2010 Chicago Cubs

[Tom McManus]

Is Soriano's contract the most depressing contract in baseball right now?
We've got him locked up through 2014. He makes 18MM this year.

Other contenders:

Vernon Wells through 2014 making 18MM per year.

Carlos Lee makes 17MM through 2012.

Barry Zito makes 18MM through 2013.

There is really no other realistic contender for this title as most of the other really bad contracts from before the recession expire this year or the next (Fukudome's 12MM is finally over in 2011!).

With as bad as Soriano has looked, I give him this award.  His top end right now is to become an average hitter with terrible defensive skills.  And we will be paying close to 20MM for that for this season, next season, the season after that, the season after that, and finally 1 more season.  Really looking forward to these next 5 seasons in left field.  What does Hendry have to do to get fired around here?  Its like that episode of Seinfeld where George drags the World Series trophy around the parking lot but can't seem to get fired.  Hendry has put together a solid resume with the Soriano, Bradley, and Fukudome contracts.  Not to mention he gave Jeff Samardzija 10 MM so he wouldn't consider playing football.  Somebody explain that one!  And saying goodbye to Mark DeRosa was also an excellent idea.  If these new owners value their money, they might want to find somebody else to spend it.

How do you think Soriano feels?  18 mil will cure a lot of the blues, but it must stink to know you are getting paid that much money and you are putrid.

[pdga#7648]

Is Soriano's contract the most depressing contract in baseball right now?
We've got him locked up through 2014. He makes 18MM this year.

so you get to watch that gay hop before every catch for 4 more years? maybe he gets 2 M per inch on the hop???

[Dan Michler]

How do you think Soriano feels?  18 mil will cure a lot of the blues, but it must stink to know you are getting paid that much money and you are putrid.

You would think he'd feel bad, wouldn't you?  You would think it would make him open to suggestions from the team's batting coach on ways to improve, such as using a lighter bat (soriano uses the heaviest bat in the league) or opening up his stance.  He has repeatedly refused to even test out these suggestions.

You would also think it would make him want to work hard to earn that 18MM and get back to where he was, right?  From most accounts, Soriano likes to stay out late and is not usually one of the first ones to arrive at the ballpark.

Certainly he'll at least hustle and give 100% when he's on the field?  Not even close!  He refuses to lose the 'hop' either during a catch or after swings that he thinks are homeruns.  He doesn't put in the time to improve his embarrassing fielding skills and last night he hit a fly ball to deep center that he thought was leaving the park.  He loped all the way to first before seeing the ball hit off the wall and then reaching 2nd standing up after the ball got away from the CF on the carom.  He would have reached 3rd with 1 out had he decided to run on contact.

The point here is, I could give a shit how Soriano feels about his disgusting play.  Work hard and play hard and maybe I'd respect him.  Make 18MM and half-ass it and you can go fornicate with youself.

[Dan Michler]

If I were this Philly security officer, I'd have this framed photo the size of my living room wall hanging up in my house.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/13341892/phillies-fan-tasered-by-police-after-running-onto-field?tag=headlines;headlines

[Tom McManus]

Milton Bradley(notes) has asked the Seattle Mariners management for help in dealing with personal issues and is not likely to play much in the coming days.

Bradley was not in the starting lineup on Wednesday night against Tampa Bay, a day after he left the stadium following his benching by manager Don Wakamatsu.

General manager Jack Zduriencik says Bradley met with Wakamatsu and Zduriencik on Wednesday morning and told the pair "I need your help." Zduriencik says the team will do whatever it can to help Bradley.

Bradley told the Mariners management that his issues have put him in a position where he can't compete the way he expects and that "It's been a long time coming."

[Dan Michler]

I love that 'its been a long time coming' when Bradley has been a Mariner for all of 1 month.  Who would have guessed that this trade would go poorly for the M's?  Oh wait.....

[pdga#7648]

Sweet Lou, should be, and probably will be fired before seasons end! He is terrible! Terrible coach = terrible team. To be swept by the Pirates, says it all!!

[Dan Michler]

Sweet Lou, should be, and probably will be fired before seasons end! He is terrible! Terrible coach = terrible team. To be swept by the Pirates, says it all!!

There's an informed opinion....blame the manager.  When Lou won the 1990 World Series, was he a terrible manager?  Obviously not, since terrible manager = terrible team, according to your formula.  As one who watches a lot of Cubs baseball, I've seen nothing that Lou has done to cost us games.

Lou did not assemble a defensively woeful team.  Lou has nothing to do with Aram's .140 average or Lee's .220 average.  Lou has done a good job of inserting guys off the bench who have gotten hot.

Blaming the manager 29 games into the season is just dumb.  Its 29 out of 162.  Looong way to go.  Is it concerning that the bullpen has struggled to hold any kind of a lead?  Clearly.  Will Aram and Lee most likely bounce back from slow starts as they have throughout their careers?  Probably.  Do I think the defense sucks?  100%.  Will we still finish above .500?  Bet on it.  Are we going to the playoffs?  Too early to call........every team in the big leagues will have a rough patch at some point this year.  Baseball is about patience.

[pdga#7648]

Patience??? how many years has he been the manager Dan?  He had a great team 2 years ago, and choked in the playoffs.
And if it is not his job as a manager to help the team win, who's is it? He has nothing to do with his stars hitting .140 and .220?? Cmon you fool! sit their ass on the bench to open their eyes, or send em to the Peoria Chiefs to work on whatever is not right. Don't get swept by the worst team in the NL Central for 12 straight years, and just sit on your fat ass then get mad at reporters. He is like the rest of the team, PATHETIC.
A good manager, or even a decent manager, does not, for any reason, move his BEST starting pitcher to the bullpen. He needs 35 starts out of his #1. If he doesn't beleive in him, how does #2-5 go out to the mound with any confidence?
And you brought up the 1990 Reds he won the World Series with? 20 years ago, Lou probably cared about managing, and had something to prove as a manager. He did that. He has nothing to lose now. He can just sit there on the bench, shake his head, and have no worries.
The Cubs need an entire new everything... from the GM, to manager, to new stadium, and most of all, a new fan base. Cause the one they have now, has to be the worst in baseball! I have never seen any fans boo the home team more than the Cubs. But 101 years of losing baseball must be sour to swallow?



And if you really beleive that they may have a chance at the playoffs, you really are a fool. No way in hell! 102 will be true!

[Dan Michler]

Patience??? how many years has he been the manager Dan?  He had a great team 2 years ago, and choked in the playoffs.   Kind of like the Cardinals last year, eh?

Cmon you fool! sit their ass on the bench to open their eyes   Aram and Lee have sat on the bench multiple times this season.

send em to the Peoria Chiefs to work on whatever is not right   Yes, lets send them to the minors.  Is this your first year following baseball?

A good manager, or even a decent manager, does not, for any reason, move his BEST starting pitcher to the bullpen. He needs 35 starts out of his #1. If he doesn't beleive in him, how does #2-5 go out to the mound with any confidence?    So Aram and Lee should be benched or sent to the minors for sucking, but Zambrano should be rewarded for sucking?  I'm not following Doug.  Gorzelanny 2.48 ERA  1.10 WHIP   Silva 2.90 ERA  1.00 WHIP   Dempster 2.95 ERA  1.03 WHIP.........yes clearly our rotation is suffering because of this move   

[pdga#7648]

Cardinals were not a great team last year, just a good one.
Ok, the benching didn't work on several occaisions, something else needs to be done. Move to AAA, not necessarily the Chiefs.
Not my 1st year, I actually remember the 1982 World Champion Cardinals. But I know a failure when I see one, and LOU is!
And you mentioned 3 of 5 starters in a rotation. What are their W/L records? What are the other 2 bozo's #'s? Zambrano has a better chance at dominating a game as a  starting pitcher, more than he does for just the 8th inning.  Poor decision Lou.

And I wouldn't expect a Cub fan to see the reality. You see what your heart wants you to see. Losers year after year after year!  I hope 1 day for your sake you actually get to see them win it all, but I'm sure no Dr. will invent a drug for you to take to live that long. Sorry buddy. You can always come over to the Cardinals side. We accept all fans, and know how to win World Series titles.. Just 1 rule before you are allowed. Just admit the CUBS suck, and your in! It's clear too see, must be as easy for you to admit! 

[Dan Michler]

Starlin Castro 3 run jack!  Welcome to the big leagues!

[pdga#7648]

nice start Randy Wells. how many outs did you get?   


1-0 good guys!

[tjdub26936]

nice start Randy Wells. how many outs did you get?   


1-0 good guys!

Uh, he didn't get any outs, Doug.  Geez, didn't you pay attention to the game?

[pdga#7648]

lol, yes I did, and loved it.
no better time for the Cards bats to get hot, than against the Cubs. Cubs should win tomorrows game, facing a pitcher making his major league debut, but good luck facing Wainwright on Sunday.

[pdga#7648]

not very hard to see who the ONE individual from the Cubs will be on the All-Star team.

Silva is looking awesome. He is in total control almost everytime he takes the mound. very impressive.

[Dan Michler]

I read this article today and laughed.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5275860

I'm not taking either guy's side on that argument.  I agree with Stone from the standpoint that I've been waiting to see Colvin play everyday for quite some time.  Its definitely a tough situation for Lou with the outfielders we have.  Stone should atleast suggest who he thinks Lou should sit instead of just saying Lou doesn't know how to handle young players. 

Does he sit Soriano who is slugging .544 and leading the team with 10 HR and who we are paying $18MM/year for the next 4 years?  Sit Marlon Byrd who is hitting .333 and leading the team in RBI's and is an excellent fielder?  Obviously neither of those would make any sense.

So then you are left with Fukudome.  We've waited 2 years with Kosuke after giving him the big contract which still has another year left on it.  He looks like maybe he's starting to get the hang of baseball in the U.S. as his batting average and slugging percentage are both well above his marks from the past 2 seasons.  Still, his ceiling is probably about a 20 HR guy with a decent on base percentage and excellent fielding.  He's a major league caliber player, but Colvin has alot more potential and Kosuke isn't getting any younger.  Its a tough call and its possible its not Lou's decision alone on whether Kosuke gets everyday playing time or not.  Not fair for Steve to say Lou doesn't know what he's doing based on that.

If it were my decision, I'd start Colvin/Byrd/Soriano on a daily basis and have Kosuke play the role of filling in for Soriano in defensive situations late in the game.  Either way, it doesn't change the complete lack of production from Lee/Ramirez which is the real reason for the Cubs failures this year.  If Lee gets it going again like last year, I'm on board with trading him while he has some value.  Colvin is a natural athlete and could probably pick up the 1st base position quickly.  Then we'd have spots for all 4 for the remainder of the season.  I'd also like to see Cashner in the rotation by the end of the year to see how he does.

[pdga#7648]

CHICAGO (AP)—Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella announced Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the season, ending an often colorful career that included 18 years in the majors as a player and another 22 as a manager.

The 66-year-old Piniella said he was looking forward to spending more time with his family.

"I've grown to love the city and the fans but at my age it will be time to enter a new phase in my life," Piniella said in a statement released by the team.

Announcing his retirement now, Piniella added, gives the team time to find a replacement.



only took him 4 years to realize the CUBS cant win


Ryne Sandberg should probably be their 1st choice. But knowing the Cubs, they will probably give it to Trammell. Or call up Steve Stone as the new GM, cause in all honesty, Hendry needs to go as well!

[CEValkyrie]

There wasn't a Cardinals thread so I figure it'd be fitting to put this here. Houston we have a problem. Please stop scoring runs!

[pdga#7648]

being just .5 games out of 1st, the Cardinals can afford to lose  a few by lopsided scores. .5 games is not 14 games back, like the SCRUBBIES!!