MustangMike

I thought that as well, Bob didn't seem to agree. Its all speculation really because Williams is in Arizonia. Plus, he like Pole for pitching coach as well, he was maddux coach in atlanta wasn't he? Regardless, if Billy wanted the job, they'd have to be stupid to not give it to him. If Maddux decides to retire, I want him in the dugout next season too. I would love to see Maddux as PC and Billy as HC. I really like this idea...getting former Cubs (not named Sarge) for the bench makes me smile....BTW...I like Sarge, just not what he's done as a coach. I would rather get good coaches than worry about whether they have ties to the Cubs. Agreed goony, Bob was just talking about people already in the organization...which may be a problem in itself!

I thought that as well, Bob didn't seem to agree. Its all speculation really because Williams is in Arizonia. Plus, he like Pole for pitching coach as well, he was maddux coach in atlanta wasn't he?

He did say that Maddux is by far the most skilled and listened to coach on the cubs...ironic

I just thought it would be interesting to some to share my conversation with Bob Ibach who is a former Cubs employee and who's son is the assistant director of scouting with the orioles. Few things he said I found interesting....although in the past Prior, Cedeno, Patterson -> Miggy and Bedard, Bedard was the hold up, they offered a AA pitcher but cubs said no. The fun part was the O's were going to trade prior for texeria....a deal that was supposedly agreed on. He's friends with Maddux, and Rothschild is a joke to everyone on the staff, especially Maddux. He says maddux laughs when talking about him. As with pitching, Maddux is the main guy talking Wood into changing his mechanics...as he's a stubborn kid but wants to play and is truly injured. Also said he thinks Prior is soft...although we've all heard that. Lee Elia is personally coaching Corey Patterson...he he's doing it with motivation of his final stick to the cubs. Ibach also said that Billy Williams would be a great hitting coach and some in the orgainzation agree...Billy apparently would do it. And all the rumors are true about Brenly according to Bob, he's next in line if Dusty doesn't pull out a miracle this year...he'll be given the full year. Anyway, nothing earth shattering...just very interesting conversation. http://www.ibachsportspr.com/ (Link to Bob's Site)

Start high with a new organizational philosophy... then everything can trickle down. I don't think a new manager will help the talent levels, pithcing problems, and offseason moves we need.

This spiral will continue...that's what's really sad

My thoughts exactly...how do either the pitching coach or the hitting coach have jobs? Everyone bashes dusty, I don't see them doing their jobs either! My big problem is with Rothschild, what has he doen with the talent he's been given?

He's a little baby needing to complain about something, its just his way. We all know people like that in our own lives, he's just on a large stage so we have to hear about it. You don't hear him complain after a win, just when we kick his butt for 3 games...god I hate the cardinals. SWEEEEEEP

This is what i keep thinking about, why do Prior and Wood constantly get hurt...why do realitivly young guys have problems so often and in Priors case, so early in the season? Are we unlucky, are the preparing poorly, or are they weak armed pitchers? Is this all really from 2 1/2 years ago?

Tired of the soap opera? Yes. Willing to watch Wood walk after the season? Yes, unless this season is dominating. Willing to even let Prior think about walking? No, and it's pointless to even bring that up. He's not a free agent, he's under Cubs control and still a valuable commodity. Rusch isn't anything to write home about and he doesn't take the ball every fifth day, luckily for us, because he sucks so bad. Let's not pretend we'd be happier with 200 innings of garbage than 150 innings of even Prior's B game. At this point I wish the Cubs would stop focusing, or pretending to focus, on having Prior ready for the 2nd game of the year. Just focus on having him ready. It's obvious all is not right. You don't get to mid-March without knowing when a guy will make his first spring training start without there being a problem. If they feel he needs more simulated games, just do the simulated games. Quit BSing us with make believe timetables that you don't even believe in. What I don't get is all the BSing in the first place. What does it gain the cubs by lying constantly and getting caught. I love this team, but hate how they treat the fans and the general public like a bunch of boobs. We are a interested and probing fan base, and if there is infromation, we usually find it out one way or another, how does it help them to constantly lie? I'm with you, just get him ready and stop all the talking, its bloody obvious something is wrong. I'd feel better knowing what it is, I sure hope they know.

Thanks for the article...I'm very excited on what Pierre will bring to this team...through play and his good work ethic. I have to hope that it will rub off on some of the young guys...and maybe some older ones.

Who said it was Baker's fault? And who is singling Baker out while letting others off the hook. Baker had some really stupid sounding and contradictory quotes in the paper about this issue today. He's part of the story. You said he should have said something to Bonds...what I said was how do you know he didn't say anything to him? And honestly, you think Dusty could have made a difference in Bond's action? Let alone the other guys like Palmero and Giambi, who Baker had nothing to do with at all. This was a higher up issue, much higher than even the team level.

First thing he could have done is say, "Barry, I'm hearing a lot about your Anderson and steroids. Are you using them?" Worrying about whether or not that was the best thing for the team is completely ridiculous when your consider that way of thinking is exactly why so many people ignored it during the 90's. People like to rag on MLB for ignoring the situation, well, Dusty was part of the MLB, he was part of the ignorance. Everybody likes to pin it all on Bud. He's not dictator, Barry is guilty, Dusty is guilty, lots of people are guilty of contributing to the problem and/or doing nothing to solve the problem. I don't see how this is Bakers fault at all. We don't know if he asked him or not, we weren't in the clubhouse. Of course he's going to deny it now, everyone else is, why should he be any different. Why is no one blaming the GM, the Giants, Bud Selig, anyone else? Everyone has turned a blind eye to this. Baker getting signled out is stupid to me.

I like this, but lets be fair to Dusty's history here. He's going to have grissom on this team (-Sing), and he's going to carry 12 pitches (-pagan)...don't you hate it! :)

52/4 years...gets more per year than Konerko but one less year total. Would that get it done?

I heard he's working on a 3rd pitch as well, I think Rothschild said it was a splitter or a changeup, can't remember. I didn't see him throw one yesterday, just that big hook and a fastball up.

I'm going for my first time in April. Its a lot of money but something I've always wanted to do. It will be weird not being in Wrigley though.

Also Aramis may skip the WBC. Woo whoo! http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060221cubsbits,1,1267322.story?coll=cs-home-headlines I just wish Ram would drop out of the WBC officially, we don't need any more wear and tear on his legs.

I think the pressure is on even more than normal. All the other "cursed" teams have won in the last 2 years including the cross town rival, how can the pressure not be felt at this point? The thing I don't like right now is the attitude of this team projects. The still are playing that us vs. them game, and it's hard to be a fan of a team that is so unlikable already. The way the avoid talking to anyone i think fuels the fire to all the negative talk. I'm sure some players are willing to talk and are told to be quiet so I don't blame the players entirely, its just hard to talk. Sorry for the tangent, but its sort of related.... :)

it's not a good topic because there's only one real argument. 1. walker is a better hitter than cedeno. I agree that Walker is a better proven hitter over his career, however I wonder how much speed really effects the 2 hole position. Will Walker's higher BA and OBP offset the DPs he hits into because of his lack of speed? Just a thought.

As to the talk between Cedeno or Walker batting second, would Walker batting from the left side help Juan still any more bases? Is there any stats on that? Just curious

Thanks, I just laughed out loud and people came into my cube.

I read that people won't be able to get all the way fence, but be about 5 or 10 feet away. I like the idea as long as they clear people away so every can get a turn. Bleedcubbieblues sight has some good pictues of the area.

You are right, and I don't hate the Miller signing in any way, I just think the direction of this team is so muddled they don't know which way is up. Everything always is a long shot....wait till 2008, hell we'll be AWESOME that year. I've been saying that stuff since High school and for some reason this year, I just feel like i've lost that eternal hope. I watch the stadium get rebuilt, tickets go up, and JJ in Right field...that's probably what's it. Have you tried to add up the 100 million dollar payroll, its a joke these players equal that amount.

I'm more excited about Miller. Weaver was just someone to keep us in games but if healthy, Miller maybe dominating. With the Cubs off of his short list, his demands will certainly have to go down. One of the other teams will probably get him relatively cheap for one year. I don't know about you, but I'm sick of "If healthy" be attached to every player on this team, especially pitching. Its like we are the Red Cross of the MLB. 90+ years and we are hoping 2 guys will be healthy enough to pitch, and counting on a 40 year old broken down maddux. I hate being a pessimist this early, but for the money, the pitching scares me.