Prediction: Dusty will not finish the season

[ToupeeOnFire]

I mentioned this at the end of the game thread, but I just don't think Dusty will want to finish out the string as lame-duck manager. My prediction is that Dusty and Hendry will come out of a meeting in which it is announced in a carefully worded statement that the Cubs and Baker have mutually agreed to part ways.

 

I just don't think Baker can take much more of this and will demand some sort of resolution from Hendry, knowing of course Hendry can in no way give him an extension or even positively endorse his status while the Cubs are mired in such crappy play. In other words, this will be Baker's round-about way of asking Hendry to accept his resignation. Hendry, seeing this as a perfect "out" (as well as a sop to the fans) will jump at the chance.

 

This parting of the ways will be framed in careful, ambiguous language to suggest that it was mutually agreed to, amicable, and was thought "the best for both parties". I can almost picture the press conference.

 

Even though Hendry gave Dusty his endorsement (we know that doesn't mean much in baseball) and said that he would finish out the season, that was predicated on the expectation that Dusty would finally have his "horses" and the Cubs would play marginally .500 ball. But even Hendry has limits, and there is no way the "injuries" excuse can explain away how awful this team has been of late.

 

In the end, of course, it doesn't make much difference if it is Dusty or some guy who's stuck with the interim label that guides this team to a last-place finish, but I get the feeling it will be the interim-labeled guy.

[oldstyle81]

i agree and i think him opening his mouth about everything is poking hendry in his belly

[goonys evil twin]

His Cubs record is 310-309 right now, right?

[Flames24Rulz]

It's not going to happen.

 

Why hire a lame duck manager for 29 games? That doesn't make too much sense to me.

[goonys evil twin]

It's not going to happen.

 

Why hire a lame duck manager for 29 games? That doesn't make too much sense to me.

 

Dusty is lame duck. A new manager would be an interim. And teams hire interim managers all the time. What doesn't make sense is waiting to cut the cord. If you are going to do it, do it today.

[ToupeeOnFire]

It's not going to happen.

 

Why hire a lame duck manager for 29 games? That doesn't make too much sense to me.

 

Dusty is lame duck. A new manager would be an interim. And teams hire interim managers all the time. What doesn't make sense is waiting to cut the cord. If you are going to do it, do it today.

Hendry, like he has most of the season with Dusty and the coaching staff, will be twiddling his thumbs. I predict that it will be Dusty that initiates the cutting of the cord. Before, Dusty was trying to save his job and waiting on his horses, now I think he wants the hell out of Dodge. Hendry will accomodate him.

[YearofDaCubs]

Dusty will finish the season IMO. If he wasn't fired in 2004 and 2005 as the ringleader of the circus and still here in 2006 with this pathetic play, he will finish the season up.

[snoodmonger]

At this point, Hendry might look even dumber if he decided to fire Dusty now. He should have done at/around the all-star break. Waiting till there are 30 games left shines a big spotlight on his incompetence. Not saying it isn't the right thing to do; just saying, PR-wise, waiting till now would be pretty inexplicable.

[NewUserName]

I dont know if it will be soon or after the season. The one thing I have noticed is that Dusty's and Jim's relationship is starting to get edgy. If they dont do it tomorrow though I just dont see them doing it anytime in Sept.

[Mizzou]

His Cubs record is 310-309 right now, right?

Is he really still above .500 with the Cubs? Wow. Either way, that's a very interesting point.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Dusty is staying the season. Hendry hates to admit when he's wrong and when he eventually does, his solution is usually even worse and a long time in coming.

[NCCubFan]

Why hire a lame duck manager for 29 games? That doesn't make too much sense to me.

Because that's 29 games under the leadership of a manager who knows how to handle a pitching staff. 29 fewer games of Dusty abusing his pitchers. Perhaps one of those 29 games is the one where Zambrano would be pushed to the breaking point by Dusty but used properly by a different manager.

[Careless]

So... want to bet $50 on it?

[UMFan83]

Hendry angrily denied that Dusty would go before the end of the season today in the Trib's game story...

[Wheelimus]

What should happen is the full Iowa Cubs staff should be taking over for the last month. Trade Pierre today to anyone, who cares. Either move Mabry or cut him. Same for Glendon.

 

Then, play the kids and play all the kids. Theriot at second. Cedeno at shortstop. Pie in center. Bring up Restovich and bat him against every lefty in place of Jacque.

[soapy]

Hendry stated again yesterday that Dusty will finish the season. What I'm really wondering is, if the Cubs continue their present slide and go, say 5-24 or something the rest of the way, does MacPhail start revisiting his decision to extend Hendry? If it gets bad enough could he change his mind on Jim and let him go?

 

I would say no way, but it sure would get interesting.

 

Look at it this way, Hendry had $95 million to put a team together and it ends up with less than 60 wins (if the above scenario played out). That would be pretty hard to justify.

[Backtobanks]

Dusty won't be leaving until after the season, but the way it's going it could be announced during the post-game wrap up for the last game. I'm sure it will be announced (mutual decision) within 48 hours after the last game.

[C.C.]

Hendry stated again yesterday that Dusty will finish the season. What I'm really wondering is, if the Cubs continue their present slide and go, say 5-24 or something the rest of the way, does MacPhail start revisiting his decision to extend Hendry? If it gets bad enough could he change his mind on Jim and let him go?

 

I would say no way, but it sure would get interesting.

 

Look at it this way, Hendry had $95 million to put a team together and it ends up with less than 60 wins (if the above scenario played out). That would be pretty hard to justify.

 

Hendry already signed for another 2 years. No way the TRIB eats that salary. What a mess!

[C.C.]

Dusty won't be leaving until after the season, but the way it's going it could be announced during the post-game wrap up for the last game. I'm sure it will be announced (mutual decision) within 48 hours after the last game.

 

No doubt! It'll happen quick...

 

It'll be a real interesting "Cubs Convention" this year...

[CubColtPacer]

Hendry stated again yesterday that Dusty will finish the season. What I'm really wondering is, if the Cubs continue their present slide and go, say 5-24 or something the rest of the way, does MacPhail start revisiting his decision to extend Hendry? If it gets bad enough could he change his mind on Jim and let him go?

 

I would say no way, but it sure would get interesting.

 

Look at it this way, Hendry had $95 million to put a team together and it ends up with less than 60 wins (if the above scenario played out). That would be pretty hard to justify.

 

I don't see the final month as having any indication on Hendry at this point. They made the decision to give up on the season alread and play the youngsters, and MacPhail is not going to care about what the final record is-the thing he'll take from this season is that we were a long way from contending, not the record. Hendry will get at least one season to make improvements (probably more if the team starts going in the correct direction), and Baker will be let go a few days after the season ends.

[goonys evil twin]

Hendry stated again yesterday that Dusty will finish the season. What I'm really wondering is, if the Cubs continue their present slide and go, say 5-24 or something the rest of the way, does MacPhail start revisiting his decision to extend Hendry? If it gets bad enough could he change his mind on Jim and let him go?

 

I would say no way, but it sure would get interesting.

 

Look at it this way, Hendry had $95 million to put a team together and it ends up with less than 60 wins (if the above scenario played out). That would be pretty hard to justify.

 

I doubt Andy makes such a move, but it's entirely possible that Andy himself leaves for greener pastures, and that a new president is brought in who would dump Hendry.

 

I highly doubt it will happen, but that's probably your only chance for Hendry being replaced this offseason.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Hendry stated again yesterday that Dusty will finish the season. What I'm really wondering is, if the Cubs continue their present slide and go, say 5-24 or something the rest of the way, does MacPhail start revisiting his decision to extend Hendry? If it gets bad enough could he change his mind on Jim and let him go?

 

I would say no way, but it sure would get interesting.

 

Look at it this way, Hendry had $95 million to put a team together and it ends up with less than 60 wins (if the above scenario played out). That would be pretty hard to justify.

 

Hendry already signed for another 2 years. No way the TRIB eats that salary. What a mess!

 

My guess is the two years of Hendry's deal barely equals what the Cubs paid to let Wade Miller rehab. It's not nearly enough money to keep him here if the bosses determine he should be gone.

[RynoRules]

Hendry stated again yesterday that Dusty will finish the season. What I'm really wondering is, if the Cubs continue their present slide and go, say 5-24 or something the rest of the way, does MacPhail start revisiting his decision to extend Hendry? If it gets bad enough could he change his mind on Jim and let him go?

 

I would say no way, but it sure would get interesting.

 

Look at it this way, Hendry had $95 million to put a team together and it ends up with less than 60 wins (if the above scenario played out). That would be pretty hard to justify.

 

Hendry already signed for another 2 years. No way the TRIB eats that salary. What a mess!

 

I think Jim has one more year to turn this thing around. The tRib would eat one year's salary, IMO.

[garsky]

Hendry stated again yesterday that Dusty will finish the season. What I'm really wondering is, if the Cubs continue their present slide and go, say 5-24 or something the rest of the way, does MacPhail start revisiting his decision to extend Hendry? If it gets bad enough could he change his mind on Jim and let him go?

 

I would say no way, but it sure would get interesting.

 

Look at it this way, Hendry had $95 million to put a team together and it ends up with less than 60 wins (if the above scenario played out). That would be pretty hard to justify.

 

Soapy, a couple days ago I suggested this very thing. In fact I think Dusty's still here because MacPhail told Hendry he COULDN'T fire him, knowing he'd be canning both their butts after the season.

 

Great minds think alike.

 

As for the Tribune not being willing to eat Hendry's salary--they would. It ain't like he's pulling in $10 million.

 

Finally, as for Dusty quitting, that's not going to happen. If he did that, nobody else would hire him. Who wants to hire a quitter?

 

Dusty's actually in a win-win situation. If the Cubs continue to tank, he can blame it on Hendry and injuries; if they somehow start winning, he take take the credit.

[CuseCubFan69]

Letting Baker finish the season makes the 2006 season a perfect distaster. I do see Baker leaving now so he can say he finished over 500 in his Cub career and left on his own terms. He's smart that way.