Backtobanks

If winning a WS is the standard for being a good GM, then every GM is bad except one each year. Look at the top payrolls (Yanks, Red Sox, Angels, Cubs, Mets, White Sox, etc.) and you see all losers this year. While I'm frustrated about 1st round playoff losses, would we feel any better if they lost in the 1st round 3 games to 2? Would it be any better to lose in the NLCS?

I agree that Wood will resign with the Cubs. As for Dempster, I think it will take an overwhelming offer for him to leave the Cubs. I can't see that happening with names like Sabathia, Burnett, Lowe, and Peavy out there.

Yep, awful news that the 1st Cubs GM to bring the team to consistent respectability would get an extension. Worst. News. Ever. Not saying I agree with everything he does or even his overall philosophy, but, hey, we could have Ed Wade or Ned Colletti. Hmmmm....consistent respectability. That's quite a standard of success. Hendry has basically been given an open checkbook since he started and the Cubs have one playoff series win to show for it. If "consistent respectability" is what Cub fans are looking for then I guess Hendry has done a great job. "Consistent respectability" is a lot better than watching the Cubs of the 50's and 60's go through 20 years of 4th and 5th (and lower) place finishes. To be honest, a GM can only put together a team that is strong "on paper", the performance is basically up to the players, coaches, and manager. According to the "experts", Hendry put together the best team "on paper" in the NL (and maybe in all of baseball). The players slumped at the wrong time (or choked) and the Cubs lost 3 in a row, but it doesn't diminish the fact that Hendry assembled a 97-win team.

A letter to the Tribune today suggested that the Cubs trade Soriano to the Red Sox. He thought Soriano would possibly waive his NTC because the Sox have a ton of money and he would probably hit 40+ HRs in Fenway. He could replace Ortiz as DH or be a real asset in LF with his arm. In exchange, the Cubs would get either Bay or Drew and Crisp/young pitcher. Don't know if it is possible, but this is what the off season is for - speculation, rumors, and fantasy.

2 mentions of the Cubs in MLBtraderumors: Jacob Jackson at Athletics Nation predicts destinations for his top 12 free agents. My Top 50 will come out after the World Series. I disagree with a few of Jacob's picks - Derek Lowe and Jason Giambi re-signing and the Cubs signing Adam Dunn. If you read the link, this blogger thinks the Cubs will offer an obscene amount of money to get Dunn. According to Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger, the Yankees have had preliminary discussions with the Padres about Jake Peavy (hat tip to River Ave. Blues). Peavy was apparently a hot topic at the Yankees' organizational meetings. Peavy's agent hinted he might accept a trade to the Yankees, but he does prefer the NL. Peavy's preferred cities are Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and St. Louis. Despite that, Graziano says the Mets have interest. The Padres are aggressively shopping Peavy, seeking two young pitchers and a near MLB-ready center fielder. I would think the Cubs ought to be able to fill the requirement of "two young pitchers and a near MLB-ready CF." Pie and Marshall plus more young pitching seems to be what is being asked for.

Then later in the article.. Makes me wonder if he would take Randy Bush, leaving the Cubs without a worthwhile GM. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-081016-chicago-cubs-jim-hendry,0,582070.story Yeah I think there would be interest for Hendry then some think. I know many have not like some of his moves in the past, but even the best GM's make subpar moves.When it comes down to it Hendry has made alot more good moves then bad. Then when you consider he's put a competitive team on the field 5 of 6 years(05 team could have contended for playoff spot without all the injuries) he's been the GM, and has 3 division titles in 6 years. His resume is actually pretty solid, and I can see the Mariners, Blue Jays and a few other teams interested. But I would be surprised if Hendry isn't back, he seems to like it here, and the team is happy with him. I don't see his style working well with a mid-sized market team like Seattle. Hendry makes good moves, but he also throws a lot of money at his problems as well. I can't see him having the flexibility to do that in Seattle, a market that has let very good players leave due to money. And if they do give him some money to spend, are they going to give him more money to spend when he makes mistakes on some of his big money acquisitions? I don't think it's fair to predict what he would do in another market when his "style" is based on one job with a big-market team. He might be very flexible if put in a different situation. That's like saying Brian Cashman could never be successful with another team.

Yea, we shouldn't bring up the fact that pitchers like Gibson (on an elevated mound) had an ERA of 1.12 for the whole year while great power hitters had 30 HRs as opposed to now when some mediocre hitters hit 35-40 HRs and good pitchers have an ERA of 4.20. :-k

If you're talking about home field advantage, look at the short right field fence in Yankee Stadium where Ruth hit a ton of his homers. Look at County Stadium in Milwaukee where Aaron hit a bunch of his homers. All any player can do is excel at his position given the conditions of the time. Santo excelled at 3B in a pitcher-dominated era in a hitter-friendly ballpark and there's no doubt he belongs in the HOF.

I really hate this line. Either the GM utilizes his resources correctly, or he doesn't. There have been plenty of 'expensive' teams that are not playoffs teams over the last 10 years. If you believe he has correctly utilized his budget when acquiring talent, then you can't come to the conclusion that he's not a good baseball man and just fortunate. If you believe he has poorly utilized his budget when acquiring talent, then it seems reasonable to question his baseball talent evaluation skills, but then you have to do an adequate job explaining how a consensus elite and deep team is merely a fortunate team. It is a tough argument to sell that he is a poor GM coming off a 97 win season in which the team had an elite offense (2nd in MLB Runs, 3rd in MLB OPS), an elite pitching staff (3rd in MLB Runs Allowed, 3rd in MLB OPS Against), and a middle-of-the-pack defense. And it is very much the same team from 2007, and likely the same team in 2009 which will be projected as the 90+ Win division holder once again. Every year the Cubs have been contenders Hendry has gone out and gotten something to fill a hole, or even just to bolster a weak spot. What have the Cubs lost for them? Bobby Hill, Hee Seop Choi, Dontrelle Willis? Ricky Nolasco is about all the Cubs have lost off the top of my head that I would really want back. Then think of '03-'04. Hill, Choi, Willis, Hundley, Alex Gonzalez, Brendan Harris out the door for ARam, Lofton, Simon, Lee, Karros, Grudzielanek, Nomar, Clement, and Murton. Murton, Sean Gallagher and Eric Patterson netted us Harden and Gaudin this year. You get the picture, he get's a lot back on his returns. Sure he's made some stupid moves (Pierre), but at the same time everybody was begging for a leadoff hitter and the Cubs still don't have one. I'll take my chances with Jim any day. I totally agree. All that a GM can do is put together the best team possible and then try to fill in any holes that pop up during the season. I think he's done a great job and he's not to blame for a team that hasn't gone deep into the playoffs. Of course all of us would have made dozens of deals (trades and signings) which would have guaranteed a World Series by now. His job really looks easy sitting in front of our computers and making fantasy deals.

I guess the real question is what his "actual worth" is. Bringing up the Hardin trade is ridiculous because the A's were going nowhere, have no money, and rebuilding. The Mets are a rich team that contends every year and needs players back that will help them immediately. Also, if Delgado leaves and then Minaya trades Beltran, the offense takes a sharp turn downward.

From MLBtraderumors.com: A similar argument can be made against the idea of getting Derrek Lee to the Bay. Also signed for two more seasons (at $13MM per), Lee's a bit older than Konerko and his power numbers have dropped quite a bit. And as Rogers mentions, the Cubs will not let Lee go without getting compensated with a Cain or Sanchez in return. Lee may have two more above-average years left in him. Cain and Sanchez is worth far more than that to a rebuilding team like the Giants. Would you make this deal: Lee, DeRosa, and Pie for Cain and Lewis.

It'll take 5 or more players like Fontenot, Marquis, Wuertz, etc. It might take less if you're talking about Marmol, DeRosa, Marshall, or Lilly.

Your package is a lot more realistic than some of those other suggestions. The Mets aren't going to give away Beltran for unproven players (Pie, Fontenot, Hill) or roster filler (Marquis, Wuertz) without adding quality (DeRosa, Marshall) and/or quantity.

Rios, as is my pick I would say was a undervalued player 1-2 years ago. My undervalued player is Adrian Gonzalez he is a gold glove caliber 1B, and puts up great offensive numbers playing half his games in a pitchers park. I still think Gonzalez is one of the most underated/non-heard about players in baseball, if he was a Yankee/Red Sox he would be the next Babe Ruth. I don't know how posters can pick Alex Rios as undervalued when it would take a king's ransom to acquire him in a trade.

I saw a rumor that Griffey wants to play 3 more years. I really don't understand all of this Dunn, Abreu, etc. talk when there are such qualified OFs as Patterson and Griffey just a phone call away. =D> =D> =D>

The title of this thread doesn't agree with this post. This post basically states Stone's opinion that Lee is expendable, etc. while the title suggests that Stone has information that Lee will be traded.

Strikeouts are overrated. Dunn is a vastly superior player to Soriano. Not the same player outside of the horrendous strike out rate. There's not much difference IMO. Soriano is Dunn of the tools first guys. Dunn is the Soriano of the SABR guys. Both are really flawed players. i do know this much...when fans of other teams watched the reds or the diamondbacks...they cringed when dunn came up to bat... i think that cringe was always a bit nastier than soriano for us dunn in our lineup this year may have really been a huge difference maker for us I don't have the "Cringe Factor" standings in front of me, but I don't know about that. oh jeez, just because i didn't throw out a stat man...sometimes this board is tedious you mean to tell me you would rather pitch to dunn instead of soriano...i would walk dunn to get to soriano personally I wouldnt want to pitch to either of them especially in certain situations, but I think people would walk Dunn to get to Soriano A good pitcher would strike out both of them. As for walking Dunn to face Soriano, you certainly wouldn't do that when Soriano is in one of his hot streaks. They both have huge talent and gigantic flaws and personally, I think they are both overrated.

Why would Andy insist on a 34-year old player in the last year of his contract for his team that is several years away from contending? I think the offense needs to be tweaked. They were #1 this year, but #8 the year before with a very similar cast. I have a feeling they will fall back toward the middle of the pack if they stay with what they got. he might want him because a. he is cheap for his production rate b. there is a good chance he has another good year and nets him a couple of picks MacPhail might want a package centered around Theriot/Cedeno, but not DeRosa.

Ding Ding! We have a winner. I don't believe Roberts is still at the top of Hendry's wishlist for a variety of reasons. The most obvious reason is that AM toyed with him for months back when Roberts was a year younger and had 2 years left on his contract. I can't see AM accepting a lesser offer this year from Hendry. As for Sabathia, I can't see Hendry giving $20+ million per year for 8+ seasons to a pitcher or outbidding the Yankees, Red Sox, Giants, etc.

From MLBtraderumors: Delmon Young Available? By Tim Dierkes [October 6 at 8:44am CST] According to Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune: The Twins won't talk about it, but it's expected that Delmon Young, the left fielder they obtained from Tampa Bay before this past season, will be made available on the trade market. It seems an odd time to shop Young, but moving him for a shortstop or third baseman might clear the way for an outfield of Michael Cuddyer, Carlos Gomez, and Denard Span. Young, 23, hit .290/.336/.405 in 623 plate appearances. He made some progress in his walk rate, and at least slugged .448 after June 1st. He's not a lefty, but he would be an interesting possibility since he's played all 3 OF positions.

I think most baseball people agree that Bradley can't be considered an everyday OF anymore. Spot starter/pinch hitter/DH are about all he can do.

The bottom line is that we weren't good enough. I stand by my statement. Any team that wins 97 games during the season is good enough to beat another team in a 5 game series. Which team is hot or when a team is going to slump are factors that are impossible to calculate.

How many hitters like that are there in the Majors? Not many (Manny, Pujols, ARod, etc.)!

No we won't be seeing Edmonds in a Cub uniform. I think Hoffpauir will be with the team next year and will give Lee more rest, but Hoffpauir is not an everyday player.

I understand your frustration, but now is the time to buy low. All of those cheap shirts with a Cub emblem that were "on sale" last week for $20 can be purchased this week for $4.