Hendry on ESPN Radio 1000 (Recap posted)

[RynoRules]

On the Salisbury-Rosenbloom "show" (quotes used b/c the show is horrendous, but I use it for background noise). I'll try and post a recap, even though he likely won't say anything worth reading.

 

BTW, this is the most Hendry has made himself available in a long time. Like a politician trying to convince his base that everything is going to be "OK".

 

You can listen at ESPN Radio 1000's website, by the way.

Edited August 1, 2006 by RynoRules

[E.J.]

"Felt like we got a good guy in Izturis, blah blah, gamer, blah blah, GG defender, blah blah, speedy guy who can catch, blah blah, what's OBP?"

[RynoRules]

Jim Hendry said:

 

(Sounds happy to be on the radio)

 

- I love Greg Maddux - its too bad we have not done what we wanted to do, especially last year-and-a-half.

 

- Greg and I had conversations; deal would not have been made if he did not want to do it.

 

- Izturis is a "great, great player".

 

- We have problems that I caused.

 

- I have more respect for Maddux than anyone I have ever met in the game.

 

- Maddux belongs in the game when he is done, and at "at a high level". (Hmmmmmm)

 

- No one asked about Prior b/c I made it clear he isn't available. The Balt. situation arose b/c they approached us, but that deal was never that close.

 

- Still very optimistic about Prior. He's not injured. He's tough enough (Salisbury questioned whether he can pitch through "aches and pains"). The oblique thing came out of nowhere.

 

- "Obviously we are not going to the postseason..."

 

- Agrees that current rotation is not contender quality. But minor leaguers become good big leaguers (used Detroit as an example, i.e., Bonderman). Use the rest of the season to see what Marmol, Marshall and Hill can do, "and a few other guys".

 

- We cannot win next year with the rotation as it is now. We will address it. We won't go into next season "hoping this guy is healthy, hoping that guy is healthy."

 

- I really wanted Dusty from the beginning, but I didn't think we should have been 18-40 without Lee. Whatever decision I make re Dusty at end of year will be with an eye towards what is best for the Cubs.

 

- I have a strong lean towards keeping Pierre. Had a few convos with his agents; we will talk again at end of season or shortly thereafter. There's not a harder worker anywhere.

 

- Re Walker's "day baseball" comments: I don't believe its an excuse for failure. We'll be up to 30 night games soon. Friday games can be tough if travelling the night before, but over the course of a season its not an excuse. Take 98' for example: we were 20 games over .500 at Wrigley with a team that wasn't as good as the 03' or 04' editions.

 

[UMFan83]

Jim Hendry said:

 

- We cannot win next year with the rotation as it is now. We will address it. We won't go into next season "hoping this guy is healthy, hoping that guy is healthy."

 

 

Sweet, took you 3 years you fool

[E.J.]

Great. So next year we're going to have a lineup that has Pierre, Izturis, and Cedeno in it. That's a lot of pop. :x

 

I actually like the comments about Dusty. Doesn't sound like he'll be back next year.

 

And yes Jim, you are the reason this team sucks and why it will suck next year as well.

[Tracer Bullet]

Thanks for the recap RR.

 

Sometimes JH says things I like (taking fault for some issues, giving young SPs chances for the rest of the year, we shouldn't have been so bad, even w/o DLee), then he says things like he wants to resign Pierre b/c he's a hard worker. Unfortunately, you don't get awarded wins b/c your leadoff hitter works hard. If he actually got on base at a real good clip, that would be something.

[CubColtPacer]

Great. So next year we're going to have a lineup that has Pierre, Izturis, and Cedeno in it. That's a lot of pop. :x

 

I actually like the comments about Dusty. Doesn't sound like he'll be back next year.

 

And yes Jim, you are the reason this team sucks and why it will suck next year as well.

 

Who knows for sure that Cedeno will be the starting second baseman next year? I know he will be there for August and September-but it's not sure if Cedeno will be there next year.

[cheapseats]

Great. So next year we're going to have a lineup that has Pierre, Izturis, and Cedeno in it. That's a lot of pop. :x

 

At first I thought you wrote, "That's a lot of poop." Which is also accurate.

[rawaction]

So, right now, we're looking at Izturis, Cedeno, and Pierre in the everyday lineup for the next 1 1/3 years. Add in Jones, and 1/2 the Cubs lineup can't get on base at an average level. The Cubs better get Pujols for LF if they think a lineup with the first 3 guys will score any runs.

[RynoRules]

I really think Ronny is not going to be here next season. Call it a hunch, but it makes a lot of sense when you really think about it.

[goonys evil twin]

Thanks for the recap RR.

 

Sometimes JH says things I like (taking fault for some issues, )

 

I like that he takes the blame, but I don't like what he follows that up with. Hendry has been taking blame a lot the past couple years, but he doesn't do a thing to fix the problems, he just gets different versions of the same thing. He seems to realize he's not making the right moves, but doesn't seem to realize the reason why those moves repeatedly fail. He doesn't learn from his mistakes because he doesn't think he made any. It's like a running back who carries the ball in one hand fumbling, and then apologizing for not holding onto the ball tighter with that one hand. Or a basketball player who apologizes for missing a ridiculous impossible to make shot, but then attempts to fix the problem by practicing the ridiculous impossible to make shot and using it in games. Or a baseball player who apologizes for striking out, then solves the problem by grounding out to the 2nd baseman.

[10man]

So based on JH's statements we will continue the trend of building a team that gets on base and hits for power near the bottom of the league. Wonderful.

[wilk]

He also said that he "can't go out and get two frontline starters," and that they'll "have to see how they (the pitchers) will come along" but that he thinks "the rest (of the problem) is addressable by a couple of good moves by me in the winter." Does that mean one SP and trades for LF and 2B? Edited August 1, 2006 by wilk

[goonys evil twin]

I really think Ronny is not going to be here next season. Call it a hunch, but it makes a lot of sense when you really think about it.

 

I'm not getting that hunch, but I could see it. Assuming Ramirez and Pierre get raises, and they sign some expensive, yet ineffective innings eater for the rotation, I'm guessing they spread the remaining cash around to a mediocre left fielder or a mediocre second baseman, plus a very bad veteran for the bench. Maybe Blanco gets a raise as well.

[abuck1220]

I have a strong lean towards keeping Pierre. Had a few convos with his agents; we will talk again at end of season or shortly thereafter. There's not a harder worker anywhere.

 

i'm just glad our GM values hard work and other make believe intangibles over production.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Thanks for the recap. I guess it's somewhat encouraging that he actually acknowledges doing something wrong. The part that scares me, after seeing some of his moves over the past couple of years, is that he seems to already have a plan on how to "fix" this team over the winter.

[RynoRules]

Thanks for the recap. I guess it's somewhat encouraging that he actually acknowledges doing something wrong. The part that scares me, after seeing some of his moves over the past couple of years, is that he seems to already have a plan on how to "fix" this team over the winter.

 

I got that impression also. It looks like the the first step was acquiring Cesar. I guess we will see.

[thedaymen]

When he talks about "fixing" the team, is it just because he doesn't want to say "neutering" the team on the air?

[YearofDaCubs]

Jim Hendry said:

 

- We cannot win next year with the rotation as it is now. We will address it. We won't go into next season "hoping this guy is healthy, hoping that guy is healthy."

 

 

Sweet, took you 3 years you fool

Exactly. On another note, I feel like slapping Hendry every time he says the guy can catch the ball. He said that yesterday during the Cubs game. Jeez.

[Soul]

Jim Hendry said:

 

- We cannot win next year with the rotation as it is now. We will address it. We won't go into next season "hoping this guy is healthy, hoping that guy is healthy."

 

 

Sweet, took you 3 years you fool

Exactly. On another note, I feel like slapping Hendry every time he says the guy can catch the ball. He said that yesterday during the Cubs game. Jeez.

 

I know this is probably sacreligious, but I found it *supremely* satisfying to watch that grand slam fly out right after Hendry proclaimed "Mark's back, he's over the hump."

 

Oh yeah, really? Over the hump, eh? Good show!! :x

 

 

Hendry's response: "I thought that ball was going to drop before the warning track."

 

Wrong again!!! Wow, you're really on a roll Jimbo!

 

And then I fell asleep.....which is what the Cubs increasingly do to me these days.

[Chocolate Milk]

When he talks about "fixing" the team, is it just because he doesn't want to say "neutering" the team on the air?

 

There isn't anything to "neuter."

[NCCubFan]

Jim Hendry said:

 

(Sounds happy to be on the radio)

 

- We have problems that I caused.

The first step is to admit that you have a problem. :D

[jtownie]

I really think Ronny is not going to be here next season. Call it a hunch, but it makes a lot of sense when you really think about it.

 

I'm not getting that hunch, but I could see it. Assuming Ramirez and Pierre get raises, and they sign some expensive, yet ineffective innings eater for the rotation, I'm guessing they spread the remaining cash around to a mediocre left fielder or a mediocre second baseman, plus a very bad veteran for the bench. Maybe Blanco gets a raise as well.

 

I could see hendry going after a guy like Marcus Giles, or maybe I am hopeful he does. The OF situation I have no idea. It wouldn't surprise me if he goes after Carlos Lee but for some reason i get the feeling he would rather overpay for pitching. Boras and Hendry do have a good relationship.

 

No matter what, I'm going to be very nervous over the next 9 months in regards to what moves he makes. I'm trying to prepare myself for endless frustration.

[YearofDaCubs]

Jim Hendry said:

 

- We cannot win next year with the rotation as it is now. We will address it. We won't go into next season "hoping this guy is healthy, hoping that guy is healthy."

 

 

Sweet, took you 3 years you fool

Exactly. On another note, I feel like slapping Hendry every time he says the guy can catch the ball. He said that yesterday during the Cubs game. Jeez.

 

I know this is probably sacreligious, but I found it *supremely* satisfying to watch that grand slam fly out right after Hendry proclaimed "Mark's back, he's over the hump."

 

Oh yeah, really? Over the hump, eh? Good show!! :x

 

 

Hendry's response: "I thought that ball was going to drop before the warning track."

 

Wrong again!!! Wow, you're really on a roll Jimbo!

 

And then I fell asleep.....which is what the Cubs increasingly do to me these days.

That was pretty damn hilarious! Every time Hendry kept talking something crazy would happen, it was great.

[YearofDaCubs]

I really think Ronny is not going to be here next season. Call it a hunch, but it makes a lot of sense when you really think about it.

 

I'm not getting that hunch, but I could see it. Assuming Ramirez and Pierre get raises, and they sign some expensive, yet ineffective innings eater for the rotation, I'm guessing they spread the remaining cash around to a mediocre left fielder or a mediocre second baseman, plus a very bad veteran for the bench. Maybe Blanco gets a raise as well.

 

I could see hendry going after a guy like Marcus Giles, or maybe I am hopeful he does. The OF situation I have no idea. It wouldn't surprise me if he goes after Carlos Lee but for some reason i get the feeling he would rather overpay for pitching. Boras and Hendry do have a good relationship.

 

No matter what, I'm going to be very nervous over the next 9 months in regards to what moves he makes. I'm trying to prepare myself for endless frustration.

I woudl have preferred Giles over Izturis that's for sure. I wonder if Cedeno will be moved to 2B now?