06-15-2010, 08:49 PM
<!--quoteo(post=101534:date=Jun 15 2010, 03:32 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Jun 15 2010, 03:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->With the Cubs' payroll, in relation to the other teams in the NL Central, we shouldn't have to go through these down years. Take a look at the Boston Red Sox. Their team payroll is consistently a little higher than ours, but it is always a distant 2nd to the Yankees'.
Since Theo Epstein took over (he was hired at the end of the 2002 season), here's what they've done:
2003 -- 95 wins
2004 -- 98 wins and they win their first World Series since 1918
2005 -- 95 wins
2006 -- 86 wins (miss the playoffs for the first time since Epstein took over)
2007 -- 96 wins and they win the World Series *again*
2008 -- 95 wins
2009 -- 95 wins
They've missed the playoffs *once* since Epstein took over and won the World Series twice.
Lets take a look at Jim Hendry's tenure during that same period (he took over the GM position in July of 2002):
2003 -- 88 wins (5 outs away)
2004 -- 89 wins (missed the playoffs)
2005 -- 79 wins
2006 -- 66 wins
2007 -- 85 wins (playoffs)
2008 -- 97 wins (playoffs)
2009 -- 83 wins
We've made the playoffs three times in that same timeframe, but with a greater payroll advantage in our division than Epstein has in his.
The Red Sox have averaged 94.28 wins in the NL East while we have averaged 83.85 wins in the NL Central.
So, again, I'll be the first to say that Hendry has done more for this Cubs team than I've seen any other GM do in my lifetime. But, he isn't an elite GM. Theo Epstein is an elite GM. And with the monetary advantage we have over the rest of the teams in the NL Central, there is no reason an elite GM couldn't replicate what the Red Sox do.
Hendry is a decent GM. Let's get an elite GM.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
All good points. I can't disagree with any of it although you're providing one GM as an example of an elite GM though. Is there ANYONE in baseball that has this type of reputation? Schuerholz? That's two GMs I can think of in my generation that have been on this elite of a level. I would love to have a guy that produces these type of results, and so would every fan of every other team in the world. It's not just as easy as firing a guy and hiring the next one though.
Since Theo Epstein took over (he was hired at the end of the 2002 season), here's what they've done:
2003 -- 95 wins
2004 -- 98 wins and they win their first World Series since 1918
2005 -- 95 wins
2006 -- 86 wins (miss the playoffs for the first time since Epstein took over)
2007 -- 96 wins and they win the World Series *again*
2008 -- 95 wins
2009 -- 95 wins
They've missed the playoffs *once* since Epstein took over and won the World Series twice.
Lets take a look at Jim Hendry's tenure during that same period (he took over the GM position in July of 2002):
2003 -- 88 wins (5 outs away)
2004 -- 89 wins (missed the playoffs)
2005 -- 79 wins
2006 -- 66 wins
2007 -- 85 wins (playoffs)
2008 -- 97 wins (playoffs)
2009 -- 83 wins
We've made the playoffs three times in that same timeframe, but with a greater payroll advantage in our division than Epstein has in his.
The Red Sox have averaged 94.28 wins in the NL East while we have averaged 83.85 wins in the NL Central.
So, again, I'll be the first to say that Hendry has done more for this Cubs team than I've seen any other GM do in my lifetime. But, he isn't an elite GM. Theo Epstein is an elite GM. And with the monetary advantage we have over the rest of the teams in the NL Central, there is no reason an elite GM couldn't replicate what the Red Sox do.
Hendry is a decent GM. Let's get an elite GM.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
All good points. I can't disagree with any of it although you're providing one GM as an example of an elite GM though. Is there ANYONE in baseball that has this type of reputation? Schuerholz? That's two GMs I can think of in my generation that have been on this elite of a level. I would love to have a guy that produces these type of results, and so would every fan of every other team in the world. It's not just as easy as firing a guy and hiring the next one though.