The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 Well this season is officially a failure, and we, the Chicago Cubs fans, demand changes. Who do you guys think needs to head out of town? Moises Alou: "Hmm. My shoelace appears to have come undone. DUUUUSTY! STEVE STONE MADE MY SHOE UNTIED!!!!! TELL HIM TO STOP! MAKE HIM GO AWAY!" He also runs as effectively as this Windows operating system I'm using. Which is "not effectively." Add in the fact that Carlos Beltran is a free agent who has whooped Wrgley Field's ass, and this guy is not long for Chicago. Kyle Farnsworth: The shit really hit the fan this time. The guy is a microcosm of the Cubs: has a few good games, we get excited, he sucks it up, "wait 'til next year," lather rinse repeat. Maybe he's like "Wild Thing" Rick Vaughn and just needs some corrective lenses to control his heater. I don't know. But his time is up. Kent Mercker: He's become an older, lefty Farnsworth as of late, and isn't all that good. Drop him. Sammy Sosa: With Lee and Ramirez around, and with any luck, Beltran and Nomar next year, there's plenty of offense to go around, and Sammy just isn't needed anymore. I don't need to go into depth on Sosa. The numbers tell the story, and a sad story it is. I think we've got him for one more year though, so we might as well have him ride the last year out, or trade him for some younger players who can hit will and play the outfield. Baldelli? I dunno. Dusty Baker: Yeah. I said it. I don't think Dusty's managing style of coddling the players and overworking the pitchers worked too well. Don't believe me? Check the record. This is leading to such nonsense as taking all frustration out on Chip and Steve, no real sense of discipline for the players, and worst of all, Mark Prior appears to be ruined. Who would have guessed last year that we'd be saying, "Shit, Prior's starting"? Nobody! The guy had an amazing year but Baker turned his arm into spaghetti and his heel into Jell-O. I almost put Prior on this list, but I felt bad about taking a guy who still has promise and throwing him on the trash heap. But anyway, Lovable Dusty needs to be replaced with a manager who is IN CONTROL. Not somebody who answers to the players' every whim. Not somebody who goes to bat for his players over a stupid conflict with the announcers. I want a manager where I know what he says, goes, no questions asked. Give me a fucking dictator to run this team. The hitting coach: I swear, you'd think the bat weighs 60 pounds from the way Grudzielanek and some other guys swing it. They practically spin around in a circle when they swing and subsequently miss. It's kind of funny to watch until you realize that the pitch was practically in another galaxy, then you're like "what the fuck just happened?" Medical Staff Or Whatever: Whoever does the press releases for their work must have a bright future in Washington with all their lying. "(Player) is fine. He should miss a start but be back the next day, 100%." "(Player) might just need a couple days off to rest." "(Player) is going onto the 14-day DL, just to be on the safe side. But he's OK." "We're putting (Player) on the 40-day DL, because this might take a couple more days. But he's fine." "(Player) is out for the year." ----- So that's my list for now. Of course, here's what the Cubs cooked up for their list. Chip Caray: TALK ABOUT MR. NEGATIVE! Geez. We never liked you anyway and only hired you because of your grandpa. Now take your big eyebrows and bad attitude elsewhere. Steve Stone: We'll teach you to untie our Moises's shoelaces, we will! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 I don't believe in ditching players or keeping them for that matter, based on what kind of off-the-field press criticism they have received. Particularly the spat with the announce crew. I think the statistics speak for themselves. Alou should be gone. He's a free agent, and somewhere around 38. I'm certain the Cubs can get equal or better production for cheaper. Sosa they need to keep, as he is still under contract, his trade value is limited if existant at all, and he is still productive at least. Mercker should probably go. Farnsworth depends on the cash. Otherwise, I'd watch the market and adjust as needed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 Well Alou has been sucking it up on the field, the Steve Stone feud, and for that matter, the fued, since we're on the Internet, is just icing on the cake. Chip and Steve are doing a fine job. Alou is the problem. I'll be so happy if we get Beltran to play left field. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 I would think Patterson would be the one to move, wouldn't he? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 Oh yeah. Duh. Patterson in left, Beltran in center, Sosa in right (for now), looks like a fine outfield to me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fuzzy Dunlop 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 Alou, Farns, Mercker, Sosa. And if the Cubs miss the playoffs, Dusty. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krankor 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 Kyle Farnsworth He pisses me off. Everytime he comes in I know the game is about to be blown no matter how much the cubs are up. He's terrible. Mercker really doesn't have a point in being around anymore. The last time he was tolerable was when he was in Atlanta, ages ago. If we could get Beltran and get rid of Alou that would work for me also. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruiser Chong 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 I would think Patterson would be the one to move, wouldn't he? I'd imagine that'd be the case, since as great as Patterson has become in centerfield, Beltran is just that much better. You add Beltran, subtract Alou and ignore Sosa, and that's a damn fine outfield. I think Alou, Sosa, Mercker, Farnsworth, Remlinger, Sarge and Baker should be gone. Alou's the only one out of those I think it's going bye-bye next season, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 Sosa's under contract for eight figures next season. There is no way the Cubs can get rid of him. And it's not like he's a liability. Is he an All-Star caliber player at this point? Of course not. But he is still an average player, and average players are productive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
geniusMoment 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 Sosa is confronting the same problem that Griffey Jr. has come across, besides injuries, and that is slow bat speed. Sosa can no longer catch up to a good inside fastball, and swinging harder is not the answer, he needs to drop his hands and shorten his swing. Even with a shorter swing he would still have plenty of power. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 You know who I want out... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 I would think Patterson would be the one to move, wouldn't he? I'd imagine that'd be the case, since as great as Patterson has become in centerfield, Beltran is just that much better. You add Beltran, subtract Alou and ignore Sosa, and that's a damn fine outfield. I think Alou, Sosa, Mercker, Farnsworth, Remlinger, Sarge and Baker should be gone. Alou's the only one out of those I think it's going bye-bye next season, though. No. Farnsworth has gotta go after the fan thing. I think his clock ran out. We all seemed to know if long ago, but I'm thinking that Hendry catches on now and cuts Kyle loose, where he will be signed by the Royals and break the all-time record for saves. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gert T 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 Sosa's under contract for eight figures next season. There is no way the Cubs can get rid of him. And it's not like he's a liability. Is he an All-Star caliber player at this point? Of course not. But he is still an average player, and average players are productive. Exactly, if this was the NBA, Sosa would be a hot commodity next year. Since he only has one year left, though the Cubs should not be afraid to spend some money if there are FA's they want this off-season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JangoFett4Hire 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 I can't believe Kent Mercker is still playing. didn't he have a bran hemmorhage a few years back? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 Season isn't over and I'm not counting them dead just yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2004 You know who I want out... "Mr. KKK, I believe that it is you who are the racist one. Fire me, indeed..." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites