Piniella: I'm retiring at the end of the season

[98navigator]

So what manager in their right mind wants to come here knowing the GM has to be on a pretty short leash? It makes no sense to let Hendry come back. Not many managers are going to want to come into that kind of situation with the GM.

.

 

I agree with the first part. I think the logic is just the opposite of the second part however... If Ricketts is planning to remove Hendry he wants to keep that close to the vest. Not many quality managers would want to come into a situation where the GM is unsettled. It makes sense to present continuity even when change is in the plans.

 

Im basing the second part on all the reports saying Hendry is coming back next season. It seems pretty much a done deal that Hendrys back and thats the presumption Im working under. So again what manager wants to come into that situation?

 

Honestly, I think that's a fine situation for most if not all managers. No one who would consider taking the job will think "hmmmm, Hendry may be fired if we don't start out well..." That's not how managers think. It's more likely that the next manager will be happy that some structure is in place to "win." That's not to say I'm for Hendry staying or that I believe he will stay. I believe that it makes no sense for Ricketts to present the "company' as a place that's totally in transistion (manager, GM, and potential farm system changes/openings could scare off a veteran manager and potential free agents).

Edited July 21, 2010 by 98navigator

[TruffleShuffle]

good call ricketts, guarantee a guy's job when he spent almost $280 million the last two years on a .500 team.

[erik316wttn]

Ive heard from some people in the Chicago area that Ricketts and Joe Torre are very close friends, and Torre is who Ricketts really wants. I dont know how true it is, but thought Id throw that out there.

 

Call me crazy but I don't like the idea of Joe Torre. I think this team needs a manager who can, conceivably, be around for the longterm not another stop-gap guy who will be looking at retirement in a few years. I believe Torre is older than Lou.

 

Oh ya Im not saying I want Torre at all, but thats just some rumors Ive heard. I think Bobby V is my top choice.

 

I don't think Bobby V comes here. Why would he leave his nice analyst job at ESPN to come lead the hot mess that will be the 2011 Chicago Cubs?

 

edit: *points to Tuffle's sig*

[J.R.]

Should have stayed another week or two in Africa if this is the best he can do.

 

Is the financial picture so precarious that we couldn't bear to eat the last two years of Hendry's deal? Or is Ricketts just [expletive] cheap?

[erik316wttn]

Should have stayed another week or two in Africa if this is the best he can do.

 

Is the financial picture so precarious that we couldn't bear to eat the last two years of Hendry's deal? Or is Ricketts just [expletive] cheap?

 

Hendry has incriminating pictures. That's the only explanation.

[Keener98]

So what manager in their right mind wants to come here knowing the GM has to be on a pretty short leash? It makes no sense to let Hendry come back. Not many managers are going to want to come into that kind of situation with the GM.

.

 

I agree with the first part. I think the logic is just the opposite of the second part however... If Ricketts is planning to remove Hendry he wants to keep that close to the vest. Not many quality managers would want to come into a situation where the GM is unsettled. It makes sense to present continuity even when change is in the plans.

 

Im basing the second part on all the reports saying Hendry is coming back next season. It seems pretty much a done deal that Hendrys back and thats the presumption Im working under. So again what manager wants to come into that situation?

 

Honestly, I think that's a fine situation for most if not all managers. No one who would consider taking the job will think "hmmmm, Hendry may be fired if we don't start out well..." That's not how managers think. It's more likely that the next manager will be happy that some structure is in place to "win." That's not to say I'm for Hendry staying or that I believe he will stay. I believe that it makes no sense for Ricketts to present the "company' as a place that's totally in transistion (manager, GM, and potential farm system changes/openings could scare off a veteran manager and potential free agents).

 

I guess Im not getting what you are saying, when you say thats a fine situation for most if not all managers. You really think most managers like they idea of coming into a situation where the GM is presumably on the hot seat?

[Mark Priors Calves]

Comcast was showing some footage from Piniella's hiring in the fall of 2006 and he looks like he's aged 15 years since then.

[Illini Iceman]

So what manager in their right mind wants to come here knowing the GM has to be on a pretty short leash? It makes no sense to let Hendry come back. Not many managers are going to want to come into that kind of situation with the GM.

.

 

I agree with the first part. I think the logic is just the opposite of the second part however... If Ricketts is planning to remove Hendry he wants to keep that close to the vest. Not many quality managers would want to come into a situation where the GM is unsettled. It makes sense to present continuity even when change is in the plans.

 

Im basing the second part on all the reports saying Hendry is coming back next season. It seems pretty much a done deal that Hendrys back and thats the presumption Im working under. So again what manager wants to come into that situation?

 

Honestly, I think that's a fine situation for most if not all managers. No one who would consider taking the job will think "hmmmm, Hendry may be fired if we don't start out well..." That's not how managers think. It's more likely that the next manager will be happy that some structure is in place to "win." That's not to say I'm for Hendry staying or that I believe he will stay. I believe that it makes no sense for Ricketts to present the "company' as a place that's totally in transistion (manager, GM, and potential farm system changes/openings could scare off a veteran manager and potential free agents).

 

I guess Im not getting what you are saying, when you say thats a fine situation for most if not all managers. You really think most managers like they idea of coming into a situation where the GM is presumably on the hot seat?

 

Meh. I can't think of one candidate that would turn down this job because Hendry's job might be in jeopardy. It is a big league managing job in a major market for a high profile team.

 

Plus I think what he is trying to say is that most confident managers would figure they can get the team to win so they aren't going to be stressing out about Hendry losing his job if the team tanks. They are going to probably more likely to assume they will save his job by managing the team to a winning season.

[Old Style]

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't we have the opportunity to hire Girardi 4 years ago but instead went with Piniella because he had more experience?

[daske17]

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't we have the opportunity to hire Girardi 4 years ago but instead went with Piniella because he had more experience?

 

Not exactly. We had the opportunity but Girardi was pretty open in saying that he was looking to rejoin the Yankees organization. As a GM, I'm not looking for a manager who has an eye on another job.

 

All that said, Ricketts is going to be a terrible owner. This is why you don't let fans buy teams. They don't have an effing clue of how to run a sports team.

[Guest]

If Oneri goes too, then all the more reason for Hendry to be fired.

[Soonernation]

I'd really like to see Bobby Valentine get some consideration.

 

Valentine has won 51% of his games and exactly 1 pennant; why do people think he's such a great manager?

[Soonernation]

Tom Ricketts said Tuesday that Hendry "will be our GM next year. He will lead the effort to find a manager. It will be Jim's decision, but we will work together."

 

Click for depression

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

He dropped the ball!

 

I listened to the whole press conference and as I heard and saw the quote, I heard many things that made me think Ricketts is not going keep Hendry, it makes perfect sense for him to be in full support of Hendry right now with the trade deadline approaching. I also believe the quote was more in the direction of "Hendry will be our GM going into the offseason and will work with hiring the new manager."

 

That quote says specifically that "Hendry will be our GM NEXT year."

 

 

So u expect him to say something different?

[Guest]

If Oneri goes too, then all the more reason for Hendry to be fired.

[Outshined_One]

Hendry could always get the Dick Jauron treatment: find a replacement for Oneri Fleita or find yourself a new job.

[dew1679666265]

If Oneri goes too, then all the more reason for Hendry to be fired.

 

Don't take this as disagreeing (it's not) and I don't want to derail the thread too much, but what problem do you all have with Oneri?

[Omar]

I don't get this speculation about Girardi managing the Cubs. Is there some sort of news I missed? Why would he leave New York?

[shnsajax]

I don't get this speculation about Girardi managing the Cubs. Is there some sort of news I missed? Why would he leave New York?

 

Hometown childhood team. Just a personal challenge for him.

[Keener98]

That quote says specifically that "Hendry will be our GM NEXT year."

 

 

So u expect him to say something different?

 

Its not lip service, every media outlet is reporting Hendry will be back next year. Ricketts could always say,"We will evaluate Jim at the end of the season and go from there". Hendry is coming back, and we all may as well get used to it.

[Tyrant]

I'd really like to see Bobby Valentine get some consideration.

 

Valentine has won 51% of his games and exactly 1 pennant; why do people think he's such a great manager?

 

http://scratchbomb.com/images/bobby%2Bvalentine.jpg

[17 Seconds]

lol ricketts. what a joke.

 

hendry and sandberg next season. absolutely great. as if my interest in this team could get any lower.

[Omar]

Piniella leaving? Hendry staying?

 

Mr. Sandberg, your POS team is ready.

[SouthSideRyan]

If Oneri goes too, then all the more reason for Hendry to be fired.

 

Yeah, isn't Oneri kind of an idiot?

[italianocubsfan7]

Two things:

 

From some of the above comments, I see that Fleita and Wilken might leave purely based on their respect for Hendry if he does not get retained. Are you kidding me!? Look at where this franchise is, and Oneri Fleita and Tim Wilken are going to hold Ricketts and management hostage by being forced to keep Hendry? No way. I know Wilken has done good things and he has a great eye for talent, but this is just ridiculous.

 

Secondly, FWIW, ESPN and other outlets are reporting that "several baseball people" think Joe Torre would be a good match for the Cubs, and that it would be his next challenge if the Dodgers decide to go in a separate direction. Again, that's great people around the league think that would be a nice fit, but he is older than Lou, and it's only July. Let's see where this managerial search is in October and go from there.

 

P.S. The Cubs also need a new GM. In fact, a majority of the front office should be cleaned out. Will Ricketts and Co. perform for the 2011 season? It will only be a matter of months before we find out.

[mhuber92211]

Couldn't this be considered the proverbial "Vote of Confidence"