Is it time to give Hendry a little bit of credit?

[Bruce Miles]

Wasn't Hinske part of the whole Scott Chiasson debacle??

 

Yes. Not a good idea at the time or now. I'm sure Hendry would like this one back.

[rocket]

I look for Perez and Hairston to share time at second base. Hairston's stock seemed to rise within the organization in the second half of the season.

 

Huh? Post All-Star, Hairston's line was .241/.303/.329.

 

I'm not even exaggerating when I say this, but I bet Hairston's game where he made 2 great catches in center is what made the Cubs brass feel he had a good second half, and is great at catching the ball.

[TXCubsFan]

Honestly, I think this is the last offseason we'll need to ask this question, because I feel Hendry and Baker are both going to be axed by October at the latest. Theo Epstein, anyone?

 

By the way, following the Cubs has always been kind of like Kremlin watching during the Cold War, or Vatican watching when voting for a new pope--you try to read the tea leaves and watch for wisps of smoke escaping from the Tribune Tower. I mention this because I've seen three stories now this offseason, the latest in today's paper, hinting that Ryno has a future as a manager. I know he has no experience, I know he is less animated than spruce tree, but the Cubs could be greasing the skids for a Ryne Sandberg 2007 Cubs Manager plan. And at this point, I'd give that a shot, why not?

 

Just my gut feelings here:

 

As long as Jim Hendry still wants to be the Cubs' GM in 2007, I'd say there is a 99% probability of him having that role in 2007. I'd say only a 90-loss type season in 2006 will cost him his job. Mind you, I don't personally think Hendry has earned another contract, but it's very unlikely that MacPhail and Fitzsimons would let him go.

 

On the flipside, if Dusty Baker still wants to be the Cubs' field manager in 2007, I'd say he needs to guide them into the playoffs in 2006.

 

Mr. Hoops' post is pretty much right on. Neither DePodesta nor Epstein will be the Cubs' general manager any time soon. Jim Hendry is likely safe through 2008.

We're all entitled to our opinions, and certainly Hendry has had some successes and failures. The one charge I found unfair in this thread was that he somehow wrecked the farm system. Huh? Take a gander at a Cubs media guide from, say, 1995, 1996 or 1997. When you get through heaving, take a look at it now. In the interim, the Cubs have stepped up _ no, more like created _ a presence in Latin America. Having a good farm system means two things: moving players up to your own big-league team and giving the organizaton good, low-cost alternatives to expensive free agents, and using the farm system to make trades. Obviously, the Cubs have done better in the latter category _ see Bobby Hill, Hee Seop Choi and others.

A few years earlier, the Cubs would not have had the minor-league talent to fetch an Aramis Ramirez or a Derrek Lee, two star players nowadays.

Hendry also drafted Jon Garland, who was foolishly traded away by Ed Lynch.

They all haven't worked out: Ben Christensen, Todd Noel and, at least so far, Luis Montanez.

But overall, the Cubs' farm system is light years ahead of where it was a decade ago.

 

Ah yes, the days when the Cubs brought up Andrew Lorraine and Micah Bowie from the minors to replace injured starters.

[Ram1380]

Honestly, I think this is the last offseason we'll need to ask this question, because I feel Hendry and Baker are both going to be axed by October at the latest. Theo Epstein, anyone?

 

By the way, following the Cubs has always been kind of like Kremlin watching during the Cold War, or Vatican watching when voting for a new pope--you try to read the tea leaves and watch for wisps of smoke escaping from the Tribune Tower. I mention this because I've seen three stories now this offseason, the latest in today's paper, hinting that Ryno has a future as a manager. I know he has no experience, I know he is less animated than spruce tree, but the Cubs could be greasing the skids for a Ryne Sandberg 2007 Cubs Manager plan. And at this point, I'd give that a shot, why not?

 

Just my gut feelings here:

 

As long as Jim Hendry still wants to be the Cubs' GM in 2007, I'd say there is a 99% probability of him having that role in 2007. I'd say only a 90-loss type season in 2006 will cost him his job. Mind you, I don't personally think Hendry has earned another contract, but it's very unlikely that MacPhail and Fitzsimons would let him go.

 

On the flipside, if Dusty Baker still wants to be the Cubs' field manager in 2007, I'd say he needs to guide them into the playoffs in 2006.

 

Mr. Hoops' post is pretty much right on. Neither DePodesta nor Epstein will be the Cubs' general manager any time soon. Jim Hendry is likely safe through 2008.

We're all entitled to our opinions, and certainly Hendry has had some successes and failures. The one charge I found unfair in this thread was that he somehow wrecked the farm system. Huh? Take a gander at a Cubs media guide from, say, 1995, 1996 or 1997. When you get through heaving, take a look at it now. In the interim, the Cubs have stepped up _ no, more like created _ a presence in Latin America. Having a good farm system means two things: moving players up to your own big-league team and giving the organizaton good, low-cost alternatives to expensive free agents, and using the farm system to make trades. Obviously, the Cubs have done better in the latter category _ see Bobby Hill, Hee Seop Choi and others.

A few years earlier, the Cubs would not have had the minor-league talent to fetch an Aramis Ramirez or a Derrek Lee, two star players nowadays.

Hendry also drafted Jon Garland, who was foolishly traded away by Ed Lynch.

They all haven't worked out: Ben Christensen, Todd Noel and, at least so far, Luis Montanez.

But overall, the Cubs' farm system is light years ahead of where it was a decade ago.

 

Ah yes, the days when the Cubs brought up Andrew Lorraine and Micah Bowie from the minors to replace injured starters.

 

 

 

Remember the debut of Telemaco though?? Such promise.

 

 

 

Dave Swartzbaugh(sp??) Larry Casian :?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Honestly, I think this is the last offseason we'll need to ask this question, because I feel Hendry and Baker are both going to be axed by October at the latest. Theo Epstein, anyone?

 

By the way, following the Cubs has always been kind of like Kremlin watching during the Cold War, or Vatican watching when voting for a new pope--you try to read the tea leaves and watch for wisps of smoke escaping from the Tribune Tower. I mention this because I've seen three stories now this offseason, the latest in today's paper, hinting that Ryno has a future as a manager. I know he has no experience, I know he is less animated than spruce tree, but the Cubs could be greasing the skids for a Ryne Sandberg 2007 Cubs Manager plan. And at this point, I'd give that a shot, why not?

 

Just my gut feelings here:

 

As long as Jim Hendry still wants to be the Cubs' GM in 2007, I'd say there is a 99% probability of him having that role in 2007. I'd say only a 90-loss type season in 2006 will cost him his job. Mind you, I don't personally think Hendry has earned another contract, but it's very unlikely that MacPhail and Fitzsimons would let him go.

 

On the flipside, if Dusty Baker still wants to be the Cubs' field manager in 2007, I'd say he needs to guide them into the playoffs in 2006.

 

Mr. Hoops' post is pretty much right on. Neither DePodesta nor Epstein will be the Cubs' general manager any time soon. Jim Hendry is likely safe through 2008.

We're all entitled to our opinions, and certainly Hendry has had some successes and failures. The one charge I found unfair in this thread was that he somehow wrecked the farm system. Huh? Take a gander at a Cubs media guide from, say, 1995, 1996 or 1997. When you get through heaving, take a look at it now. In the interim, the Cubs have stepped up _ no, more like created _ a presence in Latin America. Having a good farm system means two things: moving players up to your own big-league team and giving the organizaton good, low-cost alternatives to expensive free agents, and using the farm system to make trades. Obviously, the Cubs have done better in the latter category _ see Bobby Hill, Hee Seop Choi and others.

A few years earlier, the Cubs would not have had the minor-league talent to fetch an Aramis Ramirez or a Derrek Lee, two star players nowadays.

Hendry also drafted Jon Garland, who was foolishly traded away by Ed Lynch.

They all haven't worked out: Ben Christensen, Todd Noel and, at least so far, Luis Montanez.

But overall, the Cubs' farm system is light years ahead of where it was a decade ago.

 

Ah yes, the days when the Cubs brought up Andrew Lorraine and Micah Bowie from the minors to replace injured starters.

 

 

 

Remember the debut of Telemaco though?? Such promise.

 

 

 

Dave Swartzbaugh(sp??) Larry Casian :?

 

I remember the moment of excitement when Amaury signed a ball for me.

[Ram1380]

I remember the moment of excitement when Amaury signed a ball for me.

 

 

You're so spoiled.

 

 

:D

[RynoRules]

Why would anyone want the truly awful Paul DePodesta?

 

If we're going to fire Hendry, let's rescue the extremely underappreciated Gerry Hunsicker from his exile in Tampa Bay.

 

What's wrong with DePodesta? Failed to win a world series in one full year?

 

On the flip-side, what did DePo do that makes him so valuable?

 

He had one year! How could you possibly judge him in one year? He can stand pretty proudly on his time with the A's however.

 

When was he in charge with the A's?

 

Look, I am not trying to turn this into a DePo thread, but what proof is there that he is a good GM?

[RynoRules]

What postion player have the Cubs had that didn't get a good enough shot that ended up producing for another club?

 

That's really not an argument in favor of Hendry. Hill and Choi were tagged as utility and platoon players, respectively.

 

Also, please factor in that the players that those 2 were benched for weren;t exactly all star producers.

 

That is not true.

[RynoRules]

What postion player have the Cubs had that didn't get a good enough shot that ended up producing for another club?

 

There hasn't been one since Doug Glanville.

 

Eric Hinske, to a degree.

 

Have to throw Sisco's name out there too in that case.

 

Not a position player.

[RynoRules]

To be fair, Bowie and Quevedo came over from the Braves system, and it looked like a good deal at the time.

[NorthsideAvenger]

To be fair, Bowie and Quevedo came over from the Braves system, and it looked like a good deal at the time.

 

Look at who we gave up for those "kids", Mulholland and Hernandez. Not exactly world-beaters. So getting Q, Bowie and NATION, for those two baseball bums was more then what the Cubs could have hoped for.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Wasn't Hinske part of the whole Scott Chiasson debacle??

 

Yes. Not a good idea at the time or now. I'm sure Hendry would like this one back.

 

I don't consider losing Hinske all that big. Besides the Cubs picked up a NICE role player in return with Chiasson who hit .285/.364/.374 for the Cubs in his 2nd stint with the org, before he was picked up off waivers by St. Louis. Miguel Cairo is not a bad player. In fact at this stage, I would almost would rather have Cairo then Hinske.

 

 

.258 .335 .430 Hinske

.270 .318 .364 Cairo

 

Not a big lose at all. Beisdes going over at baseballreference.com, one of the MOST similar players to Hinske is WS 3rd Joe Crede, and he gets roasted for not being able to hit. It is safe say, that the Cubs org dodged a BIG bullet with hinske.

 

Besides does anybody else remember Ryan Gripp, David Kelton, and Eric Hinske were ALL battling to see who would be the 3rd basemen of the future for the Cubs?

[USSoccer]

What postion player have the Cubs had that didn't get a good enough shot that ended up producing for another club?

 

That's really not an argument in favor of Hendry. Hill and Choi were tagged as utility and platoon players, respectively.

 

Also, please factor in that the players that those 2 were benched for weren;t exactly all star producers.

 

That is not true.

 

You're telling me that Hill and Choi weren't put in those roles by Pittsburgh, Florida and LA, and both got extended starting looks?

 

Also, in repsect to Bruce's question about how the farm systems produce for the other 30 MLB teams, the one thing I can say is if you look at the core producers of the most consistently successful teams ocver the past 15 years, you'll see a lot of internal development.

 

Atlanta-Pretty much everyone during their run has been home grown.

 

Oakland-Ditto the Braves: Zito, Hudson, Mulder, Giambi, Tejada, Harden, Street just to name a few.

 

Minnesota: Ditto the Braves and A's.

 

Anaheim: Rodriguez, Erstad, Anderson, Molina, McPherson, Figgins, and if you want to go way back, Edmonds.

 

Florida-Miguel Cabrera, Castillo, Brad Penny, Josh Beckett, and Dontrelle Willis counts as half a prospect for them much like Murton is a half for us.

 

NY Yankees-Jeter, Posada, Williams, Pettite, Rivera

 

Boston-Nixon, Varitek, Lowe, Garciaparra, Arroyo

 

Houston: Biggio, Bagwell gets half credit, Oswalt, Miller, Wagner, Berkman, Backe.

[RynoRules]

To be fair, Bowie and Quevedo came over from the Braves system, and it looked like a good deal at the time.

 

Look at who we gave up for those "kids", Mulholland and Hernandez. Not exactly world-beaters. So getting Q, Bowie and NATION, for those two baseball bums was more then what the Cubs could have hoped for.

 

I forgot that we acquired "Alien" Nation in that deal. Good call.

[RynoRules]

You're telling me that Hill and Choi weren't put in those roles by Pittsburgh, Florida and LA, and both got extended starting looks?

 

We may have meant two different things. My point was that when Choi and Hill were coming up in the Cubs org., they were viewed as our future everyday 1B and 2B, and would team with Montanez and Kelton by 2004 or 2005.

 

[Soul]

To answer the original question: NO.

 

When you're the GM and the team goes from the NLCS to 4th place in the space of two seasons, you don't deserve much credit (actually, I think Hendry *DOES* deserve his share of the credit for our downfall).

 

Moves made in the offseason without the benefit of the season to determine if they pan out can't possibly count in Hendry's favor either. If the Cubs make some kind of comeback, then I'll start giving Hendry some credit. Right now, he's the guy, along with Baker, who has driven us into the ground.

[8-8-88]

I have to agree. Right now, Hendry doesn't deserve any credit. He helped ruin Patterson for the Cubs.