Hendry NOT looking to rebuild Cubs

[Banedon]

I didn't see this posted anywhere...

 

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/4487

 

“I’m here to tell you it’s not some kind of a major rebuilding job,” Jim said. “When you start seeing the improvement in the young people that we have and the type of young arms that we have and the arms that we have coming, you make three or four solid moves in the off-season and your young guys keep developing, then you’re right back to being a contending team, and that’s the way we’re going to go about it.”

[Prizefight]

Slowly convincing myself that he is in fact our GM next year

[jersey cubs fan]

depending on how he defines "solid moves" he's not necessarily wrong.

[Banedon]

depending on how he defines "solid moves" he's not necessarily wrong.

 

I'm sure he's talking about spending big bucks on 4 new relievers.

[BigbadB1679666149]

I'm actually cool with Hendry not looking to rebuild the Cubs. However, I would like some other GM to rebuild the Cubs.

 

Please!

[pccubfan]

depending on how he defines "solid moves" he's not necessarily wrong.

 

Agreed, but I can't think of four "solid moves" that could be made.

 

Gonzalez and Lee would be two. But it would take at least one more player of that magnitude and perhaps two to turn this team around. I don't think the Cubs would have the cash or the prospects to pull another one off.

 

Hendry would probably catergorize moving Z and Fukudome and saving a couple million per year as "solid moves".

[Ding Dong Johnson]

depending on how he defines "solid moves" he's not necessarily wrong.

Imagine them as "Hendry's idea of solid moves". He's probably wrong.

[jersey cubs fan]

Hendry would probably catergorize moving Z and Fukudome and saving a couple million per year as "solid moves".

 

Oh I don't doubt that for a second. My guess is something like adding a veteran reliever, getting rid of Zambrano and Fukudome, resigning Lilly, and then finding a platoon partner for Hoffpauir at 1st.

[SouthSideRyan]

depending on how he defines "solid moves" he's not necessarily wrong.

 

Agreed, but I can't think of four "solid moves" that could be made.

 

Gonzalez and Lee would be two. But it would take at least one more player of that magnitude and perhaps two to turn this team around. I don't think the Cubs would have the cash or the prospects to pull another one off.

 

 

You think the Cubs are 2 MVP candidates AND 2 Cy Young candidates away from being a contender?

[pccubfan]

Hendry would probably catergorize moving Z and Fukudome and saving a couple million per year as "solid moves".

 

Oh I don't doubt that for a second. My guess is something like adding a veteran reliever, getting rid of Zambrano and Fukudome, resigning Lilly, and then finding a platoon partner for Hoffpauir at 1st.

 

That team would make this year's team look good.

[pccubfan]

depending on how he defines "solid moves" he's not necessarily wrong.

 

Agreed, but I can't think of four "solid moves" that could be made.

 

Gonzalez and Lee would be two. But it would take at least one more player of that magnitude and perhaps two to turn this team around. I don't think the Cubs would have the cash or the prospects to pull another one off.

 

 

You think the Cubs are 2 MVP candidates AND 2 Cy Young candidates away from being a contender?

 

I think they are that far from being a preseason favorite for the pennant. If they want to contend in the division, I think they would need more than Gonzalez and Lee. I don't think it would have to be one or two players the caliber of Lee and Gonzalez but improvement.

[KingCubsFan]

depending on how he defines "solid moves" he's not necessarily wrong.

 

Agreed, but I can't think of four "solid moves" that could be made.

 

Gonzalez and Lee would be two. But it would take at least one more player of that magnitude and perhaps two to turn this team around. I don't think the Cubs would have the cash or the prospects to pull another one off.

 

 

You think the Cubs are 2 MVP candidates AND 2 Cy Young candidates away from being a contender?

I think it's fair to say that these 4 "solid" moves need to yield 4 or more good players. We have one of the worst offenses in the league and our pitching isn't much better.

[Guest]

To me there's a bit of a tier structure here.

 

Tier 1: Adding an elite, 5+ win player like a Gonzalez or Lee.

 

Tier 2: Adding a strong player, preferably at a place of need. Dunn would be the textbook example.

 

Tier 3: Other incremental improvements, like improving a rotation spot, adding a good reliever, or improving 2B.

 

To me, if the Cubs did one of each of these things, they'd be a very good team next year. Lee anchoring the rotation with Dunn replacing Lee at 1B would be a huge boost. That might not be the best decision for the long term health of the team, but it's pretty feasible(those two are free agents after all). Unfortunately, I'm thinking Hendry sees something like a Tier 2 move and several Tier 3 moves as the solution. That could potentially make the team a playoff contender, but unless that Tier 2(to put an arbitrary distinction on it) is something that could blossom into Tier 1(someone like Alex Gordon or Brandon Webb, for example), the team's ceiling remains limited. Too limited considering their payroll.

[NCCubFan]

depending on how he defines "solid moves" he's not necessarily wrong.

 

I'm sure he's talking about spending big bucks on 4 new mediocre relievers.

Fixed.

[Rob]

Solid Move #1 - Fire Hendry

 

Solid Move #2 - Hire new, non-dumbass GM

 

Solid Move #3 - Hire Freddi Gonzalez

 

Solid Move #4 - Rebuild

[KingCubsFan]

To me there's a bit of a tier structure here.

 

Tier 1: Adding an elite, 5+ win player like a Gonzalez or Lee.

 

Tier 2: Adding a strong player, preferably at a place of need. Dunn would be the textbook example.

 

Tier 3: Other incremental improvements, like improving a rotation spot, adding a good reliever, or improving 2B.

 

To me, if the Cubs did one of each of these things, they'd be a very good team next year. Lee anchoring the rotation with Dunn replacing Lee at 1B would be a huge boost. That might not be the best decision for the long term health of the team, but it's pretty feasible(those two are free agents after all). Unfortunately, I'm thinking Hendry sees something like a Tier 2 move and several Tier 3 moves as the solution. That could potentially make the team a playoff contender, but unless that Tier 2(to put an arbitrary distinction on it) is something that could blossom into Tier 1(someone like Alex Gordon or Brandon Webb, for example), the team's ceiling remains limited. Too limited considering their payroll.

I still don't think that gets it done. They would still be stuck with limited production from 2B, a fragile Ramirez, and an outfield that would likely only produce one OPS over .800.

[Guest]

Ramirez has bounced back from his poor start, and all 3 outfielders have at least a .830 OPS right now.

[UMFan83]

I knew they wouldnt rebuild, although I was hoping they would. Hendry would never have the patience for rebuilding. I honestly would have preferred a rebuild so I could take a real interest in the team again. Watching an underperforming team suck is much worse than watching a young team grow. Yes there are some young players with potential on this team, but too many other reminders of how mismanaged this team is.

[Backtobanks]

depending on how he defines "solid moves" he's not necessarily wrong.

 

Agreed, but I can't think of four "solid moves" that could be made.

 

Gonzalez and Lee would be two. But it would take at least one more player of that magnitude and perhaps two to turn this team around. I don't think the Cubs would have the cash or the prospects to pull another one off.

 

 

You think the Cubs are 2 MVP candidates AND 2 Cy Young candidates away from being a contender?

I think it's fair to say that these 4 "solid" moves need to yield 4 or more good players. We have one of the worst offenses in the league and our pitching isn't much better.

 

Actually a 1B like Gonzalez (or Dunn) might go a long way in improving the offense assuming ARam has a healthy year. DLee and ARam sucking all year and Lou insisting on keeping them #3 and #4 really screwed with a lot of offensive numbers. Lou's insistence on playing Hill over Soto so often certainly didn't help either.

[SouthSideRyan]

Look, I hate Blake DeWitt too, but how is he considered limited production from 2B. What are you expecting out of a 2B?

 

Why are one of Soriano or Byrd good bets to OPS lower than 800?

 

And did I miss the explanation showing that our pitching wasn't much better than the worst in the league?

[SouthSideRyan]

I knew they wouldnt rebuild, although I was hoping they would. Hendry would never have the patience for rebuilding. I honestly would have preferred a rebuild so I could take a real interest in the team again. Watching an underperforming team suck is much worse than watching a young team grow. Yes there are some young players with potential on this team, but too many other reminders of how mismanaged this team is.

 

Rebuilding is stupid when you have a 130M payroll.

[third eye]

To me there's a bit of a tier structure here.

 

Tier 1: Adding an elite, 5+ win player like a Gonzalez or Lee.

 

Tier 2: Adding a strong player, preferably at a place of need. Dunn would be the textbook example.

 

Tier 3: Other incremental improvements, like improving a rotation spot, adding a good reliever, or improving 2B.

 

To me, if the Cubs did one of each of these things, they'd be a very good team next year. Lee anchoring the rotation with Dunn replacing Lee at 1B would be a huge boost. That might not be the best decision for the long term health of the team, but it's pretty feasible(those two are free agents after all). Unfortunately, I'm thinking Hendry sees something like a Tier 2 move and several Tier 3 moves as the solution. That could potentially make the team a playoff contender, but unless that Tier 2(to put an arbitrary distinction on it) is something that could blossom into Tier 1(someone like Alex Gordon or Brandon Webb, for example), the team's ceiling remains limited. Too limited considering their payroll.

 

How will the payroll support both tier 1 and tier 2 moves for next year? Replacing DLee with Dunn gets you about 2 million in payroll relief, Nady's $3 million will be split among the other scheduled salary bumps on the team and about half of Lilly's salary value will go towards arb eligible players like Soto and Marmol. The only way they can afford a tier 1 type of move is if Z and Kosuke are traded with the Cubs eating only a small percentage of the contracts (~40%), right?

 

That said, if they could work those 2 moves in, I'd have to think they would be in very good shape for next year. Lee, Theriot and Aramis are the only regulars putting up sub 100 OPS+ seasons. I like Dewitt as a decent bet to be close to 100 next year, and Dunn and Aramis to be significantly better. This team's current OPS ranks middle of the NL pack at 9 so far this year (though only 12th in runs scored). Just replacing Lee's non-production with Dunn's and having Aramis and Dewitt provide league average numbers should put the offense into the upper third. That plus Cliff Lee, Dempster, Wells, Gorzo, 5th starter and a decent back of the bullpen in Marshall and Marmol should position them pretty well for 2011.

[lumafia]

I knew they wouldnt rebuild, although I was hoping they would. Hendry would never have the patience for rebuilding. I honestly would have preferred a rebuild so I could take a real interest in the team again. Watching an underperforming team suck is much worse than watching a young team grow. Yes there are some young players with potential on this team, but too many other reminders of how mismanaged this team is.

 

Rebuilding is stupid when you have a 130M payroll.

 

Unless Jim somehow convinces Ricketterbilt to give him another $50 mil to play with, he is going to HAVE to move Zambrano and Fukudome. He needs a big time 1B, at least 1 top of the rotation starter, to hope that we can improve the bullpen from within and everybody else on the team that had a career year to repeat, and for Soriano not to regress.

[SouthSideRyan]

I knew they wouldnt rebuild, although I was hoping they would. Hendry would never have the patience for rebuilding. I honestly would have preferred a rebuild so I could take a real interest in the team again. Watching an underperforming team suck is much worse than watching a young team grow. Yes there are some young players with potential on this team, but too many other reminders of how mismanaged this team is.

 

Rebuilding is stupid when you have a 130M payroll.

 

Unless Jim somehow convinces Ricketterbilt to give him another $50 mil to play with, he is going to HAVE to move Zambrano and Fukudome. He needs a big time 1B, at least 1 top of the rotation starter, to hope that we can improve the bullpen from within and everybody else on the team that had a career year to repeat, and for Soriano not to regress.

 

Rebuilding to me means going young and not trying to win. There's no reason to not put out the best team possible next year. You don't go throwing 8 year contracts out there, but there's no reason to not pursue a Gonzalez/Dunn/Lee, whomever. You honestly think we need a 180M payroll to have a good shot next year? That's madness

[KingCubsFan]

Look, I hate Blake DeWitt too, but how is he considered limited production from 2B. What are you expecting out of a 2B?

 

Why are one of Soriano or Byrd good bets to OPS lower than 800?

 

And did I miss the explanation showing that our pitching wasn't much better than the worst in the league?

I don't necessarily have a problem with DeWitt, particularly if we were rebuilding. And generally, I wouldn't expect much out of second base. But second base is one of the few positions we could upgrade, and it looks like we'll go into next season simply hoping DeWitt develops more power as opposed to looking for something more significant. I just don't think improving one position gets it done, particularly when Colvin's power might have been a fluke and Soriano continues to trend downward (although for some reason I thought his OPS had fallen below .800). And at this point, you have to accept that Ramirez will most likely not be healthy for an entire season. How many contending teams continually enter a season counting on a player who is consistently injured to hit in the middle of lineup and be one of the focal points of the offense, and then are taken by surprise when he gets hurt? That's just bad management and not facing reality.

 

As for the pitching, there's really nothing the Cubs really excel at, besides strikeouts. They walk a lot of batters and give up a lot of hits. I don't know what their FIP or xFIP numbers are, but they'd have to be pretty outstanding for me to consider the staff as a whole nothing more than mediocre.