Kuzul

According to MLBTradeRumors.com, Sandy Alderson “asked and received permission from Bud Selig to interview with the Mets for the GM vacancy next Thursday or Friday, and The New York Post’s Joel Sherman says that’s an indication that Alderson wants the job badly.”

OK, fine, let him go and generally manage the Mets. Meanwhile, why hasn’t Cubs owner Tom Ricketts inquired about a guy like Alderson to help him evaluate Jim Hendry and the club since he admits he is not a baseball guy?

Even if Alderson isn’t available, perhaps he could lure a guy like former Braves GM John Schuerholz, or hell, Dallas Green, with a President title. Look, how else can Ricketts truly know if Hendry is the right man for the job unless he has a good baseball man to help him make those decisions?

Forget Crane Kenny. Why he’s still with the club is anybodies guess, but it may have more to do with continuity with Wrigley Field than anything else. Ricketts is a smart businessman and he knows that the ballpark is his cash cow.

But Kenny is about as useful to Ricketts in evaluating Hendry as wet dog hair. So Ricketts can only refer to things like how well the young guys are performing, and point to the minor league record as signs of progress.

But if you read the text of Rickett’s letter to Cubs season ticket holders, he mentions Tim Wilken but no mention of Hendry. He also points to the success of Tyler Colvin, Starlin Castro, and Casey Coleman has hopeful signs that the club is on the right track.

There is so much wrong with that viewpoint that I don’t know where to begin.

First of all, a team’s minor league record means very little. In fact, winning always takes a back seat to player development. Sure, clubs can stock their upper levels with 4-A type of players in an effort to win games, but it is far more valuable to take your lumps with the real prospects.

And that’s where Ricketts’ second mistake becomes obvious.

While Castro is a true prospect, Colvin is merely a nice fourth outfielder long term, and Coleman never was a prospect. He’s a candidate for the 2011 rotation only because the Cubs wants to shed payroll.

In short, Coleman, though he pitched decently, is a fringe major league pitcher. 

Even Castro, as good as he looks, is probably not a shortstop long term. His future should be at second base. Nevertheless, he represents the only major league ready prospect in the organization.

But Ricketts can’t see this because he has no one to help him. It’s not his fault that he isn’t a baseball guy, but it is his fault to not ask for help.

It may be a solid management plan to sit back and watch at first, but it’s not a good plan to watch only through the clouded eyes of a fan and nothing more.

Ricketts needs a guy like Alderson. Otherwise, he will continue to try and do this all by himself, which doesn’t make much sense.

Ricketts says the total team expenditures will remain flat next year. But he goes on to say that more of the resources will be poured into player development and scouting. That means the major league payroll will decrease in 2011.

With all of the needs that the Cubs have, it is hard to envision a contending team next season without going out and acquiring major league help. But unless Hendry can move some big salaries, that won’t be possible.

After all, the Cubs will face big arbitration raises to players like Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall, and Geo Soto. Not to mention the huge, unmovable contracts of Carlos Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, and Carlos Silva.

But no, it appears that Ricketts will try and do it based on the blind trust of Hendry and the Cubs fandom continuing to pack the park no matter what the record is.

Well, count me among those who aren’t buying what Ricketts is selling.

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It’s been written all over the blogosphere how the Cincinnati Reds have self destructed in their NLDS series against the Phillies. A series that was wrapped up in the minimum three games on Sunday night.

But how much of the errors that other teams make are the result of bad timing, poor fundamentals or bad luck and how much can be attributed to the lurking presence of the Phillies causing teams like the Reds to feel the pressure of having to play a perfect game to win?

Though no one knows for sure, it’s a valid question, as the Reds built their NL Central title on playing solid fundamental baseball all season and now suddenly they can’t seem to make the plays when needed. 

Well, this much we do know: the sight of H20 can make any team nervous. Against the Phils big three of Halladay, Hamels and Oswalt, teams know they won’t get very many opportunities to shine and must play their best baseball to have a chance, especially in a short series.

So let’s take a look at how the intimidation factor might play against the remaining teams going forward.

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There is all this talk about Yankees skipper Joe Girardi walking away after the season and taking the job as the next Cubs manager.

But if the Bombers win a consecutive championship, they have to keep him, right?

I know that many Yankees fans have questioned Girardi‘s managerial skills. Heck, if you check with most fans they will point to one reason or another why they do not like their manager.

In St. Louis, as much as Tony LaRussa has won over the years, I know of many Cards fans that question what he does.

In Chicago, they ran Dusty Baker out of town, yet here he is with the Reds in the playoffs, and Lou Piniella is simply the next in line to fail at Wrigley.

So it makes sense that New Yorkers aren’t all in agreement that Girardi is the best manager in baseball. But look, the Big Apple turned a veteran manager like Joe Torre into a Hall of Famer, so who is to say where the organization starts and the manager ends?

Which brings us back to the plight of Mr. Girardi. As a Cubs fan, I always thought he exhibited leadership skills and, of course, as a catcher, knew the game. He is a local product, so naturally he is mentioned as a potential candidate for the Cubs job—which is currently open.

But why would a supposedly smart guy like Girardi leave such a good thing unless he is asked to leave? Well, the answer is he won’t, but we don’t know if Brian Cashman and the Yankees brass want him to stay.

Sure, the easy thing is to say if the team wins another title, they will keep Girardi as manager. That much is a given. But what if they fail to recapture the title? Does that mean he is shown the door?

In New York, who knows? In Chicago, we still hail Mike Ditka for winning a Super Bowl 25 years ago. But in a place where “what have you done for me lately” is prevalent, no manager is safe.

This much we know: Girardi is a free agent after the season. And the Yankees have a policy of not discussing this sort of thing until after the season.

So how much of the Yankees’ recent success is owed to Girardi? And how much of the success is owed to a $200 million payroll?

Before you dismiss the manager’s influence in The Big Apple, consider that the Yanks have had the top payroll and have failed to win the World Series in other years.

In 2008, the Yankees actually had a higher payroll than in 2009, yet they failed to even make the playoffs!

In fact, from 2001 to 2007 the Yankees had payrolls at, or near, the top of baseball, yet they nonetheless failed to win a title in each of those seasons.

So if having the top payroll is the answer, how come those teams failed to win it all? Perhaps the manager does have some influence after all, eh?

Sure, in those years the Yankees had great teams that had much success, but they did not win the title. And isn’t that the ultimate goal for New Yorkers? After all, you’re not called the Second City.

And Joe Girardi has won a World Series. Could they have won with a different manager? No one knows for sure. But know this: If he wins it again, he is going nowhere.

New Yorkers know a good thing when they have one. The rest is history, as they say.

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On Friday night, the Phillies went up 2-0 against the Cincinnati Reds, coming back from behind to win 7-4. The Fightin’ are on their way to Ohio and on their way to an NLDS series victory.

Think that is impressive? Well, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet, Phillies phans. This team is not only on the verge of competing for a World Series title, this just may well be the start of something truly special.

Um…can you say D-Y-N-A-S-T-Y?

Look, this isn’t just a knee-jerk reaction to a couple of victories over a Cincinnati team that, while talented and deserving of being here, seems nervous and every bit as inexperienced as can be.

No, there are many reasons to objectively envision the winning ways going well beyond this season. Sure, Jayson Werth is eligible to declare free agency following the World Series, and by all accounts, will probably not return.

But this team and its management has shown a willingness to do what it takes to keep on keepin’ on. The Roy Halladay trade and subsequent contract extension was pure brilliance, my friends.

Now, I know that many of you questioned Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr’s sanity when he traded Cliff Lee, but let’s face it, if they had kept Lee they would not have gone out and acquired Roy Oswalt and then there would be no H2O!

So let’s forgive Amaro and instead focus on why this team can potentially be great for years to come.

How do we love thee Phils? Let us count the ways…

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Roy Halladay entered the major league baseball record books for the second time this season, as he threw just the second no-hitter in postseason history against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.

Of course, the first time he did so was the perfect game he authored earlier in the year.

But this is not a guy who is a stranger to fine pitching performances. Maybe on this level, certainly, but he has pitched some great games in his career.

So let’s take a look at those games and rank them accordingly.

Here we go!

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Alright, so the Phillies ace, Roy Halladay, pitched an historic game against the Reds, becoming only the second pitcher in playoff history to throw a no-hitter. But remember Reds fans, it only counts as one loss.

I’m not trying to diminish Halladay’s performance but the Reds and their fans have to keep a stiff upper lip and realize they faced a great pitcher who was having a terrific night.

Now, I know what you’re saying — how can we win a five game series when, already down one game, we have to face a guy we couldn’t even get a single hit off of in game one?

Well, consider that pitchers often struggle following no-hitters and perfect games. Just two starts after throwing a perfect game earlier this season, Halladay allowed five runs in seven innings.

Meanwhile, the White Sox‘ Mark Buehrle followed up his perfect game in 2009 by allowing 18 runs over his next 18.1 innings.

Is this a bit of a stretch? Of course it is. But then again, the Phillies had the most wins and the home field advantage and were the favorites to win this series before it ever started. So Reds fans need to look for something, anything, to give them hope.

Well, consider this. the Phillies throw Roy Oswalt in their next game against the Reds on Friday and while he’s been very good, he was hit hard by the Reds this season.

He is 0-2 in two starts, allowing 17 hits in 12 innings. Reds hitters have hit .347 against him. Even in 2009, Oswalt allowed 24 hits in his 24 innings pitched versus the Reds.

This is not to suggest that it won’t be a tough road for Cincy going forward. But look, it’s only one game, and a game the Phils were expected to win.

The fact that they got no-hit does not count for extra points. Like a bloop hit that looks like a line drive in the box score, it is only one loss. Time to regroup.

This Reds team didn’t lead the league in hitting for no reason. They are a very solid offensive club and they will rebound. Will it be enough to take the series? I don’t know but then again, no one really picked the Reds anyway.

So instead of burying their heads in the sand, let’s hope the Reds take this one game for what it is — a loss to a pitcher having a historic night and nothing more.

They still have to play the next four games after all. The series wasn’t lost tonight. Cincinnati needs to win three of the next four versus a Philly team that will be much more beatable without Halladay on the mound.

It’s a tall order, but then again, nobody picked the Reds to win the division this year either.

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The Philadelphia Philles were the proud owners of the NL’s best record during the regular season, and hold home field advantage against the Cincinnati Reds in their Division Series playoff matchup, beginning Wednesday.

So why should anyone believe that the Reds, and their recently extended manager Dusty Baker, can topple the heavily phavorited Phils?

Oh, let me count the ways.

While we all recognize that Philly has as good a starting rotation as there is in the postseason, led by Doc Holliday, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels, the Reds have an impressive, if young, staff of their own.

Plus, they hold an X factor in young gun Aroldis Chapman, and his 105-mph fastball.

Bottom line, the pressure is on the Phillies simply because they are expected to win, while the Reds come in loosy-goosy and ready for anything.

So, come join me as I show you why the underdog is not always to be taken lightly in a short series.

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How good has Cubs closer Carlos Marmol been this season? Historically good. 

As ESPN.com’s Bruce Levine reports, Marmol “is averaging 15.94 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. The Major League single-season record for a reliever is 14.98 for nine innings pitched by the Dodgers’ Eric Gagne in 2003.” 

Considering that Gagne was a ‘roided up phony of a pitcher when he set that record, it makes  Marmol’s accomplishment even more impressive.  

That slider employed by the Cubs closer is the best slider this side of White Castle. The only question coming into Marmol’s first full season as a closer was whether his lack of control would prevent him from being a successful closer.  

Well, we can put some of those fears to rest, because even though he has walked 52 batters in just over 75 innings pitched, he has generally gotten the job done. Marmol has 36 saves in 41 opportunities thus far in 2010. 

Right-handed hitters are batting just .166 against him this year. Even more impressive is the measly .132 average that lefty swingers have been able to muster.

Carlos has allowed just two hits in September, covering his last 14 appearances.  He has struck out 23 while not allowing a run this month. 

Marmol is up for arbitration this winter. How would you like to be his agent?

More Useless Trivia

For starters

In case you’re wondering, yes, Marmol has the all-time Cubs record for strikeouts by a relief pitcher. Not surprisingly, a starter holds the all-time strikeout mark for the Cubs. 

Ferguson Jenkins broke his own Cubs record when he K’d 274 batters in 1970, one more than his previous year.         

He’s truly a “Hit”

When Cubs rookie Starlin Castro went 2-for-5 on Wednesday. It was the 38th multi-hit game by the Cubs young shortstop. That is the most for a Cubs rookie since Mark Grace compiled 41 in 1988. 

Big Zzzzz…

On Monday, Carlos Zambrano moved into second place on the Cubs all-time strikeout list when he passed Charlie Root, who recorded 1,432 Ks in his career. Jenkins, of course, holds the all-time Cubs record. 

Power outage

And this from Chicago Cubs Online: “2010 is the first season since 1993 that the Cubs did not hit at least 75 home runs at Wrigley Field. Lou and Q’s offense managed only 74 longballs in 81 home dates.”

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Despite all of the supposed rancor between Guillen and GM Kenny Williams and the supposed interest in managing the cross-town rival Cubs, you can book the following:

Guillen will manage the Sox in 2011.

For one, he is under contract. For another, the reports that Guillen is demanding a contract extension are false. What Guillen wants is an assurance that he is wanted. Something that Williams gave to the insecure Sox manager today.

ESPNChicago.com reports that Williams, appearing on ESPN 1000’s “Talkin’ Baseball” on Saturday morning, Williams said he hopes Guillen returns.

“I hope so,” he said. “And I know there will be some people out there who may be surprised by that.”

Not to say Guillen and Williams haven’t had their moments of frustration and disagreements, but both men are smart enough to realize that they need each other.

After all this combination produced the first Sox title in 88 years in 2005.

Guillen is considered an excellent field manager. If not a bit too honest in his verbiage, Williams is known as a guy who goes for the home run in a town that seldom does so in any sport.

Much of this year’s supposed disagreements revolve around Guillen’s unwillingness to take Jim Thome back and wanting a more small-ball approach. While Williams desired a thumper in the DH role.

It looks like Kenny has won that round. Not only has Thome helped the rival Minnesota Twins win the division, Sox DH’s have failed to produce. 

Still, Guillen is a proud man and he wants to be respected. I say he is insecure because he seems to always be in need of validation.

For his part, Kenny said reports of a shouting match between he and Guillen that resulted in Williams saying Ozzie “was done,” were inaccurate.

Bottom line, these are guys who need each other and are both liked and respected by White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf.

Like it or not, you are stuck with both of them, Sox fans.

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Cubs television analyst Bob Brenly officially withdrew his name from the list of candidates for the Cubs skipper job that opened when Lou Piniella retired last month. While he did not disclose his reasons, one sentence seems to say a lot about why he would not want to manage the team in 2011.

Carrie Muskat of MLB.com had this nugget from Brenly: “I’m not overly pessimistic about this team for next year,” Brenly said, “but I’m not overly optimistic either. You get the players on the field, you start playing the game and you never know what’s going to happen.”

Look, he can’t be too critical of the Cubs chances next season because he’d like to keep his job in the booth. But if you read between the lines, Brenly does not have any interest in managing a team that isn’t likely to be a contender next season.

The Cubs and Tom Ricketts are looking to shed payroll and build through the farm. And while that farm has produced some serviceable players, only Starlin Castro has near-term superstar potential at this point.

Andrew Cashner has the best arm, but nobody knows if he’s a starter or reliever. Jeff Samardzija is no longer a prospect and Casey Coleman never was, though he could be in the running for a fifth spot in the rotation next season.

They do have some younger guys on the rise in the system, such as shortstop Lee Hak-Ju, but they won’t be ready to start next year. Josh Vitters, who was once the heir apparent to Aramis Ramirez at third base, has taken a step backward in the organization and is unlikely to be ready to challenge anyone at this point.

Now, Brenly‘s son Michael is a catcher in the Cubs system, so the chance to manage his boy one day would seem to be an attractive option. Yet even that couldn’t persuade him to take on the headache that is the Cubs.

Jim Hendry‘s managerial search has been an odd one thus far, bringing in candidates like Eric Wedge who would seem to lack the most basic prerequisite that Ricketts said he is looking for.

But Ryne Sandberg, Mike Quade and yes, Brenly too, certainly know what it takes to manage the Cubs, with more than a century of frustration and an increasingly anxious fan base.

Guys like Wedge, Bob Melvin and Fredi Gonzalez, who also declined to interview (he is expected to take over for Bobby Cox in Atlanta), only know what they’ve heard or read about. Not that I agree with Ricketts, but when the boss man says something, you would think Hendry would heed his words.

When Ricketts makes the final decision, you can expect that he will want either Sandberg or Quade, unless, of course, Joe Girardi is available. It’s hard to see Joe walking away from such a good thing in New York, but he would immediately jump to the top of the class if he were available.

Meanwhile, Brenly knows as much about the Cubs as anyone currently with the organization, yet he doesn’t want the job.

Maybe he knows too much.

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