Forgot to add ...
I don't quite know who to root against more in the NLCS.
The Cardinals are the embodiment of evil, just a couple of notches below any team that employs A.J. Pierzynski.
The Mets are, well, the Mets (and does *anybody* like the Mets?).
The Cardinals stunk up the joint this year, have the worst record of all of the playoff teams, and only are here because the rest of the NL Central was worse. The Mets at least deserve it, but how does a team with Steve Trachsel as its #3 starter become the best team in the NL?
I used to wonder "is it OK to root for the American League?" (that wasn't a problem in '04, given I dig the Red Sox). That won't be a problem this year ... go Tigers :).
--
And, of the manager search ...
Piniella
Positive: Short-term fix. Will win quickly, even with the train-wreck the Cubs have as a roster. Heck, the NL Central isn't *that* tough right now. Could have a similar effect to Jim Leyland.
Negative: Is older, probably won't be around too long before retirement.
Girardi
Positive: Could be a long-term guy, identified with the Cubs as much as Lasorda once was with the Dodgers in the best of cases. A Chicago guy, Northwestern grad, ex-Cub who has World Series jewelry. Guys respect him. He worked wonders with the Marlins this year and almost had them in the playoffs. Imagine what he could do with a team that has players who make almost as much $$ as his entire roster did last year. The fact that he had a spat with one of the worst owners in baseball (as the prize for snuffing out what was left of the Montreal Expos, MLB gave him another market to try to alienate and vacate) shouldn't hurt him.
Negative: Lack of experience, but that didn't seem to hurt him last year.
Bochy
Positive: Intriguing candidate. Has done a nice job with SD, getting them into the playoffs this year with a rather ho-hum roster. He's also played and managed with both of the Padres' World Series entrants. He's been a winner, and players seem to respond to him.
Negative: He's still under contract to SD, and would probably require compensation.
Brenly
Positive: Has a World Series ring. Has seen the Cubs up close for the last year, and has some ideas of how to fix them.
Negative: Has spent more time broadcasting than managing over the last few years (in-between his stint in Arizona, he's been a Cubs broadcaster twice).
I'll support whoever is picked (as long as it's not Jim Essian), but my favorites ...
1. Girardi (young, has done good things already)
2. Piniella (will win quickly)
3. Bochy (has had success, but not exactly the sexy candidate)
The Cardinals are the embodiment of evil, just a couple of notches below any team that employs A.J. Pierzynski.
The Mets are, well, the Mets (and does *anybody* like the Mets?).
The Cardinals stunk up the joint this year, have the worst record of all of the playoff teams, and only are here because the rest of the NL Central was worse. The Mets at least deserve it, but how does a team with Steve Trachsel as its #3 starter become the best team in the NL?
I used to wonder "is it OK to root for the American League?" (that wasn't a problem in '04, given I dig the Red Sox). That won't be a problem this year ... go Tigers :).
--
And, of the manager search ...
Piniella
Positive: Short-term fix. Will win quickly, even with the train-wreck the Cubs have as a roster. Heck, the NL Central isn't *that* tough right now. Could have a similar effect to Jim Leyland.
Negative: Is older, probably won't be around too long before retirement.
Girardi
Positive: Could be a long-term guy, identified with the Cubs as much as Lasorda once was with the Dodgers in the best of cases. A Chicago guy, Northwestern grad, ex-Cub who has World Series jewelry. Guys respect him. He worked wonders with the Marlins this year and almost had them in the playoffs. Imagine what he could do with a team that has players who make almost as much $$ as his entire roster did last year. The fact that he had a spat with one of the worst owners in baseball (as the prize for snuffing out what was left of the Montreal Expos, MLB gave him another market to try to alienate and vacate) shouldn't hurt him.
Negative: Lack of experience, but that didn't seem to hurt him last year.
Bochy
Positive: Intriguing candidate. Has done a nice job with SD, getting them into the playoffs this year with a rather ho-hum roster. He's also played and managed with both of the Padres' World Series entrants. He's been a winner, and players seem to respond to him.
Negative: He's still under contract to SD, and would probably require compensation.
Brenly
Positive: Has a World Series ring. Has seen the Cubs up close for the last year, and has some ideas of how to fix them.
Negative: Has spent more time broadcasting than managing over the last few years (in-between his stint in Arizona, he's been a Cubs broadcaster twice).
I'll support whoever is picked (as long as it's not Jim Essian), but my favorites ...
1. Girardi (young, has done good things already)
2. Piniella (will win quickly)
3. Bochy (has had success, but not exactly the sexy candidate)