Some Cubs fans owe Steve Stone an apology

Steve Stone just kicks ass. I listen to every word he says as if the Baseball Gods dewey words were dripping off of a coca plant. He has always been right.

Steve Stone was the best announcer the Cubs have ever had and his loss was a huge one. The Cubs and their games are a joke and hardly surprising.

I think Stone would serve better if he were a pitching coach. He seems to know more about pitching then anyone else I've ever heard. A lot people posted comments on this blog expressing resentment for the present pitching coach. Get rid of Dusty and Larry and bring in Stoney.
I do think think that whole situation with Steve Stone and the Cubs could have and should have been handled more professionally. I always thought the fans backed Stone more than they backed the organization during that disagreement. So, no, I don't think the fans owe Stone an apology. It's part of the game.

As a White Sox fan, I can still appreciate Steve Stone's professionalism. He really helped Harry get through his final years with class and a sense of humor. I never understand why team owners (and managers, coaches, etc.) bother to deny the truth. They should just stay silent or have their publicity hacks do the misinformation campaigns.

This all assumes that Prior was indeed hurting at the time Stone made his comments and that Prior kept an injury hidden, lied about it and knowingly jeopardized his future health.

That's quite an assumption.

i am a sox fan who watched every cub game just to listen to steve stone. what a waste. time for a new regime on the north side. if there is a " situation " on or off the feild you can ba assured present personal will mishandle it. E /wgntribcubs.

The Cubs have over the years never really been able to judge talent. Prior is a case in point. A trade to Baltimore for the best SS in the game would have looked pretty goood right now. Dusty hates to play anyone but veterans. The Cubs need to remake their entire organization beginning with Hendry. He allowed some real quality players to go when he ran the minor leagues. They rewarded his poor judgement by making him GM. Time for a real change from top to bottom. Stone would make a great GM.

Well now that Prior is hurt, I can give up on the cubs early again, they should have traded him when they had a chance, when are the cubs going to wake up? I think that they should do what the Marlins do, trade the whole roster for young prospects, and win a World Series every 6 years, but knowing how stupid management is we would trade our roster for injured nobodies

One does have to wonder about the Cubs' trainers as well as the pitching coach. We went through this with Sutcliffe, Eckersley etc. Of course if there is no bullpen to go to, they end up staying in longer than they should sometime. It does get old after awhile.

Three weeks into spring training and he hasn't thrown a single pitch in a live game!!??? Come on people!!! You cannot possibly believe he has been 100% healthy up to this point. Sav, put the blue kool-aid down and step away slowly!!!.

i knew prior had an injury too...what bothers me is why they didnt have him checked out in February !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...u lose nothing by doing that, and u woulda gained a month...thats what im pissed about...i believe Jim and Larry and Prior when they say they thought nothing was wrong, but at least be precautionary and have him checked out!...whats the big damn deal???...

Had the pleasure of knowing Steve when he first came up with Baltimore. Even as a kid, it was evident that he would blossom into something special for our great game. Why he is not at the helm of a major league team remains a mystery.

Steve Stone IS the best analyst in baseball. I do remember when he was in the booth with Harry as well as Chip, he used to basically call the next pitch. If Steve would come back to the Cubs television booth they need to bring him back.

It's over. Before it started it's over. All the false hope and the "sky's the limit" talk is now bull. Wood won't be back until JUNE guaranteed. Prior's a huge question mark. It wouldn't suprise me if he was getting his shoulder "cleaned up" soon and be out until All-Star break. Cedeno is already struggling and Lee's shoulder is hurting too!! What the hell are these guys doing in the offseason? Our pitching staff is a joke past Big Z and Madd Dogg. We have prospects like Pie ready to play and make an impact yet we have Jacques Jones in the OF for the next three years?! I agree with Scott...we should pull a Florida Marlins, keep Z, Aramis, Barrett and Lee and just start from scratch.

Yeah, Steve Stone was right. And he's not afraid to tell you so, over and over, ad nauseum. Biggest baseball know-it-all I've ever endured. Stone would have a little more credibility with me if he didn't sound so gleeful when he trashed Kerry Wood and diagnosed Mark Prior's injury.

Stoney, I'm sorry I ever doubted you. Never again. Please come back!

I'm a Sox fan, but I'd have to say that Steve Stone was the best thing the Cubs have had in a LONG time, then they let him get away. If I ran the organization he'd be my manager...or at the very least the pitching coach.

Stone rules. Quit wasting our time and money. Maybe Steve can come back and pitch. He'd be more durable. APOLOGIZE losers

Long ago Dr. Mike Marshall who has a pitching school in FL said that all students of House (read Prior) are subject to breakdown. Mike pitched most every day in relief for the Dodgers and is a schooled (PHd) expert on body mechanics.

GG,

Are you suggesting Prior and the Cubs knew he was hurt but didn't do anything about it for weeks? If so, why? What would be the point?

The Cubs (like all Chicago Sports Teams) have always (at least in my lifetime) been more interested in public perception than actual success. This is why anyone who says anything negative, however true, puts there job in jeapordy. I wouldn't be surprised if teh reason the Sox are not on 1000 anymore is due to candid questions posed to Reinsdorf. So yes, Dusty and the gang would hide an injury as long as possible, but no we the fans do not owe Stone an apology. the Cubs management, especially Hendry and Dusty owe him an apology. He would probably make a good manager, pitching coach, or GM; and definitely makes a great analyst. Sox fans must love this whole scenario.

This season mirrors 1984.High expectations on the south side after major success, and doom predicted on the north side. Look for similar results. Prior, Wood, and Miller will be a force by mid May, and the Cubs will be winning big. &*%$ Stoney

The problem with Steve Stone is not his arrogance or his decision to quit the number one network in chicago to go to a bottom scraper. The problem is people who know nothing about baseball and have never played the game seriously that assume stone is the greatest baseball mind ever.
he is far from it.
he is a pompus ass, and people who cling to his words like he is a prophet are mental midgets when it comes to baseball.

Steve Stone is the best baseball man in the industry. he should be managing somewhere. What a shock that the Cubs got rid of him. Every year, more of the same. I'm sick of it!

Steve Stone was always a whiney know-it-all.

Who cares about him, a apid anti-Cub shill now, or the awful team that is the Cubs?

I'm not surprised. When the Chicago Cubune feeds lies to the sheep that actually pay money to watch the worthless Cubs, they get caught and blame it on the guys like Stone. He is one of the best in the business and I'm sure he is glad he got out of there. Next the Cubune will pit all the blame of their lies on the coaching staff, and the sheep (aka Cubs 'fans') will follow suit like the good little lemmings they are.

Thank god for the World Champion White Sox.

Sav, I believe they (Cub management) knew he wasn't 100% and they DID do something. They developed a separate, slow spring training program for him. That was PRECISELY what they SHOULD have done and that is not the problem. The problem was perpetuating the myth that everything was ok and he was on target for an April 5th start. We can only speculate as to why. Maybe they're just eternal optimists. Who knows? The result is the same.

If Steve Stone is such a freakin' genius, why doesn't anybody else in baseball hire him? He's like the Sammy Sosa of baseball announcers. Without Chicago, he has no career.

I have been a Cub fan since I moved to Chicago in 1979. I have found out I really enjoyed listening to Steve Stone and his insites moe than I loved the Cubs. If he were to switch to broadcasting the White Sox...I would switch.
If the sox were smart they would make this move and this would soon become a sox town and the Cubs would be 2nd fiddle.

Jim Curry,
Thanks for another example of why cub fans are a joke nationally. If you think Wood, Prior and Miller will be force by mid-may, you must also believe in Santa Claus, and The Easter Bunny. The season starts in early April, not mid-May, and by then the adorable little Cubbies will be done, Enjoy your beautiful Ivy, and hitting on girls, that's all Wrigley is about anyhow.

Steve Stone is the best analyst in baseball period. It's a shame that he was basically blackballed by the Cubs for all of his years of loyal service. All he did was provide insightful comments and tell you what was going to happen before it actually did.

He really should be a general manager of some team that would truly appreciate his many talents.

The Cubs need to fire Andy McPhail and replace him with none other than Steve Stone. I really believe this would allow the organization to become serious about putting a solid team on the field every year. I'm tired of the Cubs selling hope and wasting our time trying to convince us next year is it. Stone would be an excellent president and would hire the best in the business, he knows baseball.

Steve Stone always told it as he saw it for better or worse. Take it or leave it.
After all, isn't that what he is supposed to do?

I still watch the Cubs but I do resent the fact that the organazation only wants to deal in pumped sunshine and doesn't understand that honest critic, good bad or otherwise, is good for the game as far as fan interest is concerned.

I myself miss Stony as part of the Cubs a GREAT deal. Stony was outspoken but I don't believe he had anything to apologise for by doing what he was hired to do. On the other hand, yes I think Stony deserves an apology.

I felt Steve Stone had slipped a little, when he came back a couple of years ago. He seemed a bit more hesitant, and his analysis wasn't as sharp as it was during his first run with Harry. I think this has all become a little too personal for him, and I agree with Michele, that he seems to display a little too much glee when discussing the Cubs pitching woes.

Steve Stone knows the game and I enjoyed what he added to a broadcast, but to say he was right on March 3rd means Prior, O'Neal, Rothschild, Baker, Hendry and others are ALL liars and I don't buy it. They, by the way are all paid to win ballgames and Stone is only paid to make noise!!!!

Djm...
Wrigley is a treasure, and all about some of the things you mentioned. But don't get too full of yourself, and your team.
Your ballpark could soon be empty and blue again, despite the efforts made to imitate Wrigley.
You, pathetically, assume the role of many Sox fans, who always seem to worry more about the Cubs, than your own team.
Good luck to both, and please....grow up.

I've been a Cubs fan all of my life. But, I've never seen such overpaid, underachieving, injury prone sissys as Wood and Prior. And I've never seen bigger liars than Hendry and Baker. Cub fans need to wakeup, your being taken advantage of. they all must go. Get some pitchers who are real men and while your at it replace Rothschild too, he knows nothing.

Steve Stone would be much more tolerable if he didn't spend the first 5 minutes of every radio appearance trying to settle personal scores. It's obvious why no one in the game has given this guy a front office job. If Prior had gone though a "normal" regiment and arrived at this point, he would have been the first to criticize the Cubs for not making an adjust in his spring training routine and learning from past mistakes. Stone is a self-serving whiner who is still clearly bitter towards the Cubs.

Old News: Stone should be manager, Tribune should sell. Not a doubt in my mind that Stone gets us in the playoffs in '04, when Dusty single-handedly loses us at least 5 games (along with his best buddy La Troy - oh Dusty you are so loyal - to anyone that kisses your ass!)
Tribune afraid to admit Dusty sucks. He IS a moron, a liar (I don't know anything about no steroids, dude!) no doubt about it. SELL CUBS, TRIBUNE YOU LUCKY DOGS, YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE REAL FANS WITH YOUR MONEY-MAKING, BLEACHER BLOATING, OVER-CHARGING, DUGOUT BOX-ING, AD-BOARDING CON JOBS YOU SUCK!

Perhaps one of the reasons that there is a perception of a vendetta is that Stone never seems to miss an opportunity for a sarcastic or biting comment towards the Cubs, and Kerry Wood in particular. Maybe if Steve would take that "high road" that he suggests for Wood, he wouldn't be perceived as biased and bitter.

He was an excellent broadcaster, but has become a difficult listen in his new gig.

Steve Stone was the reason I enjoyed watching the Cubs. His wisdom about the game, the players, the plays, the strategy is without equal. Please come back Steve.

I've learned so much about the game from Stoney. So much so, I've felt like I could manage a major league baseball team. His ability to always know exactly what's about to happen and explain why is uncanny.

Steve Stone has always been on target. I think his days as a broadcaster are oveR but, he would make a great Cubs coach.

I have a question.

Why does it seem that Kerry Wood can't pitch over three innings when the weather is hot or is over 85-90 degrees?

He always gets shelled...

Please someone check out the stats.

Steve Stone has more baseball moxie and knowledge than all of the Cub coaches put to together, and their manager.
He was right about either learn to pitch or go sell cars, but it is difficult to learn to pitch with Rothschild as the coach.
I always read that he is one of the premier pitching coaches in baseball. I don't believe it.
Sure, when he was with Florida they won the series, but at what price.
They had a pitching staff even better than the Cubs had when he got there. What happened? After one great year most of the Florida pitchers were injured, in one way or another, Why? Rothschild.
Now he is at work on the Cub pitching staff, which when he arrived was one of the tops in baseball. What happened to this terific group of young arms? Most have never matured nor improved since he's been here. The rest are injured in one way or another. The blame has to fall on the pitching coach.
It's time to buy Rothschild a bus ticket and a box lunch, and Hire Steve Stone...

THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS FALLING!

I love Steve Stone as much as the next guy, but he isn't always right. Fact is, he lucked out and seems right - but Prior was not injured until Tuesday.

All of you people are going to forget all of this during August & September when Zambrano, Prior, Wood, Miller, and Maddux - together with their dominant bullpen - are on top in the Central.

Everybody take a deep breath. It's March, people.

Any Cub fan dissing Steve Stone for opining correctly again on Wood and Prior should slap themselves. The gentleman who critized fans who support Stone for not knowing baseball is so off base it is comical. He was the best part of the broadcasts and educated many of us on the nuances of the game. I grew up with him correctly FIRST guessing on pitch selection, describing in game scenarios, etc. Now, I'll admit Stone hasn't met an opinion he won't give you but that's his job. There is no glee for him when a player is injured even Kerry Wood. His sarcasm is missed by many I guess. The Brokeback take was a little over the top for sure but amusing due to the fact Wood can't stay healthy. This is a no win situation for Stone or the Cubs due to the way the relationship ended. However, I'd rather have him poking fun and calling out those in the Cubs organization than remaining silent. As for knowing the game, I tell you this - I certainly know the hallmarks of losing baseball having witnessed all of 7 winning seasons in 20 plus years of following the team that this year is not shaping up for number 8. Certainly not a World Series title which is why you play the game, remember? Listen to the Cubs brass speak - how often do they mention the hope of competing? Competing? That's bunk - your job is to win the World Series. Anything else is a failure. Until fans and those in the organization think like this Wrigley will remain nothing more than a beer garden. Certainly not a place where quality baseball is on display.

steve stone was unquestionably the best baseball analyst ever. his insights were amazing , and you would appreciate hearing the truth , rather than being a homey . he said wood would always have injuries unless he changed his mechanics , and he is still right .he critisized baker for some decisions and he was absolutely right . the cubs will never win under baker . i watch all the games nad yell at stupid decisions he makes , and it turns out i was right and baker wrong .they dumped the wrong people .

Cubs games suck without me to listen to...

Some washed-up analysts and paranoid Cub fans owe Mark Prior an apology

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cub18.html

Jim Curry,

Sounds like you are the one full of himself, and also make assumptions that are incorrect. I am in fact from downstate, a Cardinals fan, and it looks like you are the one obessed with that team across town, I'd wish you good luck, but even that can't save your team...

Steve Stone as a pitching coach? Hell no at least not for the cubs. First of all you people have to realize that being a REAL GOOD pitching coach requires as much mental "coaching" as physical coaching and even more important a great working relationship between coach and player. Okay, so maybe not for the Cubs maybe Steve "know it all" Stone somewhere else, again, being able to talk about something and do it are two different things, maybe some day somewhere but not for the Cubs. I am not however saying that I like Larry Rothschild either. I think he knows what's best for his pitchers but for whatever reason has not been able to coach them and develop them as he saw fit. Maybe it was the pressure of winning, maybe it was just the fact he can't say no to his boss or maybe he just is not that good. I just wonder how long they go without at least considering a change. I think we will be okay, Guzman and Hill will take a while to develop but they will come around.

I've heard so many of you comment that Stone should immediately be hired to replace Rothschild, Baker, Hendry, McPhail etc.
I ask, if Stone is such a baseball genuis, why hasn't he been hired by another team to lead them straight to the pennant?
Stone is a great analyst, no doubt. I feel bad his Cubs career ended in such acrimony. But there's clearly something about Stone that prevents him from taking a managerial or front office job in baseball. He's quite happy to tell you that he's eminently qualified after all.
So his bit of wisdom, that a Cub's pitcher will suffer an injury, isn't exactly earth-shattering, nor worthy of making him the Cub's general manager.
Contrast the way Will Carroll divulged news of Prior's hidden shoulder injury with Stone's. This thing is personal, and tiresome.

Sav,Mike A, Kerry Burd &Stl fan Jim Curry.

Steve Stone's "first guessing" has been right on for 15 years and continues to be in his role as lead baseball guy for the Score.Either you are all drinking the Cubs Kool-aid or you dont want to admit the obvious.
The Cubs were lying, they have been lying and the perpetual prevaricators on the North Side will continue to lie. I have been a Cub fan for 35 years and have never been so disgusted as I have been in last three years.Thats a lot if disappointment to overcome.
Baker blew the 2003 season not Bartman.Alous' baserunning idiocy wasnt being aggressive,the players calling the booth happened, Hollandsworths injury,(another lie from the Cubs),Priors achilles heel moved its way to his elbow. Come on. The absurd comments that the Cubs werent hiding anything with Prior means you dont remember the past. Whether its with injuries to players or the "knothole" project. The bottom line is the Cubs lie.If you want to believe them thats your choice, and as far Jim Currys comment. 84, the Cubs got Sutcliffe before the trading deadline and in 85 all 5 starting pitchers were on the DL.Humm coincidence ?
Sorry even as a Cub fan I am not drinking the Kool-Aid.

Listen, you fans need to get a life. You act as though the Mark Prior injury is a shock? He is always hurt, same as Kerry Wood. They both had a couple good years, now they'll go after the season is over and do well, point blank. Get over it, make like get a life.

If Prior/Wood really want to stay healthy they should disregard all the attention from analysts and experts and look in their own dugout. They have a teammate named Maddux who is much smaller and weaker than them, way older and still able to throw his tail off every year while they're hurt. Maybe if they'd try to learn some of his regimens they could stay healthy and wouldn't have to deal with Stoney or anyone else raving about their injuries. But I guess that would just make too much sense.

Djm
My assumtion would be a natural one...
You would not normally expect to have a fan of a team 300 miles away obsessed with your former announcer, ballpark, team, and their fans. Most Cub fans usually only watch the Cards when we play against each other, or when they get pounded like crash dummies in the playoffs. I'll be in the park April 7th, left field bleachers. I never have trouble telling the difference between Cub and Cardinal fans.....Cub fans are the ones that have teeth.

Burg...
Dusty or Bartman, had nothing to do with "losing" the 03 playoffs.Maybe you forgot, since your memory appears to very very selective, but The Marlins WON the series, and BEAT everyone's pick, Yankees to WIN the Championship.Or, did Joe Torre lose that one?
My advice, get out of the sun, relax, and drink some cool water. Stay away from sharp items, and PLEASE don't drive.

Even if Stone's comments are peronal so be it. He was blamed by my individuals less accomplished than he for simply telling the truth. No one wanted to be part of a World Series winning Cubs squad then Stone. Has Wood or Prior won a Cy Young? Pitched in the World Series? Nope! The fact remains that everyone in the organization choked under the pressure and when called on it they couldn't stand up like men and admit it. The reason Stone hasn't landed a GM job over the years perplexes me. Certainly, he will never run the Cubs and that is to our detriment as fans. Stone deserved better from the Cubs and we as fans deserve better than McPhail, Hendry, and Baker. Oh and any Cubs fan talking trash with the Cards really doesn't know baseball. As much as I hate them, they consistently put winning teams on the field and have won the world series since the invention of the automobile. Also, that organization is run with considerable class - something the Cubs can't claim. Regardless of dental hygiene Cardinals fans always have a trump card to play - Winning.

Jim..
If you think that Baker didn't cost the Cubs the pennant in 2003, with 5 outs to go, you either do not know baseball or you didn't watch the game. The point I was trying to make was that you just can't believe anything that the Cubs orginization says.Enjoy the left field bleachers and hopefully some sun on April 7th. I suggest you wear something very warm.Don't drink cool water, Old Style or a Budweiser would be apropos. I will wait till July when it's a little warmer and the Cubs are 15 games behind the Cardinals. But the Cubs will tell you there are going to start out strong at the begining of the season, guess that doesn't bode well for the Cardinals on opening weekend right?

OK, I give.......did Baker bobble the grounder? Should Baker have caught Derrek Lee's gapper? Better yet should he have broken Josh Beckett's arm??? I watched the game, and I know baseball inside out. I may not be the biggest Baker fan in the world, but he did not blow the playoffs....the Marlins won. The best team in baseball that year won.

Cub fans are dumber than Cubs management if they think Management knowlingly plays injured players. It is assinine. As a Sox fan for 48 years-just saw the 4th straight yr. Sox hammer Cubs at TEP in Tucson.

Stonie was/is the man. Great knowledge of the game, and not afraid to 'put himself out there', making calls, calling pitches and the like. Steve got shown the door for calling it like he saw it, and not submitting to the rampant denial/homerism in sports and society these days. E maj

I've been a Cubs fan my whole life and I wish the Trib would do the fans a favor and sell the team to someone who actually gives a damn about winning. If that new owner wanted to win soon, he'd hire Steve Stone as General Manager and have an open check book. I think the Trib has made enough money off of Cubs fans for a sub par team.

Steve Stone sounds more and more like Cub fans crying over every little thing tat happens to the Cubs. Cub players, management, fans, & analyst need to get a grip on themselves finally stop feeding the rest of the baseball world all this baseball soap oprea crap. Also, finally realize 2003 was 3 years ago.

The only apology still owed is Mark Grace to all Cub fans. When he won the 2001 World Series with the Diamondbacks, he made the remark "I'm not good enough to play for the Chicago Cubs, but I'm good enough for the World Champion Diamondbacks". I can understand Grace holding a grudge against Cubs management for not resigning him, but his comment showed a total lack of class toward Cub fans who supported him over the years. Until he issues an apology, he's on my bad list.

If Steve Stone is the best analyst in the business, why is it that his best gig is with WSCR?

I'm still curious what it is that Stone said during the 2004 season that was incorrect. As a Cub fan, I was very frustrated watching that team play. The team was right there for the wild-card all season, but displayed a total lack of fundamentals. How many times did Moises Alou get caught trying to get back to a base without having tagged up on a fly ball? The guys on the team were ticked at Stone - and Chip Caray - because they dared to mention that they weren't playing the game in a fundamentally sound way. Those of us watching the games are not idiots. How condescending would it have sounded if, when mistakes were made, he just brushed it off without pointing out it was wrong. If they wanted to have them off their backs, maybe they should have played better.

If Stone was as brilliant as some here would have you believe, how come NOONE has ever considered him for ANY job on the field as a pitching coach, or upstairs as a GM.
The guy is a MAJOR pain in the @ss, that's why.This clown comes off as a pitching "expert", he had 1 great year, other than that he was a sub .500 pitcher,despite playing on an Oriole team, that won over 100 games 2 of the 3 years he played there. He had an awful strikout to walk ratio.
More interesting is the fact that this pathetic loudmouth continues to bash the Cubs and Wood, Prior, about faulty mechanics, and taunting Wood about getting hurt, when he himself was constantly suffering from arm problems, and in fact while with the Cubs, in 1976, he missed nearly 1/2 a season....maybe HE wasn't tough enough to understand the difference between injury, and pain.Or maybe that was Dusty and Hendry's fault back then too.
As a starting pitcher in the majors, for 11 seasons, this loud mouth hypocrite pitched over 200 innings only 4 times, pitched a pathetic less than 125 innings 5 times.
So much for this "expert" on mechanics, and durability. Facts are facts. Stone can continue to stick out his bottom lip and pout, while he continues his childish adgenda against the Cubs, but he is the ultimate hypocrite.

Cub fans have nothing better to do than whine. Steve Stone tells it like it is. The White Sox should have hired him to take over for Hawk and "Feisty". This really would've "Stuck it" to Cub fans.

Apology to Steve Stone..for what?

Steve Stone sold his soul to the devils in talk radio(North,Boers,and Bernstien).

What bugs me about Steve Stone now is that he did criticize while with the Cubs but he blunted it. But now it's no holds barred with him. Which is fine. He is allowed to. His life and career.

But all this crap about taking the high road and he has no ax to grind..well sorry that is about biggest joke next to Cubs training staff.

If Stone has no ax to grind, why go to the Tribune competitor. Which again is his right. But don't lie about no ax to grind. He loves that the Baker and Hendry are struggling.The 2 men who cause him to leave.

Stoney at least be honest about it.

Oh by the way Steverino, since we(you) have all the anwsers. I was wondering why you never got a front-office job.Not a managing job. Not a coaching job! Nothing!

While I won't give Baker or Hendry a pass yet for the last two years.Alot of big talk from a guy who has not spent one minute in a coaching or front office job.

Maybe Stoney, who has all this wealth of knowledge needs to step up and but his money where his mouth is. The guess from this baseball fan is that he will continue on the Score until Baker and Hendry are gone. Nice way to spend what was great broadcasting career.

Where are you Jimmy Piersall..at least your real.

I think it is time to close the door on the comments about Bartman causing the Cubs loss in 03.
I was watching the game on tv, and i'd have to say that it was doubtful that Alou would have caught the foul ball that Bartman caught.
People who believe that have a faulty memory of Alou. He most certainly was not a gazelle. He was not exactly a gold glover. In fact he was not a great fielder. So the chance that he would have caught that ball would probably be about 10 to 1, and that is giving Alou the benefit of the doubt. So lets all, including me shut up about it and hope the Cubs dump Rothschild and pick up a pitcher who instead of throwing towels, throws real baseballs...

Don't Flatter yourself Jim Curry. I am not obsessed with ex announcer or team. I just find entertainment in the false hopes and daydreams of Cub fans like yourself. You bend over and take whatever the management sells you, put no pressure on your front office, and wonder why your team has no title at the end of the year. Enjoy your full set of teeth and 98 years of nothing. I'll put in my dentures and hope to break my 1YEAR pennant drought.

Amen !! Jim Curry.

Great point which I wanted to put in my post but forgot. Great points.

Honestly, I have no problems with Stoney's opinions. But he is full of caca when he says he has nothing against Baker and Hendry.

since steve stone left the tv booth, trying to watch cubs games on wgn is like watching paint dry. the new guys in the booth are trying too hard and don't know anything about cubs baseball or the history of wrigley field. you can't just replace steve stone with individuals who have no allegiance to the organization or the city. don't get me wrong, i think bob brendley is a fair analyst but he still thinks he is doing wrigley games in which people are seeing wrigley for the first time. it seems as if he is trying to sell me wrigley field...a person who has grown up watching cubs baseball.

if i knew that by bringing in dusty baker as manager of the cubs that steve stone and sosa would have to leave town, i would have sent baker packing back to san fran and barry bonds.

stone gave the cubs and the city many great years of loyalty and dedicated service while delivering a product matched by few analysts in the business.

steve good luck and i hope to see you as mlb owner soon.

This is crazy. Regardless of the way you feel about Stoney's ability to be a front office exec/ coach, you have to admit that he is an incredible TV analyst, not to metion that I loved the fact that he didn't try to whitewash anything on the air. All my life I've endured really bad Cubs teams year after year. All I'm asking is for some truthful, insightful, and quality analysis when I watch their yearly demise. Now I hit the mute button while watching the cubbies on TV, because if I hear the announcers talk once more about how valuable Neifi has been to the organization, I'll do something drastic to my new plasma screen. Only awful organizations like the Cubs will try to distract the fans by blaming a TV CREW for a bad season. Guess what, Dusty? Bad defense is bad defense, whether or not Steve Stone says so in a broadcast. Leaving your pitchers (who have already had a ton of medical issues) in for 120+ pitches night after night might not be the best policy, whether or not Stone lets the rest of us know about it.

Wait, I have an idea, instead of calling the booth to complain about Stoney pointing out your latest mistake, why don't you take the criticism like a man and work on your game a little. And instead of covering up every Prior/Wood/Guzman/etc. injury, why don't you tell us the truth, then hold them out as long as it takes to REALLY heal them instead of lying to us, then rushing them out to be injured again.

In other words, leave Stone alone. Who cares if he is pompous and opinionated, he is on OUR side, holding a badly run organization accountable for its nonsense. He has a right to be bitter about an organization that left him out to dry when all he did was do a great job for the Cubs fans for years, giving it to us straight and keep us glued to the TV screen, losing season after losing season.

Get new ownership, a new front office, and stop wasting our time with lies, greed, bad personnel moves, and even worse excuses.

Thats it I'm done.

EricInNM...
Noone ever BLAMED tv announcers for having a bad season, (even though the team won more games that year than the previous "good" season), and calling the booth, or getting ticked ar announcers for comments made in nothing new, nor has it been restricted to the Cubs.
What IS unusual is the announcer leaking those confrontations to the press, and the announcer calling out a manager on the air. Bad baseball in this town is not restricted to the north side, prior to last season with the Sox, there had been a LONG history of losing around here.
If, the only reason you watched the Cubs was to see Steve Stone, I guess your in trouble now, as he doesn't seem to have found anything better other than replacing Jimmy Piersall on the Score.
Stone is a product of the Harry Caray era, and for the most part, that's where he gained his popularity. Without that gig, he might not even be able to get his current gig, working part time on local radio....
While Stone certainly was servicable as a color man, I don't see him any more knowledgeable than Brenley, Santo, or Hawk.
If he was this broadcasting god, or baseball guru, he'd be coaching, general managing, or broadcasting somewhere. No team, want's a general manager wannabe second guessing every move everyone in the organization makes from the booth.
TV rating certainly were NOT hurt last year by Stone being gone.
If you REALLY have knowledge about the extent of Wood/Prior/Guzman injuries, that apparently in your eyes, Hendrey, and Baker don't....You like Stone are an expert, and may also be able to get a part time gig, at the Score!

Djm:
"I am not obsessed with ex announcer or team"
Then why?
"You bend over and take whatever the management sells you, put no pressure on your front office, and wonder why your team has no title at the end of the year. Enjoy your full set of teeth and 98 years of nothing."
You have had nearly 1/4 of a century of "nothing" If nothing means no championship. Maybe your thoughts should be directed at a managment who draws 3 million a year, and still claims to be a small market team, and of course has not won in 23 years.
Maybe you do put pressure on your management....but evidently the results are the same.
I'll take my city, team, ballpark, broadcasters....and teeth over yours, and your lack of, any day of the week.

Jim Curry,

How many successful years did Leo Mazzone have in the big leagues as a pitcher? The question is irrelevant in deciding whether Mazzone is an accomplished pitching coach. Whether you consider him the best pitching coach or if you merely trust Mazzone is a competent pitching authority, it is patently obvious that success in the big leagues as a pitcher does not correlate with success as a pitching coach or other authority on those matters. Thus, all of your information about Steve Stone's career is irrelevant to the legitimacy of his opinions regarding pitching.

Maybe you respect Larry Rothschild's opinions about pitching more than Steve Stone's. What are Rothschild's career stats? How many Cy Young awards did Larry Rothschild win while making seven relief appeanances in the big leagues? The answer is that it doesn't matter unless we're asking Larry to toe the rubber--but we aren't. If you find Steve Stone's opinions lacking then tell us why they are lacking instead of using smoke and mirrors to claim that because Steve Stone had merely a decent career he cannot have expert opinions on pitching. That claim just doesn't work.

First off..where do you get that Baker's overuse hurt Guzman..better check the stats pal!

Also lets get a few things straight. No one ever said Stoney wasn't a good color guy..matter in fact I thought he was and still is the best in business.My point was, since leaving the booth on the north side and saying he has no ax to grind and he roots for Cubs..by his comments made over the last 18 months.That hard to believe. Not that the Cubs don't deserve it at times but his comments about Wood, specially the Brokeback one he made was totally uncalled for. Kerry Wood has quietly gone about his business and try to get his career on tract, but yet he has to listen to Stoney basically calling him a dope for the way he has pitched over the years...yes the man has no ax to grind! He is a bigger liar than Clinton.

Again, I agree that the Cubs should be taken to task over some moves they have made. My point was if Stoney has all this knowledge. Put it to use. Get a front office job...Get a coaching job. Go down on the field and make decisions that Baker and Hendry make everyday.

Lastly, Stoney speaking for the fans... I bet you believe in the Easter bunny and the WWE. Stoney is speaking out to make himself money and the Score money. As for the fans well they are secondary and if you think any different then you are just being foolish and naive.

Again I repeat Stoney good at what he does but that man has a ax to grind and if he would just "cowboy up" and admit it. Things would be better, but I guess thats the trick. It's like seeing a magician sticking the rabbit in his jacket before the trick ...so it goes!

Brian:
I guess the big difference is Leo Mazzone doesn't show up, and pop off publicly reguarding the shortcomings/injuries of others, with a superior attitude. My point in reference was his inability to be durable, and throw strikes. A point he keeps pounding Wood, Prior, and the orginization about. I guess if you read my comments, you would see that.
Maybe the best pitching coach in the game is Dave Duncan in St. Louis, who of course was a catcher. Come to think of it, he also conducts himself in a professional manner. Unlike Mr. Stone...the hypocrite

It would certainly be a refreshing harbinger if: (1) the Cubs really were sold; and (2) new ownership had the wisdom to make Steve Stone its General Manager or Director of Baseball Operations.

The Tribune and Cubs brass are the ones who owe Stoney an apology. It's obvious that they have no clue what fans in Chicago want, nor about baseball in general. It's a dirty shame what they did to Stone, and what they've been doing to their perennial doormat of a team. The city demands an ownership change!

Whoa guys...

Why do you have to misconstrue my comments:

1. I never said Baker's overuse hurt Guzman, I said the organization likes to paint an overly pretty picture everytime someone gets hurt. (The overuse comment was for Woody and Prior, and big Z if we don't be careful!)

2. And I never said that Stone is management material, none of us really know that. To be a successful executive in any industry takes more than knowledge, by the way.

3. Next, I never said that Stone was the reason I watched games, I said that now I watch them on mute because Brenly's analysis is as dry as my Aunt's Thanksgiving turkey and not as easy to swallow.

4. And I wasn't holding up Stone as some sort of spiritual dalai lama for Cubs fans, I was merely saying that of all the voices that we listen to daily on the news(Baker, Hendry, players, etc.), I like the fact that here is a guy that both has some knowledge of what he is talking about, and doesn't try to hand me the company line at every turn.

That said, I probably should have been more clear about the calling the booth issue. I don't care how "common" it is to call the booth. The Cubs handling of the situation was classless and embarrassing. We wasted more time on that debacle than on what really matters: winning. You would think that a sports organization that handles egos and powerful personalities all the time wouldn't have a problem with a game commentator who had already been in the biz for more than a decade. In fact, a good organization wouldn't have had a problem. In the end, we lost a great color commentator, we let the Tribsters turn fans like you and me away from demanding good baseball and towards arguing about whether Stone would make a good exec/coach. Sad.

In all honesty, I could care less about what tone was used when Stone talked about about Wood now that he is not with the organization anymore. Like I said earlier, he is obviously bitter about the situation (and his analysis of the injury was correct, too). I don't see why you should care, either.

What I do care about is having a good organization that gives it to us straight, at least tries to field a winning team every year, makes good decisions, acts in a classy manner, and can use its incredibly vast resources to embrace the fans, not fight them.

Jim Curry,

No, you didn't ONLY try to make the case that Steve Stone shouldn't be giving advice on durability because he had durability problems. (However, I don't think that Stone's durability as a pitcher has anything to do with his advice on mechanics or on his concern over the durability of Wood and Prior. Maybe it's even the case that he knows more about proper mechanics because of his problems as a player. Why shouldn't we accept that as a source of legitimacy instead of, as you wrongly claim, hypocrisy? Once again I think you're looking in the wrong spot to criticize his knowledge of the game.) You say, "This clown comes off as a pitching "expert", he had 1 great year, other than that he was a sub .500 pitcher,despite playing on an Oriole team, that won over 100 games 2 of the 3 years he played there. He had an awful strikout to walk ratio." Here you're questioning his expertise in the area of pitching and saying he is not an expert because of his lack of success on a successful team. And you're clearly mistaken in making that argument for the reasons I outlined in my previous post. So, yes, I did read your comment--apparently with more care than you did.

Now you're saying that the difference between Mazzone and Stone is a difference in character. Stone, you point out in oh-so-subtle fashion, is cocky and smug while Mazzone (presumably) isn't. What does that have to do with his authority on pitching? Absolutely nothing. In no way have you singled out any of Stone's opinions as wrong or bad. Your concern is only with the way he conducts himself. Of course this is a legitimate concern but you're a long way from convincing anyone that Steve Stone isn't an expert about pitching. Drink Coke, Play again, I guess.

Hypocrisy, by the way, means preaching values and/or beliefs that one does not in fact hold oneself. Steve Stone is only a hypocrite regarding the durability of Wood and Prior if he proclaims his belief that they are not durable when in fact he believes that they are. Simply because he was not durable as a player does not make him a hypocrite if he says that durability is important, the Cubs are poor at properly developing durable pitchers, etc. In no way is Steve Stone saying one thing and while believing the opposite of what he says. You'll have to give a better reason as to why he's a hypocrite. As I read you, your only real beef with Stone is that he's a jerk.

Whoa....All of us...
We all have our opinions, and I think this is a pretty good forum to hear each other out. Much better than a b.s. message board.
Keep it up Roman!
I get a chuckle out of all these posts, including my own. There is a bit of bs in every one of 'em.

Listen..it's true that Stone has been crtical of the Cubs and at times absolutely correct.

But if you're sarcastic in your message, instead of taking the message seriously, all people take in is his sarcasism. Now if he is being his real self..more power to him but me thinks Stoney has a agenda.

All my point is about the Stone pony is that just put your money where your mouth is. And to be honest I'm tired of him. But please don't think that Stoney is the voice of the fans. Because that statement is so far from the truth.

The true cub fans know where steve stone is coming from. steve and harry never made excuses for what they said in the both. if we today told a player that he stinks, he would probably rush the booth. players today need there hand held. you get paid to do a job, rather well i will admit. if you can not handle criticism then get out of the profession. is stoney suppose to say its okay if you give 75%. you make enough money go hire your own shrink to boost your ego. these new breed players need to check there ego at the door. stoney should of never been pressured to leave. if dusty does not win a championship and jim hendry leaves. you go crawling back to stone to come back. p.s. the ceo needs to go to.

djm........
awfully quiet after that Cub/Card series......
make that 13-6 over the past 2 seasons

I will absolutely not begrudge the commentors criticizing Stone on their right to voice their opinion but you have to admit at least he played. And talk about 'know-it-all' 90 percent of the sports media 'experts' are whiny,self-righteous,holier than,arrogant,egotistical,self-serving,spoiled brat slobs who look like the only 'sport' they can succeed at is a food eating contest. That goes for being bitter and having axes to grind which others in the media have turned into an art form I listened to Steve Stone for years and he always seemed very fair and objective. As for holding a grudge can you honestly blame him the Cubs are crap as much as it pains me to say and seem to have an issue with constructive criticism. So why not just go all out on a bunch of people who believe they are always right and you can't tell them anything including that they suck which is the truth. And the truth hurts.

THE CUBS MADE A HUGE MISTAKE LETTING STEVE STONE GO. HE WAS AN EXPERT ON ALL PHASES OF MLB.. HE WAS A TRUE PROFESSIONAL & HAD MANY YEARS EXPERIENCE PLAYING BASEBALL AS WELL. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE HIM. ANYONE WHO GETS HIS SERVICES WILL BE VERY LUCKY. LIKE TONY ROBERTS (WHO HAS DONE MANY ND GAMES) STEVE DESERVES A FAR BETTER FATE.

Steve Stone always makes predictions and brings up the few that that are correct. He said in the spring that the number one priority was to sign Barrett. He did not mention anything about the players in the minors; prior to when they were brought up.

He is just a pompous jerk. Working with Boers and Bernstein just proves it. He is articulate and people think he knows baseball because he uses words that most of the listeners dont understand. You can hear Bernstein using the same words on the next broadcast. If I hear egregious again, I will throw up. Stone, please leave Chicago and get a real job.