Lot's of stuff in the works for the Cubs. It was widely reported this weekend that Lou Piniella would be the Cubs new manager, and today he was officially announced as the manager. Aren't we greatful! Piniella signed a three year deal worth 10 million with a 5 million fourth year option. Jim Hendry has continued to overpay for mediocrity, but oh well we expected it and at the very least Piniella will be a very expensive clown for Cub fans to enjoy during his all too common meltdowns.
The Cubs have been at or near the bottom of the league in on-base percentage the last few seasons and Piniella seems to be saying all the right things on it, " my philosophy is to get eight midgets up there who walk all the time." That's just great, a huge turn around from Dusty Baker. So can we just trade for JD Drew already? It would be a great start. Well, after that he said something not so encouraging "I don't like to sit and wait for the three-run homer. If you look at the teams I managed in Seattle and even Tampa Bay, we always were up there doing the things we needed to do to win ballgames." I'm not sure if that was true in the Kingdome. If it was true, that was utterly stupid. Hopefully he understands when not to do this (early in games). Piniella later continued "You need pitchers who can command the strike zone, you need defensive players who can catch the ball, and you would think in a ballpark like this that you need a lot of power, but you what you need is athleticism. You catch more baseballs. Singles stay singles, doubles stay doubles." Yeah, this is so a Jim Hendry type comment. I can just see it now, Cesar Izturis manning shortstop and the such.
Jumbo decided to chime in with his thoughts adding "I think he's the right guy to take us to the promised land. That should be our goal. It's up to me to put a better product on the field and get enough players where he can mold them into a championship team." The promised land reminded me of Final Fantasy VII, so I guess we can hope that Uncle Lou is our Aeris, but I think he's going to turn out to be our Sephiroth.
Even Tony Lala decided to venture his opinion "I'm not sure that there's a lot of difference in personality. Dusty's very close to his players, and Lou gets very close to his players. From what I know of both of them, there's a lot more similarity between the two guys than differences." Great. Aren't we so excited if they're the same then what is the whole point of making the move? Just to appease the fan base or the media?
Piniella has also gone on record to say he wants the Cubs to acquire Alex Rodriguez. The two had a great relationship in Seattle, so why not? Rodriguez has gained some weight since moving to third, so his mobility at shortstop would be a concern, and we can keep Aramis Ramirez without giving up talent. I am not sure if the logistics of the deal are going to work out. The Yankees are going to want a frontline starter at the minimum. The Cubs are already in the market for two starting pitchers, and the only sure-bet big name frontline starter the Cubs have the Yankees would want would be Carlos Zambrano. I don't see that deal getting done. Rich Hill doesn't have the name recognition New York would need to justify the deal. The only way this works out is through a complicated three or four team deal similar to the Nomar Garciaparra trade in 2004. The most likely scenario would involve the Florida Marlins and Dontrelle Willis. The only way I'd do that deal with a lot of prospects would be if we kept Hill. There are too many complications for this deal to ever get done.
Finally, Mark Prior visited Dr. James Andrews yesterday. I am no M.D. but I don't like what I've read on it. Apparently the problem with Prior is "looseness." It's what causes his problems and it's also precisely what makes him so good when he's healthy. The always so accurate Mark O'Neal says, "Some people either have a tight shoulder or are labeled as genetically loose. Mark is one of those people who has loose joints -- it's something that's genetically given to him. That looseness is what allows him to generate as much force as he does to be the great pitcher that he has the potential to be and has been." With the diagnosis done by three different people, the consensus is that Prior needs to strengthen his muscles a lot. Shoulder surgery really isn't an option. Prior is supposed to rest it for 4-6 weeks since the end of the season. I can already see it now, Prior will be out in Spring Training. The Cubs should operate as if Mark Prior is not on the team. Anything we get out of him is a bonus. Such a shame, he seems like a great kid too.
The Cubs have been at or near the bottom of the league in on-base percentage the last few seasons and Piniella seems to be saying all the right things on it, " my philosophy is to get eight midgets up there who walk all the time." That's just great, a huge turn around from Dusty Baker. So can we just trade for JD Drew already? It would be a great start. Well, after that he said something not so encouraging "I don't like to sit and wait for the three-run homer. If you look at the teams I managed in Seattle and even Tampa Bay, we always were up there doing the things we needed to do to win ballgames." I'm not sure if that was true in the Kingdome. If it was true, that was utterly stupid. Hopefully he understands when not to do this (early in games). Piniella later continued "You need pitchers who can command the strike zone, you need defensive players who can catch the ball, and you would think in a ballpark like this that you need a lot of power, but you what you need is athleticism. You catch more baseballs. Singles stay singles, doubles stay doubles." Yeah, this is so a Jim Hendry type comment. I can just see it now, Cesar Izturis manning shortstop and the such.
Jumbo decided to chime in with his thoughts adding "I think he's the right guy to take us to the promised land. That should be our goal. It's up to me to put a better product on the field and get enough players where he can mold them into a championship team." The promised land reminded me of Final Fantasy VII, so I guess we can hope that Uncle Lou is our Aeris, but I think he's going to turn out to be our Sephiroth.
Even Tony Lala decided to venture his opinion "I'm not sure that there's a lot of difference in personality. Dusty's very close to his players, and Lou gets very close to his players. From what I know of both of them, there's a lot more similarity between the two guys than differences." Great. Aren't we so excited if they're the same then what is the whole point of making the move? Just to appease the fan base or the media?
Piniella has also gone on record to say he wants the Cubs to acquire Alex Rodriguez. The two had a great relationship in Seattle, so why not? Rodriguez has gained some weight since moving to third, so his mobility at shortstop would be a concern, and we can keep Aramis Ramirez without giving up talent. I am not sure if the logistics of the deal are going to work out. The Yankees are going to want a frontline starter at the minimum. The Cubs are already in the market for two starting pitchers, and the only sure-bet big name frontline starter the Cubs have the Yankees would want would be Carlos Zambrano. I don't see that deal getting done. Rich Hill doesn't have the name recognition New York would need to justify the deal. The only way this works out is through a complicated three or four team deal similar to the Nomar Garciaparra trade in 2004. The most likely scenario would involve the Florida Marlins and Dontrelle Willis. The only way I'd do that deal with a lot of prospects would be if we kept Hill. There are too many complications for this deal to ever get done.
Finally, Mark Prior visited Dr. James Andrews yesterday. I am no M.D. but I don't like what I've read on it. Apparently the problem with Prior is "looseness." It's what causes his problems and it's also precisely what makes him so good when he's healthy. The always so accurate Mark O'Neal says, "Some people either have a tight shoulder or are labeled as genetically loose. Mark is one of those people who has loose joints -- it's something that's genetically given to him. That looseness is what allows him to generate as much force as he does to be the great pitcher that he has the potential to be and has been." With the diagnosis done by three different people, the consensus is that Prior needs to strengthen his muscles a lot. Shoulder surgery really isn't an option. Prior is supposed to rest it for 4-6 weeks since the end of the season. I can already see it now, Prior will be out in Spring Training. The Cubs should operate as if Mark Prior is not on the team. Anything we get out of him is a bonus. Such a shame, he seems like a great kid too.
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