YearofDaCubs

Is there any reason to think this team is not already beaten?

BAHAHAHHAHA!! Baker boys getting it done.

You have to wonder what the players are thinking. I mean really I don't think they want to play for Dusty anymore.

You're not a pessimist you are being a realist.

I would give Hendry $100 out of my own pocket to fire Dusty.

!!!!!! Do I even have to say anything? GOod thing we have that great CFer playing for us!!

Morgan is such a hater.

Holla wouldnt have made that. GOod play by Lawton.

288OBP and hes in the 2hole? WOw, please fire Dusty now.

I agree. WHy even have Cedeno and Murton on this team? It makes no sense. The Dusty logic is just killing me.

What a lineup. Typical Dusty fashion. He's terrible.

There was an old thread about "Dusty Proofing" the team. Unfortunatly Hendry does not do anyone any favors, as he's provided Baker with bad alternatives to young, cheap productive players at every turn, full well knowing Baker's managerial tendencies. That said, if Baker is to be back in 2006 the team has to be put together more intelligently than this year's bunch, and I hope pressure mounts from fans and media to do just that. Rip them in the media, rip them at the convention, whatever, just ensure that Baker cannot use anyone as a crutch in 2006 if he must be here. I just don't see the point in having to "Dusty-proof" a team. Often times these aged veterans are great bench options to young players. Their experience helps them in coming off the bench and being ready to play. The problem, as we have all seen, is that Dusty uses them too often and in bad situations when better options are available. I don't want us to have to sacrifice a decent bench so that Dusty can manage this team. The best option is simple and that's to replace the simpleton that's managing this team. if dusty appeared to have a big positive influence on players by bringing us awesome chemistry and tricking crappy guys into playing well and allowing us to bring in guys who are supposedly bad influences who act good with dusty around, it might make sense to do this. however, since none of that stuff happens, it doesn't make sense to acknowledge dusty's shortcomings to the point that you have to structure your roster in weird ways and not just fire him. True, but do you really see Baker being fired? I think it's possible. But it could happen mid-season next year which is way too long.

You're right. Thats Dusty logic for ya.

We should resign Dempster to be our closer that way we have Williamson and Dempster as out 1-2 punch. They are both good especially WIlliamson, he's lights out. At first I was against signing Giles but there really isnt anything out there. If we can sign him to a 3 year deal , let's do it. Burnitz? See-ya. Lawton wouldnt be too bad but I would like to see Murton start in RF. We have a problem at 2B though with both Walker and Hairston that's a tough decision. I could care less about Nomar since he has done nothing this year for us, and he would be an injury risk. Cedeno starting? Why not. If we resign Lawton then I say Hairston has to go, if not then Walker has to. THis is what I would like to see. Scenario 1 Hairston Murton Lee Ramirez Giles Barrett Patterson Cedeno PITCHER Scenario 2 Lawton Walker Lee Ramirez Giles Barrett Patterson Cedeno PITCHER Not exactly all-star lineups but probably good enough if are pitching can stay healthy. I think our bull-pen can be really good next year. I think Ohman, Novoa, and Wuertz are good. Add them with WIlliamson and DEmspter and you have a solid BP.

This whole situatiuon is just ridiculous. The personnel moves are mind-boggling this year. The clown Dusty has to go, and Hendry should fire him and do us and the organization this favor. Nothing makes sense.

Agreed.

No, as a statement of fact, the Cubs do have a chance of making the playoffs. Its just a really small chance. That is the most realistic statement a Cubs fan can make right now. It is the most accurate description of the Cubs current situation. They have a very small chance of making the playoffs. If you want to talk about what is realistic, then you will have to allow that the Cubs do have a chance to make the playoffs. There are things that could happen to make that chance get bigger and there are things that could happen to make that chance get smaller. To say anything else would be either pessimistic or optimistic, but you can't get any more realistic than that. I'll give it to you. There's a small chance they make it to the playoffs and a big chance they will not.

Good thing football season is right around the corner. Which will happen first? Cedric Benson signing a deal or Cpatt recalled from Iowa? Haha, that's a tough one but I'm going to say Cedric to sign first only because the pressure is really on him now.

Good thing football season is right around the corner.

I would say that was a racist comment no doubt. I would be upset too.

how? didn't he just say he was close to being recalled? because he was - had he not been on the DL, he would have been recalled with murton. According to one of our NSBB Correspondents there was absolutely no truth to that whatsoever. Maybe there's since been a quote saying that he was going to get the call, but people in the Jaxx organization said that wasn't an option. I'm pretty sure Hendry himself said that Pie would've been up or something to that effect. I've heard Hendry specifically say that Pie would of have been up if it wasn't for his injury. Once on WGN, and the other time on the score so it's no joke he would've been up.

SWEET!!

Sadly the louder they get, I'm afraid the ears (in Cubs management) still don't care. That may be true, but sometimes a disgruntled fan base can make some noise. Hopefully, Dusty will be booed at this year's Cubs Convention. Hopefully, Dusty won't be the manager in January. Let's hope, but it could really come to that really shortly. I can totally see them start to boo Baker.

And I'm not saying, never have been saying, that there aren't good reasons to think that the Cubs likely will not make the playoffs. All I'm saying is that there are reasons to think that they still could and those need to be factored in if you are going to argue that your point-of-view is well-balanced. To say that the season is over, hands down, no doubt, the Cubs suck and will continue to suck like you and so many others were just a couple of pages ago is quite different than saying what you just said. And I'm not sure how you could possibly know what record the Cubs are going to have to have in order to win the wild card. That "statement of fact" certainly is an opinion. I would say that the reason we could make the playoffs would be a stretch at best. To many team in front of us. We're not even 3rd in our division anymore.

I would like that actually. Make a statement that they have been playing so bad.