Northwoods Fan

This from the DesMoines Register this morning. http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060123/SPORTS03/601230349/1014 La Russa was impressed Chicago added lefty Scott Eyre and set-up man Bob Howry to its bullpen. "I think the Cubs made really good moves," he said. Basically LaRussa said he's not worried about his team and thinks we have improved a lot because of the bull pen additions. It's all pitching, you know. Except for batting, also essential. Northwoods Fan

I did. 3-4 weeks ago I told you folks with high probability the Cubs would sign Wade Miller. Edit: December 28th. Yes, you did! And Wade Miller is significant. Now can you get us Abreu or some delightful surprise? Northwoods Fan

Hoops, We're dying here! We need some hope about another big acquisition the Cubs might make before spring training. (I don't want to wait for June. June is too late.) Can Hendry surprise us with another Derrek Lee or ARam or Nomar? I just don't see anyone like that out there. Northwoods Fan

Goony, you affirm this in spite of Van Dyck saying (twice) that Dusty actually said what he put in the Q & A story? Okay... Northwoods Fan I affirm that because I can read exactly what Van Dyck wrote, which was not a quote of Dusty, but his impression of what Dusty would say at the convention. And it still doesn't matter because while somebody took the quotes as Walker being the likely 2B starter in 2006, what they really were was a bunch of nothing quotes about a player who is going to be gone. The "he's still here" line has been used more than once with guys destined to leave. I don't disagree with your clear inference re. Walker, though now I think they will be careful replacing Walker with just anyone. It would have to be a solid upgrade. As for whether he quoted Dusty or not--that's a dead issue. I am looking forward to at least one blockbuster aquisition by spring. These guys are not such idiots that they don't know they need that.

Goony, you affirm this in spite of Van Dyck saying (twice) that Dusty actually said what he put in the Q & A story? Okay... Northwoods Fan

Thanks for the confirmation, Banedon. Questions for reflection: Has Dusty undergone a character change for 2006? Is he lying? Is he feeling pressured to say such sensible things? My answers: No. He's really a pretty good baseball man and a good manager even when I (who don't work with the team day in and day out) disagree with some of his moves or non-moves. Northwoods Fan

Dusty's words about Walker (quoted many times here) are really a too tepid endorsement. He seems uncomfortable with the question. He kind of changes the topic. Imagine that you are Walker reading those words: do you feel supported? Northwoods Fan

I remember worrying about Wood on the other Cubs board before this great one came along. I thought there was something wrong with Wood's mechanics and he would be injury prone. It was a great relief to me that knowledgeable Cubs fans thought I shouldn't worry. After all, Wood's from Texas. What I would like to see is Wood's trade value go high with 4 or 5 great outings this spring and then trade him in May or June before he falls apart. I'm sorry to feel that way. The only thing that would convince me otherwise is Wood NOT trying to throw the ball through the backstop. Will that day ever come? Starter or relief is the least of our concerns with Wood. Northwoods Fan

I took it as the author putting himself in Baker's shoes and answering the questions on how Baker would answer them rather than a typical Q&A with him. Actually it was a better-than-average article because it included a couple of facts that we didn't know: He's gonna play some kids Walker is on the outs (I have to infer) Whether he means that or not, whether we agree or not, this is some new stuff. Northwoods Fan

And it's true that Dusty's answers were not in quotation marks. Still, a major market journalist (especially not a columnist) needs to exercise some professionalism. Northwoods Fan

Just like us fans, Dusty was a victim of a lot of disappointment last year (such as Patterson and Wood and Nomar and even Prior). Could he have won another 10-15 games with squeeze bunts? I doubt it. This year let's hope he can get a few breaks. And then we'll see all the squeeze plays we want. Northwoods Fan

Friday I got into a little argument with some on this board regarding some things Dusty has supposedly said (or did not say) that served as background for Van Dyck's story in the Trib. I argued that it was paranoid--too strong a word, I know--to surmise that Van Dyck got Dusty wrong because we all know that Dusty would never say such things (for example, about playing the kids Murton and Cedeno). People thought I was, perhaps, naive to believe the opinions really came from Dusty. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060112cubs,1,7990950.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines The person who launched the thread (Trib Baker Q&A: Walker is starting 2B) has even edited his first post with the following words, and I quote: "EDIT: As noted throughout this thread, this may not be a direct Baker quote, but rather a supposition of possible answers at the convention." So I wrote to Van Dyck and just asked him. You can disbelieve him (again) if you want, but here's what David Van Dyck replied, and I quote: "All straight from Dusty's mouth. Thanks for reading. . . " Perhaps all this is water over the dam, but I think there is a lamentable tendency on this board to suspect everything in a sniping way. You will argue that fans have that right. Okay. I will go on thinking that Hendry and Dusty just may be able to field a great team this year. Of course they'll need some luck too. Northwoods Fan

You guys seem so paranoid. Why would a journalist misrepresent Baker in this situation? Because like others he is writing what he thinks Baker will say in the Q&A. The Q&A with fans hasn't happened yet, so it's rather impossible to say what Baker's answer to these questions from fans in the Q&A will be. How is this at all paranoid? It's paranoid because you're assuming that Baker's going to say the opposite of what he's here represented as saying. The quotations are in quotation marks. Why assume a responsible journalist would make those up? A journalist knows how to paraphrase. No they are not. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060112cubs,1,7990950.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines Okay, I give up. The truth will be in what Baker says in the next days, weeks. I have already conceded that it looks like Walker is gone. I'm basing that on what Baker presumably said in the article. Am I a fool to think so? I'm sorry to see Walker go.

You guys seem so paranoid. Why would a journalist misrepresent Baker in this situation? Because like others he is writing what he thinks Baker will say in the Q&A. The Q&A with fans hasn't happened yet, so it's rather impossible to say what Baker's answer to these questions from fans in the Q&A will be. How is this at all paranoid? It's paranoid because you're assuming that Baker's going to say the opposite of what he's here represented as saying. The quotations are in quotation marks. Why assume a responsible journalist would make those up? A journalist knows how to paraphrase. No they are not. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060112cubs,1,7990950.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines Okay, I give up. The truth will be in what Baker says in the next days, weeks. I have already conceded that it looks like Walker is gone. I'm basing that on what Baker presumably said in the article. Am I a fool to think so? I'm sorry to see Walker go.

You guys seem so paranoid. Why would a journalist misrepresent Baker in this situation? Because like others he is writing what he thinks Baker will say in the Q&A. The Q&A with fans hasn't happened yet, so it's rather impossible to say what Baker's answer to these questions from fans in the Q&A will be. How is this at all paranoid? It's paranoid because you're assuming that Baker's going to say the opposite of what he's here represented as saying. The quotations are in quotation marks. Why assume a responsible journalist would make those up? A journalist knows how to paraphrase.

Scapegoating is a good analysis. What also bothers me is that they devalue the guy before they get rid of him, e.g., Sosa, Patterson. Northwoods Fan

You guys seem so paranoid. Why would a journalist misrepresent Baker in this situation? I liked what Baker said. I agree that he's thinking Walker is gone. I guess they're concerned about his defense. I personally love Walker batting 2nd, but I am not present every day to see how much his defense hurts us. Right now I'm a lot more concerned about the Packers new coach saying he is delighted to come here and work with Favre. Put a fork in him, he's done. Northwoods Fan

I think the GM job is so tough and subject to luck that Hendry will definitely be extended. But I think we got a hint that he is not happy with Baker because he doesn't find a year of 79 wins acceptable. Hendry "took responsibility," but I saw it as putting pressure on Baker whose job it is to win with the players he's given.

Hoops, I just have to add that I agree with the honor given you, and I also agree with others that this is the most incredibly educational and stimulating board I have ever seen. I'm grateful. What other team has fans like this?