Pat Gillick

[dfnowak]

I would hope/assume he's being diplomatic. It's not like he's going to be talking about cleaning house at this point.

I hope so too, but I heard the interview and it seemed like a genuine answer.

 

As opposed to what? Was he flat-out asked about Hendry?

Yes, he was asked specifically about whether he would see Hendry as his General Manager if he were in a President-type position with the Cubs and he said something to the effect of he would "see no reason not to keep Hendry" as the GM and went on to praise Hendry for his knowledge and past success. It wasn't the typical "we would have to assess the situation and determine what is best for the future of the team" type answer.

 

It doesn't mean he would keep Hendry if he were hired as Team President

[Irrelevant Dude]

I would hope/assume he's being diplomatic. It's not like he's going to be talking about cleaning house at this point.

I hope so too, but I heard the interview and it seemed like a genuine answer.

 

As opposed to what? Was he flat-out asked about Hendry?

Yes, he was asked specifically about whether he would see Hendry as his General Manager if he were in a President-type position with the Cubs and he said something to the effect of he would "see no reason not to keep Hendry" as the GM and went on to praise Hendry for his knowledge and past success. It wasn't the typical "we would have to assess the situation and determine what is best for the future of the team" type answer.

 

It doesn't mean he would keep Hendry if he were hired as Team President

No it doesn't, but he was rather convincing, so I have my doubts.

[SouthSideRyan]

Yeah if he's in talks to become Team President, he's not going to publicly say the GM should be gone, it'd be pretty amateur, and if he's not in talks to become team president, he's certainly not going to publicly deride somebody who's part of the fraternity.

[Sammy Sofa]

I would hope/assume he's being diplomatic. It's not like he's going to be talking about cleaning house at this point.

I hope so too, but I heard the interview and it seemed like a genuine answer.

 

As opposed to what? Was he flat-out asked about Hendry?

Yes, he was asked specifically about whether he would see Hendry as his General Manager if he were in a President-type position with the Cubs and he said something to the effect of he would "see no reason not to keep Hendry" as the GM and went on to praise Hendry for his knowledge and past success. It wasn't the typical "we would have to assess the situation and determine what is best for the future of the team" type answer.

 

That's not necessarily the "typical" answer you think it is. That's the typical answer you often get from someone already in place in an organization that's going to be making decisions about someone's future. That's not the typical answer from someone who is just a reported candidate for a position and hasn't even gotten the job yet. It would be pretty arrogant and bush league if he was giving the typical "I'm the boss and have to be diplomatic" answer when he's not even the boss yet.

[MSG T]

I would hope/assume he's being diplomatic. It's not like he's going to be talking about cleaning house at this point.

 

I'd hope that's what he's doing, just can't always tell without knowing the context of what was asked.

[Tarver]

This is likely all much ado about nothing. I can't imagine a scenario that allows Hendry to keep his job. It'd be impossible to spin it to fans at this point.

[Sammy Sofa]

It's pretty easy to tell. It's not like there are a ton of examples of candidates for president or GM positions who openly slam the current "administration" of the team that's potentially going to hire them.

[CyHawk_Cub]

This is likely all much ado about nothing. I can't imagine a scenario that allows Hendry to keep his job. It'd be impossible to spin it to fans at this point.

 

Do most ticket-buying fans even know who Jim Hendry is? Based on my trips to Wrigley, I'm guessing not.

[SouthSideRyan]

This is likely all much ado about nothing. I can't imagine a scenario that allows Hendry to keep his job. It'd be impossible to spin it to fans at this point.

 

Do most ticket-buying fans even know who Jim Hendry is? Based on my trips to Wrigley, I'm guessing not.

 

Pretty sure your perception is inaccurate.

[Sammy Sofa]

This is likely all much ado about nothing. I can't imagine a scenario that allows Hendry to keep his job. It'd be impossible to spin it to fans at this point.

 

Do most ticket-buying fans even know who Jim Hendry is? Based on my trips to Wrigley, I'm guessing not.

 

Of course they do. Hendry is a well-known scapegoat courtesy of even the hackiest sports radio schlubs, local sports journalists and the hellbeast David Kaplan. Hell, he's brought up all the time by and Len & Bob and Ron/Keith & Pat. A Cubs fan would have to be in a coma or dead to not know who he is.

[Soul]

This is likely all much ado about nothing. I can't imagine a scenario that allows Hendry to keep his job. It'd be impossible to spin it to fans at this point.

 

Well I could say something right now but N&G would get upset because it's melodramatic.

[Sammy Sofa]

Glad you've come to your senses.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The Gillick talk makes me very hopeful, for the simple fact that he likely wpuldnt come out of retirement in any capacity to work with a team in full rebuild that he didn't feel had a chance to win. Remember, whoever is the manager nag GM when the Cubs finally win it all wins some great bragging rights.

[Tracer Bullet]

I would hope/assume he's being diplomatic. It's not like he's going to be talking about cleaning house at this point.

I hope so too, but I heard the interview and it seemed like a genuine answer.

 

As opposed to what? Was he flat-out asked about Hendry?

Yes, he was asked specifically about whether he would see Hendry as his General Manager if he were in a President-type position with the Cubs and he said something to the effect of he would "see no reason not to keep Hendry" as the GM and went on to praise Hendry for his knowledge and past success. It wasn't the typical "we would have to assess the situation and determine what is best for the future of the team" type answer.

 

That's a great answer from a guy in Gillick's shoes.

[Ballgame64]

FWIW...According to Bob Nightengale who was on 670AM's Hit and Run Sunday morning (7/31/2011), someone who knows Gillick said that Gillick only wants to go to a team that has a chance to win quickly and he doesn't want anything to do with trying to clean up a mess like the Cubs.

 

I'd like to think a lot of these guys have big egos and would love to be the guy running the Cubs when they win the World Series.

[daske17]

FWIW...According to Bob Nightengale who was on 670AM's Hit and Run Sunday morning (7/31/2011), someone who knows Gillick said that Gillick only wants to go to a team that has a chance to win quickly and he doesn't want anything to do with trying to clean up a mess like the Cubs.

 

I'd like to think a lot of these guys have big egos and would love to be the guy running the Cubs when they win the World Series.

 

He's also been around long enough to watch the Cubs chew up and spit out those same men. I believe Gillick can see what a challenge this organization is and would want no part of it.

[jersey cubs fan]

FWIW...According to Bob Nightengale who was on 670AM's Hit and Run Sunday morning (7/31/2011), someone who knows Gillick said that Gillick only wants to go to a team that has a chance to win quickly and he doesn't want anything to do with trying to clean up a mess like the Cubs.

 

I'd like to think a lot of these guys have big egos and would love to be the guy running the Cubs when they win the World Series.

 

He's also been around long enough to watch the Cubs chew up and spit out those same men. I believe Gillick can see what a challenge this organization is and would want no part of it.

 

Who are all these men? Dallas Green? He landed on his feet. Andy MacPhail went from GM prodigy to Cubs team president and is now Baltimore's boss. He hasn't exactly been ruined. The Cubs have given a former gym teacher, Jim Hendry, an opportunity for widespread respect in the baseball world that has seemingly been untarnished by his failures with the team. I can't imagine any self respecting baseball executive thinking the Cubs are too much of a challenge. They've had incredible front office stabilty for 2 decades and financially secure non-meddling owners.

[Backtobanks]

FWIW...According to Bob Nightengale who was on 670AM's Hit and Run Sunday morning (7/31/2011), someone who knows Gillick said that Gillick only wants to go to a team that has a chance to win quickly and he doesn't want anything to do with trying to clean up a mess like the Cubs.

 

I'd like to think a lot of these guys have big egos and would love to be the guy running the Cubs when they win the World Series.

 

He's also been around long enough to watch the Cubs chew up and spit out those same men. I believe Gillick can see what a challenge this organization is and would want no part of it.

 

If I was Gillick, I would seriously consider the Cubs' job (as team president). First, I would make sure that Ricketts would guarantee that I make whatever moves are necessary to improve the team. Second, I would get a firm committment as to the money available for 2012 and 2013. Basically, he's got no place to go but up. As others have pointed out, money spent wisely and a few breaks could easily make Gillick look good.

[SouthSideRyan]

And if the Cubs did "chew up and spit out" these guys, what exactly is it going to do to Gillick? He won't be able to find another job at the age of 78? They'll take away his HOF plaque?

[Little Slide Rooter]

And if the Cubs did "chew up and spit out" these guys, what exactly is it going to do to Gillick? He won't be able to find another job at the age of 78? They'll take away his HOF plaque?

 

Ever see the episode of the Simpsons where Homers long lost rich and successful brother comes to town, and Homers bufoonery ends up costing him everything? Something like that.

[SouthSideRyan]

Well then somebody needs to show him the next year's episode where he gets all his money back.

 

STOP SAFARING AND GETYOURSELF SOME DVDS MR RICKETTS

[Brett]

FWIW...According to Bob Nightengale who was on 670AM's Hit and Run Sunday morning (7/31/2011), someone who knows Gillick said that Gillick only wants to go to a team that has a chance to win quickly and he doesn't want anything to do with trying to clean up a mess like the Cubs.

 

I'd like to think a lot of these guys have big egos and would love to be the guy running the Cubs when they win the World Series.

 

He's also been around long enough to watch the Cubs chew up and spit out those same men. I believe Gillick can see what a challenge this organization is and would want no part of it.

 

You could have just as easily written, "I believe Gillick can see what a challenge this organization is and would want a chance to be the hero."