Today's Bruce Miles article: Jacque Jones

[Balsa]

Grammar mistake. I meant to refer to Corey.

[NCCubFan]

Enjoy the holidays Jim, it'll be your last as GM of the Cubs.

 

Zero chance.

Plenty of chance. You definitely do not know that the Cubs will keep Hendry if next season is another disappointment.

[woodprior04]

I don't think Dusty has a high opinion of his ability to get water from rocks. He has a high opinion of the rocks.

 

 

Bingo. Dusty actually thinks the Neifi's and Jones' of the world are good. I wouldn't be surprised if Dusty would take Jones over Giles. Same with Hendry.

[JeffH]

Enjoy the holidays Jim, it'll be your last as GM of the Cubs.

 

Zero chance.

Plenty of chance. You definitely do not know that the Cubs will keep Hendry if next season is another disappointment.

 

Zero chance.

[woodprior04]

Enjoy the holidays Jim, it'll be your last as GM of the Cubs.

 

Zero chance.

Plenty of chance. You definitely do not know that the Cubs will keep Hendry if next season is another disappointment.

 

Zero chance.

What is it that you know and we don't?

[badgercub]

 

Totally, thoroughly, agree. If Patterson happened to catch fire....Murton, Pierre, Patterson.....would be fun to watch.

 

I know thats a big IF.....but it would be better than watching Jones out there. Id rather give Corey a shot.

 

If the Cubs start the year with that outfield I will be sick to my stomach. Unless by fun you mean funny, like comical. That could possibly be the worst starting outfield in the ML's.

[JeffH]

Enjoy the holidays Jim, it'll be your last as GM of the Cubs.

 

Zero chance.

Plenty of chance. You definitely do not know that the Cubs will keep Hendry if next season is another disappointment.

 

Zero chance.

What is it that you know and we don't?

 

Why would Hendry be fired? Not 'why should he", but 'why would he'?

 

Two out of his three years, the team has been competitive. One year, the team nearly made it to the World Series.

 

Wrigley Field is full and the team makes boatloads of money.

 

Beyond that, a GM generally gets to fire at least one manager. Hendry doesn't go until sometime after Baker goes.

[RynoRules]

Enjoy the holidays Jim, it'll be your last as GM of the Cubs.

 

Zero chance.

Plenty of chance. You definitely do not know that the Cubs will keep Hendry if next season is another disappointment.

 

Zero chance.

 

How about some support for that position? JH and Dusty are in their walk years, no? JH has hitched his wagon to Dusty's, and win or lose, the Dust Man is a very likely to be a goner after this year. Assuming they lose (and certainly the odds lean in that direction), its perfectly reasonabel to think that Jim will be an advance scout for the Marlins next year.

[Bruce Miles]

Milton Bradley from the Los Angeles Dodgers seems a dim possibility now — so Hendry may turn to the free-agent market.

 

Bruce, if you stop by and see this, I was just wondering what the reason for this might be.

 

Is it that Baker came away from his meeting less than impressed with Bradley?

 

Are the Dodgers now considering keeping him?

 

Has the asking price by the Dodgers gotten to high?

 

Is Bradley not willing to play rigthfield?

 

I'm just curious as to what has now made Bradley a dim proposition to the point that we would begin to look at Jones.

 

Let's remember that it takes two teams to make a trade. From everything I've heard, the Dodgers seem to be in no hurry to trade Bradley to the Cubs.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Milton Bradley from the Los Angeles Dodgers seems a dim possibility now — so Hendry may turn to the free-agent market.

 

Bruce, if you stop by and see this, I was just wondering what the reason for this might be.

 

Is it that Baker came away from his meeting less than impressed with Bradley?

 

Are the Dodgers now considering keeping him?

 

Has the asking price by the Dodgers gotten to high?

 

Is Bradley not willing to play rigthfield?

 

I'm just curious as to what has now made Bradley a dim proposition to the point that we would begin to look at Jones.

 

Let's remember that it takes two teams to make a trade. From everything I've heard, the Dodgers seem to be in no hurry to trade Bradley to the Cubs.

 

So, it's on the Dodgers end then. Do you suspect the Dodgers will tender him a contract on December 20th?

[CardsFanInChiTown]

If I were the Yankees I'd sign him for CF.

[CubinNY]

Milton Bradley from the Los Angeles Dodgers seems a dim possibility now — so Hendry may turn to the free-agent market.

 

Bruce, if you stop by and see this, I was just wondering what the reason for this might be.

 

Is it that Baker came away from his meeting less than impressed with Bradley?

 

Are the Dodgers now considering keeping him?

 

Has the asking price by the Dodgers gotten to high?

 

Is Bradley not willing to play rigthfield?

 

I'm just curious as to what has now made Bradley a dim proposition to the point that we would begin to look at Jones.

 

Let's remember that it takes two teams to make a trade. From everything I've heard, the Dodgers seem to be in no hurry to trade Bradley to the Cubs.

 

So, it's on the Dodgers end then. Do you suspect the Dodgers will tender him a contract on December 20th?

 

I'm not Bruce, nor do I pretend to have any information, but my opinion is that the Cubs didn't/wouldn't offer enough for Bradley to make LA interested.

 

Even with all the bagage Bradley is a pretty productive CFer, when healthy.

 

EDIT: Nor has anyone else for that matter. Maybe teams are waiting until the 20th to see if he is non-tendered? If that is the case the bidding for his services might get high.

Edited December 13, 2005 by CubinNY

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

 

I'm not Bruce, nor do I pretend to have any information, but my opinion is that the Cubs didn't/wouldn't offer enough for Bradley to make LA interested.

 

Even with all the bagage Bradley is a pretty productive CFer, when healthy.

 

But that begs the question still, are the Dodgers going to non-tender him? If they are, then they should take the best of whatever offers they get. On the other hand, if they intend to keep him, then the bidding rises.

[CubfaninCA]

Bradley's nothing special in RF considering his lack of durability.

 

Bring back Sosa. ;)

[Ding Dong Johnson]

 

I'm not Bruce, nor do I pretend to have any information, but my opinion is that the Cubs didn't/wouldn't offer enough for Bradley to make LA interested.

 

Even with all the bagage Bradley is a pretty productive CFer, when healthy.

 

But that begs the question still, are the Dodgers going to non-tender him? If they are, then they should take the best of whatever offers they get. On the other hand, if they intend to keep him, then the bidding rises.

 

They don't have to make a firm decision for a few more days. My guess is one of two things:

 

1) They will offer a contract and keep him because, like you said, it makes no sense to just let him go when you could get something.

2) They are waiting as long as they can hoping someone will sweeten the pot a little. I'm sure they have enough offers on the table that would be better than just dumping him (Bradley for Corey, for example), and they're probably sitting on one or two as their fallback plan if nobody else steps up. Taking a chance on Corey is better than just letting Bradley walk.

 

I'm going to guess #2, and I'm going to guess he's dealt to Toronto on the 19th.

[YearofDaCubs]

I blame Hendry for this mess and nobody else. He had opportunities to lock up OFers last year. He has the resources to make trades. he already overpaid for Pierre as it is. What does he expect to happen? Does he expect to pull miracle trades every year and fleecing the other teams? As far as I'm concerned Hendry made a lot of promises about improving this team and getting a good RF. When you are the one in need every other team's asking price will be set astronomically high. Good job Hendry, way to drop the ball yet again. I don't even think our payroll is going to hit 100mil wait and see. The Cubs might indeed rob all of us blind.

[RynoRules]

I blame Hendry for this mess and nobody else. He had opportunities to lock up OFers last year. He has the resources to make trades. he already overpaid for Pierre as it is. What does he expect to happen? Does he expect to pull miracle trades every year and fleecing the other teams? As far as I'm concerned Hendry made a lot of promises about improving this team and getting a good RF. When you are the one in need every other team's asking price will be set astronomically high. Good job Hendry, way to drop the ball yet again. I don't even think our payroll is going to hit 100mil wait and see. The Cubs might indeed rob all of us blind.

 

I guess its all about perspective; I suspect that JH views Pierre as a major upgrade in CF. I agree that he is an upgrade, but not a major one.

[CubfaninCA]

I blame Hendry for this mess and nobody else. He had opportunities to lock up OFers last year. He has the resources to make trades. he already overpaid for Pierre as it is. What does he expect to happen? Does he expect to pull miracle trades every year and fleecing the other teams? As far as I'm concerned Hendry made a lot of promises about improving this team and getting a good RF. When you are the one in need every other team's asking price will be set astronomically high. Good job Hendry, way to drop the ball yet again. I don't even think our payroll is going to hit 100mil wait and see. The Cubs might indeed rob all of us blind.

 

What OF did he specifically miss out on?

[JeffH]

I blame Hendry for this mess and nobody else. He had opportunities to lock up OFers last year. He has the resources to make trades. he already overpaid for Pierre as it is. What does he expect to happen? Does he expect to pull miracle trades every year and fleecing the other teams? As far as I'm concerned Hendry made a lot of promises about improving this team and getting a good RF. When you are the one in need every other team's asking price will be set astronomically high. Good job Hendry, way to drop the ball yet again. I don't even think our payroll is going to hit 100mil wait and see. The Cubs might indeed rob all of us blind.

 

What OF did he specifically miss out on?

 

Magglio!

[CubinNY]

I blame Hendry for this mess and nobody else. He had opportunities to lock up OFers last year. He has the resources to make trades. he already overpaid for Pierre as it is. What does he expect to happen? Does he expect to pull miracle trades every year and fleecing the other teams? As far as I'm concerned Hendry made a lot of promises about improving this team and getting a good RF. When you are the one in need every other team's asking price will be set astronomically high. Good job Hendry, way to drop the ball yet again. I don't even think our payroll is going to hit 100mil wait and see. The Cubs might indeed rob all of us blind.

 

It is funny but I am upset for different reasons.

 

To me it seems as if Hendry didn't see RF as a problem at all. To me he went balls out to resign a back up SS and 6th starter. Then was bonkers over two pretty medicore middle releivers. Then tried to find a lead-off hitter, as if that position exists on a baseball team. He did upgrade in CF and in the bullpen. But all the while the chasem in RF has been there. And it is still there. It was there last year, when Hendry could have signed Beltran knowing full well that Sammy would be gone. And it is still there today.

[mg420]

I blame Hendry for this mess and nobody else. He had opportunities to lock up OFers last year. He has the resources to make trades. he already overpaid for Pierre as it is. What does he expect to happen? Does he expect to pull miracle trades every year and fleecing the other teams? As far as I'm concerned Hendry made a lot of promises about improving this team and getting a good RF. When you are the one in need every other team's asking price will be set astronomically high. Good job Hendry, way to drop the ball yet again. I don't even think our payroll is going to hit 100mil wait and see. The Cubs might indeed rob all of us blind.

 

I guess its all about perspective; I suspect that JH views Pierre as a major upgrade in CF. I agree that he is an upgrade, but not a major one.

 

even his off year in 2005 will be a big upgrade over what the cubs had in cf. if he has a year like he did in 2003 or 2004, pierre will no doubt be a major upgrade.

[YearofDaCubs]

I blame Hendry for this mess and nobody else. He had opportunities to lock up OFers last year. He has the resources to make trades. he already overpaid for Pierre as it is. What does he expect to happen? Does he expect to pull miracle trades every year and fleecing the other teams? As far as I'm concerned Hendry made a lot of promises about improving this team and getting a good RF. When you are the one in need every other team's asking price will be set astronomically high. Good job Hendry, way to drop the ball yet again. I don't even think our payroll is going to hit 100mil wait and see. The Cubs might indeed rob all of us blind.

 

What OF did he specifically miss out on?

Drew, Maggs, Beltran and there were a couple others. Say what you want about injuries and what-not but if we had any of these guys we would be a much better team. The difference between Burnitz and the others was 4-6mil so I don't buy the story that he was handcuffed. And if he indeed was and the higherups didn't want them to spend the extra money what does that tell you about this Organization? Do they really want to win if they are not willing to put up 4-6 mil extra?

[frostwyrm]

I wonder if Jim Hendry's crack statistical analysts have noticed Jones ranks 21st in slugging percentage among players with at least 120 strikouts.

[YearofDaCubs]

I don't doubt Pierre being an upgrade in CF but the simple fact remains we currently do not have a RF and JJones is not somebody I would have on my list. A little forsight by Hendry and we wouldn't be in this predicament.

[CubfaninCA]

I blame Hendry for this mess and nobody else. He had opportunities to lock up OFers last year. He has the resources to make trades. he already overpaid for Pierre as it is. What does he expect to happen? Does he expect to pull miracle trades every year and fleecing the other teams? As far as I'm concerned Hendry made a lot of promises about improving this team and getting a good RF. When you are the one in need every other team's asking price will be set astronomically high. Good job Hendry, way to drop the ball yet again. I don't even think our payroll is going to hit 100mil wait and see. The Cubs might indeed rob all of us blind.

 

What OF did he specifically miss out on?

Drew, Maggs, Beltran and there were a couple others. Say what you want about injuries and what-not but if we had any of these guys we would be a much better team. The difference between Burnitz and the others was 4-6mil so I don't buy the story that he was handcuffed. And if he indeed was and the higherups didn't want them to spend the extra money what does that tell you about this Organization? Do they really want to win if they are not willing to put up 4-6 mil extra?

 

Well, if you're going to disregard facts, what can I say rather than Ordonez would have been an awful signing.