A call for Hendry to be terminated
by BLou on Apr 29, 2010 5:45 PM CDT
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There can be no more wishful thinking. There can be no more denial and eternal optimism. Jim Hendry was permitted to go into hyper-spending mode with little oversight,. His due diligence and objective analysis of his team and of targeted acquisitions was largely thrown out the window. Fact is the window of opportunity for this team slammed shut in 2008. Fresh off a second consecutive total and utter playoff collapse.
A $146 million nightmare of a payroll. Of which the only way to address is to start active pedaling the few legitimately marketable commodities whose contracts expire first, namely Derrek Lee and Ted Lilly. Lee will have market value, particularly in San Francisco where the Giants are his "hometown" team and who have the pitching to have a special season. Lilly on the other hand will surely draw attention from any number of contending ballclubs. Other than that? Well, you don't offer arbitration to Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot anymore. What else? Well not much else you can really do except sit on your hands and wait for the Soriano deal and the Kosuke deal and the Zambrano deal and, heck, even maybe the Ramirez deal to unwind. Speaking of Ramirez? Sure smells like he is in for a Troy Glaus and Eric Chavez type of decline that shall come all too early in his career to me. Still a vitally important player, but like everybody else in the Cubbie lineup of today his best production days are in the rearview mirror.
So Tom Ricketts, it is time you come down from your management suite and start the process that surely you must have recognized from the beginning would have to happen. Time to ashcan Jim Hendry. Either that or take the cowardly approach and kick him upstairs into a "senior advisory" role, or worse still an Ed Lynch no-man role.
Cub fans are disgusted. And I am not the only Cub fan on this planet who actually is rooting for losses right now. It is the only hope for change.
Lou Piniella? I've grown disgusted of the man too. But Piniella isn't really the problem. Let the tired old man play out the string. It's not going to hurt.
Other than that? I guess maybe we might have Starlin Castro and Andrew Cashner arriving soon enough to cause hope for the future while Rome burns around us otherwise.
Blou
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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This is about the 1,000,000th time you have suggested this.
Tell me. What purpose would firing the GM after 23 games accomplish, except to satisfy you?
It’s simply not going to happen. If the season turns out badly, yes, he will probably be fired at the end of the season.
It’s way too early to write this season off. Go ahead and root for losses, but I suspect you are in a small minority.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al Yellon on Apr 29, 2010 5:49 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
You are in the definite minority Al Yellon
THere are few sane Cub fans who look at this current iteration of the Cubs and have legitimate hope. I’m not going to argue that point with you. Because you are just flat out wrong in your assessment of things. With all due respect.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
Respectfully...
… which is how I hope you will continue this discussion, April 29 is too early a date to make that judgment.
Further, replacing the general manager on April 29 would accomplish exactly nothing.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
So lets prolong the agony...
After all, we want Jim Hendry in the driver’s seat come the trade deadline. We want the man and his blank checkbook to live in more denial and to leverage his subjective means of analysis (e.g., Jeff Spellcheck) to therefore make strategic decisions on buying or selling. And Hendry will NEVER go into sell mode because that would be self-admission of failure.
All I can hope for is a 10 game losing streak, followed by another 10 game losing streak. IT really has become the only “hope” for change.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 29, 2010 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 7 recs
Douglas adams FTW!
"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
Life.
Don’t talk to me about life.
"One of the things I like about baseball is that between innings you can go to the restroom.'' ~Manny Acta.
There is a theory ...
… which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.
Douglas Adams
"A waist is a terrible thing to mind." - Terry 'Fat Tub of Goo' Forster
@Twitter as @brommmietze
LOL
Best part of the entire thread.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Apr 30, 2010 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Jump the gun much?
Look, I am as disgusted by this offense as anyone, but the basic situation is this: Ramirez and Lee are making Mario Mendoza look like The Babe. It’s not just the 1-something BAs, but the horribly unproductive at bats. Strike outs, GIDPs, inability to even hit a decent fly ball when you need one. It is depressing.
But as Al points out, it is April. You don;t know if Aram is headed into a permanent decline, nor does anyone else. By the end of next month, we will have a better picture. Meanwhile, the rest of the team is hitting reasonably well, and the starting pitching has been excellent.
I do think Lou should break up Lee and Aram until they get their strokes back, ‘cuz it is clearly killing us having, in effect, two lame-hitting pitchers in the middle of the lineup. But I don’t know if this will happen.
So,. we wait for our stars to start hitting. Hendry is almost certainly done in Chicago, anyway.
Al, I do agree that firing Hendry NOW will not make Ramirez and Lee swing better
but if the Cubs are in a hole by the AS break then I am all for firing Hendry. With the Payroll, this is a very underachieving ball club and this is one of the main reasons that GMs and Managers get fired. Getting a new GM at the break will not salvage 2010 but it will let him settle down in his job so that he can have a reasonable grip on things by October.
by cubsnlinux on Apr 29, 2010 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
it's funny
because scroll up to your poll. That you’re losing.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 8:28 PM CDT up reply actions
I haven't liked Hendry...
…as a GM going back several years (before it was cool), but canning him right now really doesn’t do anything for you.
This offseason is going to be very critical in regards to the baseball leadership future of the organization. Unless the Cubs have a very good year (which means playoffs), I would be shocked if Ricketts didn’t bring in a new guy to run the baseball operations.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Broaden your view
He should be fired for the past few hundred games, not just this season
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Don't take the bait BCB'ers.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
by cubswynn on Apr 29, 2010 5:52 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Oh come on...
… if we are going to have the negative (and its inevitable at this point) it should at least come with the chance that you’ll be called something awesome like a “liberal namby-pamby” or be told to “pound sand”.
It really is more fun this way.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 29, 2010 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Maybe in a 10-minute span you can be called
a liberal namby-pamby and Karl Rove.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Apr 29, 2010 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions
I was all like...
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 29, 2010 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Not rooting for losses, that's just ridiculous
But this team does look bad and I think some big changes might be in order. It doesn’t strike me as the worst idea to trade Derrek Lee, the net result of which could be more playing time for Colvin and maybe some help in the bullpen.
lol
actually is was more of a snicker
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
A CALL FOR BLOU TO BE TERMINATED
Oh sorry typo. I meant LOU.
Um never mind
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 29, 2010 5:55 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Make it all about Blou...whatever floats your boat
I cannot help those of you who live in abject denial. FOrtunately you are a shrinking minority.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
by BLou on Apr 29, 2010 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Um actually it is LOU P
Him I would like terminated. However neither he nor Hendry will be terminated anytime soon.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 29, 2010 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Last season, people wanted Lee to get traded
Then he got started and he was the best player on the team.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Best thing to happen is for Derrek Lee to get hot
That enhances his market value for a mid-season trade. There is NO WAY the Cubs can re-sign him to a new deal given his advancing age, the payroll situation and the stark cold truth of where this franchise sits right now.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
by BLou on Apr 29, 2010 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
If you're going to suggest that someone is let go
you should at least have a viable candidate that could take their place. Getting rid of someone for the sake of getting rid of them is not a good idea.
by JimAnchower on Apr 29, 2010 6:02 PM CDT reply actions 4 recs
An interim solution until the end of the season is perfectly acceptable
Hell, it can even be Randy Bush so long as Ricketts gives him strict directive on aggressively trying to move whatever it is on this $146 million trainwreck that can be moved.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
When you're firing the sheriff
and the sheriff hired the deputy, I’m not sure putting the deputy in charge is a good idea.
by JimAnchower on Apr 29, 2010 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
No?
(and NO, I’m not suggesting Randy Bush is Barney Fife… it’s just the the joke imagery was too good to pass up…)
"Look, what do you want me to do?"
by Zeke on Apr 30, 2010 3:59 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
I Love It!
"See the stars they're shining bright, everything's alright tonight."
by markleonette on Apr 30, 2010 4:17 AM CDT up reply actions
Greeeeeen it!
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Apr 30, 2010 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions
In a related story
the lady who played Thelma Lou was visiting Mt. Airy, NC (the town on which Mayberry was based) and had her wallet stolen!
Sittin' on the ledge and sippin' Kool-Aid...
Barney must not have had the bullet.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Apr 30, 2010 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions
name more than 2
times where an interim anything was better…
I saw you in that coffee shop, breaking the fifth commandment. Congress passes these things for a reason, Lois.
Currently 34,839 on the Season Ticket Wait List - Expected age of being #0: 119
by hansman1982 on May 1, 2010 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Actually, his job isn't to recommend a replacement
One doesn’t have to offer a name for a replacement just to say the guy who is doing the job isn’t doing a good job and probably should get fired. Now in his opinion, he thinks Jim Hendry should get fired. He should have quite a few sympathizers to this opinion, so he’s not alone. I often find the whole, “Who could do a better job?” question to be one that tolerates complacency. My response is often, “That guy isn’t doing his. They need to find someone who can do it better.” Now if I had enough information as to offer a professional opinion on who should get a job, I might be inclined to give an idea. But I don’t have to.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
by Ace Venom on Apr 29, 2010 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions 9 recs
Rec'd
Especially – ‘I often find the whole, "Who could do a better job?" question to be one that tolerates complacency.’
It's not a question of who can do better
it’s a question of how likely it is. Hendry has a contract through 2012. Do you think the Ricketts will want to pay for two GM’s for two years? I’ll guess he’s probably being paid in the $2-4M range and any replacement will cost at least that much. While that may not seem like much when a team is paying it’s on-field personel in the $140M range, it is something that will impact the decision. In addition, if there isn’t anyone else out there who is better, why make the move? Right now, there probably aren’t too many good candidates available. In the offseason, there probably will be some.
by JimAnchower on Apr 29, 2010 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions 13 recs
This post has way too much common sense
not to REC
"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
I like to rec and i can not lie.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 29, 2010 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions
I predict...
…if the Cubs have a 2nd straight year of missing the playoffs (with the highest payroll in the weak NL), Ricketts will indeed replace Hendry with someone who he thinks long and hard about.
What may happen is, the new GM will indeed simply replace Hendry for the first couple of years, and then may be elvated to (VP of baseball operations) and hire his own GM.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Or...
… someone would be hired to oversee baseball ops (as VP) and retain Hendry, Fleita and Wilken, who would all report to him.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Could be...
…but I hope and pray they take away final decisions on roster assembly from Hendry.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Al, can you expand on this scenario
…and describe it in such a way so that it would NOT seem like a demotion for Hendry? I can’t.
And no matter how it’s spun, if Hendry views it as a demotion, don’t you think that considerably lessens the chances that Hendry would want to stay? From Ricketts’ perspective, that may be the desired outcome anyway, but if he wants Hendry to stay, hiring a baseball guy to oversee him would not seem to be the way to do it.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Well...
… Hendry does have two years left on his contract. Another voice would be added, and perhaps an organizational philosophy could be developed — a “Cubs Way” — which we do not have now.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Good points...
…but the big question will be; who will Ricketts want running his baseball operations after watching how things work for one year?
If he looks at the totality of Hendry’s work, he may come to the same conclusion I have since about 2005, and that is Hendry’s biggest achilles heel is knowing how to put a balanced roster together. With $140+ mil to spend, you should be able to do that, but Hendry has fallen short in this area – big time. He puts pieces together that don’t fit what a successful club needs, and has ignored facts and long term history with certain players while doing this. Hendry is not a “builder” of good quality balanced rosters, nor is he a builder of a well rounded baseball organization. It has only been in the last couple of years the farm has shown any life, and that is probably directly related to the work of Wilkens. Sure Hendry hired him, but Hendry himself ran the farm from 94-2002, and that should tell you a bit about his skills in this area.
If Ricketts does make a move to bring in someone to oversee the baseball operations, I don’t see teams falling all over themselves to have Jim Hendry serve as their GM. As an owner, I would look at the money he has had to spend, and how that may translate into what he would do for me – with probably a lot less dough he would have at his disposal.
My guess is Hendry would indeed stay on in a role where his final say on players would be removed, because he won’t have anywhere else to go and make the dough the Cubs are paying him.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Completely agree with this..
The line of “who would you replace Hendry with” is a classic strawman argument. The person who puts forth such argument then destroys the potential repacement, rather than conceding Hendry needs to go..
Favre-enfreude
The thrill of seeing an epic Brett Favre fail. Derived from schadenfreude - satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.
Well...we'll seee how you feel about that when D. Lee turns 50...
and is still playing 1b b/c he can hit 20 HR’s and pick up 75 garbage time RBI’s every year….
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
If D Lee is still doing that at 50
then I’ll have what he’s having.
by JimAnchower on Apr 29, 2010 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
....and the Cubs still haven't won a division title since 2008
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
Trouble ahead, trouble behind
And you know that notion, just crossed my mind…
trouble ahead with the lady in red....
take my advice…..
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
+1
This hits close to home…
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
Which is why...
…you don’t make a move like this during the season.
Without question, this decision would be the most important one Ricketts will make for a while.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
After further thought...
I think Jim Hendry’s firing in the coming offseason would only come from a worst case scenario.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
I hope not...
…Hendry has spent like a drunken sailer, and if your spending that kind of dough, you sure as hell have better than “worst case scenario” results on the field.
If Ricketts holds up to his talk about “holding people accountable”, anything less than the playoffs should launch a GM who has outspent everybody in sight, and doesn’t have a playoff club.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
blou we know you have a seething hatred for hendry
but do we need to read about it every freaking day?
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2010 6:02 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
Yes, I have seething hatred for Hendry and what he has done to this franchise
Next question.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
alright
just checking
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2010 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions
because
before Jim Hendry the Cubs were a model franchise……
by CalCalender on Apr 29, 2010 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
I hear
he’s freebasing ice-water.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions
i believe hes starring in CSI: Dominican Republic
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2010 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions
we understand
hendry did destroy the championship run we were having before Hendry was hired. Since he has been GM we have opnly gone downhill from the pre hendry days
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Yes, repeated division championships
and legitimate reason every season to believe the Cubs can get in the playoffs.
You’re right, that sucks. Anybody got Ed Lynch’s phone number?
by Not Bruce Froemming on Apr 29, 2010 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Great..
Sorry Bruce, but that and 75 cents will get you a Sun-Times..I want the Cubs to win a world series. The crappy NL Central doesn’t do a thing for me, especially when you get swept in the playoffs.
Favre-enfreude
The thrill of seeing an epic Brett Favre fail. Derived from schadenfreude - satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.
Yahtzee
Clue
Life
Oh wait, you weren’t just mentioned random games?
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Apr 30, 2010 6:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Crawl before you can walk
If you keep knocking on the door, it will open eventually.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Apr 30, 2010 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions
I would agree..
but getting swept the last 2 times they made the playoffs doesn’t give me a lot of comfort. If they were getting just edged out in 7 games or something yes….
Favre-enfreude
The thrill of seeing an epic Brett Favre fail. Derived from schadenfreude - satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.
Would losing in seven
make it any better? For me, I don’t think it would.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Apr 30, 2010 6:46 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
What goes unacknowledged on BCB is that a long, painful process is ahead for the Cubs
It’s like a sickly patient knowing they need a triple bypass yet not wanting to think about the surgery or the lengthy recovery period or the profound life changes that will need to happen to have reasonable hope of living.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
As much as I disagree with you about rooting for losses I would NEVER root for losses....
I do agree that the Cubs, because of some of the contracts they have, are in for a long recovery period. As much as I hate saying that because I read what I wrote, deleted it, and wrote it again. 2008 was our chance. The team this year seems just lifeless at times.
I really really hope I’m wrong and that pretty soon they will turn things around, start hitting with runners in scoring position, gaining confidence in the bullpen not to turn 2-1 losses into 5-1 losses, and start beating teams they are supposed to beat (ahem Natinals). I just don’t see any sign of that happeneing.
United we stand and united we'll fall......down on our knees the day we win it all!
by Bricks and Ivy on Apr 29, 2010 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions
and please nobody give me any of the "don't let the door hit ya" comments...
I’m not bailing on the team whatsoever. I will still be rooting for them to win and getting pissed when they lose. I just lost all confidence in them to be a consistently good team. Not even because of their record or pos. in the Central, just for the style of play on the field.
United we stand and united we'll fall......down on our knees the day we win it all!
by Bricks and Ivy on Apr 29, 2010 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Well said
I happen to agree totally-no, this is simply NOT a good baseball team. Yes, I DO tune in every day hoping that they’ll start a winning streak and I’ll have to eat crow for not believing in them.
But for now I have the evidence of my own eyes and that’s telling me that’s it’s going to be a long season.
by bluekoolaide on Apr 29, 2010 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Contracts Fail
Here’s a spreadsheet of their contract obligations going forward :
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tt7HjIernphaSrv4wMWdUYg&output=html
It’s nowhere near as bad you think it is …
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Apr 30, 2010 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
we dont take klindly to facts in Blou threads
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Yay, it makes us all confuzzled
"A waist is a terrible thing to mind." - Terry 'Fat Tub of Goo' Forster
BLou is awesome
No matter how bad I think my day is, I can just read a few BLou comments and think, well…at least I’m not as negative as that guy.
by Neifi Puppy on Apr 29, 2010 6:13 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
OT: Look at the puppy!!!!
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
A bit pressed for time right now
but I wanted to deal with one aspect of BLou’s post. As I’ve said before, I’ve got no issue with BLou’s posts, and I can definitely understand the viewpoint.
My one aspect that I want to challenge is a very small point, and that is the implication that Kosuke isn’t a marketable commodity. He’s improved each year, and while there are some odd statistics with Kosuke, most acknowledge that he’s getting better. Here’s a solid defensive right fielder with good discipline and decent power (I don’t expect the .220ish ISOP to maintain, but I think he can be close to what he was last year). Slowly, he’s becoming the player that we somewhat envisioned when we signed him (a Bobby Abreu/JD Drew esque player). I know BLou hasn’t been a fan, but if we do tear down and rebuild, which I’m not anticipating even though this is an oddly constructed team, a fact that I have never disagreed with BLou on, I do think that Fukudome is a marketable enough commodity that we might be able to get something decent, particularly since Fukudome still has, by most accounts, a decent fanbase in Japan.
by toonsterwu on Apr 29, 2010 6:20 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs
Right
I don’t mind BLou’s argument, but at a certain point, you ask, why respond again. And what’s missing from this redundancy of BLou’s is the diatribes against Dome Taguchi and Roid Soto and Career Over Soriano.
The overall, long-term health of this franchise looks a lot different when the guys who look horrid are at the end of their contracts than (last year) when they’re the youth and/or in longer-term, unmoveable contracts.
Plus, the farm system keeps looking better and better, and if Samardzija is a bust, Tyler Colvin is now most certainly not a bust. So, what does this team really look like in 2011 if we have freed up the $$$ owed to Lee, Dome, Lilly, and Rami, and have cheap, young talent at C, SS, RF?
And the idea that Hendry has to go before the trade deadline is absurd, since the one quality of Hendry’s that uncontestable is his ability to get back talent in trades. What GM is available who will do better in trading than Hendry?
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
Do you want Jim Hendry making strategic decisions going forward?
I sure in the hell don’t. The man has proven time and time again that he lacks objectivity and has extreme addiction to shoddy scouting work and free agency. His primary “claim to fame” shall forever be acquiring Derrek Lee from a Florida team in financial crisis and prying away Aramis Ramirez from an ignorant and flat broke Pittsburgh organization. Big deal. If that is Hendry’s primary claim to fame in the 15 years or so he has been employed by this franchise, then something is dramatically wrong. And this is a GM who also is infamous for his flip-flopping on how to win baseball games…first it was win behind the power pitching of Wood and Prior…then he wanted to plagarize a page from the Sox and acquired Juan Pierre in order to play “small ball” at WRIGLEY FRIGGIN FIELD OF ALL PLACES…then he wen’t out and said screw it and spend multi-millions on flawed outfielders who were stats whores and second-division players everywhere else they had been…etc.
I do not want Jim Hendry touching anything else. Not a single damned thing. I want him OUT. And he can take Jeff Samardzija with him.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
Yes I do.
Jim Hendry’s trades have tended to be one of two kinds. He’s done poorly when he’s been moving players to places of better employment for their sakes when their manager has wanted them gone (Pie, Wuertz, etc.). But he’s done extremely well at identifying talent to trade for, going all the way back to Karros and Grudzielanek, including Lee and Rami, but even this season showing up in Silva and Gorz. These haven’t all been salary dumps as you like to argue.
When everyone wanted Hendry to sign Zito and Schmidt, he identified superior talent in Lilly and Marquis – and paid less for them, too. You could easily argue that the acquisitions and developments of Lilly and Dempster are on a par with the Lee and Ramirez acquisitions. Hendry’s recognized talent every other GM missed on the scrap heap – Kendall and Edmonds and others. He’s learned from mistakes – moving towards valuing health as a skill and appreciating OBP. He’s had an uncanny ability to know when to cut bait on players he loved – Clement, DeRosa, Wood among others.
Of course there have been misses. Epstein and Cashman and Jocketty have their misses, too. Julio Lugo? Carl Pavano? Haren and Barton for Mulder?
But apparently all you’re left with now is Samardzija. Your major complaints have been answered. Hendry got out of the Bradley mess just fine, though you said he couldn’t and should be fired because of it.
The farm system has become very productive, even while our team drafts in the bottom half of the first round, though you said he couldn’t and should be fired because of it.
The Harden moves turned out perfect, first in the fleecing of Billy Beane, and then recognizing Rich was no longer able to get into the 5th inning and should be cut, though, once again, you first said he couldn’t get Harden and then said he shouldn’t have let Harden walk.
I can’t think of a better candidate to start the rebuild at the trade deadline if that’s what it comes to. Tell Jim Hendry his job depends on getting the most talent he can for the players with big contracts, and I can’t imagine a GM available who would do better than Jim.
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
by DGU on Apr 29, 2010 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions 8 recs
I, obviously, disagree wholeheartedly about "knowing when to cut bait" on DeRosa and Wood.
It was obviously one year too early – and both players were or would have been on one-year deals.
The Cubs core had a shot at a good 2009, but the sucking chest wound at closer and 2B for much of the season — and the fact that the team acted like a ship lost at sea without Kerry and Mark in the locker room – and the middling return received, in terms of dollars saved and talent added, for jettisoning the two, screams that these moves were, at best, timed… poorly.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Apr 29, 2010 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
?
Both Wood and DeRosa had disappointing, injury-ridden 2009s. They were not going to save the season. Meanwhile, we got three nice arms rather than getting nothing for DeRo.
I’m not going to argue chemistry, because I have no way of judging who is a positive there and how much so.
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
Wood's 2009 was quite good.
He had, essentially, 2 bad outings which accounted for 25-30% of his ER for the entire season.
In the second half, Wood was borderline awesome. Meanwhile, Kevin Gregg was monstrously lousy, and cost the Cubs games in the most obvious and visible manner possible.
As for the “three nice arms” – they’ve netted us absolutely nothing so far. I’ll absolutely admit that we’re the only ones left with any upside whatsoever in the DeRosa deal — but the way that the Cubs kept talking about him through September 2009 is a pretty big indicator that he was an important leader.
More to the point – can you justify the Pie and DeRosa trades taking place in the same offseason? In one case, you’re booting a former top prospect b/c he’s not fully realized and we needed Aaron Heilman in order to “win now”. In the latter, you’re jettisoning a top 3-4 producer from your “win now” MLB roster for a bunch of arms who are (charitably) 2-3 years away.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
In fact, if Wood is healthy at midseason this year...
… and the Cubs are contending, I’d take him back in a heartbeat.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
And that would be an (few and far between) exampple...
of hendry being a “good” GM….he let cleveland overpay…and then picked up the “scraps” later…
If healthy…I think he’d be a great addition to the Cub BP
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
????The DeRo wh made the playoffs and was one of the few who hit
in the playoffs for the Cardianls? In a conttract year????
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
was one of the few who hit in the playoffs
bout damn time
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2010 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions
He hit everything in the playoffs for the Cubs.
.333 in 2007, and .333 in 2008, with an OPS over 1.000.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
i guess i really have blocked out 07 and 08 from my memory
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2010 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Damn good example of a clutch hiter....
that said…I wouldn’t have resigned him this year either….
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
Granted. But why not let the 2008 team give it one last shot in 2009?
On the one hand, ditching Pie because he’s years away from contributing.
On the other, ditching Woody and DeRosa because we needed to get younger.
It was a mixed message, and demonstrated that there was no cohesive plan for the future of the franchise.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
derosa and wood did make or break the 09 season
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2010 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions
I wouldn't go that far.
I will say that I disagreed with both decisions at the time, and continue to disagree with both decisions. I can’t say whether those players could have put the team over the top.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
did not
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2010 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I was agreeing with you....
Let DeRo play out his contract…..and hell…it’s a business…if Kerry wants to be in Chicago on the cheeep…let him…..
My point (which I’m never clear on) is I think people make too big a deal about losing FA’s….the CONTRACT YEAR is the best year…let’m go out and have the anomoly season with “your/our” team…and some other team resign him/overpay him….when past prime….
I have no problem with a GM that lets contracts run out….as you said….he cut bait way too soon…..
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
and had similar "situation"...
with the DT’s lasst year as well….
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
except
Wood would NOT have been on a one-year deal, because he turned a one year deal down, and that’s when Hendry said “ok, go play fir the indians”.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions
No, he did not. We did not offer arbitration. If we had, it would have been a one-year deal.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Explain?
The Cubs did not offer Wood arbitration.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
That's correct.
However, offering arb does not require the team to sign a one-year deal. They can negotiate a longer deal if they so choose.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Going to arbitration results in a 1-year deal.
I mean, sure, anyone can negotiate a longer contract. But if we’d offered, and he’d accepted, the Cubs could not have been forced to go beyond 1 year.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
at what cost?
$7m, $8m, maybe $10m a season? Then those who want to argue about Hendry would use this arb as fuel for their fire. The anti-hendry crowd use anything they can, even if they have to use “unknown facts” to do so (speaking in general)
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Sure, why not?
First, it would be very unlikely that the result would have been $10M for 2009.
Second, we paid Kevin Gregg $4.5 or so, and everyone under the sun agreed it was a massive step down.
Third, we were throwing millions around for absolutely no reason last offseason. Gaudin, Gathright, Bako…. the difference between Wood and Gregg was worth the $3-5M it was going to cost the team.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
and of course if/when Wood
went down injured, many would be calling the signing of Wood stupid and calling for Hendry’s neck for it.
The negatives of hendry reminds me of DS and her ghost hunt for any reason to bash Lou. Any way to spin it, sure enough it gets spun.
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
That didn't happen. Can't have it both ways re: DeRosa and Wood in 2009.
If Wood had performed for CHC exactly as he did for CLE in 2009, it would have been money well spent.
If we’re working from the premise that Woody may have gone down in “alternate Cub 2009”, then everyone has to equally posit that DeRo may not have injured his wrist in “alternate Cub 2009”.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
You play too fast and loose with facts.
Wood was worth .4 wins last year, which translates into 1.9 M.
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
His replacement, Kevin Gregg, was worth -.3 wins.
Or, -$1.3M per Fangraphs.
Meaning that a pretty big difference between Wood’s and Gregg’s 2009 salaries would have been money well spent, even by Fangraphs’ WAR/value stat.
Even if the difference was, say, $5.5M, and therefore not a “bargain” in WAR/Value, it would still be worth it for a team in the 2009 Cubs’ situation.
(More to my point, Wood was nails last year in the second half.)
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
so between Wood and Gregg
you are going to argue about 0.7 wins different? That really is nitpicking IMHO.
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Not just that, Tim -
He’s arguing out of one side of his mouth that Hendry overpays left and right and from the other side that he should have paid 4-6 M for .7 wins.
.7 wins and Jeff Samardzija – I present to you he case against Jim Hendry.
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
and he said he would have
paid a few million more for those .7 wins, which is the exact thing most are arguing against hendry with, over paying for a player?
if i am wrong pls correct me as im not truying to be a smart ass, im honestly asking to make sure i understand what is going on
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Here's the argument.
We’re talking “wins against replacement”. In this case, however, we aren’t dealing with the universe of replacement players, we’re dealing with Kevin Gregg.
Paying Gregg $4.5M for negative $1.3M in production is a season-killer.
Paying Wood $8M or whatever for $2M in production is not a season-killer – it means we overpaid slightly, and have a better than average closer for a team in contention.
Even more to the point, Wood was only truly “below average” on 2 particular appearances. In the vast majority of his appearances, he was very good.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
math is your friend
8-2 = 6
4.5-(1.3)=5.8 (so it is about the same “over payment” negating the argument)
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Having a closer who is worse than replacement level is a killer.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
and your argument
is killing you, seeing as the facts you post continue to not match your argument about Wood vs Gregg
have a good evening
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Again you play fast and loose with the facts.
Go check Kerry Wood’s game logs. He gave up ERs in 15 outings – only 4 less than Gregg. It wasn’t just “2 appearances” not even close.
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
Again, I don't get the DeRomanticism
nor the continued infatuation with Wood, to the point that Al says they’d take him again in a heartbeat.
Last I read, Wood was getting ready to throw another simulated game. If there is a Cy Young for simulated games, Wood would be the champion, hands down.
I love Kerry Wood, and I liked Mark DeRosa. Hendry did the right thing by cutting bait on both of them. In DeRo’s case, he did exactly what the Hendry-haters love to hang him with — selling high.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Apr 29, 2010 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions
The most hilarious part of the DeRosa Inquisition
is that Fontenot had the same line against RHP in 2009 than DeRosa did.
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
it's funny
because of Fukudome.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 11:06 PM CDT up reply actions
ding ding ding
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
i know anything could happen
but arguing what ifs can be equally fought with more what ifs, which leads to a pointless debate.
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
That's true.
But a one-year deal is not mandatory in that circumstance — it is the minimum requirement.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
It's mandatory. Arbitrators cannot go beyond one year.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
if if if
you don’t know what would have happened. Fact is, Woody did NOT want a one year deal.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions
There's no "IF". MLB arbitrators do not give out multi-year deals. Period.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
sigh.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Explain.
You are arguing a situation that simply does not exist under the MLB CBA. If the Cubs wanted Wood on a 1 year deal for 2009, they had the power to make that happen. Period.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Al disputes your interpretation of the rule.
perhaps if you cited it, I might be more inclined to believe you.
For whatever reason, the Cubs were unwilling to give Wood a multi-year deal, and didn’t want to take him to arbitration. It’s not like they didn’t KNOW about his medical situation.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions
It's not an "interpretation". It's a hard and fast rule, and Al doesn't dispute it.
Arbitration results in a 1-year contract. That’s the only way it works.
Here’s a Yahoo Sports article titled “Arbitration 101” for you: in relevant part, it says:
“The (arb) system itself forces owners to come to the table with realistic one-year offers that reflect a player’s fair market value.
A player is not eligible for arbitration for three years, and that turns into four years if the team strategically calls a player up in June rather than having him break spring training with the club.
A club can pay that player anything it wants (above the minimum salary) for those three or four years. Then, if the club decides it doesn’t want to pay the jump in salary that arbitration might demand, it can non-tender a contract to that player and look elsewhere. The worst-case scenario for a club is to take a player to arbitration and be on the hook for only one year at market value."
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jm-arbitration101
Al is saying that, if the parties agree to a multi-year deal before the hearing, they are free to do so. Well, yes. They can. But you can’t make a team give a multi-year deal to a player who has accepted arbitration.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
alright.
that’s a reasonable citation. So, think about it — why did Hendry tell Woody “we’re not taking you to arbitration”?
Do you think you know more about it than he did?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions
He said that, because he made a mistake.
The Cubs obviously thought that Wood was going to be re-injured, or that he could not continue to be an effective closer.
If he’d offered arb, he would have gotten Kerry Wood for 2009 on a 1-year deal – OR, Wood would have refused, and he would have gotten a free #1 draft pick.
No downside, other than the difference in cost between $4.5M and whatever Wood would have gotten at arb.
That’s why everyone around here was so shocked and disappointed by the decision. Al, like many many others, believed that the non-arb-tender was b/c the Cubs were going to announce a new deal with Wood, but didn’t have it ironed out yet. Unfortunately, it was because we were gettin’ Kevin Gregg!
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
ok.
fair enough. Even I don’t believe that Hendry doesn’t screw up.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions
except
Hendry’s claim to fame is building a team that took back to back division titles and had three winning seasons in a row. As well as nearly taking the pennant in 2003.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions
For this payroll, you or I could put together an 85-win team, too.
3 winning seasons in a row is not a major accomplishment. At these payroll levels, it’s a prerequisite to continued employment.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
For this payroll, you or I could put together an 85-win team, too.
I doubt it. And those three winning seasons were the first such sequence in a century.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Well... that's where you and I differ then.
I’m reasonably certain that I could do better. Not that it’s a particularly high bar.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
seriously?
if that’s the case… THEN WHY AREN’T YOU DOING IT? Or are you Billy Beane in disguise?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 9:21 PM CDT up reply actions
i doubt ANYONE on BCB or SBNation for that matter
could truly do better than Hendry. If they could, they would not be blogging about it, but interviewing/doing it
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
That's a fallacy.
There are 30 MLB GMs. I am 100% certain that they are not the 30 people on the planet who would be the best at managing MLB baseball organizations.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
I would assume that
noone here could, or they would be applying and interviewing for the job. its not a disrespect to anyone here, its most likely the hard core truth.
if you truly believe you can out perform hendry, go and apply and fight to do so, otherwise stop boasting how much better you are when you are not doing it. that is like me saying i could easily hit 400 and just choose not to since there are 30 starting first basemen in baseball currently, so i just dont do it.
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Now, MLB *players* are a meritocracy.
I would definitely agree that MLB players are the best in the world.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
but then you cannot sit here and
talk about how bad a player is, since they are the best, right?
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Such a weird argument - can you really not follow this?
MLB players are, by and large, the best baseball players in the world.
That does not mean that the Cubs have the best players in MLB!
The Cubs employ several players who are very good, even by the MLB standard. Just not good enough.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
so you said they are the best
but not good in the same argument, a lot like the argument about Wood vs Gregg which continues to show holes each time you post?
im off to sleep, you can continue making up whatever argument you wish
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Can someone else help this guy out?
I don’t get it. Are we not writing in your first language?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
are you skipping over all the links
and facts showing that Wood and Gregg were “over paid” byt the same amount (Wood by 6m and gregg by 5.8m) and other facts that have proven you wrong thru this thread
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
You don't understand WAR.
If you overpay a player who provides a positive contribution, you are out money.
If you overpay a player who provides a negative contribution, you are out money and losing games.
For really high-spending teams like the Cubs and Yankees and Red Sox, it’s to be expected that some of your high-dollar guys aren’t going to be a “bargain” in terms of WAR. But they should at least contribute. The trick is to avoid players who are actually taking something off the table.
As for this subthread… I just don’t know how else to put it more simply. Cubsnlinux put it best below – “dude, I don’t think it’s really that hard to decipher this.”
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
and the WAR different for Gregg and Wood
was 0.7 or LESS THAN ONE GAME
so what is to not understand? Wood was a 0.4 and Gregg -0.3
I do understand, and you can triwst all you wish, but the facts (and the fangraphs as well) to prove your argument for Wood over Gregg to have little to no substance
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Dude..I don't think it's really that hard to decipher this..
D98 is saying that the MLB players are the best in the world but the Cubs as a big market club should don’t have the best players from that elite group.
LOL
I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that Hawk Harrelson would look like Theo Epstein when compared to you.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Apr 30, 2010 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions
BLou has not made anything resembling an argument.
Tired rants, dyspeptic screeds, generally third-rate writing, and the occasional burst of incomprehensible nonsense, yes.
Arguments, in the classic sense of a sound premise buttressed by evidence, leading to a supportable conclusion?
Where? When?
The Cubs are not playing well, true. That said:
Tell me first how firing someone who has no direct, immediate impact on daily on-field activity will improve that, and offer a solid direction and recommendations for making a good difference, both in terms of a replacement and in terms of a strategy.
“Back up the truck!” does not count.
by MN exile on Apr 29, 2010 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions 7 recs
Rec'd
for truth and the use of the phrase “dyspeptic screeds.”
"One of the things I like about baseball is that between innings you can go to the restroom.'' ~Manny Acta.
Bull.
BLou is right on mark.
Hendry should be fired, if for no other reason as an acknowledgement from the ownership that this team is an apocalyptic disappointment.
Sure Hendry did some things right. He also has one of the biggest payrolls on a team that lost 2 of 3 to the Washington Nationals. His performance is not acceptable, and firing him would be the ownership’s way of acknowledging that to the fans.
a new ownership
with an insane amount of debt from the purchase should not look at paying two GM’s for two seasons as a smart financial move. everyone wants to talk about finances when they talk about hendry, but then forget the finances behind firing hendry and signing a new GM, same goes for firing lou and signing a new mgr, and so on.
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Sometimes you have to cauterize a wound to stop the bleeding.
Hendry is responsible for wasting literally hundreds of millions of the Ricketts’ dollars.
We don’t have Hendry’s contract in front of us. I’d be very surprised if there was no buyout clause. But even if there isn’t, if you’re Tom Ricketts, it’s a minor hit compared to the damage this guy has done to your personal bottom line.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
So, what moves from the 2009-10 offseason are you calling "bleeding"?
Are you opposed to the Byrd deal?
Are you opposed to the Bradley-Silva swap?
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
I'm certainly not opposed to either of those deals.
And, since the entire 2009-10 offseason was spent treading water and trying desperately to get out from under the money-wasting deals of the prior offseason, I think my point is pretty well made.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
We didn't tread water.
We added more talent than we lost.
But even if I’m wrong, treading water is not bleeding.
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
More talented?
You would think if this team were truly more talented they would not be 3 games under .500 having played the easy schedule so far. Not to mention the team has been mostly healthy. So Hendry doesn’t even have that excuse.
I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been. Robert Plant 1975
by cmpody on Apr 29, 2010 10:46 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
The facts refute your contention
that the Cubs treaded water this past offseason
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Apr 30, 2010 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions
What?
How can you say that Hendry has no direct impact on the daily on field activity? He is the freaking GM. This is his team and his players and his coaches.
I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been. Robert Plant 1975
by cmpody on Apr 29, 2010 11:44 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Well, for starters...
…Hendry does not play, he does not coach, he does not manage.
He may have formed the current team, though anyone with even a shred of reasoning capability knows very well that on-field activity happens well downstream of Hendry.
And as long as you’re blaming Hendry, you need to take the stance that previous ownership was even more responsible, as they hired him.
I’m typing this as slowly as I can, is it helping?
I'll give Hendry credit for picking up salary dumps in Lee and Rami and Grudz/Karros.
I’ll also give him some credit for getting Nomar into town, even though that didn’t work out like we’d hoped.
But the Pie-Cedeno for Heilman series of moves casts a massive, massive, black cloud over his trade acumen.
For that matter, let’s not forget “Nolasco-Mitre-Pinto for Juan By God Pierre”.
And I’m not nuts about the “DeRosa for minor league arms” deal, first and foremost because the timing was atrocious (granted, the jury is still out on whether we’re likely to get any MLB-level return on those guys.)
“Jose Ceda for Kevin Gregg” was another bad deal. “Fortunately” for us, it has worked out badly for both sides. But we can’t deny that Hendry gave up a prospect for an expensive player who simply did not work and who was summarily jettisoned at the end of one season.
And I’m also upset about the “Jake Fox for minor league guys who we are releasing” deal. The Cubs spent most of 2009 publicly lambasting Fox’s defensive ability. In 2010, Billy Beane is starting him at catcher half the time. One of these organizations understands maximizing value.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
In 2010, Billy Beane is starting him at catcher half the time. One of these organizations understands maximizing value.
beane is doing that being fox is out of options
and im guessing he is still awful behind the plate
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2010 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions
In 43 innings....
1 error(.964), 1/2 on catching steals, 0 passed balls stats
You can't win in the postseason unless you can manufacture runs. - Hall of Fame 2B Joe Morgan
i guess blind squirrels can find nuts
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2010 7:57 PM CDT up reply actions
No, he's really good
ADAM LIND good.
You can't win in the postseason unless you can manufacture runs. - Hall of Fame 2B Joe Morgan
IF HE WAS ADAM LIND GOOD I THINK I WOULD KNOW OK
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2010 8:06 PM CDT up reply actions
LOL
You’re basing his defensive prowess on 5 GAMES???? How in the world can you be that stupid? SMALL SAMPLE SIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Apr 30, 2010 6:35 PM CDT up reply actions
I forgot about the Nomar steal.
You and I have been over the Pie-Cedeno series enough times to know we’re not going to change each other’s minds on it.
The Pierre trade was bad, but Pierre’s arb pick got us Donaldson, I believe, and all told it’s not as lopsided as it seems. The problem was Hendry chose the wrong player to acquire. At least he learned his lesson and let Juan go.
The DeRosa trade was very good in hindsight. Again, I don’t think we’re going to convince each other.
I was very opposed to the Gregg acquisition, although Hendry does get some credit for selling high on Ceda.
Jake Fox had no place on the Cubs and I’ll wager that Gray has more value to us than Fox has to the A’s.
So, yes, there are misses here, but what team doesn’t have misses. On the whole, Hendry’s trade record is very good.
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
You only get credit for "selling high" if you get something that helps at the MLB level.
Donaldson, for instance…. really isn’t likely to ever do anything to help the Cubs at the MLB level, or to net us something that will help. That’s seriously cold comfort for the Pierre fiasco.
The Pie situation is pretty much over at this point as far as upside for the Cubs. He’s obviously out for the next 10 weeks or so with that lat tear, but bottom line – they got our 25-year-old #1 prospect, we got absolutely no MLB production whatsoever.
The DeRosa trade has provided zero MLB help, as well. I think that Stevens is probably about to join the MLB bullpen — Gaub is getting rocked all over Des Moines at the moment, and Archer (who, by the way, shares a name with the best show on TV) is even further away – I believe, in his 4th A-ball season.
More to my point (which I think I discussed above) the timing of when we ditched DeRosa/Wood look just awful in hindsight.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Donaldson got us Harden.
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
Regarding Chris Archer....
… he is only 21, and at Daytona this year. He’s still got a shot at being a good major league starter.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
That certainly doesn't make him young for A-ball.
There are 13 Daytona Cubs (including Archer) born in 1988 or later. I love the strikeout totals. Not nuts about his 2010 so far. But, it’s early, both in this season and in his career.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
How was Nomar s steal????
That was a fine example of spinning the wheels and doing nothing…
He didn’t help in 04…..
And never recovered enough to really ever be helpful again….
He acquired another overpaid post prime “whatever” that DID NOTHING MEANINGFUL
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
Nomar had an unbelievable spring in 2005.
Then he got hurt. The injury had nothing to do with anything that happened in 2004.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Yabut...
…DID NOTHING MEANINGFUL….
That point is not refuted…..
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
How excited were you
when the Cubs picked up Nomar in 2004, KC? I’ll bet you were pissing in your pants, you were so happy.
That 2004 didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to is no fault of Jim Hendry’s.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Apr 29, 2010 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions
The future seems bright for the Cubs.
The Cubs have very good talent coming up in the minors. Blou, don’t you think that this teams should try to win as much as they can before they are no longer Cubs. Even if this Cubs team doesn’t return to the playoffs this season, we know that we have the talent that will succeed this baseball team. Firing Hendry won’t make those days come any sooner. The Cubs should now have the experience to get better FA in the future to compliment the home grown players. It will be just a little longer.
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
Sure - and it was equally bright, or brighter, 9 years ago.
There has been a lot of wasted time, and a LOT of wasted money, due to some flat-out incompetent decision making by this regime.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
With the talent coming up....
Especially Starling Castro, I think it would be a horrible mistake to trade D. Lee. With a young shortstop, we will need an experienced, steady hand at 1B to help him make the transition. I would rather give up a few (just a few) of those up and comers to keep D at first base. He is our franchise player right now.
I am not the world’s biggest Hendry fan, (Soriano and Bradley coff coff) but I don’t think he should be run out of town…….yet. If he trades D———I will bring the tar and feathers.
I'm adding a poll to this post....
… so we can see exactly what the sense of BCB is on this topic. Simple yes or no question.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
YES!!!!!
NO!!!!!!
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
I voted No
but not because I think he’s been doing a good job. I just don’t think firing him this early will accomplish much.
United we stand and united we'll fall......down on our knees the day we win it all!
by Bricks and Ivy on Apr 29, 2010 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions
wheres the "meh" option?
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2010 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Where is the
“I don’t really care” option?
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
"To [Vermont Cubs Fan], good luck, stay strong!"
-Captain Richard Phillips-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Apr 29, 2010 7:26 PM CDT up reply actions
After 102 years, the last 33 of which I have been a diehard plunking my hard cold cash down at Wrigley...
I will indeed root for losses. Living in bad mediocrity is recipe for denial and rationalization by the Cubs. Like I said, the patient needs full blown surgery and it is past due time to get on the operating table instead of wishing for a miracle cure coming from crossing fingers.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
If you root for losses,
Why do you call yourself a Cubs fan? You are the exact opposite.
And seriously, this can’t be a worse team than the teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Tell me, if Hendry goes, who will you focus your anger on then, because, it seems that you always have a beef with someone on the Cubs’ organization.
I may not like the way things are going, but to root for losses? That is among the worst things I can do if I claim to be a fan of a team. Not sure how you do it, but I should consider the source first.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
"To [Vermont Cubs Fan], good luck, stay strong!"
-Captain Richard Phillips-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Apr 29, 2010 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions 12 recs
Who would have thought
a BLou fanpsot would have so much green in it
"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
by eswan9 on Apr 29, 2010 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
That's worth another one.
"Juuuuuuussst a bit outside. He tried for the corner and missed..."
- Harry Doyle
by Rusty in Peoria on Apr 29, 2010 10:59 PM CDT up reply actions
That's exactly the point I was making yesterday
How can someone with half a brain and any common sense equate Cubs teams of recent vintage with teams led by Mike Vail, Steve Ontiveros, George Mitterwald and Cliff Johnson?
by Not Bruce Froemming on Apr 29, 2010 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
You know what,
That comment you made yesterday played a big part in my writing of this comment here.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
"To [Vermont Cubs Fan], good luck, stay strong!"
-Captain Richard Phillips-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Apr 29, 2010 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Just in case my position was not clear last year:
I cheered for Milton Bradley to fail.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
There's a difference
Between cheering for one player to fail as opposed to cheering for a whole team to lose. You wanted MB to fail. That’s fine, especially considering he was doing everything he could to burn this team to the ground.
However, what BLou is saying is that he wants the Cubs to lose. Not just one player, but the whole team. And that is what I spoke out against in my above post.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
"To [Vermont Cubs Fan], good luck, stay strong!"
-Captain Richard Phillips-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Apr 30, 2010 12:38 AM CDT up reply actions
There's a difference?
Not really. For the team to succeed, the players need to succeed.
That’d be like saying “i wanted the plane to make it, but i cheered for on of the engines to go out”.
A team is only as strong as the summation of its parts. There is no rule stating a dickhead player can’t also being a productive player. Everybody who got wrapped up in how big of an ass MB was generally glossed over this. And everybody ‘hoping’ that he’d fail was really hoping that the Cubs would be that much less good then they could have / should have been.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 7:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Well then in your pretty little world,
I “hoped that the Cubs would be that much less good.”
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
i hope none of the Cubs engines fail
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
It's just odd to me that THAT would be the priority of fans of a team that hasn't won a lot of meaningful games in our lifetimes.
To each his own, i suppose, but i certainly don’t feel my enjoyment of a postseason win would be lessened any by my disdain for a certain player or three.
By most accounts MJ is a real tool. I don’t cherish the memories of the Bulls championships any less knowing that.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
and this is when we hear
the ritual requesting of an “unrec” button on BCB.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Fact is
A Cubs fan hopes the team turns it around this season and wins 90 + games.
Blou proves he’s not a Cubs fan because he wants the Cubs to lose 100 games.
The only possible excuse to ever root for a loss in sports is if you’re an NFL team and trying to get that #1 draft pick and it’s a real top player. For example if it’s Peyton Manning coming out in the draft.
Formerly known as cubstoseriesby100. Thanks Al for letting me change my outdated screenname.
by puckishcubsfan on Apr 30, 2010 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions
My opinion on this issue
I don’t think it would be wise to fire Jim Hendry right now because asking a GM to come in during the middle of the season isn’t like hiring a new manager on the field. You can’t justify a firing like this during the season, especially since his tenure as GM has been largely successful compared to times past. It takes a lot more than a GM to win a World Series and I think the 2008 squad was well equipped to make it there, but it just didn’t happen.
Now I think you have a better case for getting rid of Lou Piniella at this point. The starting pitching has been mostly great, but the offense has been so woefully inconsistent that you wonder if something like changing managers just to get a new voice in the clubhouse would be the spark plug this team needs. The Colorado Rockies made the playoffs last year after firing their manager. The talent was there, but a new voice was needed.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
true but I don't think Jim Hendry has a history of firing managers mid season
Hendry is usually nice to managers/players. I also don’t think that Ricketts will force Hendry’s hand by any means at least this year.
Lou has also been in the business for a long time
Not many people want to fire someone like that.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
I think
I believe the rumor that they were going to fire Baker in 2006 but Hendry wanted PInella already and knew LOu wouldn’t come in mid season so decided not to bring in a new person for half a season.
And didn’t Baylor get fired by MacPhail and wasn’t that a part of that whole thing in 02?
Formerly known as cubstoseriesby100. Thanks Al for letting me change my outdated screenname.
by puckishcubsfan on Apr 30, 2010 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Sigh
Lou Piniella is a lot of things, but he ranks far down the list of what is wrong with this franchise right now. He is as good as gone at the end of the year anyway. He doesn’t want to be in Chicago and this time next year he will be back on the payroll of his beloved New York Yankees serving as special advisor to the Steinbrenner boys while sipping cocktails poolside at his Florida home for most the summer.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
While I'm not against the idea of changing the guard at GM
I wonder what purpose it serves to do it during a regular season. Give the guy enough rope to hang himself and he will, just like he’s done before. I just don’t think his job is going to survive this time.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
When you know you have a problem then you deal with the problem expeditiously in my book
I want Derrek Lee and Ted Lilly sold to the highest bidder in the coming weeks as first step to surgery for this patient. That can’t happen with Hendry on board, because he will NEVER admit what needs to be done for legitimate fear of labeling his strategic course a bust.
The rest of the season should be devoted to playing Tyler Colvin, grooming Starlin Castro and Andrew Cashner, and moving what contracts can be moved and/or can bring good longer-term value in return. Lee and Lilly are marketable. Definitely so.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
by BLou on Apr 29, 2010 6:47 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
What could Derrek Lee get us at this stage in his career?
Never mind the fact that he has an NTC, but what could an aging first baseman net us in a trade? I also think trading away our best pitcher is just a horrible idea. We need a veteran like Lilly in the rotation. Lilly is marketable, but I just think trading him in April is a bad idea. Lilly only has two starts to his credit this season and he just got rocked by the Diamondbacks.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Derrek Lee to San Francisco
Lee is native of northern California and would likely relish the opportunity to play on a Giant team that could get to the World Series with all that wondrous pitching and Pablo Sandoval leading the offense. Giants have a need at 1st base, and Lee is a free agent to be. It’s a match made in heaven, and I’ll bet the ranch Lee would waive his no-trade in a nanosecond. Especially since he is a free agent at the end of the season.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
Do you know Derrek personally?
How do you know he would like to play for the Giants?
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
can I see this ranch?
I want to know what I’m going to be getting when you lose your bet in a laughable manner.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions
No, but as he says, he's speculating, and in this case reasonably.
Obviously, any scenario in which the Cubs are looking to trade Lee would mean that the team is in pretty dire straits, and Lee is looking at 2 months left in his Chicago tenure in any case.
Assuming at the same time that SF is doing well…. well, if I were Lee, I’d be all over that.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
that is also assuming
SF wants D Lee. no saying who else is available and for less in rturn
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
I'm not sure it's reasonable
to hold a fire sale 1 month into the season.
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on Apr 29, 2010 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm pretty sure no one is advocating that.
In fact, in the post you’re responding to, it’s talking about the future.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
That not the way I read it
I want Derrek Lee and Ted Lilly sold to the highest bidder in the coming weeks
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on Apr 29, 2010 11:30 PM CDT up reply actions
He's also the same guy
who said Izturis would save this team a few years back and that Sandy Alderson would be hired as soon as the Ricketts bought the Cubs. Mostly he just blows hot air.
he also was the biggest supporter of
signing Bradley
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Sandy Alderson, do not want
Overrated.
"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
And what do they do with Huff
4 Hr’s and 840 OPS, a lefty hitter. I by no means say Huff is better, but maybe the Giants are fine with Huff at first.
In the coming weeks?
Good God, why do I reply to this shit?
And why do I read it?
by Not Bruce Froemming on Apr 29, 2010 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions
The real question is
why do any of us. And yet here we are. Again.
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on Apr 29, 2010 11:30 PM CDT up reply actions
It kinda worked for Seattle in 2008
I mean, that team was a freaking mess. And the new regime did effect a change of philosophy.
If Bavasi deserved to be fired (and he did) then Hendry does as well, right?
It’s not fair to compare past GMs to Hendry. Hendry is playing with a stacked deck (in his favor) that none of his predecessors enjoyed.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
The future's so bright I gotta wear shades
"I mean, if we can’t take Colvin after the spring he’s had, something is wrong," -- Lou
So today my wife called me at the office...
and said she wanted me to buy some things at the grocery store for dinner tonight. I asked her what she wanted me to pickup and she say…“Some meat.”. Ok, so what kind? Beef? Chicken? Pork? She says “Fish.”, to which I bust out laughing…I mean, come ON. Fish isn’t really meat is it?
Well, not wanting to argue with her over silly semantics like whether or not fish is a meat, I just asked her what kind of fish. So she says that she knows salmon is good for you, but she really doesn’t like the taste of it and wonders if they have any stuffed salmon or something with alot of spices or crust that would make it more enjoyable to eat. So I’m gonna try and find that at the grocery store before I go home. Man out of the clear blue sky she drops that request on me…and speaking of clear blue sky…
It’s very interesting as to why we say “clear blue sky”. I mean, scientifically, it’s not actually clear at all. And it’s not really blue either….the reason it appears blue is kind neat though, but fist we need to understand some things about light.
Light, simply put, is visible energy that travels in waves. COWABUNGA! Now there are lots of other forms of energy that travel in waves…sound and anger for instance. Visible light is really just a very small part of a bigger spectrum of wave based energy … See Moreknown as THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM OF AWESOMENESS. Light will appears as different colors based on the size of the wave it’s traveling and it most often appears as white. This is because it’s made up of many different wavelengths of light energy getting into fights and mixing all the colors of light together, and light is kinda racist, but that’s another story.
Now if light were to travel through a vacuum it would go in a straight line, unless the hose was kinked. In the atmosphere (sky), there are bits of dust, water droplets and gas molecules it runs into. Depending on what the light hits determines what happens to it.
Dust and water droplets are really big in relation to the wavelength of light, so when it hits these it just bounces off and continues on it’s merry way. Think of Webster running into Shaq. Whee!
Gas molecules however are much smaller than visible light’s wavelength, so when light crashes violently into a gas molecule something very strange happens. First the light wave and the gas molecule have to exchange insurance information and all the other light waves slow way down as they pass by and make everyone really mad. But on initial impact, some of the light get’s absorbed into the gas molecule! The gas molecule is like a LIGHT VAMPIRE, sucking the light away! Only unlike a real vampire, the gas molecule can’t keep the light in forever and eventually vomits some of the light back out…BLECHHHHH! Now all of the colors of visible light can be absorbed, but the higher frequency wavelengths get absorbed more often, and it just so happens that those frequencies are seen as BLUE to you and I.
So, now that we know what light is and how is travels through the atmosphere, we can understand that as visible light passes trough the sky, the higher frequency “blue” light get’s absorbed by the light vampires in the sky and as they vomit the blue light back out we see the sky as blue.
Okay, I gotta go buy some fish now. Later BCB.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 29, 2010 6:47 PM CDT reply actions 11 recs
i like potato chips
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2010 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Sun Chips!
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 29, 2010 10:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh god.
So good.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 29, 2010 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions
But the new biodegradable bag
Is annoying as hell!
"Juuuuuuussst a bit outside. He tried for the corner and missed..."
- Harry Doyle
by Rusty in Peoria on Apr 29, 2010 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions
I have not experienced it yet.
Damn you, potbelly, for selling me old chips!
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 29, 2010 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Cherish the old bag. Trust me.
The new bag… you do so much as breathe on it, it crinkles louder than anything naturally should. The chips are still good, though. :)
"Juuuuuuussst a bit outside. He tried for the corner and missed..."
- Harry Doyle
by Rusty in Peoria on Apr 30, 2010 7:57 AM CDT up reply actions
But what about people who claim to be vegetarians but eat fish?
It’s like straddling the fence, in my opinion.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
I believe there was a comedian years ago
who said that meat was murder, but fish was justifiable homicide
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on Apr 29, 2010 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions
oh it gets worse
I know people who claim to be vegetarians but eat fish AND chicken. Evidently, to these folks, red meat is the only kind of meat.
And once again, pork gets screwed…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I just learned more from SWL
than from Physics…wow.
That made perfect sense. O_O
A LO PROFUNDOOO...NOO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NOO...DIGALE QUE NO A ESA PELOTA!! GANAN LOS CACHORROS DE CHICAGO!!
by Azul Cachorro on Apr 29, 2010 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Related
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 29, 2010 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Actually sound
is particle motion, not wave motion…
But do you know why the sky is blue? Because if it were green, we’d never know where to stop mowing the grass.
Just win the next game...!
BLou...
I have to say, I’m glad you’re back as I enjoy reading your perspective very much.
Here’s my view on things: The absolutely pathetic display the Cubs showed in the 2008 playoffs spelled disaster. Hendry and Piniella came up with the lame ass excuse of needing more left handed hitting (they lead the league in runs that year!) and signed Milton Bradley for $30 million!!!
That, in turn, turned out to be a disaster and completely handcuffed the Cubs this off-season. Granted, Carlos Silva has done an excellent job, but there’s a .000001 chance of that continuing all season long.
What we can hope for however, is Silva to continue to pitch this well, and trade him when his value is at its absolute peak, and then be off the hook for the roughly $24 million (I believe) owed to him over the next few years.
Remember, Lee has a NTC so who knows if the Cubs would be able to move him. Byrd would be another trading chip if he continues to play well.
With that being said, I want the Cubs to win a World Series this year, but it’s not looking good right now.
By the way, St. Louis looks like a well oiled machine out there and it makes me sick! They’re gonna win 100+
by cubfanwill on Apr 29, 2010 7:16 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
St. Louis will win 95 to 105 games in 2010
No question about that in a putrid NL Central. St. Louis is vastly superior to anything else in this division right now.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
Yep
And the Cardinals will probably be the worst team to qualify for the playoffs depending on who the NL wildcard is. It makes it all more disapointing when you realize there aren’t any good teams in this division. The cards are just run well enough to take advantage of an abysmal division.
I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been. Robert Plant 1975
by cmpody on Apr 29, 2010 11:01 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I would bet you any amount of money they don't win 105 games
a 105 win team is utterly dominant. This Cardinals team is good, but they have 4 superstars and other than that their roster is very mediocre.
105 is a big number
But the cardinals feast on bad teams and talented teams that make boat loads of mistakes (see Cubs, Brewers). And since the NL central is chock full of those teams i expect the cardinals will continue to win at pretty much the same rate as how they have started.
I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been. Robert Plant 1975
by cmpody on Apr 30, 2010 11:41 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Wanna Bet?
Put up or shut up.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Apr 30, 2010 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions
By the way...
2008 still haunts me. 97 freaking wins and then 1,2,3 DONE!!! Absolutely pathetic!!!
That was much worse than 2003.
I wanted Lou fired after that
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Sort of like the Cardinals last year....
And the Angels in 2008. Disappointing yes, but not a reason to fire a manager.
0-6 in the postseason...
It makes me want to puke!
Kinda Like
What your posts make me do …
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Apr 30, 2010 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I respect all opinions as long as they are not laced with profanity and just stupid comebacks.
Blou wants it done now. I think it’s April 29. A lot can happen between now and July 1…. could be good and it certainly could be the same. I’ll wait and see because everybody in baseball will wait and see. Nothing gets done in April even if we wanted to start making trades.
I’m going to a friends funeral tomorrow that died of cancer at age 55. Right now losing a baseball game badly doesn’t seem all that important. The Cubs are my hobby and it is a passionate hobby, but in the grand scheme of things, just not that important to start calling for trades and firings this little into the season.
This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).
That first paragraph
Sounds like something I could say.
That second one, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I too am facing the possibility of losing a close family friend in Germany who is dying of cancer.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
"To [Vermont Cubs Fan], good luck, stay strong!"
-Captain Richard Phillips-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Apr 29, 2010 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Thanks, good to hear some minds think alike.
Hope your family friend fares better than mine.
Sidenote…..don’t you think with all the money and resources this country has (and had for such a long time) that somebody somewhere could figure out a cure for cancer? My Dad always said that and it stuck with me. Same with Juvenile Diabetes or some of the many other life threatening diseases.
This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).
I'm sure we could find a cure for all kinds of things.
HIV, cancer, and other nasty things. I pray we find cures for those every Sunday.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
"To [Vermont Cubs Fan], good luck, stay strong!"
-Captain Richard Phillips-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Apr 29, 2010 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions
I want Hendry gone
before the draft. I want a new GM and organizational system in place before the draft. I don’t want this current brain trust running the draft.
The Cubs get the least out of the most resources than any team in baseball and for that, Jim needs to go.
"Your eyes can decieve you. Don't trust them." Obi-Wan Kenobi, the first sabermetrician...
by Curtain Jerker on Apr 29, 2010 7:35 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
the drafts
have been fine in the past 3 or 4 years
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2010 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions
2008 was great
too soon to tell on 2009.
"Your eyes can decieve you. Don't trust them." Obi-Wan Kenobi, the first sabermetrician...
by Curtain Jerker on Apr 29, 2010 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions
our farm
is one of the fastest rising in baseball. That has everything to do with Tim Wilken
by CalCalender on Apr 29, 2010 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Im a big fan of thinking of what if's
And I do it with the Cubs.
What if Wilken had come in sooner?
I think maybe they had too much on Hendry’s plate for a couple of years.
I also wonder if things would have been different if when MacPhail came in in 95 he had been GM and never had Ed Lynch.
Formerly known as cubstoseriesby100. Thanks Al for letting me change my outdated screenname.
by puckishcubsfan on Apr 30, 2010 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions
My 2 cents is this
Yes, Hendry does need to go. No, despite Blou’s bombast he isn’t a loser with no idea of how to run a franchise. Jim Hendry didn’t decide to spend a ton of cash in 2006 the Tribune told him to. And he gave us 2 straight div titles and the best team of recent memory in 08.
Now, since then he has made mistakes and while none of them are AWFUL!!! the Cubs can find someone to do better. If Seattle can land a guy like Jack Z the Cubs certainly can find a better guy than Hendry. Somebody who WONT give John Grabow 7.5 million to suck out loud and who will build a bullpen so you don’t have to send your # 2 starter to the pen after 14 games.
However, we can wait until the offseason. In fact, there are few GM’s I trust more to get value in trades than Hendry. Its one of the few things he does well.
by CalCalender on Apr 29, 2010 7:38 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
You and I don't often agree.
But you’re right here. We need to see how this year ends up, both in the standings and/or what Hendry can get for the future of this team, before deciding whether to jettison him.
BTW, wanted to add that although I disagree with BLou’s position here, I appreciate him making it with relatively little bombast, and at least some facts backing up his position. If he could do that all the time, he would add to the discussion here.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
So when
the Florida Marlins fired Jeff Torberg in 2003 for starting the season with a poor record and signed on Jack McCeon, was that premature?
Was it wrong for the Cubs to fire their hitting coach last year?
When the team is not producing, the person in charge needs to go. We are not just talking about this year, but also last year’s debacle. Signing Milton Bradley, the Soriano contract, the Nolasco/Juan Pierre trade, trading Pie for almost nothing, the signing of Jacque Jones, these are all moves that were not just bad, but terrible.
How many chances does this guy get to screw things up? Aren’t you the least bit disgusted to see us losing series to the likes of the Nationals, Mets, and Diamondbacks?
Not trying to be inflammatory. Just trying to understand why you are so sympathetic to a GM who quite honestly has not done a good job!
how many times has that worked that way?
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Um any examples of firing a GM
early in the season ( or even midway) and the team turning it around? I can’t think of one, but that does not mean there wasn’t one.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 29, 2010 10:38 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think anyone realistically believes
Firing Hendry will turn this season around. I think the point is that if you are convinced this team is done, and that the ballclub needs to be rebuilt, and you are gonna bring someone else in as GM to rebuild it, then why keep Hendry around to finish out the season?
I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been. Robert Plant 1975
by cmpody on Apr 29, 2010 11:09 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
obviously
Rickets is not (publicly, anyway) convinced of that.
I’ll go out on a limb here — not only will Hendry NOT be fired this season, but he’ll be back for 2011. I’ll bet a dollar.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm not convinced either
As a hopeless optimist who loves watching Cubs baseball I am not convinced 2010 is over, but you have to be concerned. And if ownership does not have a rebuilding plan in place in case this team does implode then we (as cub fans) are gonna be miserable in the summer months for many years.
This team is 3 games below .500. Yet they have played a ridiculously easy schedule and have been healthy. If this team truly wanted to compete they had to get off to a good start, well that’s shot.
Hendry built this team he must be held responsible if it does not compete. And if ricketts doesn’t see it that way then we might as well bring back the Trib.
I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been. Robert Plant 1975
by cmpody on Apr 29, 2010 11:31 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I have no doubt Hendry will be held responsible....
… if the team does not compete, but generally that judgment cannot be made after a team has played 23 games.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
some things never change
and this is proof. you continue on with the same argument about Hendry like a broken record, and without anything new added to the other 34345452345 times you have called for his head. Thanks for playing, but you idea is no better today than it has been for the pat year of three
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
????
How about this for proof:
3rd highest payroll in MLB
Just lost 2/3 to Washington
What more needs to happen? Do we need to get swept by the Royals?
didnt we jsut sweep milwaukee?
baseball is played for a reason, you dont win by balancing the general ledger alone
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Sh&^ ...1/2 the Cub wins are vs. Milwaukee....
and no sighs of life against anyone else
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
so they can beat a better team
and lose to a lesser team, which is EXACTLY why the games are played, and we watch.
people at times forget baeball is the original “reality tv” and its to entertain. taking it serious is one thing, taking it too serious and over analyzing every little piece can cause a tan to lose their love for the game, and turn it into an “unpaid job” and so on
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
I say Green Bay Packers.
Lost at Tampa Bay one week, and then stunned the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field seven days later.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
"To [Vermont Cubs Fan], good luck, stay strong!"
-Captain Richard Phillips-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Apr 29, 2010 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions
or this years NHL playoffs
where in the east #1, #2, #3 and #5 were all eliminated in the first round
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
I could never figure out why they bother with the regular season in hockey.....
Or…let’s just shutdown in mid august and have a double elimination series tournament in MLB…..
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
I wouldn't read a whole lot into anything 1st round playoff losers do....
Oh wait…Dallas won a round……..
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
And Chicago didn't make it.
Oh wait, that’s a conversation for a different place.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
"To [Vermont Cubs Fan], good luck, stay strong!"
-Captain Richard Phillips-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Apr 29, 2010 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions
So, of the clubs the Cubs have played....
The Braves, Reds, Brewers, Astros, Mets and Nats…
They are only better than the Brewers?
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
The above is a "bad sign"///
No sugar coating it….it does say a lot…..
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
no worries, we still have the June swoon to deal with
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Is it like the whole Cubs scouting office and staff follow aroudd the Brewers?
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
Awesome standard.
I hope the Sox follow it so we can hire Epstein when they fire him.
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
Hope ht's better than Himes
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
Wrong Sox...
Sorry
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
i have to disagree with AL that firing hendry this early would do nothing
important decisions have to be made between now and the trade deadline and ESPECIALLY leading up to the trade deadline. hendry has consistently made poor decisions over the last few years (with a few decent ones thrown in). why should we trust him to make the important ones that need to be made during this season?
Name these poor deadline decisions.
Because there aren’t any.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
dontcha know Al
every move Hendry has made is bad according to those who want his head.
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
hendry has steered this ship into the ground
it’s an expensive mess and it will be for quite some time. the sooner we get the next GM in, the better. why wait until after another unsuccessful season to let the next regime begin to implement its plan, whatever that might be? hendry could do desperate things – things that are bad for the long term future of the team, in the hope that the team might somehow eek out a winning season and he might get to keep his job (he’s done these things before – soriano, fukudome, bradley, etc. and yet somehow he keeps his job). there’s no other profession in which someone who has made so many incredibly costly mistakes would still be in such an important position. he has wasted money like no other.
by John T. Unger on Apr 29, 2010 11:49 PM CDT up reply actions
lol
there’s no other profession in which someone who has made so many incredibly costly mistakes would still be in such an important position. he has wasted money like no other.
I’m no expert, but may I suggest looking at the banking and auto industries.
Or Matt Millen, although he did eventually get fired.
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on Apr 30, 2010 12:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Glad you brought up the Lions
Like BLou, I wanted the team to suffer such a humiliating season that William Clay Ford (the Bill Wirtz of the NFL) would have no choice but to fire Matt Millen. And as it turned out, halfway through the 2008 season Millen got the ziggy. Unfortunately the Lions continued their ineptitude and they completed the first 0-16 season in NFL history.
So firing the GM halfway through the season didn’t do anything to improve the Lions record in ‘08. And, in fact, Millen’s firing had more to do with Bill Ford Jr’s utter disdain of the man than the performance of the team. Heck, Millen was given a five-year extension after posting season win totals of 2, 3, 5, 6, and 5 from 2001-2005!
It’s going to be Tom Ricketts’ call as far as Jim Hendry’s fate. The W-L totals for this year may have something to do with it, but I wouldn’t assume a 90-loss season for the Cubs gets Hendry out the door.
Sittin' on the ledge and sippin' Kool-Aid...
there’s no other profession in which someone who has made so many incredibly costly mistakes would still be in such an important position
The entire management divisions at Goldman Sachs and AIG would like a word. At least when the Cubs lose, or Hendry overspends on a bust player, it doesn’t send the entire freaking world into a recession.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions
Izturis
But I still agree with you. It’s too soon; any move like this should be after the season.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Apr 30, 2010 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Ok, I'm being serious here for once
BLou, your objective is for Hendry to be terminated, right? So if there was another way to accomplish that without having to root for the Cubs to lose, you’d prefer that wouldn’t you?
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I could care less about Henry
It comes down to the players. We pretty much have the same team offense wise on the field as 07 and 08 other than Byrd. Now everything was fine then and 2 yrs later its like we are suppose to replace those 8 players? Lee had a awesome season last yr so dont get rid of him, Ramirez he was hurt and he is our best player, Theriot well we know who is behind him, Soriano cant move his contract, Fukudome hasnt been the best or hasnt been the worst, and Soto lets see if he can rebound. What position would you like for us to look at? You just cant go 20 games into the season and throw everybody out. Like today in the thread somebody was saying Tracy is garbage, he may be but you can honestly say that after he has had 15 at bats. If they know he is garbage they should not be on here talking they should be across America watching minor leaguers cuz they are really good scouts I guess. As far as getting rid of Henry what good will that do? Like you are gonna get a new GM in and trade everybody on the team or release them in few months time I dont think so!!! How would a new GM right now do what more would he do that Henry isnt?
"Women...you can't live without them, and they can't pee standing up." Rube Baker
?????? * It comes down to the players. We pretty much have the same team offense wise on the field as 07 and 08 other than Byrd. *
Huh???????
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
Yep u heard right
Im pretty sure Lee Ramirez Fontenot Theriot Soriano were all there then
"Women...you can't live without them, and they can't pee standing up." Rube Baker
during the 07, 08 and 09 seasons
Soto
Rami
Lee
Fonty
Riot
soriano
Fukludome 2008-2009 only
right?
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Yep we have that core since then Im trying to say we havent really changed
"Women...you can't live without them, and they can't pee standing up." Rube Baker
Oh ha ok I wasnt sure if I wasnt being clear or something. I guess he dont understand
"Women...you can't live without them, and they can't pee standing up." Rube Baker
Soto...
Rookie wonder in 2007……..
Rami, Lee, Sori….3 years makes a big diffference at the end of carreers….
Fonty..Rookie wonder…
Riot…..misplaced player….
07, 09 and 10 Offense from all of the above leaves a lot to be desired…08 was the abberation…
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
Ya um Soto was a rookie wonder that you say in 08 not 07
And 23 games into the season they are now old. And pretty sure 09 Lee had a awesome yr and Ramirez put up really good numbers in playing just 82 games
"Women...you can't live without them, and they can't pee standing up." Rube Baker
misplaced player in Theriot how? It doesnt matter playing defense I said offense its about scoring runs. And Theriot is leading the NL in hits this yr so ya
"Women...you can't live without them, and they can't pee standing up." Rube Baker
Al, please add the question "Is fish meat?" to the poll on this fanpost.
Thank you,
SWL
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 29, 2010 9:34 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
...
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 29, 2010 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions
the arguments about Hendry
remind me of DS saying Lou should carry less pitchers, then arguing that he needed to use more bp arms instead of asking Marmol to get 4 outs. Its a no win situation for them as those who want Hendry or Lou out will not rest no matter what. Cubs could go 162-0 and i am sure someone will still find something to complain about lou and hendry in the process still
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Firing Hendry now doesn't solve anything, IMO
Look, fact of the matter is, if Lee and Ramirez both hit below the Mendoza Line for the next few months, this team is cooked (as would a number of other teams if their No. 3 and No. 4 hitters were struggling). Firing Jim Hendry won’t make Lee nor Ramirez snap out of their funk.
When this team hits, it will win games. Maybe not enough to make the playoffs, but enough to finish above .500. Re-evaluate Hendry at the end of the season and go from there.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
It's freakin' April.
As bad as the Cubs looked today and against everybody not in Milwaukee.
But what if the Cubs end up going to the playoffs this year? How stupid is this all going to look. Hendry has not been a bad GM, and really we are acting like spoiled brats if we think he has. The Yankees wasted money on countless players, the Red Sox have also, the Mets, all the big market teams make mistakes when you have the ability to spend money on players. Yes, Soriano’s deal is going to look horrible (if it hasn’t already), in a couple years – and alot of us knew that when the deal was announced. Alot of us wanted Fukudome, and we thought he was going to be worth his contract. Zambrano decided to have the worst years in his career after he signed his contract, something we no one really thought was going to happen considering Zambrano should be entering his prime.
Other than that — our other big contracts – Lee, Ramirez, Lilly and Dempster have been worth it. We are a big market team and it’s an adjustment to get used to us spending all this money. Sure, we could of spent it alittle better, but every GM makes mistakes and has contracts they would love to unload. Now, the no-trade clauses, I could do without.
Hendry has done alot more good than bad — and while this bullpen needs work and our offense ALWAYS seems to slump all at the same time, Hendry certainly doesn’t deserve to get fired for it on April 29th. Our guys just need to start pulling their weight.
2010 is OUR year.
by Unique on Apr 29, 2010 10:05 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
The usual suspects
are with BLou on this one. The ones who tend not to make much sense in anything they post.
Not all of them, and not every time, but there certainly is a pattern.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Apr 29, 2010 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Fortunately, the poll is 60-40 against this idea.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
"But what if the Cubs end up going to the playoffs this year?" How stupid is this all going to look."
I hope you’re right but what indication do you have that they will? I think we have a good team out there (which might prove your point instead of mine) but they have shown me NOTHING that makes me think they have a chance at making the playoffs. Even if they do make the playoffs who cares??? I don’t want to JUST make the playoffs anymore.
United we stand and united we'll fall......down on our knees the day we win it all!
by Bricks and Ivy on Apr 30, 2010 7:17 AM CDT up reply actions
The same indication
that we had in 2007 when nobody thought we were going to the playoffs then.
This team has lost ALOT of close games — and judging from FanPosts like this — you would think we are losing EVERY game 13-5.
I still like this team. We have flaws, but some of those can be fixed. I think some of the problems can be fixed within. Especially the bullpen.
2010 is OUR year.
I have no idea what Blou is talking about.
It would be a major mistake to let JH go. He is an incredible evaluator of talent……
Lets hit some high points shall we…..
He has built a talented experienced bullpen.
He signed superstar LF Soriano to a contract the guarentees he will be a cub for the next several years.
We have too many second basemen so he had the idea to move Theriot to SS where he can make the most use of his cannon like arm.
He and Lou are making the decision to keep Lee and ramirez, despite month long slumps in important places in the lineup even though many lesser clubs may have moved Soto up from eigth.
The incredible trades and moves over the winter that were made to shore up all the trades and moves that went wrong the year before. It takes a big man to admit a mistake, you know! And JH spent this past postseason showing us just how big a man he is.
He improved the bench by getting quality bats like Chad Tracy. A special nod to Lou here for not giving into temptation and trying to get him some AB’s while the people playing ahead of him are playing so poorly.
And a final nod to JH for seeing that Lou was the answer after the Dusty years and Not Joe Girardi! Man, that would have been a disaster!
Jim Hendry has the vision I believe we need to guide our team to the promised land of a World Championship!
To lose him now would just be horrible. Shame on you BLou…….
Lets start a new streak tomorrow! Lets win it for JH!
by TJ11 on Apr 29, 2010 10:20 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I actuallly really like reading BLou's posts/comments.
Ya, sometimes they are a bit ridiculous and often times too-filled with negativity that they get passed by (and rightfully so). But BLou makes very good points about some things. I can’t say this topic is one of them—but it certainly isn’t a bad point.
Fact is, none of you are going to change the way BLou is. And none of your jokes about him are very funny anymore. This isn’t high school. We don’t need to pass along inside jokes about an outcast. This is a Chicago Cubs forum where strangers come to talk about baseball. Over time, these strangers sometimes develop personalities—BLou has done just this, and it is wildly popular around here. I can honestly say that BLou sounds like a genuine but disgruntled Cubs fan. Whether it’s just an act or it’s real, BLou never breaks character, and I think it is commendable.
I guess what I’m trying to say is—take him seriously. I’ve never seen him make an outrageous remark. Usually, he makes a pretty reasonable point, but he just says it in a negative way. I don’t think Jim Hendry has done a very good job of late. Does that mean fire him now? Probably not. But understand that when BLou makes these radical suggestions, it’s because he—like the rest of us—have had it with 102 years of losing.
by mic on Apr 29, 2010 10:55 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
If you have never seen him make an outrageous remark
you must miss a LOT of posts and I am not being sarcastic. It’s ironic you talk about jokes about Blou since he has many posts personally attacking Hendry , NOT about his job, but about his diet, weight, IQ etc. He has also been asking for Hendry to be terminated and the Cubs to conduct a fire sale for several years now.
I have no problem discussing Hendry’s many failures, but many of Blou’s arguements are either wrong ( the Giants are going to take Lee’s massive contract off the Cubs while he is hitting .200 why exactly?) or just unrealistic. A major market team that needs to keep stars to keep fans happy is not going to have a fire sale and spend a few years “rebuilding”
One thing Blou is good for is distracting us from the rotten day and for that I thank him.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 29, 2010 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions
eh, how does lee have a massive contract?
he’s in the final year of his contract. it would be reasonable for a team to assume that he’ll end up hitting somewhere close to his career averages which means he’ll get hot at some point. why WOULDN’T the giants trade for him if in fact they want an offensive upgrade at 1B? you’re flat out wrong on that one.
by John T. Unger on Apr 29, 2010 11:43 PM CDT up reply actions
He makes 13 million and he is hitting .200
and Blou ( and apparently you) think the Giants would just jump at the chance to get him NOW. Look I suspect Lee will “get hot” at some point, but I can’t see bettting the remaining 10 plus million dollars of his contract on it. I suspect the Giants can think of better things to do with the money. Now of course if instead of taking Blou’s idea of having the fire sale next week,( after they fire Hendry and install Dave Littlefield as acting GM), the Cubs wait till near the trade deadline and IF they are out of it and IF Lee is hitting, than maybe it it worth a shot but now it would be pretty stupid of the Giants.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 30, 2010 12:02 AM CDT up reply actions
1B is the biggest hole on their team.
I think that’s just the place they would like to spend their money.
by spending 10 million on a guy hitting .200?
Again when Lee starts hitting and the season progresses perhaps, but the idea of firing Hendry today and trading Lee tomorrow is generally up there with the kind of posts about trading some of our second tier minor league players and a bench player for Adam Lind or at least Heath Bell.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 30, 2010 8:05 AM CDT up reply actions
If I were the Giants
and I heard Lee was on the block, I’d have my scouts watch and see if this was just bad luck, and I’d be very likely to trade for him, especially if my names was Brian Sabean.
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
It is NOT "bad luck"
I love D-Lee but he is a huge funk. Hopefully he breaks out of it just like last year, but if any scouts are looking at him now , they are not going near him. He is not unlucky, he is swinging poorly and missing the ball. I could see more improvement with Ramirez in the last few days than Lee. No way the Giants touch Lee until he shows he can consistantly hit the ball. Not sure he goes anyway because of the NTC, certainly not for a while.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 30, 2010 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Derrek is one my favorite Cubs
It’s that stability at first base that certainly helps. I hope he can turn things around this season like he did last season. He’s more than capable.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Definitely.
There’s no way he’s going to keep hitting line drives at half his career average. He’s got a long, long track record of success at this point.
That said, we can’t just point at his BABIP right now as evidence that he’s unlucky. He’s hitting poorly, and the BABIP reflects that.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
It IS bad luck.
Derrek Lee’s 2010 BABIP: .207
Derrek Lee’s Career BABIP: .322
Meanwhile, ZiPS rest of season projection: .282/.367/.486 = .853 OPS.
Any team’s scouting department would certainly look at more than just his current batting average when assessing a potential trade. Also, you can argue they’d rather trade for him now/soon while the price is low instead of waiting for him (and the asking price) to heat up.
I guess this is all moot if you think he’s literally fallen off the cliff talent-wise from last year to this year. And that’s completely foolish.
Follow me on Twitter: @brandonrifkin
Check his LD%.
He’s not making good contact.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Im more worried about Ramirez than Lee because Aram is coming off an injury.
Although like 99 percent of people who know the game I expect both to turn it around.
Formerly known as cubstoseriesby100. Thanks Al for letting me change my outdated screenname.
by puckishcubsfan on Apr 30, 2010 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions
A couple things I would like to address:
First, just because BLou personally attacks Hendry means you have to make fun of BLou? I really don’t think Jim Hendry is too concerned, and none of us should be either—when any of us are made fun of.
Second, neither of BLou’s arguments are wrong or unrealistic. Derrek Lee is very marketable. As mentioned above, he is a prime candidate to be moved if the Cubs continue to be struggled. I think the rest of it is covered by John T. Unger above. Also, the team cares less about making fans happy and more about being successful in the future. The Chicago Cubs are going to have fans no matter what anyways. They fill those seats if they win or lose. And there is no way this team is NOT going to end up rebuilding (double negative, I know).
I think you are just trying to convince yourself that BLou is totally wrong because you don’t like him so much.
Perhaps you missed the time he called Sue a c*nt. Or the other time he did it. Or the times he’s been racist, or homophobic. Or just genuinely an ass.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 11:16 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't condone name-calling...
but at the same time I really really really don’t care. I come here to talk and read about the Cubs. I sometimes like what BLou has to say about the Cubs. I do NOT come here for a community network of “friends.” So I guess if you guys want to make personal attacks on each other, I’ll have to keep skipping over it to find something I actually want to read about.
you don't condone it
but you don’t care, and you’re not here for friendship. What do you get here that you don’t get on a Yahoo board, or calling into ESPN1000?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions
Cubs news/opinions/stories.
And it would all be more enjoyable without cliques.
this is a COMMUNITY.
You can get what you want from a google search.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions
And it's such a welcoming community!
Where members tell me to get out and banish me to Google!
He's not banishing you to google...
… he’s implying that you’d be better off there if you want news/opinions/stories without the “community” aspect, which inherently includes cliques and friendships.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions
Well I read there too.
But I like the mass-opinion aspect of this. And it is very unwelcoming.
Hey, i'm all with you. I'm on record saying the tone around here is unfriendly of late.
I’m just not sure how this attitude helps:
I don’t condone name-calling… but at the same time I really really really don’t care
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Right. But the reason I said that
is because I didn’t see it happen and I don’t need to police it when it does happen.
and that would be
because you don’t care to establish relationships with the people on this site, apparently.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Right, that would probably be correct.
I just want to talk about the Cubs.
find a mirror then
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 30, 2010 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions
Why would I want to do that?
I just said I like the mass-opinion this site has to offer. I’m very open-minded to other people’s opinions on here.
fish is meat?
yes or no?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 30, 2010 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions
BUT BUBBLES HAS A SOUL!
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions
At this moment in time,
the Pope’s opinion doesn’t account for a whole lot. Of course it never accounts for anything to me.
oh and
have you been around for 102 years? No? Then get over it. This team has, by the standards of the club’s history AND by the standards of MLB in general, done pretty darn well over the last ten years. 2003, 2007, 2008 all resulted in division titles and post season action. 2009 was the first time we’ve had three consecutive winning seasons for a century. And we’re ONE MONTH into 2010.
Take him seriously?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 29, 2010 11:18 PM CDT up reply actions
This is always my point, drew,
when people bring up the 102-year thing. Unless you were here for all 102 years, it’s meaningless. You have no bigger gripe than a Mariners fan or a Rangers fan or an Expos/Nats fan, for examples.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Apr 29, 2010 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions
true
but isnt it a little upsetting knowing your grandpa was never able to see them win? Not saying your grandpa personally just anyones.
I see what you mean though and I never thought of it that way. Makes sense.
United we stand and united we'll fall......down on our knees the day we win it all!
by Bricks and Ivy on Apr 29, 2010 11:49 PM CDT up reply actions
BUT THAT LOSS IN 1927 CAUSES ME SUCH PAAAAAIIIINNNNN!
I remember, i was tuned in on my shiny new radio, and they kept cutting in because Charles Lindbergh was making the first solo non-stop trans-Atlantic flight. The Cubs lost to Brooklyn Robins 6-4 that day, and it was a sign of things to come for the next 80 years. I’ve never quite been the same.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 29, 2010 11:53 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Rec'd for historical accuracy
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Apr 30, 2010 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions
Ah hah - but its NOT!
The cubs actually beat the Brooklyn Robins 6-4 that day!
I was waiting for some nerd to nitpick me, and nobody took the bait. You are getting lazy, BCB! False facts should be met with a rousing chorus of insults and belittling!
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
you dork. :P
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Undoubtedly.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Lazy is right
I didn’t bother to open the Google link. Saw the teams, saw the score and didn’t read.
Curse you, Stone!
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on May 3, 2010 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions
Just when you think i'm gonna zig...
… I ZAG!
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on May 3, 2010 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions
I see your point...
However when all your franchise is known for is losing, then I’m still not all right with losing for the last 102 years. Ya the team changes every year, and sure I just became a Cubs fan in the last 12 years, but history sticks around. I’m not proud to be an American because of what the United States has done in the last 20 years; I’m proud because 234 years ago, our Founding Fathers put together a pretty great system. I wasn’t around for it, but it’s the same system. Just like it’s the same Cubs team. (I know it’s a far-fetched comparison, but it’s how I make sense of it).
That's real farfetched.
Yes, we all know the Cubs haven’t won in 102 years. If we didn’t, the wonderful people at ESPN would keep reminding us on a daily basis.
None of the previous 101 years has anything to do with rightfreakingnow.
Win now. That’s what matters. The past cannot be changed and has no effect on the present.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Unfortunately, I think the past history hangs over this organization
They really seem to tighten up in the playoffs. I’m guessing this has something to do with it. Having priests bless the dugout probably didn’t help.
I don’t know what it’s going to take to break through but, hey, the Red Sox did it.
I think, unfortunately, there's something to that.
I wish I had the magic formula.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
There is no magic formula
Everything has to happen at the right time and go exactly right. It sounds redundant, but it’s true. We were five outs away from playing in the 2003 World Series before everything went to hell. In 2008, we had the best record in the National League and couldn’t win a single playoff game. Nothing really went right in the 2007 and 2008 playoffs.
The same could be said about our previous attempts to win a pennant and a World Series. In 1929, Hack Wilson lost a fly ball in the sun in Game 4 of the World Series that allowed an inside the park home run. Going under Buckner’s legs has nothing on that. I could write a book about our failures to follow up on the 1908 championship, but I’d rather try to look forward.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
The 2007 and 2008 playoffs could have gone differently.
What if Lou leaves Z in game one, and the Cubs win it? Completely different series.
What if Dempster strikes out Loney with the bases loaded, and the Cubs come out of the fifth inning of game one in 2008 leading 2-0? Dempster’s probably out of the game at that point, the Cubs still have the lead, maybe win that game — completely different series.
That’s how quickly a playoff series can turn.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Or if Merkle touches second...
We’re in a much longer championship drought.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Or if Charlie Grimm...
…. chooses Hank Wyse to start game 7 in 1945 instead of Hank Borowy, it’s shorter.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
And actually...
… if Merkle touches second, the championship drought would be one year longer. The Cubs won the WS in 1907.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Yep
That’s what I meant.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Well, it's perspective
Add one year to a century and it feels much longer than just a century.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
It's longer than anyone at this site has been alive.
So… 101 years or 100, it’s kind of the same to me.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Or if the Cubs had overcome reservations over Joe DiMaggio's knees and signed him before the Yankees could
Oh, what a dynasty we could have had.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
This team has a lot of "what ifs" when they are in the playoffs.
I don’t know what you are talking about. If I decide to eat cereal instead of a bagel in the morning my entire day is going to be that much different. The team was incredibly flat in both playoff series. There was no sign of it ever turning.
To be fair, every team has what ifs in the playoffs
It’s a fun exercise to wonder what stories could have developed if things had gone differently. Some may think it’s a pointless exercise, but I consider it an interesting exercise in creativity.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Right, because as Cubs fans
that’s all we have…lol…Teams that win the World Series don’t have to.
Al--
you just said “the past has no effect on the present.” And then you agreed that the past history hangs over the organization and affects them in the playoffs. How can you criticize what I said, and then somewhat agree with it just because someone else said it?
Huh?
He makes outrageous remarks all the time. He once called sue a “c*nt” on Windy City Gridiron. On Second City Hockey, he disagreed with a poster and told the poster to “pound sand up [his] ass.”
And there have been all kinds of nasty remarks here. He once implied that I am homosexual after I disagreed with him on a subject. And I have seen him rip other posters a lot worse than that. He previously was on here as MDBNIU, and MDBNIU ended after saying “F*** you mambochicken” to about five or six people here.
So your suggestion that he has never made an outrageous remark is, well, outrageous.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
"To [Vermont Cubs Fan], good luck, stay strong!"
-Captain Richard Phillips-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Apr 29, 2010 11:22 PM CDT up reply actions
His remarks about the Cubs
are not outrageous. Sorry guys but I don’t follow the history of BLou, following him around to find his NEXT scandalous comment. Perhaps the namecalling is outrageous, but as far as I can tell, people on here perpetuate it. If you don’t like him, ignore him, and it’s done.
So we should ignore him if he calls someone a c*nt?
Or if he says “F*** you” to someone?
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
"To [Vermont Cubs Fan], good luck, stay strong!"
-Captain Richard Phillips-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Apr 30, 2010 1:25 AM CDT up reply actions
Yes, because it's an online forum.
It’s very easy to ignore someone.
Well, guess what.
That kind of behavior isn’t permitted here. If you want to do that kind of thing, take it somewhere else.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
What I'm saying is
it won’t happen if you just ignore. It absolutely won’t happen.
I think you are overly optimistic in that regard.
And regardless, the rule is still the rule.
"Juuuuuuussst a bit outside. He tried for the corner and missed..."
- Harry Doyle
by Rusty in Peoria on Apr 30, 2010 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions
How is it that hard to ignore him?
I really don’t think he cares to bother you if you don’t respond to any of his posts. If you all hate him so much, you really shouldn’t even come to his FanPost! What are you expecting when you come?
Well, other than putting words in my mouth,
You still haven’t countered my argument that ignoring someone will make them go away. Your opinion is that it will. My opinion is that it won’t. Which is why I said I THINK you are overly optimistic in that regard. And regardless of what either you or I think about that, the rule still stands that objectionable behavior isn’t allowed here.
"Juuuuuuussst a bit outside. He tried for the corner and missed..."
- Harry Doyle
by Rusty in Peoria on Apr 30, 2010 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Well surely we are never going to find out
if you keep posting on here!
And believe me I understand the rules.
And I follow them! But if BLou is still here, then he is following the rules. If he isn’t following the rules, then KICK HIM OFF!
Okay, seriously.
What the heck are you so mad about? This just seems like completely unnecessary rage here. Defending someone is one thing. This is something more than that.
"Juuuuuuussst a bit outside. He tried for the corner and missed..."
- Harry Doyle
by Rusty in Peoria on Apr 30, 2010 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I think you are misinterpreting my exclamation marks.
Im simply trying to emphasize certain points. I’m actually in a great mood!
You know what...
I’m just going to drop it here. Your opinion is yours; mine is mine. They don’t agree and they won’t agree.
"Juuuuuuussst a bit outside. He tried for the corner and missed..."
- Harry Doyle
by Rusty in Peoria on Apr 30, 2010 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions
You seen more mad than me.
I’m not what you are in such a huff about. I simply said if you ignore BLou then he won’t bother you.
he has been
are we supposed to go and cut his internet connection?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions
you're incorrect.
he just returned from a banning. It was for a specific length of time (seems like it’s been about two weeks).
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions
If he was
then he is behaving fine now. I haven’t him do anything wrong in this thread.
ONE WHOLE DAY!
LETS THROW A PARADE!
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Well
his demeanor towards the other posters is already starting to change. I’m sure you’ll have your opportunity.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah...
it really doesn’t work that way.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions
It does--reading takes more work than listening.
And I’m sure we all know how to ignore people in person. When I hear a Lil Wayne or Nickelback song on the radio it’s like it never happened. I don’t listen at all. You can do the same thing on here, by just scrolling down everytime you see his name.
You bite your tongue.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions
Did you just post a picture?
I didn’t even see it!
(See how easy it is??)
youe naivete is showing
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Apr 30, 2010 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
naivety
1. the state or quality of being naive; ingenuousness; simplicity
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions
You don't have to be condescending.
I’m just wondering how my naivety is showing. Because I think if you ignore someone they won’t bother you?
It works for some people, sure.
Not everyone. I had a dude follow me around for the better part of a couple of weeks picking fights with me last season for no other reason than i dared to disagree with him on Bradley.
Most people can be ignored. Some have the special gift of being obnoxious beyond that.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions
I think you guys are following BLou around.
Not the other way around. Look whose thread it is.
uh
it’s the site’s thread. Give me a break.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Lol lets not get into it.
Fact is, you see that it’s authored by BLou so you go to read it.
I read
just about everything on this site.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 7:31 PM CDT up reply actions
no, not really.
I read just about everything. I may start making an exception for your work, tho.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Sorry.
lookingdeadred said it better, i guess.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
Personal attacks on this thread:
AndrewJStone—1, BLou—0
by mic on May 2, 2010 7:08 AM CDT up reply actions
actually, you should know
that most of us responding in this thread have conversations in almost every thread, it has nothing to do with BLou
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
well, remember
he’s not in it for the community. Just the facts, man.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 11:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Sorry that I don't go to the internet
for online friendships.
by mic on May 1, 2010 1:37 AM CDT up reply actions
No surprise why you are so successful
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on May 1, 2010 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions
I dont know why you guys are trying to deny
that you seek out BLou’s comments/posts.
by mic on May 1, 2010 1:35 AM CDT up reply actions
Why is this such an isue with you? Why is it so hard for
you to understand that some peole read every post and respond to the ones that the feel strongly about no matter who is the poster? When snarky comments are made without facts to support them and with a clear bias, people are going to respond. I really don’t believe that people are specifically looking for BLou’s posts and responding in kind because it’s him. They are responding because they have an opionion about what he writes. When he goes too far out and Al bans him, he comes back under a different name and starts up again. People may not initially know it’s him, but the responses come antway because of what he writes, not because of who he is. If he were to change his approach and not insult and belittle do you think he would get tthe same type of responses? Of course not.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on May 1, 2010 2:01 AM CDT up reply actions
It's an issue because BLou is the second-
most thing people on here talk about (behind the Cubs). And people definitely seek him out—this thread has over 600 comments.
You're making the assumption that people
are replying in this thread because of him. That’s a big assumption. I suspect a lot of people are like me. They don’t reply to threads because of who wrote them, they reply because they are interested in the subject.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on May 2, 2010 1:02 AM CDT up reply actions
cuz we dont
go look at our history if you truly need to see that.
Drew didnt get 25k posts last season replying to BLou alone, trust me, and neither did my 12k and so on. You should stop by BCB more often so you can see that yourself
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
That you can only see one explanation
is a real indictment of your intelligence
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on May 1, 2010 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm more offended by the two comments you've made
than any of the comments BLou has ever said to anybody else. I’m not trying to put anybody down or gain any enemies. I’m simply trying to make a point that I like what BLou has to say sometimes. To insult my intelligence is ridiculous. Furthermore, to think you have to use the word “indictment” to legitimize yourself so that you can insult my intelligence is even more ridiculous.
I still don’t think there is anything that unrealistic in this wall post. It’s no secret that Hendry’s job is on the line in the near future. Obviously he is not going to be fired this early—and probably not in this season, but I’m sure it’s something Ricketts considers if the season keeps going like this.
still can't see other possible explanations I see
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on May 2, 2010 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I see the other explanations perfectly well, I just don't agree with them.
Ya, people on here read everything including BLou’s stuff. But if you don’t like BLou and you think you’re going to change his mind by posting, then I would suggest that you just don’t read his stuff.
by mic on May 2, 2010 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Agreed!
He doesn’t bother me. If he bothers you, people, ignore him and move on.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
Haha I'm glad somebody agreed with me.
I figured I would stick up for BLou and get sh*t on. It’s high school.
BLou never breaks character
What is this? Improv class?
"They come to see me strike out, hit a home run, or run into a fence. I try to accommodate them at least one way every game." - Gorman Thomas
by RiskyBusiness on Apr 30, 2010 12:26 AM CDT up reply actions
What I'm saying is he isn't phony.
We know what to expect from BLou. Yet everyone gets there panties in an uproar everytime he makes a comment.
It's the same damn comment every time
Written in overly dramatic language, more so than is warranted by the perceived offense. Over and over and over again.
Add that plus the other nasty manifestations of BLou’s personality, and it’s easy to see why everybody gets their knickers in a knot about it. (Doesn’t mean it’s right to do that, necessarily, but there you have it.)
by Not Bruce Froemming on Apr 30, 2010 1:44 AM CDT up reply actions
And I understand where you all are coming from.
He gets redundant and overdramatic, but he takes considerable time off between a series of posts. So it’s not like it’s overbearing. And most of the time he doesn’t even respond. When he does get rude and abrasive, it’s usually because somebody has egged him on. (Notice I said “usually”)
He also never seems to be around
when the team is playing well. If you crap with the dogs, you should run with them, too.
If a guy keeps releasing stink bombs and then disappears, eventually he’s going to tick off a lot of people.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Apr 30, 2010 1:53 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
+1
If you crap with the dogs, you should run with them, too
Haven’t heard that one in awhile…
Rec’d.
Just win the next game...!
That considerable time off between posts...
… is often imposed by the moderators of this site due to his abusive language. Why do you think he’s not been around for the first month of the season? Disinterest? Hell no. He was making homophobic comments and was told to bug off for a while.
Your personal feelings on BLou are in the minority, and ignore that he regularly flaunts the rules here. You give him too much credit.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 7:44 AM CDT up reply actions
you wanna know why he takes time off?
because he keeps getting BANNED, because he cannot maintain a proper attitude.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions
the bans
are sometimes for specific periods of time. Other times, he simply bans Mike, and Mike makes a new ID. BLou is at least his fourth.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions
that's what I keep asking.
"I mean, if we can’t take Colvin after the spring he’s had, something is wrong," -- Lou
Because Al really wants this place to be a community.
With opposing viewpoints. With debate. With alternate sides.
But much like other communities (and preschool), occasionally somebody crosses the line and needs a time out.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions
I think Al likes the number of hits
this place gets when ever BLou makes a FanPost.
I have no idea what Al's role is with SportsNation, actually.
But I think this site’s success is measured by how many people come to it.
Oh no doubt there is a reward for ad impressions.
I sincerely doubt that is Al’s driving decision-maker though. He’s banned BLou several times before and the guy just creates a new account.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
I know it's not his "driving" decision-maker.
But I bet Al notices the difference. And “BLou” has been around for like 2 years now. If he is really that much trouble, ban him again.
And he'll be back again tomorrow.
You are making a lot of statements that pretty clearly show you don’t understand Al’s intentions here.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions
No I really don't understand his intentions.
If he breaks a rule, then ban him. When he comes back under a different name and if he breaks another rule, ban him again. The system is not that difficult.
The fact that BLou is still around tells me that he hasn’t broken a rule.
the fact that you believe that
tells me that you’re not paying attention, and you don’t actually understand the way internet communities work.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on May 2, 2010 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Internet communities?
How about ALL communities.
I didn’t get a life sentence for that parking ticket i got back in 06. And strangely, i only got detention and wasn’t suspended when i skipped 5th period marching band freshman year. Fortunately some merciful leader somewhere in the history of our society recognized there are shades of gray and that the same punishment (LIFETIME BANNING) doesn’t fit every crime.
Mic… the nuance that seems to be escaping you here is that “shades of gray” thing. Its possible for a commenter to be a real pain, to do ban-worthy things, and then be allowed back. Its possible that some crimes result in some punishments, and some result in others.
And your continued questioning of Al’s banning policies and the rest of the site’s intentions in engaging in conversation seem to frame you as somebody who either wishes to be adverse, or doesn’t yet grasp how “community” works.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
And people who get parking tickets don't get
sh*t on by the “community.”
by mic on May 2, 2010 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions
And the fact that you were in marching band
frames you as a nerd.
by mic on May 2, 2010 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions
as if that
would have anything to do with anything.
Better watch it. You’re becoming part of the community.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on May 2, 2010 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions
uh-huh
and why does being a band nerd have relevance again?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on May 2, 2010 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions
I played tuba.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on May 2, 2010 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions
My high school yearbook photo:
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on May 2, 2010 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions
look at the size of that thing!
:D
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on May 2, 2010 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions
TWS--
Ah, can’t do it, too easy. >_>
by Steven Schweickert on May 3, 2010 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Cut the chatter, Red Two!
Accelerate to attack speed!
"One of the things I like about baseball is that between innings you can go to the restroom.'' ~Manny Acta.
And what is the "proper attitude?"
to enjoy crappy pitching and bad hitting? to revel in the fact that we can’t get runners in scoring position home? to be elated when Demps throws a gem and it’s meat-grindered by the bullpen? to absolutely love the fact that we just lost a series to the hapless Nationals? to feel empowered that we can shell the Brewers but no one else in our division (Pirates excluded)?
that we continue to trip over our own dicks? i may not agree with BLou on all of this, but let’s call a spade a spade here … this team isn’t very good. it’s not going to be very good and it hasn’t been good for a couple of years now. every dog has its day, but to go from a WS contender to a wild card hopeful isn’t what i call good baseball … it’s called .500. we can get pissed if this team underachieves, which it’s been doing the entire 31 years of my existence.
Maybe having some perspective
is the “proper attitude.”
You lack it, apparently.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Apr 30, 2010 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions
no
the proper attitude is not calling people names, being respectful, etc. Everything what you’re saying has absolutely NOTHING to do with conduct on the site.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 7:02 PM CDT up reply actions
I recommended this post because I missed BLou.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
Ditto.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 7:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Did you write this post in December or January?
Figured you were just editing the content to fit the season, and waiting to press the green Publish button. Nothing new to read here.
The worst thing is, the vast majority of baseball managers get fired. General managers to a lesser extent; longer tenures than managers. So if Hendry gets fired or Lou is not resigned, you will have an insightful, but actually foreseeable, victory.
"They come to see me strike out, hit a home run, or run into a fence. I try to accommodate them at least one way every game." - Gorman Thomas
I'd like to add
NO, just so we can watch BLou spin like The Tazmanian Devil…
"Why people, who have not committed any punishable offense, listen to Country and Western music is absolutely beyond me" - John Cleese
While that's a gut reaction for some...
What exactly will it solve?
Will the present guys start hitting all of a sudden and the ’pen guys go 1-2-3 every inning they pitch? No
Will there all of a sudden be the 29 other GM’s ringing the phone off the hook in the Cubs’ offices looking to make trades so the Cubs can dump half their payroll? No
So what exactly does this solve other than making people like you happy? People like you who have no fucking clue how a baseball team (BUSINESS) is run.
Just win the next game...!
The proof is in the results on the field
This is a bad baseball team, period. The objective proof has been on the field for over a year. Simply put, the Cubs right now are the biggest failure in baseball when you factor in the vast financial resources committed to payroll and that Jim Hendry has played a role within the organization since 1996.
The Blou bashers can’t dispute those facts. So yes, I shall continue to root very hard for continuing losing ways in 2010. It is the ONLY hope for the needed seismic change that needs to happen. It is the ONLY hope to one day regain LEGITIMATE hope of having an actual World Series contender on the field.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
Last year is irrelevant to this year.
This isn’t the same team. And it is April. The team has played 23 games — less than 1/8 of the season.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
In what world
is the Cubs’ 83-78 record from 2009 a bigger failure than the Mets’ 70-92 record?
In what world is the Cubs’ 3 straight seasons of +.500 ball, with 2/3 playoff appearances a bigger failure than the 17 year record of losing seasons in Pittsburgh?
In what world is the Cubs’ rapidly rising farm system, while drafting in the bottom half of the first round, a bigger failure than the Astros bottom feeder system, despite drafting before the Cubs year after year?
In what world is Hendry’s willingness to spend whatever he could because he saw a team with a core to comepte a bigger failure than JP Riccardi’s similar spending, but without that core, and on the wrong players to boot?
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
by DGU on Apr 30, 2010 8:07 AM CDT up reply actions 7 recs
The Mets had some major, major injury issues.
Reyes, Delgado, Wright and Beltran, for starters.
Of course, the Cubs lost Rami.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
good thing the Cubs had NO injuries last season
right?
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Mostly this analogy is true
because the Mets play in the Big Apple, and some people’s feelings about Jim Hendry are as stable as armed explosives.
Delgado doesn’t belong next to those three names anymore, and Wright wasn’t out any longer than Dempster.
So, how much different, really, was Soriano, Aramis, and Zambrano from Delgado, Reyes, and Beltran?
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
by DGU on May 1, 2010 8:00 AM CDT up reply actions
thats my point
Zambrano, Lee, Soto, Aram, Soriano all were hurt at some point last season which is EXACTLY the same excuse D98 was using FORthe Mets and now saying CANNOT be used for the Cubs (which only continues to show he is more interested in finding any means to blame Hendry no matter what he has to remove from the actual story, kinda like Wood.Gregg above)
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Are you even bothering to look at the underlying facts in this discussion?
The Mets had a far more serious injury situation in 2009 than the Cubs did.
For the Cubs, Soriano was in 117 games. Lee played in 141. Z made 28 starts. Aramis played in 81 games, which is the only extended absence for any key contributor.
Meanwhile, Reyes played in 36 games. Beltran played in 81.
Delgado was coming off a .271/.353/.518 season, with 38 HR and 115 RBI, 96 runs scored. 127 OPS+. He played in 26 2009 games.
Billy Wagner missed most of the season, although that was expected. Even JJ Putz managed to get hurt.
The Cubs had some people spend the minimum time on the DL. The Mets lost 3 of their ’08 key offensive contributors for more than 50% of the season.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 1, 2010 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions
I said they were all hurt at some oiint
and we all spoke about how Lee in particular was playing thru an injuty early on and it was made known Soriano play thru an injury as well. Seems you are not wanting to punish them for being hurt and not sitting down by saying that their injuries didnt have any part of the Cubs not making the playoffs. Lee (neck) Soriano (leg) both easily could have sat a lot of the season, as we all know.
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Are you seriously trying to equate Lee's awesome 141 games to Delgado's 26 games?
Lee clearly wasn’t bothered by nagging injuries all year – he had one of his best seasons. Lee played badly last April, just like this April.
Maybe he was hurt or something. Maybe not. It doesn’t matter, because his season was awesome, even including that lousy April.
Meanwhile, Delgado needed surgery, and still hasn’t returned. Reyes and Delgado – combined – played in fewer games than Aramis did last year.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 1, 2010 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions
early he was not so awesom
due to neck pain, remember? And that was the same time that Rami, Soto and Z were playing thru pain (and somedays the bench was our starters so to speak due to this).
I guess playing thru an injury should discredit it, and we should not take that into consideration (shakes head)
I am done talking to you about this, you seem to only post with blinders on because after all you know everything and have made it known you are a better GM than Hendry (yet for some reason you remain unsigned by MLB, wonder why?)
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
Delgado was coming off of a monster 2008 season.
38 HR, 115 RBI, .271/.353/.518, 127 OPS+
He played in 26 games.
Beltran was coming off a .284/.376/.500 season, and only played in 81 games.
Reyes, coming off a .297/.358/.475 season with 204 hits and a 118 OPS+, managed 36 games.
Meanwhile, Soriano played in 117 games, Z made 28 starts. Aramis played in 81 games – same as Beltran.
But also losing Delgado and Reyes for 85% of the season would be the equivalent of the Cubs losing Aramis, Lee AND Soriano for that much time.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 1, 2010 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Cubs had injuries
And front office idiots who embarrassed their organization.
you said it
so I won’t. :D
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions
Only in the worlds
where expectations were much higher than the subsequent results, that’s what world.
Unfortunately firing Hendry NOW will not make D-Lee & Rami hit and it won’t make the relievers go 1-2-3 nearly every time they pitch.
So its moot point.
Just win the next game...!
by blackhawk24 on Apr 30, 2010 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Point me to a modern big-market team that has done what you propose - a full rebuilding.
Cubs fans expect stars, expect to be semi-competitive at the very least. A few years of horrid teams in the name of hopefully rebuilding the “right way” isn’t a realistic thing to request.
Big market teams don’t rebuild, they reload. Hendry may go, but your ideas of trading everybody and everything away for pennies on the dollar in the hopes that it’ll fix the “future” are unrealistic. It isn’t how major market teams in the uncapped MLB work.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 8:08 AM CDT up reply actions
A better tack to take would be what you describe.
We need to focus on our young guys, and add different high-dollar guys. Because this group of high-dollar guys doesn’t add up to where we need them to be.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
It happens
I can’t really give the old saying because of profanity restrictions here, but I think we get the message. Sometimes it follows certain people around the league. I don’t think there is a real magic formula for constructing a World Series championship team. Sometimes you can go out there with an organizational based strategy on the latest sabermetics and fall flat for reasons beyond your control like injuries, losing fly balls in the sun, booting what should be an easy double play ball or your star player develops a drug problem. You do your best on the front office, in the dugout and on the field and hope that everything that needs to go right does go right.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
that's fine
but the way modern baseball works, is you give guys contracts. Yes, Soriano’s contract is crazy long, but there are reasons for that, not all of which have to do with Hendry making a mistake. The vast majority of our other contracts are just fine. When they run out, or when you can trade them, then you do so. the 10-5 thing overshadows the NTCs anyway.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions
reading comprehension is a skill
Soriano’s contract is crazy long, but there are reasons for that, not all of which have to do with Hendry making a mistake.
It’s been suggested, for example, that the Tribune pushed Hendry to make that contract a year longer.
And of course, there’s the fact that the Trib AND the fans pushed Hendry to make a big splash signing. Soriano was exactly the kind of player a lot of fans wanted.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions
My bad.
But it’s still Hendry’s call. He’s got to use his better judgment. That contract shouldn’t have been any more than 4 years.
It is entirely his fault.
I don't think
it’s that simple.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions
No superstar big dollar free agent signs for 4 years
You have to overpay to get these guys. That’s the nature of the beast. I think some fans are under the misconception that it is easy to sign superstar free-agents. Most of the best free agents never reach the open market. Of those that do, you have to line up a need with the free agents that are actually available.
by JSB on May 3, 2010 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm not against changing the guard
I’ve said it earlier. For all the complaints about backloaded contracts, it’s pretty easy to forget that Hendry is under contract until 2012.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
The Cubs are already a "horrid" team
Understand that distinction people. This is a team that was a playoff failure of colossal magnitude and had its window to win slam shut after 2008. If you can’t understand the steady and painful decline of this core happening before your very eyes, then I can’t help you. There is not a single member of the everyday lineup card who can be expected to improve upon what they have done in the past, or more imporantly even match what they have done in the past. Soto had his career year. Theriot and Fontenot have been wholly exposed for what they are. Kosuke is a .260 hitter with nominal run production value. Ramirez is sucuumbing all too early and rapidly like some outstanding players sometimes do. Lee is into his mid-30s and a free agent to be. Soriano is a national nightmare. Byrd is serviceable and by no means a star now or ever.
The payroll situation paralyzes this team completely. Jim Hendry can’t add a damned thing at this point. The ONLY hope is that Castro and a few other kids come quickly and that the methodical decline of “core” players like Ramirez, Lee, Soriano, Fukudome slows its pace somewhat. Otherwise we are staring at a 100 loss team in 2011. To go along with a team this season what will lose 85 to 90 games easy.
So what do you want? You want Jim Hendry to still pilot this ship? What on earth does this serve? A rebuilding job is needed. There is no other option. None, nada, zero. There is no more money to spend on payroll folks.
This is a very bad situation that is getting worse. Starlin Castro isn’t going to come here and drive this team while 3/4rds of the rest of the roster crumbles around him. Not even Albert Pujols could accomplish that feat.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
The payroll situation paralyzes this team completely. Jim Hendry can’t add a damned thing at this point.
You don’t know this. In fact, Tom Ricketts has repeatedly stated that if the Cubs need a piece midseason, he will make $ available.
The rest of your post is not backed up by facts. How’s Soto doing right now? How’s Theriot doing? How’s Fukudome doing?
Ramirez and Lee are good players who have scuffled before. They’ll be fine.
I’m happy to revisit this in a month, but presuming players start playing as they are capable of, I don’t expect to see you around here then.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al Yellon on Apr 30, 2010 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
Exactly, right, and rec'd
but here’s the other question. Let’s say the Cards are a 97 game winner, as BLou expects and the Cubs a 95 game loser as BLou expects. Which GM in recent history might be expected to get the quickest rebuild?
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
I'm not sure what you mean by "quickest rebuild"...
… and which “GM in recent history” you’re referring to. Can you elaborate?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Well
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
You're talking about the 2002/2003 Cubs.
I see what you mean now.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
lol!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
No way...
…the Cubs lose 95 games. In fact, they should be somewhat in the race for most of the season.
In regards to a quick rebuild – I think you simply have to look at history and recognize what skills you need in a new head of baseball operations, to correct the mistakes that have been made that have limited the results on the field.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
If the team is as paralyzed as you imply BLou
Then why does it matter who is GM? According to your post the team will have no financial maneuverability for free agents or trades, and players on the team are “on the decline.” If we take your assumption as fact, any GM will be powerless, hence your call for a new GM will do little to address the supposed problems with the team.
by BeltwayCubsFan on May 3, 2010 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions
The Payroll is not paralyzed, but it is definitely in a Walker
The only reason the payroll is not at the “Help! I’ve fallen and can’t get up.” level, is that Carlos Silva has not pitched poorly.
"They come to see me strike out, hit a home run, or run into a fence. I try to accommodate them at least one way every game." - Gorman Thomas
by RiskyBusiness on Apr 30, 2010 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Same old BLou
By the way BLou, you’re losing.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Apr 30, 2010 8:59 AM CDT reply actions
...as evidenced by the 10-13 record coming off a wondrous 83 win season
Okay. I can’t argue with the fools in our midst. Reinforcement once again that the Luvable Loser mentality is at epidemic state on BCB.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
Oh come on, man
I know you’re capable of giving a good argument, but there’s no need to resort to name calling. Not everyone is going to agree with all your opinions. Sometimes, people might just agree with part of your argument. They may reject it outright. Or they may actually agree with you completely in that one argument. I know I’m wasting my time here, but it’s the truth. You have to be willing to admit you’re wrong sometimes or no one is going to take you seriously.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
And 23 games defines an entire season?
I don’t have time, but I bet I could find at least a dozen teams that started 10-13 and made the playoffs within the last 10 years.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I can think of a couple that were under .500 much later than this
And still made the playoffs.
"Juuuuuuussst a bit outside. He tried for the corner and missed..."
- Harry Doyle
by Rusty in Peoria on Apr 30, 2010 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions
2007 comes to mind.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
"To [Vermont Cubs Fan], good luck, stay strong!"
-Captain Richard Phillips-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Apr 30, 2010 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Joe Posnanski has written about this
A few years ago, the Royals started 19-10 (or something like that) and everybody in KC thought “oh yes, this is the beginning!!!” And then the Royals promptly imploded. So Posnanski (who might be the best US sports columnist out there) went and researched what various combinations of 30 game outcomes mean for a season.
Short answer: Winning means not a heck of a lot, losing means a lot more.
If the Cubs hit a 9-20 stretch and go and lose 8 of 10 series in that stretch, then yes, you need to start giving Colvin, Castro, and Cashner regular playing time and start dealing what can get a return in A and B+ prospects..
It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??
by Invalid User on Apr 30, 2010 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Lovable Loser Mentality?
Good grief. I would venture to guess most people here want the Cubs to win. But they also see the forest for the trees – the Minor League system is leaps and bounds better than where it has been, and this franchise is in the midst of its best stretch of baseball since the 1940’s, record-wise. Has Jim Hendry made mistakes? Yeah, he has (of course, hindsight is a powerful tool in evaluating those mistakes).
What most people here don’t see the need for is the complete demolition of the 25-man roster, as you do.
Does this team have flaws? Of course they do. Can the team overcome these flaws? Some of them, yes. (For instance, getting their top two hitters to hit the ball). Why not allow the team May to see if the bats come alive?
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
"Loser mentality"? If the shoe fits, wear it brother
“And I am not the only Cub fan on this planet who actually is rooting for losses right now.”
“All I can hope for is a 10 game losing streak, followed by another 10 game losing streak.”
" I will indeed root for losses."
“So yes, I shall continue to root very hard for continuing losing ways in 2010.”….
Why are you a Cubs fan?
LOL
If this is a community, you’re the crazy old man who lives at the end of the street with the lawn that hasn’t been mowed in weeks.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Apr 30, 2010 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Like this guy?
"Juuuuuuussst a bit outside. He tried for the corner and missed..."
- Harry Doyle
by Rusty in Peoria on Apr 30, 2010 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions
To say that Mr. Kowalski is BLou
is an insult to Mr. Kowalski.
Now get off my lawn.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Apr 30, 2010 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions
They're really not much different.
Both very negative people who people don’t like very much. Not to mention, neither are very tolerating of minorities.
You did not watch the end of that movie then.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Apr 30, 2010 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions
Ya of course he turns it around,
there is still time for BLou.
I thought
you didn’t care.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions
I think you may be the only person who holds that opinion.
And BLou’s record of being banned here seems to point otherwise as well.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Sarcasm isn't a language...
… its a rhetorical device that translates poorly in text.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 30, 2010 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions
really?
I mean… REALLY?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions
that's because
GET OFF IT!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 30, 2010 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions
…as evidenced by the 10-13 record coming off a wondrous 83 win season
if the cubs are 95 game losers after a 10-13 start and a 83 win season last year, the red sox must be super f****d
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
by jesus christos on Apr 30, 2010 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
My main question -
Are Blou and Stone the same person?
They sure spew out the same crap.
Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but...
Anyone else think BLou posted this as a preemptive strike against whomever was going to post the (inevitable) thread reminding him that he asked for Silva to be released in February, and predicted that the season would be a failure BECAUSE Silva was in the rotation?
I mean, BLou, isn’t that really the point here?
by Orval Overall on Apr 30, 2010 9:12 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs
Come now
It was obvious that this team would have Lee and Ramirez hitting, but no one else around them. Only Jim Hendry couldn’t see that going into this season and sell off the only two hitters in the lineup.
4/9/10: Carlos Silva strikes out Joey Votto on three pitches. Is that what you mean by "small sample size"?
well, obviously.
By the way – epic defense of Hendry above.
by Orval Overall on Apr 30, 2010 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions
Good grief, BLou, get a life
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
Go Cubs. Go Irish.
"I was in awe every time I walked on to the field." -- Ryne Sandberg
"No player in baseball history worked harder, suffered more, or did it better than Andre Dawson. He's the best I've ever seen." -- Ryno
by ctinsley12bsu on Apr 30, 2010 10:00 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs
Regardless of any other opinion on this FanPost
I just love that photo. Classic.
"Juuuuuuussst a bit outside. He tried for the corner and missed..."
- Harry Doyle
by Rusty in Peoria on Apr 30, 2010 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions
The GM is responsible
for everything the team does or fails to do. Sometimes it can be lonley at the top (Or so they tell me, as in my job I am lower than whale shit). If the team still sucks come July he has to go. What I would hate to see is the search for a GM take up the entire offseason. Which in turn allows us to watch another year of shit baseball
If it looks like....
…the Cubs are going to fall short this season, I really don’t believe Ricketts will wait in putting together a potential list of who he would want to run the baseball organization. In fact, being the good businessman that he is, I would be surprised if he doesn’t already have a list of potential candidates.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Most good leaders have a list ready to go.
I would hope that Ricketts has a list of prospects whom he would contact should he decide to let Hendry go. Likewise, I would hope that Hendry has a list of managerial prospects should Lou not return after 2010 and Hendry stay.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
by Bill Potter on Apr 30, 2010 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions
You have a list a mile long
But that list is also dependent of the people on the list accepting the job. For all we know that list could contain one name, his toothless cousin who wins his fantasy baseball leage each year
Most sporting executives maintain these lists.
It’s not uncommon for an AD to have a list of replacement candidates, so this way a hire can be made quickly.
The Ricketts family didn’t get to be where they are today by making poor hires; I’m sure if Hendry were to be let go, Ricketts will rely on that list, along with recommendations from those in baseball, to form a group of people to interview.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
by Bill Potter on Apr 30, 2010 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Just curious..
Do you know Mr RIcketts personally, or are you just going by what is known publically?
Not trying to be a jerk, it’s just that you seem to have a lot of faith in him and just wondering if you have inside info..
Favre-enfreude
The thrill of seeing an epic Brett Favre fail. Derived from schadenfreude - satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.
Never met the dude...
…and I am basing my assumptions on what I have observed and what he has said publicly on his philosophy.
The part about having a list is just common sense. Anyone who has the business background he does, should have all kinds of contigency plans on the side for different circumstances.
I would also think he is smart enough to recognize the product on the field is going to be the number one factor in his future revenue growth, so it’s likely he knows whoever he has running the baseball operations is a damn important guy for his future and to get the ROI from his families investment.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Agreed.
What’s going to really push him make changes will be empty seats. Not that the ballpark has been empty, but so far this season, I have noticed somewhat smaller crowds. Obviously it will pick up in the summer months, but early on, I’ve seen a lot of announced crowds in the 36,000 to 38,000 range. Still pretty good, but over the last few years they have averaged over 40,000. In addition, you can tell some of these announced crowds are tickets sold, with some noticeable no-shows. A drop in attendance, even a small one, from Cub fans will put quite a few jobs on the line.
"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004
I'd go a step further...
…and say he will anticipate a drop in the quality of the product meaning empty seats a year or two down the road, and he won’t want it to get to that point.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
agree..
I was there Wednesday..now granted it was cold, school still in, weekday game etc. but there were entire rows of empty seats where I was. I dont know the announced crowd, but it llooked less than 30k
Favre-enfreude
The thrill of seeing an epic Brett Favre fail. Derived from schadenfreude - satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.
All I wanna say is that....
For $146 million (the 3rd highest payroll in MLB), we should have one of the premiere players in the game on our roster. But we don’t.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
Desperate team is desperate
He did what it took to get them to the playoffs two years in a row. Yes, he overpaid to do it, but he did give them the chance. Now we’re stuck with that. It is not necessarily Jim’s fault that they forgot how to play the game as soon as the playoffs started.
by Kornchex on Apr 30, 2010 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
I rec'd this
Partly for being correct on Hendry’s desperation after bottoming out in ’06 and partly for your screen name.
This is so very true
$146 million and not ONE bona fide star! I think he’ll get his walking papers after this season. This year is bad enough and he’s got over $100 million committed for next year. We can’t do much till at least 2012. I hope the next guy builds the farm system and quits going for the quick fix every damn year.
"Any player who gets the opportunity to play at Wrigley should welcome it"
Derek Less?
Freudian slip?
"Any player who gets the opportunity to play at Wrigley should welcome it"
I don't have a problem...
…with them not having a true “super star”, but what I do have a problem with is how Hendry has chosen to fit the pieces together to form a “team”.
I’ll take a club with good players (that is well put together) over one with a couple studs and a bunch of pieces that don’t fit any day of the week.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
When the time comes....
for Big Jim to move on, my guess is that Hendry will be allowed to resign to save face, since he has been with the Cubs in some capacity for 15 or 16 years now, and GM for 8 years.
Jim has done some really good things for the organization, and I know we discuss this a lot, but he also “gets” the Cubs. However, starting at the end of ‘08, his moves have mostly turned out to be busts, although through a month of play this year, it looks like the Marlon Byrd signing will break that streak. No doubt he is on the hot seat, as he should be. But I still maintain that the problems with the offense cannot be put on Hendry….it’s 100% on the players who are simply playing like garbage. The bullpen thing can be placed on Hendry. Not getting Matt Capps in the offseason seemingly through his entire bullpen plan out of whack and forced him to scramble to throw something together. And no one expected Grabow to be so horrible, as he was pretty good after the Cubs got him last year.
"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004
Hendry has value...
…he just lacks the complete skill set to be running the entire show.
Who knows, they may do a Dale Tallon with him.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Look at the standings, man.
I’m not saying the season is over by any means, but with the way the Cardinals are playing, and the way the Cubs are playing, are you honestly saying you’re not concerned yet? Sure the Cubs can improve, and I think they will. But the Cardinals are not going to stop winning. If it was Pittsburgh who had the Cardinals’ record, no one should be concerned about that. The Cards are not going to stop winning. If we get too far behind them, we’re playing for the Wild Card by the middle of May. So please stop mocking people for being concerned at how the first month of the season has played out.
"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004
Nothing has changed for me...
…and I have the same concerns (and predictions) I had for the Cubs coming out of ST.
If the Cards don’t suffer any signficant injuries, they will win the division and the Cubs would have to hope the wild card contenders are relatively weak in other divisions.
I still think the Cubs win total will be in the 80’s – I think I predicted 84.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
This fanpost........
Brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department.
Exactly, JB
I started skipping over his posts ages ago after cut & paste opus 10
Numbers may not lie, but they don’t tell the whole truth (and nothing but the truth), either. -- Doug Glanville
Questions
All I really want to know is who were the 4 jokers who rec’d this pile of detritus.
I thought he was banned too. Why wasn’t I informed of this????
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Apr 30, 2010 6:18 PM CDT reply actions
Al apparently has a soft spot for some A-Holes
Who “promise” to behave.
no no no
losing hendry accomplishes nothing. while im not happy with the up and down play so far its only 24 games.and it could be lee and ramirez in their final season anyways.i hope not.picture this team without lee.ramirez,lily,and pinella.next year could be the beginning of a rebuilding phase that will have us all longing for the 2010 team.
almost forgot
this is how d.lee started last year. so lets not fret over derek.
Serious Question Blou
Do you have a post on a White Sox blog asking for Kenny Williams to be terminated? Yes he did have a team that won a WS 5 years ago, but not much since. The Peavy, Rios & Pierre trades look horrific. The starting pitching and hitting are about the worst in baseball. So I trust you want Kenny gone now as well or does winning a WS buy you a free ticket to construct a bad overpriced team?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
He's not done zipping up Kenny Williams yet.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 1, 2010 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Now wait a minute.......
BLou can get banned for saying something like this, but it’s okay for this to be said about him because he is “disliked” on this site?
I’m pretty sure SWL is a pretty smart guy
They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best
About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback
smart maybe
but i dont think he is pretty
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
What does that have to do with the post?
I’m seriously asking, and I’m seriously asking about where the line is that Al would draw on this one?
My guess is SWL knew what he was doing. I would imagine it was meant as a spoof or a parody, mixed with a little bit of truth.
They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best
About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback
it's a reference
to a comment BLOU made a few weeks ago, before he got banned.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on May 3, 2010 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions
I am still waiting for an answer BLou
Should Williams also be terminated and if not , what has he done in the last 5 years that is better than Hendry?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on May 2, 2010 10:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Ever watch a TV show once?
And then 6 months later you turn it on to watch another episode and it’s the exact same one you saw earlier?
I believe he is right
about the Cubs burdened by bad contracts, and poor decision making. To add to your point, how’ Edmunds doing?, or the bullpen mess?, Gregg, Howrey, Grabow, etc. etc. We need a better GM no doubt. I am not very hopeful for this season, but I was realistic coming into this season. No upgrade to the pitching, or clutch hitting, defense so another 500 year. I just don’t think the answer to the problems is FA field. We need to build from within and add pieces through FA. BUt just my opinion, and I don’t believe BLou’s points arn’t worth blogging about, better than thinking Castro will save the day.
And we have some young prospects that appear to have talent to help the club in the not too distant future...
so how is firing Hendry going to make the things you say need to be done happen faster?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 1, 2010 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions
you could make the argument
that hiring someone new, who will have to get up to speed on the organization, will make the advancement of Cubs prospects SLOWER.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on May 1, 2010 11:19 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm calling BLou out in this post
Blou,
Listen, we know your thoughts. You are entitled to them. And I’ll be honest a lot of the time you’re right - you just don’t know how to appropriately write how you feel. Most human beings understand how to communicate. But I’m getting off topic.
What I really want to know is why you find it acceptable to be rude to other members on here and even go so far as calling people horrible names. I don’t have to link to those specific posts.
Please answer, why do you get enjoyment out of being the resident A-Hole on BCB.
I really want to know. Because deep down inside I think you’re just this miserable human being living a horrible life. And the only enjoyment you get is being rude to fellow Cubs fans. You get off on it. Tell me I’m wrong. Tell all of BCB we’re wrong of how we think about you.
P____ S___!
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 2, 2010 2:04 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
What I really want to know is why you find it acceptable to be rude to other members on here and even go so far as calling people horrible names.
Please answer, why do you get enjoyment out of being the resident A-Hole on BCB.
I really want to know. Because deep down inside I think you’re just this miserable human being living a horrible life.
They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best
About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback
While I agree with your premise
This is where you lost me.
And I am not the only Cub fan on this planet who actually is rooting for losses right now.
It goes against my nature, and I’ll never hope for a loss…ever.
''I'm really not a Facebook or Twitter guy. I'm a prime rib and baked potato guy.'' - Sweet Lou
Once again, I think this falls into what ak123 said
I don’t think any true Cub fan roots for losses. Now, what blou might be trying to say in a highly convoluted manner is that a .500 season may be disappointing but probably not disappointing enough to Cub Owners to incite the draconian franchise upheaval BLou is in favor of where, in the case of a 70 win season, that may be bad enough to force something like a GM ouster and dumping of marquee players.
So, if one were to afford Blou a gigantic benefit of the doubt, one could say that he’s rooting for an outcome that would usher in the changes he thinks would benefit the franchise in the long term, an outcome he equates to losses in the short term.
The fact is, losses guarantee nothing other than misery for Cub fans. It doesn’t guarantee massive changes or that those changes will be the right changes. Many good franchises across all sports manage to undergo ‘restructurings’ while they still content. The Patriots the past couple of years would be a good example of a team like that.
by BeltwayCubsFan on May 3, 2010 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions
wouldn’t this be an example of the goading and the constant engagement with the "Blou character?’ He obviously enjoys in, so why give it to him? Was there really a need to come back to the thread to post this? We all know it but putting it in the thread just gives him more reason to continue.
They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best
About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback
Just pointing out the winning streak.
Nothing more nothing less. He’s a big boy and if he can dish it out he can take it.
especially since
it’s Soriano driving the team at the moment.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on May 2, 2010 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Which explains
Why he’s too much of a coward to answer my question above.
BLou doesn't answer questions.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 2, 2010 11:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Why, just why, why do I feel strange after reading this thread?
"A waist is a terrible thing to mind." - Terry 'Fat Tub of Goo' Forster
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