06-27-2009, 11:45 AM
I think it's pretty commonplace today to just assume that the media has an axe to grind. If Lou doesn't sit Bradley down, he's tolerating negative and disruptive behavior, if he sends him home, he's taking away from the team in another manner.
I've read quite a bit lately about firing Lou, and problems all over the team. No one can argue that the buck stops ultimately with Lou (and Hendry) but in my opinion the culture of the team and it's fan base has changed so significantly since the hiring of Dusty Baker and the let down in 2003. Speaking from my personal experience, I too no longer am satisfied with simply having a great regular season and then tinkering around in the playoffs, BUT, one must review the overall ability to bring a plan together and ask themsevles if they believe leadership is capable of delivering that plan to fruition and if not, if there is anyone else on the market who you believe is BETTER than what you have.
It is furhtermore my belief that when you look at teams with long standing degrees of winning and success you see a long standing manager in their place who did not have immediate success but brought about an attitude of professionalism (see "The Bradley adjustment") and winning as an expectation. I'll point to the Yankees in recent memory with Torre and Atlanta. Sports over the last 20 years has been under the idology of 'change is better' (I won't even get into the political aspects related to that statement) but in my view, once a leader has proven their ability to win consistantly it is a matter of bringing together the right peices to the puzzle in order to complete the ultimate goal.
My point is, it's easy to point fingers and assign blame due to frustration but the reality is all Lou has done since he's gotten here is win. Is it enough, no, absolutely not but I believe in the grand scheme of things simply changing managers isn't the answer to this question. We thought that when Dusty got here and everyone jumped on him as things imploded, we switched to Lou and everyone praised his name. Lou brought about quite a bit of consistancy and an expectation that the division, if not a wild card spot was ours, and Hendry has done a great job (a few twists and turns aside) bringing in the talent that was available to attempt to win.
The harsh reality is that winning it all is promised to no one. Success is not gaurenteed, nor do I personally see any magical formula in leadership changes that will somehow magically loft us into the World Series. What I do see is over a century of frustration and a culture in which frustration comes quickly, and jubilation is short lived. We have tried every single nitpicking, pissed off attempt to "fix" the situation and the feeling that I am left with at this point is that the resources are there, the people are in place, and it's up to the players and coaching staff to perform to their highest level (which I don't think anyone here thinks the Cubs are currently playing at) and give it their all. Personally, that's all I really can ask out of anyone. There is not a shred of belief in me that Lou does not want to win at, and focus on obtaining the highest level of success.
We've sent messages, we've made huge trades, we've increased payroll to astronomical levels, we've changed broadcasters, and in the end we continue to point fingers at what's wrong but never seem to implement the final solution. Perhaps chasing our tails is what we truly want to do...because none of the common place adjustments that we have made over the last 10 years has seemed to work.
Or perhaps we should stop blaming, bitching, whining and moaning and buckle down, ask that the players work harder, keep their heads up, support the team to the best of our ability, and stop thinking that the grass is greener on the other side....
I've read quite a bit lately about firing Lou, and problems all over the team. No one can argue that the buck stops ultimately with Lou (and Hendry) but in my opinion the culture of the team and it's fan base has changed so significantly since the hiring of Dusty Baker and the let down in 2003. Speaking from my personal experience, I too no longer am satisfied with simply having a great regular season and then tinkering around in the playoffs, BUT, one must review the overall ability to bring a plan together and ask themsevles if they believe leadership is capable of delivering that plan to fruition and if not, if there is anyone else on the market who you believe is BETTER than what you have.
It is furhtermore my belief that when you look at teams with long standing degrees of winning and success you see a long standing manager in their place who did not have immediate success but brought about an attitude of professionalism (see "The Bradley adjustment") and winning as an expectation. I'll point to the Yankees in recent memory with Torre and Atlanta. Sports over the last 20 years has been under the idology of 'change is better' (I won't even get into the political aspects related to that statement) but in my view, once a leader has proven their ability to win consistantly it is a matter of bringing together the right peices to the puzzle in order to complete the ultimate goal.
My point is, it's easy to point fingers and assign blame due to frustration but the reality is all Lou has done since he's gotten here is win. Is it enough, no, absolutely not but I believe in the grand scheme of things simply changing managers isn't the answer to this question. We thought that when Dusty got here and everyone jumped on him as things imploded, we switched to Lou and everyone praised his name. Lou brought about quite a bit of consistancy and an expectation that the division, if not a wild card spot was ours, and Hendry has done a great job (a few twists and turns aside) bringing in the talent that was available to attempt to win.
The harsh reality is that winning it all is promised to no one. Success is not gaurenteed, nor do I personally see any magical formula in leadership changes that will somehow magically loft us into the World Series. What I do see is over a century of frustration and a culture in which frustration comes quickly, and jubilation is short lived. We have tried every single nitpicking, pissed off attempt to "fix" the situation and the feeling that I am left with at this point is that the resources are there, the people are in place, and it's up to the players and coaching staff to perform to their highest level (which I don't think anyone here thinks the Cubs are currently playing at) and give it their all. Personally, that's all I really can ask out of anyone. There is not a shred of belief in me that Lou does not want to win at, and focus on obtaining the highest level of success.
We've sent messages, we've made huge trades, we've increased payroll to astronomical levels, we've changed broadcasters, and in the end we continue to point fingers at what's wrong but never seem to implement the final solution. Perhaps chasing our tails is what we truly want to do...because none of the common place adjustments that we have made over the last 10 years has seemed to work.
Or perhaps we should stop blaming, bitching, whining and moaning and buckle down, ask that the players work harder, keep their heads up, support the team to the best of our ability, and stop thinking that the grass is greener on the other side....