See, it's not so bad.

Even if you are bad at your job, someone will hire you, eventually. Art Howe got a new gig. Some day soon Ken Macha will find a job, too.

The interesting thing about Chris Speier's situation is that he appears to be a laid back guy and could be mistaken for your father's accountant. He doesn't seem to stick up for himself (see his firing by the A's) and he doesn't seem to want to question authority (see not begging Ken Macha to stop making moves).

If he can handle his booze, what a great addition for Dusty Baker - and what a horrible addition for the Chicago Cubs' fans.

Baker is on the short list of managers ready to be relocated in 2005. With Dusty's track record, it's like pulling teeth to say, even he will get a another shot at managing.

"I've known Chris for a long time, played against him for many years. He's a good baseball man, and a fine third-base coach and infield instructor. He's also a former Cub so he knows what it means to play in Chicago and to play in day games."- Cubs Manager Dusty 'Don't blame me if we lost, I'm just the manager' Baker

Ah, the ever-present, "He's a good baseball man".

Somewhere, there's the definition of a 'good baseball man'. Usually it's of a guy who knows how to lose, how to keep his mouth shut about team matters (hookers, booze, drugs, illegitimate children, et al) and not use his brain.