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Goodbye, Dale or Here We GO Again!

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 22:21:48 +0100

Dale Sveum was fired today as manager of the Cubs.after 2 of the worst seasons in Cubs history, even though he was expected to lose, being saddled with a team of journeyman players. The reason for his firing appears to be the regression of Starlin Castro and a disappointing year from Anthony Rizzo(I refuse to characterize him as regressing, how do you regress after one full season in the major leagues?) I admit Sveum was not an especially good manager, but he wasnt supposed to be and the offense did struggle a lot in the 2nd half. But the starting pitching took a huge step forward under Sveum and pitching coach Chris Bosio, with Travis Wood, Chris Rusin, Scott Baker and Jake Arrieta all showing great potential this season. Even the bullpen, which struggled with Carlos Marmol early on, showed signs of getting its act together. But, alas, that doesnt matter, Sveum is out and now the search is on for the Cubs next manager.
Almost immediately the name of Joe Girardi has come up as a candidate. Girardi went to school in Evanston and had 2 different stints as a player with the Cubs. With the Yankees he has won a championship and has established himself as one of the best managers in baseball. Which brings me to why it would be a mistake for the Cubs to hire him as the next manager. First of all, I was under the impression that Theo had a plan and that plan was to let a manager be the sacrificial to lose games while him and Jed built up the farm system, then when the team was good enough, then they would hire a Girardi to manage. I see a lot of Cub fans getting on the Girardi bandwagon, but it feels like Sandberg all over again.
Im going to be honest and I know a lot of Cub fan wont like this, but they are thinking too much with their hearts, rather than their heads. I suppose I cant completely blame them, thats what makes us Cubs fans, but I have a failing in that I live in the real world and in the real world a manager isnt going to magically come in, sprinkle fairy dust on the players and automatically make them contenders. The Cubs are probaly not going to be contenders next year, no matter who the manager is. There is a thin free agent market and it would serve no purpose for them to sign any of the few impact free agents that are out there. They could possibly trade a couple of their young prospects, but unless its for 2 or 3 big sluggers, that wouldnt make sense either. So why bring in Girardi just to have him suffer with a lousy team?
I do love the Cubs and want to see them wn, but I want to see them win every year. That wont happen with a big name manager or a bunch of big name free agents. Theyve already tried both and neither was a permanent solution. So please, Theo, do not give in to the same sentiment that too many Cubs fans are suffering from. And Joe, stay in New York, at least for now!

Day of Reckoning

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 04:46:23 +0100

You knew this day was coming. The media made sure everybody would know. And on Tuesday it will be the day of reckoning for the Hall of Fame Class of 2013, at least the ones with links to steroid use, including Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Mike Piazza. For me I have gone over this issue in my mind time and time again. While I think cheaters dont belong in the Hall, there is a part of me that thinks the problem was so deep and involved so many hitters and probaly more pitchers than has been made public there needs to be some acknowledgement by the Hall. Bonds and Clemens were probaly already HOFers long before either of them ever touched PEDs. Look, there are a lot of players in the Hall who werent angels and who knows if some of them were using something that could be considered performance enhancing(greenies?cocaine?) And what about Gaylord Perry? I have always been troubled by the writers stance of keeping out the PED users for being cheaters, while allowing an admitted spitballer, which I believe had been outlawed for 40 years by the time Perry started roughing up baseballs in the early 60s. If you want to keep out PED users, fine, but dont give me this self righteous nonsense about keeping out cheaters because it smells of hypocrisy. I dont have a problem with keeping Bonds and Clemens out, but Im sick of the writers getting on their high horses about what terrible people these players are for using steroids. Actually this is one of the main reason I think the Hall of Fame voting process is in need of a serious overhaul

Now on to the ballot itself. These are the players I would vote for if I had a ballot, which in a perfect world, I would.

1. Jeff Bagwell.........this guy is a HOFer. He was simply among the best hitters of his generation, combining power with a high batting average consistently and shame on the BBWA for keeping him out simply because he was a teammate of the tragic figure of the steroid era, Ken Caminiti, sorry guys, "guilt by association" is NOT a good enough reason to keep Bags out!

2. Craig Biggio.......Biggio was among the best 2nd Baseman of the 90s, as well as the way he handled a change in positions twice. And having 3000 hits doesnt hurt, there is no Hall eligible player with 3000 hits who is not in the HOF.

3. Lee Smith........when Lee Smith retired he was the all time saves leader. I believe he had something like 6 consecutive 30 save seasons, at a time when 30 saves in a season still meant something. He should be in the Hall of Fame.

4.Tim Raines........there was a time when I didnt think Raines belonged, but the more I think about it, the more I feel he should be in.

5. Edgar Martinez.........another case where the writers get on their high horses. Ive never been the biggest fan of the DH and I do think there are a lot of DHs who were one dimensional hitters, but I think a great hitter is a great hitter and its not like he couldnt have played in the field, in fact he did start his career as a 3rd Baseman, I think he had health issues that forced him to DH, but I think he is a Hall of Famer as a hitter, he deserves to be in.

6. Mike Piazza........this is one thats hard to decide, but I think what it comes down to, was Piazza ever conclusively linnked to steroids in any way? I mean by being in the Mitchell Report, a positive test, a guilty verdict in court or simply being caught with evidence. The answer is, all they have on Piazza is....zits.......plain and simple.........if thats all they have then I have to say that I would vote for him. He was probaly the best offensive catcher of his generation and one of the top hitters in general for several years. He belongs in the Hall.

Those are the players on this years ballot I wouldve voted for. I couldve gone with the 10 the writers are entitled to vote for, but Ive decided that I want to maintain a certain standard. There are certain players that say HOF to me and others I feel borderline on.

Here is why I didnt vote for some of the other players on this years ballot

Jack Morris........Im sorry, postseason greatness alone doesnt make you a HOFer......besides his ERA is awfully high for a pitcher who was supposed among the most dominant of the 80s. And his W-L record doesnt impress me that much, look at some of the great hitters he played with, so no hes not a HOFer.

Alan Trammell..........look, I always liked the guy and still do, but aside from 2 maybe 3 great seasons, he was a good, not great player. Yes, I know he played in the same era as Ripken and Yount, but most of the time he was 3rd behind both of them. Not quite HOF material to me.

Fred McGriff..........Ive been very borderline on this guy for a while now. One problem, he was a 1st Baseman in an era of great 1st Basemen, Two, he was never really one of those super dominant hitters, he did stockpile a lot of 30 Homer, 100 RBI seasons, but again that was in an era where that wasnt uncommon. Still if Jim Rice and Andre Dawson can get in, maybe he will. I just cant vote for him right now.

Larry Walker........I have a problem with Walker and it has to do with the fact that he had his best offensive years in a notorious hitters ballpark. I know he won a couple of batting titles, but there are a lot of guys with 2 batting titles not in the HOF. He just doesnt feel like a HOFer to me.

Mark McGwire........Ive always liked Big Mac and even after his admission of using steroids I still do, but I cant really vote for him at this point. Maybe a few years from now, who knows.

Don Mattingly.........Mattingly had some great years in the late 80s then hurt his back. I think hes at least 3 or 4 big seasons short. Id love to vote for him but i cant

Dale Murphy.........Murphy had some great seasons in the early to mid 80s then went into a serious decline and never recovered. He needed at least 3 more big years, so no

Rafael Palmiero..........whenever I think of him I see him wagging his finger in front of Congress. I lost a lot of respect for him that day, even more when he tested positive for PEDs.'nuff said..........

Bernie Williams........Bernie was a good player for the Yankees who had a decent career, but so did Tommy Heinrich, Charlie Keller, Gene Woodling, Gil McDougald, Elston Howard, Willie Randolph.......I think you can see where Im going here........sorry, not HOF material.

Curt Schilling..........see Jack Morris, though I might add that the fact hes a long winded, know-it-all big mouth doesnt help him at all!

Kenny Lofton.........I always liked Kenny, going back to his college basketball days with Arizona, the fact that he was a winner pretty much everywhere he went is a plus and he was a terrific hitter in his prime, but I think his prime ended too soon. If he had put in 2 or 3 more great years maybe we could talk, but hes on the outside looking in

Sammy Sosa........I love Sammy, but I have trouble seeing him as a HOFer, even if the 600 homers were earned without help. His prime was just too short. I think he needed at least 2, maybe 3 more 50 homer, 100 RBI, .290 seasons.

David Wells..........he pitched a perfect game, won 20 games once........his career ERA was over 4, plus, like Schilling hes a big mouthed know it all Sorry, no vote for you.....

Steve Finley.........had a very solid career, a couple of great years, never really HOF material

Julio Franco.........Julio had a lot of longevity, had a few great years, but not enough to even consider him HOF material

There are really no other players on the ballot that had enough great seasons in their careers to even merit consideration.......sorry guys

This is my ballot, its my opinion. Take from it what you will.

Who IS this guy?

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:05:56 +0100

"Who is this busher?" "Why was he hired to manage the Cubs, he has no major league experience?" "The President of the Cubs shouldve hired a star instead of this guy!"
That sounds like the reaction of many Cubs fans when the Cubs hired Dale Sveum to manage the team for 2012, but it is meant to describe what many people must hav felt in 1925 when the Cubs hired Joe McCarthy. Like Sveum, McCarthy had no experience as a major league manager. Indeed, McCarthy had never even PLAYED in the major leagues. Even the owner of the Cubs, William Wrigley had trepidations about hiring McCarthy.
To put this into the proper perspective, you have to understand that the Cubs were coming off a terrible year in 1925, suffering through 3 managers. They had fired incumbent Bill Killefer in mid season because Killefer had had 4 and a half years and couldnt get them higher than 4th place and replaced him with Rabbitt Maranville. Now ol' Rabbitt was a popular guy and future Hall of Famer(where have I heard that before?) but he liked to have fun and enjoy the nightlife, which left him ill-suited for managing in the major leagues. His players had trouble playing for him and, predictably enough, the team was lousy. Then they brought in George Gibson, who didnt really want to be manager, but he finished the season anyway, and when Gibson wasnt inclined to return to the job, Cub President William Veeck, Sr. had to find a new manager. So he took a different tack, looking to the minor leagues and found Joe McCarthy. McCarthy had an outstanding record in the minors, but no major league experience of any kind. Now, in the 20s, I think it was common practice to bring in a manager who had been a player, in most cases a journeyman who may have studied under another manager or occasionally a star would get a chance. But hiring a man with no major league playing experience was unheard of and many people scoffed at Veecks decision. But it turned out to be a good move. The Cubs in 1926 included many up and coming young players who needed the proper guidance, including Gabby Hartnett, Riggs Stephenson, Charlie Root, Tony Kaufmann, Sheriff Blake and Guy Bush and Charlie Grimm, who had been acquired in a trade and Hack Wilson who was quietly stolen from John McGraw(although to be fair, McGraw was not fond of Hacks drinking anyway). They finished 4th in 1926 and 1927 and 3rd in 1928. Then after Wrigleys acquisition of Rogers Hornsby they won the pennant in 1929. Unfortunately they could not overcome a strong Philadelphia Athletics team and lost the Series. Of course, Wrigley(whom I never thought was that fond of McCarthys hiring to begin with) never forgave Joe for not winning a championship and after 1930, Wrigley fired him and replaced him with Rogers Hornsby. And we all know how well THAT worked out! McCarthy would go on to the Yankees and 8 more pennants and 7 World Series titles. Not bad for a guy nobody had ever heard of!
So before you write off Dale Sveum, remember the lesson of Joe McCarthy.

My Dad, the Cubs and Me

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:06:42 +0100

October 27, 2004 is a date that is ingrained in my memory, not just because it was the day the Boston Red Sox broke the supposed "curse" by winning the World Series. It was the day my father passed away. Those 2 events are not totally unrelated, though. I became a Cubs fan because of my father. It was the one thing we had in common. We were very different in most ways. He was a bus mechanic and loved working with his hands, while I have always been somewhat mechanically challenged. He preferred hangng out with his bar buddies, while I liked being at home. But baseball provided a common ground for the 2 of us. He always loved the Cubs, perhaps because he was born in 1937 and by the time he was 6, they had won 2 pennants in his lifetime and I think he expected to see more. His favorite player was Andy Pafko, so I imagine he must have been heartbroken when Wid Matthews traded him in one of the worst trades in Cubs history. I was born in 1959 and I have early memories of baseball games on TV, though I was still too young to understand the game. I have distinct memories of the 1968 World Series. Looking back I have to think my dad was rooting for the Tigers against the Cardinals. Then I turned 10 and everything changed. The Cubs were in 1st Place and I soon became a fan and it was an opportunity to spend more time with my dad. The first game my dad took me to was in July 1969, the Cubs and the Giants and I remember being disappointed that Willie Mays wasnt playing. Being a bus mechanic for a high school in Palatine, Illinois, my dad also worked part time as a bus driver and it was through this that he was able to take me, my brother and sister to other games, not just Cub games, but also White Sox games. We got to see some great games and watch some of the great stars of the era. But one of the joys was being able to share my passion with my dad and I learned about some of his feelings about the team. Like about Ron Santo. My dad wasnt exactly the biggest fan of the Cubs captain, calling him by the name, "Pizza Gut", which was a derisive reference to the fact tha Santo used to own a company that once provided Wrigley Field with pizza that had his name on it. He used to complain that all Santo ever did was strike out or hit into double plays. Perhaps he was put off by some of Santos actions, like the incident where he gave Don Young a tongue lashing following the dramatic error he made in 1969. My dad wasnt perfect, but I think he wanted to see the Cubs win as badly as anybody. As I got older we continued to go to games together, like in 1977, watching Bruce Sutter strike out 9 in row including 3 on 9 pitches. My parents divorced in 1978 and we went to one more game in 1979 before he moved to Arkansas first, then Arizona.

Then in 1986 I decided I wanted to spend more time with him, so I moved to Arizona too. We would get together occasionally, going to one Cubs game and also going to a Senior League game. The Senior League was one of those ideas that sounded good, but the lack of star power eventually killed. It was fun, though, because ex-Cub Fergie Jenkins was there. I eventually moved back to Illinois because I could not get along with my dads second wife. The next time I saw my dad was in 1998 when he came to town for my sisters graduation. We attended one last Cubs game, me, my brother and my nephew, his grandson. We watched as Sammy Sosa hit 3 homers and Kerry Wood pitched an excellent game. It was a wonderful time. He returned to Arizona as my life went through some changes. My mom passed away just 9 months after she saw my dad for the last time. I began a new relationship that was going through some problems when I got an email from my sister that said she found out that my dad had liver cancer and was going to die soon. So me, my brother, sister and nephew were on a plane to Peoria, Arizona. By the time we got to my dads house, it was stunning how fast the cancer had taken its toll. Almost as soon he was able to acknowledge our presence, he soon fell into a coma. That night as we kept a vigil at his bedside, we had the World Series on with the Red Sox playing the Cardinals. My dad hung on long enough for the Sox to win the game and the Series. About an hour after the game was over, he passed away.

Given that he was a hardcore Cubs fan, I honestly believed that he wanted to see the hated Cardinals lose before letting go. Only a true Cubs fan would do that. In the years since my dad passed away Ive come to appreciate what we had together, in spite of our differences we did have the Cubs in common and sometimes I wonder what he would think about the changes going on now with the Cubs and I wonder if his feelings about Santo might have mellowed and Id like to think that maybe he had a chance to meet Ronnie up in heaven and perhaps Santo might have convinced him that he wasnt so bad after all and maybe they are hanging out along with Harry Caray and having a few beers together.......Thanks for everything, Dad!

Sept. 2, 1972: Me, Milt Pappas and the last Almost Perfect Day

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:48:35 +0100

left, Fanzone, sans trumpet, right, Milt Pappas
Me, circa 1972
On September 2, 1972, Milt Pappas no-hit the San Diego Padres 8-0 and came within a strike of a perfect game. I was lucky enough to be at that game with my family. I was 13 years old and had been a Cubs fan for 3 years. My dad was a huge fan and that got me interested. That was one thing I had in common with my dad. He worked as a bus mechanic at Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois and he also drove a bus for weekend field trips. It enabled him to bring my mom, me, my brother and sister. Because of his job, we got to go to the Illinois State Fair in Springfield and visit Abraham Lincolns home in Salem, we got to sit in the audience of a local quiz show called Its Academic, but mostly we got to see our share of Cubs and Sox games. We got to witness Ernie Banks hit home run 511 of his great career of off Tug McGraw of the hated New York Mets. And now we were going to see Milt Pappas pitch. Milt Pappas originally came up with Baltimore as a member of a group of talented young pitchers who never quite fulfilled their promise, including Pappas, though he did have some productive seasons, even making a couple of All Star teams. But by 1966 his stock had fallen and when he was traded for Frank Robinson, it was seen as a slap in the face to be traded for such a mediocre pitcher. Atter 4 disappointing seasons with Cincy and Atlanta, he was sold to the Cubs who needed another starter following John Hollands terrible trade of Dick Selma. And Pappas proceeded to rise to another level in his first 2 seasons, reaching a career high in win in 1971 of 17. In 1972, he was on his way to equaling that number. And with his swarthy good looks and distinctive mutton chop sideburns he attracted my mom, who usually only tagged along. My mom was more into hockey at the time, but this was one game she was willing to see. My brother wasnt as much into baseball, but he seemed to enjoy going to the games. At the time we were pretty close. And my sister was always on the lookout for autographs. I just wanted the game to start. And it was a good game. The Cubs scored early and often that day. It wasnt unusual for the Cubs to score a lot, with Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Randy Hundley, Jim Hickman and Joe Pepitone in their primes. Unfortunately, my favorite player, 2nd Baseman Glenn Beckert was not playing that day because of an injury. Instead, Carmen Fanzone, normally a 3rd Baseman was playing 2nd. Fanzone was something of a character, occasionally playing the trumpet for the National Anthem. After his retirement he would become a musician, playing with several bands, including Judy Roberts. as the game progressed, it seemed like just another Cubs blowout, but by the 7th inning I noticed that not only had Pappas not allowed any hits, he hadnt allowed any baserunners at all. By the 9th inning, Wrigley was rocking and after Pappas made quick work of the first 2 men, Larry Stahl stood as the only one keeping him from history. Stahl, a journeyman who started his career with the hated Mets wasnt giving in and the count reached 3 balls. Bruce Froemming, the ump, then made what still seems like a questionable call as Stahl took ball four. Pappas nearly lost it there. But he had to finish the game and he did on a groundball to Fanzone. A no-hitter! What an incredible moment. It all seemed unreal at the time. To have been part of such a rare achievement. We stood around for quite a while after the game, but when the crowds thinned out we made our way back to the bus. Im not sure how the rest of my family felt, but I was just ecstatic. Little did I realize the significance of what had just transpired.
Only in the years since have I come to appreciate what that no-hitter really meant. A few days after the game I would start 8th grade and it would be the first time I noticed how much all my school mates were growing up. I would have my first real romance with a girl within a month, the fact that it was short lived is irrelevant, it was still my FIRST. Within 2 years I had discovered my dads Playboys and really began to feel adult stirrings. My parents marriage would begin to unravel shortly after, though it would be a couple of years before I noticed it. My brother was about 2 years from discovering drugs which forever change our relationship. And, the Cubs, well, 1972 would not end with a pennant and 1973 would begin promising, but end in an ugly way and soon, Wrigley would back up the truck and tear up the '69 era players. As for Pappas, he would struggle in 1973 and find himself out of baseball by 1974. The controversy would not end there. In 1980, his wife disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Her body would be found in 1986 in a pond near their house. And he still wont let go of the perfect game. Today, he still blames Froemming for costing him a place in history. Personally, I think he needs to let it go. I would be proud to have a no-hitter. That remained the last no-hitter by a Cubs pitcher until Carlos Zambrano pitched one in 2008.
As for me, I will always remember Sept. 1972 for being the last great highlight of my childhood, the last idyllic summer of my life. I will always be grateful to Milt Pappas for the last Almost Perfect Day........

Jimmy Qualls, 1969 and the not-so-perfect game

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:34:54 +0100

On July 9, 1969 Tom Seaver was pitching a perfect game against the Cubs with 2 outs to go in the 9th inning when Jimmy Qualls stepped to the plate. What happened next isnt really important in the whole scheme of things, but it was a key moment in that exciting 1969 season. To get a better appreciation of that moment it helps to understand what had gone on up to that point in the season. The Cubs had gotten off to that great start and seemed to be primed to reach the post season for the first time in 24 years. Meanwhile, the Mets own path to that moment is just as significant. From the day they were conceived in 1962 up to 1968, the Mets were the joke of baseball, if somewhat colorful, but still a joke. As 1969 took shape they were still searching for their first .500 season. Also significant is the fact that the leagues had split in 2 divisions, which seemed to open the door for the Cubs, but was also a chance for the Mets to move up. Expansion also helped, because now there would be a team worse than the Mets. So the Mets were playing better and by July had reached 2nd place, just ahead of the defending champ Cardinals and the Pirates. The Cubs had struggled a little bit coming to New York, but still held a 5 and half game advantage. With Jenkins going, it seemed things looked good, especially going into the 9th leading 3-1.Boswell hit a ball that was misplayed by Don Young. Then doubles by Clendenon and Jones led to 2 runs and a single by Kranepool scored the winning run.
The actual events arent remembered as well as the aftermath. After the game, Cubs captain Ron Santo berated Young in front of the whole team and Santo became a pariah, if only briefly. Meanwhile, Durocher took Young out of the lineup and replaced him with Qualls, who was usually an infielder. But Qualls had better speed than any of his other options.
So on the evening of July 9, the Cubs faced Tom Seaver, who was already the Golden Boy of New York baseball. Seaver had originally been signed by Atlanta in 1966, but because of irregularities that signing was voided and a special lottery was held to determine who would get Tom Terrific. The Mets won the lottery and did not waste time bringing Seaver up in 1967 where he won 16 games and was Rookie of the Year. By 1969 he was ready to take his place as the leagues best pitcher. And on that night in 1969 he looked every bit like it. But Qualls would not let Seaver throw a perfect like Sandy Koufax had only 4 years earlier. Indeed, a number of '69 Cubs had appeared in that game and remembered it well. So Qualls would have the defining moment of his career and forever bound himself to the best right handed pitcher of his generation and although the Mets won the war, the Cubs had a small, yet significant victory. The Cubs would win the next night, avoiding a sweep at the hands of the young upstarts from New York and although they would lose 2 of 3 to the Mets in Wrigley Field the next week(a series marred by Seaver and his teammates complaining about Santos heel-kicking), the Cubs would recover and eventually opened up an 8 and a half game lead before hitting a more prolonged slump that would open the door for the streaking Mets to win the division and eventually shock the baseball world by beating Baltimore to become World Champs.
As for Qualls, he finished the season pretty much as the Cubs regular Center Fielder, but when the Cubs acquired Johnny Callison to play Right Field, Jim Hickman was moved there. Qualls would be traded to Montreal in 1970, after a trade to the Reds would not return to the majors until 1972 with the White Sox. However that was short lived and following a brief stint in Japan would be out of baseball by 1973. Meanwhile, this would not be the end of Seavers attempts to no hit the Cubs. He would carry another no-hitter into the 9th inning against the Cubs in 1975, but that attempt would be ended by Tarzan Joe Wallis. Seaver eventually did get his no-hitter, but not until the Mets traded him to the Reds.
But for one night, Qualls would be another member of the Hall of Obscurity. He has Tom Seaver to thank for that

Jim Hendry......

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 22:15:20 +0100

Yesterday was the 9th anniversary of the day that Jim Hendry was named General Manager of the Cubs and I think this is a good time to do some evaluation of the job he is doing. First I would like to say that I have been a staunch defender of the guy. He has had some success, indeed he is only the 2rd GM in the history of the franchise to oversee multiple post season appearances and is the only one to oversee 3 post season appearances. In terms of a success rate, Hendry is probaly the best ever. William Veeck won 2 pennants in 14 years(though the team he built stayed would win 3 more pennants), Boots Weber would win 2 pennants in 7 years, Jimmy Gallagher one in 9, Dallas Green won a divisional title in 6 years, Frey once in 5 years, MacPhail a wild card in 8 years. Hendry has made some excellent moves to bring the Cubs those 3 postseasons, the best probaly being the trade that brought the Cubs Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton. Other good moves include acquiring Derrek Lee, Moises Alou, Ted Lilly, Mark DeRosa, Jason Marquis and Ryan Dempster. And the farm system, which has taken a lot of heat, has been a lot stronger since Hendry first took it over under MacPhail than it was under Jim Frey and Larry Himes. True, Corey Patterson and Felix Pie did not become the superstars they were supposed to, but I think that is more due to the personalities of the players than the organization itself. Perhaps they overestimated both players intangibles, which is not the worst thing in the world. I do think there was a period between 2003 and late in the decade that the quality fell off, perhaps because of the selling of the team, but I think things are improving now.
Still, this business is about "what have you done for me lately" and in recent years Hendry has made a number of questionable moves, none more so than the signing of Alfonso Soriano for 8 years. While I never had a problem with the money, it was the length I never understood. Now they are stuck with him for 3 more years which makes it hard to move him.
I do believe that Hendry has reached a crucial crossroads in his tenure. Its time to face some realities. One reality is this team is NOT going to win the division, NOT going to be a serious contender, NOT going to be the competitive team I thought they would be. I dont blame Hendry or Quade for that. The injuries have done that. But what I want to see happen is for Jim Hendry to come out and publicly acknowledge that this team is done for the year and that planning for 2012 must begin. I dont want to hear Hendry continue to be in denial and I dont want to hear him say that signing a Prince Fielder or an Albert Pujols will be the answer. For once, I want to hear him say that the Cubs must rebuild with the kids. Thats really all I want from him. Or from someone in power with this team. I wish Tom Ricketts would say something, but that probaly wont happen until the end of season.
This season is pretty much over, I accept that. I just want to hear someone on the Cubs say it..........

Book: The Original Curse by Sean Devaney

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:35:23 +0100

Did the 1918 Cubs throw the World Series? And is there a curse connected to it?

In 1918, the Cubs played the Boston Red Sox in the World Series to cap off a tumultuous war-torn season that left baseballs future in real doubt. It was a series the Cubs lost in ragged fashion. Even though the Red Sox won, it would be 86 more years before they won again and the Cubs are still looking for another championship.
In Sean Devaneys new book, he suggests that the Cubs may have thrown the Series and that may have precipitated a curse on both sides. And, he also suggests that the 1919 Black Sox may have gotten the idea from the Cubs.
Now, as I have stated elsewhere on this website, the whole idea of curses is so medieval its hardly worth mentioning and thats the main problem I have with Devaneys book. The last thing Cubs fans need is more impetus to blame something other than simple mismanagement. And why should Boston be cursed, just because they were beneficiaries of the fix?
Thats actually a minor quibble, though, because I thought this was a well done look at 1918 baseball. Devaney does an excellent job of setting the scene for what was a difficult period in baseball history. The war was having a negative effect on all aspects of American life, with baseball especially being impacted. I also like how Devaney goes into the gambling scandals. The irony is, if it werent for the investigation of the 1918 Cubs, the Black Sox scandal may have just faded, yet as the Black Sox were banned from baseball, the 1918 Series investigation was dropped and soon forgotten. As Devaney reveals, it was Eddie Cicotte, one of the 8 men in the Black Sox scandal, who says in his deposition that they got the idea from the Cubs.

Its a fascinating book that should be of interest to anyone who has read Eight Men Out or is interested in the game fixing issue or anyone interested in war time baseball. Or anyone interested in so called "curses".

The Brock for Broglio trade: why John Holland does not deserve to be the most maligned GM this ...

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:35:51 +0100

On June 15, 1964, the Chicago Cubs traded Lou Brock, Jack Spring and Paul Toth to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ernie Broglio, Don Landrum and Bobby Shantz. Brock would end up leading the Cards to the World Series and eventually ended up in the Hall of Fame while Broglio came up with a dead arm and would be out of baseball by 1966. In the years since then the trade has taken on mythical status as the worst trade of all time. Many revisionists use this trade to illustrate the failure of the 1969 team to win and to make John Holland the whipping boy for the failures of the franchise during the period in general.
However, I feel the need to take another look at this trade. For one, I have doubts as to how really great a player Brock was. For another, we need to look at why the Cubs traded Brock to begin with. And finally, I have doubts as to whether Brock would or could have been the savior of that 1969 team and whether he would have even made it to 1969 as a Cub.
In order to put the trade into its true context, we need to look back at what kind of team the Cubs had on June 15, 1964. 1963 had been a year that the team had taken a huge jump. If you remember, thanks to Phil Wrigleys College of Coaches, the team had stumbled for 2 years. Wrigley realized that the experiment was a failure and made Bob Kennedy "Head" Coach, even though he was essentially the manager. Under Kennedy, the team won 82 games, finishing at or over .500 for the first time since 1952. The 1963 team was made up of mostly young players, like Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Kenny Hubbs, Dick Ellsworth, Cal Koonce and Lou Brock. Ellsworth won 22 games and seemed like an ace for many years. It looked like the team was ready to take the next step. However, everything changed on February 15, 1964, when young 2nd Baseman Kenny Hubbs was tragically killed in a plane crash. Although Hubbs had only hit .235, he was an outstanding defensive player that could still have become a Ryne Sandberg type hitter. Hubbs' death cast a huge pall over the coming season, not to mention put a gaping hole in the Cub infield. Then as the season began, Ellsworth struggled. Veteran Larry Jackson would step to win 24 games and underrated Bob Buhl would win 15, but it was clear they needed another starter. For a brief period, rookie Sterling Slaughter looked like he might be the answer, shutting out Milwaukee in late May, following that with a second win the next time out. But Slaughter didnt keep it up and was out of the rotation by July. Meanwhile, Brock was struggling to hit above .250.
So, the Cubs approached the Cardinals about a possible deal. The Cards were floundering much like the Cubs, in spite of a solid starting staff led by Bob Gibson, ex-Whiz Kid Curt Simmons and young Ray Sadecki. At this point, Ernie Broglio was pretty much a forth starter. From what I understand, the Cubs wanted Sadecki. It seemed at the time like a good move. Sadecki looked like a real world beater. Though Sadecki would never quite fulfill his potential, in 1964 he had his career ahead of him. Quite naturally, the Cards were reluctant to part with him. With several other youngsters like Steve Carlton and Nellie Briles still a year away, Bing Devine seemed determined to build a strong young pitching staff. So the Cubs were forced to go after Broglio. At the time, it didnt seem like a bad idea. Broglio had won 22 games in 1961 and 18 the previous year. But a look at his numbers at the time should have raised red flags. I dont know if Holland asked for an examination, but he obviously didnt do enough to make sure he was getting a healthy pitcher. As for Brock, here was a struggling young player, who years later would suggest that the College of Coaches was responsible for hindering his development. Holland would not trade one of his prime young players, so Brock was the obvious choice. Now the question is, would Brock ever had developed with the Cubs? Playing for Cardinals was a completely different situation. They put him in the lineup leading off and in a position he could handle and he had no baggage like in Chicago. The Cubs tried him in right field, where he really did not have the arm, then in center field, where in spite of his speed, he was incapable to covering the ground the team needed. And there was no way they would have moved Billy Williams, who was just coming into his own in left field. I have heard it suggested that the Cubs should have moved Williams anyway. My question is, why would you move an All Star who is very comfortable in his position to bring in a player who has never shown any consistency at the plate and has had problems defensively? That would make no sense.
Lets say the Cubs decided to hold on to Brock. What next? Now its possible Brock couldve shown progress in 1964 under Kennedy. Its hard to say for sure. The team was not as good as the year before and Im guessing Kennedy probaly would have given other young players more time in the outfield. Its my gut feeling that if Brock hadnt shown any progress with Kennedy by then, he probaly never would. Considering that Kennedy would return in 1965, chances are so would Brocks inconsistent play. Of course, even if Brock had shown enough progress to stick around under Durocher, there are questions as to whether he couldve thrived under Leo the Lip. Leo loved guys who played hard and if he suspected you were playing below your abilities, you were in trouble. Would Leo even had waited. Im sure he wouldve been aware of Brocks numbers and its hard to say if he wouldve been patient with him. Then, theres the question of what position Brock wouldve played. He mightve played center for Leo, but if he had problems he would probaly be out. On the other hand, Pete Reiser was on Leos coaching staff and perhaps working with him, Lou mightve survived. Its all speculation.
Then theres the issue of how much this trade really hurt the Cubs. Aside from the Hall of Fame career that the Cubs apperently tossed away, theres Ernie Broglio. Broglio turned out to have a lame arm and was useless to the Cubs. What it mostly meant was that the Cubs were still short a starter. They tried in vain to find another starter. Ex-World Series hero Lew Burdette was brought in, but was clearly over the hill. World Series no hit pitcher Don Larsen was given a shot. He pitched even less than the journeyman he was most of his career. Future Hall of Famer Robin Roberts probaly brought in some fans to Wrigley Field, but was several years past his prime. Eventually they did find a starter, but by that time the team had been transformed by the presence of Leo Durocher. But in the end, was this trade the most devastating ever? It seems unlikely. Truly bad trades are the ones that really gut a team talent-wise and that was not the case here. When Durocher came in, he worked with John Holland to remake the team which would enjoy great success, if not any championships. It was a trade that didnt work out for the Cubs, it happens. The Cubs have made some great trades that brought them Hall of Famers, including Hollands best trade to get Fergie Jenkins. Its time to get over the belief that Brock for Broglio was the worst trade in the history of humanity. They lost Lou Brock, who became a Hall of Famer, but lets be honest, its not the same as trading Babe Ruth.
Thats my opinion. Perhaps you agree with it, perhaps you dont. I would be interested in hearing other opinions. Feel free to leave a comment. And I will have a poll that is related to thie topic soon. Until next time!

BOOKS: Fred Merkle:Public Bonehead, Private Hero

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:36:19 +0100

From time to time I want to spotlight books that might be of interest to Cubs fans, especially books of historical interest. This week, I want to discuss a new book about the key figure in what is probaly the most famous game in the history of the Chicago Cubs, played on September 23, 1908. This book is called "Fred Merkle:Public Bonehead, Private Hero" written by Mike Cameron, in which he tries to humanize a long misunderstood player. Its a very fascinating read, and while its a little flawed, trying to tell the history of baseball and going off on tangents that are totally unrelated to the "Merkle game" such as discussing gambling and game fixing(an interesting subject covered better in other books and, except for an attempted bribe of Bill Klem to fix the make up game, totally irrelevent), it does do a good job of showing the way National League mishandled the whole investigation of the Sept.23 game and the incompetence of NL President Pulliam and I also like the way Cameron discusses Merkles relationship with his daughter and how she helped bring him back to New York many years later where the fans embraced him. Its a very poignant moment and definitely my favorite part of the book. While Im still left feeling like I didnt know Merkle much better than I had, I do appreciate the way Cameron tried to show how ridiculous the whole "Bonehead" thing was, because Merkle was only doing something that was common practice. Still it would have been interesting to know more about how Merkle felt about playing for the team that had helped bring him such humiliation when Merkle ended up with the Cubs in 1917.
But it was still a book that is well worth your time if you are interested in the history of the Cubs and of baseball in general.
If you are interested in ordering this book, here is the publishers website:: www.sportingchancepress.com