Lou Piniella: Chicago Cubs still need left-handed bat

For as long as he remains unproductive in the Cubs ' lineup, Milton Bradley always will be a story, even if he doesn't want to be.

[What will you give us]

for DeWayne Wise?

[Alan]

A consistent-left handed bat would be great, but they're in short supply, I can't figure out why a team that has trouble scoring runs with runners in scoring position, doesn't go with the hot hand in the dugout. I think Jake Fox has proven he deserves a shot at being an everyday player. Sure he could flame out, since he's not an experienced major leaguer but what does that say about Alfonso Soriano? I'd pull the trigger on a Soriano-Roy Halladay trade in second and throw in a minor league prospect. That would allow Fox to play in left. Look, the Cubs aren't winning with Soriano and that's one huge contract.

[sweet lou]

thats why hendry will be gone after the end of the season if the cubs dont win.. bad move after bad move.. plus a farm system that stinks

[shouldvesigned Abreu]

I don't understand why they wouldn't sign Abreu. He's making $5 million and is far better than Bradley.
This says it all:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1396...

[Wayne]

Alan wrote:

I'd pull the trigger on a Soriano-Roy Halladay trade in second and throw in a minor league prospect. That would allow Fox to play in left. Look, the Cubs aren't winning with Soriano and that's one huge contract.

I don't think there's much chance Toronto would trade Halladay for Soriano, even if we throw in some prospects. That would make no sense for them financially. In fact, I can't imagine many (any?) teams wanting Soriano's huge contract now, given that his production has dropped off. Long-term contracts in baseball are risky, and the Cubs would appear to be stuck with Soriano. It's a shame, because Fox definitely deserves a shot at a starting role. And whatever he is getting paid has to be a bargain.

[Jorge Arbusto]

What will you give us wrote:

for DeWayne Wise?

Some relaxants for Lou, Milton and every other Cubs player in a slump?

[Roger]

Lou claims he can teach Bradley to relax; "there are ways". Ha, this comes from a guy who can't get through a sentence in under 10 minutes with his stumbling and fumbling. Let Bradley manage the team and give Lou a goat and a cup and put him outside the stadium.

[viewfinder]

at this point in time and his history of over paying players and giving them excessively long contracts, does anyone , i mean anyone, believe that Hendry is capable of evaluating talent and signing said talent to a reasonably structured contract that won't hamstring the team for years to come?Why would the organization entrust the person who made the mess to improve the team?Stop the madness!

[WBrown Memphis]

Fat Lou must be relaxed. I saw him laughing his face off right before Samarsuck's fastball got launched into orbit to lose yet another game. He is such a terrible manager it is pathetic. I hate this team.

[Bob from Salem WI]

Alan wrote:

A consistent-left handed bat would be great, but they're in short supply, I can't figure out why a team that has trouble scoring runs with runners in scoring position, doesn't go with the hot hand in the dugout. I think Jake Fox has proven he deserves a shot at being an everyday player. Sure he could flame out, since he's not an experienced major leaguer but what does that say about Alfonso Soriano? I'd pull the trigger on a Soriano-Roy Halladay trade in second and throw in a minor league prospect. That would allow Fox to play in left. Look, the Cubs aren't winning with Soriano and that's one huge contract.

Halladay for Soriano? I think we'll see pigs fly before that ever happens.

[David]

"Look, we still need a left-hand bat who can hit for some power and drive in runs." And he laughed. Given the numbers from Bradley, it is a funny truth."

Stop me if I exaggerate:

We are spending 28 million dollars per year for 2/3 of an outfield who can neither hit nor field.

Jim Hendry, who has done many good things for the Cubs, has made so many bad moves this year that he has single-handedly ruined the season, e.g., his replacement for Aramis Ramirez was Aaron Miles. One would think that Hendry would have learned from the disaster that was 2006 (D. Lee went down and was never replaced). We can't blame 2009 on Mark Prior or Dusty Baker.

Lou has lost his nerve; Soriano has lost whatever he had that made anyone think that he was worth half the money he's getting; Bradley is a thorough train wreck; Hill, while reminding us what a good defensive catcher looks like, also reminds us that Soto cannot do what he does (too fat!).

I'll stop there.

The Cubs put themselves in the position of having to do great things in a short period of time. Placing trust in them to do so is wasted affection.

Trust me: as a lifelong Cubs fan, I know bad baseball when I see it. This is a wicked bad team.

[Steve]

Hendry and Pinnela should be packing the bags for elsewhere.

[Fire the Manager]

Can't this headline read (more accurately) "Cubs Still Need Bats"?

2 runs, 22 innings. That's what makes a championship!

Lou Pinella = 240 lbs. of pure inspiration.

[Larry]

Two guys that we are paying a total of $$22 million a year in Bradley and Fukudome and we still are in need of a left handed bat, Hendery should be fired immediately.

[Lou P]

When can we play the Nationals again?

[the money pit]

Larry wrote:

Two guys that we are paying a total of $$22 million a year in Bradley and Fukudome and we still are in need of a left handed bat, Hendery should be fired immediately.

They both swing left-handed bats, but I guess what you really want are some left-handed hits. Too bad they didn't write that in the contracts.

Baseball must be the only occupation where you are paid big bucks up front and it matters not whether you actually do your job. You still get your money.

If it were up to me, every contract would be based strictly on incentives, but I guess the union would sue for collusion.

[Bob Waters]

The Cubs don't need a left-handed bat. They need a bat- preferably one without holes.
This is at best a mediocre team, and until Hendry admits that there is no hope of fixing it.
The Cubs may win the division on pitching. But if they do they'll be out in three straight again, and for the same reason as the past two years: an inability to hit when it counts the most.
Or this year, an inability to hit at all.

[Old Sam]

Are they FINALLY figuring out Bradley is NOT a switch hitter?

[Krishnan]

Where is Dandy Don Meredith when we need a good singer... time to turn out the lights, back up the truck, start rebuilding! Hendry was panicked into making moves to please his manager. And now we have a team that even Jim Marshall or Tom Trebelhorn would HATE to manage. UGH!

[house]

I'm sorry but I don't even think Lou knows any more what to do time to step it up Lou or Jim needs to find some one else and please Jim before you go signing anybody else look,think it over ASK or what ever but please DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE YOU DID WITH BRADLY. And signing just any body PLEASE..........