Happy Birthday, America

by Al Yellon on Jul 4, 2006 4:54 PM CDT in Chicago Cubs Recaps

It's getting more and more difficult to pay attention to these games, wouldn't you say?

Not necessarily because they are loss after loss, but because each and every day, a new and creative way to lose appears to be found.

Today, an identical-score-to-last-night 7-2 loss to the Astros, was actually a close, tightly-played ballgame into the bottom of the sixth, and Mark Prior was, as the Cubs seemingly have been so many times this season, just a couple of pitches away from getting out of a difficult jam (bases loaded, one out), when a pitch in the dirt got away from Michael Barrett, and not only did one run score, but then Prior, trying to back up the play, bobbled the ball, allowing a second run to score.

That's all the Cubs need -- one bad play -- to pretty much deflate them, take away any possibility of winning, and though the score was still only 4-1 after that play, you knew, you just KNEW, that they had absolutely no chance to come back and win.

And for all of you who think that Michael Barrett is a good major league catcher, there's all the proof you need. A good major league catcher blocks balls like that. The Cubs don't lead the majors in wild pitches (the Royals do, with 50), or even the NL (the Brewers do, with 35), but their 30 wild pitches allowed is far, far more than teams with good catchers allow. Barrett's bat doesn't begin to make up for this. And even if you argue that Barrett's bat is worth keeping -- put him at third base, trade Aramis Ramirez, and get a catcher who knows how to handle a pitching staff, block balls in the dirt, and throw out baserunners (yet another thing Barrett is terrible at doing -- his 54 SB allowed are the most of any ML catcher, and his six passed balls are second in the majors).

After Prior left the game following the disastrous sixth inning having thrown 109 pitches (the Astros' Andy Pettitte was just about as bad, throwing 106 in his six innings), Roberto Novoa did as he was asked. So did Will Ohman. So did Bob Howry. All of those relievers recorded one out in the seventh inning, keeping the game reasonably close.

Glendon Rusch then came in and did NOT do a good job. I'm trying to be nice here, but allowing three hits, three walks, and three runs in a single inning of work when you are TRYING to keep your club within three runs, doesn't come under the category of "doing your job".

It comes under the categories of:

he sucks;
he's done;
he ought to be released.

The Cubs need look no further than the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are paying Russ Ortiz $22 million for the next two and a half years to work either for someone else or not work at all.

At this point, the remaining dollars on Rusch's contract come to about $4.5 million (half of this year, and all of next year). Even in today's inflated payroll terms, that's NOT all that much money.

Jim Hendry, eat it. Admit you made a mistake. Rusch cannot pitch at the major league level competently any more. The last time he appeared in a game without allowing a run was May 24; that was a one-inning garbage-time relief appearance in a game the Cubs lost 9-3. Maybe he's been hoping someone will offer something for Rusch in trade. But every time he gets sent out there and gets pounded hard -- and he's allowed 17 HR in 48 IP this year, although no HR today, and six of those HR have been in his last 15 IP -- other GM's have to be telling their scouts to head on to some other ballpark.

Barry Rozner said in today's Daily Herald that the Cubs should just "blow it all up" and start over. While this is a noble sentiment, it's not exactly just that easy. Turning over a 25-man roster completely is something teams just don't do, and not because it wouldn't be worth doing. There are contracts to be dealt with. Agents and players who are real human beings to be dealt with. This isn't just fantasy baseball where if your player sucks, you just click your mouse and cut him. Granted, that's about all Glendon Rusch is worth, but Derrek Lee? To my mind, there are two untouchable pieces here -- Lee and Carlos Zambrano. Everyone else is dealable, but the question is WHO WANTS THEM? Rusch could be DFA'd, but I imagine Hendry would have liked to receive something in return. That may no longer be possible.

Here's an instructive story from fifty years or so ago, when "blow it all up" deals were becoming almost commonplace. On November 17, 1954, Paul Richards, who was well-known for trying new and different things in baseball and then the GM of the Baltimore Orioles, engineered a 17-player deal with the Yankees, which went as follows:

Traded players to be named later, Bob Turley, Don Larsen, and Billy Hunter to the New York Yankees. Received players to be named later, Gene Woodling, Harry Byrd, Jim McDonald, Hal Smith, Gus Triandos, and Willy Miranda. The New York Yankees sent Bill Miller (December 1, 1954), Kal Segrist (December 1, 1954), Don Leppert (December 1, 1954), and Ted Del Guercio (minors) (December 1, 1954) to the Baltimore Orioles to complete the trade. The Baltimore Orioles sent Mike Blyzka (December 1, 1954), Darrell Johnson (December 1, 1954), Jim Fridley (December 1, 1954), and Dick Kryhoski (December 1, 1954) to the New York Yankees to complete the trade.

Can you imagine how many lawyers would have to be hired in 2006 to try to figure out all the various arrangements that would need to be made contractually and otherwise for a deal that large?

The above-linked Baltimore Sun article also says of Richards:

In 1956, he proposed swapping entire 25-man rosters with the Kansas City Athletics, backing off only after the A's asked to take Roger Maris and Clete Boyer out of the deal.

It's an intriguing thought, swapping 25-man rosters -- but what team in today's game would do that with the Cubs? Or with anyone?

Food for thought, or for computers, but probably not for reality. I do expect the Cubs to make deals, and turn over several roster spots, by the time July 31 comes around. Stay tuned. And have a happy Fourth.

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Comments

should just

start chanting DFA when he takes the mound.

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Jul 4, 2006 5:04 PM CDT reply actions

ABSOLUTELY

I can't be there in person to start it, but those that attend the games, take note.

Thanks for reminding me of this.

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -Homer J. Simpson

by Whitebacon on Jul 5, 2006 1:27 AM CDT up reply actions

stupid internet

can't sense sarcasm....was that sarcasm?

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Jul 5, 2006 1:50 AM CDT up reply actions

On my part,

no. I said something about this June 28.

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/comments/2006/6/27/231114/059/13#13

I'm dead serious.

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -Homer J. Simpson

by Whitebacon on Jul 6, 2006 4:45 AM CDT up reply actions

I wouldn't keep Barrett......

His offense is just good enough to stomach as a catcher and that's what his job is.....catching....and he's horrible at the part of his job that is the most important part. Putting him a 3rd is a joke.

by PriorandAramisfan23 on Jul 4, 2006 5:04 PM CDT reply actions

Re

Exactly. There's absolutely nothing to lead one to believe that Michael Barrett would be a competent 3rd baseman. And it's just another example of how the Cubs coaching staff has been unable to improve the shortcomings of players under their tutelage.

Of course, perhaps Cubs pitchers should stop throwing the ball 59' and hope that the oppostion swings at it. Accuracy is hardly a hallmark of the Cubs pitching staff.

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on Jul 5, 2006 7:07 AM CDT up reply actions

eat it

If you can eatr rusch's 4 1/2 million, then you can eat hendry's 2 1/2 million.

by FauxChuck on Jul 4, 2006 5:08 PM CDT reply actions

and replace

him with whom? Don't start making moves just to make them.

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Jul 4, 2006 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Precisely.

n/t

by Al Yellon on Jul 4, 2006 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions

WHAT?

You wouldn't replace Hendry right now? He has built a horrible team two year in a row!

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Jul 4, 2006 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions

not right now

at the end of the year, yes, but in the middle of the season, hell no.

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Jul 4, 2006 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions

So get rid of him in september

and waste time looking for a guy in the offseason, as opposed to doing that now? Not to mention the risk of Hendry making stupid moves between now and then. What is there to lose again getting rid of him now? He won't get to be in charge of the awesome trades of Walker, Williamson and Pierre? What's going to happen? Are we going to go on a losing streak? Oh no! Will the interim guy do somehting stupid like get rid of Rusch? Oh no! There is nothing to lose by getting rid of Hendry or Baker. But, once November rolls around everyone will be back into Patience mode and we'll get to do it all over again.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Jul 4, 2006 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions

what kind of stupid

moves can he make? he's got 27 days for a bonehead trade....what's on the market for a GM right now in the middle of the season that isn't at the end?

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Jul 4, 2006 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions

he can make a lot

of stupid moves (like trading for more low-value stop-gaps like nevin as a form of denial about our chances this year), and he can fail to make a lot of smart ones, also because he's in denial that the roster he constructed is bad.

by tomas21 on Jul 4, 2006 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions

as tomas21 said

whatever that gm would want his team to have. I would hope the next guy would go in a new direction. Hendry could easily trade someone now that the new guys would want, wether it be a guy like Murton he may see potential in or someone else. Besides the fact I don't want Hendry deciding what a "good trade" is.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Jul 4, 2006 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions

don't get me wrong

here. I'm not defending Hendry, personally I'd love to see him go.

Besides the fact I don't want Hendry deciding what a "good trade" is.

However it isn't our decision to make.

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Jul 4, 2006 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions

that's why its opinion

since non of us are in control of any of it. otherwise this would be a history blog.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Jul 4, 2006 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions

First I like Hendry

Second I don't recall a GM being replaced mid-season
I love how everyone dumps on Hendry saying he was
"lucky" getting Lee, Ramirez, Barrett from "struggling
salary dumping teams" but a fool to trade for
Pierre, sign Jones etc. Clearly his biggest mistake
was relying on Prior and or Wood to be healthy and effective
but it is hard to see how many options he had especially
this off season. As previously discussed the "prime"
free agents Millwood, & Burnett have not exactly been
aces for their money. No GM can get past the kind
of injuries that have plagued the Cubs, if you don't believe
me check on the injury bit Yankees. They don't suck like
we do but they won't be going anywhere either.
Also lets look at the great god Theo in Boston
In the last two years Theo has let go of two effective
starters ( Pedro & Lowe though Pedro is easier to understand
given injury issues and pay) and made what was possibly
the worst off season trade in Arroyo for Willie Mo
Then of course there was dumping Reintera and still
paying a chunk of the salary.
Theo's big off season move was getting Josh Beckett
So far Beckett has been wining but been erratic at best
Even in the AL an ERA of 4.59 does not make you an ace
In the meantime Boston gave up Hanley Ramirez and
Anibel Sanchez. Check back in two years and compare
the following. Josh Becket vs Ramirez & Sanchez
Pierre vs Nolesco & Mitre

Don't get me wrong. Theo is great GM ( though
Ken Williams is better) but if Beckett, Papelbon
& Ortiz got injured, the Red Sox would be in a whole
lot of trouble.

Now if Hendry could trade Dusty for Francona
THEN he would be a genius

by jessica on Jul 4, 2006 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions

ha

when the cubs are .500 maybe then we can start debating the folies of other GM's, besides the fact that the Red Sox mistakes don't put a winner in Wrigley. Starters are gong to be expensive, just he way its going to be with so many pitching hungry teams. I would rather take the risk on a guy like Millwood than the risk on a guy like Rusch. Theo would be screwed if Beckett and Papelbon got hurt, but I wonder if he would rely on them year after year if their injury trouble continued, or if he would bring in some more arms. As bad as the Pierre trade turned out we need a lead off hitter.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Jul 4, 2006 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't want to do this point by point

but if we had signed BOTH Milwood & Burnett
WE STILL WOULD NO BE .500. ( Burnett has been
out for most of the season and Milwood not
that good). Something to do with gettng lots
of hits but never scoring or playing fundemental
baseball. Hendry's biggest mistake might be
not tossing Dusty by 6/15

Home for the night so you can go ballistic
on Hendry without me till tomorrow

by jessica on Jul 4, 2006 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions

no interest in Burnett for me

wasn't interersted in taking another injury prone pitcher. Sometimes it take more than one year to be good, and if you have a direction you can sue a coupel of offseasons to do it. But you really can pick your poison with this team, not a great team combined with an alleged players manager who's getting nothing out of them.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Jul 4, 2006 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions

i give hendry

a lot of credit for lee, karros, grudz, lofton, and even ramirez, though i'm really starting to dislike him... that's why it pains me so much to see how awful he's become as a GM.

Some of it is bad luck--the Nomar trade could have been a major coup, though he came as a pretty huge injury risk. But his moves (and lack of moves) the past 3 seasons have been almost universally bad. Part of the reason Dusty is such a terrible manager is because Hendry has provided him with everything he needs (neifi et al) to be so terrible.

And depending on, and getting burned again by, prior and wood is no small potatoes. its been the undoing of this club for three seasons now. Most other GMs would have Wood in the bullpen and a legit backup plan for Prior.

There weren't a lot of great options out there, but they were all better than Rusch, no matter the cost. four million for the worst pitcher in baseball doesn't compare to any of the contracts you mention.

by tomas21 on Jul 4, 2006 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Great post!!

Nuff said.

vote santo for h.o.f.

by santo for prez on Jul 4, 2006 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Hendry sucks

Bozo the clown could have engineered the trades for Aramis Ramirez, Kenny Lofton and Derrek Lee. Hendry just happened to be a GM with deep pockets who was at the right place at the right time in terms of both those deals. Whoopie.

Hendry absolutely sucks. For reasons completely beyond any sane individual, Hendry STILL believes the Cubs are only a tweak or two away from being a solid ballclub. There no longer is any defense for this clown. He is in woefully over his head.

by Mike63 on Jul 4, 2006 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I want Hendry gone..

..I made that obvious with my first ever diary on this site. Ironically, most everyone here bashed the hell out of me for it. Now everyone is all "hendry sucks". My response to the previous post being a good one was in reference to the talk of the Red Sox GM not doing so hot either.

Just to make that clear.

vote santo for h.o.f.

by santo for prez on Jul 4, 2006 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Allaird Baird (SP?)...

....of the Royals got sacked this year.

by BeerCub on Jul 5, 2006 12:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Re

I'm with you on this. No GM bats 1.000. Hendry has made some excellent deals, and failed on others.

As I've said before, Hendry's biggest failing is not managing his field manager. If I'm McFail, I'd tell Hendry that if he wants to keep his job, he needs to grow a spine and stop letting the tail wag the dog.

DustBag's latest brilliant strategy? Let Angel Guzman rot on the bench for two weeks. How many disconnects between the GM and the FM does one have to see before someone recognizes that these two aren't even in the same library, let alone on the same page.

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on Jul 5, 2006 7:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Re

I'm usually on board with your perspective, but there's a world of difference between having an interim field manager (especially when replacing DustBag) and having an interim GM.

Replacing the GM is a move not to be taken lightly. I'm not saying that there aren't options better than Jim Hendry; rather, I'm saying an organization doesn't hire an interim GM, so they better have a very good idea of where they want to turn for a long-term solution before letting the current one go.

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on Jul 5, 2006 7:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Jim who?

Whassup, my cracka?

by Blood Brother on Jul 4, 2006 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions

the only people who would be available

at the end of the year who aren't now are people who have failed at their jobs and gotten fired.

moreover, if you are going to fire the gm you absolutely have to do it now, for the same reason baker should be fired now instead of just not renewing his contract and letting him walk in october. The roster could and should undergo a major facelift in the next month, and the new gm and manager should have a lot of say in what direction the team goes. a lot of teams spend a year or two or three reconstructing the roster in the style of the new gm, and there are generally some growing pains as the old is replaced with the new (see paxson, jim). it would be a major missed opportunity to keep hendry til the end of the season and then fire him.

i really like hendry, but it seems as if something has changed. makes you wonder if his personal problems are distracting him. i know i would be distracted if i went through that.

hopefully his recent denial of any sell-offs this july are merely to not sound desperate to potential trade partners. if he's going to do what he did last year (ie be in denial about the cubs being out of contention, not shut wood down, etc) then he should be fired. sad, because he seems like a really good guy and he had a very promising start to his career.

as far as who to replace him with, my choice would be Kim Ng. If she were a white man, she'd be the most prized commodity in baseball front offices.

by tomas21 on Jul 4, 2006 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions

here's a q&a with Ng

she's one of the next great GMs in baseball.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2460

by tomas21 on Jul 4, 2006 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Absolutely!

I totally agree. Contrary to popular opinion, teams do clean house, in this day and age it does not mean that all but your 2 untouchables must be launched.

Is Hendry going to improve this team? Unless he changes his philosophy about what is important for winning then I think not. In addition, the Farm system has zilch in terms of position players because we value stupid things as a team...Hendry can win at Creighton and praise the efforts of ass-hats wh play old school hard-ball (Ben Christiansen comes to mind, draft him No. 1), but his approach is failing as the years go on...

Wonderful job getting Lee and Aramis, but we also need a farm system or more free agents who are productive and we need a bench that has players who contribute to the offensive part of the fricking game.

I don't see any signs of hendry changing. In fact, in this draft the Cubs continue with their reckless gambling approach to "player development" by giving first round money to players who "would have been first rounders if they weren't"...This is frickin' stupid, does Hendry love to play 3 Card Monty because he likes the odds?

Here's our plan for next season: Prior will be healthy, Wood will be healthy (and a closer), Pierre will bounce back, Pagan or Bynum will start in LF and be awesome or at least speedy, and Neifi will be the super sub on the worst bench in baseball.

You see it was all bad luck this year, and it was unlucky to sign Neifi to the dunce of the year contract, wait that award goes to the guy who signed Rusch to 2 years--It's the Same guy, don't off that dunce hat, Jim....

This is season 4 of this era or whatever it is, and the Cubs are getting worse each year. Individually, Derek lee has improved and Z has improved, they are both top stars and untouchable, but this team is getting worse because of the collective decisions of the GM and the Manager and they both should be DFA...

You guys act like there is no one out there to replace them...How about Paul Depodesta? How about making a rush for Billy Beane or Theo Epstein with a brinks truck or less money for their top assistants? I have no doubt that they would do far more with the abundant resources that the Cubs have financially...

Everyone is replaceable, in life, and in baseball. Hendry has done absolutely nothing to earn an extension or even the notion that the organization could or should never eat his contract.

In 2 years the Cubs will be a floundering club with little talent and bunch or burned out arms, always wondering why they don't score runs if they hang on to these guys or if these guys don't change their approach.

Look at the Cubs' offense since 2003, who the heck should be held responsible for deciding that all of the power should be launched from this team in favor of speed? Who should be held responsible for a lineup that can't take a walk but keeps issuing them like they are going out of style or like they don't matter.

Had Mark prior and Kerry Wood never been injured we would all be singing a different tune, no doubt. Dominant pitching like that is one way to champiosnhips for sure...Pitchers get hurt and our were hgurt and continue to be hurt. Okay, so we'll compensate by having a better offense...the Sox traded for Thome in case all of the name seekers want an example of the kind of action that a team can take to improve part of their team...This team dumps a telnted young player for nothing and continues with a trend of trying to rid the lineup of strikeouts and replacing it with speed when it doesn't really matter how you make outs. When you value making outs or you say it doesn't matter that we make outs at a much higher rate than our opponents there is something seriously wrong. You had better slug the ball to make every hit count then, but instead we have this philosophy where will lead the league in inside the park HRs because of our speed.

The bottom line is that Hendry has no plan or his plan is that somehow he will get lucky with the players being better than anyone anticipated. The Cubs plan is bt default a recipe for losing baseball...

by DudeVf1 on Jul 4, 2006 7:17 PM CDT up reply actions

What was up with the double switch?

Howry and Blanco were double switched in for Ohman and Barrett. At first I thought, "Hey, Dusty got it right!" But then Howry only faced one batter. Why do the double switch? You could always pinch hit for the pitcher later instead...

Cripes this team sucks. I dunno if I'm going to be able to watch another game at the Juice Box this year because it just makes me ill.

by false cognate on Jul 4, 2006 5:14 PM CDT reply actions

July 31st

is still 27 days away. It will feel like 27 years.

I loathe AJP and White Sox fans!!

by sue369 on Jul 4, 2006 5:29 PM CDT reply actions

Barrett could be traded at the deadline.......

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051101.wblai/BNStory/Sports/Baseball

"my sources are telling me that the Blue Jays and Cubs could figure in a deal after the All-Star break. The Cubs are going to dump infielder Todd Walker and might also look at moving Michael Barrett -- whose omission from the NL All-Star team, even though it owes much to the justifiable presence of pitcher Carlos Zambrano as the Cubs representative, is one of the injustices of the All-Star rosters. Surprising, considering his knockdown of A.J. Pierzynski was universally cheered in most clubhouses. Barrett has his fans in the Blue Jays front office ...."

I'm going to keep my fingers crossed on this one....hopefully the Cubs will move towards a defense orientated approach from the catcher's position.

by PriorandAramisfan23 on Jul 4, 2006 5:40 PM CDT reply actions

not sure why they'd want Barrett

over Molina, who is a star defensively and, while VERY slow, swings a pretty good bat.

but if they do, and they'd send Molina and something of value for Barrett, that's fine with me.

by tomas21 on Jul 4, 2006 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions

but barrett

is Hendry's pet project, so i seriously doubt he would trade him. He doesn't like to trade his pets.

by tomas21 on Jul 4, 2006 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I won't deny that he's a Hendry pet.....

I've heard rumblings on here before that said Hendry was looking to improve at the catcher postion.

by PriorandAramisfan23 on Jul 4, 2006 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions

barrett

more defense by catcher. why not throw blanco out there. This years team is just plain terrible but you cant just blame barrett...either Hendry has to fire baker or Hendry himself has to resign..1 of the 2 is the problem..

by BigA on Jul 4, 2006 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions

This wouldn't be a bad deal...

... depending on who the Cubs could get for Barrett. I suppose Molina would have to be one of the players in return; having Molina and Blanco would at least give the club some decent defense behind the plate.

Who else? The Blue Jays don't have very good young pitching, which is what the Cubs would be looking for.

by Al Yellon on Jul 4, 2006 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd gamble

on Duston McGowan. Not a sure thing but the upside could be high.

by rlpete on Jul 5, 2006 8:26 AM CDT up reply actions

When the Cubs needed...........

..........a lefty to throw BP, why didn't they save paying Dave Otto and just toss Rusch into that role? Hell, at least he'd have brought some value to the team.

Rusch, Otto, Koufax, Spahn.........probably wouldn't matter as the Cubs looked pathetic again today against a lefty starter.

by tville on Jul 4, 2006 5:42 PM CDT reply actions

role player

He's already throwing batting practice for the other team.

by Seamer on Jul 4, 2006 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions

might

improve our players confidence against left-handers.

by tomas21 on Jul 4, 2006 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions

The Chicago Blitz

Didn't the Chicago Blitz trade their entire roster with another team after losing the equivalent of whatever the Super Bowl was in the USFL?

Tim

by ttagaris on Jul 4, 2006 6:01 PM CDT reply actions

i'm not sure

but i do remember that the indians got dave windield for a steak dinner. not sure if that is relevent, but i still think its funny that he was traded for a player to be named later, and that "player" eventuall became a nice dinner that the indians bought for the other team.

by tomas21 on Jul 4, 2006 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes,

Here is the link...

Chicago Blitz for Aizona Wranglers

by Fort WayneCubbie on Jul 4, 2006 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Spelling... :(

Arizona Wranglers

by Fort WayneCubbie on Jul 4, 2006 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Agree about Barrett & Rusch

I was all for giving Rusch a shot out of the pen, so they could trade him. However, he's been given enough shots and he's done. Just DFA him.

I like the idea of moving Barrett to 3rd and bringing in a defensive catcher. Trade Ramirez, Jones, Nevin & Dempster for ARod. Then sign a defensive Catcher in the offseason, along with Carlos Lee, and a veteran starter, who takes over the #2 spot in the rotation.

Lineup: 1b. Lee, 2b. Cedeno, SS. ARod, 3b. Barrett, LF. Lee, CF. Pierre or Pie?? RF. ??
C. Defensive catcher.

Rotation - Z, FA Signee, Prior, 2 of Marmol, Marshall & Guzman.

Rotation -

Oh and deal off Murton & Hill please.

by CubFaninCA on Jul 4, 2006 6:14 PM CDT reply actions

The key with experimentation...

...is to know when it has failed.

Michael Barrett is not an acceptible big league catcher.
Glendon Rusch is no longer capable of starting or relieving.
Todd Walker is not an everyday second baseman (my opinion, yours may very).

Bring me the head of Rafael Furcal.

by Ross on Jul 4, 2006 6:31 PM CDT reply actions

spelling

or vary, depending on how good your english is.

Bring me the head of Rafael Furcal.

by Ross on Jul 4, 2006 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions

The Good News...

With my Cubs License plate on front and bumper sticker on back no one seems to mind or questions if I park in Hsndicapped Parking.

by luvdacubs on Jul 4, 2006 8:17 PM CDT reply actions

Barrett is brutal

Michael Barrett is the worst catcher in the National League. But too many Cub fans are all giddy about the guy because of his swell batting average. A catcher has to be able to work effectively with pitchers and be good defensively FIRST AND FOREMOST. Barrett isn't playing left field, but rather CATCHER. He needs to be dealt. Either that, or the Cubs need to investigate the possibility of moving him to 2nd base or 3rd base if that even is an option.

by Mike63 on Jul 4, 2006 9:11 PM CDT reply actions

Who...

...are you going to get to replace Barrett. He is the 12th most valuable catcher this season according to WS, which take defense into account. All 12 guys ahead of him will be unavailable next year. Last year he had more defenseive WS than Varitek, Damian Miller, and AJ Pierzynski. Furthermore to cite one play as to why he's not a major league catcher is BS. Michael Barrett isn't even in the top 15 of this team's problems. But go ahead spout your drivel.

by jolietconvict on Jul 4, 2006 10:10 PM CDT reply actions

wow

so he's not the crappiest player on a crappy team.

"Michael Barrett isn't even in the top 15 of this team's problems."

He is still one of the problems.

This team leads the leadgue in walks, but his constantly setting up out of the zone has nothing to do with it. Paul Konerko stole a base on him, but not to worry.

His offense is good, but he is not a starting cacther on a championship caliber team.

You're right that they do have bigger problems, but that doesn't excuse him from being one of the problems.

by pwhalen on Jul 4, 2006 10:51 PM CDT up reply actions

On one hand you criticize his location..

...on the other hand you credit him with all of the blame on stolen bases. Take a look at the pichers this year. They haven't exactly been hitting their spots. I have only seen a handful of games and most of the steals I have seen have been due to slow delivery and bad pitch locations. I am not saying that none of the stolen bases were his fault but take a look at what he has had to work with on those stolen bases. And as far as setting up in the zone.... is this little leaugue? When I played Legion ball I was taught to do the same thing as what the pros use. You give the pitcher the location with the sign and then move to the location as the pitcher is in motion. Anything done ahead of time would lead to good hitters crushing almost every pitch that was thrown to its proper "location". Watch the other big league catchers and you will see that no one sets that target BEFORE a pitcher starts his delivery. In fact most will set up in one location then move to another.

vote santo for h.o.f.

by santo for prez on Jul 4, 2006 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Blanco.....

handles the same staff and he's able to throw guys out.

by PriorandAramisfan23 on Jul 4, 2006 11:26 PM CDT up reply actions

I am not saying..

..that Blanco isn't a better defensive catcher than Barrett. All I am saying is you can't place all the blame on a catcher for all of the steals on them and you can't start blaming a catcher for the ineptness of a pitching staff to hit the strike zone. Have the pitchers been racking up all of the Ks and wins with Blanco behind the plate. I would still rather have a guy who can play behind the plate and bat .300 with 20 some HRs and his RBIs would be up if he had some runners to bat in. I think that the Cubs are better with Barrett than the alternative. If we could get a guy with a great glove and arm and could bat .275 with 20 HRs and 70 RBIs then I would agree to let Barrett go. Blanco is not that guy.

vote santo for h.o.f.

by santo for prez on Jul 4, 2006 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Ahh yes...

...because the pitchers don't give up any walks when Blanco is catching. The catcher puts down the signs but the responsibility for getting guys out lies with the pitcher. BTW, for all the people who were screaming because Barrett's CERA was higher than Blanco's last year you better watch out. Blanco's is 5.52 this year to Barrett's 4.81.

by jolietconvict on Jul 5, 2006 8:08 AM CDT up reply actions

If Barrett is going to be dealt

then he should go to an AL team where he can dh and catch every now and then. His bat is probably worth more to an AL team and we'd likely get more for him that way.

Can he even play third base anymore? Would his defence there be acceptable to anyone? How about outfield, can he play left field? Just curious. I like his bat and I think his inability to work with our pitchers is a bit overstated but it is starting to look like he shouldn't be behind the plate.

On a side not, Al mentioned that Milwaukee is leading the league in wild pitches, and we are second. It should be noted that the defensive minded Damian Miller is the Brewers catcher. So is it the catchers fault or the pitchers fault? Just some more food for thought...

Passed balls are another issue and Barrett seems to have an issue with that. Combinded with the wild pitches, it doesn't look good.

I've said it before though, there is an offensive drop off from Ramirez to Barrett at third, and there will be an offensive drop off from Barrett to our shiny new defensive wiz behind the plate. Getting worse offensively at two positions to solve one defensive problem, even if it is at catcher, isn't a good idea.

by pageian on Jul 4, 2006 10:31 PM CDT reply actions

Barrett's numbers at any other position

are average at best.

by PriorandAramisfan23 on Jul 4, 2006 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions

World Series winners

rarely have a defensive liability behind the plate which unfortunatly Barrett is. Winning teams almost always take an offensive liability behind the plate vs a defensive one. The Cubs need to get better offensively somewhere else to make up for a weak hitting defensive minded catcher.

by wicubfan on Jul 4, 2006 11:53 PM CDT reply actions

AL, YOU CRACK ME UP

I love how you always say that the GM should think twice before making moves he feels is right for the team. You argue this based on the fact that "this isn't fantasy baseball, these are real players with real families blah blah blah". We're not talking about trasnfering a blue colloar employee named Joe Schmoinski from the South Side of Chicago to the Bronx. We're talking about transfering MILLIONAIRE! We're talkinga bout transfering people who get to live their dream by prancing out onto a field for a few hours a day to be millionairs They knew what they were getting into when they signed up to be professional athletes.
If it is better to trade away the whole team and the farm, then do just that!!
Keep Walker, keep Barrett at catcher, keep Z, keep Prior, keep D. Lee, keep cedeno and murton (unless the price is right) and trade away the rest because their assets to this team and nothing else. Your sentiment towards them reminds me of Iverson's?? (whatever NBA start it was) plea to get more money cuz he had to feed his kids.

So we're stuck in a slump, it's only been a century...

by Old Style Heavy on Jul 5, 2006 12:34 AM CDT reply actions

That was Latrell Sprewell

And he wasn't plea-ing. He was demanding, which makes it even funnier.

Well, all the papers seem to have Dusty getting canned so it should start to get interesting. I wonder if they let Chris Spier "interim" it into the ground or if they actually hire a guy who'll be the man next year and beyond....Of course this BLOG voted for Steve Stone of all people so whoever it is I'm sure will be criticized.

At least it will give us something to debate other than how much Rusch or Neifi suck, which was tiresome in May.

by yahoodi on Jul 5, 2006 7:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Barrett

I wonder about you folks who have a team scoring 0.7 runs per game worrying about the defense of the catcher who is one of the few offensive threats in the lineup. You can't win 0-0.

AZCubsFan

by azcubsfan on Jul 6, 2006 12:53 AM CDT reply actions