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TAP
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Joined: 10 Aug 2006
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Location: Gold Canyon
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 Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:59 pm Post subject: Grace sees a road back to the Cubs |
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| The Chicago Tribune tonight wrote: |
Grace sees a road back to the Cubs (he hopes)
Mark Grace telephoned his San Diego-based agent Sunday night.
"Did you hear what's going on with the Cubs?" Grace excitedly told Barry Axelrod, referring to the surprising resignation of club President Andy MacPhail.
The former Cubs first baseman and current Arizona Diamondbacks television color commentator now is encouraged about the prospect of returning to Chicago and wants to be considered as a candidate for either the Cubs' managing position or a possible television opportunity.
"Mark is open to anything," Axelrod said.
Grace and MacPhail had a contentious relationship after the popular lifetime .303 hitter was not re-signed following his free-agent season in 2000. Grace signed with the Diamondbacks and was a key player on their 2001 World Series championship team. During the on-field celebration, Grace continued to stoke the feud by saying, "I guess I'm good enough to play on a World Series champion but not good enough to play for the Cubs."
According to Axelrod, "Mark couldn't let go of it; Mark harbored ill will."
Then Axelrod added: "I told Andy many times, and I was very up front, 'That's not the way that I would run a club. But then again, I am not the president of the club.'"
Grace was considered persona non grata around MacPhail's Cubs until this summer, when now interim President John McDonough invited him to lead the crowd in singing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" on Aug. 3. He also invited Grace to attend the Cubs Convention this winter.
Grace has one year remaining on his TV contract with Arizona but reportedly has an out clause that would allow him to accept a position in the Cubs' organization. According to sources, his Arizona broadcast partner and friend, Thom Brennaman, has decided to join his father, Hall of Fame Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman, in Cincinnati next season. He would take the place of the retiring Joe Nuxhall.
Grace interviewed for the Diamondbacks' managing position in 2004, but his lack of experience was cited as the reason he did not get the job that was given to Bob Melvin.
Former Cubs pitcher Rick Sutcliffe, also represented by Axelrod, called the agent Monday morning with more details about MacPhail's resignation and the pending firing of Dusty Baker. Sutcliffe, who is under contract with ESPN, previously has expressed interest in becoming a volunteer coach for the Cubs. |
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moviegeekjn
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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| With McPhail outta the way, Gracie certainly has to be chomping at the bit to return to Wrigleyville (where he was a mainstay in the numerous area pubs). His best bet would to persuade Joe Girardi to hire him on as a coach; Gracie won't be their first choice as manager. |
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YBC-Dog
MLB Rookie
Joined: 11 Aug 2006
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Location: The PHX
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 11:35 pm Post subject: |
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Wow...everybody seems to be leaving the D-Backs at the same time.
I try not to think of it as the rats jumping ship analogy, but if that's the case, oh well.
Here's to some new and better rats all around. |
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matt
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Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 1749
Location: Researching my theory that a lime hat is more effective than tinfoil
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:05 am Post subject: |
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| I might miss Thom, I won't miss Grace. |
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bruceengine
Draft Pick
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Posts: 4
Location: Phoenix
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:48 am Post subject: |
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Grace came into Friday's Frontrow after the game and ceremony Sunday (with a very young woman) and hardly had a second between pictures and autographs to sip his beer. Though, I doubt that is anything compared to his popularity in Chicago. Surely, Sunday reminded him of his not so graceful (no pun intended) exit from Chicago in 2000.
Plus, the Cubs are the type of organization that would allow him to go from the booth to the dugout without any managerial experience. I'm sure our current front office wouldn't allow that to happen here again. |
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qudjy1
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:59 am Post subject: |
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| I wont miss grace at all. |
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shoewizard
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:25 am Post subject: |
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| YBC-Dog wrote: |
Wow...everybody seems to be leaving the D-Backs at the same time.
I try not to think of it as the rats jumping ship analogy, but if that's the case, oh well.
Here's to some new and better rats all around. |
There will be people that think that, but I can assure you that is NOT the case with Thom. Clearly this is a chance for him to "Go Home", and to work with his Dad. It has nothing at all to do with the status of the D backs Organization.
In Grace's case, he has worn his love for Chicago on his sleeve since day one. Even to the point of having an out clause in his contract pre negotiated should a Chicago opportunity come up.
The timing may look like your analogy to alot of people, and I am sure that there will be people on the MLB board that run with this.....but it's just not true.
Trust me.
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matt
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Location: Researching my theory that a lime hat is more effective than tinfoil
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:37 am Post subject: |
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| Shoe is right about the timing thing. It's quite a coincidence but I wouldn't read into it. |
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moviegeekjn
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:45 am Post subject: |
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Shoe definitely right about this. We've all speculated that Thom would return to Cincinnati once there was an opening--he's never hidden his love for his home town.
Similarly, Chicago has ALWAYS been Gracie's kinda town. Many Cubs fans recall fondly the hours that Gracie would be post game partying in Wrigleyville, and Rush Street has been without it's "mayor" ever since the death of Harry Carey. |
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YBC-Dog
MLB Rookie
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:02 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, I know it's just a coincidence, but with Bell, Aldrete, Thom, Grace, Dozer, Gonzo, Counsell, Batista all leaving for various reasons, the MLB board complainers are going to have a field day with it.
Expect a few people to start themselves on fire outside the Chase if Bob Melvin is the only one left next year.
But can I be the first to nominate shoewizard and levski to be our new TV announcers?
I can see it now...
Peter Piper Pizza Slice of the Sabremetrics |
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moviegeekjn
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:05 am Post subject: |
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| YBC-Dog wrote: |
But can I be the first to nominate shoewizard and levski to be our new TV announcers? |
They make far too much sense to entertain the Arizona fan base. The Dbacks intelligentsia already know where to find them. 
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levski
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:12 am Post subject: |
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shoewiz and i would spend too much time bickering about carlos gonzalez and justin upton to actually pay attention to the field...
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Old school Hollywood baseball,
Joe Girardi is ten feet tall,
Old school Hollywood baseball,
Me and Frenchy walk a ton.
And Tony Pena cuts in line... |
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shoewizard
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:20 am Post subject: |
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| When Carlos Gonzalez reduces his k/bb ratio to under 3, give me a call. Then I'll start REALLY paying attention. I do hope to see that this year though...and if it does happen...watch out. |
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EvilJuan
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:27 am Post subject: |
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| levski wrote: |
| shoewiz and i would spend too much time bickering about carlos gonzalez and justin upton to actually pay attention to the field... |
| shoewizard wrote: |
| When Carlos Gonzalez reduces his k/bb ratio to under 3, give me a call. Then I'll start REALLY paying attention. I do hope to see that this year though...and if it does happen...watch out. |
They can't even restrain themselves on the board (wrong thread, guys!) -- so imagine what it would be like, live, in the booth! (I like the idea, actually...)
OK, so the play-by-play setup isn't right for them. But here's another opportunity. With the AM side of KTAR going "all sports, all the time" aren't they going to need some knowledgeable types to fill some air time? I nominate levski and shoewizard for that!
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moviegeekjn
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:35 am Post subject: |
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| EvilJuan wrote: |
OK, so the play-by-play setup isn't right for them. But here's another opportunity. With the AM side of KTAR going "all sports, all the time" aren't they going to need some knowledgeable types to fill some air time? I nominate levski and shoewizard for that! |
They still make WAY too much sense for entertainment value for the casual fans. It would have to be an NPR sports gig to get the right audience.
Regular fans would rather listen to Gambo & Ash make outrageous and off the wall proposals.
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EvilJuan
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:41 am Post subject: |
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| moviegeekjn wrote: |
| EvilJuan wrote: |
OK, so the play-by-play setup isn't right for them. But here's another opportunity. With the AM side of KTAR going "all sports, all the time" aren't they going to need some knowledgeable types to fill some air time? I nominate levski and shoewizard for that! |
They still make WAY too much sense for entertainment value for the casual fans. It would have to be an NPR sports gig to get the right audience.
Regular fans would rather listen to Gambo & Ash make outrageous and off the wall proposals.
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The cynical side of me agrees with you completely! The great unwashed masses are incapable of independent thought, and need to be led by those of us in the know... Today, Chase Field -- tomorrow, ze vurld! Seig Shoe!
On the other hand, perhaps we underestimate the "joe average" fans. After all, if you can get me, old dunderhead that I am, to get a whiff of how the statistical information can actually add to one's appreciation for the game, why not every other regular fan (or some significant percentage thereof)? I think there are a lot of people out there who, given some instruction, would readily grasp more of the sabr side of things -- and that shoe and levski are among those capable of expanding the horizons for many.
I certainly do wish it was more than just a pipe dream that such a duo would get airtime to give Gambo and Ash a real run for sports-talk supremacy in this market...
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DesertKnight
Journeyman
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 279
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:54 am Post subject: |
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| People listen to guys like Gambo and Ash, and consequently repeat the gibberish they throw out, because it makes them believe that they're smart and knowledgeable and it takes absolutely no thought or effort. It's easy to jump on the G&A bandwagon because you can just repeat what you hear without a shread of critical thinking. A thoughtful, intelligent show would draw some fans, sure, but not the masses. Listening to Shoe and Lev would require people to think, and most casual fans don't want to put that much effort into it. Besides, we don't want people pulling out stat books while driving to argue over C-Gon's day/night road splits. |
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YBC-Dog
MLB Rookie
Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 130
Location: The PHX
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:58 am Post subject: |
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Hey, I think they could attract casual fans.
People love shoewizard over on the MLB boards.
IMO, he's like Jesus with people over there, full of understanding and compassion and always willing to explain and discuss, until he realizes they just can't be saved.
So Shoe would be the patient guy who explains everything.
Levski would be the color guy who calls people fucking idiots and asks how far that head is shoved up their asses.
Together, they instantly become the best Baseball-related sports radio in AZ (not that hard to accomplish)... |
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DesertKnight
Journeyman
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Posts: 279
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 10:06 am Post subject: |
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| But on a discussion board, you can read and re-read a post. You can go chase down his/your own data before entering the discussion. You can take you time and consider your response before posting, and take time to consider his response before deciding whether you agree or not. On a radio show, the pace is much faster and stats would fly past listeners too fast. This is nothing against our guys, but that kind of in-depth statistical analysis just doesn't work over radio. Now if they wanted to do a webcast, that could be successful. |
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B. O. N. D.
Everyday Player
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 859
Location: Tucson, AZ until 3/6... then back to San Francisco
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 10:17 am Post subject: |
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| YBC-Dog wrote: |
| Wow...everybody seems to be leaving the D-Backs at the same time. |
I think you might look at it as if quite a few people were told they won't be back, at least as far as the org goes.
Shoe's hit it on the head with Grace and Thom, and the FO might make a token effort regarding Batista, but I think we're seeing a final housecleaning/break with the past for all the rest. Jesus, they've even redesigned how the team looks and their colors fer chissake.
Josh is making his presence felt. And he's gearing up for the new era and the long haul.
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