Comments on: Cubs manager Mike Quade is already on the hot seat, but so is general manager Jim Hendry

By: nudeman

nudeman — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:50:21 +0000

Re Zambrano, I know an ex major leaguer; was a 10-12 year guy, most in the NL. A good player, but not superstar. .300 hitter with some power.

Said the book on Zambrano was simple: Just step out of the box a couple times, or do something else to upset him. He’d get pissed, throw a fastball down the middle and would totally lose focus. A 10 million dollar talent with a 10 cent brain and emotional makeup.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:59:03 +0000

It’s the manager who runs the show from what I see. At least when it comes to who’s coming from the Pen and when. The pitching coach could let the manager know “So and so is burned out and needs to sit tonight.” But I really don’t think they make any calls on when and who comes out besides that.
Phillies perspective. Dubee wouldn’t bring Romero out against RH batters if he didn’t have to, and Manuel does too often, even when he doesn’t have to, burning my a$$. Just because Romero is totally ineffective against RH batters (lots of walks) but does well with LH’s.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:22:38 +0000

Not trying to defend Quade here, just a general question…but how much of who and when is up in the pen is on the manager versus the pitching coach….isn’t the pitching coach at least in charge of providing advice/guidance on these issues to the manager?

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:58:27 +0000

Yeah, I was thinking that was dumb at the time, I think some of it was due to the overtime game from the night before. Still it was obvious Zambonehead was cooked at that point. And he was only facing the best hitter on the Phillies and all. Quade’s skills are suspect imo. You don’t leave a cooked Zambonehead on the mound after loading the bases to face Polanco, You just don’t do that if you’re thinking straight.

By: Panda Claus

Panda Claus — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:31:07 +0000

Leaving Zambrano in to fatigue himself is a known strategy the team employs. They figure if he’s worn down he’ll have less energy to trash the dugout or clubhouse. Gatorade coolers around the league wisely insisted on this clause in their latest CBA.

By: Panda Claus

Panda Claus — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:57:07 +0000

Wait a second… are you indirectly comparing Pujols to Fredo (“Remember the Hug!”)? In St. Louis the “Hug” is as [in]famous as the “Alamo” is in San Antonio. Maybe Pujols was trying to tell Hendry something.

By: bigxrob

bigxrob — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:46:53 +0000

Friday night in Philly, Zambrano was laboring and loaded the bases having thrown 120 +/- pitches. He was done. But with a right handed batter up, Quade only had a left hander warming up in the bull pen. Since left handed relievers are not allowed to pitch to a right handed batter in that situation (according to the managers handbook), he left Z in. Result: Grand slam.
The Cubs scored 5 in the next inning, but it wasn’t enough.
How could he not have a reliever ready in that situation?
As a philly fan, I was happy with the result, but still, how does that happen.

By: dodger88

dodger88 — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:42:41 +0000

Under Quade the Cubs are 50-52 since he took over last year. Anyone really think this Cubs team is better than a .500 club? I think not.

By: nudeman

nudeman — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:39:35 +0000

Who’d have guessed there’d be a Fredo reference here.

Then again, it IS the Cubs. Just sayin’ …

By: StottsEra

StottsEra — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:28:53 +0000

certainly

By: nps6724

nps6724 — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:24:02 +0000

It seems every vote of confidence from a GM is followed by a firing of the manager/head coach by the end of the season, if not sooner. So long, Quade.

By: yankeesfanlen

yankeesfanlen — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:22:51 +0000

But look what Connie did when she was a widow. Good thing she was a girl.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:20:41 +0000

Jim Hendry needs to go if that team is going to ever try to get above .500 again.

By: umrguy42

umrguy42 — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:20:17 +0000

“General manager Jim Hendry gave Quade a vote of confidence yesterday”

Yeah, and Michael Corleone told his sister he wouldn’t make a widow of her. He also embraced Fredo, too…