Jim Hendry Appreciation Thread

[Banedon]

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.

 

Soriano is here because of a lot of money, not because Hendry is a good GM.

 

Ramirez is here because the Pirates were poor and couldn't afford him anymore, and the Cubs could.

 

He's made some decent deals, but he's made far more bad ones that he's been able to hide with a large payroll.

[E.J.]

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?

 

We're the Cubs. We have probably the biggest fan base in MLB, we sell out the stadium every game, and people go in droves to other teams' stadiums to watch the Cubbies. We deserve better than Hendry.

[Tracer Bullet]

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?

 

First name that comes to mind is Paul DePodesta. Maybe he can get his old team to give up some of those young players like Kemp, Billingsley, Loney, etc that are such trouble makers.

[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.

 

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.

 

I acknowledged this already. Still, the Cubs were getting incredibly unlucky in one run games early in the season. It's not that they don't count, it's that there was clearly a shift in the performance of this team at that point, and the better team is pretty much the team we have seen for the last 4 months of the season.

 

It's not like it was completely inexplicable, either. We were unlucky early on. One run games just weren't going our way. For much of the season, the power bats were underachieving significantly. There were roster changes made. This is pretty different team than the one we were watching in April... not just performance wise, but roster and playing time allocation-wise.

[UK1679666180]

Comparing Hendry to GMs that are w/teams that are either developmentally or fiscally are not in a position to contend is flawed.

 

Given that, he's done some good things and he's done some bad things.

 

Given 5 years, the talent he has had to build around, and the payroll, they should've done more than what they have so far.

 

Comparing the last 5 years to past Cubs futility is also a mistake, that only shows how bad they were moreso than how good things have become. Although, Dallas Green is still the best Cubs GM in my lifetime.

[UK1679666180]

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?

 

I've said it before, I think Logan White is the best avail. GM. If you gave me the choice of the potnetial unknown of White and the expected results of Hendry, I'd go with White.

[C.C.]

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.

 

Soriano is here because of a lot of money, not because Hendry is a good GM.

 

Ramirez is here because the Pirates were poor and couldn't afford him anymore, and the Cubs could.

 

He's made some decent deals, but he's made far more bad ones that he's been able to hide with a large payroll.

 

Can't you say that for just about any big market team? Both NY teams, Boston, Angels etc... All GM's make mistakes, but big market team can hide or out spend them.

[David]

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.

 

Soriano is here because of a lot of money, not because Hendry is a good GM.

 

Ramirez is here because the Pirates were poor and couldn't afford him anymore, and the Cubs could.

 

He's made some decent deals, but he's made far more bad ones that he's been able to hide with a large payroll.

 

Can't you say that for just about any big market team? Both NY teams, Boston, Angels etc... All GM's make mistakes, but big market team can hide or out spend them.

 

These teams have won more than the Cubs over the past several years. A LOT more. (Well, minus the Mets, at least)

[CUBZ99]

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?

 

First name that comes to mind is Paul DePodesta. Maybe he can get his old team to give up some of those young players like Kemp, Billingsley, Loney, etc that are such trouble makers.

 

DePodesta was a GM for a total of 2 years. That hardly qualifies as "consistently above average."

 

That is my problem with people that constantly complain about Hendry and how easy it would be to replace him with a better GM. Sure, potentially there are better GMs, but the names that keep getting thrown around are terrible. DePodesta? Hendry has had more success than Depodesta.

[Banedon]

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.

 

Soriano is here because of a lot of money, not because Hendry is a good GM.

 

Ramirez is here because the Pirates were poor and couldn't afford him anymore, and the Cubs could.

 

He's made some decent deals, but he's made far more bad ones that he's been able to hide with a large payroll.

 

Can't you say that for just about any big market team? Both NY teams, Boston, Angels etc... All GM's make mistakes, but big market team can hide or out spend them.

 

The Yankees, Boston, and the Angels more or less consistently make the playoffs every year though.

[Banedon]

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?

 

First name that comes to mind is Paul DePodesta. Maybe he can get his old team to give up some of those young players like Kemp, Billingsley, Loney, etc that are such trouble makers.

 

DePodesta was a GM for a total of 2 years. That hardly qualifies as "consistently above average."

 

That is my problem with people that constantly complain about Hendry and how easy it would be to replace him with a better GM. Sure, potentially there are better GMs, but the names that keep getting thrown around are terrible. DePodesta? Hendry has had more success than Depodesta.

 

As you pointed out, Depodesta got 2 years. Hard to really get a lot of success, dontcha think? How do you know he's terrible when he has barely gotten a shot?

[C.C.]

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.

 

Soriano is here because of a lot of money, not because Hendry is a good GM.

 

Ramirez is here because the Pirates were poor and couldn't afford him anymore, and the Cubs could.

 

He's made some decent deals, but he's made far more bad ones that he's been able to hide with a large payroll.

 

Can't you say that for just about any big market team? Both NY teams, Boston, Angels etc... All GM's make mistakes, but big market team can hide or out spend them.

 

These teams have won more than the Cubs over the past several years. A LOT more. (Well, minus the Mets, at least)

 

And they also have spent a lot more. I'm just saying big market teams have a luxory to out spend their mistakes.

[C.C.]

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.

 

Soriano is here because of a lot of money, not because Hendry is a good GM.

 

Ramirez is here because the Pirates were poor and couldn't afford him anymore, and the Cubs could.

 

He's made some decent deals, but he's made far more bad ones that he's been able to hide with a large payroll.

 

Can't you say that for just about any big market team? Both NY teams, Boston, Angels etc... All GM's make mistakes, but big market team can hide or out spend them.

 

The Yankees, Boston, and the Angels more or less consistently make the playoffs every year though.

 

Compare the payrolls. Yanks 180 Boston 145 Cubs are at 90. Big difference.

[David]

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?

 

First name that comes to mind is Paul DePodesta. Maybe he can get his old team to give up some of those young players like Kemp, Billingsley, Loney, etc that are such trouble makers.

 

DePodesta was a GM for a total of 2 years. That hardly qualifies as "consistently above average."

 

That is my problem with people that constantly complain about Hendry and how easy it would be to replace him with a better GM. Sure, potentially there are better GMs, but the names that keep getting thrown around are terrible. DePodesta? Hendry has had more success than Depodesta.

 

As you pointed out, Depodesta got 2 years. Hard to really get a lot of success, dontcha think? How do you know he's terrible when he has barely gotten a shot?

 

Out of curiosity, who set up the Dodgers for this surge of great young players that they have now?

 

Were most of those players drafted/acquired during DePo's tenure?

[Banedon]

And they also have spent a lot more. I'm just saying big market teams have a luxory to out spend their mistakes.

 

I don't think there's any argument there. The argument though, is that aside from this year, Hendry hasn't been very good at it.

[Banedon]

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.

 

Soriano is here because of a lot of money, not because Hendry is a good GM.

 

Ramirez is here because the Pirates were poor and couldn't afford him anymore, and the Cubs could.

 

He's made some decent deals, but he's made far more bad ones that he's been able to hide with a large payroll.

 

Can't you say that for just about any big market team? Both NY teams, Boston, Angels etc... All GM's make mistakes, but big market team can hide or out spend them.

 

The Yankees, Boston, and the Angels more or less consistently make the playoffs every year though.

 

Compare the payrolls. Yanks 180 Boston 145 Cubs are at 90. Big difference.

 

And the Cardinals? They seem to make the playoffs plenty with a similar payroll. Hell they even won a WS.

[UMFan83]

Again, I don't think people realize how screwed we are long term. Look at this.

 

The Cubs will have these 7 players under contract though 2009 (there are more than these 7 but these players have either high salaries or backloaded deals). Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, Jason Marquis, Mark DeRosa.

 

 

Here is how much these players collectively made in 2007:

 

$54.9 million

 

Here is how much it escalates to in 2008:

 

$73.175 million

 

And now the alarming 2009 rate:

 

$89.525.

 

Their salaries rise over 63% over a 2 year period. Basically we are spending $34.625 million more on our players salary and getting nothing back in return. For reference, the Devil Rays spent $24 million on their roster of 25 men this year.

 

With the team going up for sale, and potentially going to an owner with shallower pockets, you should expect to see little to no improvements being made to this club via free agency. Our only hope of improving is some team helping us out and taking on some of this salary. This is all Jim Hendry's doing, make no mistake. He mortgaged the team's future because he knew if he didn't win this year, he'd be fired.

[Fred Hornkohl]

And they also have spent a lot more. I'm just saying big market teams have a luxory to out spend their mistakes.

 

I don't think there's any argument there. The argument though, is that aside from this year, Hendry hasn't been very good at it.

 

Aside from this year, Hendry hasn't been able to spend like a big market team.

[David]

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.

 

Soriano is here because of a lot of money, not because Hendry is a good GM.

 

Ramirez is here because the Pirates were poor and couldn't afford him anymore, and the Cubs could.

 

He's made some decent deals, but he's made far more bad ones that he's been able to hide with a large payroll.

 

Can't you say that for just about any big market team? Both NY teams, Boston, Angels etc... All GM's make mistakes, but big market team can hide or out spend them.

 

The Yankees, Boston, and the Angels more or less consistently make the playoffs every year though.

 

Compare the payrolls. Yanks 180 Boston 145 Cubs are at 90. Big difference.

 

 

Where have the Cubs been spending in terms of their own competition to get to the playoffs? I'd assume it's somewhere near the top. They should, considering what they've spent, at the very least, have been contending for the last several years, and they haven't.

[UK1679666180]

 

Out of curiosity, who set up the Dodgers for this surge of great young players that they have now?

Were most of those players drafted/acquired during DePo's tenure?

 

Logan White.

[C.C.]

Again, I don't think people realize how screwed we are long term. Look at this.

 

The Cubs will have these 7 players under contract though 2009 (there are more than these 7 but these players have either high salaries or backloaded deals). Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, Jason Marquis, Mark DeRosa.

 

 

Here is how much these players collectively made in 2007:

 

$54.9 million

 

Here is how much it escalates to in 2008:

 

$73.175 million

 

And now the alarming 2009 rate:

 

$89.525.

 

Their salaries rise over 63% over a 2 year period. Basically we are spending $34.625 million more on our players salary and getting nothing back in return. For reference, the Devil Rays spent $24 million on their roster of 25 men this year.

 

With the team going up for sale, and potentially going to an owner with shallower pockets, you should expect to see little to no improvements being made to this club via free agency. Our only hope of improving is some team helping us out and taking on some of this salary. This is all Jim Hendry's doing, make no mistake. He mortgaged the team's future because he knew if he didn't win this year, he'd be fired.

 

Who cares! Don't you think that our team payroll will rise? If not then we are in trouble regardless of back loaded contracts. There is no reason our payroll should not be a minimum of 120 million.

[C.C.]

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.

 

Soriano is here because of a lot of money, not because Hendry is a good GM.

 

Ramirez is here because the Pirates were poor and couldn't afford him anymore, and the Cubs could.

 

He's made some decent deals, but he's made far more bad ones that he's been able to hide with a large payroll.

 

Can't you say that for just about any big market team? Both NY teams, Boston, Angels etc... All GM's make mistakes, but big market team can hide or out spend them.

 

The Yankees, Boston, and the Angels more or less consistently make the playoffs every year though.

 

Compare the payrolls. Yanks 180 Boston 145 Cubs are at 90. Big difference.

 

 

Where have the Cubs been spending in terms of their own competition to get to the playoffs? I'd assume it's somewhere near the top. They should, considering what they've spent, at the very least, have been contending for the last several years, and they haven't.

 

Good point. Can't argue with that.

[David]

Again, I don't think people realize how screwed we are long term. Look at this.

 

The Cubs will have these 7 players under contract though 2009 (there are more than these 7 but these players have either high salaries or backloaded deals). Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, Jason Marquis, Mark DeRosa.

 

 

Here is how much these players collectively made in 2007:

 

$54.9 million

 

Here is how much it escalates to in 2008:

 

$73.175 million

 

And now the alarming 2009 rate:

 

$89.525.

 

Their salaries rise over 63% over a 2 year period. Basically we are spending $34.625 million more on our players salary and getting nothing back in return. For reference, the Devil Rays spent $24 million on their roster of 25 men this year.

 

With the team going up for sale, and potentially going to an owner with shallower pockets, you should expect to see little to no improvements being made to this club via free agency. Our only hope of improving is some team helping us out and taking on some of this salary. This is all Jim Hendry's doing, make no mistake. He mortgaged the team's future because he knew if he didn't win this year, he'd be fired.

 

I don't foresee the team going to an owner with shallower pockets and an unwillingness to spend. Potential owners would be coming in knowing how much money is tied up for the future in contracts and would already be spending a crapload to buy the team.

 

 

But who knows with all the reports out there? I suppose Bud could really screw us if he wants to. I guess you could look at the situation in one of two ways. Either the new owner, knowing what the Cubs cost and what the Cubs have committed in payroll for the next several years, will be one that is going to come in here, and try to spend a ton of money and win, or the new ownership will have their hands tied and completely cheap out after spending upwards of a billion dollars on the team and having much of the payroll tied up for years (and years).

 

Either way, though, having a bunch of money tied up for years, especially in players whose production will be declining, is not a good thing.

Edited October 2, 2007 by David

[CUBZ99]

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?

 

First name that comes to mind is Paul DePodesta. Maybe he can get his old team to give up some of those young players like Kemp, Billingsley, Loney, etc that are such trouble makers.

 

DePodesta was a GM for a total of 2 years. That hardly qualifies as "consistently above average."

 

That is my problem with people that constantly complain about Hendry and how easy it would be to replace him with a better GM. Sure, potentially there are better GMs, but the names that keep getting thrown around are terrible. DePodesta? Hendry has had more success than Depodesta.

 

As you pointed out, Depodesta got 2 years. Hard to really get a lot of success, dontcha think? How do you know he's terrible when he has barely gotten a shot?

 

Way to avoid defending DePodesta. If you can't win with facts try to win by playing semantics? What about DePodesta makes him a "consistently above average GM?

[Banedon]

And they also have spent a lot more. I'm just saying big market teams have a luxory to out spend their mistakes.

 

I don't think there's any argument there. The argument though, is that aside from this year, Hendry hasn't been very good at it.

 

Aside from this year, Hendry hasn't been able to spend like a big market team.

 

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/chicago-cubs_112114177768677294.html

 

Opening Day payrolls for 25-man roster

(salaries plus pro-rated signing bonuses):

2007: $ 99,670,332 * Division Champs (More?)

2006: $ 94,424,499

2005: $ 87,032,933

2004: $ 90,560,000

2003: $ 79,868,333 Division Champs

2002: $ 75,690,833

2001: $ 64,715,833

2000: $ 62,100,000

 

Hendry spent 5 million more this season than last. It's future money that the Trib knows they won't have to pay that Hendry spent. For comparison, here's the Cardinals payrolls...

 

Opening Day payrolls for 25-man roster

(salaries plus pro-rated signing bonuses):

2007: $90,286,823 *

2006: $88,891,371 World Series

2005: $92,106,833 Division Champs

2004: $83,228,333 NL Champs

2003: $83,786,666

2002: $74,660,875 Division Champs

2001: $78,538,333 WC Champs

2000: $63,900,000 Division Champs