I love the Sox, but respect the Cubs, and their TRUE fans.  The same way Cubs fans respect TRUE Sox fans.  This Cubs team is horrible, but there is no way to financialy hurt the Tribune company.  But other than 3 more games this year - I'm pulling for the Cubs to salvage this season and get something good out of it.

On separate note, there is growing rumor that Hendry has a significant drinking problem, and has had one for several years.  If that indeed is the case, then wouldn't it be nice if FitzSimons and McPhail intervened and got Hendry some help for his affliction?  Isn't that what good, compassionate employers do?  Can't McPhail step in as interim GM while Hendry gets help?  

Regardless who the GM is, it is time to back up the truck and to tear up the organizational game plan for building a winner.  The Cubs need to come up with a new strategy for selecting and developing talent.  

However, I recall a quote from the late, great John Belushi:

Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

10 years from now, when the Cubs are coming off ANOTHER 66-96 season, we'll look back at this era and wonder. I remember the high point - the Aramis homer game 4 victory in Miami - and the low point, which is essentially every game since.

Hope is limited to one option.  And that is Tribune Company sale of the franchise.  

"Many bloggers and others, frankly, flatter themselves that anything they write here, or perform in public, will have an iota of an effect on the managers or executives hired by a subsidiary of a publicly traded corporation.

It won't."

But you also tell people that they cannot really "know" that the season is over because of chance happenings in the past.

Has a protest or boycott never worked before?  I would suggest they have a better success rate than the teams falling five games back.

But the bigger point is that given a large enough sample either you can use past experience as a future indicator to draw a solid conclusion ("It won't", or "It's over"), or you cannot.  However it seems your interpretation is that you can when it supports your own views, but not when it clashes with them.

Which is it?

By all means continue to enjoy the games at the park but realize that a corporate entity is not going to make changes when they are already maximizing profits.  Unless, of course, they receive enough negative publicity to anger the shareholders.

{{{Marshall has already thrown 472/3 innings in nine starts, after throwing a combined 94 innings in 16 starts last year in Class A and Double A. Whether his arm is getting taxed is something the Cubs may soon have to address.}}}

This is important because averaging only 5 innings per start in the Bigs is absolutely nothing.  In fact, it's not good.  And 94 innings over 16 starts in the minors is not much better.  What this indicates to me is that this guy has had some arm injuries or he might be better suited for the bullpen?

If he has had arm injuries, then counting on him for the entire season, in case you did not reralize it he is now our No. 2 starter, well let's just say it's going to be wise to have a backup plan for Marshall, Johnny B....

I am not ragging on Marshall here, just pointing out that his innings have been very light both here and in the minors.  They need to be kept light in the Majors right now because the guy has not pitched enough yet to build up arms strength...Hopefully he is healthy and they won't burn him out, but when your No. 2 is only going 5 innings the season doesn't hold much promise...

What I will say about the current Cubs is this - could you ever have imagined Ryne Sandberg or Andre Dawson allowing their emotions to lead to such childish on field behavior as what Barrett did this past Saturday.  It appears our catcher is to quote a term a "red ass", which by itself is not a bad thing, if channeled correctly while on the field. Hitting an opposing player is not the right way to channel your behavior.

Which leads me to my larger point - the angst I feel is borned from over 35 years of suffering.  I care not that it has no effect on any decision that the Cubs might or might not make.  The fact remains I have feelings that I need to process and this is how I choose to do it.  It is not personal, I wish harm on no one, but I do want to see a team built that plays the game the right way, that comes prepared day in and day out.

What we have witnessed during the current regime, is a team built to fail, not because the tribune or the mgmt chain does not care, but rather it is because the wrong folks were assembled to run the asylum.  

Just look at the minor league system - it is constantly stocked with guys who have tools instead of guys who have skills. The #1 organizational problem that has persisted since I have been a fan is that they do not sign and groom everyday players who know how to reach 1st base.  This is not some great mystery that one must go to the far reaches of the earth to discover.  It has been written about and populated all over the baseball landscape and yet we continue to build the nucleus around players who do not possess this very basic ability.

To me, it is troubling and indicative of a backward looking organization, one who refuses to embrace modern day tools which push this franchise forward.

They are behaving like a smakesmack industry in the information age.

The worst thing to ever happen to the Cubs is Wrigley Field.  Why on earth do I say that?!?  Because it has become a frickin national shrine that millions upon millions of people worship (most for unknown reason...but people like to be lemmings you know) and feel the need to make pilgrimmage to.  I've been to two games at Wrigley so far in 2006 and many over the last decade.  Unfortunately, Wrigley has become little more than a glorified shopping mall attraction for professionals with deep pockets to hang out at, and oh by the way watch the Cubs play baseball.  2/3's of the fans who show up at Wrigley anymore know (or care) squat about Cub baseball.  If the Cubs lose the game, they shrug their shoulders for 13 seconds, close their flip phone, and mosey over to Clark Street to continue with their merriment.  Believe me, the Tribune Company KNOWS this.  My goodness, the team hasn't won in 98 years, is genuinely awful and they can still have a long waiting line for folks willing to fork over $65 for a bleacher seat.  

Nothing is going to change until Cub ownership changes.  Nothing.    

Great post Al... Your the man...

p.s. im also a die hard orlando magic fan, if that says anything about my taste in professional teams...

Why are we drawn the Cubs like we are? Because Wrigley is such a magical place and not because of the brick and mortar but because the fans make it such a great place.

I don't know about all of you, but I'm tired of whining and complaining and just plain NOT HAVING FUN while watching Cubs games. I'm tired of the bickering, that's not why I got into baseball. I love the Cubbies, and will do no matter how far they fall in the standings. Because when we do win, it'll be that much sweeter for the pain.

To all those would would boycott the Cubs, go ahead. It will just mean more seats available for the cubs fans that make this fanbase one of the best in baseball.

 Cub fans know that NOT going to the games will force ownership to take notice and that IS what they should do but it hurts them too much to do it so they come up with excuses like "I'm only punishing myself /kid etc. " or " someone else will go in my place" .....blah blah blah ....wrong wrong wrong

However, I really have to take exception to a number of things said in today's post.

First of it seemed to me that many of the comments were paternalistic. I've been a Cub fan for at least as many years as you. I moved to Milwaukee and saw the Braves win with Aaron and Spahn. Now I'm in Houston. At no time did I ever consider abandoning the team. Like you. I'm still waiting for the big one. I remember when the Trib bought the team and was ecstatic. When I moved from one place to another the first thing that dictated if the place was acceptable was if they had cable availability and that WGN was on their system. Win or lose I wear my jerseys and root for the Cubs.

But honestly, I resent being told when the season is over and what will and won't work to change attitudes. Tell me what you think or what you believe but don't tell me that what I believe to be trueis foolish or nonsense.

As to what will energize the organization, let's remember that we're dealing with a corporation. So you or me or anyone else don't really know to a certainty what will work. A private owner will tend to ignore forms of protest that a business will respond to.

Finally, I have never called anyone a name when there has been a disagreement. I talk about ideas and often may disagree with others but I always try to keep the agree to disagree attitude. Most others in here are the same way. But let's remember that everyone has a right to their own opinion. And the fact that someone may feel it's over for  the season is no reason to call them less of a fan.

We all want improvement but obviously the means of achieving them have not been determined. My way or your way may not work but I refuse to accept that collectively we can't motivate the Tribune no matter what we do. That's like saying the Cubs will always be loveable losers.

Also, all the great teams from the 1930's to current have a lot in common, which are typically a great catcher, a solid shortstop and an endless supply of quality pitching.  This is exact formula Dodgers followed from the late 1940's until the day Fox bought the team in the late 1990's.  

Triva time:  Name the last two gold glove winners at shortstop and catcher for the Cubs?

Answer:  Shortstop Don Kessinger 1970 also won in 1969.

Catcher:  Jody Davis 1986.

Simpsons.

Ever.

Does anyone have data to support that?

My gut - because I don't have the data; if I did I would answer my own question - tells me that pro sports count on TV-related revenues far more gate attendance to make the real money.  The same source tells me a media conglomerate like TRB is going to be particularly guilty of leveraging its baseball team to milk ad revenues.  My only data is the nearly-intolerable level of ads I feel inundated by when watching a broadcast.  Whether its missing the first pitch (or more) of an inning, or hearing Kasper do some on-air promo, sometimes I feel like I see more ads than baseball during a telecast.  You know the ad board behind home plate was put in just for the TV audience.

Seems to me, talk of boycotts should focus on boycotting the TV broadcasts, not game attendance.

But again, if someone has the data, I'd love to see it.

Even dark times like these do not tarnish gold of fonder memories. Nor do they define (or divine) all future ones.

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer fan and the sunshine stathead will, in this crisis, shrink from 1060 West Addison; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of Dusty Baker. The NL Central, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

What on God's green earth would Hendry have produced if he had to deal with the finanicial constraints of other teams?!?!  I shudder to think.  

Time to put the booze bottle down Jim and check into rehab.  When you clean up your act (and I sincerely wish you godspeed in doing so), then throw away your old formula for winning baseball and start anew.  

 Publicly expressing one's dissatisfaction with injustice is a duty.

 For those that are sick of being lied to, do what I do: don't go to the games. Trust me, no matter what Al says, it hurts the Tribune hard. They see around a million dollars a day in concessions alone, so believe me, it's hurts them when you vote with your wallet.

 And Al, you should be ashamed of yourself for suggesting that if people didn't go, payroll would go down and the Cubs would turn into the Royals. Real nice scare tactics. Let me explain something to you: this is one of only 3 major markets in the country. If the Cubs got any worse than they are now, it would make the current sh**storm look like a day at Disneyland.

 Public outcry and shaming gets results. It starts by affecting conventional wisdom and continues to grow from there.

1.  Fire Andy McFail
   
2.  Hire a sage baseball veteran to be my "special assistant" and trusted advisor (e.g., a Dallas Green type)
   
3.  Spend the next month completely dissecting what is right and what is wrong with the baseball operation.
   
4.  Instruct Jim Hendry and Oneri Fleita to take the best college position player available with the Cubs' first pick in the June amateur draft.  Beyond that, let them do their thing.
   
5.  Fire Jim Hendry, Dusty Baker, Oneri Fleita, Larry Rothschild and Gene Clines at the All-Star break and make my "special assistant" interim GM for the remainder of the year.
   
6.  Hire a veteran interim Manager for the rest of the season.  Dick Pole is promoted to interim pitching coach and a new interim hitting coach is brought in.  
   
7.  Try like hell to move Aramis Ramirez, Kerry Wood and Scott Williamson (plus any and all of the crappy spare parts on this team) prior to the July 31st trade deadline.  Only seek top shelf prospects in return for these three (I'll take a used infield rake for any of the rest)
   
8.  Call up Felix Pie on September 1st and make him the everyday centerfielder for a month.
   

9.  Hire a new GM from a pool that includes Terry Collins, Dan Evans, Gerry Hunsicker, the assistant GM of the Atlanta Braves (I forget his name), and the assistant GM of the Milwaukee Brewers.   The interim GM moves back into the role of special assistant and has a dotted line to both the new GM and me as team President and owner.  He serves as trusted advisor and mentor to both of us.
   
10.  Hire either Mike Maddux, current pitching coach of the Milwaukee Brewers or Bud Black, current pitching coach of the Anaheim Angels,to be new Cub manager.  
    
11.  If he isn't gone already, say goodbye to Kerry Wood.
    
12.  If not gone already, say goodbye to Juan Pierre, John Mabry, Neifi Perez, Freddie Bynum, Jerry Hairston, Todd Walker and Henry Blanco.
    
13.  If not gone already, move Aramis Ramirez to the highest bidder.  
    
14.  Move Ryan Dempster to the highest bidder.  
    

Projected 2007 rotation....Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux (re-sign at all costs), Mark Prior, Wade Miller and Sean Marshall (or Angel Guzman, or the next best thing from within the minor league system)

LF...Matt Murton
CF...Felix Pie (to bat only #6 or #7 in the lineup....NEVER to be used at the top of the order)
RF...Somebody new

Jacque Jones has near-starter status playing in LF, CF and RF

3rd...hotshot young talent acquired, possibly to be someone acquired in the move to dump Ramirez
SS...Cedeno
2nd...Somebody new (doesn't have to be fancy...we are rebuilding remember)
1st...Derrek Lee

Cat...Michael Barrett

First, do you have any type of business relationship with the Cubs/ Tribco. I know you work for ABC 7, but I believe I have also seen your musings in Vine Line.  If you do have a "business" relationship with any of the above mentioned entities, do you think it a conflict of interest?

Second, while I appreciate your optimism, I am confused by your stance on all things baseball.  I can only imagine how many games you have attended during your life.  For someone to devote a large portion of their life to the Cubs, as you have, you would also have to love baseball equally.  That being said, many of your arguments surrounding the building of the roster, the management of the roster and team,  and the direction of the team are the polar opposite of what a baseball fan would desire.  One, two, hell ten bad years can be explained.  The current ownership group has made the playoffs 4 times (I believe) and is under .500 overall.  As a fan of baseball (and lover of the Cubs) there is no excuse for that.

That is why I am so perplexed by your stance.  First, I do not think a boycott could work.  Too many fringe fans attend the games.  Wrigley has become the experience, not the game.  However, protests which shame the team, Tribco and advertisers can be successful.  The Cubs are a business.  They crave positive PR.  What could be worse than the fans uniting and saying enough?  IMHO, this type of activity has the chance to be effective because what has happened on the Southside.  We are competing for print space, news slots and talk time on the radio.  This is our chance.  I do not understand why you are against this.

I too love baseball.  I also love the Cubs.  It is my belief that many here take this very seriously.  I believe we both fall into that category.  Even though I completely disagree with your post in regards to your path forward, we should be able to agree to disagree.  After reading some of my previous posts, I am guilty of being over the top in my arguments. For that, I apologize to anyone that I may have offended.  
 

Just a couple of years ago things were looking up. The failure to build on that is unforgivable. Look at what the Mets did. Look at Toronto. The Sox.

Its the fans duty to let the organization know your not happy or your are telling them you don't care about the quality of the product. That's not the same as booing players until they are shell shocked.

Al you are right. People are going to pack Wrigley. But now that's become the real curse of the Cubs. The fact that no matter what happens on the field the organization wins.

My perspective: I can only imagine how frustrating your team is this year, because I'm sure you came into it with high expectations.  We in Marlins world didn't have that problem.  Our big expectation was to not lose 100 games (well, that's not working out so well either).  

Some of us are still getting depressed about the team, though, so I will link to this story on our page.  At the same time, we don't have the problem with rudeness that it seems (based on your words) that this site has.  Albeit, we are a smaller site with less people, so less likely to be abrasive, but I think part of it is that we try to keep a sense of humor about it.  Maybe this advice doesn't apply here, but I know it's something we tried to do even last year with our highest payroll ever and marquee names.

Best of luck! (Except when you're playing the Fish).

And I truly hope Lee comes back soon and takes the League by storm.