waxpaperbeercup | chicago cubs blog

Over at FOXsports.com Ken Rosenthal penned an article that tries to keep hope somewhere in the neighborhood for us disinterested Cubs fans. In the article there are a few interesting tidbits including the future of Cubs GM Jim Hendry:

The Cubs’ new owner, Tom Ricketts, must decide whether he trusts Hendry to a) hire the next manager and b) manage future payrolls. The best argument for keeping Hendry – and yes, there is one – is the team’s foundation going forward:

• Three rookies – outfielder Tyler Colvin, shortstop Starlin Castro and right-hander Andrew Cashner – are emerging as championship-caliber players.

• Four-fifths of the team’s rotation – right-handers Ryan Dempster, Randy Wells and Carlos Silva and lefty Tom Gorzelanny – will be back next season.

• Right-hander Carlos Marmol, one of the game’s top closers, and lefty Sean Marshall, an effective setup man, are under control for two more years.

According to Rosenthal. Internally the defense for Hendry is apparently this was all Sam Zell’s doing:

But some Cubs officials contend privately that the previous ownership helped trigger this mess, pushing the front office into a win-now mode to make the team more marketable for potential buyers.

This seems to be the defense they are trying to use for Hendry. A few months ago I heard Kap say that Hendry was not responsible for the Soriano contract. He was on a plane when then President John McDonough overpaid for Fonzie. I have no idea what’s true, but we see the defense brewing and I have to imagine this is the same case that is being made internally to Tom Ricketts.

I understand the case, I really do, but in the end I think Hendry has to be judged by what happened to his team.

Finally, Rosenthal presents the cases ‘against’ and ‘for’ Jim Hendry as Cubs GM:

The strategy, at times, also was poorly executed; Hendry made some head-scratching decisions, awarding an eight-year, $136 million free-agent contract to Soriano, a player who had no position, and a three-year, $30 million deal to Milton Bradley, a player who was unstable.

Then again, Hendry also made his share of good moves, stealing Lee and third baseman Ramirez from low-revenue clubs looking to shed payroll in trades. Some of his contracts (Lilly, Dempster and Byrd to this point) worked out well. Others (Lee, Ramirez, even Zambrano) did not look so egregious at the time they were signed. Lest anyone forget, the Cubs won three division titles between 2003 and ’08.

It all makes for an interesting debate. I know most of us, myself included, think it’s a closed case Hendry should be gone. But with that change, as Rosenthal points out, the departure of Wilken and Fleita would also take place. By most accounts both have done an admirable job rebuilding a Cubs farm system that was horrible when Wilken was hired a few years ago.

I’m still on the change for changes sake bandwagon, but there is alot to consider as Ricketts and company move forward and try to get this club moving in the right direction.