PackLandVA

According to this Link , Francona is OUT!!

Count me out then! http://timesfour.com/x4graemlins/icon_cheesehead.gif http://timesfour.com/x4graemlins/icon_gopack.gif

I get the business side of it regarding contracts. And I get that he's probably smart enough to know his shortcomings, assuming he believes he is not overly qualified regarding the evaluation of amateur talent, and the need to bring in scouts for minor league building. But isn't a huge part of being a GM also is recognizing major league talent with regard to the free agent market and trades? I mean, sure, he may not dole out bad contracts, but I want t GM to know when to buy and when to sell. And if he's learning this from Kenny Williams, I'm not sold. Also, do we really want to hand over the baseball side of the operation to a guy filling the role of GM for the first time? I trust Rickett's will make a well thought out choice. Hope it's a good one, because it's gonna determine the next decade or more of Cubs' success.

What is it about Hahn's background that makes him such a desirable candidate? I don't know much about him other than his ties to the White Sox. As someone else pointed out in another thread, he's never been a GM, and the one he currently works for hasn't done much to build a farm system, and hasn't really been a huge success as far as free agency/trades go. KW has made some good ones (in both categories) but he's also crapped the bed on just as many. I know the got the WS in '05, but is that the overriding factor. I'm not knocking Hahn, but what are his credentials? His advanced degrees make him seem more suited for Crane Kenney's job.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster&id=6881791 But... http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/22113/cashman-an-attractive-candidate-for-cubs Here's an "article from S&S Sports Business Daily" that says Cashman signed his new 3 year deal 0n September 30, 2008. That leads me to believe the deal ends on the last day of this season.

Chuck Noland's bestest friend!

This is exactly what I would do! I hate the White Sox so much and am so jealous of their WS in 2006, I wouldn't even interview Hahn. I would love a WS for the Cubs in my lifetime, but deep down inside would feel that it took a White Sox front office guy to get the Cubs to the promised land. Don't think I could live knowing that! Would it help to know that the White Sox didnt win the World Series in 2006? OK would it help to know that Hahn is a diehard Cub fan, grew up one, and still roots for the Cubs when they arent playing the White Sox (and probably would root for the Cubs over the White Sox but can't admit that), and because of this story it would be completely forgotten almost immediately that he had a tie to the White Sox? Fixed it to read "2005". Not familiar with the whole "green means sarcasm", but it really wasn't sarcasm. It was more of the irrational Cub fan not wanting anyone from the White Sox Org to be part of the Cubs winning a WS. The rational side of me says to get the best people available, regardless of their background, etc. Poor attempt at levity. Maybe I should post less and lurk more!

This is exactly what I would do! I hate the White Sox so much and am so jealous of their WS in 2005[edited], I wouldn't even interview Hahn. I would love a WS for the Cubs in my lifetime, but deep down inside would feel that it took a White Sox front office guy to get the Cubs to the promised land. Don't think I could live knowing that! Of course, I have no where near the business acumen that Tom Ricketts does. He would most likely not even consider the pettiness of this thought, and therefore would make a decision based on things that actually matter. Tom Ricketts own the Chicago Cubs. I occasionally visit message boards and post thoughts hoping not to embarrass myself! Go Tom Go!!

Are you a Cubs fan? Have you been so for a very long time?

Thanks guys (and/or gals)! I appreciate the feedback. Any other comments are surely welcome!

Anyone ever taken the Wrigley Field Tour offered by the Cubs (as opposed to some private tour)? I'm thinking about going with a few people in a couple of weeks. It would be on a non-game day (day off between road trip and coming home). How long is the tour? Worth the $25? Positives or negatives? Thanks!

How common is it for a player to be traded in the last year (last few months) of his contract only to re-sign the following season with the team that traded him?

That's the same logic da'Coach uses at the beginning of "Who Ya' Crappin'?'".

I couldn't understand why the Cubs were letting Davis make his past 4-5 starts. Thought the experiment should've ended a few weeks ago. The I found out he got his 10 years. Kudos to the Cubs....classy move! :good:

Was listening to the local sports radio yesterday and Steve Stone was on commenting about his beloved Sox (he kept referring to them as "we") and the "Northsiders". While defending his position about Starlin Castro probably NOT being a future SS (which the host didn't get Stone's logic, either), he mentioned Castro's defense and the fact that Hendry traded away a young, better defender in HJ Lee. Stone went on to mention that "Hendry traded away 'winning in the future' for a 'win today' in the Garza deal". I called the station, got through and had a chance to ask for a clarification from Stone. I said, in a nutshell: -Garza was still pretty young by MLB standards and has already had proven MLB success; -the Cubs still controlled Garza for several more years; -and Garza's last three seasons in the American League East, he posted a sub-4.00 ERA. I then asked Stone why the deal couldn't be looked at as a "win now" and a "win in the future" deal from the Cubs standpoint. Certainly Garza could be a valuable asset today and several years from now. I certainly won't kid myself thinking I flustered Stone with my question. After all, he's a jag-bag, but he knows a hell of a lot more baseball than I ever will. But I thought his answer sucked and was typically negative concerning a "Hendry move". He basically said he didn't really know how long the Cubs controlled Garza and mentioned nothing of his age. He then went on to make the point that Garza's success was probably related to pitching at home in the Rays "pitcher friendly" ball park and his home/away splits from last year were not good. He did mention, briefly, that Garza pitched in the AL East, but quickly pivoted to Garza being a flyball pitcher and how that doesn't relate well in Wrigley. Then he went on to talk about how Hendry is really counting on this trade because he's made several poor trades in the past. Now certainly Stone made some valid points about Garza's splits. But did he have to be such a douche concerning my question? He didn't really answer it, and along the way made sure to blast Hendry. And while the merits of the trade won't be known for some time, Stone gives the impression that Archer and Lee are locks regarding MLB success. The man has issues!

Mike Fontenot May 28th of last year against St. Louis. Dunston had 3 once didn't he?? Charlie Hollocher, Ernie Banks, and Shawon Dunston all had 3 triples in one game for the Cubs. I remember the Cubs hit three consecutive triples - Jerry Morales, surprisingly Dave Kingman and a third players whose name escapes me.

Who has more upside: Starlin Castro or Gordon Beckham?

I didn't see it mentioned anywhere, but Dallas Green's 9 year old granddaughter was one of the persons killed in that tragic episode in Tuscon yesterday. Sad in so many different ways! :( Link

Well then it must be true if Cashman said so.

Above average on trades and below average in free agency, perhaps?

Billy Buck is my all-time favorite Cub. Wear it well, Carlos!

Methinks Steve Stone has heard himself referenced as the "smartest mind in baseball" just a few too many times. Hey Steve! You look silly with Kenny William's balls stuck to your chin!

Zambrano's trade value was at its absolute lowest last summer. He came back in the second half and pitched really well, thus improving his trade value. But it's still pretty low. Why not hold on to him through the first part of the season? He should be able to put up good numbers again, possibly really good numbers, because he has for most of his career. That will increase his trade value, and assuming the Cubs are out of contention, they stand to get a much better return by waiting until June/July. No reason to jump on this trade idea too soon unless the offer is really, really good!

Yahoo! confirming the deal: Link Padres get starting pitcher Casey Kelly, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, center fielder Reymond Fuentes and another player to be named.