Dusty Baker Gone! Looking ahead?

Question

do you Cubs fans honestly feel good about the 2007 season since it seems like The Tribune is cleaning house with manager, president/CEO and soon to be announced, coaches? Do you finally feel confident that we can win a world series?

Answer 1

Not a cubs fan, but they need to stop relying on Woods and Prior!! You, Cubs fans, have a loaded minor league system!! And for some reason your management seems like they want flamethrowers like Woods and Prior, they are only good to start every ten or eleven days just prevent injury. And most importantly, hire Joe

Answer 2

I'm sorry to say this is a dark time for the cubbies. I liked Dusty - he just had personnel problems. His pitchers were never fixed - if it wasn't Wood's elbow, it was Prior's shoulder, or someones knee or back or hernia. His batters never showed up no matter what the situation was. And finally I don't think the city loved him after he let Sammy Sosa go, then he lost Nomar and it was all over. They were going to get rid of Dusty anyway, but Dusty is a good skipper. He just had a run of back luck - 4 years of it. I don't think Dusty would've come back anyway. Looking to the future, I have no idea who would want the cubs manager job. They're going to have a new office, GM, president and everything else. I don't know - just seems like a dark time for the next 3 years.

Answer 3

I don't think Girardi will turn them around immediately, but he'll be a huge improvement.

To blame Dusty's poor run as "bad luck," as one answer did, conveniently ignores the fact that he's an old-school manager who doesn't believe in the importance of getting runners on base, and he uses instinct rather than any solid base when it comes to managing his pitching staff. He's a relic, and he should be replaced.

Answer 4

About time they cleaned house. I still don't see them winning a World Series anytime soon though. I do think Joe Girardi will be the next manager.

Answer 5

Well, now that the Marlins canned Girardi, he'll certainly head to the Cubs. After what he did with a bunch of Triple A players in Florida, who knows what he can do in Chicago?

Answer 6

Perhaps things will look up for the Cubs, depending upon whom they hire as manager and front office personnel. But it won't happen right away. It will take the new front office some time to acquire some actual talent.

Answer 7

No offense to Girardi b/c he did a terrific job in Florida but he honestly had more talent to work with, young unheard of talent but talent nonetheless...the Marlins are the best team in baseball when it comes to their farm system so he got to work with a bunch of young kids with great talent. His biggest accomplishment was the way he made them gel and the way he motivated them and made them believe in themselves when no one else did.

The Cubs, they just flat out suck and no coach is gonna turn them around soon, especially in a year. When 2 pitchers who have made like 15 starts in 300 games tie up so much money its hard to win. Then to compensate the front office goes out and pays way way to much for mediocre players. Someone higher than manager has to go before this team succeeds. I like Girardi but he isnt the savior. Baker had led his team to the WS before he came to the Cubs and was 5 outs from the WS in his first year...wasnt his fault.

Answer 8

I feel great now! Looking forward to Joe Girardi! Bring him in to manage our young talent and 2007 will be a great year!

Answer 9

First of all We'll miss you DUSTY.. Second of all a TRUE CUB FAN always feels confident in our cubbies. GO CUBS


BRING BACK SANDBERG!!

Answer 10

Cleaning house up top might help, but when you're putting a crappy product on the field...