Ricketts to Address Direction of Franchise Within 10 Days

[UMFan83]

Holy [expletive], people's obsessions with Crane Kenney are annoying.

 

So you want Crane Kenney and Gillick working side by side in the front office? I mean I'm not completely against that but I'd assume that they don't want to pay 2 people for pretty much the same position, even if Gillick is a pure baseball guy and Kenney is a purse business guy.

 

I think he was referring to the insistence on calling Kenney a cockroach.

 

He's survived 3 team presidents and 2 owners so I'd say he has cockroach-like qualities.

 

And there's plenty of room at the top of a sports team for a business executive and a baseball executive.

 

I mean yeah, there is definitely. But the Cubs have had one of the smallest front offices in baseball for awhile. Not sure if Ricketts has a desire to change that or not. Who knows.

[jersey cubs fan]

Holy [expletive], people's obsessions with Crane Kenney are annoying.

 

So you want Crane Kenney and Gillick working side by side in the front office? I mean I'm not completely against that but I'd assume that they don't want to pay 2 people for pretty much the same position, even if Gillick is a pure baseball guy and Kenney is a purse business guy.

 

I think he was referring to the insistence on calling Kenney a cockroach.

 

He's survived 3 team presidents and 2 owners so I'd say he has cockroach-like qualities.

 

And there's plenty of room at the top of a sports team for a business executive and a baseball executive.

 

I mean yeah, there is definitely. But the Cubs have had one of the smallest front offices in baseball for awhile. Not sure if Ricketts has a desire to change that or not. Who knows.

 

The guy has been atop the Cubs masthead shorter than Hendry. He was elavated to his current position after McDonough left.

[SouthSideRyan]

Holy [expletive], people's obsessions with Crane Kenney are annoying.

 

So you want Crane Kenney and Gillick working side by side in the front office? I mean I'm not completely against that but I'd assume that they don't want to pay 2 people for pretty much the same position, even if Gillick is a pure baseball guy and Kenney is a purse business guy.

 

I think he was referring to the insistence on calling Kenney a cockroach.

 

He's survived 3 team presidents and 2 owners so I'd say he has cockroach-like qualities.

 

So being employed by the same company for awhile (In different positions, working your way up through the years) makes one a cockroach? You want a cockroach in the organization, look at Fleita.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I just hope he gives us some idea how much he plans on doing in the offseason in regards to trades and FA so I can get some idea if I'm going to waste anther spring and summer of my life on them.

 

You're being sarcastic, right?

I'm just saying that if they will make some kind of announcement regarding what they plan on doing in the offseason. Will the be planning something big, or will they try to rebuild from within, because the fact is, i the 2012 team looks like the 2011 team plus a few middling free agents, I don't think I can follow a full season. I'd follow individual player stats such as Castro, Jackson, Cashner, and Garza as well as the farm, and when July rolls along, and they look like they're in contention, I'll hop on the bus there, but I have no intention of hanging on to every game from April-September for a team that looks like this one.

 

I'm at the point where I don't care what they do with Wrigley, and I don't care what they do in Mesa. I don't even care who the GM is for 2012. I care what they plan on doing when it comes to the team itself.

[Sammy Sofa]

I just hope he gives us some idea how much he plans on doing in the offseason in regards to trades and FA so I can get some idea if I'm going to waste anther spring and summer of my life on them.

 

You're being sarcastic, right?

I'm just saying that if they will make some kind of announcement regarding what they plan on doing in the offseason. Will the be planning something big, or will they try to rebuild from within, because the fact is, i the 2012 team looks like the 2011 team plus a few middling free agents, I don't think I can follow a full season. I'd follow individual player stats such as Castro, Jackson, Cashner, and Garza as well as the farm, and when July rolls along, and they look like they're in contention, I'll hop on the bus there, but I have no intention of hanging on to every game from April-September for a team that looks like this one.

 

I'm at the point where I don't care what they do with Wrigley, and I don't care what they do in Mesa. I don't even care who the GM is for 2012. I care what they plan on doing when it comes to the team itself.

 

You're expecting the owner of the team...in August...at a press conference...to lay out the team's potential trading and FA plans for the offseason?

[UMFan83]

Holy [expletive], people's obsessions with Crane Kenney are annoying.

 

So you want Crane Kenney and Gillick working side by side in the front office? I mean I'm not completely against that but I'd assume that they don't want to pay 2 people for pretty much the same position, even if Gillick is a pure baseball guy and Kenney is a purse business guy.

 

I think he was referring to the insistence on calling Kenney a cockroach.

 

He's survived 3 team presidents and 2 owners so I'd say he has cockroach-like qualities.

 

So being employed by the same company for awhile (In different positions, working your way up through the years) makes one a cockroach? You want a cockroach in the organization, look at Fleita.

 

No but usually when a new team president or owner takes over, they want to get their people in place after an evaluation period. Kenney has survived. And no doubt Hendry has survived even more than Kenney has. Not many GMs are able hire 3 managers in a 9 year period.

[SouthSideRyan]

Who are the 3 team presidents he's survived btw? The guy was a general counsel and senior VP with the Trib, he's had little to nothing to do with the team on the field, I just don't understand the vitriol.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I just hope he gives us some idea how much he plans on doing in the offseason in regards to trades and FA so I can get some idea if I'm going to waste anther spring and summer of my life on them.

 

You're being sarcastic, right?

I'm just saying that if they will make some kind of announcement regarding what they plan on doing in the offseason. Will the be planning something big, or will they try to rebuild from within, because the fact is, i the 2012 team looks like the 2011 team plus a few middling free agents, I don't think I can follow a full season. I'd follow individual player stats such as Castro, Jackson, Cashner, and Garza as well as the farm, and when July rolls along, and they look like they're in contention, I'll hop on the bus there, but I have no intention of hanging on to every game from April-September for a team that looks like this one.

 

I'm at the point where I don't care what they do with Wrigley, and I don't care what they do in Mesa. I don't even care who the GM is for 2012. I care what they plan on doing when it comes to the team itself.

 

You're expecting the owner of the team...in August...at a press conference...to lay out the team's potential trading and FA plans for the offseason?

 

Not the particulars, I don't expect him to say we will be pursuing Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols or CJ Wilson, but they could be able to give us an idea if they plan on doing some spending or if they plan to do more promoting from within.

[BeerHere]

Maybe some news on rebuilding Wrigley that doesn't require public funds. I'm sure he is going to highlight the amount spent on the draft. He needs to do something or he's staring a decreased attendance next year as well.

 

Wasn't it said somewhere that the scouting department is loyal to Hendry and if he goes so do they? If that is true then maybe the best option from Ricketts' standpoint is to move him out of the GM role and into something else....assuming he would take it. Maybe move him to the President role and bring in a new GM or something. I am guessing though.

 

Just my two cents.

[kujay]

Maybe some news on rebuilding Wrigley that doesn't require public funds. I'm sure he is going to highlight the amount spent on the draft. He needs to do something or he's staring a decreased attendance next year as well.

 

Wasn't it said somewhere that the scouting department is loyal to Hendry and if he goes so do they? If that is true then maybe the best option from Ricketts' standpoint is to move him out of the GM role and into something else....assuming he would take it. Maybe move him to the President role and bring in a new GM or something. I am guessing though.

 

Just my two cents.

 

That's what makes sense to me -- announce a mutually-agreed transition of Hendry from GM to a scouting role. It fits with him being on this tour of the minor league system with Ricketts.

[Sammy Sofa]

I just hope he gives us some idea how much he plans on doing in the offseason in regards to trades and FA so I can get some idea if I'm going to waste anther spring and summer of my life on them.

 

You're being sarcastic, right?

I'm just saying that if they will make some kind of announcement regarding what they plan on doing in the offseason. Will the be planning something big, or will they try to rebuild from within, because the fact is, i the 2012 team looks like the 2011 team plus a few middling free agents, I don't think I can follow a full season. I'd follow individual player stats such as Castro, Jackson, Cashner, and Garza as well as the farm, and when July rolls along, and they look like they're in contention, I'll hop on the bus there, but I have no intention of hanging on to every game from April-September for a team that looks like this one.

 

I'm at the point where I don't care what they do with Wrigley, and I don't care what they do in Mesa. I don't even care who the GM is for 2012. I care what they plan on doing when it comes to the team itself.

 

You're expecting the owner of the team...in August...at a press conference...to lay out the team's potential trading and FA plans for the offseason?

 

Not the particulars, I don't expect him to say we will be pursuing Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols or CJ Wilson, but they could be able to give us an idea if they plan on doing some spending or if they plan to do more promoting from within.

 

That's still a ridiculous expectation. He's not going to declare their offseason plans like that in August.

[WrigleyField 22]

This talk of making Hendry a scouting guy is ridiculous. I think Hendry would just walk. If we're gonna keep Hendry but get him out as GM, there is only one way, and its up.

[SouthSideRyan]

Wasn't it said somewhere that the scouting department is loyal to Hendry and if he goes so do they? If that is true then maybe the best option from Ricketts' standpoint is to move him out of the GM role and into something else....assuming he would take it. Maybe move him to the President role and bring in a new GM or something. I am guessing though.

 

 

I question how much that loyalty would hold up when push came to shove. It's easy to say this is my guy and I'm out if he is, but when you're staring at looking for a new job (and obviously none of those jobs would be to go work for Hendry), I'd predict a whole lot of backing down.

[SouthSideRyan]

This talk of making Hendry a scouting guy is ridiculous. I think Hendry would just walk. If we're gonna keep Hendry but get him out as GM, there is only one way, and its up.

 

Worked for Ed Lynch

[shnsajax]

How about announcing Pat Gillick as the team president?

[kujay]

This talk of making Hendry a scouting guy is ridiculous. I think Hendry would just walk. If we're gonna keep Hendry but get him out as GM, there is only one way, and its up.

 

He would just walk and, what, probably end up being a scouting guy somewhere else? He's not going to walk right into another GM job.

 

I guess if he went to another organization the chance would be there to get promoted up to GM.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Ricketts is going to name Big Z the new marketing and relations director for the Cubs

[UK1679666180]

Wasn't it said somewhere that the scouting department is loyal to Hendry and if he goes so do they? If that is true then maybe the best option from Ricketts' standpoint is to move him out of the GM role and into something else....assuming he would take it. Maybe move him to the President role and bring in a new GM or something. I am guessing though.

 

 

I question how much that loyalty would hold up when push came to shove. It's easy to say this is my guy and I'm out if he is, but when you're staring at looking for a new job (and obviously none of those jobs would be to go work for Hendry), I'd predict a whole lot of backing down.

 

That would come down to the new scouting director or Wilken, most scouts sign one and two year contracts. There are scouts in the organization that have been with Hendry since the Marlins but if your contract expires, the leverage isn't there. It would depend if Hendry became a GM or scouting director elsewhere and then he would clean house there and the current Cubs' scouts have another option but as much as they would like to stay, the odds of a new guy not bringing in a large chunk of his own guys is very small.

[erik316wttn]

I won't believe a word he actually says until I see results. I've heard it all far too many times to believe it again, sight unseen.

 

Where's Vance with his cat crap pics when you need them?

[jersey cubs fan]

I won't believe a word he actually says until I see results. I've heard it all far too many times to believe it again, sight unseen.

 

He said they were going to start with some upgrades to Wrigley, and they did. He said they were going to spend money to acquire prospects and they have. He said he was sticking with Hendry and he has for quite a while. What have you heard that he hasn't followed up on?

[UMFan83]

I won't believe a word he actually says until I see results. I've heard it all far too many times to believe it again, sight unseen.

 

He said they were going to start with some upgrades to Wrigley, and they did. He said they were going to spend money to acquire prospects and they have. He said he was sticking with Hendry and he has for quite a while. What have you heard that he hasn't followed up on?

 

I won't bail out on the team and go to Africa in the middle of baseball season.

 

/whichever poster put up a fuss about that

[J.R.]

I won't believe a word he actually says until I see results. I've heard it all far too many times to believe it again, sight unseen.

 

He said they were going to start with some upgrades to Wrigley, and they did. He said they were going to spend money to acquire prospects and they have. He said he was sticking with Hendry and he has for quite a while. What have you heard that he hasn't followed up on?

 

I won't bail out on the team and go to Africa in the middle of baseball season.

 

/whichever poster put up a fuss about that

 

That was me. I am glad he remained stateside this year.

[Post Count Padder]

How about announcing Pat Gillick as the team president?

That was my thinking, if there's going to be any kind of announcement.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I'd be really surprised if Hendry was fired. My guess is that it will be something along the lines of "We've made progress the last month or so....I'm encouraged by what I saw in the minor leagues...we just signed a great draft class...we're heading in the right direction."

 

This with MAYBE a Pat Gillick good news announcement.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-cubs-ricketts-pans-boises-minor-league-park-20110816,0,6001109.story

 

Maybe they are just going to move the short season team out of Boise.