I don’t have anything to add, but figured since we knew this was coming it may as well be a post of its own.
Globe colleague Dan Shaughnessy has learned from a team source that the Chicago Cubs have asked the Red Sox for permission to speak with Theo Epstein regarding a position in their organization.
According to Shaughnessy, there were meetings at Fenway Park this afternoon regarding the team’s response to the request.
Because Epstein is under contract, the Red Sox would have the right to refuse such a request. They could grant it with the condition that some sort of compensation be made in exchange for hiring Epstein. Or Epstein could decline the interest.
So he could be the new GM and he might not be. It’s 50/50.
Comments
They should also interview Friedman as of whenever the Rays made the last out.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
MGL already has posted about Tony’s managing this game: http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/site/article/terrible_managing/
ACTQuote Reply
Jesus Christ, BABIP loves Theriot the past few games.
ACTQuote Reply
How the hell did Berkman get a SB? Was there a thunderstorm?
BerseliusQuote Reply
Back end of double steal.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]How the hell did Berkman get a SB? Was there a thunderstorm?[/quote]
(dying laughing)
GWQuote Reply
cubs attempting something ambitious and smart? weird.
GWQuote Reply
Nice to see things get started with Epstein, but as long as the Cubs get one out of the rumored field (minus Colletti) consider me pleased.
Probably too far ahead to think about right now, but If the Cubs land Theo, what does it portend for how the organization spends its free agent dollars this winter? You got to think that this doesn’t end with swiping one of the best GMs in the game and then re-signing Carlos Pena.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Back end of double steal.[/quote]
GBTSQuote Reply
Vitters homered today. So that happened.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Theriot —-> not clutch.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Vitters homered today. So that happened.[/quote]Twice.
Aisle424Quote Reply
http://www.thecubreporter.com/2011/10/04/dillon-maples-has-wild-pro-debut-fitch
.
Aisle424Quote Reply
He’s already tied Vitters’ career total.
GBTSQuote Reply
Fucking awful: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111004&content_id=25492920&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]He’s already tied Vitters’ projected career total.[/quote].
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I read through the first half of the nonsense with Kurt and lost interest. I do wonder if most attacks on women announcers would be seen as sexist. I call many (most?) announcers idiots. That’s actually putting it nicely. I don’t know because the only time I’ve listened to female announcers in a male sport was a couple of college baseball games last year and the occasional Hawkeyes game. I watched a lot of softball and thought the women announcers were every bit as bad as the male ones, but no worse. I’d have called them the same names I called the males.
For example, we had a gif on ACB of Bob Brenly blowing Ryan Theriot. If the Cubs had a female color analyst and we did that same exact gif, it would be seen as sexist.
Kurt’s basic argument was bullshit though.
mb21Quote Reply
When they show aerial shots of the field, I’m always amazed at how the majority of the field is the outfield grass. We see the game primarily from the centerfield camera focusing on the pitcher and catcher. Then we get shots with a runner on from the 3rd base line looking at the 1st base runner. The entire game takes part in the infield with the exception of the occasional ball hit to the outfield. The amount of time spent on plays in the outfield is minimal and pales in comparison to the primary focus of the camera. Anyone who has ever been to a game knows the field is mostly the outfield, but watching the game on tv gives me the impression the infield is way bigger than the outfield. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
Dan Vogelbach has a chance to pass catch up to Josh Vitters in career walks NEXT YEAR. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
Ah, there’s the inevitable homer off AJ.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]
For example, we had a gif on ACB of Bob Brenly blowing Ryan Theriot.[/quote]He wasn’t blowing him, he was just fondling him. Get your facts straight.
GBTSQuote Reply
(dying laughing), gbts. I forgot about that one. There was also another one. I’m pretty sure Ryno did the one I’m thinking of.
mb21Quote Reply
mb21Quote Reply
To be honest, if there are any LGBTQ folks who ever posted here, about 99% of what we say about Brenly and Yellon is probably pretty damn offensive to them.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I think “faget” is pretty overlooked here because most people know it’s widespread usage started as a way to mock someone who legitimately used it as an insult. (Was it the Hawk? I can’t even remember.)
I’m sure that new users/posters see that and are turned off though.
GBTSQuote Reply
with all the media attention surrounding bruce feldman leaving espn for cbs a month or so back, I’m surprised no one mentioned his previous career change, quitting the police force and joining the baltimore public school system.
GWQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]I think “faget” is pretty overlooked here because most people know it’s widespread usage started as a way to mock someone who legitimately used it as an insult. (Was it the Hawk? I can’t even remember.)
I’m sure that new users/posters see that and are turned off though.[/quote]Yeah, and that’s more of a use-mention issue, too. But there’s other shit we all do when it comes to Yellon and Brenly that we probably would never do if we knew there was a member of that community reading. Or maybe I’m just speaking for myself. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]I think “faget” is pretty overlooked here because most people know it’s widespread usage started as a way to mock someone who legitimately used it as an insult. (Was it the Hawk? I can’t even remember.)
I’m sure that new users/posters see that and are turned off though.[/quote]
we all know that mo goes out of his way to make new posters feel welcome (dying laughing).
GWQuote Reply
[quote name=GW]we all know that mo goes out of his way to make new posters feel welcome (dying laughing).[/quote]The beatings will continue until morale improves.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]We only hurt the ones we love.[/quote]The Cubs fucking love us.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]The Cubs fucking love us.[/quote]Or not. It could go either way.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]To be honest, if there are any LGBTQ folks who ever posted here, about 99% of what we say about Brenly and Yellon is probably pretty damn offensive to them.[/quote]MUCH MORE so at ACB than here, but at ACB we offended everybody. I wish I saved all the emails I got. I could write a short novel.
mb21Quote Reply
And I agree with GBTS, faget is mocking the white trash fucks who can’t even spell correctly. That’s too bad if it offends others and I actually rarely use it. I think the first time I ever did was this past weekend when the negative faget point bandit was out.
mb21Quote Reply
^ (dying laughing) @ self-fulfilling prophecy
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]MUCH MORE so at ACB than here, but at ACB we offended everybody. I wish I saved all the emails I got. I could write a short novel.[/quote]Oh for sure, but like you say, that was our stock-in-trade over there. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2011/10/on_the_cubs_and.html
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]MUCH MORE so at ACB than here, but at ACB we offended everybody. I wish I saved all the emails I got. I could write a short novel.[/quote]I’m surprised we haven’t received anything here. I guess it’s just expected from AC and I.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]^ (dying laughing) @ self-fulfilling prophecy[/quote]I always assumed it was Ryno who was doing that just to fuck with people, but he’s not around on the weekend. Then again my days were all fucked up. I was reading a few comments here and saw something about college football and assumed it was Thursday. Then I read a bit more later on and figured it must be Saturday. Funerals suck.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]I’m surprised we haven’t received anything here. I guess it’s just expected from AC and I.[/quote]I’m guessing it has to do with the readers of this blog being familiar with the previous ones. This place is a lot milder than ACB was. I think that’s good. We’ve had a lot more baseball discussion on here than was on ACB so I’m happy with that. We still talk about stupid shit too. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
You almost have to think if the Sox didn’t immediately decline the Cubs permission to speak to Epstein that they’ll let them, right?
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]You almost have to think if the Sox didn’t immediately decline the Cubs permission to speak to Epstein that they’ll let them, right?[/quote]
I have a hard time imagining that they will decline, just seems like bad form. Could bite them in the long run to be perceived as unfriendly to upper management types, as well.
GWQuote Reply
Good point, but haven’t teams declined in the past?
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Good point, but haven’t teams declined in the past?[/quote]I’m sure they have, but I think it’s more common with managers.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Good point, but haven’t teams declined in the past?[/quote]
Not sure. Theo is only in control for another year, so if they really piss him off, he just leaves next year. It’s not like things have been completely great for him there in the past. I just don’t see the upside.
GWQuote Reply
Al Alburquerque sighting.
So…what’s going on with Theo these days? (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing) @ 3-0 balk
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=GW]Not sure. Theo is only in control for another year, so if they really piss him off, he just leaves next year. It’s not like things have been completely great for him there in the past. I just don’t see the upside.[/quote]I wonder if John Henry’s deep investment in Liverpool (around ~£100 mil the last two transfer windows combined just in fees, not counting wages) signals that he may be turning his interest away from the Red Sox, or at least sliding them down the priority list. And what better way to do that than to allow the one guy who won’t let that happen quietly, to leave?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I wonder if John Hendry’s deep investment in Liverpool (around ~£100 mil the last two transfer windows combined just in fees, not counting wages) signals that he may be turning his interest away from the Red Sox, or at least sliding them down the priority list. And what better way to do that than to allow the one guy who won’t let that happen quietly, to leave?[/quote]I like this conspiracy theory if only for the fact that it may mean the Cubs don’t have to give up anything to sign Theo.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I like this conspiracy theory if only for the fact that it may mean the Cubs don’t have to give up anything to sign Theo.[/quote]Even if this is what Henry is up to, I think there’s a 0% chance the Cubs get Theo free and clear. Henry is no fool. He knows what he has in Theo.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Even if this is what Henry is up to, I think there’s a 0% chance the Cubs get Theo free and clear. Henry is no fool. He knows what he has in Theo.[/quote]I’m sure they’d have to at least toss in Cub legends Koyie Hill and Tony Campana in the deal, but free and clear sure would be nice.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
What’s the pitching matchup in Game 5 back in NYC?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Even if this is what Henry is up to, I think there’s a 0% chance the Cubs get Theo free and clear. Henry is no fool. He knows what he has in Theo.[/quote]I agree with this. I’ve always assumed there would be some price. It’s not going to be Castro and probably won’t even be anyone of significant value, but I could see a Josh Vitters going to Boston.
Speaking of Vitters, it amuses me that year in and year out people keep talking about how he had a disappointing season.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]What’s the pitching matchup in Game 5 back in NYC?[/quote]Mark Prior vs. Kerry Wood
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Mark Prior vs. Kerry Wood[/quote]*sad face* If only.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I agree with this. I’ve always assumed there would be some price. It’s not going to be Castro and probably won’t even be anyone of significant value, but I could see a Josh Vitters going to Boston.
Speaking of Vitters, it amuses me that year in and year out people keep talking about how he had a disappointing season.[/quote]I could see Vitters and one of the arms, maybe McNutt, and some cash.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]What’s the pitching matchup in Game 5 back in NYC?[/quote]Dick Hertz vs. Mike Hunt
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I could see Vitters and one of the arms, maybe McNutt, and some cash.[/quote]I assume that Randy Bush will be masterminding this deal though. Does this matter and if so, how much does one trust Randy Bush?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-spt-1005-rogers-gm-cubs-chicago–20111005,0,2125690.column
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Dick Hertz vs. Mike Hunt[/quote]I’m offended.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I could see Vitters and one of the arms, maybe McNutt, and some cash.[/quote]I’d be surprised if it will take someone like McNutt. i think the Boston media is going a little nuts about this. What did the Marlins give up to get Ozzie? What about the Rays and the M’s (Piniella)? I think that’s about what they’re looking at.
Either that or I’m just a dumbass, which is entirely possible.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Dick Kancre[/quote].
mb21Quote Reply
The win probability for NYY has to be approaching 100% now.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
If I get dick cancer they may have to remove my third leg.
mb21Quote Reply
Yes. As long as by No.1, he means no. 1 behind MIF, corner OF, and 3B. I honestly think Phil Rogers just writes stuff down most of the time.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Shaun Marcum gives up a homer a game, doesn’t he?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]I’m offended.[/quote]
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Yes. As long as by No.1, he means no. 1 behind MIF, corner OF, and 3B. I honestly think Phil Rogers just writes stuff down most of the time.[/quote](dying laughing) Phil isn’t an especially smart individual, but he’s at least a couple informative articles up the last day or two. That’s two more than Sullivan has had in the last calendar year. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
Shawn Marcum with a nice Reverse Lilly glove toss.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21](dying laughing) Phil isn’t an especially smart individual, but he’s at least a couple informative articles up the last day or two. That’s two more than Sullivan has had in the last calendar year. (dying laughing)[/quote]He certainly has sources, but I question the last time he actually paid attention to a game. I have it on good authority that he’s rarely at the ballpark and that he’s considered by some to be a complete waste as a national baseball writer for a major paper.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I don’t expect the Cubs to give up much of anything since there really isn’t a precedent for giving up players for GMs. I’m sure Boston will ask for something of value but if they really wanted to keep Theo they would just tell the Cubs, “No,” and extend his deal. Boston won’t come out and say it but they seem fine with letting Theo go. It might be possible that Luchino and ownership would prefer to let Theo go and work with Sherington who’d probably demand less control.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]He certainly has sources, but I question the last time he actually paid attention to a game. I have it on good authority that he’s rarely at the ballpark and that he’s considered by some to be a complete waste as a national baseball writer for a major paper.[/quote]
Irresponsible rumor.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]Irresponsible rumor.[/quote]It’s not a rumor, I have a source. Prove me wrong.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Exactly. It’s nit like Boston doesn’t have a guy try can promote from within that knows the org, not to mention that Theo isn’t exactly in good standing with Sox fans in general (he’s by far attracting the most blame out here)
BerseliusQuote Reply
They could just tell Epstein he can go so long as he doesn’t take along his successor.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]It’s not a rumor, I have a source. Prove me wrong.[/quote]
You only come here to argue with me.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]You only come here to argue with me.[/quote]Consider yourself warned.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I assume that Randy Bush will be masterminding this deal though. Does this matter and if so, how much does one trust Randy Bush?[/quote]Why not just have Theo work one side of the deal and have this new Epstein guy do the other (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]You only come here to argue with me.[/quote]I hope you get dick cancer.
Aisle424Quote Reply
Also, preemptive (dying laughing) at the new GM wondering who the fuck Al is when he asks for an interview.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Alvin’s source—> not a rumor
Joel Sherman’s source—> irresponsible rumor
(dying laughing)
http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/10/1/2462403/theo-epstein-red-sox-cubs-rumor
I loved this so much I had to share it again.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]I hope you get dick cancer.[/quote]
Thanks a lot, my mom died from dick cancer.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]I hope you get dick cancer.[/quote]Kurt from GROTA would like to know people write him mean emails.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]Thanks a lot, my mom died from dick cancer.[/quote]Your mom was married to Durocher?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Not baseball, but since many here are fans, it seemed relevant:
http://tv.yahoo.com/news/-the-simpsons–no-more–voice-actors–studio-have-a-cow-over-salaries.html
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Your mom was married to Durocher?[/quote]
http://www.wasyourmommarriedtodurocher.com
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]http://www.wasyourmommarriedtodurocher.com[/quote]I’m shocked that’s not a real blog. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
More amusingly unlikely than the Cubs trading Castro for Epstein: the Cubs trading Z for Epstein.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Also, preemptive (dying laughing) at the new GM wondering who the Colvin, Montanez and Campana are when looking at the 40 man roster.[/quote].
cdwQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I know Ryno is happy.[/quote]
Good sports week so far will only end well if Saturday’s outcome is a joyous one.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]
[/quote]
(dying laughing)
Forgot about adding Buffalo Bill.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]
[/quote]
This is the worst thing to every happen on this blog
WaLiQuote Reply
I’d like to say that this season of Sons of Anarchy has continued to suck. I was hoping it would be like it was in season 1, but that’s just not so. It’s too bad. That was a great show for 1 season, which is 1 more than most have so it has that going for it. But I’ve read it’s going to be on for 7 seasons. I wonder if the series could even be considered good at that point. The end of season 2 was pretty bad in my opinion. I’ve read season 3 wasn’t very good and season 4 is bad so far. That show should have been a one and done show.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I’d like to say that this season of Sons of Anarchy has continued to suck. I was hoping it would be like it was in season 1, but that’s just not so. It’s too bad. That was a great show for 1 season, which is 1 more than most have so it has that going for it. But I’ve read it’s going to be on for 7 seasons. I wonder if the series could even be considered good at that point. The end of season 2 was pretty bad in my opinion. I’ve read season 3 wasn’t very good and season 4 is bad so far. That show should have been a one and done show.[/quote]
You need to move to the UK, mb, where every show is planned to last 12 episodes (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
MB, the issue I have where the tweets at the bottom keep getting to the comments seems to only happen at work. Just an FYI. Most likely an issue on my side.
WaLiQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]You need to move to the UK, mb, where every show is planned to last 12 episodes (dying laughing)[/quote](dying laughing) I saw they extended Luther to a 2nd season. I kind of liked the first.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=WaLi]MB, the issue I have where the tweets at the bottom keep getting to the comments seems to only happen at work. Just an FYI. Most likely an issue on my side.[/quote]Thanks. I meant to send you an email after I got back, but just forgot. Weird that it would happen at work.
mb21Quote Reply
Boston Sports radio agenda of the day: talk up John Lackey and persuade the FO to make the Cubs take him along with Epstein.
BerseliusQuote Reply
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/8039792-573/cubs-ask-to-talk-to-red-sox-theo-epstein.html
(dying laughing)
h/t Julie
BerseliusQuote Reply
Crane Kenney was fired. Have these people not gotten the memo? It’s been two fucking weeks. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
I guess he hasn’t been fired yet. Shit, I don’t know. I don’t care. He hasn’t had anything to do with baseball ops for at least 2 years now.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Crane Kenney was fired. Have these people not gotten the memo? It’s been two fucking weeks. (dying laughing)[/quote]They won’t report it for at least another six months.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Bowden is an unscrupulous, thieving gasbag but he produces great quotes (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I guess he hasn’t been fired yet. Shit, I don’t know. I don’t care. He hasn’t had anything to do with baseball ops for at least 2 years now.[/quote]
He made sure to hang around on field all afternoon after those rumors were flying (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Boston Sports radio agenda of the day: talk up John Lackey and persuade the FO to make the Cubs take him along with Epstein.[/quote]Is that really a bad thing? Lackey had a bad year but there’s always the “he’s due for a rebound” thing, right?
There’s the money he’s owed, plus what they’re going to do about Z, but this doesn’t sound like such a raw deal to me. Of course I could be totally wrong.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/your-2012-nl-roy-candidates/
.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/your-2012-nl-roy-candidates/
.[/quote]
I don’t know why the Cubs aren’t letting a Young Player like Colvin prove himself.
BerseliusQuote Reply
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/05/quote-of-the-day-tony-la-russa-on-moneyball/
Ha! That TLR…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing) at least TLR said something funny while bashing Moneyball. I can live with that.
mb21Quote Reply
“Multiply it by bullshit” should be a new meme.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]”Multiply it by bullshit” should be a new meme.[/quote]
TLR is wrong. Bullshit is naturally a logarithmic term.
BerseliusQuote Reply
This is interesting: http://firebrandal.com/2011/10/03/john-henrys-new-found-influence-in-the-boston-red-sox/
Someone should write an Unobstructed View about that. Someone other than me. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]This is interesting: http://firebrandal.com/2011/10/03/john-henrys-new-found-influence-in-the-boston-red-sox/
Someone should write an Unobstructed View about that. Someone other than me. (dying laughing)[/quote]
Don’t tell me what to do
BerseliusQuote Reply
Did TLR just figure out how to square the circle?!
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]TLR is wrong. Bullshit is naturally a logarithmic term.[/quote]Hence the term, “drop a log”?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Will the Red Sox just make a fucking decision? Yes or No. The Cubs should send them a letter telling them to circle one or the other.
mb21Quote Reply
Wonder if they’ve tried to contact Friedman yet. Since his contract’s up there aren’t as many hurdles to hop over to talk to him, one would hope.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
MB, I agree about SoA to a point. But I do like the tension the relationship with the Cartel has caused and the State’s Attorney guy adding extra pressure to the club.
What I can do without is the lack of badass-ness we’ve seen from Jax (what’s up with his haircut?) and the club in general. Maybe I just need to see more violence (dying laughing).
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]MB, I agree about SoA to a point. But I do like the tension the relationship with the Cartel has caused and the State’s Attorney guy adding extra pressure to the club.
What I can do without is the lack of badass-ness we’ve seen from Jax (what’s up with his haircut?) and the club in general. Maybe I just need to see more violence (dying laughing).[/quote]I might be a little too tough on it, but it was just such a great show in its first season. By the end of the second I lost interest and didn’t watch season 3. The only reason I watched this year was because I had the show was returning to its roots and in some ways it has (the tension within the club), but in other ways it’s just as lost as it has been.
It could just be me though. I’d like to see it become a good show again, but I’m not holding my breath.
mb21Quote Reply
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Is that really a bad thing? Lackey had a bad year but there’s always the “he’s due for a rebound” thing, right?
There’s the money he’s owed, plus what they’re going to do about Z, but this doesn’t sound like such a raw deal to me. Of course I could be totally wrong.[/quote]You’re basically taking a 3-year $45M deal on Lackey, which is a pretty big overpay. It would be like paying Epstein a $15M signing bonus.
I just don’t think GM talent is scarce enough to justify that kind of cost. Maybe if you can get them to take Z’s full contract in exchange, you’d be getting Lackey for 3-years, $28M… that might be worth considering.
The WreckardQuote Reply
Not my money not my problem, that’s what I always say
WaLiQuote Reply
Lackey is a year removed from a 4.1 fWAR season and he had 1.5 in 2011. He had 3.8 in 2009. A very lazy projection might have him as a 3 WAR player in the NL with some upside. He’s due $15.25 million each of the next 3 years. Let’s say he’s a 3 WAR player next year and 2.5 and then 2.0. Say the $WAR is an average of 5.5 million over those 3 years. That’s worth $38.5 million. That’s a 7.25 million difference.
Let’s say Lackey rebounds even more and is a 3.5 WAR player next year, which is entirely possible. If that happens he’s now worth the money he’s paid.
I don’t think taking Lackey is such a big deal to be honest. He’s not an ace and he’s more than likely overpaid, but there’s still plenty of reason to think he can be a valuable pitcher. The Cubs aren’t hurting for money so if it’s take Lackey and Theo or no Theo, I’d take Lackey.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=WaLi]Not my money not my problem, that’s what I always say[/quote]I think that’s a good way to look at this one. I’d rather take Lackey and his contract with Theo than give up even Josh Vitters for him and I don’t think Vitters has any chance of being good.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I think that’s a good way to look at this one. I’d rather take Lackey and his contract with Theo than give up even Josh Vitters for him and I don’t think Vitters has any chance of being good.[/quote]
Me too. But I think the chances that the Red Sox will make taking Lackey the price for Theo is even less likely than the chance that the Cubs would trade Castro for him.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Agreed, b. I still guess it’s guys like Campana and Vitters. Maybe Jay Jackson and Vitters. I don’t know, but it’s not going to be a big deal.
mb21Quote Reply
I think at the end of the day it’ll be a shitty prospect package and/or money to get Theo and it’s not that much to give up in the grand scheme of things. To grab a reclamation project like Lackey in the deal is really enticing to me though, which is why I made my previous comment.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Thanks. I meant to send you an email after I got back, but just forgot. Weird that it would happen at work.[/quote]My work has a bunch of weird firewalls and protections and what not. I guess that is why it was ranked #1 in our industry for internet security (dying laughing)
The most annoying part is that it randomly gets moved down to the bottom after I stay on the page for a while and then when new comments come the tweets get pushed back up into the new comments so I have to refresh the page.
WaLiQuote Reply
Apparently Bruce Levine is saying that the Marlins compensation for Ozzie had more to do with the threat of tampering charges than anything else.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Wasn’t Randy Winn the guy in the Lou Piniella trade?
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Wasn’t Randy Winn the guy in the Lou Piniella trade?[/quote]
http://tinyurl.com/3r34mvd
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]http://tinyurl.com/3r34mvd[/quote]I didn’t care enough to google it. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110927&content_id=25281286&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc
/google’d
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]http://tinyurl.com/3r34mvd[/quote]You spelled Piniella wrong (dying laughing)
WaLiQuote Reply
[quote name=WaLi]You spelled Piniella wrong (dying laughing)[/quote]
Don’t come into my house and bitch that I didn’t vacuum.
Game, set, match
/Tango
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Don’t come into my house and bitch that I didn’t vacuum.
Game, set, match
/Tango[/quote]That was awesome. The part I loved was how he seemed to think that guests that came to his house weren’t complaining about one thing or another. It’s a god damn fact that if a guest has been in your house, a guest has complained about something. For that matter, if he or she has even seen your house, they have complained.
mb21Quote Reply
Useless, but entertaining statistic: only Jesus Montero has a higher batting average in the playoffs (minimum 1 PA) than Ryan Theriot. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
Cubs’ backup plan:
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/05/andy-macphail-reconsidering-leaving-orioles/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The Red Sox were going to send the A’s Kevin Youkilis for letting Beane out of his contract, but then Beane did a 180 and decided to stay in Oakland. The Sox hired Epstein.
So that’s what the Red Sox will want in return. In 2002 Youk hit .310/.436/.424 at the age of 23 between Low A, High A and AA. The year before he hit .308/.504/.446 in his first professional season.
The Red Sox are very likely to ask for Brett Jackson. Jackson is a CF, which has the same defensive adjustment as a 3rd baseman. Youk wasn’t a top 100 prospect, but I really don’t know how.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]The Red Sox were going to send the A’s Kevin Youkilis for letting Beane out of his contract, but then Beane did a 180 and decided to stay in Oakland. The Sox hired Epstein.
So that’s what the Red Sox will want in return. In 2002 Youk hit .310/.436/.424 at the age of 23 between Low A, High A and AA. The year before he hit .308/.504/.446 in his first professional season.
The Red Sox are very likely to ask for Brett Jackson. Jackson is a CF, which has the same defensive adjustment as a 3rd baseman. Youk wasn’t a top 100 prospect, but I really don’t know how.[/quote]Moneyball wasn’t published until the year later so maybe they were still undervaluing OBP (but less so than before as I’m sure advanced metrics was seeping its way into the big boys’ offices)
I’d be sad to see Brett Jackson go before he even got his MLB debut but if the Cubs continue to spend in the draft maybe we’ll see a BJax clone in the near future anyway. Preferably with less strikeouts.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Randy Winn was worth 3.8 rWAR the year before he was traded for Piniella.
I think I was wrong in thinking the Cubs wouldn’t have to send anything of value. The Red Sox were willing to in order to get Beane, which more than likely means they expect the same type of compensation. The M’s got a guy who was at the time an all-star for Piniella.
Trey McNutt or Brett Jackson goes to Boston to get Theo.
mb21Quote Reply
Good point about OBP being undervalued at that time, RC.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Randy Winn was worth 3.8 rWAR the year before he was traded for Piniella.
I think I was wrong in thinking the Cubs wouldn’t have to send anything of value. The Red Sox were willing to in order to get Beane, which more than likely means they expect the same type of compensation. The M’s got a guy who was at the time an all-star for Piniella.
Trey McNutt or Brett Jackson goes to Boston to get Theo.[/quote]I’m going to vote for McNutt. Wanna keep BJax (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I’d like to keep Jackson as well. McNutt fell a cliff this season so I don’t really care if they trade him. He could still be good, but his overall performance at AA has been shitty.
That being said, I’d trade Jackson to get Theo.
mb21Quote Reply
Hypothetical…the Red Sox need a right fielder. Why not just give them Byrd for free?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Sure, they can have Byrd. I would much rather they just take John Lackey than give up anything, but I actually don’t care what they give up. This isn’t about 2012. It’s about a fundamental change that the Cubs are making and I don’t really care what it costs.
mb21Quote Reply
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7061072/tampa-bay-rays-owner-says-current-business-model-untenable
FREE FRIEDMAN
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7061072/tampa-bay-rays-owner-says-current-business-model-untenable
FREE FRIEDMAN[/quote]There is only one solution.
Merge the Rays with the Cubs. Then contract the Astros. Equal numbers in each league!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]There is only one solution.
Merge the Rays with Starlin Castro and Brett Jackson and call them the Cubs.[/quote]Let’s just cut to the chase.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7061072/tampa-bay-rays-owner-says-current-business-model-untenable
FREE FRIEDMAN[/quote]The Rays need to move to a different city. Baseball in Tampa Bay is pointless. Nobody cares. I know Rays fans take offense to people making fun of the number of fans who show up, but people do it to the Braves and nobody minds.
mb21Quote Reply
Brett Jackson #4 prospect6 in Southern league behind only
Matt Moore, Tyler Skaggs, and Goldschmidt
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
As usual, contradictions abound in this latest piece:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/rosenblog/chi-heres-what-ricketts-needs-to-do-for-the-cubs-20111005,0,2877256.column
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
RC has a new blog up: http://worldseriesdreaming.com/
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]As usual, contradictions abound in this latest piece:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/rosenblog/chi-heres-what-ricketts-needs-to-do-for-the-cubs-20111005,0,2877256.column%5B/quote%5DI started reading that earlier today and only could get through about 2 paragraphs. Same thing with Sullivan’s article from yesterday or the day before. Those guys are terrible.
mb21Quote Reply
If you guys want terrible, the rumor on the street is KG and Phil Rogers did a podcast together. (dying laughing)
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]If you guys want terrible, the rumor on the street is KG and Phil Rogers did a podcast together. (dying laughing)[/quote]It would be pretty amusing to see Rogers react to a 2 hour KG tangent about postmodern literature
BerseliusQuote Reply
Can’t wait to see the Brewers offense beat the crap out of Joe Saunders.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Also appropriate for Cubs fans.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]It would be pretty amusing to see Rogers react to a 2 hour KG tangent about postmodern literature[/quote]
KG will also go at great length about his favorite indie bands and bash other socalled bands as mainstream. They’ll spend another hour reassuring themselves that they are not hipsters.
At the end they talk baseball for 5 minutes.
As you can tell I hate KG’s podcasts (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]The Red Sox were going to send the A’s Kevin Youkilis for letting Beane out of his contract. The Red Sox are very likely to ask for Brett Jackson. [/quote]
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Joe Poz, from the “IBBs are the Devil department”:
Ouch.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Bleacher Report says that Theo has been given permission to talk to the Cubs and Bleacher Report is never wrong. Ever.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Bleacher Report says that Theo has been given permission to talk to the Cubs and Bleacher Report is never wrong. Ever.[/quote]
Did they put up a slideshow of other GMs that have been given permission to talk to teams?
BerseliusQuote Reply
If they’ve given permission I’m sure it will be all over WEEI on my drive home in an hour or two
BerseliusQuote Reply
I don’t think they have yet, b. It just seems silly to me that of all the writers covering this story that Bleacher Report would be the first to break the story. Like they always do, they’re just full of shit. They probably figure that the Sox will allow it so why not just make it up now as if they know something? If it goes wrong, they can just say sources are sometimes wrong.
mb21Quote Reply
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/879742-theo-epstein-will-talk-the-cubs-if-he-leaves-boston-whos-next-at-gm
mb21Quote Reply
http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/6711/brenly-wont-miss-numbers-gatherer-ramirez?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Fuck you, Bob Brenly
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I don’t think they have yet, b. It just seems silly to me that of all the writers covering this story that Bleacher Report would be the first to break the story. Like they always do, they’re just full of shit. They probably figure that the Sox will allow it so why not just make it up now as if they know something? If it goes wrong, they can just say sources are sometimes wrong.[/quote]They’re just an SEO honeypot. They’re just trying to capitalize on people searching Google for that story to drive up page views.
The WreckardQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/6711/brenly-wont-miss-numbers-gatherer-ramirez?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Fuck you, Bob Brenly[/quote]Bob Brenly speaks for the 99.9% of ungrateful Cubs fans who should be beaten a la Private Pyle in Full Metal Jacket.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/6711/brenly-wont-miss-numbers-gatherer-ramirez?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Fuck you, Bob Brenly[/quote]That’s some seriously Valentine-esque pandering for a job going on there.
The WreckardQuote Reply
[quote name=The Wreckard]They’re just an SEO honeypot. They’re just trying to capitalize on people searching Google for that story to drive up page views.[/quote]
We don’t do enough of that. Jessica Alba naked.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]We don’t do enough of that. Jessica Alba naked.[/quote]
Pizza hut milf alien porn
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Pizza hut milf alien porn[/quote]
/Star Wars’d
Rice CubeQuote Reply
So I noticed that it was on
MondaySaturday that the CBS sports people reported that Theo was granted permission to talk to the Cubs, but more recently the Cubs had to file paperwork and were waiting for the Red Sox to decide something. What happened between then and now, or was CBS just full of crap?Edit: lost track of time
Rice CubeQuote Reply
if the cubs give up real value for a fucking GM they should just quit baseball for life. Go find the next fucking guy vs giving up actual talent
Castro for Epstein is the dumbest thing I have ever seen.
dylanjQuote Reply
Well maybe not as dumb as my arguing Marmol was the next Mo but still.
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]
Castro for Epstein is the dumbest thing I have ever seen.[/quote]I guarantee you there are less people on the planet who are better at hitting baseballs than Starlin Castro (ESPECIALLY for that amount of money) than there are people who could do just as good of a job building a baseball roster than Theo Epstein.
GBTSQuote Reply
You couldn’t fill a thimble with Bob Brenly’s brain matter.
And he’s been all over local sports radio campaigning for the Cubs job. He wants that job BADLY.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]I guarantee you there are less people on the planet who are better at hitting baseballs than Starlin Castro (ESPECIALLY for that amount of money) than there are people who could do just as good of a job building a baseball roster than Theo Epstein.[/quote]THIS
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
What is with giving up playoff dingers at Chase Field that makes pitchers go bonkers?
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]You couldn’t fill a thimble with Bob Brenly’s brain matter.
And he’s been all over local sports radio campaigning for the Cubs job. He wants that job BADLY.[/quote]What do the Cubs have to trade to WGN/Comcast to get Brenly out of his broadcast extension?
(being facetious of course)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
Maybe Marcum was trying to catch it?
GBTSQuote Reply
exactly. Epstein isn’t the lord god of GM’s. He understands stats and has a massive payroll. He is a good GM but he also made some very Hendry like moves in FA.
Go find the next Epstein who only costs money. Be out in front of things for once vs overpaying when you dont have to
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]What do the Cubs have to trade to WGN/Comcast to get Brenly out of his broadcast extension?
(being facetious of course)[/quote]If they had to give them a pile of day old dogshit, it would still be an overpay.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
of course this is the cubs so i fully expect Ricketts to give Cherington Castro, Jackson & Cashner.
dylanjQuote Reply
Esptein, Friedman, and Daniels were basically plucked from outside of baseball. Don’t need a big name. Just a smart brain.
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Esptein, Friedman, and Daniels were basically plucked from outside of baseball. Don’t need a big name. Just a smart brain.[/quote]This.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Esptein, Friedman, and Daniels were basically plucked from outside of baseball. Don’t need a big name. Just a smart brain.[/quote]You really don’t want the Cubs to pluck Friedman, do you? (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]You really don’t want the Cubs to pluck Friedman, do you? (dying laughing)[/quote]I do. They should have called him yesterday as a contingency plan.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Friedman is my first choice simply because I think what he is doing is harder than what Theo did. Go write him a very very large check.
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Esptein, Friedman, and Daniels were basically plucked from outside of baseball. Don’t need a big name. Just a smart brain.[/quote]
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]Friedman is my first choice simply because I think what he is doing is harder than what Theo did. Go write him a very very large check.[/quote]That’s kind of where I am right now, DJ.
However, if the carrot to get Epstein to come to Chicago is to give him the President job, then he will assuredly hire a young version of himself as the GM and be incredibly hands-on. Maybe even not have an actual GM, but maybe an Uber-Assistant GM.
If the Cubs just needed a new GM, then I think Friedman is your guy, but the Cubs need a full overhaul in the front office culture and not just changing the existing personnel but adding to a pathetically tiny front office.
I think a big part of the reason the Cubs suck and continue to suck is that they have not enough people wearing too many hats and they can’t ever get really good at any one task. Their whole operational model has been one of reactionary ass-covering for as long as I can remember and you aren’t going to win shit without a crapload of luck going your way, and you are never going to win consistently. So if that is the case, maybe Theo is ready to jump to the next level of administration and construct an entire front office.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]I guarantee you there are less people on the planet who are better at hitting baseballs than Starlin Castro (ESPECIALLY for that amount of money) than there are people who could do just as good of a job building a baseball roster than Theo Epstein.[/quote]I wouldn’t trade Castro for Epstein, but that’s kind of a crazy statement. There are many 2 or 3 people who you could expect to do as well as Theo. There are probably 20, 30 and maybe even 40 or 50 players who would (or do) make league minimum who are better hitters than Castro.
There were 111 players in MLB this year who had a higher wRC+ than Castro. I know we’re Cubs fans, but Starlin Castro is just a good young player. That’s it. He’s obviously worth more than Epstein and there’s no precedent in which a team gives up its best young player to acquire a manager or GM. It’s not happening. I wouldn’t do it, but I also wouldn’t care if they did. Then again, I wouldn’t really care if they traded the Iowa Cubs, Tennessee Smokies, Daytona Cubs, Peoria Chiefs, Boise Hawks, AZL Cubs, DSL Cubs 1 and DSL Cubs 2 to get him. Not because he’s worth it, but because the farm system sucks ass.
mb21Quote Reply
I want Theo or Friedman. Don’t care which. Don’t care how much either costs.
mb21Quote Reply
there are 20-30 21 year old SS ready to take Castro’s position? Really?
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]There are many 2 or 3 people who you could expect to do as well as Theo. [/quote]Surely you jest.
GBTSQuote Reply
I could probably find 2-3 people on the campus of the University of Chicago who could at least equal Theo.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]I could probably find 2-3 people on the campus of the University of Chicago who could at least equal Theo.[/quote]*raises hand*
Well, maybe not me, but I know some smart people here.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Esptein, Friedman, and Daniels were basically plucked from outside of baseball. Don’t need a big name. Just a smart brain.[/quote]
It’s not quite that simple and the Cubs aren’t going to do that. The Cubs aren’t the Rays or the Rangers. The Yankees aren’t going to hire some guy who has never had a job in baseball and neither will the Cubs. The Red Sox were ready to give up a very good prospect to get Beane. They had agreed to do so, but Beane changed his mind at the last minute leaving the Sox with few alternatives. Enter Theo Epstein.
Unlike you guys, I don’t really care what the Cubs give up. I’m just ready to root for a team that can begin to have a solid foundation under them and can later compete every year. If that takes 5 years, fine. If that takes 10 years, fine. I don’t care. Without spending a lot of money in the next few years, Starlin Castro is unlikely to be a part of any contending Cubs team. I’d hate to see him traded for something as silly as a GM, but whatever.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]there are 20-30 21 year old SS ready to take Castro’s position? Really?[/quote]Didn’t say that.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]I could probably find 2-3 people on the campus of the University of Chicago who could at least equal Theo.[/quote]I assumed you knew that I mean people who actually have any interest at all working in baseball.
mb21Quote Reply
It couldn’t be more clear, guys. Theo Epstein has been considered the best GM in the game since about 2004. If there are all these brilliant minds, many of them making less than $100,000 of course, why haven’t they been hired by baseball teams so they can make millions and be famous?
mb21Quote Reply
I don’t doubt those guys exist, but why the hell are we holding the Cubs to some standard that few other teams are held to?
mb21Quote Reply
look every year the kid is getting better. His power started to come through and he’s still younger than most guys in AA. He IS going to be a special player and you might be able to replace his production now but not in 5 years when he is going to be owning the league.
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]It couldn’t be more clear, guys. Theo Epstein has been considered the best GM in the game since about 2004. If there are all these brilliant minds, many of them making less than $100,000 of course, why haven’t they been hired by baseball teams so they can make millions and be famous?[/quote]Baseball isn’t exactly a progressive enterprise. They cling to their “baseball types.”
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]look every year the kid is getting better. His power started to come through and he’s still younger than most guys in AA. He IS going to be a special player and you might be able to replace his production now but not in 5 years when he is going to be owning the league.[/quote]False. Ramirez has ruined him through association.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]look every year the kid is getting better. His power started to come through and he’s still younger than most guys in AA. He IS going to be a special player and you might be able to replace his production now but not in 5 years when he is going to be owning the league.[/quote]I’m not saying he’s not good. I said he is a good young player and he’ll obviously get better, but it’s highly unlikely he’s ever going to be as good as you think he is. That doesn’t mean he’s not good. He is.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I’m not saying he’s not good. I said he is a good young player and he’ll obviously get better, but it’s highly unlikely he’s ever going to be as good as you think he is. That doesn’t mean he’s not good. He is.[/quote]Don’t you like anything?
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]Baseball isn’t exactly a progressive enterprise. They cling to their “baseball types.”[/quote]In some ways, but there are probably as many front office guys (not scouts) who are outsiders today than there are who are typical baseball guys. So where are these awesome GMs who are accountants and lawyers and all this other shit?
It’s not like an intelligent person is automatically going to be good at being a GM. A doctor isn’t necessarily going to make a good attorney either. Some teams have hired sabermetric GMs only to watch them suck.
I’ve seen the Cubs suck for 30 years. I don’t want some no name who is smart and might be good. I want someone that is smart and known to be good. And I don’t care what he costs. I don’t want to be sitting here in 3 years making fun of the super intelligent GM who is worse at his job than Jim Hendry. I don’t want to go out and look for another guy who might fail. I want someone who is good. This is the Cubs. They can afford that. It’s not the Rays who can only afford some unknown and hope to get lucky.
Let those teams find those guys. Let the Cubs and other large market teams poach them after they’ve proven they are good at their job.
mb21Quote Reply
(dying laughing)
I want Theo too. I just wouldn’t trade Starlin Castro for him.
GBTSQuote Reply
I also want Theo so we can post pictures of Theo Huxtable for years to come.
GBTSQuote Reply
(dying laughing) at fat lance
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
[quote name=GBTS](dying laughing)
I want Theo too. I just wouldn’t trade Starlin Castro for him.[/quote]It’s easy for me to say I don’t care because I also know it’s not going to come down to that. There is literally no way whatsoever that the Red Sox would even ask for Castro. There’s a better chance they sign him to a guaranteed 100 year deal paying him a billion per year and then fire him immediately after. It’s not happening.
I think Brett Jackson or Trey McNutt are possible and maybe even likely. Jackson is comparable to what the Sox were going to send the A’s after 2003 to get Beane. If it’s between the two I’d much, much rather keep Jackson.
mb21Quote Reply
This seems an appropriate modification for the current climate…just change the year.
cdwQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]There’s a better chance they sign him to a guaranteed 100 year deal paying him a billion per year and then fire him immediately after.[/quote]
So you’re saying there’s a chance?
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
Awesome, cdw.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Suburban kid 22]So you’re saying there’s a chance?[/quote]I wish I had the correct image handy
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]It’s easy for me to say I don’t care because I also know it’s not going to come down to that. There is literally no way whatsoever that the Red Sox would even ask for Castro. There’s a better chance they sign him to a guaranteed 100 year deal paying him a billion per year and then fire him immediately after. It’s not happening.
[/quote]If the Red Sox sign Castro to that contract 1) it’s tampering and the Cubs will get compensation 2) I don’t want Theo b/c that is worst deal in the history of baseball.
My unrealistic hope: Theo as Pres, Friedman as GM, Tito as Manager, Bob Brenly dead by horse fucking.
cdwQuote Reply
Wow, Victorino just pulled an Ibanez.
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
The October early evening sun has fucked over both center fielders in the first inning at Busch.
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
[quote name=cdw]If the Red Sox sign Castro to that contract 1) it’s tampering and the Cubs will get compensation 2) I don’t want Theo b/c that is worst deal in the history of baseball.
My unrealistic hope: Theo as Pres, Friedman as GM, Tito as Manager, Bob Brenly dead by horse fucking.[/quote]That would be sweet. My guess is that Theo would be the Pres and GM for awhile and then later on resign from the GM role and hire a GM. He wants a few years to win that championship and be the guy who breaks 2 curses.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I wish I had the correct image handy[/quote]
cdwQuote Reply
(dying laughing) I was thinking more of the image that SK has of Alvin replying to comments saying “Correct.”
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]That would be sweet. My guess is that Theo would be the Pres and GM for awhile and then later on resign from the GM role and hire a GM. He wants a few years to win that championship and be the guy who breaks 2 curses.[/quote]That would be excellent. I’d like to see who he hand picks for GM.
cdwQuote Reply
Hopefully things will have changed by the time he does that. Right now the Cubs job is the best in the game, but after they win a championship it will only be a top 5 job. You’re not going to get anybody to leave the Yankees or Red Sox and probably not even the Dodgers, or Cardinals at that point.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21](dying laughing) I was thinking more of the image that SK has of Alvin replying to comments saying “Correct.”[/quote]
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
[quote name=cdw]
[/quote]This gif makes me happy. May I use it?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]This gif makes me happy. May I use it?[/quote]No?
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]I also want Theo so we can post pictures of Theo Huxtable for years to come.[/quote]
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8280066730307092994
WenningtonsGorillaCockQuote Reply
[quote name=Suburban kid 22]No?[/quote]You only come here to argue with me.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]You only come here to argue with me.[/quote]Correct.
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
[quote name=Suburban kid 22]Wow, Victorino just pulled an Ibanez.[/quote]He probably should’ve held on to the ball.
/just saw replay’d
Rice CubeQuote Reply
For whoever remarked about the Marcum = Lilly incident (probably Aisley):
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Marcum-glove-flip-a-reminder-of-Lilly-8217-s-gl?urn=mlb-wp22661
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]This gif makes me happy. May I use it?[/quote](dying laughing) Absolutely. I just hot linked that bitch yo!
cdwQuote Reply
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-1006-rogers-cubs-chicago–20111006,0,1987711.column
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-1006-rogers-cubs-chicago–20111006,0,1987711.column[/quote]
Alvin’s opening interview with Theo is going to be solely about his job title. I can already see this one coming.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]Alvin’s opening interview with Theo is going to be solely about his job title. I can already see this one coming.[/quote]
And how much they still owe Carlos Silva.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]Alvin’s opening interview with Theo is going to be solely about his job title. I can already see this one coming.[/quote]
What did you learn about curses in Boston that will help you win a World Series with the Cubbies?
Will you remodel Wrigley like you did to Fenway?
Will you resign Kerry Wood?
You know Statistical analyses are just theories, right?
Speed round:
Ivy or Green Monsters?
Troughs or Urinals?
Crawford or Soriano?
Billy Goats or Bambinos?
Bologna or Chowder?
Clooney or Pitt?
cdwQuote Reply
Clooney or Pitt (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
New post in breaking bad thread. Dealing with the The Kid situation.
cdwQuote Reply
So…Steve Jobs died *iSad*
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Game 5 times two, anyone?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
D-Backs are pretty good at those 4-run homers.
ACTQuote Reply
Is there an unwritten rule that you can’t hit the ball out of the park with the bases loaded? I assumed that’s why the Cubs never did it.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=cdw]New post in breaking bad thread. Dealing with the The Kid situation.[/quote]I just responded
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Is there an unwritten rule that you can’t hit the ball out of the park with the bases loaded? I assumed that’s why the Cubs never did it.[/quote]
It’s because they’re rally-killers.
BerseliusQuote Reply
The Brewers are HAPPY they have homefield advantage, methinks.
binkyQuote Reply
Did any of you college football fans read this?
http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/the-geography-of-college-football-fans-and-realignment-chaos/
It definitely makes Rutgers look like a nice consolation prize if Texas and/or Notre Dame don’t join the B1G. What with their NY market share and maybe getting the B1G into Boson.
cdwQuote Reply
[quote name=cdw]Did any of you college football fans read this?
http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/the-geography-of-college-football-fans-and-realignment-chaos/
It definitely makes Rutgers look like a nice consolation prize if Texas and/or Notre Dame don’t join the B1G. What with their NY market share and maybe getting the B1G into Boson.[/quote]
(dying laughing) yes. opinions vary on that article here.
GWQuote Reply
[quote name=GW](dying laughing) yes. opinions vary on that article here.[/quote]
If by vary you mean “berselius has an irrational hatred for Rutgers no matter what others tell him”, then yes (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
Oooh, Kirk Gibson is going to turn this into a do-or-die bullpen game!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Excellent move.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
At least Saunders can’t get a W out of this now (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
Replacing Saunders with Owings is essentially spotting the Brewers 4 runs. Effectively tied game!
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Replacing Saunders with Owings is essentially spotting the Brewers 4 runs. Effectively tied game![/quote]Shut you right up…for now.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I honestly love the idea of pulling a starter early for a PH in an RBI situation. I was cheering the move on even before Cowgill came through. Kirk is my new favorite manager.
ACTQuote Reply
Wait, what’s that? He’s leading off with Willie Bloomquist? Never mind.
ACTQuote Reply
You’ve got to think that everyone but Marcum and Yovani Gallardo should be available out of the pen tonight, right?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111005&content_id=25511086&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
I get Verlander’s not being available, but I’m glad to see Girardi’s making CC available out of the pen on his rest day. It’d be nice to see more managers do that in the regular season.
PerkinsQuote Reply
[quote name=Perkins]http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111005&content_id=25511086&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
I get Verlander’s not being available, but I’m glad to see Girardi’s making CC available out of the pen on his rest day. It’d be nice to see more managers do that in the regular season.[/quote]Seems like it would require a lot of thinking. I don’t see it catching on.
binkyQuote Reply
For those who actually pitched or know pitching, is it more stressful on the arm to pitch in a live game rather than just doing a sim on your bullpen day? Is that a legitimate reason for not making your starter available on a rest day/side session day? There’s also the fatigue etc. throughout the season, but at this point there’s really nothing to lose.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]For those who actually pitched or know pitching, is it more stressful on the arm to pitch in a live game rather than just doing a sim on your bullpen day? Is that a legitimate reason for not making your starter available on a rest day/side session day? There’s also the fatigue etc. throughout the season, but at this point there’s really nothing to lose.[/quote]He’s probably thinking fatigue plus injury. Plus, if they advance, then he’s going to be pitching as early as possible in the next series. Maybe Leyland is just trying to balance those two things. No one wants to get blamed, though, if Verlander gets hurt.
binkyQuote Reply
This seems appropriate for OV…
cdwQuote Reply
Albert Pujols is smart…
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19847197&topic_id=11493214
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I guess that depends on how many outs are left in the inning (dying laughing)
cdwQuote Reply
[quote name=cdw]I guess that depends on how many outs are left in the inning (dying laughing)[/quote]I think it could just as easily have been a throwing error, but with no outs, it was probably a toss-up as to whether he wanted to guarantee an out or take the risk of runners at the corners with no outs. Since it worked, it ended up being a smart play (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Albert Pujols is smart…
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19847197&topic_id=11493214%5B/quote%5DThat is just impressive. And what was Utley thinking?
cdwQuote Reply
Home run derby in AZ!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=cdw]That is just impressive. And what was Utley thinking?[/quote]That it would take an impressive play to get him out?
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I think it could just as easily have been a throwing error, but with no outs, it was probably a toss-up as to whether he wanted to guarantee an out or take the risk of runners at the corners with no outs. Since it worked, it ended up being a smart play (dying laughing)[/quote]How did Utley not kill himself on that slide. I’m pretty sure my arms would be numb for a week if I did that.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I think it could just as easily have been a throwing error, but with no outs, it was probably a toss-up as to whether he wanted to guarantee an out or take the risk of runners at the corners with no outs. Since it worked, it ended up being a smart play (dying laughing)[/quote]I meant that for the Jobs pic. (dying laughing) I think that was a great play by Scat-shaft.
cdwQuote Reply
I don’t think it was a bad risk on Utley’s part, he probably didn’t expect Pujols to concede the out at first base though. By stepping in, Pujols shortened the throw to 3B and had some oomph to it too. As ACT stated, it was an impressive play.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]That it would take an impressive play to get him out?[/quote](dying laughing) Yep. FWIW Impressive play based on the thought process but even Campana could’ve thrown him out with Pujols’ brain.
cdwQuote Reply
[quote name=cdw](dying laughing) Yep. FWIW Impressive play based on the thought process but even Campana could’ve thrown him out with Pujols’ brain.[/quote]Campana would’ve lofted it to the invisible third baseman just to the right of David Freese.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=cdw](dying laughing) Yep. FWIW Impressive play based on the thought process but even Campana could’ve thrown him out with Pujols’ brain.[/quote]Should he have anticipated that, though? I mean, if you’re impressed by it, you probably wouldn’t think it was very likely ahead of time, would you?
ACTQuote Reply
Maybe this is post-hoc rationalization (probably/thanks for the heads up ACT)…but that play seems like poor decision from Utley’s part (since his decision to run was probably more instinctual than conscious) and more intelligent from Pujols since it was the opposite of Utley’s. Probably, wrong on this one.
cdwQuote Reply
I think most of the time you expect the first baseman to just catch the ball and get the out at first base, which is probably what Utley was thinking.
Utley definitely underestimated Pujols’ wIQ+ there.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Yeah, it’s pretty close to impossible to predict how a fielder will handle a specific play. And since there was 1 out, taking third wasn’t that big a risk.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Should he have anticipated that, though? I mean, if you’re impressed by it, you probably wouldn’t think it was very likely ahead of time, would you?[/quote]I don’t think Pujols should’ve anticipated that throw/situation. I think that is what impressed me. That he checked his instincts (which are normally correct) and recognized the odd situation (prefrontal cortex decision) and overrode his instinct. That is impressive since most of those decisions are made so quickly. Of couse, being an amateur neuro guy and not really understanding how long Pujols decision took I’m just speculating.
cdwQuote Reply
Pujols = Machine
And I thought there were no outs when Utley broke for third base? I’d have to check the vid and the play-by-play again.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Yeah, it’s pretty close to impossible to predict how a fielder will handle a specific play. And since there was 1 out, taking third wasn’t that big a risk.[/quote]Another fine point.
cdwQuote Reply
I meant, should Utley have anticipated that Pujols would throw to third? If it’s unlikely that he would throw to third, then running is a good risk to take.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]I meant, should Utley have anticipated that Pujols would throw to third? If it’s unlikely that he would throw to third, then running is a good risk to take.[/quote]I agree that it was a good risk to take…Utley had to slow down to make sure Furcal got rid of the ball or else he was a dead duck, otherwise he might’ve made it to 3B, but that’s a totally different situation that never materialized because he was smart at that point and then the impressive Pujols throw made him look stupid (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Also, there were no outs, which probably carries a massive run expectancy penalty between man on second, one out vs. man on first, one out. Of course, runners at the corners with no out would’ve made it all worthwhile…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=cdw]Maybe this is post-hoc rationalization (probably/thanks for the heads up ACT)…but that play seems like poor decision from Utley’s part (since his decision to run was probably more instinctual than conscious) and more intelligent from Pujols since it was the opposite of Utley’s. Probably, wrong on this one.[/quote]This was clearly wrong. As RC pointed out that Utley slowed down till Furcal let go.
cdwQuote Reply
Here’s a run expectancy chart. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/sortable/index.php?cid=975409
If Utley doesn’t run and the runner is thrown out it’s .65
If Utley runs and is thrown out (runner safe at first) it’s .50
If Utley runs and the runner is out (Utley is safe) it’s .90
So, that’s actually a pretty good risk/reward ratio.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Here’s a run expectancy chart. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/sortable/index.php?cid=975409
If Utley doesn’t run and the runner is thrown out it’s .65
If Utley runs and is thrown out (runner safe at first) it’s .50
If Utley runs and the runner is out (Utley is safe) it’s .90
So, that’s actually a pretty good risk/reward ratio.[/quote]The bolded part assumes Utley is safe at second with one out, correct? It’s nice to know that my lay-person’s assessment of good risk-taking was quantitatively correct.
In a twist of fate, the Brewers’ chances of victory may rest in the hands of Yuni Betancourt.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]
If Utley doesn’t run and the runner is thrown out it’s .65
If Utley runs and the runner is out (Utley is safe) it’s .90
So, that’s actually a pretty good risk/reward ratio.[/quote]The table I was just looking at makes this difference even larger at 0.4 delta. Anyone else having trouble with the comment script dying on them?
cdwQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]The bolded part assumes Utley is safe at second with one out, correct? It’s nice to know that my lay-person’s assessment of good risk-taking was quantitatively correct.[/quote]Yup.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]Friedman is my first choice simply because I think what he is doing is harder than what Theo did. Go write him a very very large check.[/quote]
I have mad respect for Friedman too but to disregard “what Theo did” as not as impressive as Friedman is not, in my opinion, taking a hard look at what he’s built and how he’s done it.
The Red Sox minor league system has been a veritable gold mine for awhile now, and of the current productive core in place, only Adrian Gonzalez and Beckett didn’t come up through the system (and they were purchased with the system). That leaves Pedroia, Youkilis, Ellsbury, Lester, Papelbon, Bard, Buchholz. That’s a pretty goddamned good yield, and without the benefit of an endless stream of number one picks either.
As far as free agent signings go…yeah Theo’s hit and missed. But that’s every GM with dollars to spend. And to be fair here, most of the moves Theo made were lauded at the time (and many of them worked out too), including the current millstone being hung around his neck, John Lackey, who was a 4 WAR pitcher before he signed with Boston, was paid like a 4 WAR pitcher, and, in his first year, produced a 4 WAR season. That he cracked up this year and pitched like utter dogshit (as bad as he was, he still put up 1.5 WAR) wasn’t something anybody thought would happen as fast as it did. But hey, shit happens.
And as mb astutely pointed out, who is to say Friedman would fare any better with a bigger payroll? It’s not a guarantee that he would just because he’s done so well with a small one (this is the guy who, with pocket change to spend on the free agent market, thought Pat Burrell and the remains of Manny Ramirez would be good ideas, so it’s not just a string of number one hits here). Additionally, there are other unknowns with Friedman, including the ability to handle the pressure of a big market, and especially one like Chicago. Not one of the seven fans who go to Tampa games could pick Friedman out of a lineup even if he was wearing a big sign that said “hey you assholes, I’m Andrew Fucking Friedman” while in Boston, those crazy motherfuckers can pick Theo out of a crowd while wearing a gorilla suit on Halloween. There’s no such thing as “media pressure” in St. Petersburg. Do they even have a fucking newspaper outside of the Del Boca Vista Breeze?
Whereas Theo’s thrived in one of the most stressful sports environments there is, with a lynch mob for a fan base and an ownership group and team president who, to put it mildly, like to meddle. This is not to take anything away from Friedman, an excellent GM who has found quite a bit of success the past few years in spite of his own set of difficult circumstances (and if he ends up being the guy, count me on board), but Theo’s a fucking rock star, the PR home run, the guy you go after first.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Good points and hilarious. Well done.
WaLiQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning wins.
Hopefully Theo also knows how to rein in the egos so nobody gets randomly suspended. I think that was the thing that bugged me the most under the last years of Hendry, although the players probably deserved it, they could have handled it without a media debacle.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Smokestack Lightning]I have mad respect for Friedman too but to disregard “what Theo did” as not as impressive as Friedman is not, in my opinion, taking a hard look at what he’s built and how he’s done it.
The Red Sox minor league system has been a veritable gold mine for awhile now, and of the current productive core in place, only Adrian Gonzalez and Beckett didn’t come up through the system (and they were purchased with the system). That leaves Pedroia, Youkilis, Ellsbury, Lester, Papelbon, Bard, Buchholz. That’s a pretty goddamned good yield, and without the benefit of an endless stream of number one picks either. [/quote]Not just all the number 1 picks, but the 1st round picks, supplemental 1st round and overall number of top 5 round picks heavily favors the Rays. And then the Red Sox are an organization that will trade players away from time to time whereas the Rays absolutely cannot trade prospects. When you factor that all in, I think the difference between these two just isn’t to be found. It may even favor Theo. I would bet it does.
mb21Quote Reply
FWIW all those first round/supplemental picks come from the fact that the Rays cannot sign their own FAs or other FAs that require compensation.
BerseliusQuote Reply
SL’s comments deserved to be on the front page so here it is: http://obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/articles/on-theo.html
mb21Quote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply