NorthsideAvenger

And Hendry should be located at the nearest bar, trying to drown out his sorrows of losing Piniella.

I don't see the Cards trading for ARod for the reason you mention--the 4 FA pitchers---but also they STILL have to address who is going to replace Edmonds and to a certained degree Encarnacion. Are they going to re-sign Belliard for 2nd base, or did they look for another option. And what about the catcher? The Cards is no longer a dangerous enough of an offense--excluding Rolen/Pujols---to hide an offensive liability in Molina (regardless of the "All-Star status" Molina seems to reach in McCarver's eyes.) The Cards have too many holes to fill, and their budget ain't nearly as flexible as the Cubs. I think the Cubs are going to get ARod, but it may take till December/January before it plays out.

Well he did have to wait until after the world series... The tigers acted quickly when they picked up leyland on october 4th, 2005 the marlins acted quickly when they got Gonzalez and now the yankees have fired and hired a manager in the same day as well. Hendry knew in August that Baker wasn't coming back and he was to worried about offending baker to lay the ground work his short list of candidates. to me it shows he doesn't have a plan. just my oppinion. The difference between the Cubs situation and that of the Marlins/Tigers, is that both Leyland and Gonzalez were out of the playoffs/baseball when those job became openings. Baker was still "managing" the Giants at this time in 2002. And Hendry KNEW he wanted Baker, thus needed to be patient. So, you can't compare what the Cubs are doing right now, to that of the Marlins/Tigers, totally differnet situations. And you also have to take this into consideration, Girardi is the "overwhelming people's choice" in Chicago to become the manager, and anybody that Hendry eventually hires---if not Girardi---is going to be panned. So obviously, Hendry has to take his time and figure out if Girardi---the people's champ and McDonough's choice is the choice. If he isn't, and we know Hendry just lost Piniella, so Hendry has to figure out who else to put on his list of candidates. Not to mention Hendry still must "interview' a couple of minorities for the job. So, obviously the fans are not involved in some of the behind the doors situation. And just because Hendry hasn't hired a manager "like the Marlins or Tigers," doesn't mean he doesn't have a plan. We just don't know what his plan is.

To be fair, Hendry "Acted quickly" to snag Baker back after the 2002 season, and how did that turn out? So, I don't nec...blame Hendry for "moving at a snails pace" to find his next, and perhaps last manager as GM of the Cubs.

Speaking of which, has AJ Burnett's arm fallen off yet? lol...I completly forgot about Burnett. sheesh they are re-selling old Fords down there. ryan dempster. Matt Clement.

Of the 50 k's Albert had this yr in the regular season, 13 of the came at the hands of the Cubs (with Houston in 2nd with 8). Overall, Albert Pujols #'s of .206/.286/.324/.610--the Cubs held Albert Pujols to Nefti Perez's type numbers, haha---against the Cubs, was by far his worse numbers against any team in baseball in 2006. So if there was one bright spot, is that the Cubs held Pujols in check this yr.

As Hosak mention, there is no way the Yankees are going to get that kind of package. 1: Even if the Yanks/Rangers are paying most of the remaining part of ARod's contract, how many teams are going to the room to take on ARod's contract. I understand his contract yearly (after the Yanks/Rangers picking up alot of it) still consists close to 10-12 mill per, not too many teams can handle that kind of "acquisition." 2: Then you have to consider the mandate that if Steinbrenner wants ARod gone, he and presumably Cashman will want ARod OUT OF THE AL, so that he has no chance at coming back and biting in the butt, at no worst then the World Series, which means, you are looking at an NL team as the best bet to inquire/acquire abotu ARod. Now if you take both into consideration, there are about are about three teams that could fit into the catergory; the Dodgers, Rockies, and the Cubs. The Rockies have Troy T coming up, so they might not be all that interested. The Dodgers could acquire ARod, and then turn around and ship Furcal to another team as part of a three team trade. Or you have the Cubs, who could offer up a LEGITIMATE 3rd baseman and a coupe of solid young arms that might interests the Yankees. I fully believe ARod will be moved, and I willing to bet that ARod will be coming to the NL, one way or another.

Hendry is in tight situation right now....Lou Pinellia is, IMO, Hendry choice to replace Baker, but he knows that majority of people in Chicago wants Joe Girardi as manager. Which would put MORE pressure on Piniella to win (more then Baker faced inhis four yrs) because he wouldn't be "The people's choice". Now, this is prolly the reason why Hendry is going to move slowly to get a manager, in hopes by the time his deadline approaches, Girardi is hired by another organization(Nats), and he would be freed to sign Piniella. But the chances are, by the time he's ready to get Piniella, he may not be available, and Girardi would be gone, which would leave Hendry with the likes of Showalter, among other others (and sorry Vance, I don't see Dierker going to even get a call for an interview). And I don't want Piniella, simply because Rothschild would be guarantee back, when in reality the Cubs need a new voice at pitching coach. You know someone preaching outs on few pitches.

Would you bet a fiddle of gold against your soul? :D I'm glad somebody caught my drift.

I dont think he's the greatest, but would probably be better than whats available. I'm not sure about that. I think Torre has benefit from having an owner with deep pockets, and a very good stuff. Torre hardly does any "in game" stratgey. I think if the chance the Cubs ever got Joe Torre, the Cubs would see the "Pre-Yankee" Torre who went 888-1003 with the Mets/Braves/Cards and the "Yankee" Torre. IMO, Torre, dare I say, isn't as great of manager as the NY Media (and ESPN for that matter) hyped him to be. In fact, I believe Girardi would be just a good of a manager in 2007 as Joe Torre, wherever Girardi ended up.

Dusty Baker. (ducks behind a 10 ft brick wall)

Agreed. I COULD live with Scott Moore at 3rd base, if it meant getting ARod. But I don't see how the Cubs can get ARod without parting with ARam. It's not feesible otherwise, IMO.

Talent aside. Myers is scum. I certainly don't want him in a Cubs uni. I would jump on Jennings in a heartbeat. I don't understand why Colorado would dump him, he is only making 4.5 mil I would say the same about Julio Lugo---whom some on this board wanted to play SS and/or 2b for the Cubs.

Seconded. Retaining Aramis is far more important than who our manager winds up being. That kind of treatment is reserve to players who are either the Face of the franchise (Derrek Lee) or the Franchise (Carlos Zambrano) players, and quite frankly, as much as I like ARam, he hasn't earn the right to have a say in the Cubs managerial search. Had he help carried the Cubs when Lee went down, he would have a say, but since he didn't show up to pretty much the 2nd half, he doesn't get that right. And if that means ARam leaves, then fine, I'm used to disappointment.

That would not get it done. Not even close. Schuerholz would not trade his franchise player in his prime for a possible #3 starter and a player with no long-term future for the Braves. We'd need to give up more, especially when we'd be competing against other teams for him. The problem KCF, is that Schuerholz has his hands "tied" into four players; Smoltz/Hudson/ and the Jones, who have large contracts. Smoltz is possibly a "trade deadline" chip he has...Chipper Jones no longers has a "definite position" and that he is "the Franchise" of Atlanta (and not AJ), and Hudson ain't worth the contract he got. Now Atl would prolly want somebody like Gallagher or Marmol along with Jones and Marshall to make their side of the deal worthwhile. Nonetheless AJ is so avalable, and don't be surprise at how much/how little it will take (in terms of players/prospects) to fetch him.

"Nefti, that dude, is going to save the Tigers. I mean, my gosh he can swing the bat from both sides of plates. He's like valuable, dude."

Andruw Jones, I say go after, but Vernon Wells, no thank you. Vernon has some pop, but his OBP is batting average driven. And while he is signifcantly better defensive, he really isn't much of an upgrade offensivel to Pierre (if you exclude his power). And the fact that Vernon is heading into his walk yr, and the rumors that he is considering asking for "Carlos Beltran type money" makes Wells a "stay away from" caliber player. I would focus on Andruw Jones.

I'd prefer "Uncle Lou" managing a Dairy Queen, or a McDonalds, and not the Cubs. I would love Girard, but I am slowly jumping on the Dierker bandwagon, even tho that is highly unlikely, as much as Vance wants it to be otherwise.

I've met him several times, and he was nice to me. So, of course, I will have nothing but nice things to say about him. Doesn't mean, I don't know his flaws, but I refused to focus on those flaws.

There are four reason why I became a Cub fan: 1: Andre Dawson 2: Ryne Sandberg 3: Shawon Dunston 4. Mark Grace With that said, just because I am a fan of the "1980'S Cubs Fantastic Four" doesn't mean I want any of them working for the Cubs in a personnel department. They will always be my favorites, but in no way shape or form, I want them making "personnel decisions."

Nonetheless, the DRays are going to hold what the Cubs eventually paid for Pierre against them. And the difference between ARam and Carl Crawford, is that Carl wasn't living on one yr of good production, like ARam was at the time of the trade. In fact, you can say Crawford has been more productive at the 5 yr mark of his major league career, then ARam at 5 yrs.<----In fact, I know Crawford has been more productive in his first 5 yrs then ARam. So the trade value for ARam was quite abit lower than what Crawford's is expected to be. So you can't compare Crawford's situation to ARam's "Pittsburgh days" situation. It's apples and oranges. And btw, Chuck Lemar ain't the DRays GM anymore, it's Andrew Friedman. So, we don't know the trading habits of Friedman. And while the DRays do have some valuable young OFers, coming up, that doesn't mean they have to take less value for Crawford. His power/speed combo is outstanding, and once he learns to be more patience, his OBP will increase and he will become an even bigger threat. The DRays are not going to trade Crawford just because he is "getting expensive." They are going to wait it out, and get their kind of deal, if not, he makes for an ATTRACTIVE deadline target in 07.

Wow. I wonder if Juan Pierre can even hit a homer on a little league field? I would like to him try.

So the jist here is that people want to "hear/see" what would happen if you get Morgan/Baker/Phillips/Kruk in the same room? The first thought I had was, "Are they remaking "The Stooges."

If you were running the DRays would you accept that deal? I sure as hell wouldn't. Then again, you don't get too many "Kazmir for V. Zambrano" type offers everyday. The Cubs screwed themselves, because if they were willing to give up three young, solid pitchers (nothing special, but solid arms) for Pierre, now imagine what the DRays could/should ask for, for the immensely more talented/better player in Carl Crawford. They should ask for both Gallagher and one of Pawelek/Veal/Hill/Marhsall.

Yeah, but Murton a better all-around hitter then Dunn. Eveyrbody loves the fact that he can nearly hit the moon with his power, and like his ability to take a pitch, but that's ALL he can do. Whereas Murton can produce a SIMILAR---and maybe in time---a BETTER OBP and is a better defender in LF then Dunn (Murton's average, but Dunn flat out makes him look like a GGer). The only thing Murton won't ever do .v. Dunn is outslug him. That doesn't break my heart. I don't think trading more young valuable pitching to get Dunn (and his soon to be VERY EXPENSIVE contract) is fisible plan, considering the Cubs already have Murton and have him CHEAP for next couple of yrs. So, IN MY OPINION, talking about Dunn is like beating a horse a to death, and it is highly unlikely to end up in Chicago. Now, I COULD see Dunn going to Detroit or Anaheim.