Looking for a bright note on a day when the media is reporting the likely return of Neifi, as back-up to Cedeno (yeah, right) and the probability of an extension for Baker, there's this from West Tenn..

Carlos Marmot and 3 relievers combined for an 11-inning 2-hitter yesterday. Both hits came from the opposition's starting pitcher.

#### FUCK #### FUCK #### FUCK #### FUCK #### FUCK

Speculation around the Cubs is that general manager Jim Hendry and manager Dusty Baker will receive two-year contract extensions next spring.

Team president Andy MacPhail chooses his words carefully, so when he told beat reporters two weeks ago in Denver that contract matters for both men would be addressed in spring training, as a matter of organizational routine, it seemed a clear indication that extensions are forthcoming.

With Hendry and Baker already signed through 2006, two-year extensions would give them until 2008 to find their way to the World Series. If the Cubs haven't taken major strides by then, that could signal the end of both men's jobs in Chicago.

What constitutes major steps I wonder? They were 5 outs away at one point, it has been two years of recessions, one game improvement or not. What is the rush for handing out an extension a year early? I wish my boss would start giving me raises based on expected performance in two years.

I wish my boss would start giving me raises based on expected performance in two years.

Here's a couple of suggestions you might want to put into practice.

1.) Draw up a 4-year plan. Be sure to be further from your objective at the end of year 3 than you were after year 1.


2.) Take every opportunity to publicly contradict your boss when he has the temerity to suggest re-deploying personnel - even when his earlier ideas have turned out to be right.

Be sure to let me know how it works out for you.

So does anyone think Rothschild and Baker have had some sort of falling out? Twice in the Pirates series Baker came out to the mound and didn't bring in a reliever. I can recall very few times where he's done that. Usually he sends out Rothschild and once Baker comes out that's it.

Neil, that is a thought, but I like where I am working. My boss is based in London and I talk to hime once a week, which I find makes for a pretty good working relationship. It does seem to sum up the way the Cubs operate however.

So does anyone think Rothschild and Baker have had some sort of falling out?

Interesting question to which I've no answer. I do, however, recall Steve Stone, near the end of last year, praising Rothschild but adding that only about 50% of his ability was being used. It sounded like a criticism of Baker at the time.

Line-up:

Hairston
Cedeno
Lee
Burnitz
Nomar
Walker
Blanco
Patterson
Prior

Corey batting behind Hank White. That's how bad young Donald is at the moment.

Twice in the Pirates series Baker came out to the mound and didn’t bring in a reliever. I can recall very few times where he’s done that.

A couple of weeks ago, Dusty came out in the 8th to pull Maddux but left him in, although it looked as if Maddux basically told him to get the #### off the mound. Maddux completed the game.

I tend to think that Dusty has decided that this is some sort of morale-boosting move that will enable his pitchers to go that extra yard. Almost blew up on him with Z the other day.

Looking for a bright note on a day when the media is reporting the likely return of Neifi, as back-up to Cedeno

I'd like to see Cedeno play all September also, but I'm not quite sure what to make of his minor league numbers. I know he was young for his league when he struggled for a few years, but his stats were just awful for a couple years in a row. I wonder what ZIPS thinks of him after this lofty BA year. I have a hunch he's Neifi--Cendeno should be the inexpensive 2B/SS backup to some middle infielders with some pop.

Murton on the other hand I think will develop into a nice everyday player for someone. I'm guessing the Cubs choose the wrong rookie next year.

I've hypothesized here in the past, with no evidence to back it up other than Cedeno's continued rise through the minors despite those numbers, that the organisation had him concentrating all his work on his defense and that only latterly did they focus on his batting skills.

He's had a great year at Iowa and I do know that, in an interview this spring, he fully expected this year's call-up. The impression was that he had been told it would happen.

It's definitely too early to judge what he really has to bring to the club.

And I agree about Murton.

Looking for a bright note on a day when the media is reporting the likely return of Neifi, as back-up to Cedeno

And the odds of that relationship happening that way next year are about 1 in a million. Everything I'm seeing now is that Neifi will be back with the Cubs next year and Cedeno will be with them as well. That these people are so blind not to realize that that means Neifi will be the starter just floors me.

You could very well be right Neil. That's why it's important to see Cedeno play everyday. I like him when I see him but it's so sporadic and his numbers with his stats all over the board, that I just don't know what to think of him.

The problem with Neifi returning is not simply a matter of his keeping Cedeno out. It's also that Dusty seems to see him as a #2 hitter - which he patently is not and that, with Dusty's Neifi-fetish, we see more convoluted line-ups just so Neifi gets his game. Such as sitting Walker.

I also recoil when I read talk of Cedeno moving to 2nd. That is very ominous.

Hrabosky got himself in knots with Hank's first AB.

'Blanco had a good game against Suppan earlier this year. He went 2 for 5 with 4 hits.'

Yikes.

And as for Cedeno playing 2B, I'll be really surprised if the Cubs don't pick up the cheap option on Walker. But I do think Neifi, in the best of scenarios, probably still gets 100 starts next year -- 50 at short, and 50 at second.

He's going to have to go on a Lenny Harris-type march of sucking before Dusty admits he doesn't belong in the lineup every day.

Seeing how I'm thinking bad thoughts, I wonder how long a deal Neifi secures? I'll bet he's looking for more than a year.

He’s going to have to go on a Lenny Harris-type march of sucking before Dusty admits he doesn’t belong in the lineup every day.

Lenny Harris-type sucking is enough to yield ~150 PA in 2/3 of a season under Baker.

And even Dusty didn't rave about LFH's defensive skills.

MACIAS!?!?!?!?!

Why is there no one here to share my outrage?

Bases loaded, none out, 9th inning, down 3... and Macias?!?!?!

And, not only that, but Macias pinch hit for Cedeno?!?!? Way to show some faith in those kids, Dusty.

Murton must have been in the can.

But Macias drove in a run!

And what did Lee do?

See, Dusty Baker is a certified SUPER GENIUS.

ASPLODE! MY HEAD!

Lost in all this talk about Neifi is the near certainty that ######## Macias will be back as well. Really, it's hard to see much turnover on this team at all. Cedeno will replace Nomar, and Murton might replace Hollandsworth. But beyond that, it's going to be the same #### that could land us in 5th place this year, managed by the same cocksmoker who failed so miserably already.

Turnover would just be singling people out. We can't have that, not if we expect to get good talent to come to the Cubs.

(Yes, the circular reasoning is both intentional on my part and also actual Cubs thought.)

Re: Macias pinch hitting: I screamed at the top of my lungs and had to call my brother-in-law to ##### some more as I was home alone without the internet.

And I would've really been pissed off if I hadn't already seen it coming a mile away. During Hairston's at bat, I hear Kasper say Cedeno on deck and it immediately clicks in my head that Macias is coming in for him.

Re: Macias

I'm happy I began Operation Shutdown a few weeks ago. If I hadn't, incidents like this may set me off on a kill-crazy rampage.

I've really got nothing I can say about this franchise that I haven't said 15 different ways.