BudHouse

The points are endless. Hendry can't resist himself when it comes to pitchers with a history of arm troubles. Taking a spot even in spring training takes away time from a younger pitcher to develop and get a good evaluation. If Hendry had done that in the past, we wouldn't have the Les Walronds of the world in our system. Good job, Jim. When's the signing of Phil Nevin announced?

It's Harry Caray... no one else is even close. He's Top 5 all-time for all baseball announcers. The fact that we still talk about him 10 years after he passed awaytells you what he meant to baseball fans. Len Kasper is OK, but remember he was the 3rd or 4th pick of the Cubs and not their #1. Some of his enthusiasm seems quite forced, but he does get on the players and manager-I'll give him that. A little better than Chip who must have gotten paid by the word. As to Joe Carter, my favorite line was when he was talking about the large right field area in Florida. He called it "a carniverous right field". I also remember the day game in 2002 where John McDonough's teen-age kid was allowed to go on the air and do play-by-play on FSN. I thought that was a little over the top.

I want the Cubs to win as much as everyone. But I don't think the man who is responsible for this debacle is the man to bring us out of it. If I had his miserable record of player development, etc..I'd also refuse to go on sports radio and let the fans ask questions. He might have to explain his inability to acquire players, any way he can, that can work a count, throw to the right base or know the strike zone. This story about Kerry Wood being in such demand and offered all of this money by other teams is strictly pr fluff. Not seen one reputable report of another team admitting they offered him anything. [-X Why do you think he re-signed? Hendry is his personal ATM machine. No pressure to actually produce. I hope Fukodome turns out great. I'm anxious to see him play. We know he'll have the fundamentals down, unlike most of his teammates.

There are reports that Jim Edmonds is being dealt to the Padres. Good for the Cubs, he killed us with that opposite field swing at Wrigley. Despite his theatrics of making catches appear harder than they were, he was a Gold Glover and a real good hitter. I think the Cards got as much out of him as they could. The sales of eyeliner in St. Louis will plummet though.

Hendry has been a failure as a GM. And I believe the new owners of the Cubs will launch him on Day #1. He's simply overmatched. Here's why: * Despite finishing consistently low in the standings and therefore having high draft picks, the minor leagues have failed to produce a quality everyday player in more than 10+ years. I thought that Ryan Harvey would amount to something but I see he's still stuck in A ball after 4 years. How could the farm system go from Top 5 to bottom 5 so fast? * He seems to draft players from college programs that his friends are coaches for-Notre Dame, etc..which so far haven't developed. Bobby Brownlie, Grant Johnson, etc.. * Players coming thru the Cubs minor leagues take forever to make it thru. Other teams have young players come up when they're 20,21, 22. The Cubs have these Sean Marshall types that are 26 year old rookies. * When signing free agents he overpays, offers too long a contract and seems to be suckered by agents to bid against himself. Then we're stuck with these guys and when they suck,we can't get rid of them. Jacque Jones, Jason Marquis, etc.. * He just can't Kerry Wood out of his life. You would think he would be smart enough to see the mechanics haven't changed, the chances of injury are still there and paying this guy millions for another year was more than foolish. * Hendry loves marginal middle infielders who can't do anything well-Izturis, Fontenot and the great Neifi Perez. * Hendry thinks you can win with these small, undersized players like Greenburg, Fuld etc.. who hustle, make an occasional good catch but do nothing else. More later..

Interesting first post. You blast a reporter for not revealing his sources and for implying there is no way Cubs fans could actually be requesting Fukudome jerseys because he doesn't have an official number yet. Yes, interesting. Reporter? Kaplan only knows what Jim Hendry tells him to say. His constant references to his free golf games, free dinners and having guests on to get free stuff is a little much. To tell me that Kerry Wood is some kind of hero because he re-signed with the Cubs, when the guy had no firm offers on the table from any other club, is laughable. But Kaplan thinks it must be important to promote Wood all he can to us fans.

What kind of credibility does LaRussa have after turning his back on McGwire taking 'vitamins' in 1998? Wasn't there a rash of former African American Cardinal players who criticized LaRussa for being cheapshoted by him and Jocketty? Many baseball fans laugh at Larussa's drinking problem and being caught as being long overdue.l

Kaplan is terrible. He must always preface all these fabricated stories that "he talked to 3 General Managers'-although he fails to mention who. Last week he was fawning all over Fukedome's agent that "Cub fans are requesting Fukedome jerseys." What number would that be, David? He needs to just settle down and quit being such a lap dog.