Bradley

[rok]

So much for getting more left handed. Hopefully if this does happen, we don't lock this guy up for more than 1-2 seasons.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/1034372...27s-GM-meetings

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Byrd likely to be targeted by Cubs — 6:10 p.m.

Once the Cubs trade Milton Bradley, their plan is to find a center fielder and move Kosuke Fukudome back to right field.

Free agent Marlon Byrd is certain to draw their interest.

Rudy Jaramillo, the Cubs' new hitting coach, is a huge fan of Byrd's from their three seasons together with the Rangers, according to major-league sources. The Cubs also made a strong run at Byrd in trade discussions with Rangers before the 2008 season.

Byrd, 32, is seeking a multi-year contract after batting .283 for the Rangers last season with a career-high 20 homers and 89 RBIs.

Mike Cameron, 36, is another center fielder who could intrigue the Cubs. Cameron batted .250 with 24 homer and 70 RBIs for the Brewers last season, and his .795 OPS was nearly as high as Byrd's .808.

Both are right-handed hitters.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Butcher]

2010 is going to suck really big balls. I've already come to terms with this.

[Giff]

<!--quoteo(post=68705:date=Nov 11 2009, 11:31 AM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Nov 11 2009, 11:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->This is why Hendry is retarded:

1. Siging an injury-prone malcontent to an expensive THREE year deal. The odds of this blowing up were extremely high. If you take the risk you do it for one year, not three. Way too much risk compared to not enough potential reward.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes he was injury-prone, that's why there was a clause that said if he didn't play enough, he wouldn't get the third year. He was at or near the top of most people's lists of free agent RFers, the deal was not super expensive at the time it was made, and not many people thought it would be awful. Sure, there was a chance things wouldn't work out, but nobody predicted him playing some of the worst baseball of his career and not getting along with a single player on the team.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->2. Expecting Bradley to be a run producer instead of a table setter. This is partly on Lou too. Bradley has never been a guy to drive in a ton of runs or even hit with a ton of power. His OBP is way too high and slugging too low to not bat at the top of the order.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
In his previous two seasons before signing the deal, Bradley's slugging percentage was .557. Stick that in with a healthy Lee and Ramirez, add in his .425 OBP over that same time span (for a .982 OPS), and he's worth every bit of that $10mil per year hitting in the middle of the order.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->3. Destroying Bradley's trade value by bashing him in the media during the season and suspending him (even though he deserved it).<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He was in a lose-lose situation by the time it got to this. He probably didn't handle it the best, but when a player calls out the entire organization the way he did numerous times, it's hard to just sit back and do nothing.

Disagree with the move all you want, there were plenty of reasons to think it would go wrong. But just because it went as bad as it possibly could have doesn't mean Hendry was, or is "retarded".

[veryzer]

though marlon byrd doesn't get the blood flowing, mike cameron would absolutely piss me off. i hate 20 home run/150 strikeout guys.

[leonardsipes]

Signing a guy who has played on 6 teams in 9 years to a 3 year contract, is borderline retarded (he only needed to play 75 games to get the last year).

I also think it was a mistake for a big market team like the Cubs to take a risk with Bradley. Hendry needed to get Ibanez or Abreau.

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=68724:date=Nov 11 2009, 03:36 PM:name=leonardsipes)-->QUOTE (leonardsipes @ Nov 11 2009, 03:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Signing a guy who has played on 6 teams in 9 years to a 3 year contract, is borderline retarded (he only needed to play 75 games to get the last year).

I also think it was a mistake for a big market team like the Cubs to take a risk with Bradley. Hendry needed to get Ibanez or Abreau.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


I'm gonna jump on the Giff bandwagon here.

Hindsight is 20/20. Yes, it looks borderline retarded to sign a guy like Bradley to a 2 year contract with a circumstantial third year <b>now</b>, but I would say it's just as borderline retarded to sign a 34 year old bad-fielding outfielder who just had two years in a row of significantly declining stats (Abreu) or a 36 year old terrible-fielding outfielder who has a career slugging of .479 slugging (Ibanez) to be middle of the order right fielders.

That is to say, it's not really borderline retarded before the fact. At least in my opinion.

The only player I cannot defend Hendry for not signing is Dunn. I hate Dunn, he's a terrible fielder, I hate the things he does offensively... but there's no denying that he produced big time this year. Not only did he produce this year, but he produced pretty damn close to his career averages and was only 29 years old last season when Hendry picked his outfielder.

I know people are going to respond to me being a Hendry fanboy... but that's just it. I'm not defending Hendry, I'm defending the decision. It was a decision that I agreed with at the time and if I'm not mistaken, most people on this board were also agreeable at the time.

Lastly, if you want Hendry gone I can't argue with it. But don't try to pin it all on this one decision of his.

[veryzer]

<!--quoteo(post=68728:date=Nov 11 2009, 03:03 PM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Nov 11 2009, 03:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=68724:date=Nov 11 2009, 03:36 PM:name=leonardsipes)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (leonardsipes @ Nov 11 2009, 03:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Signing a guy who has played on 6 teams in 9 years to a 3 year contract, is borderline retarded (he only needed to play 75 games to get the last year).

I also think it was a mistake for a big market team like the Cubs to take a risk with Bradley. Hendry needed to get Ibanez or Abreau.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


I'm gonna jump on the Giff bandwagon here.

Hindsight is 20/20. Yes, it looks borderline retarded to sign a guy like Bradley to a 2 year contract with a circumstantial third year <b>now</b>, but I would say it's just as borderline retarded to sign a 34 year old bad-fielding outfielder who just had two years in a row of significantly declining stats (Abreu) or a 36 year old terrible-fielding outfielder who has a career slugging of .479 slugging (Ibanez) to be middle of the order right fielders.

That is to say, it's not really borderline retarded before the fact. At least in my opinion.

The only player I cannot defend Hendry for not signing is Dunn. I hate Dunn, he's a terrible fielder, I hate the things he does offensively... but there's no denying that he produced big time this year. Not only did he produce this year, but he produced pretty damn close to his career averages and was only 29 years old last season when Hendry picked his outfielder.

I know people are going to respond to me being a Hendry fanboy... but that's just it. I'm not defending Hendry, I'm defending the decision. It was a decision that I agreed with at the time and if I'm not mistaken, most people on this board were also agreeable at the time.

Lastly, if you want Hendry gone I can't argue with it. But don't try to pin it all on this one decision of his.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Look, unlike Kb, who's hatred for Hendry is borderline psycho, I have to give credit to him for some of the good things he did.

1. hundley for Grudz/Karros
2. Choi for Lee
3. Hill/Hernandez for Ramirez/Lofton
4. the Lily signing
5. the Harden trade
6. The Nomar trade
7. the Fukudome signing
8. The derosa signing
9. the edmonds pickup

and whatever else I'm missing. Not all of tose panned out, but that doesn't mean they weren't all good deals. Sadly though theres a lot of missteps.

1. everything he did in '05
2. the Strap signing
3. the Bradley signing
4. The handling of the Sosa situation
5. his love affair with Patterson and Pie
6. Jeromy Burnitz

In the end though, it's about results. He's been given a long time and a lot of money and he hasn't gotten us to the promised land. I'm ready for a change.

[Clapp]

Heyman went along with what he wrote... just said on MLB Network that he thinks there's "zero" chance that the Cubs keep Bradley. He thinks Bradley ends up in Texas, so do I.

In other news(not sure if it's been posted), but Doug Melvin says the Brewers fully intend to lock up Prince. Fuck.

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=68733:date=Nov 11 2009, 05:35 PM:name=veryzer)-->QUOTE (veryzer @ Nov 11 2009, 05:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->3. the Bradley signing
5. his love affair with Patterson and Pie<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Here's the problem though. These that you listed above were not thought of as bad moves at the time. The Bradley thing I already explained.<!--coloro:#0000FF--><!--/coloro--> Yes it was a risk to sign Bradley, but it was a risk to sign any of those guys and last year people generally thought Hendry made the right move. Not just we fans, but baseball people in general. <!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--><!--coloro:#006400--><!--/coloro-->In '03 when Patterson was tearing it up, nobody knew he would go straight down the pooper when he tore his knee up, so why should Hendry be held to a higher standard of premeditation? <!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--> <!--coloro:#FF0000--><!--/coloro-->As for Pie, there are very few people that thought Pie was a bust. VERY few. As it stands the jury is still out. He had a great minor league career, was bounced around and sat on the bench a bunch with the Cubs, and then was given regular playing time and thrived with the Orioles. He's 24 years old right now. You can't possibly say his love affair with Pie was bad judgment just because you "know" Pie is going to be a bust.<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->4. The handling of the Sosa situation<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I just don't know how much you can really expect a GM to do with the Sosa situation.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->In the end though, it's about results. He's been given a long time and a lot of money and he hasn't gotten us to the promised land. I'm ready for a change.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

While I do not 100% agree with this, I certainly can't argue it. If I woke up tomorrow and found out Hendry was fired, I would pretty much be ok with it. But, just think for a second... Hendry has been the most successful Cubs GM in terms of results since the Cubs won back to back World Series titles. I know that's not saying much, but it's certainly an achievement that nobody can take credit for in over 100 years of Cubs history.

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo(post=68738:date=Nov 11 2009, 06:26 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Nov 11 2009, 06:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Heyman went along with what he wrote... just said on MLB Network that he thinks there's "zero" chance that the Cubs keep Bradley. He thinks Bradley ends up in Texas, so do I.

In other news(not sure if it's been posted), but Doug Melvin says the Brewers fully intend to lock up Prince. Fuck.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I hope they give the fatfuck a lifetime deal with a full no trade clause. He's a loser and well on his way to being a full time DH. I hope they handcuff themselves and spend a shit ton of money on him, he's not the kind of player you build a winning club around.

[jeffy]

<!--quoteo(post=68739:date=Nov 11 2009, 07:39 PM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Nov 11 2009, 07:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--coloro:#0000ff--><!--/coloro-->Yes it was a risk to sign Bradley, but it was a risk to sign any of those guys and last year people generally thought Hendry made the right move. Not just we fans, but baseball people in general. <!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--><!--coloro:#006400--><!--/coloro-->In '03 when Patterson was tearing it up, nobody knew he would go straight down the pooper when he tore his knee up, so why should Hendry be held to a higher standard of premeditation? <!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--> <!--coloro:#ff0000--><!--/coloro-->As for Pie, there are very few people that thought Pie was a bust. VERY few. As it stands the jury is still out. He had a great minor league career, was bounced around and sat on the bench a bunch with the Cubs, and then was given regular playing time and thrived with the Orioles. He's 24 years old right now. You can't possibly say his love affair with Pie was bad judgment just because you "know" Pie is going to be a bust.<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Way to get in the Christmas spirit [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

[veryzer]

everyone in baseball knew it was a risk to sign bradley. everyone, including me, who liked the move.

patterson tore it up for two months. no more and no less.

i knew pie was a bust from day one. he should have been traded while he still had value. i'm not the only one to think that.

the way hendry handled the sosa situation was brutal. he trashed sosa after the '04 season and made it virtually impossible to trade him for any value.

see, it's all black and white to me.

[jstraw]

<!--quoteo(post=68764:date=Nov 12 2009, 10:03 AM:name=veryzer)-->QUOTE (veryzer @ Nov 12 2009, 10:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->everyone in baseball knew it was a risk to sign bradley. everyone, including me, who liked the move.

patterson tore it up for two months. no more and no less.

i knew pie was a bust from day one. he should have been traded while he still had value. i'm not the only one to think that.

the way hendry handled the sosa situation was brutal. he trashed sosa after the '04 season and made it virtually impossible to trade him for any value.

see, it's all black and white to me.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Racist.

[Butcher]

From Keith Law's chat:
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Matt (Philly)

Speaking of unloading Ibanez. The cubs wanted him originally, anyway we could dump salary on them and maybe pick up a prospect (or heck, a suspect)?


Klaw
(2:07 PM)

Not a bad thought. They seem to be in the market and Hendry loves him some veterans.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[kbwsb]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Look, unlike Kb, <b>who's hatred for Hendry is borderline psycho</b>, I have to give credit to him for some of the good things he did.

In the end though, it's about results. He's been given a long time and a lot of money and he hasn't gotten us to the promised land. I'm ready for a change.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Talk about hyperbole...I don't hate Hendry at all. If he were standing outside my door right now, I'd invite him in and give him a hot meal, and talk some baseball.

I just think he's the wrong GM for the Cubs. An analogy would be Bradley himself; solid ballpayer, DH-type, in the right market will hit well, in the right market will not cause too much fuss, if everything comes together perfectly, he can even play all-star calibre ball.
But Wrigley/Chicago/NL/etc. was all wrong for him. He tried. He failed.

Like Jim.
And like with Milton Bradley, it's time for Jim to move on.