Phil Rogers Is Just Stupid

I knew someone was going to start this; I'm not really surprised it was Phil:

"It's enough to make you wonder—and I've wondered before—whether getting rid of the well-credentialed Baker would be a step in the right direction. A new manager for 2007 won't fix the organization's greatest institutional failing, which is a lack of stability."

No Phil, you dillhole, they've had the same team president since 1995. There's your stability

"But it indeed does appear that the Cubs will get their fifth new manager since Don Baylor left in 2002 and 22nd (including fill-ins) since Leo Durocher had the job from 1966-72."

How did the Durocher era work out for the Cubs, Phil?

"On Wednesday, I asked general manager Jim Hendry if the Cubs' ability to grind for 5 hours 36 minutes in pursuit of a victory that didn't really help them reflected on their manager.Hendry never mentioned Baker in his reply, praising the mix of veterans and motivated youngsters, "a very good clubhouse" and the professional nature of the players. "

Salary drive?

"The closest thing to an allusion to Baker came when Hendry referenced the 18-40 stretch with Derrek Lee on the disabled list."Before Derrek went down [April 19], it was a fun team to watch," Hendry said. "We had a bad stretch where we didn't do anything particularly well for 40 to 50 games."

And who gets blamed for that? Baker seems certain to be the one who loses his job over it.At times the Cubs have seemed disorganized and poorly motivated."

As he should, since it's up to the manager to keep the team together through adversity.

"But they are refusing to fall apart completely, which usually happens when a supposed lame duck is left in the dugout. Baker has led them to an 18-14 record since the All-Star break, despite the patchwork rotation that has had rookies make 16 of those starts. Ryan O'Malley got the 1-0 victory Wednesday in his big-league debut"

Again, these players want to play somewhere next year, whether here or elsewhere. It is in their best interest to put up the best numbers they can.

I noticed all the bylines for the Astros series were by Rogers instead of Paul Sullivan. Sullivan might be a little annoying at times, but at least he doesn't have the Texas bias that Rogers has. It's too bad that the Trib didn't do to Rogers what the Sun Times did to Mike Kiley, then he could have just stayed in Houston and done what he is probably best qualified for, which is judging Texas barbecues (? - I just figure Texas and barbecue go together).

The worst part is if WGN Radio Cub mascot Dave Kaplan had Rogers on tonight, and I didn't bother listening if he was), he'll kiss Rogers' ass and tell him "Phil, you're our guy". Maybe GN can dump him so he is free to kiss Rogers' and Bobby Knight's asses all he wants,while Rogers' kisses Baker's.