“Daily” Facepalm – 11.3.13 : Deckchair removed from Titanic

In Facepalm by berselius62 Comments

dailyfacepalm

Brad Ausmus to manage Tigers

Ausmus is currently in Detroit finalizing the deal. Hopefully the contact includes a clause requiring Ausmus to smoke five packs a day to ensure continuity with previous leadership. Gammons originally quasi-connected the Cubs with Ausmus weeks ago, though it was unclear whether there was actually any interest or if it was just Gammons making an independent prediction. Julie reported that Ausmus interviewed with the Cubs on Friday (scooping all of the national reporters), and Dave Kaplan confirmed that there was some interest in Ausmus for weeks but his lack of experience was what held him back with the Cubs FO. 

Frankly my own reaction is an outstanding meh. Ausmus doesn't have a ton of experience, but neither do any of the other guys we've seen on the list. I think A.J. Hinch is the only one who has actual MLB experience but he didn't exactly cover himself in glory in that time. Eric Wedge was batted around too, but he very much seems like the kind of guy the FO wouldn't want. He's a bad rowboat. Renteria looks like the frontrunner, though Red Sox coach Torey Lovullo is in the mix now. They haven't had a chance to interview him yet because he's been a little busy. 

Cubs to increase payroll next season

Cubs Den is reporting that the Cubs will increase payroll by $25-35m next year. Granted, some of that will be eaten up by arbitration raises, most notably to Samardzija. It could also be some clever weasel wording over what point this payroll bump will be measured from – the Cubs did manage to dump a bunch of salary at the deadline (Garza, some of Adolfo's contract, Feldman, etc.). Still, this seems like a good sign that the Cubs are going to go after at least one significant free agent this offseason. Hopefully whoever it is looks better than Edwin Jackson did in his first year.

Dave McKay ——–> DBacks

Bummer. He did a great job with Soriano, but when the manager leaves that usually means the same for most of his staff.

Cubs shopping Castro?

From Friday, there seem to have been rumors with both the Mets and Cardinals that Castro is available in a trade for pitching. It's a bummer that the Cardinals match up so incredibly well with the Cubs for this kind of trade, since any high profile trade between the two teams will basically never happen after Broglio for Brock. I'd give my left nut for Carlos Martinez.

Rooftop owners continue to threaten lawsuit

Via Brett's tireless reporting, the Cubs put up another mockup sign in the outfield so the rooftop owners can continue to harrumph about it. Not surprisingly, they're still threatening lawsuits, and the renovations have notably not begun yet. Get that shit started anyway, and direct Beth Murphy's lawyers to the following video:

 

Share this Post

Comments

  1. jdsmith84

    If this is accurate I feel a whole lot better about the Cubs’ offseason plans. Cot’s contracts has last years opening day payroll just under $107m. After trades it probably finished a little under $100m. After arbitration and league minimum guys we have about $75m committed to next year far. With $50m or so to play with we should be able to land Tanaka, Choo and a bullpen piece or two. That still leaves some holes on offense but those should start to be filled with prospects fairly soon.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  2. GBTS

    I see a lot of consternation on the Tweeters as to whether this “payroll increase” is actually legit, considering how much salary the team dumped since the start of the 2013 season.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  4. GBTS

    @ WaLi:
    I just meant that the report saying payroll would be “increased” was raising questions as to whether that was relative to the 2013 opening day payroll (an actual raise) or whether that increase was relative to what the payroll is right now (status quo).

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  6. WaLi

    @ GBTS:
    Yeah I understand that, but I think when people hear payroll increase they assume its based on opening day salary. To say one thing, but mean something else seems shady. Maybe most fans won’t care, I don’t know, I’d be pissed though (which won’t mean a damn thing to them).

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  7. dmick89

    @ WaLi:
    There are always a bunch of payroll rumors and I’ve never seen the Cubs address one of them. The same is true with other teams. The Cubs won’t want any other team, or player’s agent for that matter, to know what their budget is. We might get a loose outline of what the payroll will be, but we’ll never be told it will increase by X amount. Or decline by X amount.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  8. dmick89

    @ GBTS:
    I would assume if there is any truth to the report, which I wouldn’t trust for a moment, then it will be season over season increase (opening day to opening day).

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  10. Omar Little

    I’m pretty sure I know the consensus opinion around here about the Jonathan Martin situation, but I’ll ask anyway.

    What do you guys think about…the Jonathan Martin situation?

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  14. Omar Little

    @ Mucker:

    From the sound of it, Incognito and other veteran players bullied, harassed, extorted, whatever the younger guys. I’m guessing Martin didn’t put up with it and was basically ostracized until he just left the team.

    Now Incognito has been suspended indefinitely while the team “investigates.”

    http://deadspin.com/report-miami-dolphins-bullying-not-limited-to-jonatha-1457688830
    http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/24181321/dolphins-t-jonathan-martin-harassment-was-ongoing-leave-could-be-lengthy

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  15. Mucker

    If that’s all true then that’s pretty shitty. I’m all for a little rookie hazing but that shit isn’t hazing. I can’t even imagine what it must feel like to reach your dream of playing football in the NFL only to have shit like this happen to you and make you hate it.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  16. Omar Little

    @ Mucker:

    Richie Incognito has been one of my 5 most hated players for a while now. He’s pretty much a piece of shit and I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns out to be the ringleader in this.

    And good for Martin. I don’t usually applaud people who quit, but it took guts to walk away, imo. Apparently law school was an option for him, so he might decide to go that route. I’m impressed with anyone who chooses to be themselves in the face of criticism.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  17. dmick89

    @ Theo Epstein:
    I don’t think that means a whole lot either. Theo isn’t going to come out and say, no, we’re not spending money. He won’t say the opposite either. At this point I’d trust random sources like the one yesterday more than what Theo has to say. There’s incentive for Theo to not be forthcoming about an issue like payroll.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  18. Mucker

    @ Omar Little:
    It’s funny, I actually really liked Incognito at first because I thought he played the line with a nasty mean streak and I love football like that. But then he seemed to always get personal fouls and hurt his team with those and he seemed to be a pyschopath so I thought he needed to tone it down a bit. I haven’t really followed him since he left the Rams but it seems like he’s got a screw loose.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  19. Mucker

    @ Omar Little:
    And yes, I agree about Martin. It’s definitely refreshing to see somebody give a big fuck you to the masses and go out on his own terms. I’d like to see him come back but if that’s not in the cards, then I hope he does well with whatever he chooses to do.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  20. Author
    Berselius

    Omar Little wrote:

    And good for Martin. I don’t usually applaud people who quit, but it took guts to walk away, imo. Apparently law school was an option for him, so he might decide to go that route. I’m impressed with anyone who chooses to be themselves in the face of criticism.

    This.

    Also, Richie Incognito should be suspended indefinitely for his name alone. (edit: holy shit, that’s his real name. No wonder he’s so fucked up).

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  24. JonKneeV

    mb, b, myles, whoever

    Mark next Monday down for when BA release’s the Cubs Top 10 organizational prospects list. I’m sure it will get plenty of chatter and potential hits to this here web site.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  25. Myles

    JonKneeV wrote:

    mb, b, myles, whoever
    Mark next Monday down for when BA release’s the Cubs Top 10 organizational prospects list. I’m sure it will get plenty of chatter and potential hits to this here web site.

    I already have it in my Hello Kitty planner.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  27. Omar Little

    Mucker wrote:

    @ Omar Little:
    It’s funny, I actually really liked Incognito at first because I thought he played the line with a nasty mean streak and I love football like that.

    Scouts actually knock OL prospects for not having the “mean streak.” It’s a good quality to have, imo.

    Incognito has never been able to shut his off, though.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  32. Omar Little

    This is funny…

    locker room is unique place. No place like it. If you can’t take a joke, or be chastised by teammate you don’t belong
    — South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Omar Kelly on Friday

    it is important to get the FACTS, and understand all the issues, factors, incidents before formulating a conclusion.
    — South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Omar Kelly today

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  43. sitrick

    Myles wrote:

    Berselius wrote:
    My respect for Keith Law just rose a lot

    Eh, just seems like par for his holier-than-thou pretentious dick course.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  45. Omar Little

    btw, I’m starting to change my opinion of Carr (I can’t remember who I discussed him with recently). From what I’ve seen, he’s really worked hard to correct his pocket issues. His footwork looks cleaner and he seems more comfortable in the pocket.

    That’s likely to break down when he jumps to the NFL, but at least he’s shown he can correct it. It’s crazy the number of legit QB prospects that should be available in May.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  46. Omar Little

    sitrick wrote:

    How big of an asshole do you have to be to get in trouble for being an asshole in the fucking NFL? christ.

    The troubling thing, imo, is that we probably wouldn’t have heard anything about this had Martin not been so vigilant. If he hadn’t walked away, none if this is reported. So it’s feasible to assume that this happens frequently.

    I’m sure these guys don’t want to come forward. Who wants to be the guy complaining of “bullying” in the NFL regardless of the legitimacy?

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  48. sitrick

    Berselius wrote:

    @ sitrick:
    #incomprehensibleinsidejoke
    /Jason Parks fans

    Hey, of late? Total Team Callis/Mayo here. Generally free of schtick or insufferability.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  50. sitrick

    @ Omar Little:
    Parallel to the concussion problem, it’s one of those things where I don’t know how you fix it unless you change the culture of the game and what teams/fans/players value. I honestly wonder with all of its issues if football as we know it will still exist in fifty years.

    @ Berselius:
    “Come with me and I’ll make you fishers of men.” I mean, it’s like, we have a fucking life here, jesus.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  52. dmick89

    I’ve always liked Callis the best. Guy doesn’t fuck around and gets the best info IMO. Mayo is pretty much the same at this point. I haven’t really read Parks much so I don’t know. I have a BP account, but just don’t read it all that often and rarely read the minor league stuff when I do.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  53. Myles

    Callis is where it’s at, I like Parks after that but he’s too busy branding or whatever these days, Mayo is OK. It’ll be interesting to see what Callis is like at mlb.com, and just as interesting to see what happens at BA.

    I also think Ben Badler is pretty much the stone nuts on IFA stuff.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  55. Omar Little

    sitrick wrote:

    @ Omar Little:
    Parallel to the concussion problem, it’s one of those things where I don’t know how you fix it unless you change the culture of the game and what teams/fans/players value.

    I think this is the key.

    Despite what many claim, Alex Smith did not lose his job to Kaepernick last year because of his concussion. He lost his job because he was always a placeholder until Kaepernick was ready. Kaepernick stepped in and proved he was ready sooner than many thought by showing he had a grasp of the offense.

    Still, Kaepernick probably doesn’t get his chance to do that in 2013 if Alex Smith doesn’t admit that he has a concussion.

    Football players don’t want to appear weak or lose their jobs. Hiding concussions is a means to an end.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  56. sitrick

    Omar Little wrote:

    Football players don’t want to appear weak or lose their jobs. Hiding concussions is a means to an end.

    Ditto for downplaying harrassment, and probably things we hear about even less frequently like substance abuse issues I’d bet.

    Myles wrote:

    Callis is where it’s at, I like Parks after that but he’s too busy branding or whatever these days, Mayo is OK. It’ll be interesting to see what Callis is like at mlb.com, and just as interesting to see what happens at BA.
    I also think Ben Badler is pretty much the stone nuts on IFA stuff.

    J.J. Cooper seems to be taking over the more visible portions of what Callis was doing at BA, and I like his stuff well enough. I know John Manuel’s a big part of their decisionmaking too. He’s a little old school for my tastes but he’s been doing it forever and has valuable things to say. I think BA’s gonna be fine.

    I like Badler, and he absolutely knows his shit. I just wish he didn’t have Law’s personality, even if he can back it up better.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  58. dmick89

    I’m a lot more OK with the violence in the NFL now that it’s gotten so much attention. At one point the players may have been unaware of what they were putting their bodies through or what kind of damage could come from it. The NFL should be forced to pay a shitload of money because of that in the same way that Big Tobacco was.

    Now that everyone has read the fine print and understands the risk, those who continue to play have accepted it. I’m fine with that. The NFL is dirty and it’s always going to be dirty. As long as the players are aware of this, which they must be by now, then so be it.

    The “didn’t know getting hit in my head a thousand times could cause brain damage” excuse is not any good at this point.

    Plus, I feel like the players in the NFL are as despicable as the guys who run the league so I figure it’s a good match.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  59. WaLi

    dmick89 wrote:

    Plus, I feel like the players in the NFL are as despicable as the guys who run the league so I figure it’s a good match.

    I agree 100%. These guys want to hurt each other.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  60. Omar Little

    I can’t see this version of football lasting longer than another 20 years or so. Demoltion Man might have painted an accurate picture of the future.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0

Leave a Comment