From: bohnert@leland.Stanford.EDU (matthew bohnert)
Subject: Re: Re; Ex Cubs All-Star teams
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 15:05:04 GMT


>>1B- Rafael Palmeiro (.268, 22 HR, 85 RBI)
>>2B- Scott Fletcher (.275, 17 SB)
>>SS- Curtis Wilkerson (.250, 18 SB)
>>3B- Chico Walker (.289, 15 SB)
>>OF- Joe Carter (34 HR, 119 RBI, 12 SB)
>>OF- Darrin Jackson (17 HR, 70 RBI, 14 SB)
>>OF- George Bell (25 HR, 112 RBI)
>>OF- Mel Hall (.280, 15 HR, 81 RBI)
>>SP- Bob Tewksbury (16-5, 2.16 ERA, 20 BB in 33 starts)
>>SP- Rick Sutcliffe (16-15, 4.47 ERA, 5 complete games)
>>RP- Dennis Eckersley (7-1, 1.91 ERA, 51 saves)
>>RP- Lee Smith (4-9, 3.12 ERA, 43 saves)
>
>Being a life-long Cubs fan (I grew up in the South Suburbs of Chicago 
>watching Jack Brickhouse and Lou Boudreau on Cubs' telecasts for
>roughly 150 games a year (I had no childhood)), I had to respond to this

[a few correct, but mostly incorrect, comments deleted]

Well, not to be insulting, but I don't know how you could have watched
150 games a year and missed the Dawson arrival by three years.  When
Carter was traded, the Cubs had Dernier in center, Moreland in right,
and Dallas Green's favorite player (which hurt us later when he REFUSED
to trade him) in left, Sarge Matthews.  All three were playing extremely
well at that time, so there was just nowhere Carter would fit.  You
can say all you want about trading him away, but IMHO, the Cubs
accomplished exactly what you want to accomplish when they traded
him... they got an All-Star who took them to a title, and who was a Cy
Young candidate again in 1987.  Not shameful at all.  I don't know
what to say about Hall... the guy was a complete ass and refused to work
with the coaching staff, and again, there was nowhere to put him.

When Eckersley was slipping badly with the Cubs, he was putting away
liquor like a street wino, so use your judgement there.  He recovered,
thank goodness, but I don't think you can really fault the Cubs'
management for giving up on him.

The one that continues to burn me is the "Palermo" trade (as Harry
would say).  Contrary to popular opinion, I don't think this trade
did a damn thing for the team in '89.  Their general bullpen was solid
even without Mitch Williams, who blew (I think) the most saves in the
National League that year; something like 17/54 (I'm not sure about the
numbers).  Kilgus was a joke.

Oddly enough, the thing that the Cubs do (or don't do) enough to my
satisfaction is to trade aging veterans for good, young talent just
as they're about to go over the peak.  Gary Matthews was painful to watch
in his last two years, and other teams were interested in him from
1986 on... the team refused to consider a trade.  The Blue Jays once
offered Dave Steib for Jody Davis straight up in '87 or '88, I think,
but again they refused and ended up trading him to the Braves for garbage.
Leon Durham was another classic example.  He had a wild finish at the
end of the '87 ('88?) season and ended up with 30 homers.  Many teams
were interested, but no..... The next year they sat him down and played
Grace most of the time, and Durham ended up getting wasted away with
drugs.


Matt Bohnert                 | Ron : That's certainly an impressive desk,  
Building 500, Room 501B      |		Mr. Speaker.
Stanford University          | Tip : Why thank you, Mr. President. It was
Stanford, CA    94035        |		used by Grover Cleveland.
415.723.4490                 | Ron : Really? He was a great pitcher. I played
bohnert@leland.stanford.edu  |      	him in a movie once.
			     | Tip : No sir, you're thinking of Grover C.
			     |		Alexander.  I was referring to
			     |		the former President.  --- Jan, 1981
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball