01-06-2010, 03:19 PM
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->Like who?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What about Sisco and Veal? Two fairly advanced LH pitchers given away for nothing. Randy Wells was nearly let go via Rule 5.
Then what about trading prospects who were out of options for next to nothing? It would have been nice to have Pie last season when the team was desperate for a CF (he's not exceptional, but due to his defense he's worth about a WAR per season and is owed almost nothing). Instead we got Gathright for a month.
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->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.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No, it's Hendry's fault that he can't spend money wisely. The fact that the Cubs have no payroll flexibility wouldn't be a problem had Hendry been wiser with the contracts he gave out earlier, but he wasn't. Now the Cubs are committed to a group of players that is aging but not good enough to contend. Zambrano, Soriano, Bradley, Wood, Miles, and Fukudome were all bad contracts given by Hendry.
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->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.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Soto has been a good, homegrown player. But Marmol is erratic and always has been. Prior was a big risk when he was drafted and it came back to bite Hendry.
But even if we recognize those players - Hendry has been involved with the drafting and the minor leagues for 15 years. In that time, how many good players have the Cubs drafted/developed that have stuck with the team for more than a few years? The Cubs teams of the past decade have had how many homegrown players?
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->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?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It's not the loss of Cedeno, it's the trade of a prospect with any value for a veteran has-been who gave the Cubs nothing and was already signed to a contract he didn't deserve. Then the Cubs proceeded to sign Aaron Miles, who was statistically worse than Cedeno, to a contract he merited for only one season of his career.
Now onto Bradley - the Cubs traded this guy for what amounts to $6MM over 2 seasons. The initial mistake was signing him, but they sold him at his absolute lowest value and sold him for nearly nothing. They used the money to sign Marlon Byrd. It's very possible that Silva won't make the roster. So in the end they will be paying $12MM for Marlon Byrd this season and $14MM next season. All this to trade a guy whose wOBA was actually above average last season.
We haven't even discussed the Juan Pierre trade.
So tell me what evidence there is in favor of Hendry's ability to negotiate contracts and manage the roster?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fixed.
What about Sisco and Veal? Two fairly advanced LH pitchers given away for nothing. Randy Wells was nearly let go via Rule 5.
Then what about trading prospects who were out of options for next to nothing? It would have been nice to have Pie last season when the team was desperate for a CF (he's not exceptional, but due to his defense he's worth about a WAR per season and is owed almost nothing). Instead we got Gathright for a month.
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->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.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No, it's Hendry's fault that he can't spend money wisely. The fact that the Cubs have no payroll flexibility wouldn't be a problem had Hendry been wiser with the contracts he gave out earlier, but he wasn't. Now the Cubs are committed to a group of players that is aging but not good enough to contend. Zambrano, Soriano, Bradley, Wood, Miles, and Fukudome were all bad contracts given by Hendry.
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->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.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Soto has been a good, homegrown player. But Marmol is erratic and always has been. Prior was a big risk when he was drafted and it came back to bite Hendry.
But even if we recognize those players - Hendry has been involved with the drafting and the minor leagues for 15 years. In that time, how many good players have the Cubs drafted/developed that have stuck with the team for more than a few years? The Cubs teams of the past decade have had how many homegrown players?
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->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?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It's not the loss of Cedeno, it's the trade of a prospect with any value for a veteran has-been who gave the Cubs nothing and was already signed to a contract he didn't deserve. Then the Cubs proceeded to sign Aaron Miles, who was statistically worse than Cedeno, to a contract he merited for only one season of his career.
Now onto Bradley - the Cubs traded this guy for what amounts to $6MM over 2 seasons. The initial mistake was signing him, but they sold him at his absolute lowest value and sold him for nearly nothing. They used the money to sign Marlon Byrd. It's very possible that Silva won't make the roster. So in the end they will be paying $12MM for Marlon Byrd this season and $14MM next season. All this to trade a guy whose wOBA was actually above average last season.
We haven't even discussed the Juan Pierre trade.
So tell me what evidence there is in favor of Hendry's ability to negotiate contracts and manage the roster?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fixed.