Some optimism about 2007.

[C.C.]

2003 was the year Hendry could have gone after Vlady.

 

Moises could have been shipped to San Fran to play with daddy for peanuts. Sosa to left field and Vlady in RF. Maybe Moises to San Fran for Ray Durham?

 

Now that I agree with you...Cali signed him for 12-13 million a year. What a steal!

[BigbadB]

If you recall, Moises didn't exactly put up stellar numbers in 2003, even though the Cubs made it to the playoffs. Sosa's defense in RF was atrocious that year. It would have been a great move to get Guerrero.

 

I don't think the Choi/Lee trade happened all that early that year, so there was more speculation around here that Moises could be moved to 1b if San Fran and Felipe didn't want Moises.

 

Of course, Hendry didn't even look away from his donuts when the bidding began for Guerrero, so it's pointless to continue this discussion.

[Laura]

2003 was the year Hendry could have gone after Vlady.

 

Moises could have been shipped to San Fran to play with daddy for peanuts. Sosa to left field and Vlady in RF. Maybe Moises to San Fran for Ray Durham?

 

Now that I agree with you...Cali signed him for 12-13 million a year. What a steal!

 

At the Cubs Convention that off-season, Andy MacPhail marveled that a guy with a bad back could get that exhorbitant a contract.

[BigbadB]

Mr. Bad Back only played in 156 games in 2004 and put up:

 

.337/.391/.598

[David]

Yeah, but Sosa put up the numbers and Beltran hadn't yet...And quite frankly still hasn't.

 

First, I never compared Beltran to ARod in terms of talent.

 

Second, Beltran was extremely highly regarded due to his incredible potential (on top of what he was already producing) and his young age.

 

What had Sosa done at Beltran's age? I'd much rather sign a 26 year old to that sort of contract than a 32 year old.

 

I'd prefer to pay for future production in contracts rather than reward past production.

[USSoccer]

If Hendry had not wasted 9 mil/year signing Maddux (that was a terrible contract), there would've been more than enough money to sign Beltran, even taking into account whatever payroll restrictions there may or may not have been.

 

I still think Beltran would've taken a bit less if he didn't have to go to NY. It was widely believed that Beltran wanted nothing to do with NY (be it the Yanks or Mets); of course, when you get offered that kind of money, there's not much of a choice. I could be wrong.

 

In 2004, the Cubs had the best chance of winning. When Hendry signed Maddux the chances increased even more.

 

Disagree. The 2004 Cubs with Beltran and Cruz/Rusch (2004)/Mitre are a better team that the 2004 Cubs with Maddux and Patterson.

 

Beltran wasnt a FA untill after the 04 season.

 

D'oh! My fault, my years are running together.

 

Now I remember. It was the whole "Sosa's contract" issue with Beltran.

[Soul]

I see no hope for this team with Fat Jim making the moves.

 

I don't like the job Hendry's doing either. But can we criticize without resorting to personal attacks please?

[Backtobanks]

I think Hendry did a excellent job in 03-04. Picked up Lee, Ramirez, Barrett, for nothing basically. He added Maddux, he traded for Nomar.

 

Baker raised the expectations when he signed with the Cubs. He was the best named manager out there, and Hendry got him.

 

That being said, Hendry has done very little since then. He spent the whole 04 off-season trying to deal Sosa. That could be a reason he didnt do much. This is a very important off-season for Hendry. If he dosent get this team back into contention, he could be done as Cub GM.

 

Amen! Hendry was respected as an "up and coming star" as a GM by most of the baseball stories and opinions that I read in 03-04. I agree that he hasn't done much lately and his stock has dropped considerably in the eyes of most people. I can't believe that my optimistic post to start this thread turned into such vicious attacks on other posters. I find it hard to believe that people can't disagree without attacking each other. I still believe that Hendry can turn this team around this winter with 1 FA signing (Schmidt), 1 impact trade , and a fair share of luck and health (which are overdue for the Cubs).

[biittner77]

After sifting through this thread I think the misunderstanding regarding Hendry comes from the creation of this site from a combination of the ESPN and Cubs.com boards etal.

 

When Hendry was hired, most people were very optimistic about him because he was preceived as the guy who had built what had become a very good farm system. He also managed to distance himself from the disappointing 2002 season.

 

When Hendry hired Baker there was a pretty even split between people that liked the move and people that hated it. Anyone who went by Baker's reputation liked it. Anyone that took the time to research or listen to Giants fans was skeptical.

 

Until this year people have been able to distinguish between Hendry and Baker in terms of their affect on the team. People were willing to believe that Hendry had to be smarter than he seemed because of the one sided trades that he made in 2003- 2004.

 

It has only been since the end of 2004 that most people have been holding Hendry accountable for the teams he's built. In that sense Cubbiechris is right that most people had a positive opinion about Hendry.

 

Since no one is still reading at this point I'd like to add that I went to a water park today and I've decided that I really miss the concept of modesty. It got me thinking that there really should be Bikini inspectors or perhaps a test to pass before appearing in public.

[cubsjunky95]

I'm a pessimist too which is why I'm saying the Cubs won't sign Schmidt, MP will miss the start of ST for the 4th consecutive season and Hendry won't sign a good SP.

Personally I hope I'm wrong but it's hard to be optimistic about this team anymore.

[Soriano12]

I see no hope for this team with Fat Jim making the moves.

 

I don't like the job Hendry's doing either. But can we criticize without resorting to personal attacks please?

 

I'm not attacking anyone on this board...I'm attacking the moron that has

torn apart our beloved Cubs.

 

I have no respect for the man.

[Caryatid]

I see no hope for this team with Fat Jim making the moves.

 

I don't like the job Hendry's doing either. But can we criticize without resorting to personal attacks please?

 

I'm not attacking anyone on this board...I'm attacking the moron that has

torn apart our beloved Cubs.

 

I have no respect for the man.

 

1. What was there to tear apart? Its not like the guy inheirited the 27 Yankees.

 

2. Regardless of what you think about the job he's done, there's absolutely no reason to go after him personally. He believes he's doing what's best for the team-however misguided that might be. There's no reason to insult him-that's a White Sox fan way of doing things.

[Soriano12]

I see no hope for this team with Fat Jim making the moves.

 

I don't like the job Hendry's doing either. But can we criticize without resorting to personal attacks please?

 

I'm not attacking anyone on this board...I'm attacking the moron that has

torn apart our beloved Cubs.

 

I have no respect for the man.

 

1. What was there to tear apart? Its not like the guy inheirited the 27 Yankees.

 

2. Regardless of what you think about the job he's done, there's absolutely no reason to go after him personally. He believes he's doing what's best for the team-however misguided that might be. There's no reason to insult him-that's a White Sox fan way of doing things.

 

I guess your right. Its not Jim's fault he has 4 stomach's and 6 chins.

The guy is probably misaerable. How does one go home..look in the mirror and say to themselves that they have turned a 94 million dollar payroll into a bottom 5 team in baseball..thats gotta be tough to take.

The only outlet is to sit in front of the tube..watch Friends re-runs and stuff your fance with Hagen Daez.

[C.C.]

I can't believe that my optimistic post to start this thread turned into such vicious attacks on other posters. I find it hard to believe that people can't disagree without attacking each other. I still believe that Hendry can turn this team around this winter with 1 FA signing (Schmidt), 1 impact trade , and a fair share of luck and health (which are overdue for the Cubs)

 

I could not agree more! It's seems like it's getting worse lately.

[Caryatid]

I see no hope for this team with Fat Jim making the moves.

 

I don't like the job Hendry's doing either. But can we criticize without resorting to personal attacks please?

 

I'm not attacking anyone on this board...I'm attacking the moron that has

torn apart our beloved Cubs.

 

I have no respect for the man.

 

1. What was there to tear apart? Its not like the guy inheirited the 27 Yankees.

 

 

2. Regardless of what you think about the job he's done, there's absolutely no reason to go after him personally. He believes he's doing what's best for the team-however misguided that might be. There's no reason to insult him-that's a White Sox fan way of doing things.

 

I guess your right. Its not Jim's fault he has 4 stomach's and 6 chins.

The guy is probably misaerable. How does one go home..look in the mirror and say to themselves that they have turned a 94 million dollar payroll into a bottom 5 team in baseball..thats gotta be tough to take.

The only outlet is to sit in front of the tube..watch Friends re-runs and stuff your fance with Hagen Daez.

 

When did I click on Cubs.com?

[soccer10k]

Sosa was in that vicinity, and Beltran would've been our new superstar talent. They only would've had to have swallowed one year of both contracts.

 

That's what I remember as well. The sticking point IIRC was the Cubs didn't want to have two huge contracts on the book for that one year.

[soccer10k]

Pierre is making $5.75 mil this year and Beltran is making $12 mil. For that extra $6.25 this is how much extra you get:

 

.001/.060/.236/.296 with 32 HR, 40 BB, 41 SO, -28 SB (negative denoting less for Beltran)

 

Both are 29 as well. Somebody can add their opinion on defensive metrics as well.

 

Personally, I would take Beltran for that extra money any day.

[CubColtPacer]

Pierre is making $5.75 mil this year and Beltran is making $12 mil. For that extra $6.25 this is how much extra you get:

 

.001/.060/.236/.296 with 32 HR, 40 BB, 41 SO, -28 SB (negative denoting less for Beltran)

 

Both are 29 as well. Somebody can add their opinion on defensive metrics as well.

 

Personally, I would take Beltran for that extra money any day.

 

I would definitely agree with you there that Beltran is worth that extra money. The only problem is that if he's only making 12 million this year, the contract must be back loaded (because the deal averages exactly 17 million per year). So Beltran could be making 20 million in his last 2 years of the deal at 33 and 34, and he would probably not be worth it then. That said, I would still want him-and hope other baseball salaries continue to go up and make that deal seem less expensive in comparison.

[C.C.]

Pierre is making $5.75 mil this year and Beltran is making $12 mil. For that extra $6.25 this is how much extra you get:

 

.001/.060/.236/.296 with 32 HR, 40 BB, 41 SO, -28 SB (negative denoting less for Beltran)

 

Both are 29 as well. Somebody can add their opinion on defensive metrics as well.

 

Personally, I would take Beltran for that extra money any day.

 

I would definitely agree with you there that Beltran is worth that extra money. The only problem is that if he's only making 12 million this year, the contract must be back loaded (because the deal averages exactly 17 million per year). So Beltran could be making 20 million in his last 2 years of the deal at 33 and 34, and he would probably not be worth it then. That said, I would still want him-and hope other baseball salaries continue to go up and make that deal seem less expensive in comparison.

 

Your right. It's a 7/119 million dollar contract.

[soccer10k]

Pierre is making $5.75 mil this year and Beltran is making $12 mil. For that extra $6.25 this is how much extra you get:

 

.001/.060/.236/.296 with 32 HR, 40 BB, 41 SO, -28 SB (negative denoting less for Beltran)

 

Both are 29 as well. Somebody can add their opinion on defensive metrics as well.

 

Personally, I would take Beltran for that extra money any day.

 

I would definitely agree with you there that Beltran is worth that extra money. The only problem is that if he's only making 12 million this year, the contract must be back loaded (because the deal averages exactly 17 million per year). So Beltran could be making 20 million in his last 2 years of the deal at 33 and 34, and he would probably not be worth it then. That said, I would still want him-and hope other baseball salaries continue to go up and make that deal seem less expensive in comparison.

 

Carlos Beltran of

7 years/$119M (2005-11)

 

$11M signing bonus ($5M at signing 1/05, $2M 6/15/05, $2M 1/15/06, $2M 1/15/07)

05:$10M, 06:$12M, 07:$12M, 08:$18.5M, 09:$18.5M, 10:$18.5M, 11:$18.5M

signed as a free agent 1/05

$22M deferred to 2012-18 (8 annual installments of $3,142,857 @ 1.7175% interest)

$8.5M deferred annually from 2008-2011

 

The actaul contract part is 7/$108 mil with a $11 mil signing bonus.