SportsNation Blog Archives
Chicago Cubs
Opening Day -- well, Opening Night, really, and we technically already had one of those in Japan, but who's counting? -- is finally here, as the Cardinals will take on the Marlins tonight in the first stateside regular-season MLB game. It's bound to be an exciting season with so many players having changed teams, but has the power structure been altered significantly?
Vote: Pick each division and pennant, and the winner of the World Series
Rank: Baseball's best teams? | Top players in the game?
World Series repeat?
The Cardinals prevailed over the Rangers in the 2011 World Series, but St. Louis lost its biggest gun this past offseason ...
Best player?
... which is a pretty big loss, considering he might be one of the best players of all time.
Odd one out?
The Red Sox missed the playoffs last season after an epic September collapse. Will they be on the outside looking in once again?
AL's best?
Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols were probably the two biggest additions to teams in the American League, meaning the balance of power could shift.
NL's best?
Likewise, the addition of Jose Reyes to the Marlins could give the team a huge upgrade -- offensively with new third baseman Hanley Ramirez, and defensively at shortstop.
The Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers and Red Sox own 26 World Series titles between them, and as fans in the Windy City will attest, their team hasn't added a lot to that haul in a few years. So with the Dodgers on the market and managerial vacancies for the Cardinals, Cubs and Red Sox, baseball has some rather high-profile job openings. We know Ryne Sandberg won't manage the Cubs, and Mark Cuban won't buy the Dodgers unless the price comes down, but which vacancy will provide the most hot-stove entertainment?
- "Once again, the Cubs have a chance to do the good/right thing and they go the other way. Sandberg should have been in a Cubs uniform coaching. And this is coming from a Sox fan. It will come back to hurt them imo." -- SN commenter bigdolla300
- "If Garvey and Hershiser's group is deemed satisfactory in buying the Dodgers, then I'm all for it. If it's Cuban, then great. I don't know how Dodgers fans can all of a sudden resort to griping about any group's interest in the team after all the hullaballoo this past summer about McCourt and his constant court-related antics." -- SN commenter JohnR1959
Most interesting vacancy sign?
Only one of these openings requires a deposit up front, and a potentially hefty one at that, but is a transfer of power in Los Angeles the best hot-stove story?
Who inherits the most history?
The Red Sox began play in 1901, and they're the newbies here. The Cardinals have the titles, the Cubs have charm, the Red Sox have the Nation and the Dodgers opened California.
Who should be careful what they ask for?
It's safe to say each of the managerial openings comes with some strings attached. Would replacing Tony La Russa, potentially without Albert Pujols, be the most daunting?
So who should defend the title?
Theo Epstein told Ryne Sandberg, now the manager in Triple-A for the Phillies, he's not in the running in Chicago, but the Cardinals may be interested.
Go West, rich man?
Cuban said the Dodgers aren't worth a billion, but is he a better prospective owner than a Steve Garvey/Orel Hershiser combo or the return of the O'Malley family?
Theo Epstein brought the Red Sox two World Series titles after almost 90 years of futility and frustration, but his most recent season in Boston ended with a historically bad collapse. Now he'll have a fresh start in Chicago, as the Cubs introduced Epstein as their new president of baseball operations. Bringing the Red Sox out of their slump was difficult enough, but will Epstein repeat his performance with a team that seems to have had no direction at all for several years?
Epstein PollCenter: Will the Cubs end their curse with Epstein?
- "Welcome to Chicago Theo! And don't worry, if you get us 2 WS titles, don't worry, we won't run you out of town!" -- SN commenter menolikey77
Was Theo's success all his own?
Theo Epstein's tenure with the Red Sox was arguably the team's most successful period, but the team also committed nearly unmatched financial resources toward acquiring new players and developing a farm system.
The Red Sox's epic collapse may have cost Boston more than just psychic pain and Terry Francona. The Chicago Cubs have asked permission from the Red Sox to interview GM Theo Epstein. Though some of his recent free-agent signings (paging John Lackey) have been expensive failures, Epstein is still widely regarded as one of baseball's best general managers. He'd have a brand-new challenge and a fresh start in Chicago, similar in some ways to the situation he inherited when he took over the Red Sox nearly a decade ago.
- "Probably a good time for Theo to leave a dismal situation in Boston. I believe that the Cubs need a complete overhaul and clean house. Probably need to try to get some draft picks and develop players around Castro and Geovany. Boston is a sinking ship and Theo needs to bail now!!!" -- SN commenter DevilDemons
Francona or Theo?
Terry Francona is a rumored front-runner for the White Sox managerial position, while Epstein could be his crosstown rival a year from now.
Turnaround time?
The Cubs were nothing but promise in the past 10 years, with very little in the way of results to show for it. They finished near the bottom of the NL Central standings this season, a distressingly familiar position for Cubs fans.
Which job is more attractive?
The Red Sox have more resources, but they're locked in a constant three-way death struggle with the Yankees and Rays. The Cubs job offers an opportunity to make history, but the pressure must be immense.
We're not shocked there was video this week of a baseball player in the field not paying attention during a pitch. We are a little surprised the scene played out in Wrigley Field instead of Williamsport, Pa., and the Little League World Series. After taking plays off Sunday, Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro got the day off Monday. Is he trying to out-Zambrano Carlos Zambrano as a talented headache in the Windy City?
- "I get so tired of people saying, "He's only 21." Yes, he's 21, but he acts like a 10-year-old. And that's probably an insult to 10-year-olds everywhere. And he's been playing professional baseball for how many years? Cubs need to stop his little whiny attitude now before he gets even more full of himself than he is now. I don't think MLB needs another Carlos Zambrano." -- SN commenter mopapa
- "I'm pretty sure that Quade didn't ignore it, he just didn't catch it during the game. I would think that Quade not paying attention enough to see his shortstop not paying attention would be just as bad, if not worse, than Castro doing it in the first place." -- SN commenter matthollabak1
Is Starlin Castro part of the problem?
Castro is 21 years old and already has 300 hits, but was Sunday's display evidence he may not be part of changing the culture in Chicago?
When watching is a bad thing?
Is Castro standing and not watching worse than Hanely Ramirez jogging as he watched the progress of a ball he kicked into the outfield last season?
Argument for a second season?
It was Cubs manager Mike Quade who called Monday a "mental day off" rather than a benching. Is the rookie manager in over his head or doing the best he can with a tough gig?
We can understand if you don't want to take the time to grade your tech-support help on the other end of the telephone, but when we're talking about the dollars and emotion you've invested in sports, we think it's worth the effort. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.
Take part in the 2011 MLB survey
2010 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 3)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 6)
3. Colorado Rockies (Overall: No. 13)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 14)
5. Atlanta Braves (Overall: No. 15)
Take part in the 2011 NFL survey
2010 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. New Orleans Saints (Overall: No. 1)
2. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 4)
3. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 9)
4. Arizona Cardinals (Overall: No. 19)
5. Baltimore Ravens (Overall: No. 20)
Take part in the 2011 NBA survey
2010 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 2)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 7)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 10)
4. Dallas Mavericks (Overall: No. 24)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (Overall: No. 25)
Take part in the 2011 NHL survey
2010 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 5)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 8)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 11)
4. San Jose Sharks (Overall: No. 12)
5. Chicago Blackhawks (Overall: No. 16)
- Quiz: Can you name the MLB managers with the most career ejections?
- Vote: What was Lou Piniella's best performance? | What's next for Cubs?
- Rank 'Em: Does Piniella crack your all-time top 10 for managers?
Let's play "Mad Libs" with the news of the day. With Lou Piniella's retirement, baseball lost a [adjective] manager. Keep it clean.
No manager ever won more games in one regular season than Lou Piniella did with the Seattle Mariners in 2001. Few managers skippered more surprising World Series sweeps than the one Piniella and the Cincinnati Reds pulled on the mighty Oakland Athletics in 1990. And without a doubt (all right, maybe a little doubt), nobody who ever wore an MLB uniform threw a better base than Piniella.
But as Piniella walks away, was he great or very good? Was he Tony Gwynn or Harold Baines? Greg Maddux or Frank Tanana? Mario Batali or Ming Tsai (or maybe that's just us)?
Matt (Plano,TX)
Who in your opinion is the best manager to take over after Sweet Lou?
ESPN Chicago's Bruce Levine
Depends on who's available. The Cubs like Fredi Gonzalez,but most baseball people tell me he has the Atlanta Braves job locked up. After that, I know Hendry is open to Sandberg and at least five or seven other candidates. If it was my choice, I'd probably take either Ted Simmons or Sandberg. Simmons for his experience, Sandberg for the cotinuity with the young players coming up in the system. Full transcript
“Lou was a good manager but not great. No reason why some of his Seattle teams didn't at least make the World Series but they never did. Then he quit to go to Tampa and did nothing there either.
” -- brewerfan54
“A great baseball mind right here. I always loved how he could use his tantrums to fire his team up. He basically was telling his guys "Hey, I'm willing to get kicked out for you, so what are you gonna do for me?" As a Dodger fan, i always knew it would be a tough series going against a Lou P team.
” -- twizzle163
- Vote: Jeff Bagwell, Rafael Palmeiro or Larry Walker? Who is on your 2011 ballot?
- Rank 'Em: Who are the best Hall of Fame inductees this millennium?
- Quiz: Can you name the Chicago Cubs in the Baseball Hall of Fame?
As controversial Hall of Fame inductees go, Andre Dawson's arrival this weekend isn't exactly Shoeless Joe Jackson, Pete Rose or Mark McGwire reading from prepared notes (especially difficult in Jackson's current condition). But the lone player granted a place in Cooperstown this year by the Baseball Writers Association of America does stir up his fair share of arguments on less ethically-dubious topics among baseball fans.
First off, considering Dawson didn't hit many home runs last season, were his voting gains a result of backlash against the era of steroids that followed his playing days? Or might the election of a guy with a lifetime .323 on-base percentage (lower than Melky Cabrera) be evidence of a backlash against the era of statistical analysis that followed Dawson's career?
And second, even if you don't believe Dawson's election was in part a protest vote of some sort, there's the small matter of his hat. In January, he said he was disappointed the Hall of Fame will put an Expos cap on his plaque, rather than the Cubs hat he wore in earning the 1987 National League MVP and winning over Windy City fans.
Jeff (Ann Arbor)
Do you think Andre Dawson and (especially) Jim Rice would have been elected if there wasn't this ideologic war between old school BBWAA voters and the stat-heads?
Keith Law
I believe that Rice was elected as part of a backlash. Some old-school voters didn't like to hear that the way they thought about players their whole lives was wrong. Some clearly don't like - or won't accept - that their monopoly on the transfer of information to readers is over. And some are just clinging madly to RBIs like they're life rafts in an ocean. Full transcript
Mike (San Diego)
Did you know that the Hall of Fame now has a member whose OBP is lower than Yadier Molina's? Whoopsadaisee.
Rob Neyer
Hey, I'm surprised to see how good Yadier Molina has become! Seriously, there's more than one Hall of Famer with an OBP lower than Molina's. Rabbit Maranville, Joe Tinker, Bill Mazeroski ... Our newest Hall of Famer does have the lowest OBP among outfielders, by a lot. Full transcript
“It honestly doesn't matter what hat the guy wears. He will always be looked at as a Cub. The Cubs will eventually retire his number and that will be good enough for me.
” -- killerklown81
“I have been an EXPO fan since 1981 when I was 7 years old. The team no lnger exists, and I dont think it is to much to ask that people honor the fact that Montreal had some really good players for a long time and the team should be honored.
” -- claudenj7
More games from ESPN Arcade »
- Rank 'Em: Who are the biggest prizes rumored to be on the market?
- Vote: How will the playoff race unfold in each league?
- Chat: MLB Insider Keith Law sets you straight in chat, 1 p.m. ET.
There may be plenty of shopping days left until Christmas (163 if you're counting), but time is running out for baseball teams hoping to find that special something for the pennant race. The end of the month brings the non-waiver trade deadline and the opportunity for general managers to make the kind of mark Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. did last summer in trading for Cliff Lee -- or, you know, the kind of impression the Cubs made in trading Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio in 1964.
Perhaps hoping lightning strikes twice, the Rangers made a big splash by landing Lee before the All-Star break, while the Braves used the pause to trade for slugging shortstop Alex Gonzalez. But could a player like Prince Fielder or Roy Oswalt tilt the scales enough in favor of another team willing to make a move?
Kevin Larson (Oak Lawn)
What kind of players are available for Kenny Williams to grab before the trade deadline? What about Adam Dunn coming to Chicago?
ESPN Chicago's Bruce Levine
I have talked about Dunn for a month. the problem is his defense is poor and his baserunning is plodding. That's not exaclty Ozzie Ball type material. The part that Kenny Williams likes is the home run power from the left side. The Sox have lacked offensive balance all season long. When Quentin hits the team seems to score. Full transcript
Brandon (Springfield)
Should the Braves make a move for Corey Hart? Do you believe he is having a fluke season so far?
Rob Neyer
A little bit, maybe. But I think last season was the bigger fluke. Hart's a legitimate power hitter and could help a lot of clubs. Full transcript
J.B. (Dunmore, PA)
Can you see either Matt Kemp or Josh Willingham going to the Braves for the stretch run?
Jayson Stark
I don't. I keep hearing that the Nationals are telling teams interested in Willingham that they prefer to move Adam Dunn if they move either of them. And it's very unlikely Matt Kemp gets traded. If he does, he'll be very expensive. Also, the Braves can't add much payroll. Full transcript
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