Credit to Jim Hendry

[Destined]

<!--quoteo(post=74289:date=Jan 6 2010, 09:16 AM:name=BT)-->QUOTE (BT @ Jan 6 2010, 09:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->Honestly, how can you look at Hendry's body of work and think he's anything but one of the worst GMs out there?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Because "body of work" constitutes more than 2009?

Look, I could spend all day arguing your post, but I'll stick to a few highlights.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Not to mention, recently the Cubs have allowed a few decent prospects to go via the Rule 5 draft in favor of guys like Joey Gathright.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Like who?

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Look at how cash-strapped the Cubs are right now, yet they're still full of holes.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yes, it's completely Hendry's fault that during the 2 years the Cubs didn't actually have an owner, that he was operating in essentially 3 different modes, budget wise. He had a budget. Then he was told to spend MORE money (to make the franchise more sellable). Then he was told to spend less money, after handing out contracts based on the earlier budget. Oh, then throw in a recession to boot.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->The only thing he seems to be good at in the draft is finding small, gritty middle infielders from LSU.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yes, just those. And catchers who win rookie of the year awards. And pitchers who SHOULD have won rookie of the year awards. And middle relievers who go to the all star game, as middle relievers. Then they close. Oh, and pitchers who make the all star team, set strike out records, and then blow their arms out (hendry's fault). And any number of other players shipped off in trades. That's all he seems to be good at.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->What about Cedeno for Heilman or Bradley for Silva?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Really? That is where we are at now? Lamenting the loss of Ronny fucking Cedeno? He of the NEGATIVE WAR last year? The guy who, statistically, HURT his team by being on the field? Or we are going to complain that we didn't get enough for the guy who called his home town fans racist, explained why he didn't want to actually play any more than 9 innings, and eventually spent the last weeks of the season watching from home? Because a GOOD GM would have spun Bradley into Strasburg I guess?

I get tired of defending Hendry. I do. But when the attacks are unreasonable, I feel I need to correct the record a bit.

Here is a summation from before last year from the guys at Fangraphs. They ranked the Cubs organization 7th overall, and gave Hendry a B-. That seems more than fair. Bear in mind, Hendry is not their kind of GM, as they are all about stats. But they gave him a reasonable write up. They are looking at his body of work and see both good and bad.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Front Office: B-

Believe it or not, Jim Hendry has a good eye for talent. When he was the Cubs scouting director, the team acquired a significant batch of young talent, and he consistently built farm systems that were supplying the Cubs with impact players. Since being promoted to GM, his weaknesses have been exposed, however – the team has had problems in how the young talent is integrated into the major league roster and the team has shown questionable discernment in handing out contracts to free agents. He’s built a quality major league roster, but squandered a lot of assets in getting there.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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Absolutely agreed, BT.