vance_the_cubs_fan

ALL of us want a winner right away. We're all frustrated at the incompetence this organization has shown lately. However, making the best possible trade is NOT going to delay winning a World Series; hopefully it would make it closer. And the fact that your hatred for the Sox is blinding you to the issue of improving the Cubs that's your problem. Not mine, not other Cub fans', and certainly not the Cubs organization's.And if we make a trade that puts the Sox over the top, you can expect fans like me to revolt. And what would this revolution entail? demanding we build a team to win it all RIGHT AWAY!!! uh oh, look out for that. :lmao:

The trick according to a long-time Saints fan is to find a bag that has the right fit. A traditional lunch sack is too small for most heads and a typical grocery sack is a little large. I'll see if I can locate some of the right size tomorrow before leaving town. And if anyone can bring some extra bags for distribution on Tuesday, it will appreciated. Furthermore, if we are able to secure seats in the front row we will likely get shown on TV.

1. If you want bars that are close to Wrigley, I heartily endorse the Goose Island Brewery. It's right on Clark, maybe two doors down from Wrigley. Depending on the type of crowd you're looking for, I would avoid the Cubbie Bear at all costs. It's an over-priced meatmarket that will be packed to the gills that weekend. For something more low-key, I would recommend Guthries on Addison (three blocks west of Wrigley) or any number of bars on Southport St. (five blocks west from Wrigley). 2. Since you're staying that the Lincoln Park Days Inn, I would keep your car with the valet. That way you don't have to deal with all the drivers trying to get to either the Kennedy or Lake Shore Drive. 3. Beware the beds of the Days Inn. I stayed there one night (yes, I live in Chicago. . . but it was for a good cause :) ) and they are horrible. Very springy. Overally, the Days Inn should be nothing more than a place to sleep. Don't expect too much. You'll also be right across the street from the Lincoln Park Zoo and a block away from Second City. Also, you'll be just a few steps away from where Dusty Baker and Michael Barrett live (I used to live in the building myself.) Hope this helps! Thanks for the tips. Yes, the Days Inn is just a place to sleep for me. I'll go to the games early, stay late, and then go back out at night for a drink or two. Across the street from where Dusty and Barrett live???? Autograph maybe?

ALL of us want a winner right away. We're all frustrated at the incompetence this organization has shown lately. However, making the best possible trade is NOT going to delay winning a World Series; hopefully it would make it closer. And the fact that your hatred for the Sox is blinding you to the issue of improving the Cubs that's your problem. Not mine, not other Cub fans', and certainly not the Cubs organization's.And if we make a trade that puts the Sox over the top, you can expect fans like me to revolt. And what would this revolution entail?

Prior is making quick work of the Twins. I can only watch for another half hour...but at least he has looked good so far.

I'll watch the first few innings until I have to leave to go to my nephew's game. That should be just long enough to see Prior's exit around the fourth.

And that's the problem with the current regime. They don't have the foresight to make the right moves at times like these. Everyone points to the Tigers success this year, but two years ago they left Bonderman and Maroth out there to take their lumps. We should be doing the same with Hill, Williams, and Marshall.

The ball always finds you.

Ok, NSBBers in the bleachers on Tuesday...it'll be bag time. I live in New Orleans Saints territory, so I'll get some advice from long time Saitns fans. They perfected the art of bag wearing.

On another note, there will be a small contingency of NSBBers in the bleachers for Tuesday's game.... should we bring the bags?

Hill has started a total of 8 games over two seasons. Very few of those in sucession. I'm not sure what he is, but he's got some of the best numbers of any pitcher in the minor leagues, anywhere. Hill may or may not be a major league pitcher. Right now, it appears he isn't, but with his track record in the minors, he deserves a full half season in the majors to either sink or swim. He's done all he can at AAA, so it would be in the Cubs best interest to see if he can do it at the major league level if given the time to make adjustments. Hill is 26 years old. If he's going to make the adjustments, it's sink or swim time for him. Marmol is only 23 and obviously has some adjustments to make. Marmol has never pitched at the AAA and has less than half a season at AA. While Marmol might make the better pitcher, why do wins even matter at this point? It's time for the Cubs to stop being shortsighted and play the hand that will set them up best for the future. Right now, that is to allow Marmol to continue his development in the minors and let Hill pitch through his funk in the majors. Hill has mastered every level but the big time. It's imperative to know whether he can do that and the only way for him to work through his struggles there is with the big league team. He might fail. If he does, so what? You know he can't cut it and cut him lose. So we get blown out in a few games this year? Big deal. We're not making the playoffs, so it's best to use this year to evaluate what we may have next season. If Hill somewhere along the way learns to get big league hitters out like he has in AAA, then he will restore his trade value or give the Cubs another option for 2007. It just makes a lot more sense to let Hill pitch the remainder of the year regardless of how poorly he does. It won't stunt Marmol one bit and it will allow Hill a consistent number of starts to see if he can make the appropriate adjustments to become more than just a AAA ace.

When I got back from nephew's game, I had the choice of watching my Tivo recording of the Cubs game or watching Simon and Simon on the Sleuth channel. I watched Simon and Simon.

My nephew's 9-10 yr old all-star team's game are more compelling to watch.

That prognosis doesn't look good.

So you want to send down a kid to work on control, and call up another kid who has control problems at the major league levels? :-k Keep the kid, until he pitches his way out of the rotation. I like Hill, but Marmol, is a kid that gives the Cubs a better chance at winning. The reason it would be wiser to bring Hill up is this: 1. Hill needs to sick or swim in the majors. He clearly can dominate AAA. It's imperative to allow him a chance to either adjust at the major league level so the Cubs will know what they have. 2. Marmol has much to work on. It would be better for his development if that occurred in AAA. 3. At this point in the season, the chance of winning shouldn't be a factor. This season is toast, so the Cubs should act on what may give them a better chance of winning in the future. Finding out if Hill can make the adjustments is the right move there.

This is a comical thread. LaRussa is a joke.

You mentioned where you were staying earlier in the thread (months ago), but you might want to repeat that for people to give you the info you want. Good point. I'm at the Days Inn- Lincoln Park on Diversey.

Ok...now that I'll be arriving on Tuesday, I have a few more questions. 1. What are some good bars/night spots near my hotel? Since I'm going to some day games, I'd like a few night spots that would make it easy for me to get to without a lot of driving. 2. On Friday morning, I'm checking out of the hotel and going to the Cubs-Sox game. After the game, I'm driving back to Edwardsville. Would I be better off, leaving my car parked at the hotel valet parking and walking to the car after the game and leave from there...or should I try to find parking closer to the park? 3. Any other hints, information, suggestions for an out of towner?

It's bad business, and really serves no benefit. Just hire the guy as interim and say you'll evaluate his work after the season, but are planning to interview others. Sounds like the best course of action to me. Goony has hit the nail on the head.

What if he is just as inept as Baker but wins? Do you want Hendry to interview that kind of manager, especially when the person in question is his friend? I have a feeling that no matter who takes the job on interim, they will get at least an interview for the full-time gig. Would you rather Hendry make a snap judgement and not be able to interview all candidates because some candidates are already employed on other clubs? Whether it is Speir or someone else, I'd rather Hendry just tell that person they would be considered after the season just to get them to babysit this mess for the rest of the season. In reality, it would be a flat out lie, but I don't have faith in Hendry to do that, at least with Speir. Furthermore, Hendry probably sees the us as still being in the race, at least for the wild card. I'd expect him to hire his longterm guy now so they can spark the team to a playoff run. That's just how he is probably looking at it. Wow...what integrity you have. I surely hope you never find yourself in a position of authority. If it's really as difficult to find someone to manage the team the rest of the year, you gotta do what you gotta do. It's too bad, but that's business. No you don't. There's nothing, absolutely nothing, wrong with interviewing and responsibly considering your interim. And it's not business, it's lying and shows a lack of integrity. I repeat my earlier assertion.

What if he is just as inept as Baker but wins? Do you want Hendry to interview that kind of manager, especially when the person in question is his friend? I have a feeling that no matter who takes the job on interim, they will get at least an interview for the full-time gig. Would you rather Hendry make a snap judgement and not be able to interview all candidates because some candidates are already employed on other clubs? Whether it is Speir or someone else, I'd rather Hendry just tell that person they would be considered after the season just to get them to babysit this mess for the rest of the season. In reality, it would be a flat out lie, but I don't have faith in Hendry to do that, at least with Speir. Furthermore, Hendry probably sees the us as still being in the race, at least for the wild card. I'd expect him to hire his longterm guy now so they can spark the team to a playoff run. That's just how he is probably looking at it. Wow...what integrity you have. I surely hope you never find yourself in a position of authority.

What if he is just as inept as Baker but wins? Do you want Hendry to interview that kind of manager, especially when the person in question is his friend? I have a feeling that no matter who takes the job on interim, they will get at least an interview for the full-time gig. Would you rather Hendry make a snap judgement and not be able to interview all candidates because some candidates are already employed on other clubs?

You think Speier would take the job knowing he has no shot at it after the season? Very few people will. It's not a guarantee and Speier will know that. It's very difficult to find an interim outside the organization. Those persons will want a more long term guarantee. Speier is the best option for an interim. He can be interviewed along with Gonzalez, Dierker, and any other candidate the Cubs choose to consider.

Doubtful. Here's my scenario. Fire Baker, Rothschild, Clines, Pole and Matthews. Promote Spier to interim manager. Promote Von Joshua as interim hitting coach. See if Billy Williams will serve as third base or bench coach for the interim. Promote other guys within the organization to serve in the other capaities. At the end of the season, interview Gonzalez, Dierker, and even Spier. Hopefully, Davey Johnson will be available for an interview as well. The new manager can select his own staff. Just curious. Why Spier? I just don't see that as productive at all. Spier is the only one that wasn't a "Baker Boy." I don't think he's all that loyal to Baker so he likely would accept the postion. Secondly, he makes an easy person to promote. I'm not advocating giving him the job. On ther other hand, I don't think he'll do a horrible job and in reality, we're just letting him have the helm until the end of the season. I think he'd be easier to replace in the offseason than other people who you might have to promise a longer tenure to. Many candidates may not be available mid-season. By promoting Spier as interim, the Cubs give themselves the time to plan rather than reacting impulsively. Sure Brenly would take the job, but my guess is he'd want more than an interim title to step down from the booth into the dugout. Since I think we can do better than Brenly, I'd rather not hitch our wagon to that horse in such a situation. What about him makes you want to consider him for the position after this season? Nothing really. But we'd have half a season to observe him on the job to make an assessment. He could be given an interview with no guarantees of the job.

That's an interesting choice. Personally I don't care if the new manager is an ex-Cub or not....I just want a good manager. Agreed. I'd also look at managers who have been part of a winning tradition. That's why I've very high on Fredi Gonzalez. I hope the Braves way of doing things has rubbed off on him. Isn't that why we got Jeff Blauser? I think it's different with players than managers. For a manager, it matters. For players, I just want good ones. I could care less where they come from.