Aaand I believe we're done here

Oh snap

And the Cardinals are interviewing Ryne Sandberg

Did Cohaagen gif dose peepull ayer?

I understand why they fired Quade, but two things made me think they may not:

1) No matter what, they are still going to suck hard next season. Too much dead weight tying up roster spots and payroll. With only one year left on his deal, why not let him take the hit and then let him go and owe him nothing after next season?

2) With the Cardinals' job open, I'm not sure why they want to compete with them. I would think most managers would take the Cardinals opening given the choice.

Again, I see why they did it. Theo has to be seen doing something at this point to get the ball rolling, and it's an obvious move to make.

The headline makes it sound like he was snorting coke. It was DIET PILLS.

Also the news was on FARK when he died August 3rd.

"Bubba Smith, ex-NFL player, actor, and noted florist found dead"

The Lone Talbot: The headline makes it sound like he was snorting coke. It was DIET PILLS.

Also the news was on FARK when he died August 3rd.

"Bubba Smith, ex-NFL player, actor, and noted florist found dead"

I see you missed your target. Given the way the Cubs played this year, one could surmise Mike Quade was also found dead on August 3rd and no one picked up on it until now.

\Kuato knows, go find him

SnatchMcGillicudy: The Lone Talbot: The headline makes it sound like he was snorting coke. It was DIET PILLS.

Also the news was on FARK when he died August 3rd.

"Bubba Smith, ex-NFL player, actor, and noted florist found dead"

I see you missed your target. Given the way the Cubs played this year, one could surmise Mike Quade was also found dead on August 3rd and no one picked up on it until now.

\Kuato knows, go find him

LOL. Damn it.

Maaaaan, he got 5 kids to feed!

And one for you, McFly. I believe that makes 4 in a row. Now let me give you a nickel's worth of free advice, young man. This so-called Dr. Brown is dangerous, he's a real nutcase. You hang around with him, you're gonna end up in big trouble.

If Theo can manage to get rid of Soriano and Zambrano he will achieve hero status in my book. Out with the old and in with the new.

kingflower: If Theo can manage to get rid of Soriano and Zambrano he will achieve hero status in my book. Out with the old and in with the new.

We will wait and see if the Cubs just end up doing their old tricks again and buying people right past the peak of their career (Be careful with Fielder and Pujols).

Lando Lincoln: Great headline. I laughed heartily. And I don't mind them cleaning house. They'd better get rid of Zambrano next.

Hadn't he already gotten rid of himself or otherwise been booted from the team? I thought he had quit, or threatened to, to which the Cubs said "Cya."

Shrugging Atlas: 2) With the Cardinals' job open, I'm not sure why they want to compete with them. I would think most managers would take the Cardinals opening given the choice.

The espn talking heads are saying Albert's preference would be that they promote Jose Oquendo. Not a terrible idea if Duncan stays around but it does make them come off badly.

kingflower: If Theo can manage to get rid of Soriano and Zambrano he will achieve hero status in my book. Out with the old and in with the new.

Good luck getting anyone to take either of those two. Especially with those contracts.

Ken VeryBigLiar: The espn talking heads are saying Albert's preference would be that they promote Jose Oquendo. Not a terrible idea if Duncan stays around but it does make them come off badly.

That's the talk around St. Louis as well, but personally I think Albert's gone no matter what. It's pretty clear if a team that's competitive offers him an amount the Cardinals simply cannot match, he's gone. And I think the odds of that happening are very high. Texas would be the most likely choice. They have the cash, need a first baseman that can hit and play defense...and down the road there's the DH waiting for him.

Frankly, I don't have a problem with that. It will sting badly for the next 3-4 years, but when the Cardinals aren't having to wheel out a .250 hitting Albert on two bad knees that plays 120 or so games a year, I'll be grateful that 28-30 million per he's gonna get is going elsewhere. And it will happen, and when it does, it will be fast...that's how hitters like him go.

The Cardinals got his best years, and they got them for an absolute steal. Whatever team signs him is going to be paying for what he accomplished with the Cardinals more than they'll be paying for whatever he can do for them in the future.

Shrugging Atlas: The Cardinals got his best years, and they got them for an absolute steal. Whatever team signs him is going to be paying for what he accomplished with the Cardinals more than they'll be paying for whatever he can do for them in the future.

As a Brewer fan, I have no problems with this. It is the smartest thing to make your best offer, even if it is $40 MM lower than what Boras thinks he can get. Texas makes a great deal of sense for him. At least whoever gets Pujols won't have to worry about a guy who's 5'8 playing first as it would be with Prince.

Dinobot: [i2.cdn.turner.com image 298x395]

What's up with his face? He has no eyebrows!!!!!

That's because you're not looking at his face.

Ken VeryBigLiar: As a Brewer fan, I have no problems with this. It is the smartest thing to make your best offer, even if it is $40 MM lower than what Boras thinks he can get. Texas makes a great deal of sense for him. At least whoever gets Pujols won't have to worry about a guy who's 5'8 playing first as it would be with Prince

I can actually see Fielder going to the Cubs. Pujols as said time and again he'll only go somewhere he can win now. Fielder doesn't seem to have any such stipualation. There's tons of talk the Nationals want to pony up whatever it takes for either guy. I don't see Pujols going there, but if they offer the biggest contract, Fielder would go in a heartbeat.

In both the case of Pujols and Fielder it's just a farking shame. Both should finish their careers with the Cards and Brewers. They deserve it and the fans deserve it. But it's just not going to happen. That's baseball I guess. But I don't want to hear a farking word out of either of them about how they wish they could have stayed with either team.

Shrugging Atlas: Ken VeryBigLiar: As a Brewer fan, I have no problems with this. It is the smartest thing to make your best offer, even if it is $40 MM lower than what Boras thinks he can get. Texas makes a great deal of sense for him. At least whoever gets Pujols won't have to worry about a guy who's 5'8 playing first as it would be with Prince

I can actually see Fielder going to the Cubs. Pujols as said time and again he'll only go somewhere he can win now. Fielder doesn't seem to have any such stipualation. There's tons of talk the Nationals want to pony up whatever it takes for either guy. I don't see Pujols going there, but if they offer the biggest contract, Fielder would go in a heartbeat.

In both the case of Pujols and Fielder it's just a farking shame. Both should finish their careers with the Cards and Brewers. They deserve it and the fans deserve it. But it's just not going to happen. That's baseball I guess. But I don't want to hear a farking word out of either of them about how they wish they could have stayed with either team.

I wouldn't be so suprirsed if they stayed. I would love if teams like the Cards and Brewers pulled a Phillies after their great seasons this year, especially the Brewers, since they have the pieces in place to repeat and go further.

Shrugging Atlas: Ken VeryBigLiar: The espn talking heads are saying Albert's preference would be that they promote Jose Oquendo. Not a terrible idea if Duncan stays around but it does make them come off badly.

That's the talk around St. Louis as well, but personally I think Albert's gone no matter what. It's pretty clear if a team that's competitive offers him an amount the Cardinals simply cannot match, he's gone. And I think the odds of that happening are very high. Texas would be the most likely choice. They have the cash, need a first baseman that can hit and play defense...and down the road there's the DH waiting for him.

Frankly, I don't have a problem with that. It will sting badly for the next 3-4 years, but when the Cardinals aren't having to wheel out a .250 hitting Albert on two bad knees that plays 120 or so games a year, I'll be grateful that 28-30 million per he's gonna get is going elsewhere. And it will happen, and when it does, it will be fast...that's how hitters like him go.

The Cardinals got his best years, and they got them for an absolute steal. Whatever team signs him is going to be paying for what he accomplished with the Cardinals more than they'll be paying for whatever he can do for them in the future.

Three-parter here:

1) Duncan's not staying. TLR didn't have to leave. I've seen you post as much previously and I think you're pretty well on the button. The fact that Tony decided to retire tells me that Duncan is ready to be with his wife through her health issues. Both TLR and Duncan came in as a block, and they'll leave as a block.

2) There's a lot of uncertainty about Oquendo managing a major-league club for a full year. He's been around the coaching staff for some time now, so there may not be so much transistion, but you never know. Also, managing a team like St. Louis (or any MLB team) for a full year is a little different than heading up the Puerto Rico team in the World Baseball Classic. I would love to see him eventually manage, but just not everyone can step right in and do it.

3) I think you even posted this Pujols scenario a few days back, and I've fully thought this has been the case since April: both sides are willing to let the market dictate the initial terms of the contract so both sides don't feel like they're being screwed. Part of playing this game is all the media not-news they have to generate to get people to pay attention. I'm pretty sure if Pujols wants his money, the Cards can give it to him, even if they have to give him a Bonilla-type contract. Most fans might take that as payment to ensure that Albert doesn't Favre his legacy. If the price is way too high, DeWitt should walk, but I don't see the price getting high enough to get to that point.

I see AP going to: 1) Cards, 2) Rangers, 3) Angels, in that order.

Dinobot: [i2.cdn.turner.com image 298x395]

What's up with his face? He has no eyebrows!!!!!

Alopecia areata. No hair. Anywhere.

Shrugging Atlas: I can actually see Fielder going to the Cubs. Pujols as said time and again he'll only go somewhere he can win now. Fielder doesn't seem to have any such stipualation. There's tons of talk the Nationals want to pony up whatever it takes for either guy. I don't see Pujols going there, but if they offer the biggest contract, Fielder would go in a heartbeat.

In both the case of Pujols and Fielder it's just a farking shame. Both should finish their careers with the Cards and Brewers. They deserve it and the fans deserve it. But it's just not going to happen. That's baseball I guess. But I don't want to hear a farking word out of either of them about how they wish they could have stayed with either team.

Brewer fans have come to terms with him going. His wife hates it around here and he wants to smear a big contract in his dad's face. In fairness to both, it's hard to find too many exciting places to live around here when you're a minority and loaded and Prince's time is finite to maximize his earnings.

I've heard him connected with everyone from the Angels to Baltimore; and in his case it would be smart to get to the AL. The Brewers can also replace him with McGehee possibly or I think they have a guy in triple or double A.

machoprogrammer: kingflower: If Theo can manage to get rid of Soriano and Zambrano he will achieve hero status in my book. Out with the old and in with the new.

Good luck getting anyone to take either of those two. Especially with those contracts.

Ozzie has already expressed interest in Zambrano coming to Miami. I wouldn't put that level of crazy past the Marlins.

Soriano isn't going away, ever. I wouldn't be surprised if Hendry
wrote him up a 14 year player option/extension just before he was fired.

Shrugging Atlas: I understand why they fired Quade, but two things made me think they may not:

1) No matter what, they are still going to suck hard next season. Too much dead weight tying up roster spots and payroll. With only one year left on his deal, why not let him take the hit and then let him go and owe him nothing after next season?

2) With the Cardinals' job open, I'm not sure why they want to compete with them. I would think most managers would take the Cardinals opening given the choice.

Again, I see why they did it. Theo has to be seen doing something at this point to get the ball rolling, and it's an obvious move to make.

1) They will suck next year, but they theoretically will have a 3-5 year plan. Putting someone in place now allows them to be in on that plan from the groundfloor.

2) Chicago is a bigger market than STL. Chicago will have less initial expectations. The Cubs can probably pay more. If you win the WS with the Cubs, you go down in history. There a lot of reasons someone with the ego of a MLB manager would rather have the Cubs.

bacongood: Shrugging Atlas: I understand why they fired Quade, but two things made me think they may not:

1) No matter what, they are still going to suck hard next season. Too much dead weight tying up roster spots and payroll. With only one year left on his deal, why not let him take the hit and then let him go and owe him nothing after next season?

2) With the Cardinals' job open, I'm not sure why they want to compete with them. I would think most managers would take the Cardinals opening given the choice.

Again, I see why they did it. Theo has to be seen doing something at this point to get the ball rolling, and it's an obvious move to make.

1) They will suck next year, but they theoretically will have a 3-5 year plan. Putting someone in place now allows them to be in on that plan from the groundfloor.

2) Chicago is a bigger market than STL. Chicago will have less initial expectations. The Cubs can probably pay more. If you win the WS with the Cubs, you go down in history. There a lot of reasons someone with the ego of a MLB manager would rather have the Cubs.

Also factor in that the main reason the cubs sucked this year WAS Quade... The team should not have been that bad. I think a good manager looks at this situation and gets excited about it.

/ "what manager? we dont have a manager" - Carlos Zambrano.
// Offered Quade a nacho once... he didnt accept it. They never do....

SnatchMcGillicudy: Three-parter here:

1) Duncan's not staying. TLR didn't have to leave. I've seen you post as much previously and I think you're pretty well on the button. The fact that Tony decided to retire tells me that Duncan is ready to be with his wife through her health issues. Both TLR and Duncan came in as a block, and they'll leave as a block.

I honestly thought Duncan was gone too. In fact I had figured he probably said as much to LaRussa at some point which was one of the reasons LaRussa hung it up. But now by all accounts he plans on staying at least the last year of his contract. I'm simply amazed by it, but numerous sources are saying it's the case, and Duncan has actually come out in favor of some of the manager candidates (Francona for one) according to this morning's paper and indicated he'd like to work with him. I guess maybe he's just hanging on to see who they hire and decide then, but I would think if he was really planning on going he'd have already made a formal announcement.

2) There's a lot of uncertainty about Oquendo managing a major-league club for a full year. He's been around the coaching staff for some time now, so there may not be so much transistion, but you never know. Also, managing a team like St. Louis (or any MLB team) for a full year is a little different than heading up the Puerto Rico team in the World Baseball Classic. I would love to see him eventually manage, but just not everyone can step right in and do it.

Yeah, I'm really cold on the Oquendo idea too. I think the only reason it even comes up is how long he's been with the Cardinals as a player and coach. The bottom line for me is if he were capable of being a good manager, someone would have hired him. I seriously doubt he passes up a manager offer elsewhere on the off chance he's picked to replace LaRussa in St. Louis. But I think he's only even been offered about a handful of interviews in all this time.

3) I think you even posted this Pujols scenario a few days back, and I've fully thought this has been the case since April: both sides are willing to let the market dictate the initial terms of the contract so both sides don't feel like they're being screwed. Part of playing this game is all the media not-news they have to generate to get people to pay attention. I'm pretty sure if Pujols wants his money, the Cards can give it to him, even if they have to give him a Bonilla-type contract. Most fans might take that as payment to ensure that Albert doesn't Favre his legacy. If the price is way too high, DeWitt should walk, but I don't see the price getting high enough to get to that point.

I still stick to that theory; however, I do think there is a cash threshold where A) Albert can't turn down the offer and B) The Cardinals can't match it--and I'm increasingly of a mind Texas may cross it. If Texas comes in and makes some absurdly high offer in terms of dollars and years I wonder if both sides just don't look at each other and say 'Thanks for the memories." I think that's made more likely by the fact he'd be moving to the AL. It takes some of the sting out of it for the Cardinals' ownership and fans...not like they'll see him much.

I see AP going to: 1) Cards, 2) Rangers, 3) Angels, in that order.

Totally agree.

Lando Lincoln: Damn. That saves a lot of time in the mornings, I bet.

especially wiping!

/I'd guess...