Where Have All the Good Times Gone?
The baseball calendar has been changed to the second half of the season. But there’s nothing new to report on my heroes. The Cubs remain what they’ve been for the last three months: a team going nowhere fast.
It’s at times like this that I’m glad I’m one of those bloggers Rick Morrissey finds so vile. If I were some fancy journamalist, with my own press pass and locker room access and keys and stuff, I’d have to write about these guys everyday. And if that were the case, then I don’t think I could resist going down Sully’s path (i.e., the path of least thought) and churn out an inconsequential series of fluff designed to fill column inches rather than enlighten or entertain readers.
Some might consider this an inconsequential piece of fluff. That’s always a possibility here at The Palatial Baseball Blog. But those who boast of their allegiance only when their team does well are poor fans indeed; if nothing else, I’m here in bad times and good.
And in the spirit of those next good times, let’s take a peek at the current roster and see who’s on the chopping block:
Dusty Baker: The alpha and omega of what needs to be changed, at least according to talk radio callers and other assorted “experts.” I’m still of the opinion that he should not be brought back next year.
But Baker has gained support from a surprising source! Not two weeks from challenging GM Jim Hendry to hire White Sox minor league manager Razor Shines, Dr. Phil stepped up to the keyboard and declared that there’s “no better alternative” than bringing back Baker for two more years.
Why the sudden reversal (perhaps we should refer to it as a “Philip-Philop”)? Jeebus only knows. Maybe straight-talkin’ Ozzie Guillen told him to lay off.
I don’t think Hendry will replace Baker before the season ends. And I have a feeling that Baker will leave rather than stay on. I figure it will be like his departure from the Giants – except Hendry won’t leak word of Baker’s financial status to the press.
Greg Maddux: His name crops up on a lot of trade rumors. Why? He’s not pitching dreadfully, horribly bad, but he’s not pitching well enough to sell himself as the last piece a team needs to put them over the top. Unless, of course, that team is using a guy like Jeff Weaver as their last piece because their next-to-last piece was a bum like Sidney Ponson. I think there’s a 50-50 chance Maddux will agree to a trade.
Todd Walker: The second-most talked about piece of trade bait. I could see him getting moved (and not necessarily to a team that needs a second baseman), but I can’t see us getting anyone immediately useful in exchange.
Aramis Ramirez: Not going to happen. A-Ram has taken a lot of heat this year, some deserved, some not. But I still like the guy, and his two year, $22 million option will make any trade problematic.
Kerry Wood, Mark Prior: They’re not going anywhere this year. Unless Wood’s loyalties to the team run incredibly deep, he’ll leave as a free agent. Look for much wailing and gnashing of teeth after each of his wins next year.
Juan Pierre: He’s gotten better lately. But he didn’t really leave himself much room to get worse. His return will depend on (1) how ready Felix Pie is to take over and (2) the availability of a cheap alternative. His name has been bandied around as trade bait, but none of the contenders is desperate for a leadoff hitter.
On a related note, there are rumors that the Astros are shopping Willy Taveras, and that the Cubs might be interested. Jeebus help me...
It’s at times like this that I’m glad I’m one of those bloggers Rick Morrissey finds so vile. If I were some fancy journamalist, with my own press pass and locker room access and keys and stuff, I’d have to write about these guys everyday. And if that were the case, then I don’t think I could resist going down Sully’s path (i.e., the path of least thought) and churn out an inconsequential series of fluff designed to fill column inches rather than enlighten or entertain readers.
Some might consider this an inconsequential piece of fluff. That’s always a possibility here at The Palatial Baseball Blog. But those who boast of their allegiance only when their team does well are poor fans indeed; if nothing else, I’m here in bad times and good.
And in the spirit of those next good times, let’s take a peek at the current roster and see who’s on the chopping block:
Dusty Baker: The alpha and omega of what needs to be changed, at least according to talk radio callers and other assorted “experts.” I’m still of the opinion that he should not be brought back next year.
But Baker has gained support from a surprising source! Not two weeks from challenging GM Jim Hendry to hire White Sox minor league manager Razor Shines, Dr. Phil stepped up to the keyboard and declared that there’s “no better alternative” than bringing back Baker for two more years.
Why the sudden reversal (perhaps we should refer to it as a “Philip-Philop”)? Jeebus only knows. Maybe straight-talkin’ Ozzie Guillen told him to lay off.
I don’t think Hendry will replace Baker before the season ends. And I have a feeling that Baker will leave rather than stay on. I figure it will be like his departure from the Giants – except Hendry won’t leak word of Baker’s financial status to the press.
Greg Maddux: His name crops up on a lot of trade rumors. Why? He’s not pitching dreadfully, horribly bad, but he’s not pitching well enough to sell himself as the last piece a team needs to put them over the top. Unless, of course, that team is using a guy like Jeff Weaver as their last piece because their next-to-last piece was a bum like Sidney Ponson. I think there’s a 50-50 chance Maddux will agree to a trade.
Todd Walker: The second-most talked about piece of trade bait. I could see him getting moved (and not necessarily to a team that needs a second baseman), but I can’t see us getting anyone immediately useful in exchange.
Aramis Ramirez: Not going to happen. A-Ram has taken a lot of heat this year, some deserved, some not. But I still like the guy, and his two year, $22 million option will make any trade problematic.
Kerry Wood, Mark Prior: They’re not going anywhere this year. Unless Wood’s loyalties to the team run incredibly deep, he’ll leave as a free agent. Look for much wailing and gnashing of teeth after each of his wins next year.
Juan Pierre: He’s gotten better lately. But he didn’t really leave himself much room to get worse. His return will depend on (1) how ready Felix Pie is to take over and (2) the availability of a cheap alternative. His name has been bandied around as trade bait, but none of the contenders is desperate for a leadoff hitter.
On a related note, there are rumors that the Astros are shopping Willy Taveras, and that the Cubs might be interested. Jeebus help me...
posted by Bob at
8:15 PM
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