Laboring To The Finish

Mike Kiley's piece in the Sun Times today will likely cause a lot of consternation around the Cub faithful. Before you all get in an uproar, read this very carefully:

Speculation around the Cubs is that general manager Jim Hendry and manager Dusty Baker will receive two-year contract extensions next spring.

Team president Andy MacPhail chooses his words carefully, so when he told beat reporters two weeks ago in Denver that contract matters for both men would be addressed in spring training, as a matter of organizational routine, it seemed a clear indication that extensions are forthcoming.

So, we have no quote, an blind attribution, just Kiley adding a couple of numbers thrown out by MacPhail and he assumes 2+2=4.

Well, just today in the Trib, the company that OWNS the team, we saw this:

Baker: Spread blame around
Hopes coaches won't take the fall; Williams leads way in shutout
...
With the Cubs finishing a disappointing 2005 season, pitching coach Larry Rothschild and hitting coach Gene Clines have to wonder if they'll be scapegoats for the players' lack of consistency.

Baker said it would be unfair to fire any of his coaches.

So, the paper that speculates extensions has no attributions. Ownership has direct quotes, and they discuss dismissals.

Until we hear more from other sources, Kiley's piece can be seen as meaningless.

This isn't just emotional investment in MacPhail et al getting let go speaking. This is factual analysis of the reporting.