Cubs Hire Tim Wilken

[goonys evil twin]

Chicago Cubs - Named Tim Wilken director of amateur and professional scouting.

[Jon]

Looks like he was the Blue Jays VP but left during the 2003 season. He was with them for about 15 years. Recently, though, he was a special assistant to the GM and a scout for the Devil Rays and was just given scouting director duties a few days ago.

[CubinNY]

Here is to hoping he does a good job.

 

Who is the director of player development? Is there such a post?

[Jon]

Cubs.com Press Release[/url]"]The Chicago Cubs today announced Tim Wilken has been hired as the director of amateur and professional scouting.

 

Wilken most recently served as the special assistant to the general manager in Tampa Bay, where he also assisted in overseeing the scouting department. Wilken joined the Devil Rays in 2003. Prior to that, he had spent his entire career in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, serving as an area scout, minor league coach and manager, national crosschecker, United States scouting director and vice president of baseball operations.

 

Cubs Vice President and General Manager Jim Hendry said, "We are thrilled to have Tim join the organization. To add him to our staff at this time of his year with his track record is a real plus. He is considered in our industry to be one of the finer amateur scouts and his track record for the Blue Jays speaks for itself."

 

Hendry added, "We also want to express our deep appreciation to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization for letting us both speak to and hire Tim at a point in the year when most clubs are working towards next season."

[YearofDaCubs]

http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/9108081

 

I didn't see it posted but if it is please lock.

[RockTheIvy]

First order of business: Bring me Jock Jones>?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

There's a thread on it in Baseball discussions I believe.

[UK1679666180]

This is a great hire by the Cubs, he's done a very good job with TB, and with Blue Jays.

[treebird]

This is a great hire by the Cubs, he's done a very good job with TB, and with Blue Jays.

 

HOORAY!

[UK1679666180]

From BA around 12/03...

 

This was in the top 10 GM prospects... (He was ranked 9th ahead of Antonetti and Ng.)

 

Wilken ended a 25-year association with the Blue Jays this summer. The Blue Jays continue to reap the benefits from his tenure as scouting director as he helped usher Carlos Delgado, Roy Halladay and Vernon Wells to the big leagues and contributed to Toronto's unprecedented streak of getting 11 straight first-round picks to the majors. Many insiders believe Wilken, 50, could be in line to replace Tampa Bay incumbent GM Chuck Lamar.

 

This is someone who has worked under Pat Gillick, Bobby Cox as well as Lamar, who despite not doing well as GM was able to build the fam system and is a product of the Braves.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Hmm, I like what I've read so far about him.

[badger1679666666]

Is there actually some good Cubs news?

[CuseCubFan69]

Maybe he is going to take Hendrys place, one can hope.

[anemic offense]

Okay, so who's the guy who makes this hire, Lynch? If it is him it makes sense on several levels. First and foremost the guy seems (I know little about him myself) like a good baseball guy. You can never have enough of those. Second, this may be a signal Hendry is on a VERRY short leash. If Jim's moves don't pan out this season, he's probably out the door. Lastly, and somewhat related to the aforementioned, this is a GREAT move for Wilken. If Hendry does get fired, he may be at the top of the line (and regardless of the recent lack of success this should be a coveted job). However, if Hendry does indeed score a rebound, then all this guy did was bolster his resume for a GM job somewhere else. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this was discussed, both before and during his hire. It should be a win win proposition for all parties. I like deals like that.

[Quakers]

I have to agree with the overall sentiment of this thread. It sounds like one of the best moves of the off-season. This sounds pretty good. (From BA http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/051222wilkin.html)

 

Wilken’s track record of getting things done in Toronto was impressive. As a crosschecker (1989-94) and as scouting director (’95-2000), he played a vital role in the Jays’ streak of 12 straight first-round picks who reached the major leagues from 1988 (Ed Sprague) to 1999 (Alex Rios), with such impact players as Shannon Stewart, Roy Halladay and Vernon Wells in between.

 

 

It seems that Hendry's reputation helped seal the deal.

 

“Jim Hendry is a big-time factor, he knows what the grind is like having been a scouting director and has a real idea of what it entails. He’s given me the autonomy to get done what the Chicago Cubs feel needs to get done.”

 

I thought Hendry did a fine job with our minors, but since he has moved on, well... Last year's Boise's team was decidingly lacking in talent.

[goonys evil twin]

Is it possible that this hiring, along with the rumored Prior trade is an indication that the Cubs are moving away from their longstanding philosophy of acquiring and developing pitching, pitching and more pitching, and focusing more on hitters? Hopefully they don't take it to the extreme as much as they did in the other direction.