Tea Leaves
For the first time in a long time, I'm glad that I haven't seen a Cubs game in a while. I spent the weekend back at the old homestead, cleaning things up (literally and figuratively), and the only contact I had with the Cubs was reading TCR, yesterday's New York Times, and a little bit of ESPNews this morning. It looks like I didn't miss much.
Or, rather, it looks like I missed a lot -- defensive lapses, poor judgment, anemic bats, a cranky back, etc etc etc blah blah blah. The net result is that the Cubs are now losers of five straight, three games under .500 in fourth place, a game and a half behind the frickin' Brewers, and six back in the wildcard, behind six teams. Is this the low point of the season? Probably.
At a time like this, decisive action (or at least action that looks decisive) must be taken. That's why I'm predicting that Dusty Baker will be fired this week. All the signs are there, and in fact what's been hapening over the last few weeks closely resembles what happened during the endgame in San Francisco. You have the rumors of his interest in another job, the denial by Dusty of said rumors (with typical Bakerian anti-media comments thrown in), the dreaded vote of confidence from the GM, allegations of racism, and attention from the media outside Chicago. The only things missing are a feud between Dusty and ownership and team-leaked rumors of unsavory financial doings, and I wouldn't put it past TribCo to be looking for them. Oh, and I almost forgot about the bizarre spectacle of Dusty asking the team to extend his coaches' contracts. Is this really the right time for that, do you think, Dusty?
Plus, you know, you've got the team playing badly, and not only badly but lacklusterly, which isn't a word, I know, but it fits. From the outside, this looks like a team that's quit on its leader. That's why I think it's going to happen, because something has to.
I'm not saying it's the right thing to do (though it might be), mind you -- I'm just saying that all signs point to yes. All an antsy GM needs to do is look back at Florida in 2003 and Houston in 2004, and he might think that a managerial change might be just the thing a team needs to light a fire and get it back into contention. Again, I'm not saying that's going to happen; I'm simply saying one could see how one might think that could happen if one were to change managers.
If it were to happen, who would replace him? I chatted briefly with Will Carroll about this very subject this afternoon, and here's what he and I had to say:
christianruzich: I'm predicting Dusty gets fired this week
Will Carroll: No chance
christianruzich: No, huh?
Will Carroll: As much as I'd like it, it's just not in Hendry's character to do it. He was a coach
Will Carroll: I don't think Dusty will be back, but doing it now doesn't make much sense
christianruzich: I think it does, it at least gives the perception of trying to get things done
Will Carroll: The move now would be Little and I think they want a shot at Girardi
vchristianruzich: Grady Little, eew
Will Carroll: Exactly
christianruzich: Girardi wouldn't be a bad choice
christianruzich: What about Speier?
Will Carroll: Possible
Will Carroll: He'd probably get an interview. Who's the token interview choice?
christianruzich: Do you need a token if the guy you're firing is black?
Will Carroll: I think so. Sad that we refer to it that way
christianruzich: Yeah. How about Terry Pendleton, then
Will Carroll: Hmm. OK
Will Carroll: Maybe Pat Listach
Will Carroll: I just hope Rothschild is gone
christianruzich: Where is Listach right now?
Will Carroll: Iowa, isn't he?
christianruzich: Really? I had no idea
christianruzich: I'll be damned, he's the hitting coach there
Will Carroll: He was interim mgr last year
christianruzich: One thing i worry about: Lou Piniella
Will Carroll: Not a Hendry guy
Will Carroll: Esp if they're going young
christianruzich: True
christianruzich: Where the hell is Davey Johnson? Still in Holland?
Will Carroll: Heart probs according to Ray Knight on BPR
christianruzich: Did he say it means Johnson won't manage again?
Will Carroll: No, just that he wasnt available right now
christianruzich: I think Speier is the guy
Will Carroll: Speier's got the quals...maybe Brenly
christianruzich: God I hope not
Will Carroll: I still think Girardi's the right guy
Will Carroll: Maybe Sandberg?
christianruzich: No experience
christianruzich: That's the type of thing a team like the Reds or Orioles does, not the Cubs
Will Carroll: Think Alan Trammell. If you're going to rebuild, you can distract and instill the "right way"
christianruzich: Cubs don't need to rebuild, they have the talent, they're just not getting the most out of it
christianruzich: Plus he doesn't strike me as a good communicator. Too quiet. And coming on the heels of his "today's players are whiny brats" HOF speech, I don't know if this is the right time to make him a mgr
Will Carroll: I agree, but its the kind of thing Hendry would like. He's old school
christianruzich: True. Which is why Girardi would be perfect, plus you have the Cubs connection
Will Carroll: Right
Will Carroll: And a bit more experience
christianruzich: Hendry wouldn't be so "old school" as to bring in Larry F'ing Bowa, would he?
Will Carroll: Yeah, but again, wouldnt be the right fit if he's going young
Will Carroll: Bobby Dickerson!
Will Carroll: With the season West Tenn is having, maybe he'd get it
christianruzich: Maybe, but the last time the Cubs promoted from within it didn't work out so well
Will Carroll: Exactly
christianruzich: How much juice does Brenly have w/the Cubs front office? It might be tough to hire Speier over him if he (Brenly) wants the job
Will Carroll: I just don't see it. He's too close to Dusty and this next phase is about player development. Oneri's the golden boy right now
christianruzich: That's good at least, i don't think Brenly is who the Cubs need right now
christianruzich: Another token possibility: Von Joshua, currently hitting coach at West Tenn
Will Carroll: Tough to go that deep
christianruzich: I guess i'd rank the guys I'd want to see Johnson, Girardi & then Speier. Even if he's not available, I still put Johnson at the top of my wish list
Will Carroll: I'd go Girardi, Speier, Sandberg
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