Today marks the second day in a row with no baseball being played. My fear is that with nothing happening, we may all go crazy and wind up in some Lord of the Flies situation. I hope I can dredge up enough news to avoid that. First up today, David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays sure seems to think that Matt Garza will be traded, and he hopes that it’s to a team in the AL East.
“Honestly, I talk to him about that every single day,” Price said of his former Rays teammate prior to the All-Star Game. “He’s one of my best friends in baseball. I hope he comes to the East, just so I can hang out with him. I told him whether he goes to New York or Boston, I hope he doesn’t go to Detroit, because the only time I’d see him then would be in the postseason. We’re done with [the Tigers on the schedule]. I hope he does. I hope he goes to one of those teams and I get to see him again. I told him if he goes to New York or Boston and we come there, I’m just going to stay with him. He said that was fine. I would like to see him pitch.”
Mr. Price, would you also like to make sure that one of these teams sends a great prospect return for Mr. Garza? We all like having him in Chicago, but we’re willing to part ways if it makes the future brighter. Joe Cowley of the Sun-Times also is writing about the future, and made a short list of players the Cubs definitely won’t be trading this month. Though I’m not sure he’s all that familiar with who’s actually on the team.
Right-hander Matt Garza is another big piece that will draw interest, but no player in a Cubs uniform is really safe, unless the back of their jersey reads “Sveum,’’ “Rizzo’’ or “Castro.’’
One of these things is not like the others.
While we’re on the subject of Dale Sveum, Reed Johnson wants you to know he doesn’t hate playing for him.
“With teams that I’ve been on, and other guys have been on, that have had a record like we have at the All-Star break … (usually) you’re like, ‘God it’s miserable, I hate my manager, I hate the coaching staff, I hate my teammates,’” outfielder Reed Johnson said.
“It makes for a really long year. But (Sveum and his staff) have been even-keeled when we’re up and when we’re down. They have gone through the grind, with good teams and bad teams, so they really understand how tough the game is and they have been real patient with us.
“You see how much the coaching staff cares about you, and the players feel that it’s genuine. It makes for a great atmosphere in the clubhouse, even after some of the tough games we’ve had.”
And Sveum has the front office’s seal of approval, at least according to assistant to the GM, Shiraz Rehman.
“He’s really an open-minded guy who tries to find different ways to skin a cat, which is what we try to do,” Rehman said. “Leave no stone unturned. The players have responded to him. … He has the right short- and long-term vision.”
I think I speak for all of us when I say, “at least he’s not Mike Quade.”
Ringing endorsement from REEDZ. LOL
I’m going to make a rather stupid and baseless conclusion…
Dale Sveum will not the this team’s manager the next time the Cubs make it to the playoffs.
I don’t think it’s that stupid. The team needs to make a big turn around in the next two years and if that doesn’t happen, he won’t be here. I’m eager to see how it all pans out.
Even if the team turns around, my belief is that Sveum doesn’t have the skill to lead a team to the playoffs. This team might start playing better under him and we might actually develop some talent, but I believe Sveum will be ousted and replaced by someone that will lead this team to the “next level”. The Red Sox did it when they dumped Grady Little and replaced him with Terry Francona. I think something similar will happen here.
I figured a while ago that Theo picked Sveum as someone who could safely be ousted for a better manager once we had good players. No point getting a good manager right away, only for the Chicago media to turn on him just as we get players who are in position to make a playoff run.
I don’t believe that was Jed and Theo’s thinking when they hired Sveum. I believe they really want to have someone who will be here long term and will provide some continuity in an organization that tends to go through managers very very quickly.
I personally never thought that highly of Sveum, and still don’t. Based on that, I believe as the talent on this team improves Jed and Theo will not be seeing the results on the field that they want to see and Sveum’s deficiencies will be exposed. This will result in Jed and Theo being forced to move on to another manager.
One big reason that Theo Epstein was brought in here was to bring some stability to this organization. Since Jim Riggleman was mercifully fired in 2000, the Cubs have had 5 everyday managers: Baylor, Kimm, Baker, Piniella, Quade. That’s basically a new manager every 2.5 years. The last thing Theo wants is another manager that is out of here after 2.5 years, which is what you are suggesting they intended. Unfortunately, I predict that they will have no choice.
I’ve been kinda disappointed in Sveum. That said, I can’t really put my finger on why. It can’t be the losing, I knew that was coming. . .
I’ll have to think about it.
The Cubbies have an EXCELLENT coaching staff.
Even lame-assed Soriano is hustling.
The record reflects the quality of talent, PERIOD.
We have yet to see what he will do with a winner, BUT:
The team is playing good solid fundamental baseball.
Dale has been Johnny-on-the-spot when they guys don’t give100%. The players do not get away with ANYTHING anymore.
Fundamentals are returning to Chicago.
The team is fun to watch (except for the sad middle relief)
The players like him and want to stay here.
He has been even keel, win or lose.
What is not to like?
I agree completely.
Its probably the fact that everything he says sounds so, so stupid.
So, my bag tipped over on the train this morning and my lip gloss and cell phone fell out. This really nice, cute guy crawled under the seats, in his work clothes, to get them for me because he didn’t want my hair “to get dirty.”
There need to be more men like this on the train. Most of them trip me, push me, and steal seats from me. Not to mention that they smell bad.
So you didn’t get your hair dirty? Did you look like you were going to pick them up with your teeth or something?? I don’t think he was being kind.
that’s because you are not a gentleman.
If by that you mean I wouldn’t have helped out a hot redhead in distress, then you’re most assuredly mistaken, my good lady.
Lemme see if I understand….
You are not happy being treated as an equal on the train?
Careful, the hard core libbers will be picketing you soon if you don’t watch out!
Oh my god, all of your moronic comments from the past suddenly have so much more context.
You will find you will have a lot more fun once you take that politically correct broomstick out of your ass.
Well…I found that comment funny…and a bit truthful.
I’m not sure “equal” translates into “being kicked around by people bigger and smellier than you.” No one should be getting pushed or shoved. It’s bad manners no matter what the gender.
Hey, smelly people have every right to shove people around.
Not gonna lie, when I see that happen I look the other way, because why should MY hair get dirty?
That obviously was not me on the train.
I would have laughed.
Golly!(a Sweumism)I wouldn’t want your hair to get dirty either. LYH!
But my hairs getting dirty cause I’m rolling on the floor laughing.
Everyone was in a kind of funk there and now the comments are coming.
I guess the break in baseball got everyone feeling goofy.
I took a bus from where I lived to Downtown LA for 10 years, and always, the nicest people on the buses where A. working people, and B. punk-rock people. The Yuppies,suits, and preppy students were always jerks….
“He’s really an open-minded guy who tries to find different ways to skin a cat,”
That’s not the way I’d want to describe a coach. Given the way Dale looked prior to the All-Star break, the quotes by ReedZ and the front office make him sound like a mild-manner guy who goes home and tortures things…
I would have used phrases like ” thinks outside the box”, “creates a healthy yet competitve environment”, or “he’s really transformed this team”. But then again, we are talking about the Cubs, so maybe creepy metaphors do fit…
Stuff to talk about: do you regret any of these moves?
http://www.bleachernation.com/2012/07/12/former-chicago-cubs-players-and-the-measure-of-regret/
Only regret is Colvin. Quality dude, took a spear to the chest for the team, showed glimpses of awesomeness, never played consistently, and they canned him. Not surprising though…Can we say Matt Murton??
I agree. Colvin will be a regular there for long time and we let him go CHEAP.
Ian Stewart is a waste of at bats.
I think Colvin will be a servicable 4th outfielder…or regular platoon player…nothing more.
But that’s a lot more than Ian Stewart will be.
I thought Stewart was another Blake DeWitt…a good swing…a ton of talent…lots of potential…and a failure at the major league level. He seemed like the type of player that had everything come to him easy while in school and the minor leagues, but doesn’t want to put in the work to really succeed at the major league level.
I would have to agree. I didn’t particularly like the Colvin move…not because I thought that much of Colvin but more because I (and many other people) thought Stewart was a bum. I *and many other people) was right.
not gonna lie, the only thing I got out of that was you saying other people were right
I think it was worth taking a shot on Stewart. I would be shocked if Colvin performs anywhere near as well as he has in Colorado. That .600+ slugging is pretty ridiculous.
Isn’t Cashner now BACK on the DL? I tried to post that on Bleacher Nation and it didn’t post.
Yes he is. I think it’s an elbow problem. Based on his delivery, he’s going to have a lot of problems throughout his career.
Yup- I kinda smiled when I heard that yesterday..