We’ve to two big (well . . medium-sized) stories this morning, which in a moment I will invite you to discuss.
First, word came yesterday that the Cubs are working on a long-term deal with Starlin Castro:
The Cubs are working on a long-term contract extension for two-time All-Star shortstop Starlin Castro. A team source late Thursday confirmed a CSNChicago.com report and said talks are progressing.
Nothing really earth-shattering here, it’s just going to be a lot harder for Dale Sveum to throw Darlin Starlin under the bus every other night when he’s locked up for five years. HA.
Secondly, the Cubs continued weeding the last of the Hendry guys out of Clark and Addison yesterday, firing player personnel manager (what is that, anyway? It’s like “Dean of Students.” How is that any different than a regular dean?) Oneri Fleita and information manager (seriously? This is a thing?) Chuck Wasserstrom.
The best part of all of this, however, was this piece on Crane Kenney, penned by none other than Crazy Uncle Phil:
Someday I might meet someone who can explain how he’s an asset to the organization, but if I do it will be a first. The guy at the top should be on his way out alongside Fleita, Wasserstrom and anybody else who is asked to turn in his copy of “The Cubs Way,” and don’t tell me that this job shuffle has nothing to do with Kenney because he’s not on the baseball side.
When big league coaches are supplementing their salaries hitting grounders to accountants and fraternity boys six hours before a game, what’s the difference, really? Isn’t it all business?
When Theo Epstein was being recruited to run the Cubs, he found it more than a little odd that Ricketts and Kenney had just fired Jim Hendry and rewarded one of his right hand men, farm director Fleita, with a four-year contract.
Epstein, according to sources, would not have taken the baseball president’s job if he had not gotten an affirmative answer to this question: If I decide we don’t need him, can I fire Fleita?
Nothing makes my Friday better than someone publicly calling out Crane. It’s gonna be a good day.
It’s Friday, which means Wrigley Talk Friday comes your way today at 1 pm CT. Tune in or REGRET IT FOREVER.
The Cubs and Reds go at it again tonight in Cincy. First pitch is at 6:05 pm CT.
People can scream and complain about Crane Kenney until they’re blue in the face (and many of us have), but all the moves being made right now are on Theo Epstein’s side of the business. Theo has no power to fire Kenney. Only Tom Ricketts can do that, and it appears he has no intention of doing that right now.
Unfortunately, Uncle Phil’s statement, “Don’t tell me that this job shuffle has nothing to do with Kenney because he’s not on the baseball side.” Well, Phil, I’m telling you it indeed has nothing to do with Kenney because he’s not on the “baseball side”. Don’t get me wrong, I think this division in the company is stupid beyond belief. Business operations? Baseball operations? The business of this team IS baseball. Unfortunately, that’s not how Tom Ricketts sees it and that’s not how the Tribune saw it…and until someone figures it out that you can’t run a team in this fashion where the dollars and the baseball are completely separate from each other, this team isn’t going to win jack squat.
Ricketts had nothing do with with any of the moves that happened this week. That was all Theo and I have every confidence that if Theo could, he’d take a 2 ton cement block, tie it to feet of Crane Kenney, and throw said block and Kenney into the middle of Lake Michigan thus taking over the entire operations of the team.
From my point of view, the supposed “business operations” side of things is a complete disaster right now. And, unfortunately, there is nothing Theo can do about it. We’re stuck with concerts chewing up the turf, in a stadium that’s crampped and falling apart and while Crane comes up with new ticket selling schemes. All this while Theo tries to figure out how on earth he can attract halfway decent talent to come play for this sorry excuse for a baseball franchise.
Dammit…that was supposed to be a rant against Phil Rogers and instead it was a rant against the entire Cubs organization. Happy Friday.
Doc, tell us how you really feel.
I couldn’t be happier. Can’t you tell?
Don’t hold it in, that’s bad for you….
I should’ve had a V8
You know, I can honestly say that I’ve never had a V8. And I feel a bit left out.
You don’t know what your missing brutha. Splash of Worcester Sauce, little vodka, add some Tabasco sauce with an olive and your all set.
If you just skipped that olive, that sounds pretty good. Add a bit more vodka to it, and I think I might have a good drink for a Friday afternoon at work.
This place is boring today.
Come on, people. Entertain me.
I don’t know if anyone saw this, but I found this quite interesting:
https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/236479525154877440
Hooray for a good policy.
Of course, in the cases of Dempster and Soriano, it wouldn’t have really mattered since they have 10/5 rights anyway.
Where the hell is everyone?
Mark Prior was released by the Bosux. Don’t we need a starter?
Yes we do, but I’m pretty sure Mark Prior isn’t able to start anymore.
Neither is Chris Volstad. . .
I blame Theriot.
Ryan Dempster is going to miss his next start for the Rangers.
What a jerk.
Oh Julie decided to show up
So-how bad are the Cubs going to be tonight?
81 degrees in Cincinnati right now. What is that like? We haven’t been below 90 during the day for 3weeks. 80 has been the low at night…
Are lineup doesn’t look very promising tonight. I am getting realllllly sick and tired of hearing Svuem say that he would like to give the new kids alot of at bats but he never plays then so WTF??????
Thank you, Soriano, for killing that rally. I thought for a minute they would score…
Sorry guys, I thought I’d be home earlier than this. Game Thread Fail.
It is so gorgeous outside in Chicago right now. Feels like fall. I love it.
You’re just thinking about all the San Francisco talk that I have been spewing. Chicago’s weather is treacherous. Time to come to a sweet weather area.
Ha. It’s about 65 out with no humidity. Love.
Boooooo!!!!! It feels like it will never be cool again. Even the weather people don’t like it-2 have announced they are going to other states. .
Hey, we were at 100 for half the summer. We had this coming.
We are bad at baseball. Really bad. Worse than bad.