked up and activated Beltre, dropped Murton to make room for Beltre, and replaced Murton with Kotsay in my OF. Too bad Dusty has ruined Murton's value (at least for now).
We don't need to let him go; we just have to have other options if he continues to have injury problems in the future. If we can re-sign him to a low salary plus incentives deal, we should.