Hendry suddenly smart?

[Pinktermite]

I just want to make the comment that maybe JH has suddenly gotten smart this offseason? Maybe I'm out of place here, but I am so proud of him for not taking the temptation to sign Gary Matthews Jr. or Juan Pierre to the ridiculous contracts they just signed.

 

I believe he's finally on the right track here. Until he does something dumb that is.

[Pinktermite]

Adding to this, I'm curious what it would take for the people on NSBB to think he actually knows how to run a baseball team? I think he's somehow showing signs of this. Getting more money to spend helps I suppose.

[Drew Doughty]

Adding to this, I'm curious what it would take for the people on NSBB to think he actually knows how to run a baseball team? I think he's somehow showing signs of this. Getting more money to spend helps I suppose.

 

I don't know if I'd call his first few moves smart. Getting Ramirez was pretty solid.

 

His other two signings are only starting to look better after seeing the market unfold a bit.

 

I wonder how much he actually was held back by MacPhail/Baker and how much of this was his own doing. Only time will tell. He still has a lot left to do this offseason before I'd consider him "smart".

[Pinktermite]

Would "slightly above dumb" work? Clearly he's on the right track here. Given the market, signing Soriano was a smart move...despite the money...

 

As this offseason unfolds, I think he will have repented for many (though not all) of his previous years transgressions.

 

Just my opinion.

[RynoRules]

I think it is fair to say at this point that the offseason is off to a positive start. I also think there is evidence that MacPhail - and not JH - bore the lion's share of the responsibility for what has occurred in the past two or three offseasons.

[NoDak]

When he first signed DeRosa I was thinking "3/15...why would he do this?" My initial fear was that he was pushing Ryan Theriot out of a job. But now that looks like a relatively good deal. Afterall, I remember last year the hubbub about how much he "overpaid" for Jones and now many people on this board are talking about marketing Jones as a "cheap option" in a trade to another team.

 

Then signing Soriano, while I wish it would have been for fewer years because the 8 years is far more worrisome to me than the $15+M per year. But now we aren't stuck in a bidding war with other teams with lots of money tied up in the unknown cost of Soriano.

 

As for "Hendry is dumb," of course there are plenty of examples of moves we wish he had made (Sign Brian Giles last year!) and those we wish he had not made (Greg Maddux for Caesar Izturis???). But he did do a couple of things well. He got Matt Murton and Nomar (who, when healthy, was a solid hitter for us) for Justin Jones (injured), Frank Beltran (uheard from), Alex Gonzalez (Caesar Izturis with power)...he got more than a "dixie cup of used tobacco juice" (as a poster on baseballthinkfactory.com transaction oracle pointed out) for Neifi Perez. He did not sign a contract with Christian Guzman for 3 years.

[Sammy Sofa]

Dude...your avatar...come ON.

[Backtobanks]

I really think Hendry is a good GM. He was considered a real up-and-coming GM for the first year or so and then things kind of fell apart. Injuries should not be an excuse, but you must admit the Cubs went through far more than their share of injuries to key players for the last few years. Look at Kenny Williams. For years he was considered a joke as a GM, then a few good moves and some luck and now he's considered a "genius". I think Hendry is making some very good moves and with a little bit of luck and health, he will get the reputation as a good GM.

[NCCubFan]

There's still work to be done, but I like what I've seen so far. I too am starting to think that he was held back by MacPhail in the past. Maybe MacPhail imposed a limit on contract length and Hendry may not have had the authority to give out contracts long enough to attract top free agents. I won't be pleased if this is it for the offseason, but I'm pleased at this point.

[NoDak]

Dude...your avatar...come ON.

 

Sorry, I was playing around with it last night and forgot to delete it.

[Careless]

I really think Hendry is a good GM. He was considered a real up-and-coming GM for the first year or so and then things kind of fell apart. Injuries should not be an excuse, but you must admit the Cubs went through far more than their share of injuries to key players for the last few years. Look at Kenny Williams. For years he was considered a joke as a GM, then a few good moves and some luck and now he's considered a "genius". I think Hendry is making some very good moves and with a little bit of luck and health, he will get the reputation as a good GM.

Every time I see you write this, I will have to point out that Kenny williams has NEVER HAD A BELOW .500 TEAM. Jim hendry is well below .500 for his career. It's a bad, bad, bad comparison.

[Laura]

Adding to this, I'm curious what it would take for the people on NSBB to think he actually knows how to run a baseball team? I think he's somehow showing signs of this. Getting more money to spend helps I suppose.

 

The pitching needs to be addressed, and I think it will be. But ... part of the problem over the past couple of years has been the failure to address needs both in the off-season and during the season. So I'd like to believe, but I'm not there yet due to having been burnt before.

[jjgman21]

I really think Hendry is a good GM. He was considered a real up-and-coming GM for the first year or so and then things kind of fell apart. Injuries should not be an excuse, but you must admit the Cubs went through far more than their share of injuries to key players for the last few years. Look at Kenny Williams. For years he was considered a joke as a GM, then a few good moves and some luck and now he's considered a "genius". I think Hendry is making some very good moves and with a little bit of luck and health, he will get the reputation as a good GM.

Every time I see you write this, I will have to point out that Kenny williams has NEVER HAD A BELOW .500 TEAM. Jim hendry is well below .500 for his career. It's a bad, bad, bad comparison.

 

it boggles my mind that people give Kenny Williams this much credit. remaining a slightly above .500 team for several years in the worst division in baseball should not be a feather in his cap.

 

I'll give credit where it is due. Kenny deserves credit for the Thome-Rowand trade and getting Iguchi. other than that, his transactions have pretty much been as big of a joke as they were when he traded for Todd Ritchie. the only difference is some of the darts he has thrown in the dark have actually found the dartboard.

[hawkcub]

The thing about Kenny Williams is he takes gambles. With gambling if your bet pays off it's great. If it doesn't you look like an idiot. Recently some of his gambles payed off. That is why he looks good right now.

[Mephistopheles]

im not so sure giving 136 million to alfonso soriano would be classified as smart in my book

[nilodnayr]

Would "slightly above dumb" work? Clearly he's on the right track here. Given the market, signing Soriano was a smart move...despite the money...

 

As this offseason unfolds, I think he will have repented for many (though not all) of his previous years transgressions.

 

Just my opinion.

However, the market is cyclical. This market is just like the 2000-2001. As a reaction, a few years later there was much more fiscal conservatism. In a few years we will see the same thing. Although Hendry has had the first mover advantage in this marketplace, making the Soriano deal look slightly less horrible, in 3 or 4 years its going to look even worse than it did the day it was signed.

[A New Era]

Adding to this, I'm curious what it would take for the people on NSBB to think he actually knows how to run a baseball team? I think he's somehow showing signs of this. Getting more money to spend helps I suppose.

 

I don't know if I'd call his first few moves smart. Getting Ramirez was pretty solid.

 

His other two signings are only starting to look better after seeing the market unfold a bit.

 

I wonder how much he actually was held back by MacPhail/Baker and how much of this was his own doing. Only time will tell. He still has a lot left to do this offseason before I'd consider him "smart".

 

What are you kidding me!?!?! The DUMB Hendry SET the market this year by overpaying for Soriano, and he did the same thing last year. HE is the one who set the market at overpriced. He also still is dumb and doesn't know what OBP is. So Hendry is dumb and always will be dumb.

 

:roll: (sarcastic post people :lol: )

[Bluescale]

I don't know if I'd call Hendry dumb - at least in relation to other GMs. In baseball terms, I'd put him at a 100 IQ. Nothing special, nothing too horrifying.

[Soul]

I don't know if I'd call Hendry dumb - at least in relation to other GMs. In baseball terms, I'd put him at a 100 IQ. Nothing special, nothing too horrifying.

 

It's the Yankee theory of GM'ing. The more money you have at your disposal, the smarter you become.

 

This year, Hendry's got the cash to drop. But we've already seen when he doesn't he falls flat on his face. Billy Beane he is not (or substitute other GM who has been successful on a limited budget).

[Bluescale]

I don't know if I'd call Hendry dumb - at least in relation to other GMs. In baseball terms, I'd put him at a 100 IQ. Nothing special, nothing too horrifying.

 

It's the Yankee theory of GM'ing. The more money you have at your disposal, the smarter you become.

 

This year, Hendry's got the cash to drop. But we've already seen when he doesn't he falls flat on his face. Billy Beane he is not (or substitute other GM who has been successful on a limited budget).

 

Say what you will about the Yankees, but I think Cashman is one of the smartest GMs in baseball. Sure he overpays, but he does so in the context of what he has to spend. I have never seen him spend so much on marginal players that he couldn't afford someone who actually makes a difference. And yes...the Yankees do have a limited budget - the limit is just high.

[nilodnayr]

 

What are you kidding me!?!?! The DUMB Hendry SET the market this year by overpaying for Soriano, and he did the same thing last year. HE is the one who set the market at overpriced. He also still is dumb and doesn't know what OBP is. So Hendry is dumb and always will be dumb.

 

:roll: (sarcastic post people :lol: )

 

They eye roll smiley doesnt work as well when you are mocking somewhat solid points. Its not Soriano who set the market, heck he was asking for Beltran money, Hendry gave him MORE than he was asking for. And although we do not know for sure we can assume that no other GM was willing to come anywhere near what Hendry offered.

 

1)The signing happened so early in the offseason.

 

2)The signing materialized so quickly. Soriano's agent isn't dumb, he and Hendry talked Saturday. He then took the offer the cubs had on the table and shopped in around to others teams that were interested. He was met with a resounding "Hell NO", and then quickly accepted Sunday morning. If he was even met with an apprehensive "maybe", it wouldn't have materialized so quickly.

 

The Cubs (Jim Hendry) still see the offensive problem as having to do with a failure to hit in the clutch / hit with RISP / as a straight hitting problem vs an on-base problem.

 

Someone linked to a Dan Fox chat at Baseball Prospectus the other day. He received a lot of Soriano questions and, while answering a question about the Cubs' philosophy on free agents, he referred to a joint Baseball Digest / Bleed Cubbie Blue Blog interview with Jim Hendry this past August. Fox then wrote:

 

Quote:

But what was more interesting was an exchange that wasn't published. BDD asked Hendry if the Cubs will try and initiate a philosophical change in trying to get guys on base since they were 28th in the league in runs scored and 29th in OBP or perhaps sign some free agents who have historically had higher on base percentages (maybe Carlos Lee or J.D. Drew?) or even bring in a new hitting coach to alter the mindset of the approach at the plate. Hendry responded with the following:

 

Jim Hendry wrote:

"Well we'd like to get guys who can get on base, but our trouble was knocking guys in. We finished 4th or 5th in the league in hitting so we did manage to get guys on base. You can get all the guys on base that you want, but you have to knock them in."

 

That right there shows that Hendry really doesn't understand OBP.

Edited November 23, 2006 by nilodnayr

[Soul]

I don't know if I'd call Hendry dumb - at least in relation to other GMs. In baseball terms, I'd put him at a 100 IQ. Nothing special, nothing too horrifying.

 

It's the Yankee theory of GM'ing. The more money you have at your disposal, the smarter you become.

 

This year, Hendry's got the cash to drop. But we've already seen when he doesn't he falls flat on his face. Billy Beane he is not (or substitute other GM who has been successful on a limited budget).

 

Say what you will about the Yankees, but I think Cashman is one of the smartest GMs in baseball. Sure he overpays, but he does so in the context of what he has to spend. I have never seen him spend so much on marginal players that he couldn't afford someone who actually makes a difference. And yes...the Yankees do have a limited budget - the limit is just high.

 

It's hard to say because we've never actually seen Cashman try to put a winner together on, say, an $85million budget. Or even push it to extremes and say $55 million.

 

But you could well be right. I was just playing the Yankee card to illustrate a point about Hendry.

[DivineBovine]

Jim Hendry wrote:

"Well we'd like to get guys who can get on base, but our trouble was knocking guys in. We finished 4th or 5th in the league in hitting so we did manage to get guys on base. You can get all the guys on base that you want, but you have to knock them in."

 

That right there shows that Hendry really doesn't understand OBP.

 

Agreed. Dumb dumb dumb. As dumb as any statement that Dusty made during his tenure as Cubs manager.

 

Under Hendry, consistently in the top 10 in hitting, at the bottom in OBP, near the bottom in Runs. Sure, it's because of clutch hitting.

[CubsWin]

I really think Hendry is a good GM. He was considered a real up-and-coming GM for the first year or so and then things kind of fell apart. Injuries should not be an excuse, but you must admit the Cubs went through far more than their share of injuries to key players for the last few years. Look at Kenny Williams. For years he was considered a joke as a GM, then a few good moves and some luck and now he's considered a "genius". I think Hendry is making some very good moves and with a little bit of luck and health, he will get the reputation as a good GM.

Every time I see you write this, I will have to point out that Kenny williams has NEVER HAD A BELOW .500 TEAM. Jim hendry is well below .500 for his career. It's a bad, bad, bad comparison.

Well below .500 for his career? He is 3 games below .500 and he was 27 games over .500 coming into this season.

[Sarcastic]

 

What are you kidding me!?!?! The DUMB Hendry SET the market this year by overpaying for Soriano, and he did the same thing last year. HE is the one who set the market at overpriced. He also still is dumb and doesn't know what OBP is. So Hendry is dumb and always will be dumb.

 

:roll: (sarcastic post people :lol: )

 

They eye roll smiley doesnt work as well when you are mocking somewhat solid points. Its not Soriano who set the market, heck he was asking for Beltran money, Hendry gave him MORE than he was asking for. And although we do not know for sure we can assume that no other GM was willing to come anywhere near what Hendry offered.

 

1)The signing happened so early in the offseason.

 

2)The signing materialized so quickly. Soriano's agent isn't dumb, he and Hendry talked Saturday. He then took the offer the cubs had on the table and shopped in around to others teams that were interested. He was met with a resounding "Hell NO", and then quickly accepted Sunday morning. If he was even met with an apprehensive "maybe", it wouldn't have materialized so quickly.

 

By this definition of overpaying, every FA who does not give a hometown discount is overpayed. The nature of the free agent market is such that in order to sign a player, a team must be willing to offer more money than any other team. I don't think it is reasonable to say that no other team would have bid anything near that if given the chance, especially if the contest became a drawn out bidding war.

 

All FAs are going to be overpayed. That is pretty much the nature of the market. The thing is, good players are a rare commodity, and being able to get them without giving up talent is a valuable exchange. For a large market team, signing overpayed free agents is better than signing no free agents or signing marginal free agents.