vance_the_cubs_fan

I'd probably go with Brenly. I don't like the issues and baggage that belong to Girardi. I'd hope that some of Len's knowlede had at least rubbed off on Brenly and that he might consider things like run expectancy in making decisions. What issues? Him telling Loria to quit yelling at the umpires? It's Girardi's job to communicate with the umpires, not the owner. thats not necessarilly "baggage." I'd also have to have a stronger endorsement of Brenly other than he's sat with a PBP guy the past two years. It probably won't be either one of these guys anyway. No. It seems pretty well known that Girardi didn't listen to suggestions or directives from the GM either. You may find that admirable, but in most lines of work it's insubordination. As I've said elsewhere, it's ironic that someone who wants his players to toe the line and be subjected felt he didn't have to answer to anyone. It's those issues I have concerns about. I'm not so sure Girardi's issue is that he's a diciplinarian or an egotistical control freak. It's likely somewhere in between, but I'm not sure I'd want to chance having a Showalter-type manager. Given the choice between Girardi and Brenly, I'd take Brenly. I think the difference is (everything I've read) the players seem to really like playing for Girardi. And the Ranger players liked Buck in his first year. But from what I'm hearing in Arlington, Showalter has grated on them. I don't think veteran players will like Girardi's "My Way, or the Highway" mannerisms. That plays well with rookies or thank-ful to have a job Joe Borowski-types, but not so much with some of the FA's we'll be trying to lure to Wrigley Field.

I'd probably go with Brenly. I don't like the issues and baggage that belong to Girardi. I'd hope that some of Len's knowlede had at least rubbed off on Brenly and that he might consider things like run expectancy in making decisions. What issues? Him telling Loria to quit yelling at the umpires? It's Girardi's job to communicate with the umpires, not the owner. thats not necessarilly "baggage." I'd also have to have a stronger endorsement of Brenly other than he's sat with a PBP guy the past two years. It probably won't be either one of these guys anyway. No. It seems pretty well known that Girardi didn't listen to suggestions or directives from the GM either. . What didn't he listen to? Maybe I just haven't seen confirmation of this, I believe you. Is their hard evidence of this? Or just speculation with the firing? I don't have specifics, but after the Loria incident, there were reports that he had feuded with the GM as well. I don't think the Marlins ever released a laundry list as part of the press releases, but I think there's sufficient reasons to believe that Girardi was going to do things his way regardless of what his superiors thought.

Isn't Francona basically a Dusty Baker? He's a vet manager that vets love to play for...Blah, blah, blah... I think Tito would be quite a change from Baker.

I'd like Francona as well. Francona seems to be independent of conventional wisdom. From what I've read, he thinks critically about line-up construction, and he values OBP over "speedy baseball types." If Dierker isn't going to be considered, which I'm aware he isn't, Francona is the name I like best of those that have at least had their names thrown into the arena. That being said, I really doubt the Red Sox let him go....though I would love to have Francona and send them Izturis as compensation.

I'd probably go with Brenly. I don't like the issues and baggage that belong to Girardi. I'd hope that some of Len's knowlede had at least rubbed off on Brenly and that he might consider things like run expectancy in making decisions. What issues? Him telling Loria to quit yelling at the umpires? It's Girardi's job to communicate with the umpires, not the owner. thats not necessarilly "baggage." I'd also have to have a stronger endorsement of Brenly other than he's sat with a PBP guy the past two years. It probably won't be either one of these guys anyway. No. It seems pretty well known that Girardi didn't listen to suggestions or directives from the GM either. You may find that admirable, but in most lines of work it's insubordination. As I've said elsewhere, it's ironic that someone who wants his players to toe the line and be subjected felt he didn't have to answer to anyone. It's those issues I have concerns about. I'm not so sure Girardi's issue is that he's a diciplinarian or an egotistical control freak. It's likely somewhere in between, but I'm not sure I'd want to chance having a Showalter-type manager. Given the choice between Girardi and Brenly, I'd take Brenly.

Unless we have a manager that institutes a platoon on his own. It wouldn't be surprising for a RH bat on the bench who can play OF to be signed. If we have one of those combined with an intelligent manager, a platoon becomes possible whether Hendry intended it or not.

I'd probably go with Brenly. I don't like the issues and baggage that belong to Girardi. I'd hope that some of Len's knowlede had at least rubbed off on Brenly and that he might consider things like run expectancy in making decisions. I wonder how interesting the Len/Bob relationship would be if Brenly got the job. I don't know. I'd expect a good relationship at the onset, but if the road got rocky, it would be interesting to see how it would develop.

I'd probably go with Brenly. I don't like the issues and baggage that belong to Girardi. I'd hope that some of Len's knowlede had at least rubbed off on Brenly and that he might consider things like run expectancy in making decisions.

ERA is a flawed stat for relievers. Eyre had a 1.48 WHIP and 800 OPS against, that is not good. To put that in perspective, only one team bullpen had a higher OPS against and only 3 had a higher WHIP, in the NL. That's counting all relievers, not just the millionaires who are guaranteed for 3 years. Why is ERA a flawed stat for relievers? Not trying to start an argument, I'm just curious as to why you think this. For example, Reliever A enters the game, gets two men out, then walks two guys and is pulled for reliever B. Reliever B comes into a game, allows a bases clearing triple before striking out the last batter. Reliever B's ERA for that outing is 0.00, even though he was not really effective. Reliever A is charged with two runs, and maybe he should be, but he was just as effective, if not moreso than Reliever B. For that reason, ERA while somewhat informative on a reliever, is not the best way to judge one. It's certainly not as reliable a metric for a reliever as it is for a starter.

We do not need Girardi. I'm fairly certain there are better choices than Joe.

Hendry might not hire him because there are better candidates. While I'd prefer Girardi to some candidates, he hasn't done much to distinguish himself in my opinion. A control freak is not a good thing. What has Buck Showalter won? IMO, I think Showalter is a combo of a control freak/jerk in general. You can be strict, yet still gain players respect. I haven't heard anything about players dis-liking Girardi. It may have come out and I missed it though. So many years of bad fundemantels have been really soaked in on this team, I think you have no choice but to go in a direction like Girardi. I think Girardi's control works better with a young team than a team of veterans. Players who are just happy to be in the show are going to be more amenable to those controls because they feel lucky to have their chance. I think Showalter's reign in Texas gives us a glimpse of what might happen with a Girardi-led team. At first, their were few if any complaints about Buck in Texas. As those players matured, his mannerisms and rules have worn thin. There's even some thinking around Arlington that if Showalter is back, Tex and others will ask to be traded. It is indeed interesting. Maybe it's good that Girardi doesn't listen to his bosses. To some that could be viewed as a sign of nobility. I know in my line of work, it would be viewed as insubordination. I also find it somewhat ironic that Girardi demands such control over his players, yet doesn't want to listen to what his bosses have to say. It's also a bit hypocritical. I'm not sold on Joe. He may come here and prove me wrong, but to insinuate the only reason Hendry wouldn't hire him is because Hendry is a coward is a stupid statement. Hendry may view all of the conrol issues along with the insubordination issues and decide Girardi isn't a good fit. You may disagree with that assessment, as many in Chicago would, but that doesn't make that assessment based on cowardice. It makes it an assessment made on facts that are part of Girardi's brief tenure in Florida.

Jones and Dempster for Dunn?

I think a lot of teams assume Dierker is a Houston-lifer. Other than one season with the Cardinals, he played his entire career there, made his home there, was the broadcaster there, and then managed there. He also has a bar inside MMP named for him. I think a lot of teams and media alike assume he is too tied to that organization. It may be so. I've also read, and I'll try to find the link later, places where he said he would be interested in the right situation. I don't know what that situation would be, but I'd sure like to find out if the Cubs fit the bill.

$$$$$$$$

Len, Now that Dusty is out, do you expect your partner to pursue the Cubs' managerial vacancy? What about the job in SF? Has he talked with you about any of these things?

Has Dierker ever been mentioned? I mean by someone not named Vance. :lol: He hasn't and that fact alone makes me question what goes on in the Cubs FO.

sounds like Sandberg as well. At least with brenley we now have an idea of what he thinks of terms like OBP and OPS And while Ryno was and always will be my favorite all time player, I want him no where near the Cubs' dugout.

Cubbette = a former slump buster? :lol: Former? Maybe current.

Furthermore, Gonzalez was a coach in the Marlins' system, so he may feel more comfortable there. With Gonzalez off the list, and I'm expecting Davey Johnson to be hired in Washington, that leaves on Dierker on my preferred list. I have a feeling I'm not going to be pleased with the Cubs' new manager.

Could Jones be packaged in a deal to Atlanta to get Andruw?

Wouldn't a retrun to San Francisco be ironic?

Cox isn't a control freak in the same mode as Showalter. Cox does lay down the rules, but he isn't nearly as restrictive as Showalter. One year isn't enough to determine at what level Girardi falls on the spectrum, but early returns aren't encouraging.

Hendry might not hire him because there are better candidates. While I'd prefer Girardi to some candidates, he hasn't done much to distinguish himself in my opinion. A control freak is not a good thing. What has Buck Showalter won?

They DESERVED one loss to OU, but Oregon is undefeated. Vance knows that, he (and many others) are just operating under the assumption that Oregon has a loss. Since the polls are all based on opinions, I'm operating on the opinion that Oregon has one loss and therfore will rank other one loss teams ahead of them, in my opinion.

Well, I'm pretty convinced the Cubs will hire the wrong guy.