Jim Hendry should be Fired - NOW!

[USSoccer]

 

Why wouldn't new ownership want a fresh start? It's not like the guys here have any real positive track record to speak of.

 

I want everyone gone. Everyone. This is a rudderless ship with no real plan to find direction.

 

They might want a fresh start, but what you're proposing is firing every coach in the system, plus a few assorted others. No ownership group could possibly hire a GM who could do that in a single season, and only maybe in 2-3 seasons. There's simply no way to have a good chance to find, interview and hire that many people while at the same time trying to get done the business of the ML offseason.

 

Meh. I think it can be done, and I'm not sure what real business there is to have at this coming offseason. This team is beyond more than one or two offseasons worth of tweaks.

[CubColtPacer]

 

Why wouldn't new ownership want a fresh start? It's not like the guys here have any real positive track record to speak of.

 

I want everyone gone. Everyone. This is a rudderless ship with no real plan to find direction.

 

They might want a fresh start, but what you're proposing is firing every coach in the system, plus a few assorted others. No ownership group could possibly hire a GM who could do that in a single season, and only maybe in 2-3 seasons. There's simply no way to have a good chance to find, interview and hire that many people while at the same time trying to get done the business of the ML offseason.

 

Meh. I think it can be done, and I'm not sure what real business there is to have at this coming offseason. This team is beyond more than one or two offseasons worth of tweaks.

 

With the players the Cubs have right now in the prime of their careers (Lee, Ramirez, Soriano are 3 examples) I'm not sure you're going to find an ownership group out there that will want that. They will either treat it as a business, which means they will cut costs and the team will suffer greatly, or they will want to take advantage and try to win now and throw more money at the problem. When you consider that those 3 have NTC and probably aren't going anywhere, a new ownership group that actually cares is not going to try to play for 2009 or 2010, even if it is the best long-term solution.

[NomarSammy]

I agree.......fire Hendry--that will solve all of the problems

 

I am just beginning to think it doesnt matter......nothing really matters with this team--they are just going to lose. Everyone always thinks they know the answers and I think you are all crazy--i just think it is their destiny to lose--and I am calling all of you crazy :? I dont know what to think--just another very frustrating day

[CubinNY]

 

With the players the Cubs have right now in the prime of their careers (Lee, Ramirez, Soriano are 3 examples) I'm not sure you're going to find an ownership group out there that will want that. They will either treat it as a business, which means they will cut costs and the team will suffer greatly, or they will want to take advantage and try to win now and throw more money at the problem. When you consider that those 3 have NTC and probably aren't going anywhere, a new ownership group that actually cares is not going to try to play for 2009 or 2010, even if it is the best long-term solution.

Soriano and Lee are not in the prime of their careers.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

Eyre should be DFA'd immediately.

[CubColtPacer]

 

With the players the Cubs have right now in the prime of their careers (Lee, Ramirez, Soriano are 3 examples) I'm not sure you're going to find an ownership group out there that will want that. They will either treat it as a business, which means they will cut costs and the team will suffer greatly, or they will want to take advantage and try to win now and throw more money at the problem. When you consider that those 3 have NTC and probably aren't going anywhere, a new ownership group that actually cares is not going to try to play for 2009 or 2010, even if it is the best long-term solution.

Soriano and Lee are not in the prime of their careers.

 

Well, if they are starting to go down from the prime of the careers that just makes it more likely that whatever group comes in will want to play for next year.

 

Changes will have to be made though. I fear that they may not even be able to be made this offseason, because if the Cubs don't go up for sale until the season ends the sale might not be completed until it's too late to make changes for 2008.

[3Dog]

When you consider that those 3 have NTC and probably aren't going anywhere, a new ownership group that actually cares is not going to try to play for 2009 or 2010, even if it is the best long-term solution.

 

A question about NTCs...do they prohibit the front office from trading the player to ANY club at all, or do they just limit the choices of teams that the player can be traded to?

[CubColtPacer]

When you consider that those 3 have NTC and probably aren't going anywhere, a new ownership group that actually cares is not going to try to play for 2009 or 2010, even if it is the best long-term solution.

 

A question about NTCs...do they prohibit the front office from trading the player to ANY club at all, or do they just limit the choices of teams that the player can be traded to?

 

A full NTC means that the player has to approve any deal that is made in order for it to go through. Some players, like Scott Eyre, have limited NTC, where they can block trades to up to 10 teams.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd be fine with Wilken and his people staying and EVERYBODY else going. But I don't see it happening that cleanly. I just hope the Hendry/Hughes types are gone first and foremost.

 

Why wouldn't new ownership want a fresh start? It's not like the guys here have any real positive track record to speak of.

 

I want everyone gone. Everyone. This is a rudderless ship with no real plan to find direction.

 

I'm pretty sure they would want a fresh start, however, fresh start rarely means house cleaning. Dan Snyder was probably the last owner to completely clean house after taking over, including secretaries and whatnot. This just isn't going to happen here. Depending on the owner (whether he's active or behind the scenes) I could see a new president - although I could definitely see McDonough staying on board in some capacity. I'm pretty certain we'll have a new GM, and that will probably mean new assistants to the GM, and new development people. But they are not going to turn over an entire coaching staff, big leagues and minors, and all instructors.

 

Personally I'm not so sure it is an "everybody" problem. I think it's largely Hendry, and his backward philosophies. You can still achieve a great deal of change by lobbing off the top of your totem pole, even if you keep a good amount of the middle and bottom rungs.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

With the players the Cubs have right now in the prime of their careers (Lee, Ramirez, Soriano are 3 examples) I'm not sure you're going to find an ownership group out there that will want that. They will either treat it as a business, which means they will cut costs and the team will suffer greatly, or they will want to take advantage and try to win now and throw more money at the problem. When you consider that those 3 have NTC and probably aren't going anywhere, a new ownership group that actually cares is not going to try to play for 2009 or 2010, even if it is the best long-term solution.

Soriano and Lee are not in the prime of their careers.

 

Well, if they are starting to go down from the prime of the careers that just makes it more likely that whatever group comes in will want to play for next year.

 

Changes will have to be made though. I fear that they may not even be able to be made this offseason, because if the Cubs don't go up for sale until the season ends the sale might not be completed until it's too late to make changes for 2008.

 

I feel that there will be changes this offseason, but the team itself will stay largely intact for 2008. I think we're stuck with most of those contracts. I think the coaching staff stays unless Lou retires.

 

I'm pretty sure there will be a new GM, who will try and fine tune around the core of this roster. I think I might actually prefer to see a GM get a year, or at least several months, on the job before he really starts to overhaul.

[IowaCubsFan]

I questioned the hiring of Lou Piniella from the beginning; I said that it would be much better for the Cubs in the long run to admit that paying a crapload of money for free agents wouldn't work, and employing a manager on the downslope of his career were recipes for failure.

 

I said that the Cubs should go out and trade guys like Prior, Dempster, Howry, Eyre, Jones and Barrett for prospects, and put those young guys under a savvy, aggressive young manager like Joe Girardi.

 

Unfortunately when you have a marketing guy in charge of a baseball team, you end up doing things that are stupid. There was no way this team was going to contend in 2007, and admitting that to the fans as part of a comprehensive plan to rebuild this franchise would have been the way to go. Instead we got platitudes and retreads, and us fans are pissed again.

 

This franchise is going to be in serious financial trouble for a lot of years with all these massive contracts.

[USSoccer]

 

Personally I'm not so sure it is an "everybody" problem. I think it's largely Hendry, and his backward philosophies. You can still achieve a great deal of change by lobbing off the top of your totem pole, even if you keep a good amount of the middle and bottom rungs.

 

It's not Hendry exacerbating overaggresive tendencies in hitters, or underemphasizing command in pitchers. It's the development people, the minor league coaches and instructors. Those may be dictated by Hendry/Hughes, or may not, but why waste time trying to find out?

[C.C.]

I questioned the hiring of Lou Piniella from the beginning; I said that it would be much better for the Cubs in the long run to admit that paying a crapload of money for free agents wouldn't work, and employing a manager on the downslope of his career were recipes for failure.

 

I said that the Cubs should go out and trade guys like Prior, Dempster, Howry, Eyre, Jones and Barrett for prospects, and put those young guys under a savvy, aggressive young manager like Joe Girardi.

 

Unfortunately when you have a marketing guy in charge of a baseball team, you end up doing things that are stupid. There was no way this team was going to contend in 2007, and admitting that to the fans as part of a comprehensive plan to rebuild this franchise would have been the way to go. Instead we got platitudes and retreads, and us fans are pissed again.

 

This franchise is going to be in serious financial trouble for a lot of years with all these massive contracts.

 

Just what this team needs a young aggressive manager... :roll:

 

I was all for Girardi because I foolishly thought he was a major reason for the Marlins success last year. Didn't Girardi ride that starting staff pretty hard last year? Three of those starters have been hurt.

Edited May 17, 2007 by C.C.

[JeffH]

Piniella is a good manager.

 

The Cubs have so little talent, though.

 

What can he do?

[C.C.]

Piniella is a good manager.

 

The Cubs have so little talent, though.

 

What can he do?

 

We have a good manager and have talent....You know what, I don't know what to say. Our offense comes through today and our bullpen (Dempster-Eyre) faulter. We just find ways to lose. I can't explain it. On paper the Stats should balance out to at least a .500 team, but we aren't.

[UBlink]

Piniella is a good manager.

 

The fact that Piniella actually accepted a job offer from the Chicago Cubs organization calls his judgement into question.

[BigbadB]

The 2005 team did not surprise me. I knew they were horrible.

The 2006 team did not surprise me. I knew they were horrible.

 

I have to admit that the 2007 team does surprise me. I thought they had the talent to win this division. And it's really not too late to have a complete turnaround. But, given this organization's history, I don't like their chances.

 

I'm speechless about today's game. Glad I missed it.

 

Heads need to roll.

[JeffH]

Piniella is a good manager.

 

The fact that Piniella actually accepted a job offer from the Chicago Cubs organization calls his judgement into question.

 

Well, you've got me there.

[seanimal]

Changes will have to be made though. I fear that they may not even be able to be made this offseason, because if the Cubs don't go up for sale until the season ends the sale might not be completed until it's too late to make changes for 2008.

 

That's a legitimate fear, however, I would assume that talks on selling the team have already begun, and would likely be finalized before the period of free-agency has begun. There are quite a few groups chomping at the bit to get a hold of this organization, and I think we'll probably know who the new owner is by the end of the season.

 

I hope. :oops:

[synergy]

I hope the new owners close down Wrigley and take the Cubs away from that dump of a baseball park.

[moorecg]

I hope the new owners close down Wrigley and take the Cubs away from that dump of a baseball park.

 

I get the strange feeling that you are not long for this board...

 

Anyone seen Modzilla?

[synergy]

I hope the new owners close down Wrigley and take the Cubs away from that dump of a baseball park.

 

I get the strange feeling that you are not long for this board...

 

Anyone seen Modzilla?

 

I can't be a Cubs fan who dislikes Wrigley field?

[Guest]

I hope the new owners close down Wrigley and take the Cubs away from that dump of a baseball park.

 

I get the strange feeling that you are not long for this board...

 

Anyone seen Modzilla?

 

Why?

[sunnydoo]

I agree somewhat with Synergy.

 

We built Wrigley in 1914. We have constant problems with the City of Chicago and the damn Neighborhood Assoc.

 

Part of the problem with the ball club could be the stadium.

 

Not a popular opinion, but there may some truth to that.

 

Wrigley is a wonderful place to see a game and have many memories of the place. But in the words of George Harrison, All things must pass. The House that Ruth Built is coming down this year. No reason we cant build somewhere where we are wanted either.

[frostwyrm]

I just totalled up some numbers and noticed that (counting Rusch) we are spending in excess of $20 million on relief pitchers, which is even worse than I thought. I don't think any team other than the Yankees should spend that much. It's also amazing how little production we're getting for that money. Relieving is 30% of pitching, and pitching is 35% of the overall game. I wish Hendry could figure that out. And please no more big multiyear commitments to relievers. Hendry's fat relief contracts have been a series of crippling financial sinkholes.