Friday Roundup, Essian-Style: Careful, Lou!
Posted by Skip on Fri, Nov 14, 2008
You’d think Lou would be busy celebrating his National League Manager of the Year Award this week. Not true. I guess when you win three of them, they don’t mean much. Instead, Lou has spent his week demanding that Jim Hendry give him a better roster to work with. That’s why Lou isn’t here and Bad Kermit called me, Jim Essian, to write today’s roundup.
Hendry’s roster only managed 97 wins this year (and no postseason wins). My 1991 Cubs had 20 fewer wins, so I went to Jim Frey to complain, and what happens? They fire me and Jim Frey.
That of course brought you the Larry Himes era, complete with his first manager, the Commie-loving Jim Lefebvre. Careful, Lou. Don’t push too far and give us a couple years of Steve Phillips and Larry Bowa!
Seriously, Piniella’s call for a stronger bullpen seems to have been heeded by Jim Hendry, sort of. His trade of Jose Ceda to the Marlins for Kevin Gregg strengthens the Cubs’ set-up corps, until you consider that he’s showing Kerry Wood the door, after 13 years with the franchise.
Gregg will probably replace Carlos Marmol as a set-up guy, and Marmol will be the closer. I’m not sure if it’s better than Marmol as set-up guy and Wood as closer, but I know it’s better than Chuck McElroy-Heathcliff Slocumb-Paul Assenmacher-Bob Scanlan as bullpen by committee.
As for Kerry Wood, yesterday’s story was that he wanted a four-year deal, and the Cubs weren’t prepared to give it to him. If true, it was sad but logical. Today’s story is a little different, as Wood said he was open to a one-year contract. Wood for one year surely would be a better deal than Mel Rojas for three. If Lou were so beside himself that Hendry needed to get him a left-handed bat before, just wait until he realizes that Hendry railroaded his closer out of town!
It’s time for the roundup…
- Geovanny Soto won the NL Rookie of the Year. Not bad. Besides working well with the pitching staff, he had a better rookie year than my favorite catcher.
- Jake Peavy won’t be a Padre next year, but will Ryan Theriot?
- Kenny Williams traded Nick Swisher to the Yankees. A noted tomato worshiper thinks Hendry should call Williams for Jermaine Dye. I didn’t know Dye is going to bat left-handed next season.
- Carlos Zambrano won the Silver Slugger Award. He had an OK year at the plate.
- Mark Cuban says not so fast. He’s still going to bid on the Cubs.
- This looks like Scott Eyre’s offseason regimen.
Next week, Sweet Uncle Lou will be back unless he finally does something that gets him axed. So long.
Tags: Jake Peavy, Jermaine Dye, Jim Hendry, Kerry Wood, Kevin Gregg, Lou Piniella, Ryan Theriot
BigFlax
StPatrick
PenFoe
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Bocaj
November 14th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
five dollars says Bob Scanlan is Dolan’s source
November 15th, 2008 at 12:42 am
Agree completely. The only difference between Hendry and McPhail is the sweater-vest. Remember, this is not an organization noted for being up front with it’s fans. They take season tickets off the market to have their own company, Prime Tickets, scalp them to their own fans. This organization is full of nothing but Chicakeshit Cocksuckers.
November 15th, 2008 at 5:30 am
The closer is the most over-rated position. A save is not a save when you are up 3 runs with 3 outs left. Marmol had to be the 2009 closer. It was politically impossible with Wood.If we get Peavy we need to dump Fukudome on the Padres or I’d be willing to let Dempster walk for Peavy. If Dempster wins 15 games again that would be amazing. Anybody can have a good year. I prefer a playoff rotation of Peavy-Big Z & Hardin. The 4th pitcher has little value in the playoffs. In the case of the 2008 cubs, no value. The Cubs rotation is too balanced. It needs to be more top-heavy. Since the Padres owner is going through a divorce I suggest we snag 2009 Gold Glove 1B (left handed hitting)Adrian Gonzales while we are at it.
November 15th, 2008 at 5:33 am
I meant 2008 Gold Glove winner. Now you lose the DLee glove arguement
November 15th, 2008 at 10:37 am
@Frasier Crane – Adrian Gonzalez just OPS+’d 138. At Petco Park. At age 26. The Padres aren’t gonna let him go anytime soon.
November 15th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
The source isn’t Scanlan. The source never played for the Cubs and is on-field personnel in the Padres organization.
November 15th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
well dammit, who wants five dollars?