Already eliminated from the playoffs for the fourth year in a row with a declining winning percentage each year and without a championship since 1908, the Chicago Cubs have long since reached the time to look ahead to “next year.”
Some things have changed since the last time we’ve reviewed the situation. The man hug that reverberated around the baseball world earlier this season between free agent-to-be Albert Pujols and then-Cubs general manager Jim Hendry (see linked article below) lost its sizzle when the amazingly-resilient GM was finally sacked last month after nine high-spending but uneven years in the chair.
While it remains to be seen, some believe the Cubs’ new owners, the deep-pocketed Ricketts family of Ameritrade fame, will try to make a splash this winter.
One theory, presented by the Chicago Sun-Times and based on comments from a major league source, says the Cubs are considering the idea of getting the key members of the early-2000’s Cardinals band back together.
Specifically, the dominoes might fall in this order. First, Walt Jocketty is lured from Cincinnati to the North Side to replace Hendry. Then, Tony La Russa is hired to manage the lovable losers. The trifecta would be complete with the signing of Pujols to man first base for many years into the future.
Though the above scenario might have seemed ridiculous even a few months ago, it feels far less crazy today. All three gentlemen will be free agents after the season and each may have good reason to look elsewhere.
Further, the usually-guarded Jocketty made a series of very positive remarks to the Sun-Times about the Cubs as an organization, the resources available (traditionally, a division-leading payroll poorly spent) and the strength of the farm system. Perhaps it was in how the remarks were presented, but it appeared to go beyond the brief, polite but non-committal comments he might normally be expected to offer.
Couple that with the uncertainty of the Pujols contract situation and a perfect storm could develop this fall and winter. Of course, it would have to be considered low odds, but think of it this way. It probably is no less likely occurring than the 4.5 percent chance the current Cardinals have of reaching the playoffs, a hope to which many are valiantly clinging. The prospect of landing this triumvirate, however unlikely, could fuel renewed hope for Cubs fans, too.
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Wednesday lineup:
1. Rafael Furcal (S) SS
2. Jon Jay (L) CF
3. Albert Pujols (R) 1B
4. Lance Berkman (S) RF
5. Allen Craig (R) LF
6. Skip Schumaker (L) 2B
7. Yadier Molina (R) C
8. Daniel Descalso (L) 3B
9. Edwin Jackson (R) P
I voted “none.” All three are all too smart and not that desperate.
It would be hard for Tony to join the Cubs. He will feel loyalty to the Cards and to the White Sox, inhibiting this.
On the other hand, if the Cubs wanted to spend their brains out on Albert, then TLR could consider accompanying him. Reinsdorf would probably give Tony permission to play for the Cubs, in the best interest of baseball.
Walt is a GM already. He is unlikely to leave on his own.
Strange things can happen. How many foresaw LeBron and some other free agent going to the Miami Heat. After the WS win in 1964, Johnny Keane jumped ship to the Yankees.
If Walt, Tony, and Albert move to Wrigley, it would be nice if they take Theriot and Corey back with them.
David Kaplan, a sportscaster in Chicago, tweeted this morning that TLR told him the Cubs were the one MLB team he would never manage. Of course, enough incentive ($$$) might change his mind. I refuse to allow myself to hope.
Right. Never say “never.”
I think I would quit watching baseball if AP went to the Cubs..
Crazy idea…………………………………….
The reason that this is all irrelevant……………lead off triple………. and Craig and shoe can’t hit a ground ball…………. can’t swing at a strike………… both swinging as hard as they could…………. MM is an idiot. We have no momentum going into Philly………..we will get our butts kicked……….. the loss of Holiday is actually a plus from where I sit…………… we are situationally irresponsible………… period…
It’s all irrelevant because the Braves play the Mets and they suck.
Not that I particularly care that he stays, but does anyone no what the option dates are on TLR’s contract? When does he have to be offered, when does he have to accept/decline?
Not only have I not seen that in print, I haven’t even heard any rumors about any dates. I don’t imagine it matters. If it is like most other years, TLR will spend most of October deciding. Maybe the Cards will be a bit more nervous because of Pujols, but I can’t see them pushing him into a corner.
The Carpenter contract had some negative repercussions………… the sudden struggles of AP tell another story……….. the “whiff ” incident on Monday speaks of a suddenly arising conflict of interest between AP and Tony ………………. thats not so obvious to most, but the dynamic of it suggests a peculiar variable that I’m not prepared to name just yet……………… where as a salvo by BD should have been expected………….and is hardly something to test alliances……….. something obviously did……..and by AP’s performance in this series……..its clearly emotional with a slight hint of betrayal………
Pittsburgh has a fetish about AP and Tony……..tv crews and producer always have a camera on Tony………… I would say that Tony is still medicating and under quite a bit of stress from his shingles outbreak………. obviously conditions aren’t comfortable for him…………the face is a funny thing,,,,so many muscles that are responsive to emotional states………and of course that works inversely…….
The absents of Dave and a likely difficult future for both…. suggest to me that Tony may seem to be rapping it up………and likely AP seeing this becoming more apparent………is feeling some abandonment issues………….but hey, thats just me…………… I see dead people……….
You just might want to “just say no” once in a while Westy.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Thats a thoughtful post Easy…………….. there was a change this week between the upbeat cheerleader “team player” AP ………. who really led his team offensively and defensively in the last home stand……
and the sulking error prone self interested team deflating egotist that hindered them in Pittsburgh…..
Give this some thought………..Lozano made a huge move when he left BHSC……….. that was about something………..(see past threads)……… Lozano knows that the primary foundation for AP’s market value has to spring from St. Louis……..but the likelihood that he would be able to fulfill his “vision”….as shared with Albert using BD’s wallet was slim and none……………but he did not share that pessimism with Albert…………. AP, as all players do, form opinions………he knows of the dialogs with Mo and BD and how they were forming there offer based on lineup projections…………. That 15 million dollars in the CC option was thought to be going to him……….. he sees now that his fantasy is fading as he is being “herded” toward the door……..unless he gives up the “prestige number”…….and then some…….. He is/was closing in on the RBi + batting average deficit, and leading a magnificent late season charge…………….. and then this new contract……………… Tony asking him to hit behind the runner with a controlled swing….runners at 1st and third, no outs in the first….passing a HR mega bonanza further down the order didn’t sit well………… He got a slider center cut that slid off to the outer black……that was tailor made for the call…….. he took a huge swing missing the ball off the end of the bat 6 inches…….Jay was throw out……..looking out for fly balls the whole way………. he gets the rbi for the Sac fly and nothing off his average for his efforts…….. he clearly was defensive in the dugout against MM and Tony’s inquiry………..he took it out to the field and aside from his OPO HR…did nothing else…….3.5, the Braves start hearing footsteps………. they won 2 in a row now…… their slump ended……………….
the good news………… Philadelphia will be a showboats paradise……….Berkman is bound to wake,,,,,, AP will likely smooth out a little bit……… If we were to get into them…..they will just Play Atlanta soft just to get us out………….
zzzzz
Sports Illustrated poll of Top 15 “meanest players” in MLB. Carp was #7 and Albert was #8.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1109/mlb.poll.meanest.player/content.1.html
Apparently a number of Cardinals players dressed up in drag costume for their trip to Philly. Group pictures I have seen were either too small or too blurry to identify anyone. Here is the only clear one and it is identified as Adron Chambers.
http://yfrog.com/nvsfjaj
Rookie hazing………..
I don’t think it is only rookies. The group picture I saw showed a number too large to be only rookies. One appeared to be David Freese.
If he hasn’t done it ….. he’s a rookie………….
true – Just like crossing the equator or the artic circle.
Jon Jay in the Blue and White outfit…..his Afro gave it away.
The Tall lanky guy is Cotton Dickson, Brandon.
Who is Super Girl?
looks like a short Berkman, doesn’t it?
Could it be Gerald Laird?
might be. Is that Salas and Cruz behind Jay’s left?
I think the one on the end is definitely Salas. The one in the sunglasses on the other end might be Boggs.
Laird and Lance are both 6-1. Facing isn’t round enough to be Laird, that’s why I think it’s Lance.
If you are talking about SuperGirl, hair isn’t long enough to be Lance.
I think Super Girl is Tony Cruz.
I think you may be correct on that it being Cruz. Good catch
that would make the one next to Salas, Jaime. I can sort of make out a goatee.
No, not Jaime, I think it might be Sanchez.
hmmm, Sanchez? okay.
the walking picture ~ who’s the one on the right in the green? CPat, EJackson?
right behind the hair bow guy you pegged as Descalso
Can’t see his face so don’t know.
New picture below shows it is Tyler Greene.
I’m speculating, but maybe it was the 3yo bus players…….I recall months and months ago RCW explaining the two separate buses. Maybe it was a unity thing with them, with maybe a few others joining in. I know Skip likes to participate in these dress up things
almost positive the short guy is Shane Robinson…..same facial hair, he’s too short to be Skip who is short also.
Yes, the short one next to Freese is Shane Robinson.
Super Girl might by Descalso or Punto. In the picture where they are walking, Super Girl doesn’t look like Berkman’s height of 6-1
or Tony Cruz as you said above
I think hair bow guy between Jay and Cruz is Descalso.
Hilarious……thanks for posting this
All are players with three years or less.
Mo is attempting to shelve Holiday……………. Lohse is passed over again……even in a situation that could have no consequences………………. they anticipated this move 4 days ago……….. probably………. even after the 6 scoreless against the Brewers……….. Tony is working closely with Mo in shaping a scenario in which there would appear to be possible money available to lavish on AP……..apparently……… I wonder if thats why Lozano pulled pulled on AP leash, explaining to him the ridiculousness of that proposition……………. thats too far fetched……..couldn’t be.
zzzzzzzzz
Okay, here is a much clearer picture.
http://twitter.com/#!/stlbirdbrian/status/114134265075220480/photo/1
Sorry the link is broken.
http://twitter.com/#!/stlbirdbrian/status/114134265075220480/photo/1
Still didn’t work. Just copy and paste.
much better pic
KMac and Jaime on the end, weren’t in blurry pic. We were right about the rest. Can’t tell who purple hat guy is though.
who in the world is in the Purple?
and Jaime and Boggs (the one you said in the shades) they don’t look happy
Motte looks either asleep or meditating.
I don’t see Craig, so would he be the Purple guy? Or Tyler Greene?
that’s Tyler on the extreme right
Yes next to Descalso. He was the one in the blurry pic next to Sanchez whose face was obscured.
so in the Fuzzy picture that is Tyler next to Salas, Sanchez. Between Jay and Descalso.
Stop typing faster than me, lol
Purple guy has to be Craig. That’s Maikel Cleto next to him.
I just read the thread on your scout forum Brian, entitled……..Carpenters Extension……………..
Baffling is the only word that truly describes it.
1) Cardinals are not signing more pitching……….period…… the Carpenter contact has little to do with pitching……….it has everything to do with preparing the public’s sense of well being for changes that are coming……….the Cardinals could have taken that option at 15 million…..and traded him the next day for a top prospect, enjoying a complete salary bail………. they had endless maneuvering space. Carpenter is headed for a job as a pitching coach in the organization or (broadcaster). The value of his contract probably looks more like 2/27 with the insurance buffers…………
2) The no trade clause is “sold” by the team, to the player……for certain concessions……….they can be an expensive reclamation………. the Boras No Trade is a deadly device ……… it means he has leverage extending well beyond local issues…………no way in hell Bd/Mo are getting near that…. the illusion that Jackson was ever intended as a keeper is laugher………. He needn’t take a two year deal…..Boras will get him 4…..3/33 at the worst……..no trade is unlikely………….. BD cashed in Rasmus to create our largess……….. Tony did his part……… Scrabble is all that is really ours…………
3) AP has entered the ” everyman for himself” mode……..again……….. Holiday is hurt, but for his price per game tag…… he could be playing………. he is under Mo/Dr.P’s control now……. preserving his value/marketability against a probable team collapse……….Lynn disappeared………Sanchez won’t show unless things tighten up next week ………..
4) there was a secret settlement on collusion issues this last winter………. give that some thought..and why that was necessary……….
A secret settlement known only to Westie. Hmmm…………zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Sorry jumbo………….only the settlement value itself was secret…….
http://www.ohio.com/sports/owners-players-reach-settlement-on-collusion-case-1.164979
This is an interesting read for students of the game…….
http://harvardjsel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/JSEL-Ham.pdf
Hey, don’t mess with my patented Westie post rating system.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
If we could have traded Carp at 1/15 we can trade him for more at 2/21. Not that we can trade him in either scenario without his consent.
ROTATION ADJUSTMENT
La Russa made a minor tweak for his rotation in Philadelphia. He moved Chris Carpenter, who started Tuesday, ahead of Kyle Lohse, who worked Monday. Carpenter will face the Phils on Sunday and Lohse next Monday. Jaime Garcia and Jake Westbrook will have the first two games of the series.
The switch was made, said La Russa, so that Carpenter would start the season finale at Houston on Sept. 28.
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_e0877602-623a-597d-bee6-6a28f2486fc2.html#ixzz1Y2eugJEB
This is Rich……………. the move Chris out of a Halady confrontation……announce that Jackson will pitch Monday……… and now Tony changes back and feeds Lohse to Haladay………… maybe Tony is just screwing with their heads………..
and then this…………”The switch was made, said La Russa, so that Carpenter would start the season finale at Houston on Sept. 28.”…………….right……….thats bound to be a big game………
Even the moderator is mute????????
I can think of a 100 oddities about this…………… the best being……Lohse gets the 1 game playoff with Atlanta? Lohse has less wins……….less inning……..to encourage a good trade?
All 100/1 anyway………………..what isn’t is this……….. Tony looks to be planning a last game celebration ………going out a winner………maybe………………?????? ……..now thats more practical…….
zz
Maybe Lohse is getting Colby’ed.
Looks like a chance for Lohse to grab some glory to me…………
real bottom line……… Phillies like Lohse…….they aren’t going to pick up a 16 million dollar option with Ozwalt…………maybe we are advertising……….. he likely excepts that trade…….
Coudl have sworn that I just read how those Boras clients have to bought out of those no trade clauses.
zzzz
Lohse is an exception. By the way, try another letter, you’re getting boring again.
And here I thought you were lawyer. A true lawyer would do better parsing their words and say that my posts are getting boring (not me) as to avoid any semblance of a personal attack.
Again? Did I ever stop?
I don’t need to “parse” my words, as all I know of you is what you post.
Did you ever stop what? Being boring? You have never been boring when you have something of substance to say. Which has been regrettably seldom of late.
Well I was kind of playing off the “screwing with their heads” idea.
zzzzzz
No mire quirky post from WC until you moderate your group Brian.
_ zz
I have to admit that I am stumped how someone who seems to take pride in the quirkiness of his posts would not revel in people rating their quirkiness.
Is that a promise Westy?
Blog pimping time.
http://redbirdrants.com/2011/09/15/is-it-sandlot-time/
I seldom read Gordon has I don’t consider him very knowledgeable or much of a writer but I did today and he had a great line
“Arthur Rhodes has volunteered to return. He is certainly old enough to get every consideration for that job.”
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jeff-gordon/article_4b5d41da-dfab-11e0-951b-0019bb30f31a.html#ixzz1Y4FVtiEg