Bruce Miles is awesome

[frostwyrm]

Bruce, liked the article, especially the part about overpaying, but you left out Jose Macias' 2005 contract of $825K. I really think he could have been had for half a milllion less.

[ToupeeOnFire]

It is really a superb article. Paul Sullivan has a similar article today where he examines the Cub management strategy and signings this past off-season, but misses the mark by criticizing the Cubs for not signing Furcal on one hand while pointing out his terrible hitting and fielding so far for the Dodgers on the other. In that article the author seemingly counters his own points by citing alternate options that aren't any good either.

 

The Miles article is just a nice summation of all the problems that lay in the organizational philosophy. I.E., bidding against themselves for Rusch and Perez, committing 3 years to a player who is apparently on a severe decline (Jones) and undervaluing OBP in general.

Agreed, excellent article.

 

The problem with the coverage of the Cubs in the big papers (Tribune, Sun Times) is that, while writers are able to successfully diagnose that there is a problem, they are not able to correctly identify its source. So instead they are constantly harping on stuff like curses, the futility of Cubdom, the cheapness of the Tribune, lack of fundamentals, etc., etc. Things which are either peripheral, or downright silly.

 

The real problem goes right down to the very marrow of the organization; they don't understand the value of a walk -- their pitchers can't throw strikes, their hitters don't work the count. It infects all aspects of the organization from scouting to coaching to free agent signings. It's almost like the Cubs are being willfully ignorant, trying to flaunt conventional wisdom out of sheer stubborness. And conventional wisdom it is, because while Moneyball may be a recent and relatively new phenomenon, the idea that baserunners lead to runs (via walk or hit) has been around forever. The understanding that taking walks (and, conversely, having pitchers who don't allow them) is a critical and important skill goes back to the 30s and 40s and Branch Rickey. It's not just some disposable fad that can be ignored in favor of some alternative, but a fundemental truth, like saying good pitching helps you win.

 

That's really the source of the problem in a nutshell. A fundamental aspect of the game is ignored by the Cubs in favor of shiny numbers and flashy tools. It's the reason why the Cubs bid against themselves for a no-hit SS that nobody else wants; it's the reason why the Cubs gave an outrageous contract to Jacques Jones; it's the reason why the Cubs only seem to develop young offensive talent through accident; it's the reason why the Cubs can't ever seem to assemble a major league bench; it's the reason why they coveted Juan Pierre so highly; it's the reas...well you get my point...etc., etc., etc., ad infinitum. In short, it's the reason why the Cubs find themselves in the position they are in.

 

Unfortunately, Chicago writers only seem to pick at the symptoms as opposed to the root of the problem. Which is why I wish there were more Bruce Miles types to tell it like it is.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

In defending Hendry, the Alfonseca signing was out of necessity. There was no closer left to pursue and we needed one at the time. Did he overpay? Looking back, probably yes, but at the time, that was the going rate for those that had done the job before and again he was the only option left.

 

Same thing with Jacque Jones. Three yrs is outrageous but we needed another bat for RF and he was basically the only guy left that fit our needs. Too bad he hasn't been a bargain (so far). Probably overpaid for the guy, but I view his acquisition as a gamble that has not paid off yet for Hendry. Lets hope he catches fire and provides meaningful production the rest of the way.

 

Not true. At the time of the Jones signing, both Encarnacion and Preston Wilson were still unsigned. While neither are better than Jones, I'm not sure they are much worse either. All are good defensively but have major offensive holes. Reggie Sanders was still available as well.

 

The right field options were limited. We knew that going into the offseason. It still doesn't excuse giving Jacque Jones, whose numbers the two previous seasons were atrocious, a three-year deal.

[IWU_CUBS_FAN]

excellent article....way to stick it to em

[badger1679666666]

Vance is 100% correct. There weren't a lot of suitable replacements, but if you wanted to take a flyer on Jones. Fine. ONE year 4.5 Million, otherwise say take your services elsewhere Jockstrap. Maybe a mutual option for the second. NOT 3 years. It's so dumb, I can't even comprehend what Hendry was thinking. Even if he expected a rebound, what moron would COUNT on it and sign a guy for 3 years?

[Jehrico]

Baker was asked how the Cubs could better get on base: taking more pitches or swinging at better pitches or both.

 

“I think swinging at better pitches is probably one of them,” Baker said. “But also, you’ve got to find some holes, too. We’ve hit some balls hard during this period of time.

 

“Again, when things aren’t going well, when you take a pitch, it’s a strike. When you swing at it, it’s not a good pitch to hit.”

 

Why does Baker (and Hendry) insist on attributing everything to luck? It's not luck. It's called pitch recognition. Are the same guys at the top of the league every year in OBP and/or BA because of luck? No.

 

Because whenever Baker walked in his day, it was luck.

[YearofDaCubs]

Excellent article and on point with what most of us think is wrong with the Cubs.

[jacey]

Sorry everyone, I guess my opinion is not popular. I'm not saying Hendry is not due any of the blame for this mess, but his options were really limited here with Jacque's situation. And Badger, you are right- three years was overboard. I would've preferred them to keep Jeromy and Patterson myself also.

 

Anyway, you can't put all the blame on Hendry, Dusty or even the players. Collectively, yes, but Hendry is not the main problem here. He can't swing the bats and pitch the pitches. He shares in this mess but if someone has got to go, its the players who are playing sh*tty and Dusty-not Hendry.

[brinoch]

I recognize that you are new here, so I'll go lightly. This is a family board, and language usage needs to reflect that standard. Please read the guidelines, linked in my sig. In the future, please watch the language.

[CubfaninCA]

Glad to see someone in the Chicago media taking the Cubs to task, and Pierre deserves all kinds of helllll. He's been awful.

 

Hopefully, Bruce follows up with an article on the alternatives, and points out the Trib won't pay for difference makers like Vlad, Pedro, Colon, etc.

 

The moves that should have been made were signing Dye & Eckstein for minimal money and trading Corey a few days before he got hurt in 2003. But who could have called that??

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Sorry everyone, I guess my opinion is not popular. I'm not saying Hendry is not due any of the blame for this mess, but his options were really limited here with Jacque's situation. And Badger, you are right- three years was overboard. I would've preferred them to keep Jeromy and Patterson myself also.

 

Anyway, you can't put all the blame on Hendry, Dusty or even the players. Collectively, yes, but Hendry is not the main problem here. He can't swing the bats and pitch the pitches. He shares in this mess but if someone has got to go, its the players who are playing sh*tty and Dusty-not Hendry.

 

I think what you're missing is that it was Hendry who brought in the players who cannot swing the bats and pitch the pitches. Not only that, he's overpaying pretty much all of them. The players are playing poorly because collectively they are not good. The only argument against Hendry being the main problem I will accept is if you were to say that MacPhail was.

[YearofDaCubs]

Sorry everyone, I guess my opinion is not popular. I'm not saying Hendry is not due any of the blame for this mess, but his options were really limited here with Jacque's situation. And Badger, you are right- three years was overboard. I would've preferred them to keep Jeromy and Patterson myself also.

 

Anyway, you can't put all the blame on Hendry, Dusty or even the players. Collectively, yes, but Hendry is not the main problem here. He can't swing the bats and pitch the pitches. He shares in this mess but if someone has got to go, its the players who are playing sh*tty and Dusty-not Hendry.

Actually, I do put the blame on Hendry and Dusty because Hendry is the one brining in these clowns to play for the Cubs and overpaying them to do it on top of it. Baker is the worst manager in the majors and he's the manager for the Cubs because Hendry hired him too. Make no mistake, Hendry is to blame for this mess. With the payroll he's had since offseason 2004 he has no excuse not to make a winner out of this team.

[thedaymen]

Anyway, you can't put all the blame on Hendry, Dusty or even the players. Collectively, yes, but Hendry is not the main problem here. He can't swing the bats and pitch the pitches. He shares in this mess but if someone has got to go, its the players who are playing sh*tty and Dusty-not Hendry.

 

But Hendry brought us all these players and is still talking about Dusty being able to turn it around. At some point, when its "everyone's" fault, you have to point the biggest finger at the guy who put this thing together.

 

Its not going to change for the better until there is a new regime.

[CubfaninCA]

blame game 06:

 

1. dusty (too stubborn)

2. trib (won't pay for difference makers like vlad or pedro. we ain't NY, Boston or Anaheim).

3. the billy goat (joe morgan said so, and that lee injury was just awful luck!)

4. ramirez (can't have such a poor performance from the cleanup man)

5. hendry (he's too stubborn to fire baker, but has made some real good moves in his tenure)))

[Tracer Bullet]

blame game 06:

 

1. dusty (too stubborn)

2. trib (won't pay for difference makers like vlad or pedro. we ain't NY, Boston or Anaheim).

3. the billy goat (joe morgan said so, and that lee injury was just awful luck!)

4. ramirez (can't have such a poor performance from the cleanup man)

5. hendry (he's too stubborn to fire baker, but has made some real good moves in his tenure)))

 

I'd go:

 

1. Dusty

2. Hendry

3. The guys Henry brought in this year (Pierre esp - quit grounding out to 2nd!)

4. ARam

5. Luck, Bad (Lee)

 

Dusty gets primary blame for 2 reasons - (1) no this isn't a 100-win team with what Hendry assembled, but it isn't a team that should be shut-out 5 times in a 2-week span or lose 9 straight. Dusty's supposed to be a great player's manager, but he hasn't gotten the most out of these guys. His "be aggressive" policy isn't helping either; and (2) I blame Dusty in part for the injuries to Wood & Prior's arms. He worked them to death in '03 and just overuses young pitchers too much for my taste. I guess if we had won the WS that year, I wouldn't complain. But we didn't, so I do.

 

Hendry gets the blame for bringing in Pierre and Jones to play key roles on this team. And also for the likes of Bynum, Mabry, and Neifi being our primary options off the bench. A disgrace for a major-market team really.

 

I don't really blame the Trib b/c they could give Hendry $400m and he'd blow half of it on crap like Jones and Perez and the other half overpaying for decent players (I still think Hendry overpaid for the bullpen guys). Until we see Hendry hot after a difference maker and get outbid by another team b/c of budget, I can't really blame the Trib.

[Shavo]

blame game 06:

 

1. dusty (too stubborn)

2. trib (won't pay for difference makers like vlad or pedro. we ain't NY, Boston or Anaheim).

3. the billy goat (joe morgan said so, and that lee injury was just awful luck!)

4. ramirez (can't have such a poor performance from the cleanup man)

5. hendry (he's too stubborn to fire baker, but has made some real good moves in his tenure)))

 

I'd go:

 

1. Dusty

2. Hendry

3. The guys Henry brought in this year (Pierre esp - quit grounding out to 2nd!)

4. ARam

5. Luck, Bad (Lee)

 

Dusty gets primary blame for 2 reasons - (1) no this isn't a 100-win team with what Hendry assembled, but it isn't a team that should be shut-out 5 times in a 2-week span or lose 9 straight. Dusty's supposed to be a great player's manager, but he hasn't gotten the most out of these guys. His "be aggressive" policy isn't helping either; and (2) I blame Dusty in part for the injuries to Wood & Prior's arms. He worked them to death in '03 and just overuses young pitchers too much for my taste. I guess if we had won the WS that year, I wouldn't complain. But we didn't, so I do.

 

Hendry gets the blame for bringing in Pierre and Jones to play key roles on this team. And also for the likes of Bynum, Mabry, and Neifi being our primary options off the bench. A disgrace for a major-market team really.

 

I don't really blame the Trib b/c they could give Hendry $400m and he'd blow half of it on crap like Jones and Perez and the other half overpaying for decent players (I still think Hendry overpaid for the bullpen guys). Until we see Hendry hot after a difference maker and get outbid by another team b/c of budget, I can't really blame the Trib.

 

Nahh. It goes ...

 

1. Hendry for a horrible off season.

2. Dusty for being a bad coach

3. Trib for not getting rid of these bums.

[CubfaninCA]

blame game 06:

 

1. dusty (too stubborn)

2. trib (won't pay for difference makers like vlad or pedro. we ain't NY, Boston or Anaheim).

3. the billy goat (joe morgan said so, and that lee injury was just awful luck!)

4. ramirez (can't have such a poor performance from the cleanup man)

5. hendry (he's too stubborn to fire baker, but has made some real good moves in his tenure)))

 

I'd go:

 

1. Dusty

2. Hendry

3. The guys Henry brought in this year (Pierre esp - quit grounding out to 2nd!)

4. ARam

5. Luck, Bad (Lee)

 

Dusty gets primary blame for 2 reasons - (1) no this isn't a 100-win team with what Hendry assembled, but it isn't a team that should be shut-out 5 times in a 2-week span or lose 9 straight. Dusty's supposed to be a great player's manager, but he hasn't gotten the most out of these guys. His "be aggressive" policy isn't helping either; and (2) I blame Dusty in part for the injuries to Wood & Prior's arms. He worked them to death in '03 and just overuses young pitchers too much for my taste. I guess if we had won the WS that year, I wouldn't complain. But we didn't, so I do.

 

Hendry gets the blame for bringing in Pierre and Jones to play key roles on this team. And also for the likes of Bynum, Mabry, and Neifi being our primary options off the bench. A disgrace for a major-market team really.

 

I don't really blame the Trib b/c they could give Hendry $400m and he'd blow half of it on crap like Jones and Perez and the other half overpaying for decent players (I still think Hendry overpaid for the bullpen guys). Until we see Hendry hot after a difference maker and get outbid by another team b/c of budget, I can't really blame the Trib.

 

Hendry wanted beltran, but that wasn't happening til Sosa's $17 million was cleared & the Trib wouldn't have done 7 and $119m either. Both New York teams, Anaheim and Boston dominate free agency. The Trib has the ability to cause they pull in tons of revenue, but decline to do so.

[Caryatid]

blame game 06:

 

1. dusty (too stubborn)

2. trib (won't pay for difference makers like vlad or pedro. we ain't NY, Boston or Anaheim).

3. the billy goat (joe morgan said so, and that lee injury was just awful luck!)

4. ramirez (can't have such a poor performance from the cleanup man)

5. hendry (he's too stubborn to fire baker, but has made some real good moves in his tenure)))

 

I'd go:

 

1. Dusty

2. Hendry

3. The guys Henry brought in this year (Pierre esp - quit grounding out to 2nd!)

4. ARam

5. Luck, Bad (Lee)

 

Dusty gets primary blame for 2 reasons - (1) no this isn't a 100-win team with what Hendry assembled, but it isn't a team that should be shut-out 5 times in a 2-week span or lose 9 straight. Dusty's supposed to be a great player's manager, but he hasn't gotten the most out of these guys. His "be aggressive" policy isn't helping either; and (2) I blame Dusty in part for the injuries to Wood & Prior's arms. He worked them to death in '03 and just overuses young pitchers too much for my taste. I guess if we had won the WS that year, I wouldn't complain. But we didn't, so I do.

 

Hendry gets the blame for bringing in Pierre and Jones to play key roles on this team. And also for the likes of Bynum, Mabry, and Neifi being our primary options off the bench. A disgrace for a major-market team really.

 

I don't really blame the Trib b/c they could give Hendry $400m and he'd blow half of it on crap like Jones and Perez and the other half overpaying for decent players (I still think Hendry overpaid for the bullpen guys). Until we see Hendry hot after a difference maker and get outbid by another team b/c of budget, I can't really blame the Trib.

 

Hendry wanted beltran, but that wasn't happening til Sosa's $17 million was cleared & the Trib wouldn't have done 7 and $119m either. Both New York teams, Anaheim and Boston dominate free agency. The Trib has the ability to cause they pull in tons of revenue, but decline to do so.

 

Before we go taking the easy road and blaming the Tribune incorrectly, it should be pointed out that, subtracting Jones, Rusch, Perez and Pierre's ($15 million total) salary and replacing it with players on last years' roster would have freed up more than enough money to get not one, but TWO star players at $15-$17 million per each AND keep the payroll under $100 million. Its not about the money that's spent, its about HOW you spend it.

[Jon]

Hendry wanted beltran, but that wasn't happening til Sosa's $17 million was cleared & the Trib wouldn't have done 7 and $119m either. Both New York teams, Anaheim and Boston dominate free agency. The Trib has the ability to cause they pull in tons of revenue, but decline to do so.

Both Hendry and MacPhail said several times afterwards that they had no interest whatsoever in a contract that long, let alone for that much.

[CubfaninCA]

Hendry wanted beltran, but that wasn't happening til Sosa's $17 million was cleared & the Trib wouldn't have done 7 and $119m either. Both New York teams, Anaheim and Boston dominate free agency. The Trib has the ability to cause they pull in tons of revenue, but decline to do so.

Both Hendry and MacPhail said several times afterwards that they had no interest whatsoever in a contract that long, let alone for that much.

 

both good trib men.

 

the bottom line is that the trib hired these guys to "mismanage" $100 million. the buck stops w/ the trib. giving the trib a continual pass is equivalent to blaming everyone except bush when things go wrong.

 

if i got a dollar for every time i've heard it's someone elses fault, not bush.... :lol:

[Caryatid]

Hendry wanted beltran, but that wasn't happening til Sosa's $17 million was cleared & the Trib wouldn't have done 7 and $119m either. Both New York teams, Anaheim and Boston dominate free agency. The Trib has the ability to cause they pull in tons of revenue, but decline to do so.

Both Hendry and MacPhail said several times afterwards that they had no interest whatsoever in a contract that long, let alone for that much.

 

both good trib men.

 

the bottom line is that the trib hired these guys to "mismanage" $100 million. the buck stops w/ the trib. giving the trib a continual pass is equivalent to blaming everyone except bush when things go wrong.

 

if i got a dollar for every time i've heard it's someone elses fault, not bush.... :lol:

 

Its okay to blame the Trib for hiring MacPhail and Hendry, but its not okay to blame them for not spending enough money. They could spend more, but the amount a team spends (over about 80-85 million) is not nearly as important on who they spend it on.

[Backtobanks]

I'm as frustrated as everyone else, but I'm getting tired of all of the posters who are now criticizing Hendry by using 20/20 hindsight. People would rather have Burnitz, Patterson, Nomar, etc. rather than their replacements. Let's be honest, everyone would have ripped Hendry for keeping Patterson, Burnitz, and Nomar. Look at the posts from last year talking about those "bums" Patterson and Burnitz, and the always-injured Nomar. Nomar had no position to play on the Cubs and anyone who suggests he could play RF or SS is kidding themselves. (Of course, using our 20/20 hindsight we would know that Lee was going to get injured and Nomar could play 1B.) As for the 3-year contract for Jones, I think that has been explained many times. He had to match the other offer, but I don't think there is any way Jones is going to be a Cub for 3 years. He will be traded at some point with the Cubs eating part of his salary. I can imagine the howls of protest that would follow Hendry trading Prior or Zambrano for the big bat that they need. (Of course, using 20/20 hindsight, we would know Prior would be injured.) Many people wanted Hendry to sign Furcal, but imagine the protests when he gives Furcal 4yrs. @ $13 million per year and Furcal stinks. Anyone who blames Hendry for not getting Giles is ignoring all of the evidence that Giles refused to leave SD. Finally, none of us know exactly what the other teams wanted when Hendry asked about Kearns, Dunn, Tejada, Abreu, Craig Wilson, etc. The bottom line is that Hendry has his faults as a GM, but the job looks a whole lot easier sitting at our computers and using 20/20 hindsight.

[CubfaninCA]

blame game 06:

 

1. dusty (too stubborn)

2. trib (won't pay for difference makers like vlad or pedro. we ain't NY, Boston or Anaheim).

3. the billy goat (joe morgan said so, and that lee injury was just awful luck!)

4. ramirez (can't have such a poor performance from the cleanup man)

5. hendry (he's too stubborn to fire baker, but has made some real good moves in his tenure)))

 

I'd go:

 

1. Dusty

2. Hendry

3. The guys Henry brought in this year (Pierre esp - quit grounding out to 2nd!)

4. ARam

5. Luck, Bad (Lee)

 

Dusty gets primary blame for 2 reasons - (1) no this isn't a 100-win team with what Hendry assembled, but it isn't a team that should be shut-out 5 times in a 2-week span or lose 9 straight. Dusty's supposed to be a great player's manager, but he hasn't gotten the most out of these guys. His "be aggressive" policy isn't helping either; and (2) I blame Dusty in part for the injuries to Wood & Prior's arms. He worked them to death in '03 and just overuses young pitchers too much for my taste. I guess if we had won the WS that year, I wouldn't complain. But we didn't, so I do.

 

Hendry gets the blame for bringing in Pierre and Jones to play key roles on this team. And also for the likes of Bynum, Mabry, and Neifi being our primary options off the bench. A disgrace for a major-market team really.

 

I don't really blame the Trib b/c they could give Hendry $400m and he'd blow half of it on crap like Jones and Perez and the other half overpaying for decent players (I still think Hendry overpaid for the bullpen guys). Until we see Hendry hot after a difference maker and get outbid by another team b/c of budget, I can't really blame the Trib.

 

Hendry wanted beltran, but that wasn't happening til Sosa's $17 million was cleared & the Trib wouldn't have done 7 and $119m either. Both New York teams, Anaheim and Boston dominate free agency. The Trib has the ability to cause they pull in tons of revenue, but decline to do so.

 

Before we go taking the easy road and blaming the Tribune incorrectly, it should be pointed out that, subtracting Jones, Rusch, Perez and Pierre's ($15 million total) salary and replacing it with players on last years' roster would have freed up more than enough money to get not one, but TWO star players at $15-$17 million per each AND keep the payroll under $100 million. Its not about the money that's spent, its about HOW you spend it.

 

That's good in theory, but can you rattle off a list of free agents the Cubs have spent over $10 mil. per year on??

 

The only Cub who ever got over $15 million was Sosa and it took a few 60+ homer seasons for that. This organization is in love with the $3-9 million free agent. They never go out and get a Vlad, Colon, Tejada, Manny, Pedro, Mussina, etc....

[Jon]

Hendry wanted beltran, but that wasn't happening til Sosa's $17 million was cleared & the Trib wouldn't have done 7 and $119m either. Both New York teams, Anaheim and Boston dominate free agency. The Trib has the ability to cause they pull in tons of revenue, but decline to do so.

Both Hendry and MacPhail said several times afterwards that they had no interest whatsoever in a contract that long, let alone for that much.

 

both good trib men.

 

the bottom line is that the trib hired these guys to "mismanage" $100 million. the buck stops w/ the trib. giving the trib a continual pass is equivalent to blaming everyone except bush when things go wrong.

 

if i got a dollar for every time i've heard it's someone elses fault, not bush.... :lol:

What part did the Tribune Co. have in Hendry's hiring? And if they had a say in his promotion to GM, I doubt it was significant.

 

But what does that have to do with them not going crazy in the FA market and committing $17 million a year to a single player for 7 years? Hendry did want Beltran, but was not willing to go that far. And that was the right decision.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm as frustrated as everyone else, but I'm getting tired of all of the posters who are now criticizing Hendry by using 20/20 hindsight. People would rather have Burnitz, Patterson, Nomar, etc. rather than their replacements. Let's be honest, everyone would have ripped Hendry for keeping Patterson, Burnitz, and Nomar.

 

This is just not at all true.

 

The hindsight accusation is completely bogus. Many people were up in arms about these moves long before they were made. Many said they would much rather have Burnitz for 1 year than Jones for 3. Many said they would rather have Patterson for relatively cheap than Jones or Pierre for a lot. Many said they wanted Nomar back at the cheap deal he was supposedly willing to sign.

 

You're dead wrong on this, dead wrong.