By all means Mr. Rosenthal, lets give Hendry an extension.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

With the way our payroll situation has been the last few years, though, it has prevented us from doing things. The Cubs have had to make a trade here and there so they can make a free agent signing. With Fukudome's $13 million on the books, that restricted what they could do at times. They couldn't sign someone without trading some other parts of the team away.

 

A team like the Yanks just absorb a $13 million hit and spend $15 million more to cover it up.

Edited May 10, 2011 by Bryant's Disco Ball

[dew1679666265]

More so than albatrosses, Hendry just seems to nickel and dime too much, giving unnecessary money to the likes of Todd Hollandsworth, Neifi Perez, Aaron MIles, and John Grabow, when these are the types of role players you should be pulling from the farm system.

 

Yeah, contractually that's Hendry's biggest problem. With the exception of the Soriano deal, he's been pretty good about who he's signed to big money deals. The problem is, in the past, he's overpaid significantly for bullpen arms and bench players. That's been corrected the past couple of years and we'll see if that correction is by decision or by necessity as more money frees up.

[Guest]

Is O'Dowd still there? Because the Rockies have had a pretty kickass farm system (look at their core) and could very well win the pennant this year. I'd say that's a pretty decent job.

 

He's still there, starting his 13th year (1999 was his first season). With O'Dowd in charge, the Rockies have averaged 77 wins per year. In comparison, Hendry's Cubs have won 82 games per year on average.

 

It's probably impossible to actually measure the ability of GM's when they are working with completely different sets of tools. The Rockies are probably much more confined to how much money they can spend in the offseason and in the draft in comparison to the Cubs.

 

That's not to say O'Dowd is good. I just don't know how one can say Hendry is better than him when comparing the size of payrolls and overall ability to do much more than Colorado. O'Dowd has also had an ever increasing payroll year after year, but even at the highest point ($84m), it's $50m less than the Cubs payroll this year.

[dew1679666265]

With the way our payroll situation has been the last few years, though, it has prevented us from doing things. The Cubs have had to make a trade here and there so they can make a free agent signing. With Fukudome's $13 million on the books, that restricted what they could do at times. They couldn't sign someone without trading some other parts of the team away.

 

A team like the Yanks just absorb a $13 million hit and spend $15 million more to cover it up.

 

We could do what the Yankees do as well if our payroll was $100+ million more like theirs is. They've had their share of bad contracts, but they're much easier to hide on a $250+ million budget.

 

On Fukudome's deal, yes we could have made some other moves if we didn't have that $13 mil on the books, but that also takes away a productive player from the lineup - one we'd need to replace somehow. As CCP noted earlier, we've not had much farm help the past few years (because of poor farm management in the mid-2000s) so we've had to pay for nearly every player on the roster. Sometimes you have to overpay to get a productive player, and that's what the Cubs did with Fukudome. However, you need farm help to offset that overpayment and the Cubs haven't had that.

 

Now, however, there's a lot of guys in the minors who likely have good MLB careers in their future and should be up relatively soon (BJax, JJax, Vitters, McNutt, Castillo, etc). If Hendry and co make a concerted effort to fit them onto the roster then overpaying players like Kosuke a little won't be a big deal.

 

Hendry has done well to avoid the crippling albatrosses, though, and that's the point I was addressing.

[Guest]

More so than albatrosses, Hendry just seems to nickel and dime too much, giving unnecessary money to the likes of Todd Hollandsworth, Neifi Perez, Aaron MIles, and John Grabow, when these are the types of role players you should be pulling from the farm system.

The number of those contracts handed out by Hendry lately has been nearly nil.

 

We are filling the bench with young players and cheap veterans. The bullpen is almost entirely home grown at this point. Grabow is really the only bad role player contract on the team right now and I wouldn't be surprised if he's shipped off before the end of the season to be replaced internally.

 

Koyie Hill could be considered a bad contract, but it's probably better to have Castillo in the minors getting ab's anyway. And I have a feeling that with the glut of serviceable backup C's in the upper levels of the minors, Koyie's tenure with the team won't last all that much longer, anyway.

 

A lot of the traditional criticisms of Hendry have been addressed the past few years.

 

The plan for next year is pretty easy: put Pujols at 1B, a placeholder at 3B if Aramis doesn't pick up the pace and put Brett Jackson in the OF in Kosuke's role. The bullpen is pretty well set already, but Chris Carpenter will take Grabow's place and be another realistic late inning option. The big question is Dempster's spot in the rotation. We should have enough money to go out and sign a starter in addition to bringing in Pujols, but McNutt might also be ready for the role at that point. We should also have the assets to make a bold move for someone like King Felix if Seattle decides to shop him.

 

Frankly, I wouldn't mind extending Hendry at this point to a very modest extension - say, 1-2 years - and letting him continue the current process. I certainly wouldn't mind a new GM, either, but I'd be very nervous about the hire. I'd also be nervous about it impacting the signing of Pujols or Prince, which is easily the most important thing this team has to get done in the next few years.

[dew1679666265]

It's probably impossible to actually measure the ability of GM's when they are working with completely different sets of tools. The Rockies are probably much more confined to how much money they can spend in the offseason and in the draft in comparison to the Cubs.

 

That's not to say O'Dowd is good. I just don't know how one can say Hendry is better than him when comparing the size of payrolls and overall ability to do much more than Colorado. O'Dowd has also had an ever increasing payroll year after year, but even at the highest point ($84m), it's $50m less than the Cubs payroll this year.

 

That's the subjectivity of involved when making statements that Hendry is a "bottom 10" GM or that he's an average GM. There's no way to truly quantify that, as there are so many factors involved in it. I wasn't arguing there that Hendry was better because his teams won more, I simply thought people would be interested in the comparison.

 

My thoughts on a GM change are that, as a fan, I don't yet know enough about the Ricketts' philosophy to tell whether they'd make a better hire at the GM spot than Hendry is. Because of that, I'm ok with keeping Hendry if the alternative is Ned Colletti, Ed Wade or someone similar. However, I'm not opposed to making a change if a good hire is made in return. There simply aren't that many truly good GMs out there and the likelihood of non-baseball people like the Ricketts finding one are pretty slim. That's why I like UK's idea of bringing in a consultant type person, or even putting a baseball guy in Kenney's position, to lead the search for a new GM. I'd feel much more confident about a good hire being made if someone like Stan Kasten or Sandy Alderson were leading the search rather than the Ricketts and Crane Kenney.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

More so than albatrosses, Hendry just seems to nickel and dime too much, giving unnecessary money to the likes of Todd Hollandsworth, Neifi Perez, Aaron MIles, and John Grabow, when these are the types of role players you should be pulling from the farm system.

The number of those contracts handed out by Hendry lately has been nearly nil.

 

We are filling the bench with young players and cheap veterans. The bullpen is almost entirely home grown at this point. Grabow is really the only bad role player contract on the team right now and I wouldn't be surprised if he's shipped off before the end of the season to be replaced internally.

 

Koyie Hill could be considered a bad contract, but it's probably better to have Castillo in the minors getting ab's anyway. And I have a feeling that with the glut of serviceable backup C's in the upper levels of the minors, Koyie's tenure with the team won't last all that much longer, anyway.

 

A lot of the traditional criticisms of Hendry have been addressed the past few years.

 

The plan for next year is pretty easy: put Pujols at 1B, a placeholder at 3B if Aramis doesn't pick up the pace and put Brett Jackson in the OF in Kosuke's role. The bullpen is pretty well set already, but Chris Carpenter will take Grabow's place and be another realistic late inning option. The big question is Dempster's spot in the rotation. We should have enough money to go out and sign a starter in addition to bringing in Pujols, but McNutt might also be ready for the role at that point. We should also have the assets to make a bold move for someone like King Felix if Seattle decides to shop him.

 

Frankly, I wouldn't mind extending Hendry at this point to a very modest extension - say, 1-2 years - and letting him continue the current process. I certainly wouldn't mind a new GM, either, but I'd be very nervous about the hire. I'd also be nervous about it impacting the signing of Pujols or Prince, which is easily the most important thing this team has to get done in the next few years.

 

Tim,

 

Don't the Cubs have Dempster signed for one more year after this one?

[dew1679666265]

I'd also be nervous about it impacting the signing of Pujols or Prince, which is easily the most important thing this team has to get done in the next few years.

 

That's a good point. I'd wonder if a GM search would hurt our ability to go get Pujols and you're really limiting your options if you commit to making a hire during the season. If the choice is having Hendry for 1-2 more years and Pujols for 10 or having a new GM for 5 years and no Pujols, I'd take the former.

[dew1679666265]

Don't the Cubs have Dempster signed for one more year after this one?

 

Maybe. He has a $14 million player option for 2012. If he ends up having another good season, he may refuse the option to look for a 3/30 or 3/39 type deal.

[Guest]

Don't the Cubs have Dempster signed for one more year after this one?

 

Maybe. He has a $14 million player option for 2012. If he ends up having another good season, he may refuse the option to look for a 3/30 or 3/39 type deal.

If Demp exercises the option, then we're pretty much stuck with the rotation unless we trade someone out of there.

[CubColtPacer]

Don't the Cubs have Dempster signed for one more year after this one?

 

Maybe. He has a $14 million player option for 2012. If he ends up having another good season, he may refuse the option to look for a 3/30 or 3/39 type deal.

If Demp exercises the option, then we're pretty much stuck with the rotation unless we trade someone out of there.

 

Which is fine IMO. I wouldn't mind having the same rotation back next year especially if Cashner and Wells come back and pitch well.

 

My biggest worry for the offseason is what Hendry does for 3B. Otherwise, I see a very nice plan coming together and the Cubs are really starting to be in good shape for the future. Soriano staying pretty good for the next year or two would be a nice bonus.

[Tarver]

More so than albatrosses, Hendry just seems to nickel and dime too much, giving unnecessary money to the likes of Todd Hollandsworth, Neifi Perez, Aaron MIles, and John Grabow, when these are the types of role players you should be pulling from the farm system.

The number of those contracts handed out by Hendry lately has been nearly nil.

 

We are filling the bench with young players and cheap veterans. The bullpen is almost entirely home grown at this point. Grabow is really the only bad role player contract on the team right now and I wouldn't be surprised if he's shipped off before the end of the season to be replaced internally.

 

Koyie Hill could be considered a bad contract, but it's probably better to have Castillo in the minors getting ab's anyway. And I have a feeling that with the glut of serviceable backup C's in the upper levels of the minors, Koyie's tenure with the team won't last all that much longer, anyway.

 

A lot of the traditional criticisms of Hendry have been addressed the past few years.

 

The plan for next year is pretty easy: put Pujols at 1B, a placeholder at 3B if Aramis doesn't pick up the pace and put Brett Jackson in the OF in Kosuke's role. The bullpen is pretty well set already, but Chris Carpenter will take Grabow's place and be another realistic late inning option. The big question is Dempster's spot in the rotation. We should have enough money to go out and sign a starter in addition to bringing in Pujols, but McNutt might also be ready for the role at that point. We should also have the assets to make a bold move for someone like King Felix if Seattle decides to shop him.

 

Frankly, I wouldn't mind extending Hendry at this point to a very modest extension - say, 1-2 years - and letting him continue the current process. I certainly wouldn't mind a new GM, either, but I'd be very nervous about the hire. I'd also be nervous about it impacting the signing of Pujols or Prince, which is easily the most important thing this team has to get done in the next few years.

 

You have to be kidding. Two more years just because the next guy may be worse? Fear is a terrible way to run a business.

 

By this rationale we may as well keep the FO intact forever.

[SouthSideRyan]

It's a lot more important for the future of the Cubs that they sign a stud 1B than fire their GM. Like I said earlier, whoever is the GM come a few days before free agency begins, sure as hell better be the GM throughout the offseason.

[Guest]

More so than albatrosses, Hendry just seems to nickel and dime too much, giving unnecessary money to the likes of Todd Hollandsworth, Neifi Perez, Aaron MIles, and John Grabow, when these are the types of role players you should be pulling from the farm system.

The number of those contracts handed out by Hendry lately has been nearly nil.

 

We are filling the bench with young players and cheap veterans. The bullpen is almost entirely home grown at this point. Grabow is really the only bad role player contract on the team right now and I wouldn't be surprised if he's shipped off before the end of the season to be replaced internally.

 

Koyie Hill could be considered a bad contract, but it's probably better to have Castillo in the minors getting ab's anyway. And I have a feeling that with the glut of serviceable backup C's in the upper levels of the minors, Koyie's tenure with the team won't last all that much longer, anyway.

 

A lot of the traditional criticisms of Hendry have been addressed the past few years.

 

The plan for next year is pretty easy: put Pujols at 1B, a placeholder at 3B if Aramis doesn't pick up the pace and put Brett Jackson in the OF in Kosuke's role. The bullpen is pretty well set already, but Chris Carpenter will take Grabow's place and be another realistic late inning option. The big question is Dempster's spot in the rotation. We should have enough money to go out and sign a starter in addition to bringing in Pujols, but McNutt might also be ready for the role at that point. We should also have the assets to make a bold move for someone like King Felix if Seattle decides to shop him.

 

Frankly, I wouldn't mind extending Hendry at this point to a very modest extension - say, 1-2 years - and letting him continue the current process. I certainly wouldn't mind a new GM, either, but I'd be very nervous about the hire. I'd also be nervous about it impacting the signing of Pujols or Prince, which is easily the most important thing this team has to get done in the next few years.

 

You have to be kidding. Two more years just because the next guy may be worse? Fear is a terrible way to run a business.

 

By this rationale we may as well keep the FO intact forever.

You obviously didn't comprehend the post if that's what you got out of it.

 

1) Hendry has corrected many of his past faults

2) He has the team well positioned to be elite with the addition of a Pujols or Fielder

3) This offseason has that one critical transaction that I don't want interrupted due to a change in leadership

4) LASTLY, I'm concerned that with Hendry correcting many of the faults that previously led him astray, the next GM would be worse than the one we have. If you don't feel this is a concern, can you name a surefire elite GM who is available for hire?

[Guest]

Which reminds me, what is the purpose of Crain Kenneys existance? Even the name agitates me.

 

To stay out of the way of the baseball side of things. Also, would it irritate you less if his name was Crane?

 

On Hendry, I like what CCP and Tim have said here. The last 2 years the team's big problem has been a lack of a superstar, and that just isn't all that easy to address, especially with the contractural situation Hendry put himself in. If you believe that Hendry has made some strides in learning from his mistakes(as has been documented in this thread as well), then there are definitely worse things than letting him try to finish off the plan that CCP articulated. That's not an irrational fear of something different, it's a belief that Hendry should be evaluated on the progress he's made; not in the win column, but in his decision making that will drive future win totals.

[Tarver]

More so than albatrosses, Hendry just seems to nickel and dime too much, giving unnecessary money to the likes of Todd Hollandsworth, Neifi Perez, Aaron MIles, and John Grabow, when these are the types of role players you should be pulling from the farm system.

The number of those contracts handed out by Hendry lately has been nearly nil.

 

We are filling the bench with young players and cheap veterans. The bullpen is almost entirely home grown at this point. Grabow is really the only bad role player contract on the team right now and I wouldn't be surprised if he's shipped off before the end of the season to be replaced internally.

 

Koyie Hill could be considered a bad contract, but it's probably better to have Castillo in the minors getting ab's anyway. And I have a feeling that with the glut of serviceable backup C's in the upper levels of the minors, Koyie's tenure with the team won't last all that much longer, anyway.

 

A lot of the traditional criticisms of Hendry have been addressed the past few years.

 

The plan for next year is pretty easy: put Pujols at 1B, a placeholder at 3B if Aramis doesn't pick up the pace and put Brett Jackson in the OF in Kosuke's role. The bullpen is pretty well set already, but Chris Carpenter will take Grabow's place and be another realistic late inning option. The big question is Dempster's spot in the rotation. We should have enough money to go out and sign a starter in addition to bringing in Pujols, but McNutt might also be ready for the role at that point. We should also have the assets to make a bold move for someone like King Felix if Seattle decides to shop him.

 

Frankly, I wouldn't mind extending Hendry at this point to a very modest extension - say, 1-2 years - and letting him continue the current process. I certainly wouldn't mind a new GM, either, but I'd be very nervous about the hire. I'd also be nervous about it impacting the signing of Pujols or Prince, which is easily the most important thing this team has to get done in the next few years.

 

You have to be kidding. Two more years just because the next guy may be worse? Fear is a terrible way to run a business.

 

By this rationale we may as well keep the FO intact forever.

You obviously didn't comprehend the post if that's what you got out of it.

 

1) Hendry has corrected many of his past faults

2) He has the team well positioned to be elite with the addition of a Pujols or Fielder

3) This offseason has that one critical transaction that I don't want interrupted due to a change in leadership

4) LASTLY, I'm concerned that with Hendry correcting many of the faults that previously led him astray, the next GM would be worse than the one we have. If you don't feel this is a concern, can you name a surefire elite GM who is available for hire?

 

1) A bold assumption

2) Another one

3) A valid point

4) This sounds like something Al Yellon would say. I understand if you have relationships with these people because of your website and don't begrudge you if you feel the need to defend them, but don't expect fans with less access to want change.

 

Like I said, he wouldn't have survived this long in any other major market.

[Tarver]

Which reminds me, what is the purpose of Crain Kenneys existance? Even the name agitates me.

 

To stay out of the way of the baseball side of things. Also, would it irritate you less if his name was Crane?

 

On Hendry, I like what CCP and Tim have said here. The last 2 years the team's big problem has been a lack of a superstar, and that just isn't all that easy to address, especially with the contractural situation Hendry put himself in. If you believe that Hendry has made some strides in learning from his mistakes(as has been documented in this thread as well), then there are definitely worse things than letting him try to finish off the plan that CCP articulated. That's not an irrational fear of something different, it's a belief that Hendry should be evaluated on the progress he's made; not in the win column, but in his decision making that will drive future win totals.

 

But was this "improvement" planned or just a result of painting himself into a corner?

[javy knows my name]

Which reminds me, what is the purpose of Crain Kenneys existance? Even the name agitates me.

 

To stay out of the way of the baseball side of things. Also, would it irritate you less if his name was Crane?

 

I love this. So much burn in so few words.

[Guest]

Which reminds me, what is the purpose of Crain Kenneys existance? Even the name agitates me.

 

To stay out of the way of the baseball side of things. Also, would it irritate you less if his name was Crane?

 

On Hendry, I like what CCP and Tim have said here. The last 2 years the team's big problem has been a lack of a superstar, and that just isn't all that easy to address, especially with the contractural situation Hendry put himself in. If you believe that Hendry has made some strides in learning from his mistakes(as has been documented in this thread as well), then there are definitely worse things than letting him try to finish off the plan that CCP articulated. That's not an irrational fear of something different, it's a belief that Hendry should be evaluated on the progress he's made; not in the win column, but in his decision making that will drive future win totals.

 

But was this "improvement" planned or just a result of painting himself into a corner?

 

He didn't have to sign a 1B to only a 1 year deal. He could've easily kept Cashner out of the rotation. He could've brought in a re-tread 2B. He has Wilken producing quality players for him now. It's not to say that he'll be flawless, but every GM is going to make the occasional decision that irritates everyone.

[Rob]

4) LASTLY, I'm concerned that with Hendry correcting many of the faults that previously led him astray, the next GM would be worse than the one we have. If you don't feel this is a concern, can you name a surefire elite GM who is available for hire?

 

4) This sounds like something Al Yellon would say. I understand if you have relationships with these people because of your website and don't begrudge you if you feel the need to defend them, but don't expect fans with less access to want change.

 

Like I said, he wouldn't have survived this long in any other major market.

 

Change for the sake of change is an awful idea. There needs to be somebody out there that's better then Hendry and is likely to be available for it to make any sense at all to fire him. Is it really so crazy to think a full one-step ahead?

[Backtobanks]

More so than albatrosses, Hendry just seems to nickel and dime too much, giving unnecessary money to the likes of Todd Hollandsworth, Neifi Perez, Aaron MIles, and John Grabow, when these are the types of role players you should be pulling from the farm system.

The number of those contracts handed out by Hendry lately has been nearly nil.

 

We are filling the bench with young players and cheap veterans. The bullpen is almost entirely home grown at this point. Grabow is really the only bad role player contract on the team right now and I wouldn't be surprised if he's shipped off before the end of the season to be replaced internally.

 

Koyie Hill could be considered a bad contract, but it's probably better to have Castillo in the minors getting ab's anyway. And I have a feeling that with the glut of serviceable backup C's in the upper levels of the minors, Koyie's tenure with the team won't last all that much longer, anyway.

 

A lot of the traditional criticisms of Hendry have been addressed the past few years.

 

The plan for next year is pretty easy: put Pujols at 1B, a placeholder at 3B if Aramis doesn't pick up the pace and put Brett Jackson in the OF in Kosuke's role. The bullpen is pretty well set already, but Chris Carpenter will take Grabow's place and be another realistic late inning option. The big question is Dempster's spot in the rotation. We should have enough money to go out and sign a starter in addition to bringing in Pujols, but McNutt might also be ready for the role at that point. We should also have the assets to make a bold move for someone like King Felix if Seattle decides to shop him.

 

Frankly, I wouldn't mind extending Hendry at this point to a very modest extension - say, 1-2 years - and letting him continue the current process. I certainly wouldn't mind a new GM, either, but I'd be very nervous about the hire. I'd also be nervous about it impacting the signing of Pujols or Prince, which is easily the most important thing this team has to get done in the next few years.

 

You have to be kidding. Two more years just because the next guy may be worse? Fear is a terrible way to run a business.

 

By this rationale we may as well keep the FO intact forever.

You obviously didn't comprehend the post if that's what you got out of it.

 

1) Hendry has corrected many of his past faults

2) He has the team well positioned to be elite with the addition of a Pujols or Fielder

3) This offseason has that one critical transaction that I don't want interrupted due to a change in leadership

4) LASTLY, I'm concerned that with Hendry correcting many of the faults that previously led him astray, the next GM would be worse than the one we have. If you don't feel this is a concern, can you name a surefire elite GM who is available for hire?

 

Tim, I enjoyed your posts because they explained everything in a calm, rational manner instead of the posters who are blinded by hate for Hendry. As for the posters who wonder what a low-budget GM (Beane or Moore) could do with Hendry's budget, they might be surprised to find that their strength might come from finding value in players to produce in a low expectation, small market city and not in a high expectation, major market, media driven city.

[Little Slide Rooter]

More so than albatrosses, Hendry just seems to nickel and dime too much, giving unnecessary money to the likes of Todd Hollandsworth, Neifi Perez, Aaron MIles, and John Grabow, when these are the types of role players you should be pulling from the farm system.

The number of those contracts handed out by Hendry lately has been nearly nil.

 

We are filling the bench with young players and cheap veterans. The bullpen is almost entirely home grown at this point. Grabow is really the only bad role player contract on the team right now and I wouldn't be surprised if he's shipped off before the end of the season to be replaced internally.

 

Koyie Hill could be considered a bad contract, but it's probably better to have Castillo in the minors getting ab's anyway. And I have a feeling that with the glut of serviceable backup C's in the upper levels of the minors, Koyie's tenure with the team won't last all that much longer, anyway.

 

A lot of the traditional criticisms of Hendry have been addressed the past few years.

 

The plan for next year is pretty easy: put Pujols at 1B, a placeholder at 3B if Aramis doesn't pick up the pace and put Brett Jackson in the OF in Kosuke's role. The bullpen is pretty well set already, but Chris Carpenter will take Grabow's place and be another realistic late inning option. The big question is Dempster's spot in the rotation. We should have enough money to go out and sign a starter in addition to bringing in Pujols, but McNutt might also be ready for the role at that point. We should also have the assets to make a bold move for someone like King Felix if Seattle decides to shop him.

 

Frankly, I wouldn't mind extending Hendry at this point to a very modest extension - say, 1-2 years - and letting him continue the current process. I certainly wouldn't mind a new GM, either, but I'd be very nervous about the hire. I'd also be nervous about it impacting the signing of Pujols or Prince, which is easily the most important thing this team has to get done in the next few years.

 

If it was that easy, it would be super, but I dont think theres anybody out there who thinks for a moment that even if the Cards dont get him locked up, which I still think they will that he'll be the Cubs for the taking. There will be plenty of teams lining up. This is a guy who will be able to turn pretty much any team into a contender, not only that, but get him into a major market, and he also likely becomes quite profitable.

[dew1679666265]

1) A bold assumption

2) Another one

3) A valid point

4) This sounds like something Al Yellon would say. I understand if you have relationships with these people because of your website and don't begrudge you if you feel the need to defend them, but don't expect fans with less access to want change.

 

Like I said, he wouldn't have survived this long in any other major market.

 

Change for the sake of change is a bad idea, generally. If the Ricketts have a particular candidate or two in mind who they feel are clear improvements over Hendry and feel those candidates are attainable, then letting him go is the right decision. However, if the idea is to fire him and then go on a blind GM search that may take half the offseason, the chances of finding a better GM than Hendry are pretty low given the very small number of good GMs out there.

 

From my perspective, I don't know what the Ricketts consider a "good candidate" for the job. If they consider Ned Colletti and Dave Littlefield to be "good candidates" then I'd rather we keep Hendry. Before I wholeheartedly agree with making a change at GM, I want to know more about the type of GM the Ricketts will target.

[dew1679666265]

But was this "improvement" planned or just a result of painting himself into a corner?

 

We won't know for sure until more money is freed up, but it does line up well with the philosophy Ricketts espoused when he bought the club.

[Abe Frohman]

Wood was an expensive injury risk and they sold high on DeRosa. Neither would have "saved" 2009. Most of the key offensive players from 2008 (Lee, Aramis, Soto, Soriano) were retained.

 

And what does this even mean?

 

DeRosa should have been respected more.

 

How was he disrespected?

 

Look, the DeRosa trade worked out great for the Cubs since they did sell high - but the mentality that he was just the odd man out in a lineup that needed to get "Left handed" was still a stupid notion because it got the Cubs the Milton Bradley/Carlos Silva contract that is now wasted money. DeRosa was basically replaced by Bradley, was he not?

 

Yes, DeRosa was traded for Archer and 2 other prospects that led to the Cubs acquiring Matt Garza (who may or may not prove to be a good signing for a LOT of prospects who may or may not be better), but my point is that DeRosa WAS a solid player who was a big part of a good team. Hindsight proves that the trading of DeRosa led to good things, but it was bad reasoning, IMO.

 

My point is weak, but it IS a point. It is related to wasted money on bums like Silva and Bradley, and bad decisions by the Cubs front office. Not to mention, Rich Hill was supposedly the "untouchable" that would have gotten the Cubs Brian Roberts - but not adding him to the pot supposedly killed the deal. Look at the Orioles now, as all of those pieces are playing for them (whether good or really bad), and no Brian Roberts!

 

In addition - I could be wrong, but I seem to remember Wood wanting to stay with the Cubs but they didn't want to take his offer on a home town discount. Didn't Hendry even get quoted saying that he deserves a big deal, despite Wood saying he would sign a one year deal with the Cubs?

Edited May 10, 2011 by Abe Frohman