Mr. Hendry, We Want More Than Just a Competitive Team!

[HoopsCubs]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cub30.html

 

And we deserve a GM who sets the bar much higher than this!

 

"Hendry hasn't been given an approved budget for 2006. But the expectations are that it will be near the $100 million spent this year. Technically, $87 million of that was spent on players on the club and another $12.6 million went to Baltimore to get rid of Sammy Sosa. "I haven't got my final number, but I feel our payroll will be sufficient enough to field a very competitive team,'' Hendry said."

 

Hoops

[rawaction]

What about VERY competitive?

[HoopsCubs]

What about VERY competitive?

 

Raw,

 

Why can't he just say something demonstrative like:

 

"I haven't got my final number, but our payroll should be sufficient enough to field a team that will be battling to be the best in the NL."

[rawaction]

What about VERY competitive?

 

Raw,

 

Why can't he just say something demonstrative like:

 

"I haven't got my final number, but our payroll should be sufficient enough to field a team that will be battling to be the best in the NL."

 

I don't think he wants to put that much pressure on himself and the team. That quote would be about the equivalent of him guaranteeing a playoff berth. Hendry would be roasted if the team underperformed again and fell short.

[TheDude]

You know what, in the FA market for this year, the extra money doesn't really do much for the team. This team can win on 100 million.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What about VERY competitive?

 

Raw,

 

Why can't he just say something demonstrative like:

 

"I haven't got my final number, but our payroll should be sufficient enough to field a team that will be battling to be the best in the NL."

 

Isn't "battling to be the best in the NL" a synonym for "very competitive"?

[HoopsCubs]

What about VERY competitive?

 

Raw,

 

Why can't he just say something demonstrative like:

 

"I haven't got my final number, but our payroll should be sufficient enough to field a team that will be battling to be the best in the NL."

 

Isn't "battling to be the best in the NL" a synonym for "very competitive"?

 

Is it? Okay, then come up with something better. My point is "very competitive" is setting the bar short (even if it's just perception). We want our GM to say, we must do everything we can with the resources we have to be the best team in the NL." Those are the words I want to hear: "best team" as opposed to BS like "very competitive."

[rawaction]

What about VERY competitive?

 

Raw,

 

Why can't he just say something demonstrative like:

 

"I haven't got my final number, but our payroll should be sufficient enough to field a team that will be battling to be the best in the NL."

 

Isn't "battling to be the best in the NL" a synonym for "very competitive"?

 

Is it? Okay, then come up with something better. My point is "very competitive" is setting the bar short (even if it's just perception). We want our GM to say, we must do everything we can with the resources we have to be the best team in the NL." Those are the words I want to hear: "best team" as opposed to BS like "very competitive."

 

I fully agree, but I'm not gonna get on him for it. It's just his choice of words. Being competitive is nice, and all. But if you lose 160 games by 1-run in the late innings, you are very competitive, but you're still losing. I'd rather him say, "we have enough payroll to win a lot of ballgames". But that's just Hendry's way. That's the way he's always spoken to the press.

[USSoccer]

I expect Hendry to come out and say that the goal is to win the World Series next year. I don't give a crap about being "competitive". Technically the team was "competitive" until late August. The goal every year should be to win the title, and even more so for this organization.

[cubweiser03]

WS conteding team is what i want.

[HoopsCubs]

But that's just Hendry's way. That's the way he's always spoken to the press.

 

Yes, true. But I am advocating all aspects of the team and organization and strategy should be renewed. Let's shift from "tools" focus to "sabermetrics" focus. Let's change the focus from being a poor performer at 5 different positions on the field to being a great performer at 1 single position. Let's change how we talk to the press from platitudes and non-commital words to expressing how you really feel and committing to a plan. Let's change the structure of suggesting someone play Winter Ball to telling someone he will play Winter ball, or else. Heck, let's change the brands of sunflower seeds and chewing tobacco used in the dugout from old to new.

[UK1679666180]

Yes, true. But I am advocating all aspects of the team and organization and strategy should be renewed.

 

Exactly, there's the difference. Payroll doesn't decipher how good a team can be, it's how they spend it.

 

The Cubs not being competitive this year was not based on the 12.6 allocated to Sosa. That 12.6 would not have made a difference without changing the overall strategy of the team 1st.

[Magnetic Curses]

I expect Hendry to come out and say that the goal is to win the World Series next year. I don't give a crap about being "competitive". Technically the team was "competitive" until late August. The goal every year should be to win the title, and even more so for this organization.

 

i think "competitive" means a world series contender. it's a complete crapshoot in the playoffs anyway. unless it's brian cashman or theo epstein, i'm not taking any GM seriously if they come out and say something about winning the series. not many GMs have the monetary luxury of being able to build a team for the regular season AND the playoffs.

 

personally, i think the cubs have the potential in their starting rotation to be able to clean up in the playoffs, though.

[Derwood]

He could've said "the budget should be more than sufficient to give Perez, Burnitz and Macias healthy raises while squandering the rest on veteran bench players who will likely amass 400+ plate appearances at the expense of younger, cheaper, and more talented ball players"

[CubfaninCA]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cub30.html

 

And we deserve a GM who sets the bar much higher than this!

 

"Hendry hasn't been given an approved budget for 2006. But the expectations are that it will be near the $100 million spent this year. Technically, $87 million of that was spent on players on the club and another $12.6 million went to Baltimore to get rid of Sammy Sosa. "I haven't got my final number, but I feel our payroll will be sufficient enough to field a very competitive team,'' Hendry said."

 

Hoops

 

Perhaps he thinks the bar has been set too high the past couple of years??

I'd prefer him saying "championship caliber team," but considering how these guys are a pretty poor situational team, especially w/ 2 out, I'll settle w/ "very competitive."

 

Jmo but I think this team thinks it's snake bitten, with all the injuries, and Baker doesn't help matters talking about bad luck, billy goats, etc. Hence why there needs to be a major overhaul. Bring some winners in.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Who cares what the payroll is? You can be more successful with half of what we pay. It's not how much you spend, rather how you spend it that matters most.

[CubfaninCA]

Who cares what the payroll is? You can be more successful with half of what we pay. It's not how much you spend, rather how you spend it that matters most.

 

That's true, if you draft well, which the Cubs don't do. Who's the last good position player they've developed?? Mark Grace??

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Who cares what the payroll is? You can be more successful with half of what we pay. It's not how much you spend, rather how you spend it that matters most.

 

That's true, if you draft well, which the Cubs don't do. Who's the last good position player they've developed?? Mark Grace??

 

Some may argue the problem is in development and not scouting and drafting.

 

And while we may not have developed a position player in awhile, the fact that we've drafted players like Prior, Wood, Willis, and others indicates drafting may not be the problem.

[CubfaninCA]

Who cares what the payroll is? You can be more successful with half of what we pay. It's not how much you spend, rather how you spend it that matters most.

 

That's true, if you draft well, which the Cubs don't do. Who's the last good position player they've developed?? Mark Grace??

 

Some may argue the problem is in development and not scouting and drafting.

 

And while we may not have developed a position player in awhile, the fact that we've drafted players like Prior, Wood, Willis, and others indicates drafting may not be the problem.

 

Yep, the Cubs do alright w/ pitchers, and maybe development is the problem. Probably lucky someone else drafted Murton and started his development.