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<!--quoteo(post=13609:date=Jan 25 2009, 10:02 AM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Jan 25 2009, 10:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=13604:date=Jan 25 2009, 10:33 AM:name=BT)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BT @ Jan 25 2009, 10:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=13396:date=Jan 23 2009, 09:14 PM:name=KBwsb)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KBwsb @ Jan 23 2009, 09:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=13388:date=Jan 23 2009, 09:01 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Jan 23 2009, 09:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=13384:date=Jan 23 2009, 07:58 PM:name=KBwsb)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KBwsb @ Jan 23 2009, 07:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I think it's certainly a possibility. However, Clapp, there are two reasons that I'm a little more thinking like Captian:
1-Almost an exact replica of the Peavy scenario played out all winter long, last year. And yet Mr. Brian Roberts remained an Oriole.
2-Assuming that Mr. Hendry always has a rhyme or reason for some of his bizarre moves was a disease I was cured of back in about '05.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It's one reason for you: you don't believe in Hendry.
The Roberts situation is completely different. MacPhail completely fucked with us and wanted half the farm system.
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1-Do I think Hendry works in a linear manner? No. I think his methods are similar to a drunk man driving in the bumper-car ride. But, occasionally, that drunk man comes out unscathed.
I do think Jim has worked the Peavy thing pretty well, and I agree with Ace that our chances are at least 50/50, probably better.
2-The Roberts thing was actually <i>very</i> similar. Almost identical, right down to the opposing GM asking for the moon. And if you think that little Andy MacPhail is in the same league as the Padres brain trust of Kevin Towers/Sandy Alderson/Paul DePodesta, then I guess you weren't aware of the goings-on concerning the Chicago Cub baseball team during the years 1994-2006.
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One of those drunks who build a team that wins 2 division championships in a row, with a third one very likely? One of those drunk guys who build a team that wins 97 games? Dude, when are you going to give Hendry at least some credit for knowing what the fuck he is doing?
On topic, I think we can get peavy, but if the Padres try to hold us up, they can go fuck.
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With a payroll that exceeds the nearest in the division by $40 mill, I could probably put together a couple division winners, too. Just sayin'.
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Ace nailed one of the main reasons. Also, Jim has been GM for 6 and a half years, and he just last year put together his first team that won more than 89 freaking games. And that's with a gigantic financial advantage in his division.
I loved last year, and throughout the season, gave Jimbo full credit. But a lot of lucky things broke our way last year, let's face it...even Jim himself fully acknowledged that: DeRosa having a <i>beyond</i> career-year at age 33, the Edmonds miracle, Dempster pulling MLB's "biggest surprise of the year," an incredibly healthy team (except for the obligatory Alf and Wood roadbumps), Soto exploding from our 10th-best prospect into one of the greatest rookie catchers ever...I mean, c'mon.
A lot of this isn't going to repeat itself. I'm optimistic for '09, yes.
But am I happy about us giving up our team MVP and our All-Star closer and getting <i>nothing</i> in return? The GM did that, right?
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
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Inconsistent is a better word then drunk. To go along with his great moves and his lucky moves, he has made some bonehead moves. First and foremost was not trading Pierre and Jaques at the 06 deadline (he should have traded Barrett too). The Furcal/Pierre fiasco. I thought letting Alou go was pretty stupid, but without the benefit of hindsight, can't really be called boneheaded.
I like you guys a lot.
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i think hendry had a couple down years but overall has been pretty good. he's made some bad moves for sure, but he's also made some pretty good ones as well.
we lost our (arguably) team mvp, but it's not like he left a gaping hole there. fontenot and miles can fill that spot capably. and he lost our closer, but it's not like he left a gaping hole there either. marmol will be a better closer, and if not, gregg will be as good. milton bradley infinitely upgrades the entire outfield.
i think the team is as good as last years with a real possibility of being better.
Wang.
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There's no way we're going to win 97 games next year.
But we don't have to. If we can win 90-ish, we'll almost certainly get into the playoffs. (probably as the Central division winner, if not, as the Wild Card.)
And then a whole new dynamic begins, and since we literally can't possibly do worse than we've done the past 2 playoffs, I expect great things.
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
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<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Ace nailed one of the main reasons. Also, Jim has been GM for 6 and a half years, and he just last year put together his first team that won more than 89 freaking games. And that's with a gigantic financial advantage in his division.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Wrong.
Such short memories. Who had a higher payroll in 2005, Cubs or Cardinals? Cardinals. How much higher was the Cubs payroll than the Cardinals in 2006? Six million dollars. How much higher was the Cubs payroll in 2007, after the Trib started breaking the bank? 9 million, or less than a 10 percent advantage. Even in 2008, the Cubs "gigantic" financial advantage was a payroll less than 20 percent higher than the Cardinals. To put it in perspective, the Cubs had the 7th highest payroll, the Cardinals 11th. Not much of a difference, and certainly not a "gigantic" one.
KB your hatred of Hendry is simply unreasonable. If the Cubs suck, it's all Hendry's fault. If they are good, it's because of payroll, or it's because the rest of the division sucks, anything but because Hendry put together a good team. DeRosa being good is lucky, but Prior going from a guy with perfect form who will never get hurt to a guy whose career is over before it starts is somehow Hendry's fault. In the last 6 years, the Cubs have made the playoffs in 3 of them, should have made it in one more but choked (2004), and looked poised to win it again. This is UNHEARD of in Cubdom.
It's fine if you don't think Hendry is great. I certainly think he has made his share of mistakes. But to act as if he is some nitwit careening from disaster to disaster, saved only by the grace of God and deep pockets, is completely and utterly unfair.
I wish that I believed in Fate. I wish I didn't sleep so late. I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders.
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Wait, I just reread you post KB, and this is INCREDIBLE.
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->But am I happy about us giving up our team MVP and our All-Star closer and getting nothing in return? The GM did that, right?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Do you mean "am I happy about us giving up the guy who had a BEYOND career year at age 33 and our All Star closer who comes complete with obligatory DL stints"?
How can you be talking so badly out of both sides of your mouth. Hendry was both insanely lucky that DeRosa was great and Wood was relatively healthy, AND incredibly stupid for getting rid of them? How is this possible?
I wish that I believed in Fate. I wish I didn't sleep so late. I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders.
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BT fades back and DRAINS the three!!
If Angelo had picked McClellin, I would have been expecting to hear by training camp that kid has stage 4 cancer, is actually 5'2" 142 lbs, is a chick who played in a 7 - 0 defensive scheme who only rotated in on downs which were 3 and 34 yds + so is not expecting to play a down in the NFL until the sex change is complete and she puts on another 100 lbs. + but this is Emery's first pick so he'll get a pass with a bit of questioning. - 1060Ivy
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<!--quoteo(post=13702:date=Jan 25 2009, 04:01 PM:name=bz)-->QUOTE (bz @ Jan 25 2009, 04:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->BT fades back and DRAINS the three!!<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
yeah, bt's on fire. i won't add anything for fear of tainting his roll.
Wang.
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Nah, you guys are right, BT's been on fire all month...I even specifically mentioned it in a post
about a week ago. I think he's on steroids.
But BT, I don't know how to say this more clearly than I've been saying it for 10 consecutive months now: I'm pleased as punch with the current state of the Cubs, I enjoyed the hell out of last season, I've given Jim props and even outright praise throughout the 2008 season, and I look forward to a successful 2009.
I mean, my freaking tagline on every single one of my posts is:
<b>2009 will be mighty fine.</b>
Does that sound like the tagline of the bitter, doom-n-gloom fucker you paint me as?
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
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BTW, I find it funny that I am defending Hendry, when I was one of his biggest critics from 2004-06. Every GM makes mistakes, but you have to look at the entire body of work, not just pick and choose. Look, whether we can agree on this or not, the fact is that Hendry is the most successful Cubs GM in my lifetime. Is he the best baseball mind? Maybe not, but he's still been able to field a competitive team for 4 out of 7 seasons. And it's not as if our payroll was gushing for those first 3-4 seasons. There was a lot of baggage that came with the team that he took over at the beginning. Also, it isn't easy being a GM for this franchise. History hasn't been kind to us, but this is not the time to be living in the past complaining about what ailed us. I'm trying to move on, and stay as positive as possible. It isn't easy for me, but I've got to give Hendry his due. Now, if we break camp with the current team relatively unchanged, then I'll start whining. Until then, I'm keeping an open mind.
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<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->The Furcal/Pierre fiasco.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Do people actually blame Hendry for what happened with Furcal? The guy signed with the Dodgers on a whim and after seeing what he did this past offseason, I can't put the blame on Hendry that he wasn't signed a couple years ago. Furcal is a grade A douche nozzle!
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<!--quoteo(post=13741:date=Jan 25 2009, 05:52 PM:name=Runnys)-->QUOTE (Runnys @ Jan 25 2009, 05:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->The Furcal/Pierre fiasco.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Do people actually blame Hendry for what happened with Furcal? The guy signed with the Dodgers on a whim and after seeing what he did this past offseason, I can't put the blame on Hendry that he wasn't signed a couple years ago. Furcal is a grade A douche nozzle!
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I like Hendry, but the Pierre trade WAS stupid.
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<!--quoteo(post=13746:date=Jan 25 2009, 06:59 PM:name=Mikey)-->QUOTE (Mikey @ Jan 25 2009, 06:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=13741:date=Jan 25 2009, 05:52 PM:name=Runnys)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Runnys @ Jan 25 2009, 05:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->The Furcal/Pierre fiasco.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Do people actually blame Hendry for what happened with Furcal? The guy signed with the Dodgers on a whim and after seeing what he did this past offseason, I can't put the blame on Hendry that he wasn't signed a couple years ago. Furcal is a grade A douche nozzle!
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I like Hendry, but the Pierre trade WAS stupid.
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Nolasco is now the Marlins' number 1.
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<!--quoteo(post=13746:date=Jan 25 2009, 05:59 PM:name=Mikey)-->QUOTE (Mikey @ Jan 25 2009, 05:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=13741:date=Jan 25 2009, 05:52 PM:name=Runnys)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Runnys @ Jan 25 2009, 05:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->The Furcal/Pierre fiasco.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Do people actually blame Hendry for what happened with Furcal? The guy signed with the Dodgers on a whim and after seeing what he did this past offseason, I can't put the blame on Hendry that he wasn't signed a couple years ago. Furcal is a grade A douche nozzle!
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I like Hendry, but the Pierre trade WAS stupid.
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Hindsight is 20/20. At the time that trade was awesome. The only person that didn't like it was Scarey, and he's the only one should get credit.
"I'm not sure I know what ball cheese or crotch rot is, exactly -- or if there is a difference between the two. Don't post photos, please..."
- Butcher
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<!--quoteo(post=13756:date=Jan 25 2009, 06:40 PM:name=PcB)-->QUOTE (PcB @ Jan 25 2009, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=13746:date=Jan 25 2009, 05:59 PM:name=Mikey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mikey @ Jan 25 2009, 05:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=13741:date=Jan 25 2009, 05:52 PM:name=Runnys)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Runnys @ Jan 25 2009, 05:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->The Furcal/Pierre fiasco.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Do people actually blame Hendry for what happened with Furcal? The guy signed with the Dodgers on a whim and after seeing what he did this past offseason, I can't put the blame on Hendry that he wasn't signed a couple years ago. Furcal is a grade A douche nozzle!
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I like Hendry, but the Pierre trade WAS stupid.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hindsight is 20/20. At the time that trade was awesome. The only person that didn't like it was Scarey, and he's the only one should get credit.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fuck that, I hated the trade from the start. It is the one thing that Hendry screwed up royally.
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