Comments on: “Dempster will have to answer some tough questions if he’s still a Cub after the deadline”

By: El Bravo

El Bravo — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:17:09 +0000

They don’t from all accounts. The deal with ATL is dead.

By: beavertonsteve

beavertonsteve — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:30:46 +0000

We just have no way of knowing. maybe the Cubs front office said “we’ve got a deal, let us talk to Dempster about the no-trade clase” and Atlanta leaked it. Don’t know if that’s what happened, but it’s certainly a possibility.

By: jeffbbf

jeffbbf — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 19:22:41 +0000

His last comment to the press prior to mess with Atlanta was the he “would be interested in joining any contender” Perhaps he doesn’t consider Atlanta a contender. Perhaps he’s being a diva. I’m not sure what the cubs management is supposed to do. Every time someone calls the cubs to talk trade, put them on hold and call Dempster down in the bullpen to get his OK to discuss a trade? Some dingbat in Atlanta leaks the news to the press so Dempster has to throw a hissy? Good riddance. Can’t wait to boo him for the rest of the year and can’t wait till he’s gone.

By: mannyicey

mannyicey — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:35:03 +0000

So when is Atlanta going to retract that ridiculous offer? I mean, Dempster;s name is terrible in Atlanta. The Braves like hitting against Dempster. And it’s been said that Greinke wants to go to Atlanta. So why is Atlanta still have something out there with Dempster?

By: vallewho

vallewho — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:32:31 +0000

what a load of crap. “Dempster will have to answer some tough questions…” answer to the media? Answer to the Chicago fans as to why he chose to stay with their team?? or is he going to fly to ATL and have a new conference to answer to them as why he did not want to join their team???

By: ebrownwareagle

ebrownwareagle — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:58:56 +0000

Stay In CHI Town as a Career Loser dempster. We don’t want you in ATL!!

By: edavidberg

edavidberg — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:39:00 +0000

This is on Dempster. He said he would not veto a trade to a contender. Then when he changed his mind he tried to act like management had done something when he just went back on his word.

This would not have happened if he had been honest about what teams he would waive his no trade for.

I’m glad the Cubs are willing to keep Dempster rather than accept a pu pu platter.

By: illumnus

illumnus — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:21:18 +0000

I agree that what Dempster is doing seems a little odd. He knew he’d be shopped and he knows who’s contending in the playoff race. But before going any further, let’s not forget that he has a young daughter with a very rare and serious medical condition. Perhaps leaving Chicago involves finding someone with similar expertise to her current physicians. I’m sure he considers himself a Dad first, and a Cub somewhere else down the pecking order. Just speculating…

By: lessick

lessick — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:18:47 +0000

It doesn’t really matter where the leak originated, in my opinion. What matters is whether or not the Cubs asked Dempster about Atlanta and how he responded to that inquiry.

By: MattJanik

MattJanik — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:17:58 +0000

Precisely. The CBA says that any player who has been (a) in the league for 10 years AND (b) has been with their current team for five years has the option to veto any trade they damn well please… Ryan Dempster meets both those qualifications. He doesn’t “owe” owe anybody any explanation whatsoever for exercising that collectively bargained right… Dave Kaplan may want an explanation (and I’m sure it would give him something to write about), but Ryan Dempster doesn’t “have” to answer shit, and he doesn’t “have” to explain anything to anybody.

This, of course, is the same sports media that would go into full-on character-assassination mode if (hypothetically) the Cubs were trying to keep him in free agency and he chose any option other than “remain a Cub”, because for some reason we only expect loyalty from our athletes and not our professional sports organizations… That this writer feels people deserve an explanation for Dempster choosing (for now) to STAY with the Cubs is just the richest form of absurdity.

By: charleslee84

charleslee84 — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:07:55 +0000

He’s basically the Anti-Dwight Howard and he’ll be villified as well. SMH @ fans and the media

By: scoregasmic

scoregasmic — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:05:50 +0000

Oh no he has to explain to the cubs fans why he wants to stay on the team? That seems hard…they’ll probably hate him for not leaving them for better things…(sarcasm)

By: Craig Calcaterra

Craig Calcaterra — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:58:27 +0000

The Braves would have had nothing to leak if the Cubs hadn’t told them that they had a deal. And the Cubs couldn’t tell them they had a deal unless they thought (or said without first checking) that Dempster would accept a trade.

By: geoknows

geoknows — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:55:56 +0000

Why is it the Cubs fault, Craig? It’s entirely possible that the leak came from the Braves.

By: saints97

saints97 — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:55:29 +0000

I don’t see why anyone would think Dempster cares about being in a pennant race. The guy signed a long term deal with the Cubs – obviously he just loves being a Cub.

And why would anyone want to go to Atlanta? So, if he gets really lucky, he can see what it’s like to play playoff games in front of hundreds of fans?

By: bleedgreen

bleedgreen — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:42:30 +0000

He has no questions to answer. He has a no trade clause. Theres a reason thats there. If it was expected that players would just waive their no trade clause, then what is the point of having it in the first place?

If you have a contract that says you can do X, and the team asks you to not do X, you can keep doing X.

I know its not football, but we constantly talk about players wanting to redo their deals early, why is it frowned upon in baseball when you expect the team to live up to the contract and allow you to do the things that the team agreed to allow you to do… ie veto any trade at your choosing.

By: djpostl

djpostl — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:23:25 +0000

At a price tag nobody in their right mind should be wiling to pay for a headcase with anxiety issues and only one stellar season on his resume.

By: mrwillie

mrwillie — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:19:53 +0000

As a southern boy who hates the cold, I would absolutely live in Wrigleyville. I love Chicago and especially that area of the north side, it’s just an awesome place- even if I couldn’t ever get a sweet tea and a gravy biscuit.

By: heyblueyoustink

heyblueyoustink — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:12:15 +0000

Mark Grace had tails? What was he, some kind of Japanese animation fiend?

By: lessick

lessick — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:07:47 +0000

Craig is right. The most relevant question centers around whether or not Dempster told the Cubs that he would go to Atlanta. If he did not, then the Cubs should have told him. If he did, then he’s to blame.

If he just wants to stay in Chicago, that’s his right and he should say so and not waste the time of his own and other organizations.

By: tmohr

tmohr — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:06:59 +0000

As I recall, Mark Grace’s main reason for living near Wrigley Field was the massive amount of tail he got.

By: deathmonkey41

deathmonkey41 — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:53:16 +0000

Are you a vampire? Did Prohibition suck as much as I think it did?

By: niubears

niubears — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:34:52 +0000

It was the Braves who first announced the trade, not the Cubs.

By: eshine76

eshine76 — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:28:35 +0000

I find it very hard to believe that the Cubs would work on a trade for Dempster without first getting a list of teams he’d be ok with. A Dempster trade has long been rumored and its well known of his veto rights. Everyone knew what the parameters were.

My guess is that Dempster kept hearing the Dodgers rumors and got himself mentally ready for a trade to California, then talks broke down and next thing he knows he’s going to Atlanta.

Its like when you go to a restaurant and you are going to order the crab cakes, the same crab cakes you’ve been thinking about all day. However, when you order the waitress says “sorry, we are all out of the crab cakes.” So you order the steak, instead. Ordinarily, that steak is pretty damn good, but that night it just isn’t because you were really looking forward to the crab cakes.

In a vaccuum, Atlanta was fine if it was the only choice, but in Dempster’s mind, it wasn’t the only choice available to the Cubs.

By: budselog

budselog — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:16:16 +0000

Correct. People in the news are so into being “first” – like on a blog comment section – that they just report the shit they hear without thinking about ramifications. Dempster has a no-trade clause. It’s that easy. He doesn’t have to answer for SHIT.

By: heyblueyoustink

heyblueyoustink — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:12:04 +0000

I flew out there for a game a few years back, and really, it was an awesome experience.

I can totally understand the sentiment after seeing some of it first hand.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:04:35 +0000

Yes, and the asking price for him is probably much higher while the value provided over 2 months is likely to be about the same.

It remains incumbent on the Dodgers (or other teams) to offer more than the value of the compensation pick….the Cubs or Brewers won’t get nothing if they don’t trade these guys.

By: urdoingitwrongreds

urdoingitwrongreds — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:03:52 +0000

If thats as simple as you make it sound then it isnt his fault. That said he certainly handled blocking the trade to the Braves pretty badly. Has he even officially said no to Atlanta yet? If so I missed it.

By: delsj

delsj — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:00:05 +0000

Wow, how old age you now?

By: heyblueyoustink

heyblueyoustink — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:58:39 +0000

Jilted much?