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.
