Statistically, at least if you use batting average, Carlos Pena was the worst hitter of any player in the majors last season, with a .196 average. Now, we are all smart enough to know that OBP is more important, and in that regard, Pena did a bit better, as he will draw a walk.But, beyond that, the real problem for Jim Hendry and the Cubs is this:They need to face reality and admit they are undergoing a rebuilding strategy.Oh, I know. The faithful Cubs fanbase has waited so long, blah blah blah, but really, what are the advantages for a ...
In a surprise move Friday, the New York Yankees replaced fired pitching coach Dave Eiland with the Cubs' Larry Rothschild. The Cubs longtime coach had survived several managerial regimes, but will now coach for former Cub Joe Girardi in the Bronx. Rothschild was not known to be on the Yankees list of candidates, but he cited personal reasons for making the switch. Per Wallace Matthews report on ESPN: "My reasons for pursuing and accepting this opportunity are personal and family-based, as the Yankees hold spring training in, and travel several times a year to, my hometown of Tampa. The chance ...
Now I realize this will be considered blasphemous to most Cubs fans, but I have an idea. Instead of trying to pass a bill in the Illinois legislature to take part of the 12 percent city of Chicago and Cook County amusement tax and set it aside for the purpose of renovating Wrigley Field, why not build a new one? Look, I understand the quaint charm of the old ballpark on the north side, but let's face it, folks: It is antiquated and needs to be used for other purposes if it cannot be torn down. It's like having an ...
If you took the time to watch Sunday night's episode of CBS' Undercover Boss featuring Todd Ricketts, I feel sorry for you. Didn't you have anything better to do, like watching paint dry?
It was the Cubs owners' turn to pretend to be just regular guys and do menial tasks in front of hidden cameras. All I can say is if Todd Ricketts, younger brother of chief Cubs mouthpiece Tom, is any indication of the family smarts, then Cubs fans are in for another century-long drought.
To say that the younger Ricketts is uncomfortable being a regular guy is an understatement. He is ...
When I went online to Cubs.com to take their survey, it offers the following choices of fandom:
Which of the following describes you? (select all that apply)
Full season Cubs ticket holder (81 games)
Combo Plan or Double Play Plan Cubs season ticket holder
PNC Club of Chicago ticket holder
Annual suite holder
Suite daily renter
Member of Cubs season ticket waitlist
Casual Cubs fan / attend occasional Cubs games
Now, I am offended by the implication that if you only attend occasional games you are a "casual Cubs fan."
Not only is that wrong; it is insulting.
For one thing, what if you can't go to ...
According to a source on ESPN, Joe Girardi and the New York Yankees have reached agreement on a three-year contract that will pay him $3 million per season with a $500,000 bonus for winning the World Series.
According to the report, Girardi never even considered joining the Cubs as manager. He apparently told Yanks' GM Brian Cashman in August that he wouldn't leave such a good thing in New York for Chicago, despite this being his home.
Unofficially, my sources tell me that Jim Hendry was never interested in Girardi anyway, but that owner Tom Ricketts wanted Hendry to hold off on a manager ...
The Cubs are in the worst possible situation for any sports franchise to be in. That is, they are stuck in between rebuilding and contending.
Look, they simply have too many long-term, expensive contracts to totally rebuild and they do not have the major league-ready young talent to commit to a rebuilding.
The players who alleged owner Tom Ricketts are touting really come down to one player, and that is Starlin Castro. Everyone else is either years away or over-hyped.
Tyler Colvin is a nice fourth outfielder. Sure, he hit 20 homers but he had an OBP of .316 and he struck out ...
The announcement today that Mike Quade would return as Cubs manager and be given a two year contract with a team option for a third year, is not all that surprising. But it is disappointing.
While the reports are saying that Quade has had the interim label removed from his title, in essence any coach or manager in every sport is interim. They are all hired to be fired. Heck, truth be told, as humans we are all interim.
But the choice of Quade is a slap in the face of Ryne Sandberg. No, not because he has some unalienable right to ...
The final trial runs have been completed, and the horses are on the track and ready for the home stretch. So who will come spinning out of the turn as the one to beat in the race to be the Cubs' next manager? This search, led by Cubs GM Jim Hendry, has been a bit befuddling. Owner Tom Ricketts told the media that the next Cubs manager had to understand the “Cubs thing.” In other words, had to intimately understand the fans' frustration with Chicago's failure to make the World Series since the soldiers came home after the last World ...
According to MLBTradeRumors.com, Sandy Alderson "asked and received permission from Bud Selig to interview with the Mets for the GM vacancy next Thursday or Friday, and The New York Post's Joel Sherman says that's an indication that Alderson wants the job badly."
OK, fine, let him go and generally manage the Mets. Meanwhile, why hasn't Cubs owner Tom Ricketts inquired about a guy like Alderson to help him evaluate Jim Hendry and the club since he admits he is not a baseball guy?
Even if Alderson isn't available, perhaps he could lure a guy like former Braves GM John Schuerholz, or hell, ...
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