Let's meet Pete Mackanin

With the manager search in full swing, I thought it would be a good time to learn a little more about what seems like the first cadidate to be interviewed for the freshly vacated managerial position, Pete Mackanin.

After extensive research on wikipedia, I found out that Pete was born in Chicago in 1951. He was drafted in 1969 by the perennial powerhouse Washington Senators, and debuted in 1973 at second base. He boasts gaudy career stats of a .226 BA, 30 HRs, and 141 RBIs in almost 600 games played. 

As for his coaching career, that's when things started looking a little better for him. After a couple minor league stints, he became bench coach for the Pirates in 2003, learning all he could from legendary manager Lloyd McClendon. More specifically, Lloyd passed on fundamental base stealing strategy to Pete that we hope he can instill in the Cubs should he be chosen for the job.

Pete then moved on to the Reds system, where was hired as a scout and eventually interim manager when Jerry Narron was fired. He was not hired for the permanent gig, and was instead passed over for what is a very familiar face, Dusty Baker. 

Now I know what you're all thinking. You must not be a very good coach if you get passed over for Dusty. You're probably right. What we know so far about Pete is that he coached under a guy who ripped a base out of the dirt and took off with it after getting ejected, and was passed over for a manager job for the guy who ran Mark Prior's and Kerry Wood's arms into the ground. Pete may in fact be the manager of the team after Mike Maddux inevitably signs with Boston when John Henry offers him double what Theo offers as a final "fuck you." From what it sounds like he could just fit right in. Not really sure how his hiring would coincide with the whole "changing the mentality of the club to a winner" idea but I guess that's why Epstein is making the big decisions and I write snide blogs about them. 

Lunch break babe of the day

Introducing Sarah...

Butler losing its first game of the year makes me so happy even if it doesn't count

This squad had the luckiest two runs in tournament history. Tonight they got beaten 53-50 at the buzzer to a D-II program and I couldn't be happier. Although the last time I remember this happening a certain Syracuse Orange team went on a ridiculous run and would have won the national championship had Georgetown not sabotaged the team and injured Arinze Onuaku. Either way I'm so happy they lost and no I'm definitely not bitter about them knocking Cuse out that year either. I'm not I swear.

Who will be next on Theo's chopping block?

With Cub Nation remembering all the good times of the Mike Quade era and having the sudden urge to drop whatever is in your hands or take a walk, we begin to wonder what Epstein & Co.'s next move will be, and who will be the next in what you would assume is the beginning of the new regime's effort to clean house. With Ramirez leaving and Dempster picking up his own option, that leaves the Cubs with two deadweight contracts that seem to be good options to try to move before spring training. One of which is this guy:

The embodiment of cool, calm, and collected.

Zambrano, much like Ramirez, has been with the team for the better part of 10 years. But he has also provided more regrettable and "negative press" type moments than he's turned in memorable performances, obviously excluding his no hitter a few years back. On the books for $18MM, with the reputation of a cancer and in desperate need for a fresh start, he has to be target #1 to get the axe. I personally think he will end up with the Yankees, the team with the financial means to eat a decent portion of his contract, the need to fill in their rotation, as well as the no-bullshit culture that may straighten him out and let his talent come through. No one denies that he can be a staple in any rotation in the bigs, but his mental makeup has been a drag on what could have been a hugely successful career on the North Side. Ultimately, the negatives outweigh the positives with him and I think Theo looks to move him ASAP.

The other, more complicated piece of the puzzle is Soriano. Personally, watching him swing and miss on breaking balls in the dirt every single game for the past few few years has been fucking infuriating. Frankly I'm surprised he sees any other pitch besides a slider low and away. The following image is emblazoned into my brain:

Look familiar?

Last year, his 26 homers were overshadowed by his abysmal .289 OBP. Surprisingly, his strikeout numbers dropped from 123 to 113. Not to be deterred, he still managed to rank 28th in Ks and 58th in pitches per plate appearance in the NL. Any move Theo makes with Soriano will involve an American League club. He's quintessential DH material as he continues to age and his defense declines. He will be tougher to move than Zambrano and based on what he's already said, Epstein & Co. may decide to hang on to him and see what he's got left in the tank. I'm sure a lot of people, myself included, are crossing their fingers hoping that he gets moved as well. I would rather give Colvin or another young guy his ABs rather than watch him swing and miss for another season. 

Quade getting fired is part of the symbolic overhaul of the franchise. We're saddled with a few bad contracts right now and I think that Theo will think long and hard about each players' individual worth to the team and weigh that against what it is that player is making next season and in the seasons to come. Zambrano and Soriano seem like logical pieces to move and I wouldn't be surprised if management decides to move them sooner rather than later. 

Who are the idiots that actually think trading Peyton Manning makes sense?

Herm Edwards just said on Sportscenter that the Colts need to trade Peyton Manning and get what they can for him now so that they can get Andrew Luck. First of all, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Peyton Manning could go out on one fucking leg and beat 2/3 of the QBs that are plaguing the league right now. There has been ATROCIOUS play from so many quarterbacks it's hard to put into words. Meanwhile, one of the greatest passers in history is sitting out because of an injury, and the team might trade him to get a guy dominating the Pac-10...sorry Pac-12?

The Colts are winless at 0-8, and the Dolphins are winless at 0-7. The Rams and Cardinals have one win a piece. The Cardinals just traded for Kolb and the Rams are in Year 2 of the Sam Bradford era, so they are pretty set at QB. The Dolphins are probably the only other team that might snag the first pick that would also be interested in a QB, unless Kolb tanks the rest of the year.

The Colts are MAYBE a two win team. What would their record be at the end of the year with Manning? 10-6? 9-7? 8-8? You'd have to think somewhere in that range. Meaning Peyton Manning is worth 6-8 wins BY HIMSELF to the Colts if you assume they finish this season at 2-14. Is it possible to retroactively award Manning 3-4 more MVPs? I mean good god the Colts are bad.

People are saying that Luck is more of a lock than Manning was when he was drafted. Take a look at the past nine QBs taken at number 1 in the draft, since Manning was drafted.

2010 - Bradford
2009 - Matt Stafford
2007 - JAMARCUS RUSSELL
2005 - Alex Smith
2004 - Eli Manning
2003- Carson Palmer
2002 - David Carr
2001- Mike Vick
1999- Tim Couch

Take that impressive list in. Jury is still out on Bradford and Smith. Stafford is playing well and it can't hurt to have the freak known as Calvin Johnson to throw to. Eli Manning as we all know has a ring. Carson Palmer was a flash in the pan. And Couch, Carr, and Russell were flat out, indisputable busts of epic proportions. Mike Vick murdered dogs, and was rewarded with $100MM for 3/4 of a good season last year, and promptly got off to a 1-5 start.

My point being that between all of those QBs, there is one with a Super Bowl title and he is Peyton Manning's younger brother. Are you really going to roll the dice and give up a Super Bowl winning QB for a draft pick that statistically has the odds stacked against him? The draft is a straight crapshoot, spin of the roulette wheel, whatever you want to call it. There is no such thing as a sure thing and to give up Peyton Manning for a draft pick is bananas.

This is all contingent on Manning being able to come back and play again. No team will give up a first round pick, rather ANYTHING, for a guy who might not play another down in his life.

Am I wrong? I'm just not seeing it. You've got a great QB, on the tail end of his career for sure, and you want to sacrifice that for a college guy? Let me know if I'm wrong.

Quade out as manager, here comes Tito

Just as we all suspected after yesterday's press conference, Epstein and Co. decided that Mike Quade wasn't the man to lead the Cubs into this new era. Jim Hendry passed over Ryno to promote Quade and that move did not pay off to say the least. You have to figure Francona will be one of Epstein's primary targets as a replacement for Quade.  He might be too fresh off of the Sox' collapse this past fall to assume another demanding managing role. The team led baseball, not just the National League, but all of baseball, in walks and errors last year and it's those fundamental problems that the team needs to address moving forward. No hard feelings between the club and Quade but this is the right move at the right time. 

On top of that, the Cards are going after Ryno. I can't really think of anything worse than seeing Sandberg replace Larussa, coming off of a championship season, and the Cubs being as bad as they were this year.

Trent Richardson is OK at being a running back

Couple weeks old but I just saw it. Reason #1 Alabama is winning this weekend.