2004_10_01_archive

Reader Alert

As of 1:30 PM CDT today, it is possible that Steve Stone will not be

broadcasting today. This is potential fallout from comments that Stone

made last night on WGN radio. Steve may have been fired. 2:00 PM CDT

the broadcast begins on WGN TV. Must Watch TV.

And Comcast Sports Net goes live tonight at 5:30 PM. This joint

venture, which is partially owned by the Cubs / Trib Co., has

promissed not to pull punches and tell the truth. If Stone is fired, a

major first-day test.

:::UPDATE:::

Steve Stone will be broadcasting today. He did not answer a press

throng asking if he was leaving. His only response: "Things are fine."

My guess is he's leaving.

// posted by Chuck @ 10/01/2004 01:25:00 PM

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Hot Rumor!

The latest Rumor has Sammy Sosa going to the New York Mets and

rejoining GM Omar Minaya. Sammy was first scouted by Minaya back in

the late 80's in the Dominican.

This would be tremendous.

:::UPDATE:::

Losing Sammy would be the best thing that ever happened to this team.

Look at this:

Salaries gone for 2005

Moises Alou - $7 million ($9mm base or $2mm buy out that I'm counting

in 2005)

Matt Clement - $6mm

Alex Gonzalez / Nomar - $6mm.

Raises are due for several players in 2005. Maddux gets a $3mm raise

to $9mm per year. Aramis Ramirez is gonna get about a $4mm raise to

about $10mm per year. That means, of the contracts being cleared, only

about $12mm is free for free agent spending. If you figure that Trib

Co. may increase payroll, my guess that it may go up another $3mm to

$5mm. Best case, $17mm for free agents. That gets you one of Beltran

and Nomar/Renteria. Not both.

Now, add in $17mm from Sosa. all of a sudden, there's at least $29mm

to spend AFTER PAYING RAMIREZ AND MADDUX.

Hello New Outfield. The money is now there for all three of Beltran,

Drew AND a short stop. And looking at 2006, salaries for Remlinger,

Borowski, and Mercker drop off. As does Maddux if he doesn't pitch 190

innings in 2005. There's plenty of ways to revamp this whole offense.

Go Sammy Go!

To the Big Apple!

// posted by Chuck @ 10/01/2004 09:11:00 AM

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Here's What We Know

Dusty Baker has officially seen his honeymoon end. I'm not calling for

his firing. Hell, I was on the radio two summers ago just before Don

Baylor was fired suggesting that the Cubs hang onto Baylor until the

Cubs knew if Dusty was going to be free to negotiate. But the luster

is off. It's not even the in-game strategies that are the problem.

Dusty was hired to keep an orderly clubhouse. In 2004, he failed. From

Kerry Wood going off on the umps in April, to Moises Alou going off on

Steve Stone, to Kent Mercker doing the same, to Nomar Garciaparra

whining about being tired, this was a loathsome group of men. Dusty's

job was to keep them in line and keep them happy. He didn't. If Dusty

is a mediocre-at-best game manager, he'd better be the best locker

room manager ever seen. He wasn't in 2004.

The lineup needs major overhauls. Korey Patterson is not a leadoff

hitter. I heard Peter Gammons on the radio this morning. He was saying

that Adam Dunn's strikeout record would be broken in the next few

years. I'd venture that #20 on Chicago is a good candidate. If Korey

comes back to this team in2005, it should be at a position in the

order lower than 6th. Moises Alou needs to leave. So does Sammy Sosa.

Michael Barrett? His bat disappeared lately. And he was calling

pitches in all the extra inning losses. I don't know what to do with

him. I'm torn over Nomar. While the Cubs need one of Cabrerra, Nomar

or Edgar Renteria, I'm leaning towards Edgar. Something makes me think

that Nomar is now a chronic disabled list guy.

The starting pitching staff is fine. Mark Prior is back. Carlos

Zambrano is an ace. Kerry Wood, while not a #1, is an excellent #3.

Maddux can be #4 and a rookie (see list at right) can be #5. That's a

winning starting staff. A genuine closer is needed. Korey may be your

best bit of trade bait given the availability of Carlos Beltran and