Dave Van Dyck has an interesting article up this morning.
In fact, according to reliable sources, the Cubs‘ chairman privately was feeling out the postseason availability of Yankees general manager Brian Cashman sometime around the All-Star break, which is when Hendry originally was “fired.”
As I mentioned the other day, any current GM is going to have interest in taking the Cubs job. As a result, it’s highly unlikely any assistant GM will be considered and Ricketts even hinted at that.
While many in Chicago, rightfully so, are focused on the qualifications of White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn, Ricketts seems to be thinking bigger, as in more experienced.
Asked if he would interview current assistant general managers, Ricketts replied, “I’m not sure yet.
“There’s obviously some good (ones) out there,” he said. “If one of those candidates would have interest, then we would speak to him but …”
Ricketts knows that he can basically have his pick on this one. With Cashman and Andrew Friedman both being free agents, the Cubs can get either one of them.
He also is looking for someone versed in new-era sabermetrics, even if “it’s just a piece and we’re not running the baseball organization by computer model.”
Sabermetrics should only be a piece. Sabermetrics cannot replace scouting and that is not its purpose. Its best to use it with scouting data to get an even more full picture of what the player has done and what he might do going forward. Having an organization run on sabermetrics alone would be as stupid as having one run on scouting alone. You need both and I’m glad that Ricketts understands that.
I haven’t been a big fan of Ricketts since he took over, but it was always nothing more than a first impression. We can’t evaluate an owner after a year or two. We’re seeing some very positive steps from this organization, which we hadn’t seen for a few years.
Comments
You know, given the story about his slowness to act on the business plan he had before, perhaps this is all a sign that he has finally gathered sufficient information and decided to begin acting large scale. I know some people were of the opinion that he should have already had a plan in place before completing the purchase, but you don’t know an organization until you are fully immersed in it. You can read all you want or meet guys in an meeting, but that’s different than seeing them every day and how they operate on a day-to-day. In other words, I’m starting to feel a glimmer of optimism.
As a Cubs fan, I’m also preparing for the inevitable plane crash.
binkyQuote Reply
If all he was doing was acclimating himself to the game, then I don’t have a problem. He owns the Cubs and whether we like it or not, priority number 1 is making money. The Cubs had been doing very well so the people in charge of things weren’t running the business into the ground in that sense. If you’re afraid someone is going to lose you money then you get rid of them, but the track record of the guys in charge proved that they made the owner money.
mb21Quote Reply
I think s Cashman hiring would be safe, and I don’t like the idea of a safe hire. I’d much rather see the Cubs hire someone young with something to prove or who is more likely to challenge the orthodox. Most importantly, I’d like to see someone who has an ideology that he/she can install as an organizational philosophy. Right now it seems the philosophy is plug holes, put out fires (usually badly), and hope that a minor leaguer can improve things that aren’t often improved (walk rate, k rate, defense, etc…).
26.2cubfanQuote Reply
And in the money end, I think this draft is promising because it indicates an awareness that talent development is much cheaper if done in house rather than paying someone else to do it on the free agency market. Then again, most of the league is recognizing and sometimes overvaluing the advantage of cost-controlled guys.
Who is the Brewers GM? They have done a nice job over the last few years balancing between home-grown and smart fa acquisitions.
26.2cubfanQuote Reply
[quote name=26.2cubfan]I think s Cashman hiring would be safe, and I don’t like the idea of a safe hire. I’d much rather see the Cubs hire someone young with something to prove or who is more likely to challenge the orthodox. Most importantly, I’d like to see someone who has an ideology that he/she can install as an organizational philosophy. Right now it seems the philosophy is plug holes, put out fires (usually badly), and hope that a minor leaguer can improve things that aren’t often improved (walk rate, k rate, defense, etc…).[/quote]Yeah, and it’s not like the Yankees minor league system is any great shakes. Cashman excellent at getting his man on the FA market, but what are the indications he’d be better at building a solid system than someone like Theo or Freidman?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=26.2cubfan]And in the money end, I think this draft is promising because it indicates an awareness that talent development is much cheaper if done in house rather than paying someone else to do it on the free agency market. Then again, most of the league is recognizing and sometimes overvaluing the advantage of cost-controlled guys.
Who is the Brewers GM? They have done a nice job over the last few years balancing between home-grown and smart fa acquisitions.[/quote]Doug Melvin.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Yeah, and it’s not like the Yankees minor league system is any great shakes. Cashman excellent at getting his man on the FA market, but what are the indications he’d be better at building a solid system than someone like Theo or Freidman?[/quote]To be fair, that’s what the Yankees do. They trade their prospects for veteran talent because they can pay it. I know Cashman has been overruled by the Steinbrenners on more than one occasion regarding a trade. Not to mention he was overruled on signing Rafael Soriano to that ridiculous contract.
However, I see hiring Cashman as one step forward while hiring Theo or my personal favorite Andrew Friedman as being two steps forward.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=26.2cubfan]And in the money end, I think this draft is promising because it indicates an awareness that talent development is much cheaper if done in house rather than paying someone else to do it on the free agency market. Then again, most of the league is recognizing and sometimes overvaluing the advantage of cost-controlled guys.
Who is the Brewers GM? They have done a nice job over the last few years balancing between home-grown and smart fa acquisitions.[/quote]The Brewers farm system has taken a hit since Jack Zdijodsfjoksdj left the organization to become the M’s GM. He was their scouting director.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]To be fair, that’s what the Yankees do. They trade their prospects for veteran talent because they can pay it. I know Cashman has been overruled by the Steinbrenners on more than one occasion regarding a trade. Not to mention he was overruled on signing Rafael Soriano to that ridiculous contract.
However, I see hiring Cashman as one step forward while hiring Theo or my personal favorite Andrew Friedman as being two steps forward.[/quote]Yeah, I’d agree with this.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
friedman is significantly better. cashman is just a guy with a bigger credit card. hell, even hendry couldnt screw that up
titleQuote Reply
I wonder how often he’s been overruled. We’ve known for some time he’s not the happiest guy around so I don’t think there’s any doubt he’d jump at the Cubs job. One of the things we can’t really take into account when evaluating GMs is their boss’s influence on the decisions made.
mb21Quote Reply
Isn’t Theo Epstein’s contract up as well?
As far as Cashman goes nobody can deny that has has built winning teams. But is that a skill or a function of having an unlimited budget?
Friedman has built a winner out of scraps, and Epstein rebuilt the entire Sox organization. I think that those skill sets would be more applicable to the Cubs right now than Cashman’s skill set.
The new no. 2Quote Reply
From what I can find on google, Theo last signed a 3-year contract extension after the 2008 season so that would expire at the end of the year. However, their owner recently said that he didn’t even know how many more years Theo had under contract. It’s difficult for me to believe that an owner wouldn’t know if his GMs contract was up in a couple months. Maybe they signed an extension that never was announced. I don’t know. Based on what we know, he should be available. Even if his contract isn’t up, the Cubs could work out some kind of deal with the Red Sox to get Theo if he was interested in the job. We’ve seen players traded for managers before. No reason it couldn’t happen for a GM. If the Cubs want Theo and he wants the job, he’ll get it.
mb21Quote Reply
Also, the Yankees had the 5th best farm system in baseball entering the season according to Baseball America. Red Sox were 17th (Cubs were 16th).
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Also, the Yankees had the 5th best farm system in baseball entering the season according to Baseball America. Red Sox were 17th (Cubs were 16th).[/quote]
After the A-Gonz trade I assume??
ABQuote Reply
2011: Yankees 5th, Red Sox 17th
2010: Red Sox 5th, Yankees 22nd
2009: Red Sox 13th, Yankees 15th
2008: Red Sox 2nd, Yankees 5th
2007: Yankees 5th, Red Sox 9th
2006: Red Sox 8th, Yankees 17th
2005: Red Sox 21st, Yankees 24th
2004: Red Sox 23rd, Yankees 27th
2003 (first year for Theo): Yankees 17th, Red Sox 27th
Cashman took over for the 1998 season. In 1997 the Yankees ranked 12th and then improved to 9th and then 3rd in 1999 while winning consecutive championships.
Red Sox farm system has been a bit better of late, but not by all that much.
I’m not saying Cashman is better or even as good as Theo. I don’t think he is. I just wanted to post the information so we all knew that the Yankees farm system has been pretty damn good since Cashman took over.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=AB]After the A-Gonz trade I assume??[/quote]Yeah, they gave up a lot of talent to get him.
mb21Quote Reply
“pretty damn good” is probably overstating it, but considering how many type A free agents they sign and how many players they acquire via trade, it’s been pretty damn good.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]2011: Yankees 5th, Red Sox 17th
2010: Red Sox 5th, Yankees 22nd
2009: Red Sox 13th, Yankees 15th
2008: Red Sox 2nd, Yankees 5th
2007: Yankees 5th, Red Sox 9th
2006: Red Sox 8th, Yankees 17th
2005: Red Sox 21st, Yankees 24th
2004: Red Sox 23rd, Yankees 27th
2003 (first year for Theo): Yankees 17th, Red Sox 27th
Cashman took over for the 1998 season. In 1997 the Yankees ranked 12th and then improved to 9th and then 3rd in 1999 while winning consecutive championships.
Red Sox farm system has been a bit better of late, but not by all that much.
I’m not saying Cashman is better or even as good as Theo. I don’t think he is. I just wanted to post the information so we all knew that the Yankees farm system has been pretty damn good since Cashman took over.[/quote]It’s been ranked well, but what has it produced in the time period you’ve noted? Gardener, Hughes, Cano and Joba? In the meantime, the Red Sox sport Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lester, Papelbon, and Lowrie. And it’s not even close if we bring Friedman into the conversation.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]”pretty damn good” is probably overstating it, but considering how many type A free agents they sign and how many players they acquire via trade, it’s been pretty damn good.[/quote]Yeah, I just worry that Cashman is going to have to operate differently over here, and I wonder if it’s a job he knows how to do.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Is Cashman’s farm system again a function of the Yankees having more money to spend on amateurs than most? It seems like in the last decade an increasing number of teams have drafted based on who they thought they could sign rather than the best talent available in an effort to avoid huge payday’s for unproven talent. I’m not saying Cashman would be bad at all, but he has operated in an environment without many limitations. I’d be wary of him repeating his success anywhere else for a while.
The new no. 2Quote Reply
I don’t know how much money the Yankees have spent on minor league talent. I know they way under slot this year, but I wasn’t paying close enough attention to them in the past.
As for the better talent the Red Sox have developed, we have to keep in mind the small sample we’re working with here. There’s little doubt that the talent the Red Sox have developed in recent years have turned out to be better players, but I don’t think 5, 6 or 8 minor league players over a number of years gives us much additional information. It’s something to consider, but research has been shown that the better ranked players succeed more often than the lower ones.
Even if we consider money in the draft, we have to consider the numbef of picks the Yankees have given up compared to Boston and Tampa Bay. I’ll look to see how many additional top round picks those two teams have had in a little bit.
mb21Quote Reply
In the 2011 Draft, the Rays had 3 first round picks and the Red Sox had two. The Yankees had none.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I don’t know how much money the Yankees have spent on minor league talent. I know they way under slot this year, but I wasn’t paying close enough attention to them in the past.
As for the better talent the Red Sox have developed, we have to keep in mind the small sample we’re working with here. There’s little doubt that the talent the Red Sox have developed in recent years have turned out to be better players, but I don’t think 5, 6 or 8 minor league players over a number of years gives us much additional information. It’s something to consider, but research has been shown that the better ranked players succeed more often than the lower ones.
Even if we consider money in the draft, we have to consider the numbef of picks the Yankees have given up compared to Boston and Tampa Bay. I’ll look to see how many additional top round picks those two teams have had in a little bit.[/quote]Good points.
My main concern with Cashman is his ability to work with a much more restrictive cash flow. Ricketts has stadium repairs and debt service to worry about, and Cashman won’t have the money he had in NY for a while. But I’m sure that’s something Ricketts is going to check out.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Yankees had 1 pick from the supplemental 1st round while the Rays had 7 and Red Sox had 2. That’s 10 1st round picks for the Rays and 1 for the Yankees. If they don’t have a better farm system in a few years something went seriously wrong.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]In the 2011 Draft, the Rays had 3 first round picks and the Red Sox had two. The Yankees had none.[/quote]A cynic might say that Cashman’s work in the FA market is hampering the Yankees in the draft, but it’s obvious that the Yankees have been able to pluck ML talent from the draft despite this. That in its own right is impressive.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Good points.
My main concern with Cashman is his ability to work with a much more restrictive cash flow. Ricketts has stadium repairs and debt service to worry about, and Cashman won’t have the money he had in NY for a while. But I’m sure that’s something Ricketts is going to check out.[/quote]Yeah, I worry about that, but I also worry about Friedman working with MORE money. (dying laughing)
Still, that’s who I’d hire, but I would not expect a farm system as good as the Rays. The Cubs will be active in the free agent market and there’s no way they’re going to collect the draft picks like they have.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]A cynic might say that Cashman’s work in the FA market is hampering the Yankees in the draft, but it’s obvious that the Yankees have been able to pluck ML talent from the draft despite this. That in its own right is impressive.[/quote]signing type A free agents definitely hurts the next draft. After the Cubs spent 40 trillion dollars following the 2006 season, they signed 3 type A free agents in Soriano, Lilly and DeRosa. Their first round pick was protected since it was in the top 15, but they lost their 2nd, 3rd and 4th round picks. In 2007 they took Josh Vitters in the 1st and didn’t pick again until the 5th when they took Jeff Samardzija.
That’s what spending on free agents does. It’s why you have to spend money in a smart way. Signing type A free agent Rafael Soriano was stupid and it’s good to know Cashman understood that.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Yeah, I worry about that, but I also worry about Friedman working with MORE money. (dying laughing)
Still, that’s who I’d hire, but I would not expect a farm system as good as the Rays. The Cubs will be active in the free agent market and there’s no way they’re going to collect the draft picks like they have.[/quote]Yeah. Theo is kind of the in-between choice. Knows how to build a farm, and is not afraid to spend big to get the player he wants. But I have a feeling Ricketts would pay dearly to pry him away from the Red Sox.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Cashman and Epstein are obviously very good GMs. But I worry about how they would perform with a payroll that could be half of what they currently have.
That’s why I would lean towards someone like Friedman or Beane. They have built winners with half the money the Cubs will spend. I don’t know about you guys but I’d love to see what either of them could do with double the payroll.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
And what’s the status of Daniels from Texas. He and Ryan have done an amazing job in Texas. Good farm system, median payroll and success on the field the past few years.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]And what’s the status of Daniels from Texas. He and Ryan have done an amazing job in Texas. Good farm system, median payroll and success on the field the past few years.[/quote]Daniels signed a 4-year extension in March.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]Cashman and Epstein are obviously very good GMs. But I worry about how they would perform with a payroll that could be half of what they currently have.
That’s why I would lean towards someone like Friedman or Beane. They have built winners with half the money the Cubs will spend. I don’t know about you guys but I’d love to see what either of them could do with double the payroll.[/quote]I don’t think I want any part of Beane right now. He strikes me as a guy who started to believe in his own hype. I’ve already been through that with Jerry Krause’s later years, don’t want to see it again with the Cubs.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Wow. Sullivan’s column today is fucking inept, rudderless mess. How does this diminutive fuck still have a job as a fucking writer?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I don’t think I want any part of Beane right now. He strikes me as a guy who started to believe in his own hype. I’ve already been through that with Jerry Krause’s later years, don’t want to see it again with the Cubs.[/quote]I agree. I don’t want anything to do with Beane.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Wow. Sullivan’s column today is fucking inept, rudderless mess. How does this diminutive fuck still have a job as a fucking writer?[/quote]Because he’s breaking stories that happened moths and years ago. It’s kind of nice to stroll down memory lane every once in awhile. Tomorrow he’s writing about how the Cubs acquired a 3rd baseman from the Phillies that they plan to move to 2nd base.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I don’t think I want any part of Beane right now. He strikes me as a guy who started to believe in his own hype. I’ve already been through that with Jerry Krause’s later years, don’t want to see it again with the Cubs.[/quote]
I think it would interesting to see, but I agree not the best choice.
I heard Buster Olney on SportsCenter name him as a potential candidate, but that might be conjecture on his part.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
Yes, please.
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster&id=6881791
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]I think it would interesting to see, but I agree not the best choice.
I heard Buster Olney on SportsCenter name him as a potential candidate, but that might be conjecture on his part.[/quote]I’d be shocked if Ricketts considers him, at all. My totally uneducated guess at the Short List is Cashman, Epstein, Friedman, Schuerholz, and Hahn.
Schuerholz would be interesting because he’d almost surely want control of all baseball operations, so he’s probably a long shot.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Draft picks since 2006 through 3 rounds
Rays: 18, 8, 6, Total: 32
Red Sox: 16, 6, 8, Total: 30
Yankees: 8, 5, 5, Total: 18
There aren’t any supplemental picks after the 3rd so they each get 1 pick.
This ignores international free agent signings, but I may try to look into later on. Based on this, though, it’s obvious the Rays and Red Sox should have significantly better farm systems. The Rays have, but the Red Sox have not.
mb21Quote Reply
Is Neyer out at ESPN? I notice someone else now writes his blog, SweetSpot.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
You know, as long as we’re talking GM candidates, we might as well talk field manager candidates, because the Cubs are getting one of those, too, and that pool is even thinner than the GM pool.
Sandberg is the sentimental choice, but I doubt any of the GMs listed above are going to kowtow to the fanbase and hire him, unless Ricketts exerts some sort of undue influence.
As encouraged as I am by some of Ricketts’ recent moves, I’m concerned that A.) he thinks the new GM ought to keep Wilkin and Fleita and B.) the national press seems to think he’ll push for Sandberg to be hired as manager.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
He actually left in February. Wow, where the hell have I been?
I guess he’s editor for SB Nation.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]Is Neyer out at ESPN? I notice someone else now writes his blog, SweetSpot.[/quote]He’s with SB Nation now.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]Is Neyer out at ESPN? I notice someone else now writes his blog, SweetSpot.[/quote]He’s at SBN now, and wrote a couple long-ish blogs about the whole affair, IIRC.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]He’s at SBN now, and wrote a couple long-ish blogs about the whole affair, IIRC.[/quote]
It’s been awhile since I’ve visited the full ESPN page. Usually I’m on my iPhone. And the Cubs suck so I have less reason to read about baseball.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]He actually left in February. Wow, where the hell have I been?
I guess he’s editor for SB Nation.[/quote]You hadn’t been around here for awhile and I assume this is your top source for baseball news. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]It’s been awhile since I’ve visited the full ESPN page. Usually I’m on my iPhone. And the Cubs suck so I have less reason to read about baseball.[/quote]I visit the SBN pages even less frequently. I check out Lookout Landing and that’s the only baseball blog I visit on SBN.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]You hadn’t been around here for awhile and I assume this is your top source for baseball news. (dying laughing)[/quote]
I think that’s the sound of OV becoming less discredited (dying laughing)
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]You know, as long as we’re talking GM candidates, we might as well talk field manager candidates, because the Cubs are getting one of those, too, and that pool is even thinner than the GM pool.
Sandberg is the sentimental choice, but I doubt any of the GMs listed above are going to kowtow to the fanbase and hire him, unless Ricketts exerts some sort of undue influence.
As encouraged as I am by some of Ricketts’ recent moves, I’m concerned that A.) he thinks the new GM ought to keep Wilkin and Fleita and B.) the national press seems to think he’ll push for Sandberg to be hired as manager.[/quote]He is the boss so he’s going to have some influence, but I think he’ll listen. We should talk about managers. Who is available? I’ve thought Bobby Valentine was going to be the manager next year since the season began. I didn’t think there was a chance that Quade ended up getting 2 years.
I could see Friedman or even Theo wanting Sandberg. A first year manager would pretty much do as he says. They’d be the good little employee. When the Red Sox hired Theo he had been a failed manager. The Rays hired Joe Maddon and who the hell is Joe Maddon? I think he had managed the Angels on at least one interim basis if not more. Billy Beane hires no-name managers all the time.
It’s not that Sandberg is a no-name manager, but he’ll be thrilled to death just to get the job and will do as he’s told. I don’t want Beane because he’s an asshole to his managers, but I’ve never heard anything like that about Theo or Friedman.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]He is the boss so he’s going to have some influence, but I think he’ll listen. We should talk about managers. Who is available? I’ve thought Bobby Valentine was going to be the manager next year since the season began. I didn’t think there was a chance that Quade ended up getting 2 years.
I could see Friedman or even Theo wanting Sandberg. A first year manager would pretty much do as he says. They’d be the good little employee. When the Red Sox hired Theo he had been a failed manager. The Rays hired Joe Maddon and who the hell is Joe Maddon? I think he had managed the Angels on at least one interim basis if not more. Billy Beane hires no-name managers all the time.
It’s not that Sandberg is a no-name manager, but he’ll be thrilled to death just to get the job and will do as he’s told. I don’t want Beane because he’s an asshole to his managers, but I’ve never heard anything like that about Theo or Friedman.[/quote]There’s something about Valentine that I just don’t like, although I do agree that he would have been a likely candidate for Hendry to hire.
I see your point, but I’d expect any of those guys to want to bring in a guy that fits their ethos, and Sandberg at least talks like a pretty old-school guy.
Agreed on Beane. That guy has burned more bridges than Kelly’s Heroes.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
This might go back to what Ricketts wants, though, which is a blend of sabr and old school.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]This might go back to what Ricketts wants, though, which is a blend of sabr and old school.[/quote]I think Ricketts meant he wants that blend in the FO. MB is right, to my mind, in saying that a new GM will not want to hire a manager that thinks he can wag the dog.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I think Ricketts meant he wants that blend in the FO. MB is right, to my mind, in saying that a new GM will not want to hire a manager that thinks he can wag the dog.[/quote]
I assumed he was referring to the whole organization. I’m biased being a huge Sandberg (the player) fan, so I would love to see him to get the opportunity.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
I don’t think we know what kind of manager Sandberg would be. Much of it would determine on the players he’s given.
What I like most about the firing of Hendry is that it just opens everything up. Anything is possible. The chance of a rebuild became a lot more likely when Hendry was fired. At the same time, getting a guy who can quickly turn it around has increased. I think what we see is Ricketts go after someone who has shown he can do both and that’s kind of what he said. Friedman is the obvious choice in so many ways.
It sounds like the Astros are all in on Friedman so it would be in the Cubs interest to get him just to keep him away from Houston.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]I assumed he was referring to the whole organization. I’m biased being a huge Sandberg (the player) fan, so I would love to see him to get the opportunity.[/quote]I’m not particularly biased against Sandberg, but I don’t want to see some guy hired just because he’s a team legend. As long as the club brings a GM with a real plan and he thinks Sandberg is the right guy to implement that on the field, I’d be fine with it. I love George Brett. Still to this day. But I don’t want him managing the Royals. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]I assumed he was referring to the whole organization. I’m biased being a huge Sandberg (the player) fan, so I would love to see him to get the opportunity.[/quote]I’d like to see him succeed as a manager, too.
I think if they hire Cashman it’s quite likely they hire Girardi to manage the team. If they figure out a way to get Theo then I think we’ll see a guy like Eric Wedge or somebody that has failed in the past. If it’s Friedman, I don’t know. I could see him hiring Sandberg and I could see him not wanting him.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I don’t think we know what kind of manager Sandberg would be. Much of it would determine on the players he’s given.
What I like most about the firing of Hendry is that it just opens everything up. Anything is possible. The chance of a rebuild became a lot more likely when Hendry was fired. At the same time, getting a guy who can quickly turn it around has increased. I think what we see is Ricketts go after someone who has shown he can do both and that’s kind of what he said. Friedman is the obvious choice in so many ways.
It sounds like the Astros are all in on Friedman so it would be in the Cubs interest to get him just to keep him away from Houston.[/quote]Yeah, it’s going to be really interesting to see how this plays out. Rumor is the Astros will offer Friedman control of all baseball ops. I doubt Ricketts makes the same offer, unless he plans on canning Kenney, too.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I’m not particularly biased against Sandberg, but I don’t want to see some guy hired just because he’s a team legend. As long as the club brings a GM with a real plan and he thinks Sandberg is the right guy to implement that on the field, I’d be fine with it. I love George Brett. Still to this day. But I don’t want him managing the Royals. (dying laughing)[/quote]The difference between Sandberg and Brett is that Sandberg has shown he can be quite successful as a manager at the minor league level. Again this year, his team is tied for 1st. If you’re going to build from within, which the Cubs are going to try to do, I think he’d be the perfect guy. If you want to contend and get veterans and all that, I’d go with someone else.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Yeah, it’s going to be really interesting to see how this plays out. Rumor is the Astros will offer Friedman control of all baseball ops. I doubt Ricketts makes the same offer, unless he plans on canning Kenney, too.[/quote]I don’t think Kenney has anything to do with baseball anymore. I know Ricketts said the GM will report only to him. Between the two clubs, I’d choose the Cubs if I were offered both jobs. He’d have a much easier chance of success in Chicago.
mb21Quote Reply
What’s the likelihood Cashman, Theo, or Friedman would want to retain Fleita and Wilkin?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Yeah, it’s going to be really interesting to see how this plays out. Rumor is the Astros will offer Friedman control of all baseball ops. I doubt Ricketts makes the same offer, unless he plans on canning Kenney, too.[/quote]
I don’t see how he can’t offer complete control. He already removed Kenney from all baseball ops, and while he supports Fleita and Wilken, he’s made it known their employment statuses are the next GM’s choice. So to me, that means the next GM will have control.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I don’t think Kenney has anything to do with baseball anymore. I know Ricketts said the GM will report only to him. Between the two clubs, I’d choose the Cubs if I were offered both jobs. He’d have a much easier chance of success in Chicago.[/quote]I agree on Kenney, but it would make it odd to have two presidents. It seems odd to keep Kenney around if he is clearly excluded from field ops. It’s kind of ambiguous now, despite Ricketts quasi-vague statements about Kenney’s role, but placing one person completely in charge of field ops makes it clear and at that point, Kenney seems redundant, and while I recognize that that isn’t the case, the outcry from the fans will be deafening.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
And if you’re Houston you still have to compete with big payrolls, like St. Louis and Chicago. Similar to his situation now with NYY and BOS.
If he chooses the Cubs he can essentially be the NYY of the NL Central.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
It sounded to me listening to the press conference (which admittedly means nothing) that Rickets was going to suggest people all through the organization that he has worked with and liked, but to his credit, I thought he sounded committed to letting the GM build the team he wanted. He said something like “You can’t hold them accountable if you make their decisions for them.”
binkyQuote Reply
Six years for Tabata? Dang.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]What’s the likelihood Cashman, Theo, or Friedman would want to retain Fleita and Wilkin?[/quote]I’m guessing Friedman brings Matt Arnold over to be the Director of Scouting. I think they keep Fleita because of his knowledge of scouting in Latin America.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]I don’t see how he can’t offer complete control. He already removed Kenney from all baseball ops, and while he supports Fleita and Wilken, he’s made it known their employment statuses are the next GM’s choice. So to me, that means the next GM will have control.[/quote]Yeah, nothing wrong with the owner suggesting they keep someone. After all, it’s his business and at least right now, he knows more about the Cubs than the new GM will.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=josh]It sounded to me listening to the press conference (which admittedly means nothing) that Rickets was going to suggest people all through the organization that he has worked with and liked, but to his credit, I thought he sounded committed to letting the GM build the team he wanted. He said something like “You can’t hold them accountable if you make their decisions for them.”[/quote]Exactly. Let the new guy hire and fire the guys and then it’s his operation. The new GM can’t come crying and say that Oneri Fleita is holding the development back and that it was the owner that wanted him to stay.
mb21Quote Reply
I don’t know everything to know about managing, but it seems to me you don’t need a sabr guy to be your manager, even if you’re planning to use analysis to help construct the team. You want your manager to be on board if you think platooning a first baseman is the way to go, but he doesn’t necessarily have to know all the details as far as numbers go. In that respect, I don’t see why even an old school guy like Sandburg couldn’t work. Plus, you want a manager with a lot of skills in teaching and personality management. Seems like he has that.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]I don’t know everything to know about managing, but it seems to me you don’t need a sabr guy to be your manager, even if you’re planning to use analysis to help construct the team. You want your manager to be on board if you think platooning a first baseman is the way to go, but he doesn’t necessarily have to know all the details as far as numbers go. In that respect, I don’t see why even an old school guy like Sandburg couldn’t work. Plus, you want a manager with a lot of skills in teaching and personality management. Seems like he has that.[/quote]Like I said, if the new GM thinks Sandberg can implement the plan on the field, it’s fine by me. But if Sandberg’s going to be combative because “that’s not the way we did it back when,” then I could really give a fat friar’s fart what he did for the club as a player. (dying laughing) I just want baseball decisions made for baseball reasons, and not based on a popularity contest.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Like I said, if the new GM thinks Sandberg can implement the plan on the field, it’s fine by me. But if Sandberg’s going to be combative because “that’s not the way we did it back when,” then I could really give a fat friar’s fart what he did for the club as a player. (dying laughing) I just want baseball decisions made for baseball reasons, and not based on a popularity contest.[/quote]I agree with that. I want them to make the best decision for the organization. I don’t care if that means hiring Sandberg or avoiding him. If it’s the best thing, then I’m all for it and I’ll enjoy seeing him in the Cubs dugout again, but I don’t want him just because.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Like I said, if the new GM thinks Sandberg can implement the plan on the field, it’s fine by me. But if Sandberg’s going to be combative because “that’s not the way we did it back when,” then I could really give a fat friar’s fart what he did for the club as a player. (dying laughing) I just want baseball decisions made for baseball reasons, and not based on a popularity contest.[/quote]
I could not agree with this more. I’m a huge Sandberg fan, but if he’s not the right fit there’s no way the Cubs should hire him.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I agree with that. I want them to make the best decision for the organization. I don’t care if that means hiring Sandberg or avoiding him. If it’s the best thing, then I’m all for it and I’ll enjoy seeing him in the Cubs dugout again, but I don’t want him just because.[/quote]Yep. I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t be great to see Sandberg back in pinstripes down there. Even doubly so if he turned out to be a good manager.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Yep. I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t be great to see Sandberg back in pinstripes down there. Even doubly so if he turned out to be a good manager.[/quote]I saw him manage in Iowa, and he called for a bunt at least once…
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]I saw him manage in Iowa, and he called for a bunt at least once…[/quote]Shun the nonbeliever! SHUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I found this excerpt from VanDyck interesting:
I guess Ricketts genius of keeping Hendry around until after the draft signings were finished was due to good advice taken. Not sure who he listened to but glad he did.
melissaQuote Reply
Not sure if this has already been seen or discussed, and I’m to lazy to look. The Cubs since 2003 have ranked 7th in WAR according to fangraphs, but 13th in actual wins.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/jim-hendry-legacy-chicago-cubs/
RustyQuote Reply
FWIW, Maddon may not have been well known before he got the Rays job but he was in the dugout with Scioscia before he became a Manager. The one thing I don’t like about Sandberg is that he hasn’t been a bench manager under a good experienced manager. I also think a new GM might hesitate to hire Sandberg since he would seemingly be able to do things his own way due to his beloved status with so many fans. Fans will want to take Sandberg’s side if he disagrees with the GM and he may feel emboldened to do so. I don’t see Ryno as being a “yes” guy who goes with the flow from all the remarks he’s made about his preconceptions of doing things the “right” way.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=Rusty]Not sure if this has already been seen or discussed, and I’m to lazy to look. The Cubs since 2003 have ranked 7th in WAR according to fangraphs, but 13th in actual wins.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/jim-hendry-legacy-chicago-cubs/%5B/quote%5DI know MB did a rundown of the WAR Hendry brought vs the WAR he sent out some time ago
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Like I said, if the new GM thinks Sandberg can implement the plan on the field, it’s fine by me. But if Sandberg’s going to be combative because “that’s not the way we did it back when,” then I could really give a fat friar’s fart what he did for the club as a player. (dying laughing) I just want baseball decisions made for baseball reasons, and not based on a popularity contest.[/quote]Right on. Having a tight ship in terms of approach would be a huge improvement.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Right on. Having a tight ship in terms of approach would be a huge improvement.[/quote]
What’s a “tight ship”? I’d like to hear more about this “tight ship” approach and how you think it makes players better at baseball.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]I found this excerpt from VanDyck interesting:
I guess Ricketts genius of keeping Hendry around until after the draft signings were finished was due to good advice taken. Not sure who he listened to but glad he did.[/quote]
I’ve heard that Crane is the one who convinced Tom to pull the trigger, which would explain why Hendry never said anything about him on his way out and why the beat writers are dumping on him since he probably bold-faced lied to them about whether Hendry would be fired.
I don’t think we’ll ever really know exactly how it went down, but for once the timing seems to have worked out well for them. I just don’t know how much that was by design or blind luck.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=melissa]What’s a “tight ship”? I’d like to hear more about this “tight ship” approach and how you think it makes players better at baseball.[/quote]I don’t think it makes players better, per se, but I think it helps the team as a whole when there is a tight relationship between the FO and the field management such that the organizational philosophy is in place all the way down. New prospects already know what is expected of them when they get here, incoming FAs the same, etc. Continuity and unity of purpose are the hallmark of perennially successful teams. There’s a reason the Yankees have kept their “personal appearance” rules in place. Thos are little things that while they cannot, on their own, make for better players, they make for better organizations. And that’s what the Cubs need. This org is deeply flawed. They need a complete sea change.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]FWIW, Maddon may not have been well known before he got the Rays job but he was in the dugout with Scioscia before he became a Manager. The one thing I don’t like about Sandberg is that he hasn’t been a bench manager under a good experienced manager. I also think a new GM might hesitate to hire Sandberg since he would seemingly be able to do things his own way due to his beloved status with so many fans. Fans will want to take Sandberg’s side if he disagrees with the GM and he may feel emboldened to do so. I don’t see Ryno as being a “yes” guy who goes with the flow from all the remarks he’s made about his preconceptions of doing things the “right” way.[/quote]
This. Sandberg has too much pull with fans and the media to be a yes man. And, from what I know of him based on interviews he’s done since his playing career, he’s got a pretty big ego and I think that would be hard to surpress if he had any disagreement with the GM. That, and I think it would be really hard to fire him if he sucks given his popularity with fans. Bring in a good GM, let him run the show like an executive should, and dont hamstring him with a manager who isn’t his pick. Nobody is talking about Sandberg being hired as a big league manager elsewhere, so how do we think he’s the best guy for the job here? He’s only being discussed because he’s a Cub legend, and that’s not good enough for me. Get the guy with the best resume, and leave emotion out of it.
26.2cubfanQuote Reply
Oh, and I don’t buy that Ricketts really wants the new GM to keep Wilken and Oneri. I figure he’s just saying that to ease the fears of these guys while they’re still here. You can’t say “the new guy can hire whoever he wants” and then expect those two to still do their jobs for the next 3 months, including end of season evaluations that will be pretty important moving forward.
26.2cubfanQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I don’t think it makes players better, per se, but I think it helps the team as a whole when there is a tight relationship between the FO and the field management such that the organizational philosophy is in place all the way down. New prospects already know what is expected of them when they get here, incoming FAs the same, etc. Continuity and unity of purpose are the hallmark of successful teams. There’s a reason the Yankees have kept their “personal appearance” rules in place. Thos are little things that while they cannot, on their own, make for better players, they make for better organizations. And that’s what the Cubs need. This org is deeply flawed. They need a complete sea change.[/quote]
I don’t disagree with you on any of this and happen to agree with having an organizational philosophy from top to bottom. I’m more questioning the need to have a Manager that “runs a tight ship.” I don’t think the hard-ass routine necessarily is the only way to be a good Manager and is not a necessity.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]I don’t disagree with you on any of this and happen to agree with having an organizational philosophy from top to bottom. I’m more questioning the need to have a Manager that “runs a tight ship.” I don’t think the hard-ass routine necessarily is the only way to be a good Manager and is not a necessity.[/quote]Yeah, that’s probably true. Managerial style needs to be pragmatic.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]I’ve heard that Crane is the one who convinced Tom to pull the trigger, which would explain why Hendry never said anything about him on his way out and why the beat writers are dumping on him since he probably bold-faced lied to them about whether Hendry would be fired.
[/quote]
I don’t know about Crane convincing Tom because the board actually voted on the firing however the board probably took Tom’s recommendation. The point I was making is that Ricketts consulted someone outside the org before deciding to pull the trigger on Hendry and how he ought to go about it.
melissaQuote Reply
Just tried to follow sullivan on twitter.. He blocked bubbles.. (dying laughing) (dying laughing)
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
WOAH. Where is Wittenmyer getting this from?!?!?!
If that’s true…ye gods.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]Just tried to follow sullivan on twitter.. He blocked bubbles.. (dying laughing) (dying laughing)[/quote]Fuck ’em if they can’t take a joke.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]WOAH. Where is Wittenmyer getting this from?!?!?!
If that’s true…ye gods.[/quote]
Was that Zellsorders or ricketts?
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]Just tried to follow sullivan on twitter.. He blocked bubbles.. (dying laughing) (dying laughing)[/quote]
What did you say to him to get blocked?
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]Was that Zellsorders or ricketts?[/quote]Wittenmyer says Zell.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]What did you say to him to get blocked?[/quote]
I assume a few months ago i referred to him and Kaplan as fucking retards for something they wrote about Z
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Wittenmyer says Zell.[/quote]
Wow.. He was a shady bastard.. What was the rumored Peavy deal? I forget about that
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
Jonny Gomes had a walkoff HBP against Lidge.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Jonny Gomes had a walkoff HBP against Lidge.[/quote]
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]I don’t know about Crane convincing Tom because the board actually voted on the firing however the board probably took Tom’s recommendation. The point I was making is that Ricketts consulted someone outside the org before deciding to pull the trigger on Hendry and how he ought to go about it.[/quote]I don’t know what the issue with that is. If he’s not exactly sure of how he should handle something he should speak with someone who is more familiar. I guess I don’t care who told him to do it. The fact he was willing to be swayed by the logic of how it would become much more difficult to sign the drafted players is a good sign.
mb21Quote Reply
Ricketts is going to have the GM answer to him yet he can’t even decide on his own how to properly fire the GM. I’d like to see him hire a President that could serve this purpose instead of having to consult people outside the org. Keeping Crane Kenney around is a mistake, imo, I’d like to see the Cubs have a President that could advise Ricketts and the GM. The very fact that he can’t consult Kenney on such matters is an indictment upon whatever purpose he serves.
melissaQuote Reply
I think it’s a good sign Ricketts consulted outside people. He probably consulted a lot of people, some inside the org, and some out. That’s a good sign. Hopefully it means he’s starting to realize the depth of his ignorance as regards running a baseball team, and taking steps to remedy this shortcoming.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
First I’ve heard of this:
More here: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Chicago-Cubs-Crane-Kenney-ryne-sandberg-jair-jurrjens-michael-young-mike-rizzo-082011
FWIW, this is the same columnist that inspired GBTS’ epic FJM’ing at ACB.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I think it’s a good sign Ricketts consulted outside people. [/quote]
I’m not saying that was a bad thing. I’m saying if his own President doesn’t know enough to tell him to wait until after the draft signings, what purpose does he serve? Why is he having the GM answer to him if he doesn’t even know when to fire him? Ricketts is the guy who said he doesn’t need a baseball guy to watch his baseball guy yet he went and got the advice of a baseball guy to fire his baseball guy. It seems to me like there is still a fundamental structural flaw here. It’s also been common place to hear that Kenney likes to be in the clubhouse, look over the GM’s shoulder and meddle in baseball ops whenever possible.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]I’m not saying that was a bad thing. I’m saying if his own President doesn’t know enough to tell him to wait until after the draft signings, what purpose does he serve? Why is he having the GM answer to him if he doesn’t even know when to fire him? Ricketts is the guy who said he doesn’t need a baseball guy to watch his baseball guy yet he went and got the advice of a baseball guy to fire his baseball guy. It seems to me like there is still a fundamental structural flaw here. It’s also been common place to hear that Kenney likes to be in the clubhouse, look over the GM’s shoulder and meddle in baseball ops whenever possible.[/quote]Yeah, I just have to assume that there’s a reason Ricketts is keeping Kenney around and that he’ll eventually realize, if Kenney is indeed a problem, that Kenney has to go…and that could very well be in the near future. I can envision a scenario where Ricketts offers a GM candidate full control of baseball ops and that candidate tells him not as long as Kenney is around and Ricketts makes a hard choice.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I think it’s a good sign Ricketts consulted outside people. He probably consulted a lot of people, some inside the org, and some out. That’s a good sign. Hopefully it means he’s starting to realize the depth of his ignorance as regards running a baseball team, and taking steps to remedy this shortcoming.[/quote]I agree.
mb21Quote Reply
Here’s the thing, few owners know all that much about the baseball operations department. Their job is to hire people to do that. If you’re firing the guy in charge of baseball operations (Jim Hendry) then you probably want to consult with others on how to go about doing so. Not to mention, this is his first time so in the future he’ll have a better understanding on the process. He’ll have had several years to discuss things with various owners, make contacts outside the organization who can be of help, and additional on the job training. This is second full season as owner. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect him to know everything. That’s not something most owners of 20 years or longer will even know. Like anything, Ricketts is going to learn how to be an owner with experience. There’s no way we can expect Tom Ricketts to know that signing draft picks may become more difficult if you fire the GM a month before the signing deadline. That’s just one of those things he probably doesn’t even care to know. It’s such a minor issue and only something that will come up once every decade (hopefully).
mb21Quote Reply
Bear in mind “The Board” consists of Tom’s siblings.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Here’s the thing, few owners know all that much about the baseball operations department. Their job is to hire people to do that. If you’re firing the guy in charge of baseball operations (Jim Hendry) then you probably want to consult with others on how to go about doing so. Not to mention, this is his first time so in the future he’ll have a better understanding on the process. He’ll have had several years to discuss things with various owners, make contacts outside the organization who can be of help, and additional on the job training. This is second full season as owner. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect him to know everything. That’s not something most owners of 20 years or longer will even know. Like anything, Ricketts is going to learn how to be an owner with experience. There’s no way we can expect Tom Ricketts to know that signing draft picks may become more difficult if you fire the GM a month before the signing deadline. That’s just one of those things he probably doesn’t even care to know. It’s such a minor issue and only something that will come up once every decade (hopefully).[/quote]It sounds like he’s going to a lot of meetings and events and trying to familiarize himself with how it all works. What we took for inaction may have been intel gathering. I see nothing wrong with this. He may be slow to act, but he may also have known that the first couple years after he took over were a wash and until he was more confident in making a decision, the status quo could continue. If he’d cleaned house and hired a bunch of guys right away, and those guys all failed to produce because no one worked together or the guys he hired were no good, he’d look 10x worse having to fire them all after two years. While he still has the Trib guys on the payroll, let them do their thing and when he’s ready to make a move, he looks smarter because he knows more.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]It sounds like he’s going to a lot of meetings and events and trying to familiarize himself with how it all works. What we took for inaction may have been intel gathering. I see nothing wrong with this. He may be slow to act, but he may also have known that the first couple years after he took over were a wash and until he was more confident in making a decision, the status quo could continue. If he’d cleaned house and hired a bunch of guys right away, and those guys all failed to produce because no one worked together or the guys he hired were no good, he’d look 10x worse having to fire them all after two years. While he still has the Trib guys on the payroll, let them do their thing and when he’s ready to make a move, he looks smarter because he knows more.[/quote]Agreed. I honestly don’t think Kenney is long for the Cubs, but he won’t go until Ricketts is ready for him to go. If what’s getting out the papers is common knowledge in baseball circles and not just bitter carping by bumbling beat guys, sooner or later someone Tommy Boy trusts is going to point out that Kenney is a problem.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Yeah, I don’t mind Ricketts taking awhile to take action. The only way I’d mind that is if the Cubs were losing money, but we know the Cubs were making more money than they ever had. As such, there’s no reason for a new owner to come in and immediately make changes. That is his primary goal whether we like it or not. As such, as long as the business was running smoothly, I think he’s right to familiarize himself with the system and the business that he’s never been involved with before.
mb21Quote Reply
Cashner is set to begin his rehab, targeting an early Sept. return.
When he will be pitching out of the bullpen.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
More from Miles:
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Agreed. I honestly don’t think Kenney is long for the Cubs, but he won’t go until Ricketts is ready for him to go. If what’s getting out the papers is common knowledge in baseball circles and not just bitter carping by bumbling beat guys, sooner or later someone Tommy Boy trusts is going to point out that Kenney is a problem.[/quote]I read the quote you had above, but I seem to remember the common theme that offseason being whoever the Cubs added, they had to slash as much payroll. When they signed Milton Bradley, they had to trade away that much salary, which meant DeRosa was gone.
The bottom line with regards to Kenney is that until I know what he even does, I just can’t comment on the quality of his job. It would be nice if someone could figure that out for us, but like you, I don’t think Kenney is around for much longer.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Cashner is set to begin his rehab, targeting an early Sept. return.
When he will be pitching out of the bullpen.[/quote]I’d put him in the bullpen at this point, too. I just want to get some value out of him. At the very least, I’d put him in the bullpen this season. No reason to get him a bunch of innings this year when they’re meaningless. Especially after the injury.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I read the quote you had above, but I seem to remember the common theme that offseason being whoever the Cubs added, they had to slash as much payroll. When they signed Milton Bradley, they had to trade away that much salary, which meant DeRosa was gone.
The bottom line with regards to Kenney is that until I know what he even does, I just can’t comment on the quality of his job. It would be nice if someone could figure that out for us, but like you, I don’t think Kenney is around for much longer.[/quote]Well, I think most people had figured that out, but that certainly wasn’t the mantra from the club. But with the way business was being done, it was quickly apparent that there was a big gap between the rhetoric and execution.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I’d put him in the bullpen at this point, too. I just want to get some value out of him. At the very least, I’d put him in the bullpen this season. No reason to get him a bunch of innings this year when they’re meaningless. Especially after the injury.[/quote]Agreed. I just think it’s funny that they draft a guy who is ML-ready as a RP, turn him into a SP, then promote him as an RP, and now after an injury, he’ll likely end up as an RP. It’s so Cub. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Well, I think most people had figured that out, but that certainly wasn’t the mantra from the club. But with the way business was being done, it was quickly apparent that there was a big gap between the rhetoric and execution.[/quote]Yeah, I don’t think anyone is ever going to say that Sam Zell is a nice and honest fella. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Yeah, I don’t think anyone is ever going to say that Sam Zell is a nice and honest fella. (dying laughing)[/quote]Oh, indeed.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Rodrigo didn’t get the memo that the Cubs are doing well in August.
binkyQuote Reply
The Cubs are on? No wonder there wasn’t a single comment about the Cubs game today. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
yeah, the only night game today.
binkyQuote Reply
It’s streaming on espn 3, if anyone is bored enough to watch it.
binkyQuote Reply
Interesting that one can get WGN radio all the way down near Purdue.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Interesting that one can get WGN radio all the way down near Purdue.[/quote]Interesting or unfortunate?
mb21Quote Reply
At age 35, Reed Johnson is having the best season of his career and it’s not even close…
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Interesting or unfortunate?[/quote]
I just checked the final scores the past couple days so I kind of wanted to see whether the Cubs could actually sweep the Cards.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Interesting that one can get WGN radio all the way down near Purdue.[/quote]I get WGN radio in Champaign, which is further south than Purdue.
binkyQuote Reply
ZOMFG Colvin walked.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
It’s the dawn of a new age.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]At age 35, Reed Johnson is having the best season of his career and it’s not even close…[/quote]Yeah, basically the only difference between this season and 2006 when he was worth 4.5 WAR is that he was worth 14 UZR that year. He’s -3 this year, but on a season to season basis those numbers are useless. He ws worth 19 batting runs in 517 PA that year and worth 12 this year in just under 200. So yeah, easily his best season at the plate. Not close.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Yeah, basically the only difference between this season and 2006 when he was worth 4.5 WAR is that he was worth 14 UZR that year. He’s -3 this year, but on a season to season basis those numbers are useless. He ws worth 19 batting runs in 517 PA that year and worth 12 this year in just under 200. So yeah, easily his best season at the plate. Not close.[/quote]Hell, it’s too bad they didn’t have him playing more early on, or is he only doing well now that they are out of it?
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Yeah, basically the only difference between this season and 2006 when he was worth 4.5 WAR is that he was worth 14 UZR that year. He’s -3 this year, but on a season to season basis those numbers are useless. He ws worth 19 batting runs in 517 PA that year and worth 12 this year in just under 200. So yeah, easily his best season at the plate. Not close.[/quote]It’s really strange. Baseball happens. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Hell, it’s too bad they didn’t have him playing more early on, or is he only doing well now that they are out of it?[/quote]Only those genetically condemned to laziness turn it on when it doesn’t count. Hardnosed scrappers with grittiness and leadrship try to inspire the team with and turn on the great play at the lowest points of the season.
/BBWAA
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
(dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
for those not watching, what happened?
mb21Quote Reply
Pujols make homerun.
binkyQuote Reply
No din-din for Cassie after that throw. Prob should’ve kept it in his pocket.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]for those not watching, what happened?[/quote]Pujols.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Theriot has obviously been giving the Cards baserunning drills. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Pujols isn’t quite as good at stretching out the extra bases as he used to be.
binkyQuote Reply
If what Tom Ricketts just said on ESPN is true. The big three covered in this post are definitely his top choices. He said he wants analytic ability from a team that has been a winner.
binkyQuote Reply
Does anyone know where to find past international free agent signing information? I’ve found a source for this year, but can’t seem to find a source that collected the info in past years. I’d like to look at that and get a better picture of the farm systems (Rays, Yankees, Red Sox). Based on the draft, it’s obvious why the Rays have had a significantly better farm system, but pretty bad that the Red Sox haven’t been much better.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=josh]If what Tom Ricketts just said on ESPN is true. The big three covered in this post are definitely his top choices. He said he wants analytic ability from a team that has been a winner.[/quote]Yeah, those 3 are at the top. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. One of those 3 will be the next GM.
mb21Quote Reply
Berkman makes Soriano look like a smooth operator in the outfield.
binkyQuote Reply
ESPN mentioned Gillick from Philly.
binkyQuote Reply
One batter too many for rodrigo.
binkyQuote Reply
Here’s a couple highlights from Ricksey from the ESPN booth:
“Well, I think we’re gonna look at someone with a real strong focus on player development, someone who could add some analytical expertise to the organization, and someone who comes from a winning culture.”
“Well, I think you have to start with the realization that there are no shortcuts. The way you’re gonna be consistently successful is through player development. We went the extra mile on our draft picks this year, and that where you’ve gotta start. You gotta bring in the right guys, you gotta get ’em good coaching. The other thing we’ve worked really hard on is facilities – we gotta improve facilities throughout the organization.”
He also gave every indication that they want to make a hire as soon as possible after the season ends – this means someone who is currently employed as a GM or assistant.
26.2cubfanQuote Reply
Gillick basically said he wasn’t interested in being a GM again. He said he might be ineterested in a president’s role.
mb21Quote Reply
Thanks 26.2, I read earlier today the Cubs wanted to have their new GM named by October 1st. I think it was on Olney’s blog. That pretty much eliminates Cashman and Theo for what it’s worth.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=26.2cubfan]Here’s a couple highlights from Ricksey from the ESPN booth:
“Well, I think we’re gonna look at someone with a real strong focus on player development, someone who could add some analytical expertise to the organization, and someone who comes from a winning culture.”
“Well, I think you have to start with the realization that there are no shortcuts. The way you’re gonna be consistently successful is through player development. We went the extra mile on our draft picks this year, and that where you’ve gotta start. You gotta bring in the right guys, you gotta get ’em good coaching. The other thing we’ve worked really hard on is facilities – we gotta improve facilities throughout the organization.”
He also gave every indication that they want to make a hire as soon as possible after the season ends – this means someone who is currently employed as a GM or assistant.[/quote]Sounds like no Prince Fielder for the Cubs.
binkyQuote Reply
I’m very encouraged by Ricket’s interview. It’s easy to say all of the right things, and another to do them, but it sounds like ownership is moving past placating the fanbase and is actually looking at building success the right way. Man I hope it Freidman
26.2cubfanQuote Reply
[quote name=26.2cubfan]I’m very encouraged by Ricket’s interview. It’s easy to say all of the right things, and another to do them, but it sounds like ownership is moving past placating the fanbase and is actually looking at building success the right way. Man I hope it Freidman[/quote]Yeah, if they really follow through, this could be an actual new beginning.
binkyQuote Reply
I don’t know if they’re done placating the fanbase. We need to see Ricketts be honest with the fans in a way this organization has never been. Tell them they aren’t going to win for a few years, but they’re going to be really fucking good after that.
mb21Quote Reply
Jeebus, Bobby Valentine is basically auditioning for the Cubs job from the booth tonight. There’s blood in the water and the sharks are circling.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I don’t know if they’re done placating the fanbase. We need to see Ricketts be honest with the fans in a way this organization has never been. Tell them they aren’t going to win for a few years, but they’re going to be really fucking good after that.[/quote]I think he’s doing that to some degree. He’s giving some softening the blow speeches, anyway.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Jeebus, Bobby Valentine is basically auditioning for the Cubs job from the booth tonight. There’s blood in the water and the sharks are circling.[/quote]Is Bobby Valentine the annoying one or the really annoying one?
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=26.2cubfan]I’m very encouraged by Ricket’s interview. It’s easy to say all of the right things, and another to do them, but it sounds like ownership is moving past placating the fanbase and is actually looking at building success the right way. Man I hope it Freidman[/quote]
FWIW, he has said since he took ownership that he wants to build the org through player development. They then promptly drafted Hayden Simpson. He talked about utilizing advanced metrics and hired Ari Kaplan. He’s not saying anything that different than he has ever said, hopefully they actually start executing and seeing it pay off.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I don’t know if they’re done placating the fanbase. We need to see Ricketts be honest with the fans in a way this organization has never been. Tell them they aren’t going to win for a few years, but they’re going to be really fucking good after that.[/quote]THIS.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]FWIW, he has said since he took ownership that he wants to build the org through player development. They then promptly drafted Hayden Simpson. He talked about utilizing advanced metrics and hired Ari Kaplan. He’s not saying anything that different than he has ever said, hopefully they actually start executing and seeing it pay off.[/quote]AND THIS.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
(dying laughing) Who’s the asshole who took GBTS22? I had to log in on my phone, total pain in the ass.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS](dying laughing) Who’s the asshole who took GBTS22? I had to log in on my phone, total pain in the ass.[/quote]www.whoistheassholewhotookGBTS22.com
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Is Bobby Valentine the annoying one or the really annoying one?[/quote]
I still like him better than Joe Morgan, but it’s close.
BottleasmokeQuote Reply
And Bobby Valentine curries favor with the local sxribes by fanning the flames of hate for Castro. Dear Bobby Valentine: go fuck yourself, you leather-skinned hack.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
SHUT THE FUCK UP VALENTINE, IT WAS ONE FUCKING PITCH YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Valentine really isn’t going to let this go. He really wants this job, and now I really don’t want him to have it, because he sounds just like resident asswipe Bob Brenly.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Now I think I’m logged in both.
GBTSQuote Reply
Good Lord. These guys are have a fucking microsope on Castro now. Every fucking thing he does every fucking second of the game is being hyper-analyzed. This is the worst sort of sportscasting. Eat a bag of dicks, Booby. Eat them and don’t clean up, you unfuckingsat moron.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Bobby is really taking Castro to task, but he makes some good points.
binkyQuote Reply
Jeebus. They. Just. Will. Not. Let. It. Go.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Yeah, it was one lapse, it’s not a cancer that’s eating the team.
binkyQuote Reply
Then they show all the other Latinos to make the point how lazy they are.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Bobby is really taking Castro to task, but he makes some good points.[/quote]Meh. It’s the same old “back in my day” bullshit. He wants the Cubs job, he’s auditioning fromt he booth while the owner is listening, and he’s using Castro to make himself look good. It’s shameful.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
One thing I’ve learned is that white guy doing it right, brown guy doing it wrong.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Then they show all the other Latinos to make the point how lazy they are.[/quote]And use Barney as the contrast just to drive the point home.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Meh. It’s the same old “back in my day” bullshit. He wants the Cubs job, he’s auditioning fromt he booth while the owner is listening, and he’s using Castro to make himself look good. It’s shameful.[/quote]Yeah, and it’s not like he knows whether or not Quade is going to say something. He’s just trying to make himself sound better. Should Q have stopped the game and gone out there an bitch slapped Cassy?
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Then they show all the other Latinos to make the point how lazy they are.[/quote](dying laughing) Did they really?
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Thanks 26.2, I read earlier today the Cubs wanted to have their new GM named by October 1st. I think it was on Olney’s blog. That pretty much eliminates Cashman and Theo for what it’s worth.[/quote]
Rickett’s was asked if he had a timetable for the hiring, and he said he wanted to get it done as soon as the season was over with, so I think the October 1 deadline is wrong – probably more like November 15 or so.
26.2cubfanQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS](dying laughing) Did they really?[/quote]Bobby V was making a point that other players should talk to him as well, and they showed Ramirez pointedly, then Pena. They didn’t show Blake Dewitt.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]One thing I’ve learned is that white guy doing it right, brown guy doing it wrong.[/quote]The thing that really drives home the true ignorance of these guys is that Barney, while he appears to be Caucasian, he’s not, although the implication of that forced comparison was obvious, as you point out.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS](dying laughing) Did they really?[/quote]Yes.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I atleast hope they didn’t catch Aramis during a siesta.
GBTSQuote Reply
And after a brief respite, Bobby goes right back to harping on Castro.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Seriously, this guy is just repeating the same criticism of Castro ad nauseum. It’s egregious.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]And after a brief respite, Bobby goes right back to harping on Castro.[/quote]Yeah, apparently the problem is that Castro doesn’t realize how fun it could be to not be a lazy.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Yeah, and it’s not like he knows whether or not Quade is going to say something. He’s just trying to make himself sound better. Should Q have stopped the game and gone out there an bitch slapped Cassy?[/quote]Exactly! The innings not even over yet and Valentine has assumed Quade won’t say anything to Castro and then launched a whole critique of Castro and the Cubs’ coaching staff based on this flawed assumption! Maybe ESPN should chew Valentine’s ass for this “error of omission.”
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Yeah, apparently the problem is that Castro doesn’t realize how fun it could be to not be a lazy.[/quote]Well, when you’re trying to put sunflower seeds in your ear, that can happen.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Bobby basically said he’d not only improve Castro’s play, but make him LOVE THE GAME more.
binkyQuote Reply
They gave a lot of credit to Westbrook, but I think most of the credit for the Cards win, barring comeback, has to go to Rodrigo Lopez.
binkyQuote Reply
Now Bobby trots out Motte’s K/BB ratio and H/IP. He’s really putting on the hard sell. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]They gave a lot of credit to Westbrook, but I think most of the credit for the Cards win, barring comeback, has to go to Rodrigo Lopez.[/quote](dying laughing), in truth, Westbrook did pitch pretty well.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Special treat for those watching: we get to see Rodrigo Lopez AND Ramon Ortiz in the same game! Cubs baseball!
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder](dying laughing), in truth, Westbrook did pitch pretty well.[/quote]He did. Bobby thinks Campana is going to be a real contributer here in the future, after Campy made to look like a little leaguer on two high fastballs.
binkyQuote Reply
Five year extension to a pitcher with a fiery attitude and discipline problems. When did the Angels decide to start modeling themselves on the Cubs?
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]He did. Bobby thinks Campana is going to be a real contributer here in the future, after Campy made to look like a little leaguer on two high fastballs.[/quote]He just doesn’t love the game enough to realize how much fun it would be to swing at strikes.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Seriously, if Castro should be disciplined for putting his head down, then Lopez should be disciplined for trying to throw an 86 MPH 4-seamer past Albert Pujols. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Look how well Pujols hits. It’s because he’s having fun. That’s the difference between Pujols and Castro. Fun level.
binkyQuote Reply
Nice “stat, ” Bobby. (dying laughing) I bet Tom is really impressed with that one. (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing) That was so obvious that Bobby had no fucking idea what he was talking about there.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Look how well Pujols hits. It’s because he’s having fun. That’s the difference between Pujols and Castro. Fun level.[/quote]1927 Yankees: All fun, all the time.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
All right. Walkoff time.
binkyQuote Reply
Cards outfun the Cubs.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Bobby Valentine earned the Cubs GM job tonight, I think it’s safe to say. Notes to Castro: Play baseball better!!
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Bobby Valentine earned the Cubs GM job tonight, I think it’s safe to say. Notes to Castro: Play baseball more funner!![/quote]
/Bobby V’d
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
what did castro do?
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]what did castro do?[/quote]During a pitch, Bobby V caught him with his back turned. Then, between pitches, he put his head down, and then right after a pitch, he reached back into his pocket for seeds. Then Bobby decided that Barney got ready before each pitch “long before” Castro did, because apparently Bobby has solved Xeno’s Paradox and can determine the infinite halves of a span of 12 seconds. The first one was a genuine mistake, and Bobby had a point that that is soemthing Castro should not be doing. What followed for the rest of the next two innings was some of the worst sportscating ever, as he and his partner put a microscope on Castro and over-analyzed every single move he made.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]During a pitch, Bobby V caught him with his back turned. Then, between pitches, he put his head down, and then right after a pitch, he reached back into his pocket for seeds. Then Bobby decided that Barney got ready before each pitch “long before” Castro did, because apparently Bobby has solved Xeno’s Paradox and can determine the infinite halves of a span of 12 seconds. The first one was a genuine mistake, and Bobby had a point that that is soemthing Castro should not be doing. What followed for the rest of the next two innings was some of the worst sportscating ever, as he and his partner put a microscope on Castro and over-analyzed every single move he made.[/quote]Castro spit seeds into the air in between pitches, in clear violation of Bobby V’s unwritten rule #782.
binkyQuote Reply
Seeds. Into the air. Like it didn’t even matter where they fell.
binkyQuote Reply
If some sunflowers start sprouting up in the infield, we’ll know whom to blame.
ACTQuote Reply
Bottom line: using the broadcast booth and a young player’s mistake to campaign for a job that isn’t even open yet is pretty goddamn classless.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Glad I didn’t watch this game. Or listen to it. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
I’ll be glad when we can get back to the fine broadcast stylings of Mr. Robert Brenly and Mr. Len Casper.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Glad I didn’t watch this game. Or listen to it. (dying laughing)[/quote](dying laughing), Valentine was really putting on the strong sell. He really wants this job.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
BJax 0-4; 2 K
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]First I’ve heard of this:
More here: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Chicago-Cubs-Crane-Kenney-ryne-sandberg-jair-jurrjens-michael-young-mike-rizzo-082011
FWIW, this is the same columnist that inspired GBTS’ epic FJM’ing at ACB.[/quote]
Also – Big Z didn’t get an 8-year deal that would be Soriano and it’s long been rumored that his contract was not totally Hendry’s responsibility.
The reason the new guy is rolling up to Ricketts is because he’ll likely be offered control of all baseball ops essentially eliminating the need for a President. If Kenney F’s up the stadium deal then he’ll be out but since he’s pretty much been eliminated from the baseball side I have to believe the new guy gets total control.
Friedman has to be the early favorite right now with the constant talk of focusing on player development.
JManQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]BJax 0-4; 2 K[/quote]When was the last game in which he didn’t K?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
It’s fun to think there’s actually a decent chance the new GM starts a fire-sale and trades Marmol, Soto, Dempster, Byrd, Garza, Barney and anyone else not named Castro.
The off-season is going to be good!
JManQuote Reply
[quote name=JMan]It’s fun to think there’s actually a decent chance the new GM starts a fire-sale and trades Marmol, Soto, Dempster, Byrd, Garza, Barney and anyone else not named Castro.
The off-season is going to be good![/quote]It’s definitely looking to be even more interesting now than a week ago, and I was excited a week ago.
binkyQuote Reply
I hope this all doesn’t end up being lip service or appealing to the fans before we go to a generic GM choice and sustained mediocrity. I can’t help but think the fans would finally bail on the team.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]I hope this all doesn’t end up being lip service or appealing to the fans before we go to a generic GM choice and sustained mediocrity. I can’t help but think the fans would finally bail on the team.[/quote]That’s why it’s important to take MB and melissa’s comments upthread to heart. This is an owner who’s talked a good game to placate the fans before.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=JMan]It’s fun to think there’s actually a decent chance the new GM starts a fire-sale and trades Marmol, Soto, Dempster, Byrd, Garza, Barney and anyone else not named Castro.
The off-season is going to be good![/quote]
Why would a new GM trade Barney? I don’t think he’s untouchable or anything, but he’s cheap, and I can’t imagine he has much trade value…
26.2cubfanQuote Reply
[quote name=26.2cubfan]Why would a new GM trade Barney? I don’t think he’s untouchable or anything, but he’s cheap, and gets down into his defensive stance many, many milliseconds before Castro.[/quote]
/Bobby V’d.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
For your scrutiny:
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=18299085&c_id=chc
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]For your scrutiny:
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=18299085&c_id=chc%5B/quote%5D(dying laughing)
I was really hoping this was The Sunflower Spit.
GBTSQuote Reply
Triple play, Canseco style:
ACTQuote Reply
+1000 to MO for a Zeno’s Paradox reference.
/nerd
BerseliusQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Triple play, Canseco style:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQedkZrYaco%5B/quote%5DThis is totally what I was talking about a while back, how if you were an outfielder and could successfully juggle a ball without catching it, you could hold base runners from tagging/advancing.
GBTSQuote Reply
Although that was still some pretty horrendous baserunning with no outs in the inning. That ball easily could have been caught conventionally and the guy on first had already rounded second when it was caught.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]This is totally what I was talking about a while back, how if you were an outfielder and could successfully juggle a ball without catching it, you could hold base runners from tagging/advancing.[/quote]I believe it was decided that the runners could tag and advance as soon as the fielder touched the ball, no?
ACTQuote Reply
Quade pwns Valentine:
Also noteworthy is that Sullivan, ever the spiteful little twat, edited out the bolded and utterly hilarious part of Quade’s quote.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]Although that was still some pretty horrendous baserunning with no outs in the inning. That ball easily could have been caught conventionally and the guy on first had already rounded second when it was caught.[/quote]Bobby V needs to teach them that not making mistakes is having fun. These guys are clearly not having fun.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Matt Holliday gets picked off base: nothing to talk about
Starlin Castro spits seeds in the air: cancer eating the team from the inside out
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Quade pwns Valentine:
Also noteworthy is that Sullivan, ever the spiteful little twat, edited out the bolded and utterly hilarious part of Quade’s quote.[/quote]
Did he update his story? This is what is included now:
.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424].[/quote]Yes he did. That wasn’t there last night. Check out the snippet from the old version posted at LOHO.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
There is[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Yes he did. That wasn’t there last night. Check out the snippet from the old version posted at LOHO.[/quote]
What a douchenozzle.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]There is
What a douchenozzle.[/quote]The Scott Templeton of sportswriting.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Sullivan honestly did not include that last part? That’s fucked up. That completely changes what Quade meant. How you can not get fired for that? That’s obviously intentional on his part.
mb22Quote Reply
[quote name=mb22]Sullivan honestly did not include that last part? That’s fucked up. That completely changes what Quade meant. How you can not get fired for that? That’s obviously intentional on his part.[/quote]Perhaps he was forced to include it once Wittenmyer published the full quote.
But you can see from the version that Julie cites that he clearly didn’t include it at first. That’s a good catch by LOHO, whether they meant to or not.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]+1000 to MO for a Zeno’s Paradox reference.
/nerd[/quote]
I wiki’d it having never heard of it before and it seems like Zeno is a maroon (at least the Achilles and Tortoise).
I’m pretty sure in Physics 101, the Kinematic equation will solve this. Specifically, at time t = 100m / ((1-x) * v), assuming x is some fraction less than 1 that represents the speed of the tortoise.
Am I missing something here?
WaLiQuote Reply
Bobby V cost himself whatever chance he had of being the manager next year with that shit.
mb22Quote Reply
I really like how Quade stands up for his players. Best way to do it is to belittle the attacker and Quade is good at that.
mb22Quote Reply
I agree, MB. I like how Quade handled this.
Encouraging to see him not throw Castro under the bus.
ZappBranniganQuote Reply
[quote name=mb22]I really like how Quade stands up for his players. Best way to do it is to belittle the attacker and Quade is good at that.[/quote]Yeah, that was the perfect response.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=mb22]Bobby V cost himself whatever chance he had of being the manager next year with that shit.[/quote]Or maybe at any job. That was just classless campaigning for a job that isn’t even open. It was made most egregious when the producers tried to feed Valentine a “stat” at the end of the game, something about Pujols’ RBI rate per 10 games, or some other such selective endpoint nonsense, and Valentine just stumbled all over it. He really made an ass of himself last night, and not just with the Castro stuff.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Or maybe at any job. That was just classless campaigning for a job that isn’t even open. It was made most egregious when the producers tried to feed Valentine a “stat” at the end of the game, something about Pujols’ RBI rate per 10 games, or some other such selective endpoint nonsense, and Valentine just stumbled all over it. He really made an ass of himself last night, and not just with the Castro stuff.[/quote]I really love the stat they posted that Pujols had the second most (behind A-rod I think) all-time homeruns on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball (dying laughing)
WaLiQuote Reply
[quote name=WaLi]I really love the stat they posted that Pujols had the second most (behind A-rod I think) all-time homeruns on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball (dying laughing)[/quote]
I would imagine it is easy to achieve top spot on that list when you play every other Sunday night…
Snyds01Quote Reply
[quote name=WaLi]I’m pretty sure in Physics 101, the Kinematic equation will solve this. Specifically, at time t = 100m / ((1-x) * v), assuming x is some fraction less than 1 that represents the speed of the tortoise.
Am I missing something here?[/quote]Yeah, the solution is that the time it takes to cover the infinite half-distances gets infinitely smaller as time goes on. When I first saw this it blew my mind, because of what you said. But it’s two different ways of looking at the same problem.
binkyQuote Reply
You could also take it as an indication that our models break down for really small values. Essentially, Calculus is the science of those tiny, almost nothings.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]You could also take it as an indication that our models break down for really small values. Essentially, Calculus is the science of those tiny, almost nothings.[/quote]
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Terelle Pryor ————-> Raiders (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Terelle Pryor ————-> Raiders (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing)[/quote]
For a 3rd. I might have spent a 2nd on a 6’5″, 230 lb. WR with 4.4 speed.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Yeah, the solution is that the time it takes to cover the infinite half-distances gets infinitely smaller as time goes on. When I first saw this it blew my mind, because of what you said. But it’s two different ways of looking at the same problem.[/quote]I guess I get what he is saying in the Dichotomy paradox, but the way the Achille’s/Tortoise paradox is worded make it seem really simple since it mentions constant velocity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno's_paradoxes
Thomson’s lamp does a good job explaining it too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomson%27s_lamp
I guess this is why I became an engineer instead of a philosopher, because I like having a real fucking answer instead of made up shit (dying laughing)
WaLiQuote Reply
[quote name=Dr. Aneus Taint]For a 3rd. I might have spent a 2nd on a 6’5″, 230 lb. WR with 4.4 speed.[/quote]Only the Raiders will almost certainly play him at QB.
Clayton is also saying this could cost the Raiders picks in next year’s draft.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Boooooooooooooo
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
You should practice law, best of both worlds. Real answers based on shit people made up hundreds of years ago.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Only the Raiders will almost certainly play him at QB.
Clayton is also saying this could cost the Raiders picks in next year’s draft.[/quote]
In addition to the third it will cost them?
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Dr. Aneus Taint]In addition to the third it will cost them?[/quote]Clayton seems to think so.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Clayton seems to think so.[/quote]
Why would it cost them more picks?
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Because they’re the Raiders and they’re dumber than fuck
mb22Quote Reply
Is this what he meant, maybe?
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=mb22]Because they’re the Raiders and they’re dumber than fuck[/quote]
fuck isn’t dumb.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=WaLi]I guess I get what he is saying in the Dichotomy paradox, but the way the Achille’s/Tortoise paradox is worded make it seem really simple since it mentions constant velocity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno's_paradoxes
Thomson’s lamp does a good job explaining it too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomson%27s_lamp
I guess this is why I became an engineer instead of a philosopher, because I like having a real fucking answer instead of made up shit (dying laughing)[/quote]Yeah, but it’s not made up shit, really. A lot of math goes into answering questions like this, and locating discontinuities and all that. It can help to improve calculations for the real world. In the average, day-to-day events, maybe these aren’t as relevant, but if you want to build a supercollider or figure out how to create a sustainable fusion reaction, or how to make sure a GPS stays synched given the enormous distances and subsequent relativistic effects, it becomes more important.
binkyQuote Reply
If Zeno’s paradox indicates that the real number line is incomplete (it does indicate that there are gaps in the rational number line, which blew a lot of minds in ancient Greece), then calculus has a lot less chance of telling you where the sun and moon are in relation to each other.
binkyQuote Reply
Maybe someday, mathematicians may even discover how to explain to Castro that playing better is directly proportional to the fun he’s having.
binkyQuote Reply
This was in Rogers’ column today:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-your-morning-phil-sandberg-danks-big-z-20110822,0,1064268.story
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
Interesting. I’d be interested in seeing Ryno manage even if for no other reason than to see what his managing style is like.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Dr. Aneus Taint]Is this what he meant, maybe?[/quote]Must be.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I think it’s cool that Sanberg gets into arguments with umpires as a manager, since he almost never did that as a player.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]This was in Rogers’ column today:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-your-morning-phil-sandberg-danks-big-z-20110822,0,1064268.story%5B/quote%5D
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Interesting. I’d be interested in seeing Ryno manage even if for no other reason than to see what his managing style is like.[/quote]
I manage the same way Miggs got Starling’s attention.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Interesting. I’d be interested in seeing Ryno manage even if for no other reason than to see what his managing style is like.[/quote]I’m convinced. When do we get to vote?
binkyQuote Reply
So I just got back from camping and hear that Starlin Castro is the worst-coached MLB player that every played. Is that about right?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]So I just got back from camping and hear that Starlin Castro is the worst-coached MLB player that every played. Is that about right?[/quote]He spit SEEDS.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]He spit SEEDS.[/quote]
It may be possible that a fortuitously placed stack of sunflower seed husks could redirect a ground ball, either on the infield dirt or the grass, but I doubt that Starlin Castro’s bad habits will increase opposing batter BABIP significantly (dying laughing)
Saw this:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Starlin-Castro-8217-s-space-cadet-routine-draws?urn=mlb-wp16773
Wow, he really was zoned out!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]It may be possible that a fortuitously placed stack of sunflower seed husks could redirect a ground ball, either on the infield dirt or the grass, but I doubt that Starlin Castro’s bad habits will increase opposing batter BABIP significantly (dying laughing)
Saw this:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Starlin-Castro-8217-s-space-cadet-routine-draws?urn=mlb-wp16773
Wow, he really was zoned out![/quote]Yeah, he had that brief lapse, which Bobby Valentine harped on for nearly 15 minutes.
binkyQuote Reply
He called it a cancer, then called out the other Latin players and the entire coaching staff for not calling Castro out on it (keep in mind the inning was still in progress), then accused Castro of not having fun and enjoying his job. He also noted how much more alert Darwin Barney was. Finally, he told us that if he were GM, he would have brought it up to the coach, and if the coach said he had already addressed it, Bobby V’s advice would be to “Tell him again.”
Right after that, he would, I presume, accept his GM of the year trophy.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]He called it a cancer, then called out the other Latin players and the entire coaching staff for not calling Castro out on it (keep in mind the inning was still in progress), then accused Castro of not having fun and enjoying his job. He also noted how much more alert Darwin Barney was. Finally, he told us that if he were GM, he would have brought it up to the coach, and if the coach said he had already addressed it, Bobby V’s advice would be to “Tell him again.”
Right after that, he would, I presume, accept his GM of the year trophy.[/quote]
As long as Starlin didn’t take his things out of his locker or eat dinner, I’m fine with him.
Aisle424Quote Reply
I think that whole “turn your back while the pitch is delivered” thing is bad but I think the Cubs were losing at that point and also about to be 20 games back of Milwaukee so I can give him a break. It’s if he does it every five minutes that we have a problem, but I doubt that happened. This was the only video I saw of that incident.
It would be interesting to see if it does happen again. For his sake, I hope it doesn’t. But it probably will, and more random Castro-hate will ensue. Le sigh.
I’m in agreement that it’s something the coaches should talk to Castro about, but I don’t think they need to get as upset as Bobby V did.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
http://www.awfulannouncing.com/2011-articles/august/bobby-valentine-sunday-night-baseball-chicago-cubs-starlin-castro.html
[quote name=Bobby Valentine]It’s like a math genius coming into your geometry class and knowing that he understands math and he’s going to learn a new level of math while you’re teaching him geometry. [/quote]
I have no idea what that even means (dying laughing)
WaLiQuote Reply
[quote name=WaLi]http://www.awfulannouncing.com/2011-articles/august/bobby-valentine-sunday-night-baseball-chicago-cubs-starlin-castro.html
I have no idea what that even means (dying laughing)[/quote]God damn engineers!
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I think that whole “turn your back while the pitch is delivered” thing is bad but I think the Cubs were losing at that point and also about to be 20 games back of Milwaukee so I can give him a break. It’s if he does it every five minutes that we have a problem, but I doubt that happened. This was the only video I saw of that incident.
It would be interesting to see if it does happen again. For his sake, I hope it doesn’t. But it probably will, and more random Castro-hate will ensue. Le sigh.
I’m in agreement that it’s something the coaches should talk to Castro about, but I don’t think they need to get as upset as Bobby V did.[/quote]It was less about Castro hate and more about Bobby V auditioning for the GM job, and telling how HE would handle it.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=WaLi]http://www.awfulannouncing.com/2011-articles/august/bobby-valentine-sunday-night-baseball-chicago-cubs-starlin-castro.html
I have no idea what that even means (dying laughing)[/quote]
It’s like TheHawk teaching us about stats.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]It was less about Castro hate and more about Bobby V auditioning for the GM job, and telling how HE would handle it.[/quote]
He wants to be the GM? I thought he was just a manager.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]God damn engineers![/quote]Why would a math genius come into your geometry class? I’m assuming Castro is the math genius and the Cubs are the geometry class? (dying laughing) Does that make Quade the teacher?
WaLiQuote Reply
[quote name=WaLi]Why would a math genius come into your geometry class? I’m assuming Castro is the math genius and the Cubs are the geometry class? (dying laughing) Does that make Quade the teacher?[/quote]I think the point is if Göedel walked into your geometry class, you wouldn’t try and teach him geometry unless you were massively arrogant asshat. Bobby V trying to say he can teach Castro how to play baseball is like that.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]He wants to be the GM? I thought he was just a manager.[/quote]Apparently. He was sure trying to make a case for himself last night.
binkyQuote Reply
I was told there would be no math.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I think the point is if Göedel walked into your geometry class, you wouldn’t try and teach him geometry unless you were massively arrogant asshat. Bobby V trying to say he can teach Castro how to play baseball is like that.[/quote]
If Göedel walked into my geometry class, I’d first wonder why the fuck I was back in geometry and then stab the zombie Göedel as I ran for the door.
Teaching it geometry would be way down the list.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Nomar said the Canada little league team players are now “true Canadians”, having upset Chinese Taipei in a great game. Before the game, they were false Canadians.
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I think the point is if Göedel walked into your geometry class, you wouldn’t try and teach him geometry unless you were massively arrogant asshat. Bobby V trying to say he can teach Castro how to play baseball is like that.[/quote]Or tell him that if he just enjoyed geometry more, he’d be a better mathematician.
binkyQuote Reply
Most of the Georgia little league team’s favorite players were Brian McCann, Josh Hamilton, and Michael Bourn. But one of them actually said Starlin Castro.
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
Most of the Georgia little league team is named Logan.
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
[quote name=Suburban kid 22]Most of the Georgia little league team is named Logan.[/quote]
Is that like a Southern inbreeding joke?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Is that like a Southern inbreeding joke?[/quote]Maybe accidentally. But about 5 guys on that team are named Logan.
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
So Carlos Pena is on waivers. I doubt anyone claims him, but can the Cubs just let him go if claimed? Or do they actually have to have a trade in place before he’s gone?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Kentucky is representing the Great Lakes.
Wait…
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]So Carlos Pena is on waivers. I doubt anyone claims him, but can the Cubs just let him go if claimed? Or do they actually have to have a trade in place before he’s gone?[/quote]If claimed they can release him to the other team, which pays his contract (I think) or pull him back. If he clears waivers (no team claims him), then they can trade him normally, like they would have been able to before the deadline.
EDIT: They = The Cubs
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]If claimed they can release him to the other team, which pays his contract (I think) or pull him back. If he clears waivers (no team claims him), then they can trade him normally, like they would have been able to before the deadline.
EDIT: They = The Cubs[/quote]
Right, I figured that was the dictionary definition. The A’s put Harden on waivers and he was claimed, but they pulled him back instead of just letting him go for nothing, so I was just wondering if there was some stipulation or if Billy Beane thought he could do better than just some salary relief.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Starlin Castro gets a day off to think about his actions.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Right, I figured that was the dictionary definition. The A’s put Harden on waivers and he was claimed, but they pulled him back instead of just letting him go for nothing, so I was just wondering if there was some stipulation or if Billy Beane thought he could do better than just some salary relief.[/quote]Usually, they pull them back because a team they didn’t want to have him claimed him. Like Beane wanted to trade to the Astros, for example, and instead the Angels claimed him. Probably a dumb example, but Beane might not want to strengthen the Angels rotation because they are in his division. Teams may claim a guy, sometimes, knowing that the GM won’t release the player to them, just to block a trade. In general, you don’t want to help out teams in your division.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Usually, they pull them back because a team they didn’t want to have him claimed him. Like Beane wanted to trade to the Astros, for example, and instead the Angels claimed him. Probably a dumb example, but Beane might not want to strengthen the Angels rotation because they are in his division. Teams may claim a guy, sometimes, knowing that the GM won’t release the player to them, just to block a trade. In general, you don’t want to help out teams in your division.[/quote]Or Beane wanted to test the waters, but wanted a player in return, so he didn’t want to just give him up, or something like that.
binkyQuote Reply
Barney SS
DeWitt 2B
Ramirez 3B
Pena 1B
Byrd CF
Soriano LF
Colvin RF
Hill C
Dempster P
Wow, Barney is leading off. Also, it seems Hill is now Dempster’s catcher.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Starlin Castro gets a day off to think about his actions.[/quote]What’s bullshit about that is that right or wrong, Bobby V now gets credit for it. Fuck that guy in the ear with a dried corn cob.
binkyQuote Reply
Thanks Josh, I just thought I was missing something. I think it was the Indians claiming Harden so I thought it was strange that the A’s didn’t just want to let them have a broken pitcher.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Thanks Josh, I just thought I was missing something. I think it was the Indians claiming Harden so I thought it was strange that the A’s didn’t just want to let them have a broken pitcher.[/quote]I don’t pretend to understand all the nuances, though. Beane probably had something up his sleeve and decided just to wait. Maybe he had a handshake deal from another team.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]A’s didn’t just want to let them have a broken pitcher.[/quote]
As is.
Walter WhiteQuote Reply
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1206872/Crocodile-crazy-The-man-enjoys-giving-dangerous-companion-cuddle.html
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
424’s preview is up since berselius is still being lazy: http://obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/previews/(dying laughing)lygagging-chicago-cubs-56-71-vs-fun-having-atlanta-braves-76-52.html
mb22Quote Reply
Sullivan has decided that Castro was benched on the basis of Valentine’s criticism. Here we go again…
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Sullivan has decided that Castro was benched on the basis of Valentine’s criticism. Here we go again…[/quote]Muskat too
binkyQuote Reply