Keep Jim Hendry..So says Ken Rosenthal

[FirstTimer]

If Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts wants to fire general manager Jim Hendry at the end of the season, that’s his absolute right.




The Ricketts family paid $845 million for the Cubs, Wrigley Field and 25 percent of Comcast Sports Net Chicago in October 2009. Plain and simple, it’s their toy.

Just know this: The Cubs, no matter how this season turns out, are on the right path. The loss of Hendry and his staff would set them back.

As I reported in my “Full Count” video Saturday, the consensus around the game is that the Cubs need to show progress for Hendry to receive an extension.

I get it. If the Cubs produce a second straight losing season — and they currently are 15-18, fourth in the NL Central — it will be difficult to justify keeping Hendry.

But consider the big picture.

Shortstop Starlin Castro, second baseman Darwin Barney and right-hander Andrew Cashner are the vanguard of a wave of young talent that should leave the Cubs positioned to contend for the next several years.

Baseball America listed the Cubs eighth in its preseason organization talent rankings. Hendry subsequently moved three of BA’s top 16 prospects in the Matt Garza trade. But more talent is on the way — talent signed by Hendry’s scouting director, Tim Wilken, and developed by his farm director, Oneri Fleita. If Hendry goes, Wilken and Fleita probably will leave with him.

That alone is not a reason to keep Hendry, but what would be the benefit of dismantling the organization? If Ricketts doesn’t like the way Hendry spends money, then hire a strong club president to impose greater financial discipline, sort of the way Larry Lucchino did with Kevin Towers in San Diego. The Tribune Co., when it wanted to raise the value of the Cubs for a sale, gave Hendry almost the opposite direction.

The Cubs, with nearly $50 million in expiring contracts, are indeed reaching a crossroads - third baseman Aramis Ramirez, outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, first baseman Carlos Pena and left-handed reliever John Grabow all are in the final years of deals. Oh, and a certain Cardinals first baseman, one whom Hendry knows quite well, is eligible for free agency.

Hendry isn’t perfect; no GM is. But let’s not forget, he won three division titles in his first six full seasons after taking over on July 5, 2002. He navigated the club through the team’s lengthy ownership transition. And now the franchise appears on the verge of renaissance, thanks to a farm system that is strong enough for the team to avoid signing free agents such as Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley in the future.




If Ricketts changes GMs, his new guy is going to end up looking pretty smart because of Jim Hendry.

Seems like a pretty good reason to keep Hendry to me.

:clap:

 

[Captain Obvious]

Amen Ken Rosenthal! Preach my brotha! I couldn't agree more, however, I'm kind of starting to wonder if this is just one of those relationships where it just isn't working and neither party is really at fault. However, I don't really think there is a better option than Hendry out there.

 

[A Chosen Bullet]

Well, Ken Rosenthal makes a strong case, I suppose. But other than the Mets, I don't think there's another club in MLB that has gotten less (wins and postseason results) with more (annual big market payroll) than the Cubs during Hendry's reign.

I still haven't gotten over the $28 million lunch with Milton Bradley which, even then, nobody but Hendry and Pinella thought was a wise move. The folks in Tampa will be talking for the next decade about the Garza trade where, as Rosenthal, the Cubs gave up three of the top 15 prospects according to BA. It's never ending...

Hendry should've been shown the door when Pinella left in my opnion...

 

[FirstTimer]

Well, Ken Rosenthal makes a strong case, I suppose. But other than the Mets, I don't think there's another club in MLB that has gotten less (wins and postseason results) with more (annual big market payroll) than the Cubs during Hendry's reign.

I still haven't gotten over the $28 million lunch with Milton Bradley which, even then, nobody but Hendry and Pinella thought was a wise move. The folks in Tampa will be talking for the next decade about the Garza trade where, as Rosenthal, the Cubs gave up three of the top 15 prospects according to BA. It's never ending...

Hendry should've been shown the door when Pinella left in my opnion...

Who do you replace Hendry with then? Without having a viable backup option firing Hendry with no realistic idea for the next guy is, as Michael Scott would say, cutting off your nose to spider face.

 

[DewsSox79]

Who do you replace Hendry with then? Without having a viable backup option firing Hendry with no realistic idea for the next guy is, as Michael Scott would say, cutting off your nose to spider face.

My thoughts on jim hendry are ehh, and I believe that there is too many radical fans going to the extreme stating he is the worst GM, and than the fans who hold his **** for him while he takes a piss. both radical opinions are insane. average GM, with no one out there to replace him but one guy. Haan, and that is it.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

No matter what direction we go..

Wilken stays.

Ive loved getting him for the past few years.. One of the best decisions the franchise has made in many many many years.

 

[A Chosen Bullet]

Who do you replace Hendry with then? Without having a viable backup option firing Hendry with no realistic idea for the next guy is, as Michael Scott would say, cutting off your nose to spider face.

I'm not a front office executive. So I don't have a list in front of me of the dozens of likely qualified candidates from high ranking scouting directors, assistant GMs, GMs in smaller markets who may itch for the Cub job, etc. etc. But that certainly doesn't mean there's not a viable backup option. It's up to Ricketts people to find and identify the next Theo Epstein like GM who might be an unknown right now to the general fan base...

 

[DewsSox79]

I'm not a front office executive. So I don't have a list in front of me of the dozens of likely qualified candidates from high ranking scouting directors, assistant GMs, GMs in smaller markets who may itch for the Cub job, etc. etc. But that certainly doesn't mean there's not a viable backup option. It's up to Ricketts people to find and identify the next Theo Epstein like GM who might be an unknown right now to the general fan base...

haan needs to be running a team

 

[Tyler Juranovich]

I wouldn't fire Hendry just yet, though I do think the Cubs need a change. Yes, they've won 3 division titles, but two of those years they were swept in the first round. Hendry may have the track record to hold on for a few more years, but if the team doesn't improve over those years, he's gone.

 

[FirstTimer]

. But that certainly doesn't mean there's not a viable backup option. .

I never said there wasn't, but maybe before idiot fasns knee jerk to saying "Fire Hendry OMGZERS!" they should at least have some clue of who should/ is qualified to take over and if that person is available.

Any meathead can want someone fired...a real fan has real solutions.

 

[Captain Obvious]

I wouldn't fire Hendry just yet, though I do think the Cubs need a change. Yes, they've won 3 division titles, but two of those years they were swept in the first round. Hendry may have the track record to hold on for a few more years, but if the team doesn't improve over those years, he's gone.

How are the Cubs getting swept his fault? He had basically no control over that.

 

[85Bears4life]

For every good move hendry makes(Lee, Ramirez) He makes the horrible signings/trades(Hee sop choi,Bradley,McGriff). He has signed players to horrible contracts(soriano fukudome Pena) which some are finally coming off the books. Granted he couldnt spend to much money early on cause of the tribune company being cheap.

He lacks something to be a good gm. Cant pinpoint what it is ,but he certainly missing something. Is he a average GM yes...but with the ricketts running this team now, I just dont see a change coming anytime soon. Plus who else out their could be available...jerry Angelo(lol), Kenny williams.

Now this offseason if he can go get top players without signing them to organizational killing contracts(soriano for example) then I will applaud him. Id love Pujols but not for 10 yrs 300 mill. I think the ricketts will give him 1 more year before they determine if a change is necessary.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

I didn't know McGriff was a bad acquisition.. ?!?!

I must be missing something here.

 

[FirstTimer]

For every good move hendry makes(Lee, Ramirez) He makes the horrible signings/trades(Hee sop choi,Bradley,McGriff). He has signed players to horrible contracts(soriano fukudome Pena) which some are finally coming off the books. Granted he couldnt spend to much money early on cause of the tribune company being cheap.

.

LOL what?

Bradley was a bad signing but please explain how Mcgriff was.

Hendry wasn't the GM when Choi was signed. Choi was signed in the late 90's. On top of that Choi was seen as a good signing and was a perrenial Top 50 prospect before he broke in.

Hendry, as the GM, moved Choi for Derek Lee.

Obviously a good move.

In summation; What the hell are you talking about?

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

LOL what?

Bradley was a bad signing but please explain how Mcgriff was.

Hendry wasn't the GM when Choi was signed. Choi was signed in the late 90's. On top of that Choi was seen as a good signing and was a perrenial Top 50 prospect before he broke in.

Hendry, as the GM, moved Choi for Derek Lee.

Obviously a good move.

In summation; What the hell are you talking about?

Pretty much.

 

[daddies3angels]

I think Hendry has done a good job. Has had Cubs to playoffs 3 times in 8 years. No other Chicago Gm can say that. Every GM makes bad moves. Part of game. I trust him to get Cubs back to playoffs. I dont trust Ricketts though

 

[dabynsky]

For every good move hendry makes(Lee, Ramirez) He makes the horrible signings/trades(Hee sop choi,Bradley,McGriff). He has signed players to horrible contracts(soriano fukudome Pena) which some are finally coming off the books. Granted he couldnt spend to much money early on cause of the tribune company being cheap.

We don't contradict ourselves one bit with this point. How can trading for Derrek Lee be a good move and trading Hee Seop Choi (sp?) be a horrible move when they were traded for each other pretty much straight up (there was a crappy minors pitcher that never amounted to anything involved I forget his name.)?

 

[Tyler Juranovich]

How are the Cubs getting swept his fault? He had basically no control over that.

No direct control, but those are his players. The GM and coach take most of the heat when a team does poorly, especially when they get embarrassed two straight years when, in both years, they were considered the favorite.