vance_the_cubs_fan

Someone is going to have to remind me first, because this team looks horrible.

That was excellent. Thanks to all who made it happen.

Can you give us Fredi Gonzalez's baseball philosophy? I know about his affection of young players, but that can't be the only baseball skill he has. He's been a successful minor league manager and has worked in what I believe is the best run organization in baseball. Like any young manager getting his first shot to run a MLB team, we can't be entirely certain what he will do. On the other hand, he has learned under Cox and I expect that much of Cox's philosophies have rubbed off on him. Since we can't get Cox, I'll settle for the next best thing in one of his lieutenants. I've posted this before, but here's a quote from his bio on the Braves page.

I'm not in favor of trading Prior, but here are some deals I'd consider. (Note: I don't think other teams would do these deals either.) 1. Prior to the Marlins for Cabrera and Willis. 2. Prior to the Phillies for Aberu, Myers, and Floyd. 3. Prior to the Mets for Wright, Milledge, and Humber. 4. Prior to the Braves for Francoer, Davies, and A. Jones. 5. Prior to the Padres for Peavy and Greene. 6. Prior to the Red Sox for Manny, Papelbon, H. Ramirez, and Arroyo + cash.

On the bright side, there's no way Baker keeps his job if the Cubs lose 26 straight games.

Once again my list: 1. Fredi Gonzalez 2. Davey Johnson 3. Larry Dierker

I'm past the point of frustration with this team and have no become apathetic.

Lou has a stronger fetish for veterans than Dusty does.

Analyzing a situation doesn't mean you take cheap shots when not warranted, and it also means that you think critically, not be critical. Thinking critically, you would say that Aramis is playing through pain and thus shouldn't be expected to run flat out to 1B on a ground ball to third. His bat is more important that making it a close play, given the risk. Critical thinking tells you that Murton has command of the zone, and thus could be a valuable ML player, and at the very least is the best option in the OF right now when put against Holla and Macias. Critical thinking tells you that it's stupid to call up a guy who's missed 9 weeks with a bad ankle injury just for the sake of it. Critical thinking. Not just criticism. I realize that one makes for better talk radio, but I'm tired of people taking Stone's word for gospel. It's not, and it's seeming more and more obvious that he has a big axe to grind with this organization. Excellent post and very well said. His bitterness isn't hidden by his claims of objectivity. Please show me Bruce Levine's career MLB stats. I really like Stone and agree with him most of the time, but that was as superfluous a statement as there is. Being a great ballplayer doesn't make you a great analyst, nor does having no experiece make you an inferior one. There are plenty of great players who don't have an ounce of insight. And somehow I'm not surprised you turned this into a WSCR/ ESPN 1000 thing. Joe Morgan is the poster child proof for this statement.

And with a seven man pen, Dusty uses the loogy to face the right-handed Larue to disasterous results.

Ah, the genius that is Dusty Baker! Is he not the worst manager in the major leagues?

Analyzing a situation doesn't mean you take cheap shots when not warranted, and it also means that you think critically, not be critical. Thinking critically, you would say that Aramis is playing through pain and thus shouldn't be expected to run flat out to 1B on a ground ball to third. His bat is more important that making it a close play, given the risk. Critical thinking tells you that Murton has command of the zone, and thus could be a valuable ML player, and at the very least is the best option in the OF right now when put against Holla and Macias. Critical thinking tells you that it's stupid to call up a guy who's missed 9 weeks with a bad ankle injury just for the sake of it. Critical thinking. Not just criticism. I realize that one makes for better talk radio, but I'm tired of people taking Stone's word for gospel. It's not, and it's seeming more and more obvious that he has a big axe to grind with this organization. Excellent post and very well said. His bitterness isn't hidden by his claims of objectivity. Please show me Bruce Levine's career MLB stats. :roll:

There's where I'd prefer the philosophy of Bobby Cox to Baker. Cox believes that when you bring a kid up, you play him until he proves he can't not until he proves he can. And last I checked, Cox knows a lot more about winning than Baker.

I think there are much better options available out there than Grady Little. It's not that I think Little would be a bad choice, just that there are better options available.

Astacio is a non-prospect, but it's a case of getting something where we were getting nothing. The cash is insignificant. Had Remlinger not been traded, the Cubs would have been paying him anyway.

but the Cobs might

The Cubs must have decided to do me a favor. They knew I go back to work on Friday and don't need to spend as much time watching baseball and posting here. They timed the skid just so I'd go to work with a renewed focus.

Do these games even matter anymore? Now I know what it's like to be a Pirates fan.

Hmmm, I guess Steve Stone and the Red Sox probably wouldn't have much use for Tony Gwynn. Ah Tony Gwynn comparisons now. :D Wasn't Gwynn a really good defender?? Also, it didn't hurt that he batted left-handed. One thing is for sure, Murton can hit lefties. I hope this board doesn't crash w/ excitement after Murton's single up the middle in the 2nd. :o Murton is pretty good defender. Can Murton hit righties? He surely did in the minors. We can blame the manager for not knowing if he can in the majors.

We could offer a combination of Mitre, Rusch, Williams, Guzman, Hill, Welly, etc. I'm all for developing players, but it isn't often that a young, cheap, power-hitting OF becomes available. We would have a lot of available money to fill in the other holes if we can go young and cheap in the OF. I'm not sure those guys appeal to the Rangers. None of those, except maybe Guzman if he's healthy and he hasn't been, have the ceiling of the Rangers top three guys in the minors. With Danks and Diamond on the way, the Rangers will be looking more for a high ceiling guy or a player who has proven himself in the majors. I wouldn't count Rusch as we don't know if he'll even be with the Cubs next season. Williams might fit the bill, but the Rangers may feel they can do better than him in FA. I love the idea of getting Mench, but I don't think we have the players the Rangers would want to acquire him. In the Rangers eyes, Mitre is no better than C.J. Wilson. Wellemeyer isn't better than Matt Roney. Diamond is a better prospect than anyone on that list. Danks is struggling a little in AA this season, but he could contribute in Texas very soon. Dominguez is a lot like Mitre. He does well in the minors but has gotten lit up at the majors. I don't see the Rangers giving up a hitter of Mench's caliber in order to acquire a pitcher similar to one they already have. I understand the desire to get Mench. I have the same desire for a lot of players...namely Brad Wilkerson. I just don't think Mench is a realistic possibility for the Cubs unless we build a package around Zambrano which we won't.

I personally don't think New Orleans could support a baseball team. They have enough of a time selling out for the Saints. For New Orleans to get a team, they would need tax help from the entire state and the legislators from the northern part of the state wouldn't go for it. I like the idea of an eight division format. I think New Jersey is the best place for one of the teams. Portland or Las Vegas is probably the ideal spot for the other one.

Hmmm, I guess Steve Stone and the Red Sox probably wouldn't have much use for Tony Gwynn. A hitter with Murton's skills can be useful if you build the proper team around him. They also said Wade Boggs would never make it to the majors because he didn't have enough power to play a corner infield position, and I watched him be inducted into the HOF 8 days ago. Murton is a good pure hitter. Sure, he lacks power but this team has guys with power. What it needs is patient hitters who can put the ball in play and get base hits. Will Murton be a successful major leaguer? I have no idea, but his numbers thus far indicate he can.

Chicago Cubs - 16 games out of first place Chicago Cubs - 3 Games under .500 and falling (54-57) I also like how he calls these guys bums and mediocre minor leaguers. If youre so good why aren't you playing center field for the cubs? He has three total posts. Anyone think he'll get to four. I don't.

What pitching would we offer that would look as good to Texas as Diamond and Danks?

I think that thread was referring to rumors that McKeon could be canned in season. If that was the case, I could see why the Yankees and Braves would deny others the permission to talk to Girardi and Gonzalez. Losing a coach in the midst of a penant race could be disruptive. On the other hand, I'm sure once the playoffs are completed both would be allowed to interview for managerial vacancies.