Hendry on the Score Today

[tspain]

The Score had Jim Hendry on to talk about the DuBois trade. He had some interesting comments on several items:

 

Said Gerut was a better piece of the puzzle right now than DuBois, because he has had success in the major leagues. Can play all 3 outfield positions, although is NOT a center fielder.

 

Laughed when asked about the Patterson rumor to the Yankees. Said Corey was a Cub.

 

Said Pie would have been up before Greenberg is he had not been injured, but it would be unfair to be out for several weeks and then brought up at age 20. Means he probably won't be up until September call-ups the way it sounds.

 

Said without setting a date that we are close to getting Nomar back and Williamson in the pen. Thinks those will be big for the team.

 

Is still looking for any pieces that will make the team better, whether a little bit better, or a whole lot better.

 

Then the Score had on an Announcer of the Indians who said Gerut is not the same player as he was in '03. Has not come back from his knee injury and surgery to where he was then. And didn't know if he ever would. So the Score guys were talking about whether or not we got damaged goods.

[AAApittsburgh]

Said Pie would have been up before Greenberg is he had not been injured, but it would be unfair to be out for several weeks and then brought up at age 20. Means he probably won't be up until September call-ups the way it sounds.

Ugh. Why? Cubs=very dumb. :x

[goonys evil twin]

For what it's worth, Tom Verducci was on Mike and the Mad Dog today. They went through most teams needs, and they mentioned the Cubs are desperate for a closer. Desperate. Mike also talked about Corey to the Yanks, although Verduch said something to the effect of "the Cubs won't trade him now with his value so low."

[E.J.]

I guess the Cubs learned nothing from rushing Patterson. Might as well rush up Pie as well. :x

[YearofDaCubs]

For what it's worth, Tom Verducci was on Mike and the Mad Dog today. They went through most teams needs, and they mentioned the Cubs are desperate for a closer. Desperate. Mike also talked about Corey to the Yanks, although Verduch said something to the effect of "the Cubs won't trade him now with his value so low."

Maybe we are desparate for a RP but not a closer since Dempster has been great so far. THey just replayed the interview 2 seconds ago. BTW, Hendry agrees on having Walker in the 2 spot.

[imb]

For what it's worth, Tom Verducci was on Mike and the Mad Dog today. They went through most teams needs, and they mentioned the Cubs are desperate for a closer. Desperate. Mike also talked about Corey to the Yanks, although Verduch said something to the effect of "the Cubs won't trade him now with his value so low."

 

What? Why? Dempster has been pretty good so far.

[SouthSideRyan]

How are the Cubs desperate for a closer?

[erik316wttn]

We are certianly NOT "desperate" for a closer. We shouldn't even be looking for one. Dempster is doing quite well, and the job should be his until he proves that he can't do it anymore.

 

Just because he isn't named "Hoffman" or "Gagne" doesn't mean he isn't good. I'm tired of this "we need a closer" crap. What kind of precedent does that send to the player?

 

"Yeah, you've done the job well and you've done everything we asked you to, and you've been one of the best since we gave you the job, but we found someone who we think is better, so hit the bricks."

 

Yeah, that'll really motivate players who we give opportunities, or will really make them want to come here.

[Neuby]

if the cubs went out and traded for anyone not named wagner, guys like Baez ,Guardao would be backing seting up Dempster.

[brinoch]

I suspect that they are full of it. Methinks that Hendry is quite happy with Dempster.

[Coach C]

I suspect that they are full of it. Methinks that Hendry is quite happy with Dempster.

 

Well, the way Dempster has done, I am thrilled. Just sure wished he was the closer to begin the season with.

[ZZ Thorn]

Need a closer...Dempster's converted save percentage was second in MLB if I recall correctly.

 

I think Williamson is going to be a huge lift to our pen. With everyone else coming back from surgery so thoroughly and so quickly why not him? He's a very effective reliever and will really provide us a boost. If we can get another bullpen arm we're going to have a very good bullpen - funny considering how bad we were there at the beginning of the season.

 

Just don't rush him back Dusty.

[ltb]

Need a closer...Dempster's converted save percentage was second in MLB if I recall correctly.

 

would that be second to cordero?

 

dempster's 13/14 in save opportunities, with 13 straight, so i could certainly see it.

[nolanwood]

I think it's very possible the Cubs may be looking for a closer - but that role with the Cubs would be soley as a backup closer and setup man for Dempster - just like in the previous Wagner to the Cardinals talks. Wagner would be used as a setup guy for Izzy.

 

Demptster definitely earned his job as closer on this team, and he's not going anywhere.

[bc2k]

Need a closer...Dempster's converted save percentage was second in MLB if I recall correctly.

 

I think Williamson is going to be a huge lift to our pen. With everyone else coming back from surgery so thoroughly and so quickly why not him? He's a very effective reliever and will really provide us a boost. If we can get another bullpen arm we're going to have a very good bullpen - funny considering how bad we were there at the beginning of the season.

 

Just don't rush him back Dusty.

 

Dusty, please don't use Scott Williamson like you used Chad Fox.

 

The Cubs don't need a closer but we do need bullpen help, ASAP. We can't wait for Williamson because no one knows if he will be good. Get Guardado or Baez and if SW turns out to be dominant, then more power to the Cubs.

 

But what Hendry cannot do is wait. The way this team has come out fighting since the All-Star break, these guys deserve some reward in return. The players have showed that they haven't given up on the season, now Hendry must return the message to them.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm not so sure a bullpen arm is an extremely pressing need. Novoa has been great since his callup, and Wuertz has been doing better since a streak of rough outings a month ago. Those two guys, plus the emergence of Ohman as a LOOGY, with Remlinger having good peripherals this year, aren't too bad with Dempster being great at the end. Throw Williamson into the mix, and you have a pretty good depth to keep people from getting overworked(Wuertz earlier this year). I will say though that there are some questions regarding a lot of those players, which is why I won't complain if a quality bullpen arm is added. However, given what we have, and what we're getting back, I wouldn't make bullpen help a top priority.

[nilodnayr]

I'm not so sure a bullpen arm is an extremely pressing need. Novoa has been great since his callup, and Wuertz has been doing better since a streak of rough outings a month ago. Those two guys, plus the emergence of Ohman as a LOOGY, with Remlinger having good peripherals this year, aren't too bad with Dempster being great at the end. Throw Williamson into the mix, and you have a pretty good depth to keep people from getting overworked(Wuertz earlier this year). I will say though that there are some questions regarding a lot of those players, which is why I won't complain if a quality bullpen arm is added. However, given what we have, and what we're getting back, I wouldn't make bullpen help a top priority.

 

 

How do you feel about Felix Rodriguez? He just came back from the DL and we just got a replacement for Holla. Do you think a Holla/F-Rod swap would help the team enough?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm not so sure a bullpen arm is an extremely pressing need. Novoa has been great since his callup, and Wuertz has been doing better since a streak of rough outings a month ago. Those two guys, plus the emergence of Ohman as a LOOGY, with Remlinger having good peripherals this year, aren't too bad with Dempster being great at the end. Throw Williamson into the mix, and you have a pretty good depth to keep people from getting overworked(Wuertz earlier this year). I will say though that there are some questions regarding a lot of those players, which is why I won't complain if a quality bullpen arm is added. However, given what we have, and what we're getting back, I wouldn't make bullpen help a top priority.

 

 

How do you feel about Felix Rodriguez? He just came back from the DL and we just got a replacement for Holla. Do you think a Holla/F-Rod swap would help the team enough?

 

I have no problem with that. Holla is a bench player in my mind, and Gerut is a better platoon LF. The thing I worry about is paying prospects for middle /setup relief, which can be like playing the lottery in terms of projecting performance.

[nilodnayr]

I'm not so sure a bullpen arm is an extremely pressing need. Novoa has been great since his callup, and Wuertz has been doing better since a streak of rough outings a month ago. Those two guys, plus the emergence of Ohman as a LOOGY, with Remlinger having good peripherals this year, aren't too bad with Dempster being great at the end. Throw Williamson into the mix, and you have a pretty good depth to keep people from getting overworked(Wuertz earlier this year). I will say though that there are some questions regarding a lot of those players, which is why I won't complain if a quality bullpen arm is added. However, given what we have, and what we're getting back, I wouldn't make bullpen help a top priority.

 

 

How do you feel about Felix Rodriguez? He just came back from the DL and we just got a replacement for Holla. Do you think a Holla/F-Rod swap would help the team enough?

 

I have no problem with that. Holla is a bench player in my mind, and Gerut is a better platoon LF. The thing I worry about is paying prospects for middle /setup relief, which can be like playing the lottery in terms of projecting performance.

 

I agree, relievers are crap shoots, but I dont think Holla has a place on our team now and at least F-Rod has shown signs of being a very good reliever. I was excited when the rumor first came out (because that meant no one was in Dubois' way) but now with a superior LH platoon option on the team I wouldnt mind taking the gamble on F-Rod. Has a team ever started the year with a platoon at a position and then ended the year with 2 different platoon players at the same position? And having half of each platoon being rookies taboot! Well lets hope that doesnt happen if whats going down in Transactions is true.

[CoolHandLuke]

I'm not so sure a bullpen arm is an extremely pressing need. Novoa has been great since his callup, and Wuertz has been doing better since a streak of rough outings a month ago. Those two guys, plus the emergence of Ohman as a LOOGY, with Remlinger having good peripherals this year, aren't too bad with Dempster being great at the end. Throw Williamson into the mix, and you have a pretty good depth to keep people from getting overworked(Wuertz earlier this year). I will say though that there are some questions regarding a lot of those players, which is why I won't complain if a quality bullpen arm is added. However, given what we have, and what we're getting back, I wouldn't make bullpen help a top priority.

 

 

How do you feel about Felix Rodriguez? He just came back from the DL and we just got a replacement for Holla. Do you think a Holla/F-Rod swap would help the team enough?

 

I have no problem with that. Holla is a bench player in my mind, and Gerut is a better platoon LF. The thing I worry about is paying prospects for middle /setup relief, which can be like playing the lottery in terms of projecting performance.

 

Are you referring to something similar to Garland for Karchner?

[gflore34]

Hendry seems to think Garciapparra' will be effective upon his return, is this good or bad? How much more than a healthy Perez can Garciapparra give the Cubs? Edited July 20, 2005 by gflore34

[USSoccer]

Hendry's not going to come out and say that he expects very little from Nomar. It would send the wrong message to Nomar, and to potential trading partners.

 

I thought the interview was pure vanilla. Nothing was said we didn't already know. Corey is a cub, Pie is good, Gerut can help, etc, etc.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Is everyone forgetting the amazing spring training Nomar had? Sure he struggled a little in his regular season games (there weren't that many), but he still has the ability to be a .300 hitter with 20+ home runs. The only question in my mind is can his body handle the stress. If Nomar is healthy, there's no one in our organization I'd rather have starting.

 

Looking for a closer is crap. If that was actually said, then Dempster should be mad. He's been dynamite so far, and I hope he keeps it up. We could use some bullpen help, but with our starting pitching starting to go longer into games, maybe the bullpen won't be so overworked in the second half.

[JC]

Is everyone forgetting the amazing spring training Nomar had?

 

As you noted, a crappy first couple of weeks at of the gate will do that to you. A good spring and 25 cents will get you a cup of coffee.

 

Maybe.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Is everyone forgetting the amazing spring training Nomar had?

 

As you noted, a crappy first couple of weeks at of the gate will do that to you. A good spring and 25 cents will get you a cup of coffee.

 

Maybe.

 

Yeah, I know. My point was that at least we know the ability is still there somewhere. He just has to stay healthy, and swing through that slump he was in.