Scott G. F.

1. Why should we just accept that Dusty will be here for two more years? He hasn't been extended yet, might not be, and OBVIOUSLY should not be. One can still root for the team and dislike the manager. 2. Again, I'm not sure how you know Hendry won't make a significan trade, but I'm not going to accept that either. Hendry needs to make some kind of move beit either acquiring some much needed offense, or trading away some players to start building for next year. The next month will let them know which is the more appropriate route to take. 3. I don't think people go to Wrigley just to boo. But really, what does that have to do with anything? The Cubs suck right now. Fans booing or not booing really doesn't have an effect on that IMO. 4. I don't see where this is an issue. The trib is not the problem. Management has the resources to build a contender and hasn't done so (again). Soapy, 1 It's almost a done deal they'll call a press conference after a couple of wins. (probably before the White Sox series) 2. Hendry would have made the deal by now. there is nothing to get. Check out the transactions thread, they would have thought of it by now. 3. Fans do go to boo. I will never like it. Frankly it's pathetic to me. 4. If you don't see the Trib as the problem then I don't know what to say. You can have all the resources in the world but mismanaged it's just waste.

Yeah well, people seem to want to be negative about the entire season right now. It's only May 15th. Things are not that bad that they can't turn it around. Blind faith Blue cool aid Whatever you wanna call it. Just call it being a Cubs fan.

It's great and all that you still believe. But suggesting that other fans who don't share your opinion are pathetic is, well, pathetic. Gooney go and visit other Cubs blogs and then come back and we can discuss this. Yes, Cubs fans right now are upset but reality is: 1. Dusty will be here for the next 2 years. (extention probably) 2. Hendry will not make any significant trades to turn this team around. 3. People will still sell out Wrigley just to boo our team. 4. The tribune will never sell this club. (see 3) So maybe, maybe you might wanna believe in something that isn't in the stat book. Believe that this team might, might have a chance if they begin fighting tomorrow night. Were the White Sox the most talented team last year? No Let miracles happen. Don't expect them. How does this justify your absurd claim that the team might be struggling because the fans are pathetic? What is the point of that list? First off, it's not reality, just your opinion. Second, why are you telling me to believe in something other than a stat book. You worry about yourself. Don't ever tell me how to be a fan. It is my opinion. Yes it is. Be any type of fan you want to be Gooney. The fans beign pathetic is also my opinion. My theroy is just as vaild as the crap spewd my most everyone here. So I apologise if you don't want to here anything remotely possitive right now about the cubs. Sit in your misery. I have chosen not to join you. I will be looking at the up coming games and rooting for the Cubs. I will not be discussing the last 2 weeks. I suggest the Cubs as a team do the same.

It's great and all that you still believe. But suggesting that other fans who don't share your opinion are pathetic is, well, pathetic. Gooney go and visit other Cubs blogs and then come back and we can discuss this. Yes, Cubs fans right now are upset but reality is: 1. Dusty will be here for the next 2 years. (extention probably) 2. Hendry will not make any significant trades to turn this team around. 3. People will still sell out Wrigley just to boo our team. 4. The tribune will never sell this club. (see 3) So maybe, maybe you might wanna believe in something that isn't in the stat book. Believe that this team might, might have a chance if they begin fighting tomorrow night. Were the White Sox the most talented team last year? No Let miracles happen. Don't expect them.

I cannot explain anything that has happened already this year, but this team does have talent. Let's remember they are major league ball players playing for the only baseball team I watch. They can play this game and I believe they will play much better. Beginning tomorrow night. "Much anger in this one" Yoda

Maybe the Cubs are playing pathetic because the fans are acting pathetic? I expect better from all involved.

Larry Horse Thanks but no. I'm going out in to the cold and staying until I die. I'm never going to give up on the team IN MAY. We need to let some baseball magic happen. Let the games and season play out. Throw all rules out too.

Alright I've read every Cubs blog and message board that I care to. I've read everything suggestion from firing the entire coaching staff to fire selling the entire team. I've read what the Cubs looked like and that Dusty don't have control of the team any more. I read the team is "unlucky" and not to blame the coaching staff. I read it all and have commented in some or most of them. But the fact and reality is the Cubs are 15-22 and 8.5 games back. It's May 15th. The Cubs upcoming series are the Nationals and then the World Champion White Sox. I can see no better time for the Cubs to come to life. The Nationals are a much worse team then the Cubs (bias?). The Cubs win that series (and dare I say sweep them) and take that momentum in the White Sox series fighting for pride. The Cubs need to take small bites now. Thay cannot try and make-up all the lost games all at once. Just win the next game. Concentrate on just the next game forgetting what happened the last 2 weeks (of suck) for there is nothing they can do about it now. I'm not looking for a World Champions in May. These Cubs are not playing very well right now. But this is were teams find themselves. This is the point were the team decides what it's going to be. We as Cub fans might be on the very edge of the greatest Cubs season ever. We might be talking about this in October wondering why our loyalties were questioned early on. I know my loyalty and Cubs pride has been questioned. I know that watching this team is killing me due to them looking like there in slow motion. But I believe. This team needs to get around .500. Then regain Prior, Then Miller, Then D. Lee. By then this team should be catching the leaders who, right now, look like world beaters. Hang in the fellow Cubs Fans. The storm might be at its worst right now. It might not lighten up for a while OR it could begin to lighten up and we can all begin to see day light. So everyone raise your Old Style. "Here's to sucking it up!!" Go Cubs

I have been a fan since 1968. Since then I have lived at least 1000 miles from Wrigley and, until last year, dreamed about when I could travel to see games again. I even thought about retiring to the Chicago area. Yeah, really. Last year I stopped watching Cubs games at the end of June. This season I decided to stop after sunday's game. I would rather spend the time watching other games, because I still enjoy baseball. I do not enjoy following a team that doesn't care. There's lots of good baseball to watch. As for Wrigley, well I don't know. Somehow I have survived without it over 30 years. Sometime I'll go to Chicago to take the tour, but not during baseball season. Confession time: I am a recovering alcoholic. Accepting that was tough, and I believe I have overcome that. I have come to realize I had let one addiction replace another; but I had always thought being a Cubs fan was a healthy addiction. It hasn't been. Perhaps it's different for the rest of you. I wish it was for me. But here's the thing I can't resolve: As I have followed some of the individual players, and read things about their lives outside of baseball, I have been impressed with the fact that there's some really good people there. I can't imagine how awful they must feel. So while I feel for them, I just have to stop watching. Ah well, if I leave now, I'll have time to stop for some Krispy Kreme on the way to work. :D I hate seeing an accident on the side of the road. Espcially if it's bad. But I find myself looking anyway. I have a morbid curiosity. Blood lust. This season looks so bad I can't even comprihend it right now. But I'll continue to watch. I just can't to emotinally involved or i'd drive me to drink.

Extending Dusty Baker is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic!

LOL Good one.

Aren't we playing the Padres and aren't they from San Deigo. just saying?

Very good point. I believe that would be the case with the Cubs but I guess we'll never know. Wake we up when Dusty leaves please. List of team's with similarly disappointing may record who fired the manager: 2000 Mets 2005 Astros 2003 Marlins I may be off on the years but all of those teams were terrible in May, got a new manager, and ended up in the playoffs (Mets in WS and Marlins won WS). It can make a difference.

Yeah! What he said!!

Nice Sig mojo. Did you happen to see "Goodfellas" You might wanna check that out. i thought he was quoting the movie also. hmmm anyway. just give me someone who knows what the heck he is doing. i don't feel the need to be reactionary and get a yeller, but a manager, with a better hitting philosophy, and i wouldn't mind a new pitching coach also, one who understands that less pitches thrown = longer lasting success... some new players would be nice too, but hendry pretty much has them stuck there. where are the supporters of that one ex-houston manager? dirker? what about him? Larry Durker? I thought he had brain surgery or something. The perfect world would be to fire Dusty and hire Steve Stone. That would be cool.

Nice Sig mojo. Did you happen to see "Goodfellas" You might wanna check that out.

Am I just a clown here to amuse Scott G.F.? Yeah funny. Like...ya know funny.

I beg to differ. Lou is as much of a loon as Bowa. Yes but he would be our loon! Baker walks out of the dugout to argue and you don't think anything of it. Lou P comes out and you get interested really fast. The players see this and see the fire. With Dusty they see someone just awaken from a nap! Aramis: Well gee, I wasn't gonna try and hit a homer. But now that I see Lou is angry and the crowd is pointing and laughing at him, I shall now hit a monstrous homerun to show my appreciation for Lou! *CRACK* I hate that ridiculous and condescending reaction to this argument. It oversimplifies a complex issue and says a lot about theperson posting it, IMO. No one is arguing that the Cubs don't need better players and a manager -who in addition to holding his players accountable and demanding concentration - understands how to fill in a lineup card and manage pitching staff. In spite of this fact, many members continue to generalize and twist statements. In deference to people who just don't get it, let me spell it out plain and simple: 1) The Cubs need better players; 2) The Cubs need a manager who understands in-game strategy, how best to lineup his position players, and how to manage a staff; and 3) The Cubs need a manager who, unlike Baker, demands accountability and concentration, and doesn't make every excuse in the world for his players (i.e., the weather is cold; we travel too much; we play day games; black guys react better to the heat or whatever). What the hell? The post I was replying to was made tongue in cheek (I presumed), so I made one too. It wasn't a comment that we need to keep Dusty. Settle down. I thought it was funny. I think this whole thread is funny. The Cubs need a disaplinarian whom ever.

Baseball is alla bout focus. right now the Cubs have no focus at all. If they focused on a new manager that hold them accountable I'm betting they would respond. The Cubs have the talent. What they need now is the focus. Maybe in the form of a loony manager. Goonie. I have heard rumors he'd like the Cubs job (Davie that is) Or they could "press" and still suck. Lloyd McClendon had my favorite manager argument of all time where he took the base and walked off the field with it. Shockingly, the Pirates still sucked. Wait, so the manager acting like an idiot didn't make the talent on the Pirates better? Point of the thread is this. Dusty doesn't work any more!! Get someone in there that'll spark this team and have them focus on winning! Not dealing with day games or the media, or the evil Stoney.!! Dj and Lou P. are good suggestions.

Baseball is alla bout focus. right now the Cubs have no focus at all. If they focused on a new manager that hold them accountable I'm betting they would respond. The Cubs have the talent. What they need now is the focus. Maybe in the form of a loony manager. Goonie. I have heard rumors he'd like the Cubs job (Davie that is) Baseball is all about pitching, hitting, and catching a round ball. It has no more or less to do with things like "focus", "chemistry", "intensity" than any other job. The reason the Cubs have struggled recently has nothing to do with not being held accountable. It has everything to do with the fact that the talent on the roster isn't that great, and they are without 3 of their best 5 players. Yes and seeing that loss of three big players tends to weigh on you. I've read during the losing streak the Cubs looked tired, made alot of stupid mistakes. They were not focused. Don't lump team chemistry with this.

Baseball is alla bout focus. right now the Cubs have no focus at all. If they focused on a new manager that hold them accountable I'm betting they would respond. The Cubs have the talent. What they need now is the focus. Maybe in the form of a loony manager. Goonie. I have heard rumors he'd like the Cubs job (Davie that is)

Good work. One question. Why isn't Davie Johnson working then?

I beg to differ. Lou is as much of a loon as Bowa. Yes but he would be our loon! Baker walks out of the dugout to argue and you don't think anything of it. Lou P comes out and you get interested really fast. The players see this and see the fire. With Dusty they see someone just awaken from a nap! Aramis: Well gee, I wasn't gonna try and hit a homer. But now that I see Lou is angry and the crowd is pointing and laughing at him, I shall now hit a monstrous homerun to show my appreciation for Lou! *CRACK* Dusty is coming from the dugout wonder who woke him up? I will now leg out a double so he stays awake, pulling my hammy and having Dusty pull an excuse about day games Karma and the sun. Effort not really needed.

I beg to differ. Lou is as much of a loon as Bowa. Yes but he would be our loon! Baker walks out of the dugout to argue and you don't think anything of it. Lou P comes out and you get interested really fast. The players see this and see the fire. With Dusty they see someone just awaken from a nap!

He chose to go to Tampa. And he wasn't any better in Seattle than Dusty was in San Fran (and both men won because of the ability to pencil in all time greats every day - and neither reached the promised land despite all that talent). Everybody likes to talk about how smart it is to change the makeup of the team by changing the personality of the manager, but what proof do you have that it works? Philly was a moderately talented team that struggled under Francona, who was considered a soft excuse making players managers. So they brought in Bowa and still struggled. A lot of people just assume that ranting and raving and intensity will equal great success, I disagree. Larry Bowa brought alot of fire but not much people skill. He was why over the top. Lou Piniella isn't a raving loon. Nither is Davie Johnson. But do you think for one minute that Sammy Sosa would have considered leaving early if either those guy's were managing? I think we all know the answer. Dusty must go and be replaced by someone that holds his players accountable!! If you don't think Sammy was held accountable for his actions then I really don't know what to say. My point is he wouldn't have done it because he would have been held accountable!! With Dusty in that case he threw Sosa under the bus much to Sosa's suprize.