Jim Hendry Appreciation Thread

[moorecg]

I know I'm about to get flamed for this, but I don't care. I've been a Cubs fan since birth (1975) and despite a proclivity for slap hitting reserves who look like trolls, Hendry has really put together the most successful 5 year stretch of any Cubs GM in my life. Now yes, some will say that he's only good by comparison to complete and utter crap, but, still, he's had more success than any Cubs GM in my life (2 playoff appearances and winning records 60% of the time).

 

Thank you Jim Hendry for helping to make this week possible. And, you know, if you'd like, go ahead and sign a powerhitting SS next year too.

[kente777]

My mother always taught me, if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all.

 

I take the 5th on this.

[David]

My mother always taught me, if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all.

 

I take the 5th on this.

 

Going this route will save me a lot of keystrokes. So I'll second this.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

this should be a short thread if it stays on topic

[hardcorecubfan]

The good: Willing to spend, willing to be visible

The Bad: Willing to trade for Monroe

[David]

The good: Willing to spend, willing to be visible

The Bad: Willing to trade for Monroe

 

What GM wouldn't be if his ownership allows it?

[E.J.]

I'd like to show appreciation for all NL Central teams for sucking badly, making it possible for us to win the worst division in baseball, winning 85 games despite having a $100 million payroll.

[C.C.]

I'd like to show appreciation for all NL Central teams for sucking badly, making it possible for us to win the worst division in baseball, winning 85 games despite having a $100 million payroll.

 

After seeing the first two months of this team I'm shocked we won 85 games. I have no doubt that with this current club as is, we would've won 90 games easy...

[brinoch]

crickets.

[Derwood]

407-403

[David]

I'd like to show appreciation for all NL Central teams for sucking badly, making it possible for us to win the worst division in baseball, winning 85 games despite having a $100 million payroll.

 

After seeing the first two months of this team I'm shocked we won 85 games. I have no doubt that with this current club as is, we would've won 90 games easy...

 

Agreed. This is why it bothers me a bit to hear the Cubs referred to as a bad playoff team and all that. They came back from ~10 games under .500 and 8.5 games back over two months into the season. You have to play pretty damn well and consistently to do that. Hell, had we not lost Soriano in August, we might have won 90 games, or at least come a bit closer.

 

I guess you really have to look at the season as a whole, though. I'm biased, but I definitely think the Cubs are better than their record.

[moorecg]

Ok...looks like he needs a little more support....yes, there are the Neifis/Traschels and Craig Monroes of the world....but here is a list of pretty damn good players he's either signed, re-signed, traded for, or brought up.

 

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Zambrano

Lilly

Marmol

Soto

Howry

Wood

Theriot/Fontenot (they only really count as one by now)

Barrett (he was good for a while)

Nomar

Prior

Piniella

 

 

And by god, we're in the playoffs.

[CUBZ99]

I know I'm about to get flamed for this, but I don't care. I've been a Cubs fan since birth (1975) and despite a proclivity for slap hitting reserves who look like trolls, Hendry has really put together the most successful 5 year stretch of any Cubs GM in my life. Now yes, some will say that he's only good by comparison to complete and utter crap, but, still, he's had more success than any Cubs GM in my life (2 playoff appearances and winning records 60% of the time).

 

Thank you Jim Hendry for helping to make this week possible. And, you know, if you'd like, go ahead and sign a powerhitting SS next year too.

 

I think that is the key for how I think about the job Hendry has done. 2 playoff appearances and at least one NLCS appearance since he has taken over. Sure he drives me crazy with his gunslinger attitude, trying to trade for anything and everything (Trachsel, Monroe, Lawton), but I can't think of a single GM in baseball that couldn't be critiqued for bad decisions.

[JonnyRed]

I'd like to show appreciation for all NL Central teams for sucking badly, making it possible for us to win the worst division in baseball, winning 85 games despite having a $100 million payroll.

 

Hey, look with the Sox did with a similar payroll...spending money doesn't necessarily bring a winner.

[UMFan83]

There will be less and less of these threads popping up in about 1-2 years when all of those back loaded contracts really start to hurt us.

[JonnyRed]

I'd like to show appreciation for all NL Central teams for sucking badly, making it possible for us to win the worst division in baseball, winning 85 games despite having a $100 million payroll.

 

After seeing the first two months of this team I'm shocked we won 85 games. I have no doubt that with this current club as is, we would've won 90 games easy...

 

Agreed. This is why it bothers me a bit to hear the Cubs referred to as a bad playoff team and all that. They came back from ~10 games under .500 and 8.5 games back over two months into the season. You have to play pretty damn well and consistently to do that. Hell, had we not lost Soriano in August, we might have won 90 games, or at least come a bit closer.

 

I guess you really have to look at the season as a whole, though. I'm biased, but I definitely think the Cubs are better than their record.

 

I heard the other day that the Cubs are the best team in baseball since June 23. So I don't buy the argument that the only reason the Cubs made the playoffs is because of our division. And yes, we would have been even better with healthy Zo, A-Ram and D-Lee, all of whom were banged up much of the regular season.

[Banedon]

Ok...looks like he needs a little more support....yes, there are the Neifis/Traschels and Craig Monroes of the world....but here is a list of pretty damn good players he's either signed, re-signed, traded for, or brought up.

 

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Zambrano

Lilly

Marmol

Soto

Howry

Wood

Theriot/Fontenot (they only really count as one by now)

Barrett (he was good for a while)

Nomar

Prior

Piniella

 

 

And by god, we're in the playoffs.

 

Neifi, Trachsel, Monroe, Womack, Lenny Harris, Pierre, Mabry, Izturis, Bowen, Bynum, Macias, Rusch

[Banedon]

I'd like to show appreciation for all NL Central teams for sucking badly, making it possible for us to win the worst division in baseball, winning 85 games despite having a $100 million payroll.

 

After seeing the first two months of this team I'm shocked we won 85 games. I have no doubt that with this current club as is, we would've won 90 games easy...

 

Agreed. This is why it bothers me a bit to hear the Cubs referred to as a bad playoff team and all that. They came back from ~10 games under .500 and 8.5 games back over two months into the season. You have to play pretty damn well and consistently to do that. Hell, had we not lost Soriano in August, we might have won 90 games, or at least come a bit closer.

 

I guess you really have to look at the season as a whole, though. I'm biased, but I definitely think the Cubs are better than their record.

 

I heard the other day that the Cubs are the best team in baseball since June 23. So I don't buy the argument that the only reason the Cubs made the playoffs is because of our division. And yes, we would have been even better with healthy Zo, A-Ram and D-Lee, all of whom were banged up much of the regular season.

 

We're the best team record wise because we were playing the NL Central while other teams were playing the East and West.

[rocket]

i hope he gets fired

[mhuber92211]

Ok...looks like he needs a little more support....yes, there are the Neifis/Traschels and Craig Monroes of the world....but here is a list of pretty damn good players he's either signed, re-signed, traded for, or brought up.

 

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Zambrano

Lilly

Marmol

Soto

Howry

Wood

Theriot/Fontenot (they only really count as one by now)

Barrett (he was good for a while)

Nomar

Prior

Piniella

 

 

And by god, we're in the playoffs.

 

Neifi, Trachsel, Monroe, Womack, Lenny Harris, Pierre, Mabry, Izturis, Bowen, Bynum, Macias, Rusch

 

What is the ratio of how many games the good list won as opposed to the bad list lost? I would venture to guess that the good list has a higher ratio

[JonnyRed]

Every GM has his good and bad moves...but in the end it's Hendry's good moves that make the difference. There aren't many GMs who literally stole two perennial all-star players in D-Lee and Ram for scrap players. These guys are the foundation of our team, and we wouldn't be sniffing the playoffs without them. So, I can take a Steve Traschel trade every now and again if I get to enjoy moves like DeRosa, Lilly, and oh yeah, our lead-off, HR-hitting stud.

[David]

Ok...looks like he needs a little more support....yes, there are the Neifis/Traschels and Craig Monroes of the world....but here is a list of pretty damn good players he's either signed, re-signed, traded for, or brought up.

 

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Zambrano

Lilly

Marmol

Soto

Howry

Wood

Theriot/Fontenot (they only really count as one by now)

Barrett (he was good for a while)

Nomar

Prior

Piniella

 

 

And by god, we're in the playoffs.

 

It's his job to find good players. The fact is, though, that the record the team has put up in his tenure relative to the amount of money that has been spent (and the farm system this team had when he took over) = a massive failure that only a massive spending spree last offseason could mask.

[Banedon]

What is the ratio of how many games the good list won as opposed to the bad list lost? I would venture to guess that the good list has a higher ratio

 

Hendry's overall record is 407-403...so I'd venture to guess it's about even. And that's not good enough for me.

[E.J.]

I'd like to show appreciation for all NL Central teams for sucking badly, making it possible for us to win the worst division in baseball, winning 85 games despite having a $100 million payroll.

 

After seeing the first two months of this team I'm shocked we won 85 games. I have no doubt that with this current club as is, we would've won 90 games easy...

 

Agreed. This is why it bothers me a bit to hear the Cubs referred to as a bad playoff team and all that. They came back from ~10 games under .500 and 8.5 games back over two months into the season. You have to play pretty damn well and consistently to do that. Hell, had we not lost Soriano in August, we might have won 90 games, or at least come a bit closer.

 

I guess you really have to look at the season as a whole, though. I'm biased, but I definitely think the Cubs are better than their record.

 

I heard the other day that the Cubs are the best team in baseball since June 23. So I don't buy the argument that the only reason the Cubs made the playoffs is because of our division. And yes, we would have been even better with healthy Zo, A-Ram and D-Lee, all of whom were banged up much of the regular season.

 

We're the best team record wise because we were playing the NL Central while other teams were playing the East and West.

 

and when did the first two months of the season stop counting? yes, we were good after june, but you can't just throw out the first two months. also, like was mentioned, we are not going to see these threads at all when we're in the 4th year of Soriano's contract.

[JonnyRed]

One other thing...for all the Hendry bashers: Who would you want to see replace Hendry? Really, how many GMs out there do a consistently above average job? Maybe a half dozen?