Chris Speier now coaching for Dusty

by Jerry Mumphrey on Apr 8, 2008 12:57 PM CDT

I was listening to some AM sports talk radio from Chicago and the host started going into how inept Mike Quade is as a 3B coach. I was was actually thrilled to hear it as I thought I've been the only one to take issue with his performance in the past. He's probably great with the players and everything, but his judgement is sub-par when it comes to sending runners, usually erring on the side of caution.

We all know why Speier got canned as the Cubs 3B coach, but he never seemed to make a mistake on the field in his short time over there. Now I see Dusty's picked him up as an IF coach. What is up with that? Are the Cubs too self-righteous of an organization to give the guy a second chance? Did management view him as a stain on the untarnished Cubbie image? Smart move by the Reds anyway. It just kind of burns me that the Cubs allowed a downgrade in the basecoaching department for what was basically a victimless crime (DUI riding solo on a motorcycle) albeit unethical.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Leftovers

It looks like Dusty is trying to use all of our left overs against us, did anyone else notice that Paul Bako plays for the reds? I would agree about the Chris Spier argument because I also have noticed Mike Quade being a little too cautious when sending runners home especially when you consider how weak most outfielders arms are in the MLB, there are only a handful that can even gun you out at home.

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on Apr 8, 2008 1:19 PM CDT reply actions

With all do respect

But a DUI is in fact a "A victimless crime is behavior of an individual which is forbidden by law, but which does not violate nor significantly threaten the rights of other individuals."

Also, hes an even bigger idiot for doing it on a motorcylce.

Something funny to me is that the Cardinals got rid of Spiezo for alcohol but not their manager.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 8, 2008 1:23 PM CDT reply actions

With all due respect

So Tony LaRussa is supposed to be ash-canned because he was arrested for a DUI? He did a very bad thing, but this was a one time transgression/crime in his history. Scott Spiezio has had multiple infractions against him.

Chris Speier falls in the category of LaRussa. He screwed up, and screwed up bad. But if he pays for his crime and gets help then why should his career be finished?

by MDBNIU on Apr 8, 2008 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

A DUI is absolutely not a victimless crime....

... if the person doing the DUI kills someone else while doing it.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 8, 2008 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

WHOOPS

It should read "but a DUI is NOT"

Damnit I even looked up the defeintion and everything.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 8, 2008 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks!

Glad you clarified that.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 8, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions

EDIT

BUT a DUI in NOT in fact a........................

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 8, 2008 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Pretty sure

Chris Speier was hired by Dusty rather than the Cubs, when he came to Chicago. Only Rothschild was a holdover from the previous administration. So when Dusty went, all his guys went (exception again: Rothschild, who had recently signed a multi-year contract). The manager usually hires coaches, with a few exceptions--like when an organizational guy gets promoted by the GM. That's what happened to Quade. I think all the other current coaches were hired by Lou.

"Is there anything he can't do?" ~Len Kasper, 4/5/08, on Kosuke Fukudome

by JohnM on Apr 8, 2008 4:08 PM CDT reply actions

IIRC....

... Speier was forced on Dusty when his pet coach Wendell Kim was let go.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 8, 2008 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Just beat me

As Randy Hundley would say, "dagumit!"

"My bed is pulling me, gravity, daysleeper. Daaaysleeper."

by markleonette on Apr 8, 2008 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Speier didn't come to Chicago with Dusty

He replaced Dusty's guy Wendell Kim. And at the time it seemed like Speier was Hendry's hire, not Dusty's. Last winter I posted something about this when the Reds hired Speier. According to the AP story, Dusty and Speier are now related by marriage, so that may explain why he hired him with the Reds.

Nothing against Quade, but I thought Speier did a good job in his couple of years in Chicago, and I wish he would have been kept.

"My bed is pulling me, gravity, daysleeper. Daaaysleeper."

by markleonette on Apr 8, 2008 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions