The Non-Accountability Continues

[beer man]

From one of the three blind mice - Jim Hendry

 

“Under the circumstances we’re in and with the people out there, I think it’s unfair to be critical of the manager over what’s happened the last couple weeks, Hendry said. “Dusty and (my) conversations, obviously, should remain private. And he understands that the process, how I’m going to do it, and he doesn’t have an issue with it. If he doesn’t have an issue with it now, I don’t see why anybody else would.

 

“When you’ve gotten beat the way we have the last couple weeks, I don’t think it’s something (where) you want to lump all the blame on the manager.”

 

When is anyone in the Cub organization going to take any responisibility for the putrid product put on the field?

 

You can't blame Dusty? Really?

 

It must be the writer's fault the Cub's don't hustle. Even Ken Harreslon pointed out that difference between the two teams during the broadcast on Saturday. Certainly the manager is not responsible for that.

 

It is the fan's fault we can't hit the cutoff man on throws from the outfield. At home, the fans in the bleachers should be yelling what base or what player the ball should be thrown to (or in Jone's case, what part of the ground should be thrown to)

 

The Cub nation of bloggers are responsible for all the baserunning mistakes, as well as the poor lineup construction. Please start suggesting starting lineups a day in advance, as Dusty needs some time to digest all this new fangled information you guys can find.

 

Only the Cubs can find a way to turn the (small) positive of a win over the Sox into yet another embarressment as we continue to blindly say that absolutely nothing is wrong with this putrid team and its management.

 

Nope, not their fault. Not at all.

Edited May 22, 2006 by beer man

[Derwood]

how about it's the players' faults? Millionaires need an old man to motivate them?

[CubinNY]

how about it's the players' faults? Millionaires need an old man to motivate them?

 

No they need an old man to bench their assess when the get doubled off of second two times in three weeks.

[Caryatid]

how about it's the players' faults? Millionaires need an old man to motivate them?

 

No, they need a guy to put them in the best places to succeed. And they need a guy above him who has an idea of how to evaluate talent.

 

Players should get the blame when they underachieve relative to their talents. These guys aren't talented.

 

Bad players don't get the blame for being bad-they just are bad. The guy who puts them there is the problem.

[Derwood]

how about it's the players' faults? Millionaires need an old man to motivate them?

 

No they need an old man to bench their assess when the get doubled off of second two times in three weeks.

 

right, that would've helped the team. It's not like Jones has been the best hitter this week or anything

[RynoRules]

how about it's the players' faults? Millionaires need an old man to motivate them?

 

No they need an old man to bench their assess when the get doubled off of second two times in three weeks.

 

right, that would've helped the team. It's not like Jones has been the best hitter this week or anything

 

They are losing anyway, and Jones isn't likely to keep this up. Might wake up the team if you bench the guy and send a message that this sort of nonsense will not be tolerated. See also Guillen's comments in todays Trib re Big Frank.

[badgercub]

how about it's the players' faults? Millionaires need an old man to motivate them?

 

No they need an old man to bench their assess when the get doubled off of second two times in three weeks.

 

right, that would've helped the team. It's not like Jones has been the best hitter this week or anything

 

They are losing anyway, and Jones isn't likely to keep this up. Might wake up the team if you bench the guy and send a message that this sort of nonsense will not be tolerated. See also Guillen's comments in todays Trib re Big Frank.

I think Jones should be platooned, I was all for yanking him out of the game when he made the baserunning mistakes, but it is too late to punish him for that. Those things need to be addressed immediately, you can't wait for 3 weeks and then do something about it.

[CubinNY]

Since 2003 the Cubs have had

 

Multiple mental errors per week (baserunning mistakes, throwing to the wrong base, not knowing how many outs, etc., etc.)

 

Multiple clubhouse issues (has nothing to do with winning) including sending tapes to the media, breaking a radio, calling the TV booth, cornering the broadcasters in an elevator, and berating a beat writer to name a few.

 

They've lost more then they've won and each year has gotten worse.

 

It is now twenty-o-six. It's time to pay the fiddler, somebody needs to go, but instead we will hear about injuries, bad breaks, and atem balls.

 

This team is poorly constructed and very poorly managed, yet all we get are excuses.

 

Derwood, who constructed this team? Hendry. Who puts the players on the field? Dusty. I have no problem if they want to DFA some of the more lousy players, or trade off under-producing vets, or trade young up and comers if it will make this team better.

 

But above all they need regime change. The Cubs are bordering on a humanitarian disaster. I expect Kofi Annon to propose relief efforts. I want Bush and Rice to proclaim the need for regime change based on the absecence of weapons of mass destruction.

Edited May 22, 2006 by CubinNY

[bring stone back]

From one of the three blind mice - Jim Hendry

 

“Under the circumstances we’re in and with the people out there, I think it’s unfair to be critical of the manager over what’s happened the last couple weeks, Hendry said. “Dusty and (my) conversations, obviously, should remain private. And he understands that the process, how I’m going to do it, and he doesn’t have an issue with it. If he doesn’t have an issue with it now, I don’t see why anybody else would.

 

“When you’ve gotten beat the way we have the last couple weeks, I don’t think it’s something (where) you want to lump all the blame on the manager.”

 

When is anyone in the Cub organization going to take any responisibility for the putrid product put on the field?

 

You can't blame Dusty? Really?

 

It must be the writer's fault the Cub's don't hustle. Even Ken Harreslon pointed out that difference between the two teams during the broadcast on Saturday. Certainly the manager is not responsible for that.

 

It is the fan's fault we can't hit the cutoff man on throws from the outfield. At home, the fans in the bleachers should be yelling what base or what player the ball should be thrown to (or in Jone's case, what part of the ground should be thrown to)

 

The Cub nation of bloggers are responsible for all the baserunning mistakes, as well as the poor lineup construction. Please start suggesting starting lineups a day in advance, as Dusty needs some time to digest all this new fangled information you guys can find.

 

Only the Cubs can find a way to turn the (small) positive of a win over the Sox into yet another embarressment as we continue to blindly say that absolutely nothing is wrong with this putrid team and its management.

 

Nope, not their fault. Not at all.

 

This "no accountability" thing you guys keep bringing up is getting ridiculous. Hendry said you can't put ALL of the blame on the manager. That's a huge difference than not putting any blame on Dusty. Hendry also said his conversations with Baker are private and will remain that way.

 

You have absolutely no idea what Hendry has or has not said to Baker about the team this year. This rant people are going on now about accountability is getting real old. Not one of you have any idea what is or is not being said behind closed doors. I'm not claiming I do, but you seem to take one quote, read into it the wrong way and build your own conclusions.

[Banedon]

This "no accountability" thing you guys keep bringing up is getting ridiculous. Hendry said you can't put ALL of the blame on the manager. That's a huge difference than not putting any blame on Dusty. Hendry also said his conversations with Baker are private and will remain that way.

 

You have absolutely no idea what Hendry has or has not said to Baker about the team this year. This rant people are going on now about accountability is getting real old. Not one of you have any idea what is or is not being said behind closed doors. I'm not claiming I do, but you seem to take one quote, read into it the wrong way and build your own conclusions.

 

You gotta work with the information you have man. Quotes and the product in front of us is what we've got. Do you see any evidence that contradicts the "no accountability" theory? Anything? Maybe there is things going on behind closed doors. But we can't base opinions on maybes. Don't you think we've had enough "maybes" as Cubs fans?

[bring stone back]

This "no accountability" thing you guys keep bringing up is getting ridiculous. Hendry said you can't put ALL of the blame on the manager. That's a huge difference than not putting any blame on Dusty. Hendry also said his conversations with Baker are private and will remain that way.

 

You have absolutely no idea what Hendry has or has not said to Baker about the team this year. This rant people are going on now about accountability is getting real old. Not one of you have any idea what is or is not being said behind closed doors. I'm not claiming I do, but you seem to take one quote, read into it the wrong way and build your own conclusions.

 

You gotta work with the information you have man. Quotes and the product in front of us is what we've got. Do you see any evidence that contradicts the "no accountability" theory? Anything? Maybe there is things going on behind closed doors. But we can't base opinions on maybes. Don't you think we've had enough "maybes" as Cubs fans?

 

In your opinion, what would constitute no accountability? Should they bench Jacque Jones for a week next time he makes a base-running error? Should the Cubs have benched bench Pierre, Ramirez and Zambrano for slow starts?

 

The Baker situation will take care of itself. If they manage to rebound this year and make a run, he'll be back. If not, he won't. That simple. To me, that's accountability. Firing Baker tomorrow does absolutely nothing. If you make a change, do it for the right reasons, not just for the sake of making a change.

[CubinNY]

This "no accountability" thing you guys keep bringing up is getting ridiculous. Hendry said you can't put ALL of the blame on the manager. That's a huge difference than not putting any blame on Dusty. Hendry also said his conversations with Baker are private and will remain that way.

 

You have absolutely no idea what Hendry has or has not said to Baker about the team this year. This rant people are going on now about accountability is getting real old. Not one of you have any idea what is or is not being said behind closed doors. I'm not claiming I do, but you seem to take one quote, read into it the wrong way and build your own conclusions.

 

You gotta work with the information you have man. Quotes and the product in front of us is what we've got. Do you see any evidence that contradicts the "no accountability" theory? Anything? Maybe there is things going on behind closed doors. But we can't base opinions on maybes. Don't you think we've had enough "maybes" as Cubs fans?

 

In your opinion, what would constitute no accountability? Should they bench Jacque Jones for a week next time he makes a base-running error? Should the Cubs have benched bench Pierre, Ramirez and Zambrano for slow starts?

 

The Baker situation will take care of itself. If they manage to rebound this year and make a run, he'll be back. If not, he won't. That simple. To me, that's accountability. Firing Baker tomorrow does absolutely nothing. If you make a change, do it for the right reasons, not just for the sake of making a change.

 

The right reasons? How about a terrible start to 2006, a fade in 2004, and less then medicore finsh in 2005? And that is just for starters.

 

I really don't understand your position at all. Just read the daily press clippings.

[bring stone back]

This "no accountability" thing you guys keep bringing up is getting ridiculous. Hendry said you can't put ALL of the blame on the manager. That's a huge difference than not putting any blame on Dusty. Hendry also said his conversations with Baker are private and will remain that way.

 

You have absolutely no idea what Hendry has or has not said to Baker about the team this year. This rant people are going on now about accountability is getting real old. Not one of you have any idea what is or is not being said behind closed doors. I'm not claiming I do, but you seem to take one quote, read into it the wrong way and build your own conclusions.

 

You gotta work with the information you have man. Quotes and the product in front of us is what we've got. Do you see any evidence that contradicts the "no accountability" theory? Anything? Maybe there is things going on behind closed doors. But we can't base opinions on maybes. Don't you think we've had enough "maybes" as Cubs fans?

 

In your opinion, what would constitute no accountability? Should they bench Jacque Jones for a week next time he makes a base-running error? Should the Cubs have benched bench Pierre, Ramirez and Zambrano for slow starts?

 

The Baker situation will take care of itself. If they manage to rebound this year and make a run, he'll be back. If not, he won't. That simple. To me, that's accountability. Firing Baker tomorrow does absolutely nothing. If you make a change, do it for the right reasons, not just for the sake of making a change.

 

The right reasons? How about a terrible start to 2006, a fade in 2004, and less then medicore finsh in 2005? And that is just for starters.

 

I really don't understand your position at all. Just read the daily press clippings.

 

My point is this, Jacque Jones makes a base-running error and people go crazy saying there is no accountability on this team and it starts from MacPhail. What the hell is Baker supposed to do? Bench him for a month? Who in the world would we start in his place, Bynum? I'm going to go out on a limb and say Baker had a candid discussion with Jones about base-running and keeping his head in the game.

 

If you screw up at your job, does your boss yell at you and put you down in front of the entire company and put it in the monthly newsletter or would he take you aside and say this can not happen anymore and we expect more out of you?

 

As far as Baker, if you have a better candidate on your doorstep...fine, fire him tomorrow. However, you shouldn't fire a guy just for the sake of firing someone. I love how fans just say with no real thought, "fire him now" or "bench him now." Hire who in his place? Start who in his place? Jones starts and will start in RF because he's the best we got. We're going to have to take the good with the bad because we have no other legitimate option. The same can be said for Baker as manager right now.

[Banedon]

In your opinion, what would constitute no accountability? Should they bench Jacque Jones for a week next time he makes a base-running error? Should the Cubs have benched bench Pierre, Ramirez and Zambrano for slow starts?

 

The Baker situation will take care of itself. If they manage to rebound this year and make a run, he'll be back. If not, he won't. That simple. To me, that's accountability. Firing Baker tomorrow does absolutely nothing. If you make a change, do it for the right reasons, not just for the sake of making a change.

 

I think you assume to much with the Baker situation. All indications are from what we read in the newspapers, that Hendry is just waiting for the right opportunity to give Baker an extension. 4 wins in 19 games is apparently good enough.

 

Who exactly has been held accountable so far? The Cubs are the 6th worst team in the majors. Other than a couple of bullpen guys being sent down, we have the same team that we started with. The players haven't been held responsible. Baker hasn't been held responsible. Hendry hasn't been held responsible. MacPhail hasn't been held responsible. And the Tribune obviously isn't being held responsible. Where exactly is someone being held accountable?

 

Accountablility would be someone losing their job. In every normal workplace, if you are unable to perform your job adequately, someone who CAN do the job will be asked to step in and do it. That doesn't appear to be the case with the Cubs. People that are clearly unable to do the job are being allowed to continue to try and try and try, with no change in results. That's no accountability.

[Banedon]

My point is this, Jacque Jones makes a base-running error and people go crazy saying there is no accountability on this team and it starts from MacPhail. What the hell is Baker supposed to do? Bench him for a month? Who in the world would we start in his place, Bynum? I'm going to go out on a limb and say Baker had a candid discussion with Jones about base-running and keeping his head in the game.

 

Who's accountable for the bench? Hendry? The guy that just got an extension?

[srbin84]

Hendry obviously either thinks the fans are idiots and will just keep paying them all or just doesn't care what they think, and why should he?

[jjgman21]

I think people need to clarify what statement of Hendry they are attacking. the first says Baker shouldn't be criticized. the other says he does not deserve all the blame. two different statements, the first is a load of snot, the second is true.

 

bsb makes a good point. fact is we do have additional information. we have the background knowledge that the Cubs organization never tells you exactly what is going on. we also have the general sports background knowledge that 90% of managers/coaches/GMs that are fired get a vote of confidence from their boss shortly before fired. in other words, anything out of Hendry's mouth about Baker must be taken with a pile of salt.

 

as for Jones, most of what we hear on this board is how important hitting is to all other aspects of the game. he's made the baserunning errors, and some crappy throws (I don't think any of them have caused runners to advance more than they would unless he had made a perfect throw), but he's also the ONLY batter on the team performing beyond what our even reasonable expectations were for him. further, this lineup simply cannot afford to have his stick out of the lineup right now.

 

but gawwd do I wish they would fire Baker.

[badgercub]

Also, I don't think holding someone accountable necessarily means benching them for a month, but when Jones continually makes baserunning mistakes you can surely yank him out for the remainder of the game and sit him for the next one. That would be holding him accountable, at least on Dusty's part. Holding Hendry accountable for his signing is another thing......

[Ding Dong Johnson]

So, Jones sits for a game because he got picked off 2nd base. His replacement is a guy who can't even get on base. Which player is worse or less deserving of playing time? I'll stick with Jacque.

 

Aramis is off to an extremely slow start. Neifi is backup #1 at 3B. I'll take my chance that Aramis turns it around.

 

The accountability for what's wrong with this team falls solely on the group responsible for putting it together.

[badgercub]

So, Jones sits for a game because he got picked off 2nd base. His replacement is a guy who can't even get on base. Which player is worse or less deserving of playing time? I'll stick with Jacque.

 

Aramis is off to an extremely slow start. Neifi is backup #1 at 3B. I'll take my chance that Aramis turns it around.

 

The accountability for what's wrong with this team falls solely on the group responsible for putting it together.

 

Got picked not once, not twice, but three times. And at the time, although he was coming around, was not really a force in the lineup and also was during that stretch the Cubs faced a gaggle of lefthanders so I think the benching could have worked out ok (Hairston wouldn't have killed them for one game, plus they suck anyway and would probably lose with or without him)

[bring stone back]

In your opinion, what would constitute no accountability? Should they bench Jacque Jones for a week next time he makes a base-running error? Should the Cubs have benched bench Pierre, Ramirez and Zambrano for slow starts?

 

The Baker situation will take care of itself. If they manage to rebound this year and make a run, he'll be back. If not, he won't. That simple. To me, that's accountability. Firing Baker tomorrow does absolutely nothing. If you make a change, do it for the right reasons, not just for the sake of making a change.

 

I think you assume to much with the Baker situation. All indications are from what we read in the newspapers, that Hendry is just waiting for the right opportunity to give Baker an extension. 4 wins in 19 games is apparently good enough.

 

Who exactly has been held accountable so far? The Cubs are the 6th worst team in the majors. Other than a couple of bullpen guys being sent down, we have the same team that we started with. The players haven't been held responsible. Baker hasn't been held responsible. Hendry hasn't been held responsible. MacPhail hasn't been held responsible. And the Tribune obviously isn't being held responsible. Where exactly is someone being held accountable?

 

Accountablility would be someone losing their job. In every normal workplace, if you are unable to perform your job adequately, someone who CAN do the job will be asked to step in and do it. That doesn't appear to be the case with the Cubs. People that are clearly unable to do the job are being allowed to continue to try and try and try, with no change in results. That's no accountability.

 

Do they have someone right now who they think CAN do the job? Obviously not. It's not like they're holding on to Baker and Hendry for the hell of it or they're nice guys.

 

Since the Tribune owns the Cubs, I think they're clear of accountability. I don't care what the fans think they deserve on the field, it's up to them to determine what they spend and how they spend it.

 

MacPhail and Hendry aren't perfect and have made mistakes, but have also done plenty of positives, too. The bullpen additions have been very good and Jones has been pretty good, but Pierre has struggled. They tried to address or weaknesses and some have worked while others haven't. It doesn't help that right now they have about $30 million worth of payroll on the DL or not healthy.

 

As I said, regarding Baker, the wins and losses will hold his fate. If they rebound this year and compete, he'll probably be back. If not, he won't.

 

What do you want? Posters here complain about this guy sucks and that guy sucks. People make it sound so easy....I know, let's go get Cabrera to play left and Abreu to play right. Sure....okay.

[wade]

Since 2003 the Cubs have had

 

Multiple mental errors per week (baserunning mistakes, throwing to the wrong base, not knowing how many outs, etc., etc.)

 

Multiple clubhouse issues (has nothing to do with winning) including sending tapes to the media, breaking a radio, calling the TV booth, cornering the broadcasters in an elevator, and berating a beat writer to name a few.

 

They've lost more then they've won and each year has gotten worse.

 

It is now twenty-o-six. It's time to pay the fiddler, somebody needs to go, but instead we will hear about injuries, bad breaks, and atem balls.

 

This team is poorly constructed and very poorly managed, yet all we get are excuses.

 

This nicely sums up how I feel. Good post.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

So, Jones sits for a game because he got picked off 2nd base. His replacement is a guy who can't even get on base. Which player is worse or less deserving of playing time? I'll stick with Jacque.

 

Aramis is off to an extremely slow start. Neifi is backup #1 at 3B. I'll take my chance that Aramis turns it around.

 

The accountability for what's wrong with this team falls solely on the group responsible for putting it together.

 

Got picked not once, not twice, but three times. And at the time, although he was coming around, was not really a force in the lineup and also was during that stretch the Cubs faced a gaggle of lefthanders so I think the benching could have worked out ok (Hairston wouldn't have killed them for one game, plus they suck anyway and would probably lose with or without him)

 

My only point is, this team sucks enough with the group that "deserves" to start. The last thing we need is to make an already weak lineup even weaker. If Jones can get a base hit that potentially could drive a runner home and then get picked off 2nd, I'll take that over an 0-fer from Bynum or Hairston. Both outcomes suck, I'm just going with the one that sucks slightly less.

[srbin84]

When I think about how Hendry screwed up in the offseason, I don't think much about the Jones signing. There weren't really any better players available in free agency. I don't think Giles was available to us at a reasonable price. Even if we did sign him, it would have been for more than the three-year, $30 million contract he got from San Diego. He's 35 and declining. Giving 36 million over three years or more to him would have been a much worse contract than Jones. I wanted him to trade for Mench, but my main concern was that we didn't get another quality starter to solidify the pitching staff. Kevin Millwood would have been the right guy to get. He screwed up badly there by putting the whole season in the hands of the health of Wood and Prior....again.

[bring stone back]

Also, I don't think holding someone accountable necessarily means benching them for a month, but when Jones continually makes baserunning mistakes you can surely yank him out for the remainder of the game and sit him for the next one. That would be holding him accountable, at least on Dusty's part. Holding Hendry accountable for his signing is another thing......

 

Complain about Hendry's signings, I think that's reasonable, but that's the catch-22 about being the GM for the Cubs and working in Chicago.

 

We all want this to turn around overnight. Jones and Giles were the two best right fielders in free agency. No way, Giles was leaving SD, so Hendry was left with one option. Sign Jones or be crucified for "not addressing right field."

 

If you're a team who desperately needs a closer, but you don't think anyone available are that impressive or they're asking for too much money and decide to do nothing, don't you think the fans would jump on you if you decided to sign nobody? Damned if you do...damned if you don't.