2006 Is Busting Out All Over

Andy MacPhail has been sited! Articles abound with Andy talking about next year. And why shouldn't he? With the Cubs DOA (and, if you were realistic about this team, they've been dead since May -- the three game sweep in Florida was just the death rattle), that's the only thing to talk about with this team.

Sure, there will be some distractions in the next few Days. Ryne Sandberg's number will be retired soon. That's sure to generate some insipid "Cub Love" as fans gleefully pay to see a "happy moment" despite being surrounded by the biggest waste of $100 million since Brian Bosworth.

What's Andy out to talk about? That "all is well" despite 11 years of failure here and the plans for 2006. So long as he knows that this year isn't worth talking about, neither will this site.

"I am very content with Jim, and I know he is very content with Dusty," MacPhail said. "I'm confident that we are going to put it together."

Please note that, back in 2002, Andy said the same things just before he canned Don Baylor.

"What I wanted to accomplish when I came here was to have an organization that could rely on a productive farm system and start to get a flow of talent. I keep a close eye on this, and we are among the top four teams in bringing talent to the big leagues over the last 11 years."

Notice that he doesn't qualify that talent in this statement. I'd venture he's counting guys like Todd Wellemeyer, Ronny Cedeno, and Rich Hill in these numbers.

"...we have had three rookies of the year and at least six All-Stars come up through our system."

Pretty gutsy to take credit for Jon Garland, Erik Hinske and Dontrelle Willis, eh? These guys never played an inning in a Cub uniform and Hinske couldn't replace Ron Coomer!

But, for all his spinning, check this final quote:

"I'm still confident we're going in the right direction."

"Still." That means he might not be confident soon.

Smart Cubs fans need to hope for a complete tanking to convince MacPhail to clean house.

The hope is that Dusty will go and that Hendry either pulls his head out and addresses the team's flaws or that Jim will also go.

There is also the ultimate dream.

Perhaps, the brass in Trib Tower will look at 11 years of escalating budgets, minimal additional return in terms of wins, and stagnant TV ratings and launch everyone.

There's your hope if you are a Cubs fan. It's not in Ricky Nolasco. It's in hiring, say, Mike Jorgenson as GM.

This team lucked into 2003. There are 4 guys left from that team and an extra $25 million has been spent. Now, Andy comes down from on high to do the Kevin Bacon "All Is Well!" scene.

Don't believe him.

Or let him get away with it.