Cubs Fire Sveum

[revo]

can we say hello to new Cubs manager Joe Girardi? He would have to change his number to 3, but I think he's the clear choice.

[Cobain's Ghost]

not sure what makes him such a clear choice, but he'd probably be happy to get off the titanic.

[revo]

not sure what makes him such a clear choice, but he'd probably be happy to get off the titanic.

He (and his wife) are from the Chicago area, went to college in Chicago, played for the Cubs (twice) and now is a free agent as a manager. And yeah, there's always the drama that is the Yankees.

[james33]

Does Girardi take orders from management on who to play and what to do? I have a feeling that Cubs organization would prefer a puppet.

[Hornsby]

Give a guy little to nothing to work with, then can him when he doesn't accomplish anything. Really sad, especially when a guy like Gardenhire continues to get extensions, along with his miserable coaching staff...

[Don Quixote]

Give a guy little to nothing to work with, then can him when he doesn't accomplish anything. Really sad, especially when a guy like Gardenhire continues to get extensions, along with his miserable coaching staff...

Gardy is in the same situation, trying to win with a decidedly substandard talent pool. Whoever has been in charge of pitching development for Minnesota hasn't accomplished much of anything, regardless of how much he's been given with which to work.

As for Girardi moving to the Cubs, it would be interesting. I wonder if he can handle Theo taking the credit in good times while handing the heat to the manager in bad times. One thing Girardi has established is that he can at least produce a winning record with less talent than most.

[joncarlos]

Theo (and Sveum) both said that it wasn't the losing, it was the failure of the young players to develop. Theo said that he wants to hire someone who will focus on player development. I'm not sure if Girardi is that guy.

[Cobain's Ghost]

Theo (and Sveum) both said that it wasn't the losing, it was the failure of the young players to develop. Theo said that he wants to hire someone who will focus on player development. I'm not sure if Girardi is that guy.

:coughjobacough: :coughhughescough:

he did a pretty good job with the marlins before he went to the dark side, though.

[Cobain's Ghost]

One thing Girardi has established is that he can at least produce a winning record with less talent than most.

lol. no, he's proven he can produce a winning record with a $220,000,000 payroll. so could a mop.

[onejayhawk]

lol. no, he's proven he can produce a winning record with a $220,000,000 payroll. so could a mop.

So long as it was not a Yankee mop. Then you takes your chances.

J

[Don Quixote]

lol. no, he's proven he can produce a winning record with a $220,000,000 payroll. so could a mop.

It's not a question of how he did with the Yankees when they were at full strength; you're right, almost anyone could win with that roster. Well, almost anyone except maybe Bobby Valentine. Girardi did OK with the Marlins IIRC, and he kept the Yankees competitive this year despite the injuries and the POS replacements he was given on the roster.

[chancellor]

Theo (and Sveum) both said that it wasn't the losing, it was the failure of the young players to develop. Theo said that he wants to hire someone who will focus on player development. I'm not sure if Girardi is that guy.

Sveum simply doesn't want to make waves on the way out. Theo is either lying or stupid, and stupid isn't it here. If young players = Starlin Castro, then, yes, Sveum failed. But I doubt much of anyone is going to have success with someone with the baseball IQ of Dante Bichette. A number of youg players made progress or consolidated improvements from last year - W. Castillo, Junior Lake, T. Wood, J. Arrieta.

[Don Quixote]

Sveum simply doesn't want to make waves on the way out. Theo is either lying or stupid, and stupid isn't it here. If young players = Starlin Castro, then, yes, Sveum failed. But I doubt much of anyone is going to have success with someone with the baseball IQ of Dante Bichette. A number of youg players made progress or consolidated improvements from last year - W. Castillo, Junior Lake, T. Wood, J. Arrieta.

Theo certainly isn't stupid, but sometimes I don't think he's as smart as he and the media portray him to be.

That said--Sveum never stood a chance. I don't think he's that good a manager, but with the collection of spare parts he was given with which to work, we'll likely never know. He knew that going in, Theo was honest at least in saying that the goal was not to win now, and things went about as expected. Sveum isn't saying much about it, because it could hurt his chances of getting another managerial gig. He'll land on his feet somewhere as a roving instructor, as a minor league manager, as one of those "special assistant to the GM" types.

I hope Theo is more patient with his next manager, because it's STILL going to be a while before this team is consistently competitive again. It's not because Theo and Hoyer are doing anything wrong; it's that they started out with a team so bereft of talent. It may take 3-4 years more to get where they need to go.

"baseball IQ of Dante Bichette"--That's cold, chance. Funny, but cold.

[revo]

Theo (and Sveum) both said that it wasn't the losing, it was the failure of the young players to develop. Theo said that he wants to hire someone who will focus on player development. I'm not sure if Girardi is that guy.

Rumor has it they're interested in AJ Hinch and Brad Ausmus.

[james33]

If young players = Starlin Castro, then, yes, Sveum failed. But I doubt much of anyone is going to have success with someone with the baseball IQ of Dante Bichette. A number of youg players made progress or consolidated improvements from last year - W. Castillo, Junior Lake, T. Wood, J. Arrieta.

Excellent point. There's still a chance that they are telling the truth, and that for Theo, Young players = the guys they thought would be cornerstones on a future team (Castro and Rizzo) and both regressed. It is conceivable to me that Theo told Sveum at the start of the year "Hey, I don't care about wins and losses this year. What I do care about is developing a team around Castro and Rizzo." Plus Samardzija, a possible ace, got worse and became a bit of a malcontent as the year progressed.

I'd still guess that overall Sveum was fired b/c of more of a personality or philosophy clash.