Is it possible that Hendry listened to Baker too much?

[CuseCubFan69]

Did Baker have too much imput when it came to signing players? Hendry mentioned how he and Baker went over player transactions and I'm thinking, and hoping like only a Cub fan would, that he was giving Baker too much credit and got some of the Dusty boys that Baker wanted. Granted, this can't be an excuse because it's Hendry's responsibility to build the team, but I'm thinking he just put way too much stock into what Baker thought and it came back to burn him. Before Baker they were in Asia. During Baker they are not. After Baker they are in Asia agian. I don't know but something just smells fishy to me and I'm hoping that it was just a bad phase and bad judgement that Hendry went through and he has woken up.

[CubinNY]

Did Baker have too much imput when it came to signing players? Hendry mentioned how he and Baker went over player transactions and I'm thinking, and hoping like only a Cub fan would, that he was giving Baker too much credit and got some of the Dusty boys that Baker wanted. Granted, this can't be an excuse because it's Hendry's responsibility to build the team, but I'm thinking he just put way too much stock into what Baker thought and it came back to burn him. Before Baker they were in Asia. During Baker they are not. After Baker they are in Asia agian. I don't know but something just smells fishy to me and I'm hoping that it was just a bad phase and bad judgement that Hendry went through and he has woken up.

 

Yes I believe that to be the case. Hendry is an ex manager/coach. I think he sees things from that perspective. I think he believes a manager/coach should have input in personnel decisions.

 

I think Hendry is dead wrong. I think the GM should build a team that he thinks gives the best shot at winning and then hire a coach who shares his belief/philosophy.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Hendry said Baker had input on 90% of player acquisitions. Neifi being traded away was one of the few moves Baker wasn't consulted on. 8)

 

The whole "we need a leadoff man" came from Baker. Hendry never bent over backwards to get one before Baker whined about the lack of one. Then he had to go out and overpay for Pierre or Furcal.

[erik316wttn]

Hendry said Baker had input on 90% of player acquisitions. Neifi being traded away was one of the few moves Baker wasn't consulted on. 8)

 

The whole "we need a leadoff man" came from Baker. Hendry never bent over backwards to get one before Baker whined about the lack of one. Then he had to go out and overpay for Pierre or Furcal.

 

Hendry has to learn that consulting with the manager sometimes is ok, sometimes even desireable. But when it comes right down to it, HE makes the final decision, not the manager.

 

One has to wonder, though... will it be the same witih Piniella?

[CuseCubFan69]

Hendry said Baker had input on 90% of player acquisitions. Neifi being traded away was one of the few moves Baker wasn't consulted on. 8)

 

The whole "we need a leadoff man" came from Baker. Hendry never bent over backwards to get one before Baker whined about the lack of one. Then he had to go out and overpay for Pierre or Furcal.

 

Hendry has to learn that consulting with the manager sometimes is ok, sometimes even desireable. But when it comes right down to it, HE makes the final decision, not the manager.

 

One has to wonder, though... will it be the same witih Piniella?

 

I think it will be to a point. The thing that worrys me is that Hendry doesn't seem to have a plan and that he can be persuaded by the WS winner or his manager. I'm really curious on what Jim Hendry's real vision is.

[the splendid splinter]

How bout not having MacPhail over Hendry's shoulder also?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm optimistic that not having Dusty in one ear and MacPhail in the other will lead to better decisions. I don't have any real concrete reasons to believe so, and it is more a hope than anything else.

[RynoRules]

I don't have any problem with consuling with your braintrust, including the manager and whoever your boss is. At the end of the day, however, the buck stops with you, Mr. Hendry, so take this advice:

 

"Who do I trust? Me, that's who!"

 

http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/img/tv/criticschoice/Scarface.jpg

[Backtobanks]

Did Baker have too much imput when it came to signing players? Hendry mentioned how he and Baker went over player transactions and I'm thinking, and hoping like only a Cub fan would, that he was giving Baker too much credit and got some of the Dusty boys that Baker wanted. Granted, this can't be an excuse because it's Hendry's responsibility to build the team, but I'm thinking he just put way too much stock into what Baker thought and it came back to burn him. Before Baker they were in Asia. During Baker they are not. After Baker they are in Asia agian. I don't know but something just smells fishy to me and I'm hoping that it was just a bad phase and bad judgement that Hendry went through and he has woken up.

 

I agree with you on this one. Often I have tried being somewhat supportive of Hendry and usually been attacked by many posters. I do think Hendry gave too much decision-making power regarding personnel to Dusty, probably because of Dusty's reputation as a winner. One of Hendry's faults is that he had trouble being Dusty's "boss" and allowed him to be a consultant. I think a lot of people will go back to seeing Hendry's potential as a GM after this offseason.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Did Baker have too much imput when it came to signing players? Hendry mentioned how he and Baker went over player transactions and I'm thinking, and hoping like only a Cub fan would, that he was giving Baker too much credit and got some of the Dusty boys that Baker wanted. Granted, this can't be an excuse because it's Hendry's responsibility to build the team, but I'm thinking he just put way too much stock into what Baker thought and it came back to burn him. Before Baker they were in Asia. During Baker they are not. After Baker they are in Asia agian. I don't know but something just smells fishy to me and I'm hoping that it was just a bad phase and bad judgement that Hendry went through and he has woken up.

 

I agree with you on this one. Often I have tried being somewhat supportive of Hendry and usually been attacked by many posters. I do think Hendry gave too much decision-making power regarding personnel to Dusty, probably because of Dusty's reputation as a winner. One of Hendry's faults is that he had trouble being Dusty's "boss" and allowed him to be a consultant. I think a lot of people will go back to seeing Hendry's potential as a GM after this offseason.

 

I don't think it was so much Hendry not being the boss as it was just Hendry trying his best to get what the guy underneath him said he needed to win.

 

Dusty: I need a leadoff hitter.

 

Hendry: How about Furcal. Damn you, Colletti. Here, take Pierre.

 

Dusty: I need more speed.

 

Hendry: Bynum and Pagan on the way to save the day.

 

Dusty: I can't do jack without defense, dude.

 

Hendry: Cedeno's slick with the glove. I'll get rid of Walker (even though I was in love with him 2 years ago).

 

 

 

All in all, I think Hendry just went after what his manager wanted. That's a good trait to have so long as the guys underneath you have a clue. Dusty didn't. Piniella does. I expect a vast improvement in front office performance w/o MacPhail's conservative attitude and Dusty's ineptitude in the way. Hendry's going to have the payroll and roster space to make things happen. The next two years will really show what kind of GM he is. He's finally in the driver's seat.

[CubsWin]

That's a good trait to have so long as the guys underneath you have a clue. Dusty didn't. Piniella does.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just curious why you think that Piniella has more of clue than Baker does.

[biittner77]

Before Baker they were in Asia. During Baker they are not. After Baker they are in Asia agian. I don't know but something just smells fishy to me and I'm hoping that it was just a bad phase and bad judgement that Hendry went through and he has woken up.

 

I think this has more to do with the talent level of the organization as a whole than what Baker did or didn't want. Before Baker the Cubs were bad. Getting players from Asia helped rebuild the farm system. The Cubs became good. Now that they are bad again they need to rebuild the farm system so they are back in Asia.

[frostwyrm]

Before the 2004 season Dusty actually asked Hendry to bring back Eric Karros and Randall Simon for a 1B platoon. Even Jim was smart enough not to go there.

[Soul]

Before the 2004 season Dusty actually asked Hendry to bring back Eric Karros and Randall Simon for a 1B platoon. Even Jim was smart enough not to go there.

 

He probably would have if the Lee deal hadn't materialized. I will say at least Hendry was good enough to pull that deal off. But back then, he was dealing from a position of strength. Now he's not, and I don't see how he rebuilds this ballclub in its current state, with precious few chips to deal with, and real limits on the amount of money he can spend.

[wastra]

Let's just hope St. Louis loses the series. If they win, Hendry will try to build a team full of mediocre pitching and one good hitter who just have a history of "peaking at the right time."

 

 

 

 

:P

[goonys evil twin]

Let's just hope St. Louis loses the series. If they win, Hendry will try to build a team full of mediocre pitching and one good hitter who just have a history of "peaking at the right time."

 

 

 

 

:P

 

If STL wins Henry Blanco will be the starting catcher next year.

[YearofDaCubs]

I'm sure Baker had some say or input on the roster but not 90% as much. And if that is the case that doesn't make Hendry any better. He's the fool who listened to Dusty to begin with and most of the blame should be placed on him.

[David]

Before the 2004 season Dusty actually asked Hendry to bring back Eric Karros and Randall Simon for a 1B platoon. Even Jim was smart enough not to go there.

 

He probably would have if the Lee deal hadn't materialized. I will say at least Hendry was good enough to pull that deal off. But back then, he was dealing from a position of strength. Now he's not, and I don't see how he rebuilds this ballclub in its current state, with precious few chips to deal with, and real limits on the amount of money he can spend.

 

:?:

 

Unless I'm mistaken, by most accounts he'll have nearly 40 million to play with this offseason...

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Who's the bigger fool, the fool or the fool who follows him?

[RichHillIsABeast]

That's a good trait to have so long as the guys underneath you have a clue. Dusty didn't. Piniella does.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just curious why you think that Piniella has more of clue than Baker does.

 

Piniella doesn't rag on walks, complains about hitters not being patient enough, and rips players that don't play heads up ball.

 

Piniella's wish list of players will be vastly different than Baker's. Piniella has already said he'd like a younger bench (I'll dig up the link for that when I get time).

 

Piniella looks like an absolute genius compared to Dusty. So far...

[goonys evil twin]

Piniella's wish list of players will be vastly different than Baker's. Piniella has already said he'd like a younger bench (I'll dig up the link for that when I get time).

 

I hadn't heard anything like that.

[craig]

I think it's a mistake to blame Hendry's mistakes on Baker. I think any decent GM at least "consults" with his manager, and allows his manager to have some input or at least to express whatever input he may have. Then it's the GM's job to decide whether that input is helpful or should change a direction.

 

If anything, I think Dusty might have had more influence in terms of fringe guys. "Ramon Martinez was a nice bench player for me. I think he'd do fine." "Eyre, I think he's got the stuff, he'd help us."

 

I'm certain that Dusty has no impact on Asian involvement. The early Asian stuff was scouting minor-leaguers. Dusty is no more likely to call shots on an amateur scout in Korea than he is to call shots on an amateur scout in Idaho. The alleged new involvement in Asia is totally different, that's going after mature players, not prospects, and is obviously the result of the problematic market for big-league pitchers in the US and in the depleted Cub farm system.