Hendry gives Dusty a vote of confidence.....

[OldHappyCubFan]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050805&content_id=1159003&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[halplm]

Unfortunately, I don't think this vote of confidence is the kind right before a firing...

[Jimy is a misspell]

Is Hendry's job safe?

[treebird]

Is Hendry's job safe?

 

i wish it weren't, but i definitely think it is.

[Coach C]

Bad decision there Jim, bad decision there. *shaking head in disbelief*

 

He must be watching a different Cubs team.

[10man]

Unfortunately, I don't think this vote of confidence is the kind right before a firing...

I'm not sure about that. Most of the time the Kiss of Death tastes very sweet...

[badger1679666666]

Is Hendry's job safe?

 

i wish it weren't, but i definitely think it is.

 

I think JH has been one of the better GM's in baseball. Sure he's had shortcomings, but as a whole, his body of work is impressive.

[halplm]

Is Hendry's job safe?

 

i wish it weren't, but i definitely think it is.

 

I think JH has been one of the better GM's in baseball. Sure he's had shortcomings, but as a whole, his body of work is impressive.

 

Not if he sticks by Baker.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Is Hendry's job safe?

 

i wish it weren't, but i definitely think it is.

 

Hendry has his faults, but when I think about the thought of him getting fired, I think about Hughes replacing him. That frightens me beyond all comprehension.

[treebird]

Is Hendry's job safe?

 

i wish it weren't, but i definitely think it is.

 

Hendry has his faults, but when I think about the thought of him getting fired, I think about Hughes replacing him. That frightens me beyond all comprehension.

 

i know, i know. i think the cubs upper management situation is destined to get worse before it gets better.

[dalgreen]

I have no problem with those wanting to fire Baker. But it is beyond my comprehension how you can want Baker fired but in the same breath be okay with Hendry. I truly understand if you want both gone or both to stay, but I can't understand how one can stay and one shouldn't other than pure bias. Please help me explain how the Cardinals, who have had a lower payroll than the Cubs the last two years can finish so far ahead of the Cubs, even when missing some key people from last year's team? And from 2000-2003, they had a nearly equal payroll. And I think LaRussa is as bad/good a manager as Baker. Now Milwaukee, without a total free fall, will likely finish the season near us. I don't see what Hendry has done that has been so impressive. Aramis Ramirez was a steal, but have you chosen to overlook many of his bad decisions? Yeah, our minor league system is better, but what is that really saying as bad as it was during much of the '90's? Where are our supposed saviors like Kelton, Dubois, Montanez, Hill, Choi, Jackson and the list goes on. I just don't know how you can hate Baker and still have all of this love for Hendry. If you love the job Hendry has done than you must really, really love a GM like Jocketty and Melvin. I think Baker and Hendry will stay, but I find it hard to separate the two.

[Soul]

Oh I can separate the two (Hendry & Baker).

 

I can see firing Baker as a fresh start, and bringing someone in with some fresh ideas instead of this tired, old, "veterans club" kind of management that frankly we've been watching through both the Baker & Baylor campaigns. For once, I'd like to see young guys given a position over veterans if they actually play better.

 

Still though. With this Cubbie team, it's such a fragile bunch I don't know if a different manager would have gotten us to the playoffs. Maybe closer than we are right now, sure. But look at the sheer number of crippling injuries our "top players" suffer. There's never going to be any consistency on this club until you can find a group of guys who can handle a 162 game season without having to hit the DL for half of it.

 

And that's only part of the problem. Few teams win without some consistency out of the bullpen. And we haven't had it---even in 2003 it can be argued that was a weakpoint of the team. Hendry has never been able to succeed in that regard. And it will continue to kill us until we find some solid arms to rely on.

 

The laundry list goes on but everyone here has heard it over & over so I won't rehash it.

[dalgreen]

Oh I can separate the two (Hendry & Baker).

 

I can see firing Baker as a fresh start, and bringing someone in with some fresh ideas instead of this tired, old, "veterans club" kind of management that frankly we've been watching through both the Baker & Baylor campaigns. For once, I'd like to see young guys given a position over veterans if they actually play better.

 

Still though. With this Cubbie team, it's such a fragile bunch I don't know if a different manager would have gotten us to the playoffs. Maybe closer than we are right now, sure. But look at the sheer number of crippling injuries our "top players" suffer. There's never going to be any consistency on this club until you can find a group of guys who can handle a 162 game season without having to hit the DL for half of it.

 

And that's only part of the problem. Few teams win without some consistency out of the bullpen. And we haven't had it---even in 2003 it can be argued that was a weakpoint of the team. Hendry has never been able to succeed in that regard. And it will continue to kill us until we find some solid arms to rely on.

 

The laundry list goes on but everyone here has heard it over & over so I won't rehash it.

 

Young position players be given a chance? It could've been done if Hedry didn't sign Burnitz and Hollandsworth. And why is it that the Cardinals lose good players and the players they acquire step right up and fill in well? The answer is good decision making by the GM. Example: Last year Womack was good at leadoff for the Cardinals. They let him go and needing a good leadoff hitter they get Eckstein. We needed a good leadoff hitter and we get?

[CubfaninCA]

Oh I can separate the two (Hendry & Baker).

 

I can see firing Baker as a fresh start, and bringing someone in with some fresh ideas instead of this tired, old, "veterans club" kind of management that frankly we've been watching through both the Baker & Baylor campaigns. For once, I'd like to see young guys given a position over veterans if they actually play better.

 

Still though. With this Cubbie team, it's such a fragile bunch I don't know if a different manager would have gotten us to the playoffs. Maybe closer than we are right now, sure. But look at the sheer number of crippling injuries our "top players" suffer. There's never going to be any consistency on this club until you can find a group of guys who can handle a 162 game season without having to hit the DL for half of it.

 

And that's only part of the problem. Few teams win without some consistency out of the bullpen. And we haven't had it---even in 2003 it can be argued that was a weakpoint of the team. Hendry has never been able to succeed in that regard. And it will continue to kill us until we find some solid arms to rely on.

 

The laundry list goes on but everyone here has heard it over & over so I won't rehash it.

 

Young position players be given a chance? It could've been done if Hedry didn't sign Burnitz and Hollandsworth. And why is it that the Cardinals lose good players and the players they acquire step right up and fill in well? The answer is good decision making by the GM. Example: Last year Womack was good at leadoff for the Cardinals. They let him go and needing a good leadoff hitter they get Eckstein. We needed a good leadoff hitter and we get?

 

The Cardinals are lucky. Send Macias there and his obp probably jumps to .360.

[ZipDog]

I have no problem with those wanting to fire Baker. But it is beyond my comprehension how you can want Baker fired but in the same breath be okay with Hendry. I truly understand if you want both gone or both to stay, but I can't understand how one can stay and one shouldn't other than pure bias. Please help me explain how the Cardinals, who have had a lower payroll than the Cubs the last two years can finish so far ahead of the Cubs, even when missing some key people from last year's team? And from 2000-2003, they had a nearly equal payroll. And I think LaRussa is as bad/good a manager as Baker. Now Milwaukee, without a total free fall, will likely finish the season near us. I don't see what Hendry has done that has been so impressive. Aramis Ramirez was a steal, but have you chosen to overlook many of his bad decisions? Yeah, our minor league system is better, but what is that really saying as bad as it was during much of the '90's? Where are our supposed saviors like Kelton, Dubois, Montanez, Hill, Choi, Jackson and the list goes on. I just don't know how you can hate Baker and still have all of this love for Hendry. If you love the job Hendry has done than you must really, really love a GM like Jocketty and Melvin. I think Baker and Hendry will stay, but I find it hard to separate the two.

 

Nevermind about that stuff, Dal!! What about the Dallas Cowboys?!?!?!?!

 

Come on.....let's address the really important issues: Marcus Spears, Drew Bledsoe, Whitten, etc.!!

 

;-)

[Satch80]

I can separate Hendry and Baker but they have both contributed to this mess.

We aren't just losing games. We are playing a Keystone Cop routine night after night, ignoring fundamental defense, having brain lapses, failing to execute, having no visible game plan. It is a manager's responsibility to hold his players accountable for these pathetic performances. I haven't seen it. It is a manager's responsibility to change it. It hasn't happened.

 

What manager in his right mind would put the 2 worst OBP guys in the one-two position when you had an RBI machine batting 3rd? And leave them there for weeks and weeks? Unreal.

 

Hendry promoted Murton and Cedeno in the middle of very effective seasons...for what? To rot on the bench with an occasional PH? If Dusty wouldn't commit to playing them then they should have played out their season in the minors so they would be ready for next year.

 

Hendry let Miller go and signed Barrett because he was enamored with his offense. Well you don't bring in a questionable game caller and poor defensive catcher when your bread and butter is a young, power, pitching staff. How many times has Barrett let a ball get by to advance a runner or drop foul tip third strikes,? He can't seem to make a play at the plate or make an accurate throw to 2nd. He has the baseball IQ of an orange.

 

Hendry also signed the fragile and declining Nomar with limited range and the defensive liability that roams 2nd base. We have all heard of strong defense up the middle characterizing winning teams. We had it in 2003 with Miller, Grud, Gonzales and Corey. The Cards have it with Molina, Grud, Eckstein and Edmonds.We have Barrett, Nomar, Walker ...all below average defensively. How smart is that?

 

Hendry makes great deals but how could he have ignored left field during the off season, expecting a bench player and rookie to hold it down?

The bullpen is always a crap shoot so I won't hammer him there, but come on, a corner outfield needs production and a steady hand.

 

That said, I hope Hendry continues on because he is a great deal maker, aggressive and committed. He does have blind spots and he does need to be more concerned with defense.

 

But Dusty...I can't imagine how he can stay. This team is surely an embarrassment to themselves and I can't see how they can continue to respect the Dusty regeime.

Unless this team makes a dramatic turn-around to respectability , I think Dusty will be gone next year.

[LuvChicagoSports]

I hear ya. The key is to find a balance between the importance of defense and offense. You have to be able to score runs to win, but also have to be able to field well and the pitchers have to have confidence in the gloves behind them to pitch effectively. I was all for Gonzo being traded as he was an absolute waste offensively, and I honestly like Nomar there, but he has to stay healthy. We've had a good glove there all season in Neifi and that hasn't helped much. Barrett's defense has hurt this team a lot. I don't think it his game calling though. He's called good games for the most part, just is ineffective at throwing baserunners out and is also not reliable at blocking pitches. At his current offensive numbers he is not a good option, but if he can regain his form from last year he should be ok. Walker has been substantially better with his glove that advertised, although he has made a few very critical errors. Without Corey's glove in center we are very weak defensively out there. Hairston was ok, but struggled to get the same type of jump that Corey would get and did not have the same type of arm. Hendry needs to make several additions to this team first and foremost being a lead off man. Juan Pierre and Johnny Damon will both be free agents after this season and both can't sign with the Yankees although I'm sure one will. With a player like that in left and Corey back in center we could have two pieces soved. Corey can bring an rbi type bat without the pressure of having to lead off while still playing exceptional defense. That is only if he embraces what he is down in AAA to do and that is learn a little more dicipline at the plate. IF he learns that all of his offensive numbers will get better including home runs which is what they are trying to get him to realize. Also, I think a choice needs to be made between Todd Walker and Nomar. Both can be very good #2 hitters in the lineup, but both are not getting any younger, and both are less than great defensively. I'd like to see a new 2b or SS based off of what you can get. Ronny Cedeno could be a good option but we don't really know because of the idiot managing our team, but that is another topic. So the Cubs need to look for a solution to that problem. Also while Burnitz has played very well for the Cubs this season, he is rather old and not really a part of the future of this organization. The Cubs should search for trade possibilities starting with Austin Kearns who would be able to post the same power numbers as Burnitz and is a guy that Hendry has always liked. From day one it needs to be understood that either Michael Barrett is the starting catcher or he is not. He was obviously brought here for offensive reasons, but the way he is used prevents him from producing. Dusty uses Henry Blanco to personally catch Maddux and Prior. When Barrett has 3 days off every week it is virtually impossible to get into any rhtyhm at the plate at all. Kerry Wood must stay healthy for this team to suceed. Everything is built around the arms of Prior, Wood, and Zambrano. So much energy is lost everytime he gets hurt. If the scope of his shoulder does not go well, then he must be put in the bullpen from the start of the season. If that happens his vestion option for 2007 clearly won't be picked up. This is being VERY optomistic but lets hope this is the starting lineup for the 2006 season.

 

1. Damon/Pierre lf

2. Walker 2b

3. Lee 1b

4. Ramirez 3b

5. Kearns rf

6. Patterson cf

7. Barrett c

8. Cedeno ss

9. Prior p

 

Rotation

1. Prior

2. Zambrano

3. Maddux

4. Wood

5. Williams/Rusch

 

Pen

Novoa

Wuertz

Dempster

Ohman

another lefty specialist- Rusch is not in rotation

closer- Wagner (free agent after this season)

 

manager- Joe Girardi

 

That would be the best part of the opening day lineup, but as well all know this isn't likely to happen. This is just me dreaming, but it's a nice thing to dream things like this after the product they make us watch on the field daily. Someone needs to get ahold of Hendry and make it clear to him that if he keeps Dusty Baker around it is going to end up costing him his job.

 

Let me know what you guys think about that potential lineup. Also it would allow the Cubs not to rush Pie up and make sure he is fully developed in his game which they did not allow Patterson to do and it was very apparent as we watched him.

[10man]

Wow. Paragraph.

[neely crenshaw]

Is Hendry's job safe?

 

i wish it weren't, but i definitely think it is.

 

I think JH has been one of the better GM's in baseball. Sure he's had shortcomings, but as a whole, his body of work is impressive.

 

i disagree completely. he has been turned lose with the checkbook and delivered a very poor product. i can not believe he is around if this team isn't much better next year....hopefully before that.

 

he has a 100 mil payroll and we had an outfield of burnitz,hairston and holla...eeh

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Is Hendry's job safe?

 

i wish it weren't, but i definitely think it is.

 

I think JH has been one of the better GM's in baseball. Sure he's had shortcomings, but as a whole, his body of work is impressive.

 

i disagree completely. he has been turned lose with the checkbook and delivered a very poor product. i can not believe he is around if this team isn't much better next year....hopefully before that.

 

he has a 100 mil payroll and we had an outfield of burnitz,hairston and holla...eeh

 

The Cubs payroll is 87 mil, not 100 mil. IIRC, it's 3rd or 4th highest in the NL.

[J.R.]

The most embarrassing thing about this club is Baker's continued presence. Why the hell is he still here?

 

If Hendry won't fire him the Trib needs to find someone who will.

[frostwyrm]

The Cubs payroll is 87 mil, not 100 mil. IIRC, it's 3rd or 4th highest in the NL.

 

Why do people persist in saying this? Are the Cubs the only team that is paying off a bad contract?

[Electron Blue]

The Cubs payroll is 87 mil, not 100 mil. IIRC, it's 3rd or 4th highest in the NL.

 

Why do people persist in saying this? Are the Cubs the only team that is paying off a bad contract?

 

Hehe, I think the Rockies may have just now ended paying Mike Hampton. And the Orioles freed up all that Albert Belle money after last year.

 

The point remains, though, that $100 million was spent on this year's team. And I'd say we could have put together a .500 team with (maybe) half of that. Lotta bad luck, but more than a fair share of poor decisions, too.