Cardinals Bow Out Of Giles Race, Enter Dotel's

[Illini Iceman]

 

I haven't been around these boards lately due to the incessant sniping at Hendry. I can understand the loathing towards Baker, but why Hendry? Is it just 'popular' around here to badmouth him or what?

 

Hendry misses the big picture, and that bothers some of us more than others, and some of us are more intellectually honest than others.

 

Signing middle relievers to long and expensive contracts makes no economic sense. You all know the arguments by now. It's not like the Cubs have unlimited payroll.

 

He pays way more than minimum to players like Perez and Macias and Blanco. Hendry perceives a lack of available mediocre talent. In all his talk about depth he doesn't understand that great frontline talent is immeasurably more important.

 

Yeah, Baker is awful. But when Hendry signs Macias and Perez, and lets Baker carry 12 pitchers, well he is an "enabler."

 

Some poster has a great sig. "Jim Hendry: Overpaying for mediocrity since 2004." That sums it up very nicely.

 

Give me a break.

[mhuber92211]

What I think is interesting is that the thread that is titled "Dreams of Giles in Cubbie blue" is 13 pages long and the post that says that the percieved front runner for Giles' service is only three.

 

I think it is fair to ask "Is it eaiser to be negative towards the Cubs?"

[Sarcastic]

 

I haven't been around these boards lately due to the incessant sniping at Hendry. I can understand the loathing towards Baker, but why Hendry? Is it just 'popular' around here to badmouth him or what?

 

Hendry misses the big picture, and that bothers some of us more than others, and some of us are more intellectually honest than others.

 

Signing middle relievers to long and expensive contracts makes no economic sense. You all know the arguments by now. It's not like the Cubs have unlimited payroll.

 

He pays way more than minimum to players like Perez and Macias and Blanco. Hendry perceives a lack of available mediocre talent. In all his talk about depth he doesn't understand that great frontline talent is immeasurably more important.

 

Yeah, Baker is awful. But when Hendry signs Macias and Perez, and lets Baker carry 12 pitchers, well he is an "enabler."

 

Some poster has a great sig. "Jim Hendry: Overpaying for mediocrity since 2004." That sums it up very nicely.

 

Give me a break.

 

Yeah, I think that has a lot to do with it. A lot of people think that it makes them look smart to insult everyone in the organization. Hendry has messed up many times, but by the way people talk about about him you'd think he was an axe murderer, not the GM of a pathetically dissapointing baseball team.

[Sarcastic]

What I think is interesting is that the thread that is titled "Dreams of Giles in Cubbie blue" is 13 pages long and the post that says that the percieved front runner for Giles' service is only three.

 

I think it is fair to ask "Is it eaiser to be negative towards the Cubs?"

 

For serious fans, I'd say most definitely. People who put a big emotional investment into a team that seems to screw up over and over are likely to be pessimistic to an unreasonable extent.

[Lefty]

 

Yeah, I think that has a lot to do with it. A lot of people think that it makes them look smart to insult everyone in the organization. Hendry has messed up many times, but by the way people talk about about him you'd think he was an axe murderer, not the GM of a pathetically dissapointing baseball team.

 

I am intelligent enough not to resort to insulting others. And I don't take the Cubs that seriously as to liken Hendry to an axe murderer.

 

Hendry goes about his job in a most unscientific way. And that should subject him to a certain amount of criticism. In few other professions could one get away with that. So whether it's signing marginal major league talent at a premium because he doesn't understand true scarcity, or stating that Jeromy Burnitz had the sixth highest slugging percentage in the NL for players striking out 100 or more times, I'm going to criticize that.

 

The White Sox have given me way too much hope. Because, in truth, nothing the Cubs have done precludes their winning the World Series next year.

[Sarcastic]

 

I am intelligent enough not to resort to insulting others. And I don't take the Cubs that seriously as to liken Hendry to an axe murderer.

 

Hendry goes about his job in a most unscientific way. And that should subject him to a certain amount of criticism. In few other professions could one get away with that. So whether it's signing marginal major league talent at a premium because he doesn't understand true scarcity, or stating that Jeromy Burnitz had the sixth highest slugging percentage in the NL for players striking out 100 or more times, I'm going to criticize that.

 

The White Sox have given me way too much hope. Because, in truth, nothing the Cubs have done precludes their winning the World Series next year.

 

I definitely did not specify anyone. I've never read anything from you to the affect that Hendry is an axe murderer, but that wasn't really a joke. People have called for him to be killed. It is insane.

 

As for everything else, criticism is fine, and I never said it wasn't. I would say also that none of us really know how Hendry does his job, but my point isn't that criticism of Hendry is wrong, just that some of it is absolutely outrageous, and partially brought on by the popularity that bashing Hendry has with a big chunk of the board.

[Lefty]

[quote name="Sarcastic

As for everything else' date=' criticism is fine, and I never said it wasn't. I would say also that none of us really know how Hendry does his job, but my point isn't that criticism of Hendry is wrong, just that some of it is absolutely outrageous, and partially brought on by the popularity that bashing Hendry has with a big chunk of the board.[/quote]

 

Well, we do know that Hendry does not use advanced performance analysis. He's very much a "tools" guy; just look at his 40 man decisions.

 

But I would agree with you that if anyone is calling for his murder we've kind of lost focus.

[RynoRules]

[quote name="Sarcastic

As for everything else' date=' criticism is fine, and I never said it wasn't. I would say also that none of us really know how Hendry does his job, but my point isn't that criticism of Hendry is wrong, just that some of it is absolutely outrageous, and partially brought on by the popularity that bashing Hendry has with a big chunk of the board.[/quote]

 

Well, we do know that Hendry does not use advanced performance analysis. He's very much a "tools" guy; just look at his 40 man decisions.

 

But I would agree with you that if anyone is calling for his murder we've kind of lost focus.

 

Check the Howry thread. The sniping has already begun, and no one has confirmed that the guy has been signed.

[sethuel1]

Check the Howry thread. The sniping has already begun, and no one has confirmed that the guy has been signed.

One guy uses a common figure of speech, and you're saying this? That's kind of ridiculous. Edited November 22, 2005 by sethuel1

[USSoccer]

[quote name="Sarcastic

As for everything else' date=' criticism is fine, and I never said it wasn't. I would say also that none of us really know how Hendry does his job, but my point isn't that criticism of Hendry is wrong, just that some of it is absolutely outrageous, and partially brought on by the popularity that bashing Hendry has with a big chunk of the board.[/quote]

 

Well, we do know that Hendry does not use advanced performance analysis. He's very much a "tools" guy; just look at his 40 man decisions.

 

But I would agree with you that if anyone is calling for his murder we've kind of lost focus.

 

Check the Howry thread. The sniping has already begun, and no one has confirmed that the guy has been signed.

 

I don't know. I didn't see a lot of sniping, comparatively speaking.

[fearthecubs]

[quote name="Sarcastic

As for everything else' date=' criticism is fine, and I never said it wasn't. I would say also that none of us really know how Hendry does his job, but my point isn't that criticism of Hendry is wrong, just that some of it is absolutely outrageous, and partially brought on by the popularity that bashing Hendry has with a big chunk of the board.[/quote]

 

Well, we do know that Hendry does not use advanced performance analysis. He's very much a "tools" guy; just look at his 40 man decisions.

 

But I would agree with you that if anyone is calling for his murder we've kind of lost focus.

 

Check the Howry thread. The sniping has already begun, and no one has confirmed that the guy has been signed.

 

I don't know. I didn't see a lot of sniping, comparatively speaking.

 

Yea. I just don't get it with some Cub fans sometimes. A lot of people on this forum especially (honestly, I spend most of my time at Desipio) only come here to offer their armchair opinion on what we did wrong. There's never any praise for the moves like trading Choi for Lee. Let's not even mention that when we HAD choi, the same people were sniping the people that saw the 10 foot hole in his swing.

 

If we don't sign Howry, Eyre - Hendry didn't learn from his 05 bullpen mistakes. If we do sign them, and pay what we have to in this ridiculous market, oh no we're not trying to win - we're being stupid and throwing away money.

 

Oh, whoever put that intellectually honest comment - I agree, give me a break pal.

[Jazz]

This is very puzzling.

Giles is figuring way below our estimates which topped 50 mil in some cases, 3 yrs for 35 mil or even less would be a STEAL, and hendry is out spending that 50 mil we have this offseason away on bob howry and scott eyre,

gotta love them cobs.

[fearthecubs]

This is very puzzling.

Giles is figuring way below our estimates which topped 50 mil in some cases, 3 yrs for 35 mil or even less would be a STEAL, and hendry is out spending that 50 mil we have this offseason away on bob howry and scott eyre,

gotta love them cobs.

 

See this is what Im talking about. You're making a stretch over two asusmptions to reach the goal of criticizing Hendry. First, Giles hasn't signed, you have no idea what his deal will be. None. Second, where did you get 50M from? We haven't even signed Howry, yet.

[badger1679666666]

Bashing Hendry at all turns is in vogue now. Fantastic.

 

There are three (count 3) things he should be bashed for right now:

 

Neifi

Rusch (maybe a stretch - he could be part of a package)

not firing Dusty

 

That's it.

 

Nothing else is even known.

[Brian34Cook]

Yankees and Giles playing Phone Tag

By MARK HALE

 

http://www.nypost.com/photos/yankslede11222005.jpg

 

November 22, 2005 -- Neither the Yankees' manager nor their former right fielder can connect with Brian Giles.

 

"He has not spoken to either one of them," Bick said, noting that Torre and O'Neill had left messages for Giles and vice versa. Bick said he believed Giles had tried calling Torre at some point on Friday or Saturday.

 

Bick said Giles has to have at least a three-year deal with his new contract.

 

Asked what he is looking for — length of contract, a no-trade clause, geography, a commitment to winning — Bick indicated everything was going to factor in.

 

[More in URL]

[CubfaninCA]

[\quote]

 

I haven't been around these boards lately due to the incessant sniping at Hendry. I can understand the loathing towards Baker, but why Hendry? Is it just 'popular' around here to badmouth him or what?

 

Hendry misses the big picture, and that bothers some of us more than others, and some of us are more intellectually honest than others.

 

Signing middle relievers to long and expensive contracts makes no economic sense. You all know the arguments by now. It's not like the Cubs have unlimited payroll.

 

He pays way more than minimum to players like Perez and Macias and Blanco. Hendry perceives a lack of available mediocre talent. In all his talk about depth he doesn't understand that great frontline talent is immeasurably more important.

 

Yeah, Baker is awful. But when Hendry signs Macias and Perez, and lets Baker carry 12 pitchers, well he is an "enabler."

 

Some poster has a great sig. "Jim Hendry: Overpaying for mediocrity since 2004." That sums it up very nicely.

 

Get over yourself and your armchair opinions.

[fearthecubs]

[\quote]

 

I haven't been around these boards lately due to the incessant sniping at Hendry. I can understand the loathing towards Baker, but why Hendry? Is it just 'popular' around here to badmouth him or what?

 

Hendry misses the big picture, and that bothers some of us more than others, and some of us are more intellectually honest than others.

 

Signing middle relievers to long and expensive contracts makes no economic sense. You all know the arguments by now. It's not like the Cubs have unlimited payroll.

 

He pays way more than minimum to players like Perez and Macias and Blanco. Hendry perceives a lack of available mediocre talent. In all his talk about depth he doesn't understand that great frontline talent is immeasurably more important.

 

Yeah, Baker is awful. But when Hendry signs Macias and Perez, and lets Baker carry 12 pitchers, well he is an "enabler."

 

Some poster has a great sig. "Jim Hendry: Overpaying for mediocrity since 2004." That sums it up very nicely.

 

Get over yourself and your armchair opinions.

 

Lol, thats probalby construed as a personal attack, but I agree with you. You can't act like you know more than a GM in baseball, the guy has his job for a reason. GM's are smart, smart people, with degrees from great universities. I know Epstein is a Yale grad. Having your opinion is one thing but just keep at that, an opinion, don't try to make it fact!

 

edit - grammar

[David]

[\quote]

 

I haven't been around these boards lately due to the incessant sniping at Hendry. I can understand the loathing towards Baker, but why Hendry? Is it just 'popular' around here to badmouth him or what?

 

Hendry misses the big picture, and that bothers some of us more than others, and some of us are more intellectually honest than others.

 

Signing middle relievers to long and expensive contracts makes no economic sense. You all know the arguments by now. It's not like the Cubs have unlimited payroll.

 

He pays way more than minimum to players like Perez and Macias and Blanco. Hendry perceives a lack of available mediocre talent. In all his talk about depth he doesn't understand that great frontline talent is immeasurably more important.

 

Yeah, Baker is awful. But when Hendry signs Macias and Perez, and lets Baker carry 12 pitchers, well he is an "enabler."

 

Some poster has a great sig. "Jim Hendry: Overpaying for mediocrity since 2004." That sums it up very nicely.

 

Get over yourself and your armchair opinions.

 

Lol, thats probalby construed as a personal attack, but I agree with you. You can't act like you know more than a GM in baseball, the guy has his job for a reason. GM's are smart, smart people, with degrees from great universities. I know Epstein is a Yale grad. Having your opinion is one thing but just keep at that, an opinion, don't try to make it fact!

 

edit - grammar

 

Funny you mention that, because I would kill to have Theo Epstein as our GM. And not because of his Yale degree either.

 

But just to counter your point, Jim Hendry attended Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama where he received a bachelor's degree in communications and journalism. Not exactly Ivy League. Hell, not even Big East :wink: . (Although, probably not as bad as Dusty's American River Junior College).

 

Besides, why do you overlook the possibility (or likelihood) that some people in the general population are smarter? The general population is an awfully large group of people.

 

As for Hendry, the only thing I fault him for is his loyalty to Dusty. He may make some questionable moves with mediocre players, but what GM doesn't? He got us Aramis, Lee, Barrett, Walker, and a bunch of other players I love. The Nomar trade was brilliantly orchestrated. I just wish he would accept just how bad our manager really is.

[Careless]

[\quote]

 

I haven't been around these boards lately due to the incessant sniping at Hendry. I can understand the loathing towards Baker, but why Hendry? Is it just 'popular' around here to badmouth him or what?

 

Hendry misses the big picture, and that bothers some of us more than others, and some of us are more intellectually honest than others.

 

Signing middle relievers to long and expensive contracts makes no economic sense. You all know the arguments by now. It's not like the Cubs have unlimited payroll.

 

He pays way more than minimum to players like Perez and Macias and Blanco. Hendry perceives a lack of available mediocre talent. In all his talk about depth he doesn't understand that great frontline talent is immeasurably more important.

 

Yeah, Baker is awful. But when Hendry signs Macias and Perez, and lets Baker carry 12 pitchers, well he is an "enabler."

 

Some poster has a great sig. "Jim Hendry: Overpaying for mediocrity since 2004." That sums it up very nicely.

 

Get over yourself and your armchair opinions.

 

Lol, thats probalby construed as a personal attack, but I agree with you. You can't act like you know more than a GM in baseball, the guy has his job for a reason. GM's are smart, smart people, with degrees from great universities. I know Epstein is a Yale grad. Having your opinion is one thing but just keep at that, an opinion, don't try to make it fact!

 

edit - grammar

You two crack me up. We're here on a baseball board in a forum called "transactions" which is made for reacting to actual transactions and discussing hypothetical transactions. In other words, there is literally no purpose for this forum but to be an armchair GM.

[CubinNY]

[\quote]

 

I haven't been around these boards lately due to the incessant sniping at Hendry. I can understand the loathing towards Baker, but why Hendry? Is it just 'popular' around here to badmouth him or what?

 

Hendry misses the big picture, and that bothers some of us more than others, and some of us are more intellectually honest than others.

 

Signing middle relievers to long and expensive contracts makes no economic sense. You all know the arguments by now. It's not like the Cubs have unlimited payroll.

 

He pays way more than minimum to players like Perez and Macias and Blanco. Hendry perceives a lack of available mediocre talent. In all his talk about depth he doesn't understand that great frontline talent is immeasurably more important.

 

Yeah, Baker is awful. But when Hendry signs Macias and Perez, and lets Baker carry 12 pitchers, well he is an "enabler."

 

Some poster has a great sig. "Jim Hendry: Overpaying for mediocrity since 2004." That sums it up very nicely.

 

Get over yourself and your armchair opinions.

 

Lol, thats probalby construed as a personal attack, but I agree with you. You can't act like you know more than a GM in baseball, the guy has his job for a reason. GM's are smart, smart people, with degrees from great universities. I know Epstein is a Yale grad. Having your opinion is one thing but just keep at that, an opinion, don't try to make it fact!

 

edit - grammar

You two crack me up. We're here on a baseball board in a forum called "transactions" which is made for reacting to actual transactions and discussing hypothetical transactions. In other words, there is literally no purpose for this forum but to be an armchair GM.

 

I thought the purpose was to praise Hendry for what a wonderful job he did two and/or three years ago. In addition, to praise him for spending about 15 million dollars on medicore (at best) talent in Eyre, Howry (if true), Neifi, and Rusch.

[USSoccer]

[\quote]

 

I haven't been around these boards lately due to the incessant sniping at Hendry. I can understand the loathing towards Baker, but why Hendry? Is it just 'popular' around here to badmouth him or what?

 

Hendry misses the big picture, and that bothers some of us more than others, and some of us are more intellectually honest than others.

 

Signing middle relievers to long and expensive contracts makes no economic sense. You all know the arguments by now. It's not like the Cubs have unlimited payroll.

 

He pays way more than minimum to players like Perez and Macias and Blanco. Hendry perceives a lack of available mediocre talent. In all his talk about depth he doesn't understand that great frontline talent is immeasurably more important.

 

Yeah, Baker is awful. But when Hendry signs Macias and Perez, and lets Baker carry 12 pitchers, well he is an "enabler."

 

Some poster has a great sig. "Jim Hendry: Overpaying for mediocrity since 2004." That sums it up very nicely.

 

Get over yourself and your armchair opinions.

 

Lol, thats probalby construed as a personal attack, but I agree with you. You can't act like you know more than a GM in baseball, the guy has his job for a reason. GM's are smart, smart people, with degrees from great universities. I know Epstein is a Yale grad. Having your opinion is one thing but just keep at that, an opinion, don't try to make it fact!

 

edit - grammar

 

I don't think it takes academic brilliance to be a GM. At best, it takes the ability to multi-task, knowledge of the game of baseball (which can come in many forms), people skills, and rudimentrary economics.

 

And seriously, if bashing Hendry at all turns is en vogue, setting yourself up to be contrarian and bashing people for thinking they might have better ideas is a very close second.

[Lefty]

[\quote]

 

I haven't been around these boards lately due to the incessant sniping at Hendry. I can understand the loathing towards Baker, but why Hendry? Is it just 'popular' around here to badmouth him or what?

 

Hendry misses the big picture, and that bothers some of us more than others, and some of us are more intellectually honest than others.

 

Signing middle relievers to long and expensive contracts makes no economic sense. You all know the arguments by now. It's not like the Cubs have unlimited payroll.

 

He pays way more than minimum to players like Perez and Macias and Blanco. Hendry perceives a lack of available mediocre talent. In all his talk about depth he doesn't understand that great frontline talent is immeasurably more important.

 

Yeah, Baker is awful. But when Hendry signs Macias and Perez, and lets Baker carry 12 pitchers, well he is an "enabler."

 

Some poster has a great sig. "Jim Hendry: Overpaying for mediocrity since 2004." That sums it up very nicely.

 

Get over yourself and your armchair opinions.

 

What is the difference between opinion and armchair opinion?

[Lefty]

[\quote]

 

I haven't been around these boards lately due to the incessant sniping at Hendry. I can understand the loathing towards Baker, but why Hendry? Is it just 'popular' around here to badmouth him or what?

 

Hendry misses the big picture, and that bothers some of us more than others, and some of us are more intellectually honest than others.

 

Signing middle relievers to long and expensive contracts makes no economic sense. You all know the arguments by now. It's not like the Cubs have unlimited payroll.

 

He pays way more than minimum to players like Perez and Macias and Blanco. Hendry perceives a lack of available mediocre talent. In all his talk about depth he doesn't understand that great frontline talent is immeasurably more important.

 

Yeah, Baker is awful. But when Hendry signs Macias and Perez, and lets Baker carry 12 pitchers, well he is an "enabler."

 

Some poster has a great sig. "Jim Hendry: Overpaying for mediocrity since 2004." That sums it up very nicely.

 

Get over yourself and your armchair opinions.

 

Lol, thats probalby construed as a personal attack, but I agree with you. You can't act like you know more than a GM in baseball, the guy has his job for a reason. GM's are smart, smart people, with degrees from great universities. I know Epstein is a Yale grad. Having your opinion is one thing but just keep at that, an opinion, don't try to make it fact!

edit - grammar

 

Let's see. I am 39 years old, run a successful business, and have a 144 IQ. I have a BA from a better school than Hendry (need some anonymity on this one) and have two graduate degrees. I've played competitive baseball since I was ten and still do. I have read all the Sabermetric material since 1983. So whatever you think of that stuff, I certainly have an informed opinion about baseball stats at least. So tell me, because I haven't taken the baseball career path, I have to keep my mouth shut? You give me a break.

 

Could I be a GM? I don't know. I have lousy people skills.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

[\quote]

 

I haven't been around these boards lately due to the incessant sniping at Hendry. I can understand the loathing towards Baker, but why Hendry? Is it just 'popular' around here to badmouth him or what?

 

Hendry misses the big picture, and that bothers some of us more than others, and some of us are more intellectually honest than others.

 

Signing middle relievers to long and expensive contracts makes no economic sense. You all know the arguments by now. It's not like the Cubs have unlimited payroll.

 

He pays way more than minimum to players like Perez and Macias and Blanco. Hendry perceives a lack of available mediocre talent. In all his talk about depth he doesn't understand that great frontline talent is immeasurably more important.

 

Yeah, Baker is awful. But when Hendry signs Macias and Perez, and lets Baker carry 12 pitchers, well he is an "enabler."

 

Some poster has a great sig. "Jim Hendry: Overpaying for mediocrity since 2004." That sums it up very nicely.

 

Get over yourself and your armchair opinions.

 

What is the difference between opinion and armchair opinion?

 

you're not a GM.

 

however, the logic of saying you can't criticise a GM's moves also means you can't praise them either. :wink:

 

people are just upset that others disagree with their opinions and try to make out with the holier-than-thou attitude.

[NoDak]

I think we can all question JH ability to sign quality FA, but that is not all that a GM does.

 

In my mind, JH has two significant shortfalls as a GM:

1. He is not much of a judge of talent among FA and tends to vastly overspend for mediocre quality.

 

2. Sentimental. In '04 he caught lightning in a bottle with Hollandsworth, Perez, et al. and, rather than trading them while their value was high (I wonder what Jim Bowden would have given last July for Perez over Christian Guzman?) he re-signed them to relatively large contracts, contracts that they will have virtually no ability to play up to.

 

JH also has a couple of significant strengths as well:

1. "Experiments:" JH seems to, every year, sign a player or two to a minor league contract (not taking spots on a ML roster) and they come through for him. While Rusch has been far from an All-Star, his '04 season was an example of a successful experiment with relatively little down-side--until he is re-signed, invoking reason #2 above.

 

2. Take a chance: JH is willing to "take a chance" on a pitcher. While I am not a huge proponent of the "we have to have a 'closer'" mentality, Dempster was VERY successful in the pen last year (ERA below 2.00 out of the pen). I wonder if we can expect anything similar from Williamson? We'll see if re-signing Dempster is another "sentimental act" by JH.

 

3. Trader: While not all of his trades blow the roof off of the place, they rarely have the cubs holding the short end of the stick. He has pulled off some HUGE trades (Lee, Ramirez, Grudz/Karros. Nomar/Murton) where EVERYONE would agree CHC got the better end of the deal, but he has also pulled of some pretty good minor trades as well. While Jerome Williams isn't in the running for CY any time soon JH was able to shed a LOT of payroll for little drop in perfomance and some significant upside.

 

Given these perceived strengths/weaknesses I would have expected Hendry to take advantage of the fact that this is a down year for FA (his weakness anyway) and talk to various GMs about making trades as ways to improve their teams (with the exception of POSSIBLY Giles, I don't really see any FA this year that will have a significant positive effect on their team). And take his chances on a minor league contract for BH Kim from COL or Todd Pratt in place of Henry Blanco.

 

What has alarmed me is giving aging middle relievers HUGE contracts and actually signing a multi-year deal with Perez. He is dealing from his weakness which is never a good idea.