The Cubs are paying Lou Pinella $3 Million per year to Manage the Cubs. They could find a guy to do what Lou has done for $250K.
What the hell has happened to Lou? Once upon a time Lou was a great Manager. Sure, the rants and outburtsts were part of the package...but he was a good in game Manager.
Now, Lou has turned into a wierd old guy who laughs everything off & doesnt have the balls to make lineup changes and bench players who arent performing. Lou has lost control over this team. He makes jokes about Z & Bradley, while they continue to pull the same shenanigans. And how does Larry Rothchild keep his job?
The Cubs need to make a change and replace Lou with either Brenley or Sandberg.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

When you have a limited amount of firewood, you don't burn during the day. you save it for nighttime when you need to stay warm and keep the coyotes away from camp.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Criticize him for this year if you'd like, and he's done plenty I disagree with especially with the big shake up today of Blanco in 2nd, but the man HAS won two straight NL Central Titles including almost 100 wins last year.

You can't blame him that Soriano, Lee(at the beginning of the year at least), Bradley, Soto, Font, Miles all can't hit right now. You can't blame him for the lack of any semblance of a back up plan for ARam's injury. You can't blame Lou for the bullpen's struggles early in the year.

I think he's doing the most with what the Cubs have, which at this point is a fundamentally flawed team. It's just a convenient rallying cry Oh God fire the hitting coach, oh Lou's got no fire and passion blah blah. Blame Hendry for giving 16-18 million a year to a lead off man w/ a sub .300 OBP..for ruining what used to be a team strength in our depth off the bench...for constructing a team assuming he's going to have some cash available at the trade deadline and not being fiscally responsible with all of the ridiculous contracts these team has on the books (basically have 4-5 Luol Deng contracts that we are stuck with)

The Cubs are 30-31 this season and Lou's managing isn't even in the Top 15 things that need to be changed.

I suppose its Hendry batting him leadoff everyday?

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That's the first funny you've made in.......like........11 years!!

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That's pretty stupid Frank. It's not like the root cause of Soriano's hitting problem is being in the leadoff position. We've seen him have plenty of success there.
So you'd have to sit here and tell me that Soriano would be a MUCh better hitter in another position in the order for your comment to have been right.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I am sick of hearing how the ownership fiasco has tied Hendry's hands. He has $148 million payroll. His hands haven't been tied. Now, they just want him to manage the team within a budget? Enough of that talk.

Agreed, the amount of money isn't the issue, the contracts and allocation of the money that Hendry constructed are the issue. And I think he put this team together thinking he can wheel and deal at the deadline, which is seeming very unlikely at this point.

Again though, Hendry did put teams together that have been very successful over the past few years. However, it just seems that with these contracts, the Cubs are going to have their hands fiscally tied for the next 3-5 years.

I am sick of hearing about moving Soriano. I really do not think this teams problems are going to change simply by moving him in the order. I have no problem with Lou leaving him in the leadoff position. Honestly, I am not sure what Lou can do, I am more irritated with Hendry than I am Lou. Lou can rearrange crap and it is still crap.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Look. Make no mistake that the personel changes the Cubs made this year were at Lou's request. All last year Lou said the Cubs need to get "More left handed"...so they trade the right handed Derosa & sign the switch hitting Bradley". Why in the hell would anyone pay Bradley $8 million dollars per year for his act? This is a guy who makes Soriano look like a gold glove outfielder, & at best is good for maybe 29 HR's and 70 RBI's.
Lou fucked up a good team.
In last nights poost game interview Lou threatens that it is almost time to make some changes...and I pictures the players in the otherr side of the clubhouse with their hands over their mouths snickering...like "ooohh, we're scared"...
If ever there was a team that needs a change it is this Cubs team.
If Lou had any sense, he would put Fukedome in the leadoff spot & drop Fonzie to the middle of the lineup.
For anyone to say that Lou has nothing to do with his teams performance, is just silly. Why the hell did the Cubs hire Lou then???

_________________
CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Perhaps, but Lou isnt doing any rearranging.

_________________
CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Nope

Nope


this one has to be a joke...right?

No. Wrong. Here's why:
Batting Average:
April '08: .305 – 2009: .388
May '08: .293 – 2009: .277
June '08: .264 – 2009: .122
July ’08: .236
Aug ’08: .193
Sept ’08: .178
OBP:
April '08: .416 – 2009: .461
May '08: .388 – 2009: .415
June '08: .387 – 2009: .234
July ’08: .306
Aug ’08: .293
Sept ’08: .288
OPS:
April '08: .937 – 2009: 1.053
May '08: .792 – 2009: .830
June '08: .789 – 2009: .405
July ’08: .688
Aug ’08: .546
Sept ’08: .577

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Rogers,
Now that is some detailed baseball analyses right there mister!

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

The details are right above your post professor.

Your kneejerk reponse is stupid.

Moving Soriano certainly is not going to fix all of the Cubs problems, but having a power hitter in the middle of that lineup would at least help things on the offensive side.

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All very compelling, who would you like to see leading off for this team ideally? The riot did a fairly decent job at it last year. Keep Soriano there?

MY kneejerk response???
Tell me Frank, who would be a better leadoff litter for the Cubs right now? Do you think power in the line up matters when they're hitting .225?
Show me your lineup Frank. how do you fill out the card?

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

IIRC, Theriot did not do well leading off last year. I don't have that level of splits available to me at this time, so I can't be sure, but I think I remember him being fairly ineffective.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I'll see if I can find those splits..I should have been clearer and fairly decent is an extremely relative term compared to what else is available on the roster.

meatpants just said put Soriano at 3B????? Seriously Matt, come on! You are supposed to be this great baseball guy and this is what you come with?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Can anyone defend starting Soriano in the lead off spot?

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

My lineup card would not have Soriano at leadoff. You can make up for a .225 average if you're in the 4th, 5th, or 6th hole hitting for power. Not so much hitting leadoff. My lineup would also likely include DeRosa (or a legit 3B backup), and not include Aaron Miles.

Yes, those moves are not Piniella's fault, but for Lou to sit there after games and say "I really don't know...I mean I've tried everything" and then give a little chuckle....is that any different than Dusty Baker saying "Dude" with little Darren sitting on his knee?

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OMG...Here he is ladies & gentlemen...your Baseball expert...Matt Spiegel.
Ron Santo could play better third base right now that Fonzie.
Matt...I think TSN wants you back...

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

I thought he said 2B and Fox in left. Although it's possible he said 3rd and my brain lacks the ability to comprehend such ridiculous ideas.

Sure. Valid defense points:
1. He's likely to give you a first inning lead 15-20 times a year.
2. No one else on the team, save Theriot who I'm not convinced on, is going to give the team the OBP and OPS in that position. Theriot .307 av .746 OPS and Soriano .280 with a .876 OPS. The HR point is a blowout.
3. He's not needed as protection in a "functioning" lineup. The fact that power players are suffering makes protection moot, why protect a hitter who's not hitting anyway?
4. He's easily the most experienced in that position.

5. Anyone saying Fuk in leadoff position is baseball retarded.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Said the man that wants Kosuke Fuku-after may in the leadoff spot

He said both. He first said 2B, and then said put him at 3B. Basically just move him somewhere.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

With all due respect Frank, and I do love ya man, but you're speaking from a position of ignorance. Show me your lineup before you say that Lou can't fill the card right and Soriano shouldn't be leading off.
Soriano's .225 ba (an overused and useless stat) is definately NOT prototypical leadoff, I understand that. I also understand that his O stats are not prototypical of his capabilities either.


Now, to be honest, I wouldn't mind even changes that make no sense at this point. Something has to be done.
And yes, I hate that managing attitude. hate it. I hated it with Dusty and I hate it with Lou. Need some F&P!

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

The 3,4,5, and 6 spots are already filled with guys hitting .225 that supposedly hit for power.