cubfan1126

Dick Allen - Beast at the plate but I honestly think that Alfonso Soriano can field Left Field better than Allen could field 3rd base. He could have been a poster boy for the DH.

Yes the original Veterans committee was a semi super secret organization whose members always had their own agenda. Al Lopez not voting for Nellie Fox because he was too busy promoting Joe Gordon. They also elected marginal players like one-hit wonder Bill Mazeroski. Boyer over Santo - you are entitled to your opinion but why can't they both be in? 3rd base is seriously under represented in the Hall. Schmidt, Boggs, Brett ala are valid entries from an even more watered down pitching era (post 69 hmm isn't that when the Pilots/Brewers came into existence). Keeping Santo out because he clicked his heels or because 3 other players are already in from a team that never won is ludicrous. Memo to Mike Schmidt: You may be the best 3rd baseman but you are not the only one deserving of enshrinement. Memo to Joe Morgan: You are not the best player ever; you are not even the best 2nd baseman. Santo is finally in and he deserved it.

I wanted Francona and then I wanted Mike Maddux (with the hope of greg being pitching coach) but I'm OK with this AND if it's a hook to sign Prince... BTW - just got a text from my brother, "Mix a little Sam Adams with some Miller Lite and you get Old Style." hmmmm.

Here's where I went first: http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTVVdWrNayi9WC_9lUFpwKf-y-Ti6brMxKeosSqIS_n4CQ5aILOCg Though the colors don't match, the pattern does.

Not all of us. A lot of people wanted Sandberg to manage the Cubs this past season. The results would have been no different. Ryne may be a good manager some day but we need someone to come in and kick ass NOW. I wish him well unless he goes to the Cards. I don't think you should use the word "we" here. The general perception I'm getting on local radio (I live in Chicago) is that everyone understands its going to be a few years before the Cubs compete again. They wont judge the new manager on if they kick butt NOW at all. Instead of kick ass, I should have said "take charge and take control." I really wasn't referring to a Mike Ditkaesque kick ass guy. That is the furthest thing from what today's players need on the bench. (With the exception of Zambrano who really does need someone to kick his ass!) Whether or not his brother comes with Mike Maddux is an intrigueing choice as I'm not sure there has ever been a successful pitcher/pitching coach as a manager. Roger Craig certainly wasn't, Larry Rothschild failed at it, jury still out on Bud Black. Can you guys think of one? EDIT: All right I found 1 - but Dallas Green has a limited body of work as a manager. Finished out 1 season, Took the Phillies to a WS title in 1980, then a 1981 split season in which they finished 1st in the first half. No more managing after that.

Not all of us. A lot of people wanted Sandberg to manage the Cubs this past season. The results would have been no different. Ryne may be a good manager some day but we need someone to come in and kick ass NOW. I wish him well unless he goes to the Cards. One of the names being thrown around for our manager is Mike Maddux. (Would that bother you guys as much as Sveum?) Anyway, reason being that maybe he could talk his little brother into being his pitching coach. Now THAT would make for an awesome combination.

Sandberg received a phone call from Epstein about an hour after he fired Quade informing him that he is NOT a candidate. Sveum would be ok but I'd rather have Francona.

Thanks for remembering the good ones Robin19. Too often the trade mentioned (and I'll get out in the open right now) is Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio http://bestsmileys.com/puking/2.gif Rick Sutcliffe for Mel Hall worked out pretty good too. Unfortunately we have had a lot of bad ones, which is why we sit at 103 (WS) and 66 (NL) and counting. Fielder or Pujols ? I think we got the bucks to get either (and neither would require compensation) but does either want to come here? Good question.

... at least more than the Cardinals I'm part of the 68% http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/sc-spt-1012-cubs-fans-nlcs-bb-playoffs--20111012,0,3403985.story Cubs fans 'want' Brewers to win Dislike of Cardinals so intense nearly 70 percent in poll preferred they lose NLCS A Tribune poll asked who they wanted to win the NLCS, the enemy to the South or the nearer foe to the North. New-found envy "won" over long-rooted hatred. Sixty-eight per cent would rather see the Brewers win, and that's not because there is great love between Chicago and Milwaukee. The result is more the built-in dislike Cub fans have for the Cardinals, who received a surprisingly high 13 percent of the vote. Actually, the Cardinals finished third in the very unscientific but very specific two-team poll, with "this question is mean" garnering 19 percent of the total. All of which probably means the Cardinals will be attending another World Series next week, because longtime Cubs fans obviously don't make very good life choices.

Reports out of Boston say that all that is needed is compensation agreement. I guarantee you it won't be Starlin Castro or Matt Garza. My opinion: send 'em everybody else.

Backing in is a stupid term. You guys won more than anyone else - you WON the division. Congratulations.

Nice recall about Lofton (whom I had forgotten about) but Simon came in a waiver deal later. Ramirez /Lofton for Hill was on July 23. Simon for Ray Sadler was on Aug 16. And by the way you should have heard the screaming in this town when we got Lee for Hee Seop Choi. A lot of people were convinced that Choi was going to be another Palmiero hitting 400+ homers but he continued to be exactly what he was in Chicago, hot in April, cool off in May, disappear in June - September.

Well what do you know, one of you finally remembered that Hendry made some great moves early in his tenure. We never get to the playoffs in 2003 without the trade for Aramis Ramirez (I believe we gave up Bobby Hill for that.) he also brought in Eric Karros and Randall Simon and I believe he also got Matt Clement. That group solidified an already pretty solid lineup unfortunately for us he also brought in Burn their arms out Baker. Then the next year he brought in Derek Lee which turned out to be a really good move for 07 and 08. Getting Soriano was a good move for the short run but has become a burden. You probably don't remember that we were considered to have one of the best farm crops in the mid 2000's unfortunately almost all of them turned out to be busts or got sent out for som "name" Oh well - you guys enjoy the rest of this year. You've made good moves to put you in good shape to battle Philly for the NL crown - good luck.

If our pathetic 15 games under .500 team can take 2 of 3 in Atlanta, your guys should have no trouble whatsoever with them.

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! I was thrilled in 2008 when we clinched on Sep 20 (I remember the date vividly because it was my son's wedding day) We coasted the rest of the way, worried way too much about rotation, and were ill prepared for a Dodger team that came in kicked our butts. It went much better in 2003 when we clinched on the final Saturday and then went on to Beat the "invincible" Braves. I like you guys enough to be pulling for you clearly over the Cardinals (I really wanted the Pirates but they have come back to reality) Win it with a couple of days to relax then you'll get the Braves probably rested but not rusty. Good Luck Anyone but the Cardinals!