Bruce Levine Reporting on Hendry's Priorities

[HoopsCubs]

8:40 AM CST Sportscenter update:

 

Bruce said Hendry has 4 goals for the offseason now that the bullpen has been addressed:

 

SS

CF

RF

Starting Pitcher

 

Bruce thinks Hendry will spend the early part of the week focused on Pierre and Lugo. He will spend the later part of the week focused on RF and assessing the starting pitching market (i.e. is he better off trading for one or signing one).

 

 

Hoops

[JeffH]

Bruce also reports that Hendry says the doughnuts at the Anatole are top-notch.

[CubinNY]

Please, someone help help me to figure out why Hendry is targeting a SS.

 

Does he think Cedeno can't cut it?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Bruce also reports that Hendry says the doughnuts at the Anatole are top-notch.

 

I've stayed in that hotel. The doughnuts are delicious.

[WrigleyinEngland]

I have no idea either , play cedeno bat him 8th upgrade OF. Without furcal is anyone more open to soriano?. His bat would look pretty good about now considering our OF situation.

[XZero771679666304]

Please, someone help help me to figure out why Hendry is targeting a SS.

 

Does he think Cedeno can't cut it?

 

Two words: Dusty Baker. Why Hendry doesn't just fire him is beyond me.

[goonys evil twin]

I can't believe how asinine Hendry sounds in today's papers with his "we're happy with the 3 guys in the middle infield" talk. He blatantly lays it out there that Walker is not in their plans. He's once again undervaluing his own player, not even pretending there is a chance Walker could come back next season, when he is the best of the middle infield bunch. I guess there is a chance that every single reporter that quoted him on this subject was wrong in stating that the 3 he was talking about was Neifi, Ronny and Jerry, but I highly doubt it.

 

I've never agreed with Hendry's gameplan for building a team, but I always thought he was at least good enough to have some success with his innefficient style of spending for lots of mediocrity. But I still have to see some positive results before I give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

The Cubs are better off now that they didn't sign Furcal. It sounds funny that the Cubs are sort of whining that LA just offered an insanely overpriced contract, when the Cubs themselves were offering Furcal way more than he is worth. LA saved the Cubs from a bad contract. The question now is if Hendry can wisely spend all that money he has, and if he can get any production in a trade of all that talent he has in the minors.

 

Things still might work out for the Cubs, given their financial situation, but Hendry still has a ton of work. But, if this team ends up with Pierre in center, some Burnitz clone in RF, Neifi, Ronny and Jerry splitting time in the middle infield, and Rusch starting 20 games, the 2006 Cubs might be worse than the 2005 version.

[XZero771679666304]

I have no idea either , play cedeno bat him 8th upgrade OF. Without furcal is anyone more open to soriano?. His bat would look pretty good about now considering our OF situation.

 

Soriano will probably get 10 million this year in arbitration. I want no part of that, as he fills none of our needs.

 

Soriano road splits 2005: .224 .265 .374 .639

Soriano raod splits 2004: .244 .291 .444 .735

 

 

 

Scar-ee.

Edited December 5, 2005 by XZero77

[JeffH]

Hendry has made his first trade of the Winter Meetings. He's acquired a bear claw from Brian Cashman for a cruller to be named later.

 

OK, I'm done with the doughnut jokes. I promise.

[soapy]

I hope that list is not in order of priority. I don't understand the need to "focus" on SS at all. Maybe he should "focus" on the one position where the Cubs currently have zero options in house, RF (unless you count Mabry). :headache:

[WrigleyinEngland]

He better get something good for Walker. Now hes been dangled he better not come back with mike mcdougal.

[St.Paul Cub]

I have no idea either , play cedeno bat him 8th upgrade OF. Without furcal is anyone more open to soriano?. His bat would look pretty good about now considering our OF situation.

 

His bat does make him appealing. Not sure I'd like his pricetag. If we got Pierre for a leadoff hitter, then I'd be alright with Cedeno at SS and then trying to get some power from 2B to make up for Murton in LF.

[gflore34]

I hope that list is not in order of priority. I don't understand the need to "focus" on SS at all. Maybe he should "focus" on the one position where the Cubs currently have zero options in house, RF (unless you count Mabry). :headache:

\

 

I agree but, when one considers Baker is the manager, despite the presence of very good SS prospect, getting an established SS makes sense. How pitiful is it that Hendry has to somehow dumb down the team to save Baker from himself?

[frostwyrm]

Hendry is now eyeing 2nd tier shortstops, but he continues to hype Cedeno in public. Who does he think he's fooling? Other GM's have to be laughing every time Hendry talks up Cedeno.

[JeffH]

If we get two mid-priced outfielders from the Pierre/Wilkerson/Bradley/Nixon class, we'll still have $10-ish to spend.

 

If we don't get a pricey starting pitcher like Burnett or Zito, where are you going to spend it?

 

Soriano would be as good as anything, assuming they're dead set on trading Walker and the Rangers are in give-him-away mode.

[soapy]

I hope that list is not in order of priority. I don't understand the need to "focus" on SS at all. Maybe he should "focus" on the one position where the Cubs currently have zero options in house, RF (unless you count Mabry). :headache:

\

 

I agree but, when one considers Baker is the manager, despite the presence of very good SS prospect, getting an established SS makes sense. How pitiful is it that Hendry has to somehow dumb down the team to save Baker from himself?

 

Very pitiful. However, if Hendry trades Walker (seems likely) and doesn't get a 2B via trade, that basically puts Neifi at 2B and Cedeno at SS. Then Dusty's precious little Neifi can still get way too many ABs (probably batting 1st or 2nd). Also, if they pick up a SS (Lugo or whoever) Neifi will still get to play 2B. Getting a SS in no way removes Neifi from the lineup IMO. Focus on OF.

[Bruce Miles]

I wouldn't get too excited over this Burnett stuff or these Texas rumors. Once again, people forget three little words when it comes to Kerry Wood: "no trade clause." Not to mention the fact that he's coming off surgery. They're not trading him.

What Bruce Levine is reporting this morning is accurate and pretty much in line with what the papers have this morning. Leadoff man is the No. 1 priority. Things will follow from that.

[CubinNY]

I wouldn't get too excited over this Burnett stuff or these Texas rumors. Once again, people forget three little words when it comes to Kerry Wood: "no trade clause." Not to mention the fact that he's coming off surgery. They're not trading him.

What Bruce Levine is reporting this morning is accurate and pretty much in line with what the papers have this morning. Leadoff man is the No. 1 priority. Things will follow from that.

 

Mr. Miles,

 

Why is Hendry targeting a SS?

[XZero771679666304]

I wouldn't get too excited over this Burnett stuff or these Texas rumors. Once again, people forget three little words when it comes to Kerry Wood: "no trade clause." Not to mention the fact that he's coming off surgery. They're not trading him.

What Bruce Levine is reporting this morning is accurate and pretty much in line with what the papers have this morning. Leadoff man is the No. 1 priority. Things will follow from that.

 

Do you think Hendry will pursue a SS, such as Julio Lugo? Or is he really content with Cedeno/Perez?

[soapy]

I wouldn't get too excited over this Burnett stuff or these Texas rumors. Once again, people forget three little words when it comes to Kerry Wood: "no trade clause." Not to mention the fact that he's coming off surgery. They're not trading him.

What Bruce Levine is reporting this morning is accurate and pretty much in line with what the papers have this morning. Leadoff man is the No. 1 priority. Things will follow from that.

 

Thanks, Bruce. I'm glad to hear the Texas rumors appear false (or at least slim). I have no interest in Mench and minimal (at best) interest in Soriano. I'm especially not interested in trading Wood and/or Walker for either one of them (or Zito).

[gflore34]

If we get two mid-priced outfielders from the Pierre/Wilkerson/Bradley/Nixon class, we'll still have $10-ish to spend.

 

If we don't get a pricey starting pitcher like Burnett or Zito, where are you going to spend it?

 

Soriano would be as good as anything, assuming they're dead set on trading Walker and the Rangers are in give-him-away mode.

 

Soriano is the exact opposite of what the Cubs need. How is it that many of us can see the need for someone to get on base ahead of Lee and Ramirez and Cubs management can't? In Lee and Ramirez they've got all the power they need, why in the world do they need power out of 2B?

[Derwood]

Bruc, are the meetings under way?

[Bruce Miles]

The question about targeting a shortstop is a fair one. I think they're fine there, and maybe the Furcal thing will be a blessing in disguise. I think Hendry made a very fair offer. I'd be happy with Cedeno starting. Got to head across the street to the winter meetings hotel. Maybe I'll even check out the doughnuts.

[soapy]

If we get two mid-priced outfielders from the Pierre/Wilkerson/Bradley/Nixon class, we'll still have $10-ish to spend.

 

If we don't get a pricey starting pitcher like Burnett or Zito, where are you going to spend it?

 

Soriano would be as good as anything, assuming they're dead set on trading Walker and the Rangers are in give-him-away mode.

 

Soriano is the exact opposite of what the Cubs need. How is it that many of us can see the need for someone to get on base ahead of Lee and Ramirez and Cubs management can't? In Lee and Ramirez they've got all the power they need, why in the world do they need power out of 2B?

 

I think Hendry sees a need there, I just don't agree with the way he's seeking to fill it. Walker is an obvious option. Murton is a fall-back option. Bradley is an option. Wilkerson is an option. However, I don't think Hendry sees these guys as options. He wants speed (and OBP to go along with it would be nice). I think he'll get Pierre or Lugo.

[goonys evil twin]

The question about targeting a shortstop is a fair one. I think they're fine there, and maybe the Furcal thing will be a blessing in disguise. I think Hendry made a very fair offer. I'd be happy with Cedeno starting. Got to head across the street to the winter meetings hotel. Maybe I'll even check out the doughnuts.

 

It's a fair one, if they end up getting somebody of the caliber of Lugo, and then push Neifi to strictly a bench role. Whatever direction they go, if they end up with Neifi starting 100 games this year, they screwed up.