No way Dusty Baker lasts the season. It's getting to the point where something has to be done, and that something is pretty obvious.
It's not Dusty Baker's fault that Mark Prior and Kerry Wood can't stay healthy. Some people will say he overused them, but what about the workhorses on the south side of town? Why aren't they breaking down?
It's not Dusty Baker's fault Derrek Lee broke his wrist or that Juan Pierre and Jacque Jones aren't producing.
But often when a manager has to be defended, and when he starts defending himself as Baker did Tuesday, that's usually followed by the manager getting the hook.
When that happens with Baker, I'm guessing all sides will be relieved. Baker has appeared uncomfortable in this city almost since he arrived. He has seemed taken aback by some media criticism and criticism from his own fans.
This marriage is on the rocks, and it looks like it's about to end.
You don't hire a manager and pay him 4 million dollars a year for these kinds of results. This isn't the first time the Cubs under Baker have gone in a prolonged tail-spin.
And what's our fearless manager's response? "Dude, there's nothing you can do but work at it and hope we'll come out of it."
If he's fired, he should look no further than his own mirror to find the person most culpable.
From day-1, Baker was a poor fit for a town like Chicago, and an even worse pick for a team that hasn't been to a World Series since 1945. He's thin-skinned, unable to accept criticism in any form, and stubborn beyond all comprehension.
He coddles his players to the nth degree and is personally wounded when one of them takes verbal shots at him ala Sammy Sosa.
I saw Dusty manage the SF Giants for a couple of years before he arrived in Chicago, and I knew what the Cubs were in for. Poor in-game decisions, loyally sticking with his favorite players even after they've proven to the rest of the league that their skills have diminished or never existed (see Marvin Benard, Neifi Perez, and Shawn Estes). Oh, and did I mention an amazingly thin skin?
This guy should never have been hired to begin with, but Hendry bought the whole "I'm-one-of-the-greatest managers-ever" routine hook, line and sinker. Now the Cubs are sunk this year... and for the forseeable future.
Baker should go... the sooner the better... but McFail and Hendry should be leaving the premises right behind him.
This is less about the direction of the team or a commitment to winning. This is all Tribune Co. PR spin. I think Scoop Jackson's article last year (wrongly accusing Baker's many critics of blatant racism) bought Dusty a few extra months or years as manager. After that article, it was clear to me that there was no way in the world the Tribune would let Baker go, not on the heels of what happened to Sammy Sosa. Couldn't take the PR hit.
I sincerely believe that, without Jackson's article, Cubs management might have let Baker go a while ago. But now, being ultra-sensitive to the race issue, unless the Cubs somehow lose 20-30 games in a row (always a possibility), Baker is going to be allowed to complete the season and simply won't be re-signed.
Then, Hendry will stand before a battery of cameras and microphones and proclaim "Obviously, we thank Dusty for his efforts, but we just felt it was time to go in a different direction."
Well - DUH!
Letting him finish out his contract insulates them from the racism charges, leaving the Cubs free to hire someone who will hopefully be a bit more competent, a manager who will focus on the fundamentals, publicly chastise his players when they fail to perform, and successfully manage the diverse personalities he's in charge of.
Oh, that's right... we already have a manager like that in the city of Chicago... you might have heard of him... he works on the South Side and goes by the name of Ozzie Guillen. A manager who is everything that Dusty isn't.
Dusty owes everything to Barry Bonds. Without him in the lineup, there's no way Dusty is anywhere near 1,000 victories in his managerial career. He's that bad.
If Don Baylor had the luxury of pencilling Bonds in the lineup for more than ten years, he likely would have eclipsed 1,000 victories, as Baker did.
As a lifelong Cubs fan, I had to celebrate last year's White Sox championship. That team had more guts, smarts, and wherewithall than anything I've seen on the North Side in years!
One day the Tribune will sell the Cubs and we'll finally get an owner committed to winning, with management who actually believes in holding staff accountable for their actions... and failures.
Yeah, and while I'm dreaming, maybe I'll finally land a date with Mariah Carey.
Hey let's get off Dusty case. The CUBS are the cheapest and stupiest org. I ever seen. It's not Dusty fought for the injuries to the pitchers, as well as DLee. Everyone wants to say he overwork them what about when they lost to Florida those pitchers pitch several innings in multiply games. Get off the band wangon and the cheer. The players we have suck and are not producing, whenever someone has a great season he we go and sign them to a long contract. The bottom line we need to stop being cheap and go after proven players year in and out such as the YAK"S and BOS. remember we got rid of Moise, who could have help us out we need to get pitchers,closer etc the tribune company will not spend the money smart, because they all know it will sell out anyway!
YES IT IS TIME FOR DUSTY TO GO.AFTER AN AMAZING FIRST YEAR THAT ALMOST ENDED IN A TRIP TO THE WORLD SERIES,DUSTY HAS GONE IN A BACKWARDS PATTERN FOR THE LAST 2 AND A HALF YEARS. HE HAS PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN HE IS UNABLE TO MOTIVATE OR INSPIRE THESE PLAYERS.INJURYS HAVE PLAYED A GIGANTIC ROLE IN DUSTY,S SOON TO BE DEMISE.ALL CAN NOT BE BLAMED ON DUSTY. BUT CUB FANS AND CUB MGT PLEASE A CHANGE IS NEEDED.AND NOW
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE CUBS IS THE MUSEUM, PERIOD. BLOW THE DUMP UP OR USE IT AS IT IS NOW, A MUSEUM. START FROM SCRATCH WITH A NEW STATIUM, NEW MANAGEMENT. NEW EVERYTHING. I THINK THE "BABE" JINXED THIS DUMP UP YEARS AGO. THIS WHOLE ORGANIZATION STINKS.
Why is everyone suprised that the Tribune Company is commited to losing! It's profitable for them. Rumor has it that the Tribune is putting that extra money they make in their other subsidiaries that are losing money. As far as Baker goes anyone who is a manager in any line of work knows you can't be your employees friend. I guess Dusty doesn't know that and will never know it. Launch the guy now it will not make any difference as the Tribune will put another patsy in the manager role.
This Cub fan is done with this crap!
If anyone really believes Baker will be fired anytime soon, barring a 30-game losing streak, then they don't know Jim Hendry very well. He loves Baker and won't throw him overboard. Baker may not get an extension but he won't be fired this year. You can book that.
We need to quit pointing the finger at the managers. After all Dusty, Don, Jim and countless others had the same results. Maybe the manager isn't the problem. For that matter neither is the GM. It seems Their hitting philosophy is. The Cubs always go get guys that don't like to walk, and pitchers know they dont have to throw strikes because the Cubs wont walk. Maybe getting a few guys that will take the base on ball will help this team. Nothing against the players we have, but they are all the same type of aggresive hitter. This makes it easy on the other team and hard on the Cubs.
I agree - Dusty needs to go. Yeah, we can blame injuries to D Lee, Prior and Wood. We can even blame the billy goat curse...but truth be known..it took him forty games to change the lineup. Why not use the bench players more.....hold the regulars up to higher standars...why put up with mental errors. He expects the players to chew themselves out...bring me a Pinella or Ozzie type of manager....get rid of that comfort zone.
Want to know what the funny thing about all this is?
Say what you want about Dusty Baker, but he's probably the best manager the team has hired in 20 years! What does that say about management?
A guarantee: Dusty will win after he gets canned this year (or quits). He can win with a team like, say, the Yankees. A team with veterans, pros who know how to play the game, pros who are basically self-managed. Just roll the ball out there, and let your players play. Kinda like the 2002 Giants, and to a lesser degree, the 2003 Cubs, who had a World Series champ in left field who played the game the right way and a two-time World Series participant in center who also played the game the right way. Self-motivated veterans.
With a team like his current group, a fundamentally-flawed unit whose veteran leader (Aramis Ramirez) uses body language that says he hates playing baseball, Baker fails.
Look, I'm not saying Dusty isn't to blame; once again, the team can't bunt, I don't think he's particularly versed in handling pitchers, his team still makes bone-headed plays (like when Pierre, he of the pop-gun arm, tried to throw out one of the fastest guys in baseball, Dave Roberts, last week.) and I have no reason to believe that Dusty won't get out-managed once again this season in late-game situations.
At some point, it IS the manager's fault. But Baker's had some help in the demise of this team. And their names are Wood and Prior.
Signed,
A Dusty fan
Roman responds: Good point about Dusty being the best the Cubs have had in a while. No argument.
No manager can win anything with your 3 best players hurt.
I've been a cub fan for 22 years.My son loves going to the game.But the last year and a half he does not like to watch the game with me anymore.I dont blame him who wants to watch bad baseball.Do not get me wrong the first 10 to 15 games it looked like the cubs were playing the game the right way until D-Lee got hurt.I like the young talent we have. Except for guzman and hill.But i guess you cant fire the rest of the roster.So I guess its so long dusty your the scapegoat they kissed your butt in 03' and now three years later they want you gone!There is nothing more I would want than to see the cubs in the world series.But now i want them to meet the White Sux in the fall classic and of course beat them!.That will make millions of cub fans happy and the hundreds of sox fans very depressed. And then the sox franchise will bring back Bring Your Doggy Night at the Cell.Win or Lose Die Hard Cub FAN!
It is time to do something about Dusty Baker, but big Jim dosen't want to let his boosm buddy go. I say take back big Jim's new contract and dump 'em both. Who cares at this point weather they both go. It can only be an improvement over the last seven plus years for a team who, at times, have had enough talent to go all the way, yet seem to fall short one way or annother. Why should cubs fans put up with it. For that matter why does the Tribune Co. even bother with such a bloated payroll. They make us think they care just enough to keep us interested and then a freak accident all but ends our season. The Crards would not be this bad if they lost Pujols for two months. Why? Because they are a well run organization, as much as I hate to admit that. Why not dump everyone and start completly from scratch. It seems to workfor The Marlins every few years. They have two more rings than the Cubs in the last eighty years. Or maybe we could just become another farm team for the rest of MLB, like KC and Tampa Bay. At least thier owners are up front with the fans about the piece of crap teams they feild. It seams the Tib.Co. only Want's it's piece of crap to LOOK somewhat respectable, even if they cant hit or field to save thier lives.
C'mon, you've got to all be kidding me! I guess the majority if not all of you are younger than 25. I have been a Cubs fan since my daddy left the best part of me down my moms leg.
I can remember managerial giants the likes of Herman Franks, Don Zimmer, Lee Elia,Don Baylor, Jim Riggleman, ect... the list goes on.
Baker is not the problem! That is what the focus should be. The problem is....and make the list. Can Baker solve the loss of the teams 2 top pitchers, no. Can he solve the loss of it's best player, and 2nd best player in the NL, no. Can he magically turn 3 rookie pitchers into 15 game winners, no.
Did Baker sign Pierre and Jones, no.
But look, Baker was responsible for Nefie, Williams, and keeping Walker.
My point is simple, don't blame the best, most credible manager we've had in 15 years for the current woes, wait until he's got a full healthy squad. If he can't motivate and produse a winner at that time..... fire him and hire Bob Brenly. There's really no one else who wouold take the job!
A manager is only as good as the pleyers he is given to work with.
Take Pujols, Carpenter and Mulder away from St. Louis and see how they would do.
Actually, wasn't it Riggleman through Baylor who over-used Wood during his early, developing years?
Well another year gone to waste, I agree Dusty needs to go, but JH need to go with him, Dusty was set up to fail, with the mediocre players he has, but he cant manage, too many miss cut-offs, missed bunts, fail to move runners over, players running through signs, players getting picked off base, I could go on for ever, NOW that is dustys fault, he has no discipline for his troops. JH he just plain doesnt know talent, keeping KW and MP, when he could of got some good young talent, quit living in 2003 past, I think we should do what Florida Marlins do every 6 years, trade away the wholw team and win a championship and do it all over, WHY NOT? I can live through 5 bad yearsfor a Championship every 6 years...Oh, I forgot I am living through a bad team for the last 30 years... by the way I am a big Chicago fan, more Cubs then Sox, but I am rooting for the south siders to do it again, since the sCrUBS will never do it until they blow up wrigley, trade the whole team, and start fresh......
As I watched the Giants in the Series a few years back, I questioned Dusty’s
lineup. It did not seem to be the best ordering of the personnel to produce
runs. So when the Cubs hired him as their manager, I was doubtful of the
results. Now into still one more year, I am fully convinced he was a poor
choice for the job.
Having questioned that, I would also doubt the ability of those making the
original decision, along with some of the others that have followed.
You Cubs fans are hilarious. You always have someone to blame. Dusty Baker might be the best manager the Cubs have EVER HAD! It's the organization that stinks. Is it just me or do Cubs fans act like the Cubbies were winning titles on a yearly basis until Baker got there? Some nerve. How can you loose your two best pitchers and your best bat and still blame the manager? Face it fellas, Wrigley Field is the world's largest singles bar, no more, no less. You want championship baseball, you know which side of town to come to. The proof is in the pudding. Who has a statue outside of Wrigley? Not a player, not a coach.........but a broadcaster. That pretty much sums it up.
I cant believe Baker has lasted as long as he has. He is not at all a fit for Chicago. I agree with a lot of you that he is way too sensitive. Steve Stone for manager baby! ha. Yeah I can dream...but in all seriousness I think Lou Pinella would be the ideal manager for this team. Great manager, and a great personality for this city. Dustys gotta go, and he can take his boy Harristen with him.
I, like many Cub Fans get caught up in the hype every year and then have to remind myself...THE
CUBS ARE THE CUBS!
I agree that Dusty is not THE problem. It is true that he changes lineups a bit too often. That he changes the rotation at inopportune times. It is also true that he has been better at w/l than most recent Mgr's the team has had. A lot of blame can go to Hendry and his minor league development. The lack of fundamentals, the questionable ROI on trading minor league players are a couple problems he needs to address. I actually think that the lineup is one of the better ones on balance we have seen in years. Speed and LH batting and pitching is here. Not to say that they are the best at it, but it is a turn in the right direction. We have several new players this year with the right talent, if not yet the right performance. Cubs are not yet buried this year. May not be a playoff team, but I see a rebound to another winning season at the end of the day. Fans are so ready to tear down in this town. Lets try to build them up when the chance presents itself.
Each day is a new start, each year a fresh start. I for one am tired of the managerial go 'round. Lets hope Hendry does not handcuff himself with the excuse of overpaying, when he has another chance to improve the team.
The Cubs' first mistake was resigning Hendry to an extension before seeing how his latest additions would pan out. Clearly, this line-up was way to dependent on DLee as the anchor just as that certain other football team has historically put all the eggs in one quarterback basket. Baker who has apparently has a great relationship with Hendry had to have some say in who they were bringing in, esp with his fate hanging in the balance. Three secondbaseman, but yet no firstbase backup or stud type hitter...sad really...5 outs away three years ago to back to perrenial doormat. What really gets me seething, is it was Baker who touted after the game 6 and 7 NCLS COLLAPSE that "dont worry, dont be mad!, you'll miss the best is yet to Come!"...please! Everyone in Cubdom knew then in their hearts that the Cubs had let a golden opportunity slip through Gonzales' glove.
And Hendry gets an extension for assembling this mess?
INJURIES HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IN SPORTS, THE GOOD MANAGERS FIND WAYS TO WORK AROUND THEM. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT DUSTY HAS RUINED THE CUBS, TOO MANY YOUNG PLAYERS LET GO, AND TOO MANY OLDER ONE BROUGHT IN. THIS IS JUST NOT A GOOD TEAM, AND IT STARTS AT THE TOP WITH DECISION MAKING.
After 37 years of being a Cub fan you would think seasons like this would get easier. I've never been a Sox fan, but it's starting to look better every year that Hendry is still around.
I think it is time to get rid of Andy McPhail, Jim Hendry, and Dusty Baker. Remember Andy was brought here because he was the architect of the Minnesota Twins turnaround. Look at the mistakes he has made. Ed Lynch as his first GM? He was terrible. Now we have Jim Hendry. They were both going to rebuild our farm system. I have not seen many results. We could have signed Jim Thome, but we had Hee Sop Choi. I am glad we realized he wasn' the answer and traded him for Derek Lee. Then last year we pitched Kerry Wood out of the bullpen when he should have had surgery. If he had surgery right away we would have had him to start the year. Then we don't have to run out Angel Guzman. We thanked Minnesota for not taking Mark Prior. We had finally drafted the pitcher that was going to help lead us to the promised land. All he has done is break our hearts. I watched Joe Maurer last night and think what might have been. I also believe that the Cardinals tricked us into signing Jacque Jones by telling everyone how they wanted him. Thanks for taking the bait Jim. There are more examples of poor decisions by management. It would take all day to list them. I think it is time to bite the bullet. Keep Derek Lee and the other young players and blow this thing up. Start with new management and young players. Develop a good young team and than start adding the pieces that you need. Develop our own model for success and stop copying what the White Sox have done. I hate to admit it, but I like watching them more than I do the Cubs. They play the right way and have good management. Kenny Williams has been brilliant. He had a couple of tough years, but has since hit on every move he makes.
Lefty
MANY problems highlighted by Baker and Hendry. How did the Sox get so good? Maybe the GM, Williams, should get credit. Ozzie is firey while Baker is dull and predictable. The Cubs can't develope ballplayers except for Cedeno the team is imports. Our entire outfield is from other clubs farm systems, Hendry where are you or who are you listening to? Our pitchers seem best when we trade them elsewhere leaving us with damaged arms. Hendry had two good moments!! Trade for Ramirez and dumping Hundley for productive players. Think he overpaid for Sosa's last 2 years? Look at what Kerry Wood has been paid for less than 30 wins over the past 4 years. Waiting 2 years too long to trade an uncoachable Patterson. Enough about the systems weakness and Hendry
Now for Baker, the comfortable Baker, the I'll do it my way Baker. Two teams got managers we needed, Tigers and Marlins and we view Pinella as possible. Maybe we do need a kick-butt leader, one who'll require guys like Hairston to hit behind runners and teach the value of a fly ball when a runner is on third with less than two outs. Come on Cubs we know you are flawed but we love ya. This is from a fan since 1944 who remembers a great homegrown outfielder named Andy Pafko.
Dusty Baker is not at fault for all of the Cubs woes. That lies with the GM who on a consistent basis puts together teams with players that are fundamentally poor and have no clue how to work the count. Hendry likes to sign the strikeout or homer guys likes Burnitz, Jones, etc. On base percentage is never a focus for him. Blame Dusty for poor in-game decisions. But don't blame him for the crap he has to work with. He's not the one who didn't go out and sign some veteran pitchers in the off-season knowing that Wood and Prior have a history of injury problems. He's not the one that has a pathetic bench with no adequate replacement for Lee or capable players in the minors capable of coming up and stepping in. That's totally Jim Hendry's domain and he has failed miserably. Rescind his contract, give Dusty some smart players and a little better luck with injuries, and I think you'll see he's a lot better manager than most of you think, especially given the Cubs history of managerial hires. They can do a lot worse. As for general managers, they can do a lot better. Hendry has only looked good to people in comparison to the pathetic bodies the Cubs have hired that have occupied the position. He's nowhere near the upper echelon in the game. Until the Cubs have a plan, and don't fly by the seat of their pants, they're destined to lose. Their problems go a lot deeper than the manager.
I think we should make Steve Bartmann manage this team. How best to make him pay the ultimate price for signaling the moment this team began its downfall? Make him manage this team of incompetent oafs.
Dusty threw Prior 114 pitches per start at age 22. He rode Wood, Z just as hard. Some fans think how a mgr works a J Contreras or a Prior is all the same. Dusty always has abused young arms. Dusty always has done lots of dumb things. The organization is clueless throughout. But to give the manager a pass in this situation would be even more clueless. The Dusty clock should've started ticking down long before this.
Bob Brenly will be the new Manager before the All Star break.
First the organization in the pre-season pretends they are contenders,media goes along with them .Then they have losing streak(media and most fans jump off bandwagon( same routine every year)You cant blame Dusty he is not playing he is the manager.Players dont look comfortable at all during games some thing is seriously wrong!pretty soon management will go start firing players and coaches,Should actually start with Hendry FIRST!Dont scapegoat the players or Dusty.
Bring on Lou Pinella or Larry Bowa!
This organization's freefall is highly embarrassing and a world class city such as our own Chi-Town is undeserving of such defamy. When does it end? We should be burning McFAIL in effigy instead of campaigning to throw Dusty under a bus. After all, it's MacFAIL's operation. Hendry? He is a hit or miss type that will never see the type of luck he had in '03. Who's his boss? If McFail does not care, then we all pay the price. The team that Hendry assembled this past offseason is a mark of incompetence. Hendry and MacFail are the idiots that should be leaving town....with the aloof and incompetent Johnnie B. holding their coattails.
As far as courting a manager that chastises his players in public, under stand that what Ozzie does will not work for everyone. If you put a manager in their with an abrassive personality and a potty mouth, you may do more harm than good. A public chastising is never the way to go without your players' respect. Just ask one Bill Cartwright....
The insolent Sox fan is right: The ORGANIZATION sucks. Well, after 16 years of being a die hard, I think I have gone to hell...but the team beat me.
A couple of observations about past posts. To suggest that the Cubs are playing without "their three best players" is an insult certainly to Zambrano and a gross overstatement of Woods actual performance. The comment that has made the most sense is having the same type of hitters -- aggressive first ball swingers. Look at LaRussa. He takes every new acquisition from Jocketty (a GREAT GM) and drills in the the concept of taking bad pitches and thereby shrinking the strike zone. A philosophy that is serving the best player in baseball -- Pujols -- particularly well. Case in point, Aaron Miles has embraced LaRussa' philosophy and is getting on in key situations and batting over 300. Juan Encarnacion is not embracing Cards philosphy, is batting .225 and will not be long in the Cards organization if he keeps being stubborn. Baker and Hendry need to ADAPT to the cards they now have, not keep hoping for "things to get better." That's what great managers are all about. Sorry, but Baker does not understand this. He rode Bonds's coattails to a reputation that was not deserved. A LaRussa-type manager would have a plan that would keep the Cubs competitive until Lee et al return.
I can't stand to watch this baseball abomination. Baker should have been fired after the mess he made at the end of the 04 season. Tribune corp can't pull the trigger without insulating themselves by letting the person twist in the wind first. Like when they released the tape of sosa leaving the stadium early, now who was it that made that call, dusty-don't think so, jhendry-doubt it, Andy Mcfail-fits like a sweater vest.
I think the trib should trade the cubs to the Mcaskeys for the bears. That way the Mcaskies can employ 3 or 4 more generations around wrigley and the tribune can assign their paper, radio and tv reporters to making "Tradin down" Angelo sound like he knows what he's doing.
Just think we actually pay money to watch this crap!!!
Look guys, I know that most of you want answers and therefore need to pin the blame on someone for yet another joke of a season; but lets face it, the Cubs are just BRUTAL.
I myself am tired. I'm tired of putting any faith, energy, time, or money into this organization.
Not only does the Cubs organization lack the ability to actually do something like they're supposed do (ummm.... I don't know, maybe create a team that can score 2 runs a week), but it seriously lacks ethics and professionalism.
Cubs fans a few years ago (pre-Wood / Prior yearly tradition of going on the DL, returning, and re-entering the DL like a child on a merry-go-round) actually started to become wise to the Cubs' tricks. One man while being interviewed at a Cubs game said: "They don't really care about putting together a good team so long as the fans keep coming to games." You see the problem with that, Cubs fans? THE MAN WAS AT A CUBS GAME WHILE HE WAS SAYING THAT!
Now, what the man said is true. The Cubs organization could really care less about creating a team of championship caliber because plain and simply: they don't need to.
Up top they have the puppet--Jim Hendry--that plays nice with the media and leads Cubs fans to start that pre-season Cub fan banter of how deep the Cubs are going to be in the next season. Especially since aquiring the almighty Jaque Jones and brilliant fielding finesse and high on base percentage master Juan Pierre. Yes, that fixed the problem! Six games under five hundred with no end in sight to a skid that would frighten the jockstraps of football players, I have given up on the Cubs indefinitely.
So you see, my Cub-fan friends, this has nothing to do with Dusty Baker; it has everything to do with an organization that is hellbent on not caring about whether or not the Cubs win. All they need to do is put the occassional 5-10 year appearance in the playoffs to satisfy the bleeding hearts and suffocating minds of Cubs fans so desperate for a winning team that they're willing to chant: "Hawwwkins... Hawwwwwwwkins....." in order to try and fill the 100 year void put forth by a club that does not care about its fanbase. Spice it up by having the centerpiece of the team; or as he's more commonly referred to as "Mr. Cub." You know, the D-Lees, Sosas, Hawks, Banks'. Then you have the perfect recipe for the Cubs. Srumptous, yes?
This is about looking on the other side of town and seeing an organization that embodies class, ethics, and professionalism. An organization that cares about putting teams together on a consistent basis that can actually compete (and maybe even try and win it all). A team that doesn't charge its fans extreme prices to go out and have fun at a baseball game.
That's all I'm sayin'.
But if you wish to suffer my friends, then continue to suffer. I for one, am tired of suffering. The Cubs are brutal and they always will be.
With all of Bakers' stupid managerial moves, his blind loyalty to veteran players, inability to manage a pitching staff, his embarrasing poor fundamental teams and always making excuses for his players that look like they should still be in A ball, I am surprised at Cub fans and the Chicago media.While it's very easy to rip Baker for being an inept manager, there are thousands of reasons you could list, has everyone just given this guy a pass on wanting to see Barry Bonds pass Babe Ruth on the HR list while HIS team was playing against the Giants.How can you respect any manager who wants to see an opposing player hit a home run against YOUR team, let alone pass one of the most revered players in baseball history. And it being the chemically enhanced Barry Bonds just adds to the insult. If I were a Cub pitcher I would've hit Baker right in the mouth for his idiotic comments. How can you condone any manager wanting to see an opposing player hit a home run agaisnt the team you manage? Baker has done enough to warrant his exit from town, his comments about "being there for Barry", should be all you need. Guess Jim Hendry doesn't care if his team gets beat by a home run from an opposing player either.
Fire the big three: McPhail, Hendry and Baker. That said, my beef is with the so-called fans who go to the park a pay money to watch the Cubs. I am 40 years old. I've been a Cub fan all my life. I live a few blocks from Wrigley. But I haven't been to a game in THREE YEARS.
Why should TribCo sell when it doesn't matter if they put a good team on the field? Year after year they break attendance records.
They may be the laughingstock of baseball, but they laughing all the way to the bank.
Until the fans stop going to Wrigley for a picnic, and feel it's a plus if a baseball game happens to break out, things are not going to change in Cubdom.
Im curious. How many people posted to this thread complaining how bad the team is but still pay TribCo for games?
Dusty Baker is a moron, I have known this since he let his child on the field that time in the post season. Dusty needs to go!
If we look 300 miles south we can see a MAJOR League baseball organiztion. It is called the "Cardinal Model". Notice the Reds are trying to emulate the "Cardinal Model" and are having success with it. It starts with committed ownership, and a competent GM and Manager. Every year Jockety puts the parts in the dugout and LaRussa makes them fit into a smooth running machine, and their payroll is only $90 million.
Idon't know if someone else already responded, jojopupp, but you have posted the dumbest comment I've seen in quite a while. No team can win without thier three best players? Take Jose Contreras, Paul Konerko, and Mark Buerhle from the champs, and you've still got a pretty good team contending for the playoffs. This is a function of Jim Hendry being subpar as a GM, while Kenny Williams hasbeen nothing short of brilliant. Maybe it's unfair to compare the two, but if the Cubs had just won the Series, I'd be expecting Williams to do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to win this year, not the usual patch a few holes, underbid on the best players, and hope for the best, like Hendry this offseason.
Sell them to Walgreen's so thay can market a new generic
The Cubs need to make a change and the time for that is now! They need someone who is going to put the fear of God into the players. The country club attitude on the Northside has gotten old real fast. And who is at fault? one word; Dusty. People always say, oh the Cubs are cheap, they have injuries and all the other crap. I see other teams that are in the same boat and you don't hear the bitching, moaning and complaining that you hear from Cub fans. From the time I was born, I was taught that we don't like the team on the Southside. I had to deal with my Sox fan neighbors for the last year and it is really getting old. Don't get me wrong, I was happy for the Sox that they won and the city finally got to drink from the big glass, but you would think that the Cubs would try to match what the Sox did. But Hendry just didn't seem to have a plan last winter. And how you cannot have someone to replace Lee is a travesty. What needs to happen is we need someone to sit these players down and tell them they need to earn their playing time. No more, well I have a big contract so you can't sit me. Pierre belongs on the bench until he gets his head out of his butt. Same goes for Jones. And stop your crying about getting booed. It's our right. Play the way you a capable, we'll stop booing and salute you as you run to right field. The time is now to stop the bleeding. Cut the head off the "monster" and try again. Just one guys thoughts from Plainfield.
If I ran the Cubs I would pay every team member the league minimum and have a charity raffle for manager every single game. The drunks and tourists would still pack the stands!
The problem starts at the top with Tribune Co. Their primary motivation is to make a profit. Shareholders don't care about World Series rings.
As long as a corporation is running the team, expect the same pathetic merry-go-round.
The Cubs need a winning-obsessed lunatic to buy the team (i.e. Mark Cuban).
Until then, go Sox.
I am reading a lot of desperation from Cubs Nation. A lot of finger pointing. A lot of hate. And I agree with most everything (not the bone-head injury excuse). But I think the real problem is the Tribune Company. It's running this unit like its running most of its units - in the ground. Look at the stock performance since Dec 2003 (2 months after they almost won the pennant). While the S&P has improved 16%, TRB has lost 43% of its value. So the Cubs, by Tribune Company standards, are just fine.
I laughed out load at Timothy Severns' last post. Especially the charity raffle part. Thanks for that.
I bet if a random fan managed each game they wouldn't lose 8 games in a row. The Cubs have lost 8 games in a row 3 different times in their last 110 games. Anyone who doesn’t think the Manager is mostly responsible for that (hello Steve Phillips, anyone home), needs to get their head examined.
I laughed out load at Timothy Severns' last post. Especially the charity raffle part. Thanks for that.
I bet if a random fan managed each game they wouldn't lose 8 games in a row. The Cubs have lost 8 games in a row 3 different times in their last 110 games. Anyone who doesn’t think the manager is mostly responsible for that (hello Steve Phillips, anyone home?), needs to get their head examined.
Cubbies...sounds like Huggies...let's go Diapers!
I think 9-0 is the forfeit score for baseball. Just call it in -- why bother to play. Would save on hot water and soap increasing profits for Mother Trib!
The reason this team is losing so much is because you only have 2 starters! And now Maddux is looking like last years's version, and Zambrano is inconsistent . Then the bullpen gets used too much, then Rusch gets rocked, Williams got rocked.. a bunch of guys except for Howry, Eyre, Maddux early on was great. No wonder this team can't win right now.
Then you lose D Lee. Getting rid of the manager would just add to the instability possibly... but then again why dont they bunt more, strike out less, take some pitches. That I dont understand. Dusty can take some blame on that I think.
I cant say I love Dusty Baker, but man what a tough situation he is in.. Was Larussa ever in this type of situation? When was it, and how did the team do?
So after they get rid of Dusty, and the team still cant win then what... have a fire sale like Florida?
Oh yeah did you guys know this is May.. not august. okay just checking.
When Prio and Wood get back and go 15-0, And D Lee comes back, the cubs will be fine.
Bob Brenly? Be careful what you wish for.. I know he won a world series, but remember who he had on the pitching staff. I say how do you lose. Eventually everyone in Phoenix wanted him out just like Dusty now..
And yes please someone humor me and point out a team in baseball that has lost this many top players over the years and won. I mean at what point does injuries become a factor? When the AAA team is starting? Check out the pitching staff.
When you realize this you really have to look at the organization, gm then Dusty, in that order. So lets fire the Tribune.
This conversation is over.
Chicago should unite behind the true winner in this town.
LETS GO WHITE SOX!
Life becomes sweeter with every Sox victory and every Cub defeat. Go, Dusty!
the cubs are nothing short of a minor league team . they play with no fire or determination to win. once again we are subject to the cubs hoping 1 player will get them out of the jam they are in. here is a fact there are 9 men on a team . for the cubs to not play well because derrick lee is out of the lineup plus mark prior and kerry wood injured too is absurd. every year the cubs blame someone. dusty should go but hendry and mcphail should go too . it is time to boycott wrigley field and do not show up. if fans keep filling the park the cubs will never get the message . stay home cub fans . stay home . a silent park would be more effective than a park where fans are booing all the time. the cubs should do what ted turner did . he let fans in for free to see atlanta play until they turned things around and decided to play baseball. these players make millions and fans deserve a soild effort every time the cubs take the field .anything less is totally unacceptable .
C-Pat and Nomar...tearin' it up!
I hate to say it, but yeah, Dusty has to go...This team
has too much talent to lose 14-of-16 games, even without Lee's injury. I like Pierre, he should be fine...Jacque Jones is a bust. The young guys are great, especially Murton, Marshall, and Cedeno, but some of the veterans look like they don't want to be here and are just going through the motions...Ultimately Baker must take responsibility for not motivating his team, and for the lack of fundamental baseball being played. Even if Wood, Prior, and Wade Miller come back strong, they can't win with an offense that gets held to two runs (or less) per game. Here's my plan for next year...Keepers: Murton, Pierre, Ramirez, Cedeno, Lee, and Barrett; a starting rotation of Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Marshall, and Miller, with Eyre, Howry, Williamson, and Hill
setting up for Dempster.
Adios: Jones, Walker, Perez, Hairston, Jerome Williams, Novoa, and Rusch. Then cross your fingers and pray that Jim Hendry reverts to '03 form and signs some guys who have a clue...And that everyone stays healthy...And that someone like Lou Piniella would be crazy enough to manage here...And that--oh, never mind.
I have a few suggestions or comments on everything that's been touched on here.
1. Dusty Baker is a bad manager, plain and simple. I remember my jaw dropped last season when Corey Patterson actually told the media that he had informed Dusty that he should be hitting lead off. Since when does a player tell a manager anything of the sort? Maddeningly enough, he actually got the lead off spot because of it. If Baker is to be replaced, why not hire someone like Ryne Sandberg or Andre Dawson? These are players who have a deep relationship with the team so that might help as a motivating factor.
2. Why not build a new stadium? If the Cubs organization cared about their fans at all, they would build a brand new stadium away from Wrigleyville with ample and affordable parking. Maybe somewhere in the near north suburbs. With the "ambiance" of Wrigley Field gone, it will be left to the real fans of the team and I think the organization will be held more accountable than ever because they have nothing to sell the fans other than the product on the field. They will be forced to produce a competitive team almost every season in order to draw.
3. Prior and Wood must go. If they magically succeed elsewhere for a spell, chalk it up as a loss and move on. They've done more harm than good by being so fragile.
Time for the Cubs to get rid of Baker. Too bad Ozzie Guillian can't manage the Cubs. He would get those primadonna millionaires to play the way the game should be played.
Bring on Bob Brenly and please return Steve Stone to be the new pitching coach. He could probably teach those kids the right way to pitch.(Listening Kerry Wood?)
It's too bad that Dusty can't figure out that a 3 run home run isn't always the way to win a game. Seems that he has forgotten how a walk, a bunt and stealing bases can score runs.I've seen Little League kids play better fundamental ball than the Cubs and the kids don't have attitudes like the pros.
The problem is that the Cubs have to many tweeners, and that includes Dusty.. No spark..
This problem comes from the top. Even higher than Hendry or McPhail. The real decision maker at the Tribune Co. is unknown to everyone but Trib insiders.
Why? Why would a Chief Executive of a large financial organization hide? Because it is a sports franchise and he does not want to ever be forced to tell the public (fans) that the organization is more committed to making money than winning.
Money is not bad. Nor is making it. The real problem is that people who are afraid of losing money manage their business that way. History has shown that if someone manages from fear, then their fears will come true. Winning comes to a sports franchise when the person at the top sets the tone "Winning is the only acceptable result".
This person puts his/her name and reputation on the line. This is part of what compels that person to win - a personal stake in the success of the team.
What kind of message does it send to the entire organization to tell the team and the fans "I made my bonus (for cutting expenses) and that is all that matters."? No executive that is committed to his/her bonus more than winning has the guts to tell the fans because they pay for that bonus.
The (secret) Cubs Executive formula for success: one or two fan favorites (Ernie Banks, Ryno, Mark Grace, Harry Caray, the Ivy) + a lot of beer = Christmas bonus for me!
It is a deceipt and the greatest shame is that the fans of this city keep blaming the GM, President or Manager. Those people are just scapegoats put out to administer a policy of deception aimed at the pocketbooks of every cub fan.
Get ready for the 100 year anniversary of greed and deception.
Many of you have already touched upon what the problems are. So let's summarize.
Clearly, you have to take a bottoms-up approach when thinking about the Cubs.
First, the owner, whether it's been the Tribune or the Wrigleys, does not care about winning as long as the money is rolling in. As a result, you have an organization that is going through the motions, from the CEO, to the GM, to the manager, to the players.
The bottom line is that the players, the manager, the GM, and the owner suck and have always sucked. It's a never-ending cycle.
Since the Tribune is a media company and doesn't really care about baseball, then what you need is a CEO that truly cares about winning. If McPhai cared, then the Cubs would have a competent GM and manager (what a shock!!!). There would be a real plan in place to make the Cubs competitive and to KEEP them competitive. It wouldn't be a teaser every 20 years or so like we had in 2003 to get everybody buying in to the false hope that the Cubs are finally a good team.
This is the joke that we as Cubs fans have bought for decades.
The only way to really stop what is the "Cubs Phenomenon" is to quit supporting this crap. That means not going to the games and not watching on TV.
Otherwise, the Tribsters really are laughing all the way to the bank.
You all are sad. You actually think that if you had another manager, things would be different? What, D. Lee would have broke one bone instead of two? This team wasn't even that good on paper and you expect miracles after losing key players? Last I heard Dusty Baker does not bat, which is the only way you could blame him for some the most pitiful hitting that I've ever seen. Nevermind the manager, when does personal & professional pride kick in. Face it gang, you root for a corporation. A corporation that is in the business of making money not winning rings. Now that I think about it.....Why are cubs fans complaining anyway? It's not like your going to stop going to the games and buying the merchandise. You lemmings will keep going there giving your money away for nothing in return. Nothing. Sox fans are different, less disposable income, can't waste it on loserball. Ever since Reisdorf traded off all that pitching talent a few years ago, the fans said " Win and we will come". Until then, 35th was empty most games besides the cross-town series. Now that they have proven that they are a serious franchise, the fans are packing the house. See how that works? Now you can call us fair-weather, and you would probably be right about most. But at least we forced the organization's hand. Are you ready to do the same, LOSER? You do know that that's what rooting for the cubs makes you, a LOSER. Got that, LOSER.
Geezy, what are you talking about?
You call Cub fans losers, but, upon last check, the SOX have won exactly 1 title in 88 years.
I am guessing this does not necessarily wipe out 88 years of ineptitude, but, then again, it might in the eyes of dellusional SOX fans.
It's not as if the SOX are the Yankees, the Braves, or the Cardinals with long traditions of strong teams (including management) and winning seasons.
Remember, it wasn't that long ago when Ken Williams was considered a dope and Ozzie was arguing with his players and making a fool of himself. It doesn't take much or very long to revert back to these ways.
Let's see how the SOX do over the next few years before you classify them, and yourselves, as winners and spare me the "at least we have won 1 World Series" rhetoric.
Every now and then, an asteroid hits the Earth. And ever now and then, a baseball team from Chicago wins a World Series.
I sometimes wonder what will happen next , an asteroid hitting the Earth, or the Cubs winning the World Series.
Funny thing is i know many White Sox fans felt the same way .Funny thing is now they talk like they are Yankee fans.
2006 Post season awards....
Worst team that ±$90 million can buy....Chicago Cubs
Worst on field performance by a team.......Chicago Cubs
Worst pitching staff management......Larry Rothchild/Dusty Baker [continuing award]
Worst coaching staff....Chicago Cubs, assembled by Baker/Hendry [continuing award]
Worst off season aquisitions [and over paying]Hendry [continuing award]
MLB leader for "bone headed" plays....Chicago Cubs
Could go on and on and on....any other "awards"?
An additional comment on Cub futility was noted when Dusty pulled Eyre after he threw 6, SIX, pitches and got 2 outs so that our closer could pitch the ninth inning, goodbye Maddux 6th Win. Eyre wasn't overworked but we need to justify paying millions for a closer. I think we should emphasize winning. Dusty has no feel for pitching!!
Next year Wood will be needing a new contract so lets hope Miller and Prior are permanently healed and together with Maddux, Zambrano and Marshall we'll be set with starters. Another fact is Barrett lead in RBIs with 19 and Ramirez has only 17, at this pace they might reach 65-75 for the season. Wow what a power outage. Light a fire Dusty or you'll get burned.
Dusty and J. H. both need to go
I was just going to read and enjoy the anguished comments regarding the Cubs "performance" this year, but felt I needed to point something out...in response to the last few posts turning on the White Sox fans (acting like the Yankees fans...only won one World Series but acting like it's a Dynasty)etc...
It's called "HOPE", "ANTICIPATION", Looking forward to the season, wanting to see more...being thrilled with the moves made in the offseason, even if you didn't like the original idea at first, being pleasantly surprised at how things work and being entertained when you go to a game to see...A GAME.
Yes, White Sox fans actually feel like this core team may just indeed go to another few World Series...
Anyway, you Cubs fans are saddled with a myriad of problems starting from the TOP down, so until you actually STOP paying the owners with a revenue stream for hosting your beer garden party everyday...forget about it.
I am a die hard Cubs fan since birth. I am an editor for a newspaper in SE Kentucky. I an sick of hearing all the excuses for Dusty Baker, his coaching staff and Jim Hendry. Let's look at the offense. They are last in the National League in the following areas, Batting Avg., At Bats, Runs,Hits, Homeruns, Walk, Hit by pitch, On base percentage, and next to last in grounding in to double plays. This is one of the fastest teams the Cubs have fielded in a while, yet they hit into more doubleplays than nearly every other team. That is the managers fault. The Cubs should be leading baseball in stolen bases. As for the hitting, it is terrible, that is partly Hendry's fault for not bringing in quality players. Look at the list he passed on the last 3 years. Thome, Pudge, Soriano, losing Garciaparra, the list goes on. The other problem area is Cub pitching, they cannot throw strikes if the strike zone was doubled in size. Where is Matt Clememnt or a Barry Zito? My 12 year old son knew Kerry Wood and Prior would not play to start the season. Hendry couldn't figure this out?That is a pitching coaches area. Hendry has no clue, Baker and his staff are the most overrated in baseball.
You can say what you want about the Tribune, but they did spend 90+ million on this team...What has to change is the decision makers, the ones who decide what do to with that money. 3 year deal to Jacque Jones? Acquiring CF lead off hitter that doesn't have the greatest OBP? And worst of all, not acquiring at least ONE veteran pitcher (Jarrod Washburn, Kenny Rogers, etc.), knowing that you have had injury issues with your 2 main starters? Not to mention underachieving play of all-star 3rd baseman, thought he was going to solve our problems at that position? Hendry has made some decent moves in the past, but in the sport business, you get judged by what you did recently... and recently he has done a horrible job.
Is it possible the Cubs would have kept Moises a few more years and hired his father to manage. (Now there's a man who had a reputation of doing miracles with little) and left Dusty in San Fran.
I have enjoyed few games at the struggling Royals park in Kansas City. At least they treat fans with grace, allowing one to move to a ton of empty seats. That's more grace than I ever found at Wrigley and lefts face it, the teams records are at least close.
Iam a avid Cubs fan.
I have been a fan since 1992.
2003 was a awsome season.
2004 we tried hard but the final week stank.
We can't carry on not hitting well.
We need a new hitting coach.
We are last in the nl in hitting 243 that aint good.
We need to find someone who can help the cubs hitters.
If you look at it Gary Matthews did a good job in 2003 and 2004 both winning seasons.
We played quite well in April .
We stink in May.
It is frustating me all the time.
Enough is Enough.
We can turn it around.
I watch all Cub games on ESPn and high lights of the games.
I am a loyal Cubs fan from South Africa.
I believe the Cubs can win!
Go Cubs!
Your friend
Rowan Campbell
Case in point.
Losing to Astros 1-0 in series finale.
Pierre on first, a 3-1 count on Womack. No attempted steal, no take sign for Womack.
Result, Womack flys out to end the inning.
My 12 year old son, knew, if he were playing that he wouldn't be allowed to swing 3-1 with a speedster on first. Baker has turned into the joke of major league managers. The Cubs are horrible at fundementals, hitting in certain situations, knowing when to steal, leading all of baseball in grounding in to double plays, when to hit & run and as for the pitching, the Cubs couldn't find the strike zone if the plate was 34 inches wide. When is enough, enough? Hendry and Baker have got to go.