"Cubs off-season moves aren't good enough" - Perry

[The Voice of Reason]

Mods - Maybe should be tacked onto yesterday's short summary where Perry rated the Cubs off-season a D. This offers much more detail on why he graded that way. Feel free to move if you so desire.

 

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5255580

 

Summary

 

In 2005, the Cubs placed fourth in the NL Central and finished a whopping 21 games out of first place. Suffice it to say, that's a mammoth deficit to make up. Now, consider what the Cubs have done this off-season:

 

Bolstered the bullpen by adding Scott Eyre and Bob Howry.

 

Filled outfield holes by trading for Juan Pierre and signing Jacque Jones and Marquis Grissom.

 

Re-signed Glendon Rusch and Neifi Perez and exercised their option on Todd Walker.

In other words, not bloody much.

 

The prevailing point is that this isn't a team in need of isolated, "nudge me over the top" tweaks; this a team that finished more than 20 games out of first place last season. Recent history suggests the front of the rotation won't be particularly durable, and what the offense has gained in Pierre they figure to give back in the form of regression for Derrek Lee and in lethal doses of Perez.

 

The reviled Cardinals won't be a 100-win team again, but they won't need to be if this is the Cubs' idea of mounting a serious challenge

[Mizzou]

So what's the deal here? This guys writes an article on why the Cubs suck two days in a row? Gee, I wonder if he dislikes the Cubs.

[Houston_Cub_Fan]

Sometimes you just have to say that the truth hurts - though I think he's being a litle harsh. Hard to totally disagree, though.

[JC]

So what's the deal here? This guys writes an article on why the Cubs suck two days in a row? Gee, I wonder if he dislikes the Cubs.

 

Or, perhaps, he just really dislikes their approach to the offseason. Being critical of the Cubs for two, three, even four days in arow doesn't necessarily mean that one has an unreasonable bias against a team. Rather, it could just as easily mean that he has a diehard loyalty that makes the decisions made this offseason difficult to swallow.

[Jake]

The writer does sound bitter, doesn't he.

[BigbadB]

That's about how I would sound if asked to write summary on the Cubs offseason. I think it's still a bit premature to write a summary since the offseason isn't over, but the grade up to this point is pretty accurate.

[CubinNY]

The writer does sound bitter, doesn't he.

 

To me he sounds correct not bitter.

 

JH has upgraded the team on paper. But how much?

 

Not much if you ask me.

 

Pierre is an upgrade, but a slight upgrade

Jones is not an upgrade

We don't know what we will get from Murton, but probably not enough power numbers to make a difference

Cedeno will hit but not walk much

Walker will never make it out of ST

JH Jr and Neifie will split time at 2nd.

Lee will likely regress

Will Aramis be healthy all year?

 

The starting pitching remains a question mark with Wood on the shelf

 

The bullpen is upgraded, at least on paper. Bullpens are one of the hardest ascpects of a team to upgrade given the volitile nature of the bullpen from year to year..

 

Overall, I'd say about a .500 club. Certianly not what I was hoping for.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

He writes these articles being critical of Hendry's moves (or lack thereof) but never once makes a suggestion as to how he would have handled things. What did he want Hendry to do? There was next to nothing available this offseason. Look around the league, who made moves we should have gotten into (except for Milton Bradley, that was a bad non-move)?

[BigbadB]

He writes these articles being critical of Hendry's moves (or lack thereof) but never once makes a suggestion as to how he would have handled things. What did he want Hendry to do? There was next to nothing available this offseason. Look around the league, who made moves we should have gotten into (except for Milton Bradley, that was a bad non-move)?

 

I can think of several. While the free agent market was pretty dry this year, there were several teams willing to trade to make their teams better.

 

Players of interest that got traded:

 

Orlando Hudson, Brad Wilkerson, X Nady, Milton Bradley, Javier Vazquez, Edgar Renteria, Adam Eaton, Luis Castillo, Josh Beckett, Alfonso Soriano, Mark Loretta, etc...

 

These are all guys the Cubs should have shown interest in, and fit team needs. I could list a whole bunch more guys who got traded that don't fit the teams needs. I can list a whole bunch more guys who have been rumored to be available in trade. The Cubs weren't so handcuffed that they couldn't make some moves to improve the team. The point is that this offseason the Cubs had tons of resources to improve this team (cash and trade chips) and the moves made fell short of significant improvement.

[goonys evil twin]

He writes these articles being critical of Hendry's moves (or lack thereof) but never once makes a suggestion as to how he would have handled things. What did he want Hendry to do? There was next to nothing available this offseason. Look around the league, who made moves we should have gotten into (except for Milton Bradley, that was a bad non-move)?

 

Maybe he should have done a better job preparing the team for this offseason that apparantly had nobody available to make the team better. Every move you make today sets up moves for the future, and Hendry's past failures may have just made his job all that much harder this year.

[BigbadB]

I might also argue that if the market was so barren this offseason, it might have been a good idea to retain the services of Nomar on a 1 year, make good, incentive laced deal, something Nomar was kind of hoping to be able to do as well.

 

I would have much rather seen Nomar in RF this year than Jones.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

 

Players of interest that got traded:

 

Orlando Hudson, Brad Wilkerson, X Nady, Milton Bradley, Javier Vazquez, Edgar Renteria, Adam Eaton, Luis Castillo, Josh Beckett, Alfonso Soriano, Mark Loretta, etc...

Orlando Hudson - I'd rather have Walker

Brad Wilkerson - You're right about him

X Nady - Where would he play?

Bradley - Right on.

Javier Vazquez - We couldn't have given up what the Sox did to get him.

Edgar Renteria - Would've taken Pie and then some.

Adam Eaton - Good point

Josh Beckett - Not enough to trade for him if it took Hanley.

Luis Castillo - Maayyyybe. For the cost I'd still rather see Walker.

The Fonz - No thanks.

Mark Loretta - Walker.

[BigbadB]

 

Players of interest that got traded:

 

Orlando Hudson, Brad Wilkerson, X Nady, Milton Bradley, Javier Vazquez, Edgar Renteria, Adam Eaton, Luis Castillo, Josh Beckett, Alfonso Soriano, Mark Loretta, etc...

Orlando Hudson - I'd rather have Walker

Brad Wilkerson - You're right about him

X Nady - Where would he play?

Bradley - Right on.

Javier Vazquez - We couldn't have given up what the Sox did to get him.

Edgar Renteria - Would've taken Pie and then some.

Adam Eaton - Good point

Josh Beckett - Not enough to trade for him if it took Hanley.

Luis Castillo - Maayyyybe. For the cost I'd still rather see Walker.

The Fonz - No thanks.

Mark Loretta - Walker.

 

Those names were just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are more. I also mentioned that there were many others that were mentioned in trade rumors (Abreu, Tejada, Manny, Floyd, Lugo, Huff, etc....)

 

The point is that there were plenty of moves that could have been made this offseason to improve the team. My only concession is that the offseason is not over yet, so an improvement could still be forthcoming. I would be shocked if Hendry didn't add another outfield bat.

[Jake]

He writes these articles being critical of Hendry's moves (or lack thereof) but never once makes a suggestion as to how he would have handled things. What did he want Hendry to do? There was next to nothing available this offseason. Look around the league, who made moves we should have gotten into (except for Milton Bradley, that was a bad non-move)?

This is so true, and not just for Hendry. It seems that anyone who doesn't spend like the Yanks or the BoSox had a bad offseason.

 

How were the ChiSox graded last offseason?

 

Articles like this are no win situations for the GMs.

[wade]

So what's the deal here? This guys writes an article on why the Cubs suck two days in a row? Gee, I wonder if he dislikes the Cubs.

 

Or, perhaps, he just really dislikes their approach to the offseason. Being critical of the Cubs for two, three, even four days in arow doesn't necessarily mean that one has an unreasonable bias against a team. Rather, it could just as easily mean that he has a diehard loyalty that makes the decisions made this offseason difficult to swallow.

 

No kidding. I've been critical of the off-season for a lot more than three or four days in a row.

[The Voice of Reason]

He writes these articles being critical of Hendry's moves (or lack thereof) but never once makes a suggestion as to how he would have handled things. What did he want Hendry to do? There was next to nothing available this offseason. Look around the league, who made moves we should have gotten into (except for Milton Bradley, that was a bad non-move)?

This is so true, and not just for Hendry. It seems that anyone who doesn't spend like the Yanks or the BoSox had a bad offseason.

 

How were the ChiSox graded last offseason?

 

Articles like this are no win situations for the GMs.

 

 

He gave the Sox an A.

[Jake]

 

Players of interest that got traded:

 

Orlando Hudson, Brad Wilkerson, X Nady, Milton Bradley, Javier Vazquez, Edgar Renteria, Adam Eaton, Luis Castillo, Josh Beckett, Alfonso Soriano, Mark Loretta, etc...

Orlando Hudson - I'd rather have Walker

Brad Wilkerson - You're right about him

X Nady - Where would he play?

Bradley - Right on.

Javier Vazquez - We couldn't have given up what the Sox did to get him.

Edgar Renteria - Would've taken Pie and then some.

Adam Eaton - Good point

Josh Beckett - Not enough to trade for him if it took Hanley.

Luis Castillo - Maayyyybe. For the cost I'd still rather see Walker.

The Fonz - No thanks.

Mark Loretta - Walker.

 

Those names were just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are more. I also mentioned that there were many others that were mentioned in trade rumors (Abreu, Tejada, Manny, Floyd, Lugo, Huff, etc....)

 

The point is that there were plenty of moves that could have been made this offseason to improve the team. My only concession is that the offseason is not over yet, so an improvement could still be forthcoming. I would be shocked if Hendry didn't add another outfield bat.

As Dave Littlefield is fond of saying, It takes two to make a trade. It may not be from lack of trying. Everyone in the burgh was hoping Blalock would have been our thirdbaseman this year, but not at the cost of Ollie. It's easy to play armchair GM and talk about trades.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

He writes these articles being critical of Hendry's moves (or lack thereof) but never once makes a suggestion as to how he would have handled things. What did he want Hendry to do? There was next to nothing available this offseason. Look around the league, who made moves we should have gotten into (except for Milton Bradley, that was a bad non-move)?

This is so true, and not just for Hendry. It seems that anyone who doesn't spend like the Yanks or the BoSox had a bad offseason.

 

How were the ChiSox graded last offseason?

 

Articles like this are no win situations for the GMs.

 

 

He gave the Sox an A.

LAST offseason? Everyone was calling for Kenny's head when he traded Carlos Lee.

 

BBB - I'd love to see (or have seen) a move for one of Abreu (especially), Tejada, Manny, Floyd, or Huff, but the demads were entirely too high.

 

Would you have traded Prior for Tejada? Zambrano for Abreu? I don't blame Hendry at all for not making those desperation trades.

[BigbadB]

No, I wouldn't have made a trade that involved Prior or Zambrano. My point (again) is that there were plenty of players available this offseason that would have improved this team.

 

I really don't see the need to sit there and break down every potential deal to prove whether they could have been made or not. I can respect your opinion that you believe the Cubs did everything they possibly could to improve the team and that you believe they are better than last year. I just happen to disagree.

 

And I don't want my other point to get lost in all of this. THE OFFSEASON IS NOT OVER! If Hendry finds a way to steal Huff away from Tampa prior to Spring Training (or someone comparable), I won't call the offseason a total loss. In fact, I'd upgrade their offseason from a "D" to a "B-". If they keep and start Walker, I'll raise it again to a "B".

[JWCUB]

I would trade Prior for Manny.

[wade]

I would trade Prior for Manny.

 

I would not do that trade.

[ltb]

isn't dayn perry a huge cardinals fan?

[baseball7897]

Why would you Trade Prior for Manny? Why make a strength a weakness. Edited January 18, 2006 by baseball7897

[wastra]

I think he's right.

 

 

But the problem isn't just this offseason, it's 3 straight offseasons that left the team in this situation. GMs can't be judged based upon one offseason- years and years of mismanagement go into a roster this pathetic with a payroll this high.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

No, I wouldn't have made a trade that involved Prior or Zambrano. My point (again) is that there were plenty of players available this offseason that would have improved this team.

 

I really don't see the need to sit there and break down every potential deal to prove whether they could have been made or not. I can respect your opinion that you believe the Cubs did everything they possibly could to improve the team and that you believe they are better than last year. I just happen to disagree.

 

And I don't want my other point to get lost in all of this. THE OFFSEASON IS NOT OVER! If Hendry finds a way to steal Huff away from Tampa prior to Spring Training (or someone comparable), I won't call the offseason a total loss. In fact, I'd upgrade their offseason from a "D" to a "B-". If they keep and start Walker, I'll raise it again to a "B".

Sure they were available, but not to us.

 

I think the team has improved, but only marginally. I'm not saying that Hendry has done no wrong, but he could have done much worse. And yes the offseason is still quite young and there's plenty of room to make much needed upgrades. Unfortunately the only upgrade I'd like to see is RF, but that pretty much isn't happening. Okay, maybe another quality starter, then I'd call it an offseason.