MLB: Another Cubs Thread: What changes are needed...

[gocubs2118]

I am not one to call for someone to be fired; however, Jim Hendry has produced the worst results of any General Manager in the history of Sports. The Cubs consistently have a Top 5 payroll and consistently they underachieve. Jim Hendry must go. He has been General Manager of the Cubs since 2002 with absolutely horrible results. Getting rid of the guys on the team that overachieved, were leaders, and had heart such has Ted Lilly, Derek Lee, and Ryan Theriot and keeping Carlos Zambrano and Aramis Ramirez only add to my point. The Cubs need to be re-built from the ground up and Jim Hendry is not the person I want doing it. Go Cyclones and Go Cubs!

What are you talking about? No other GM in Cubs history has won 3 division titles.

Anyway, sounds like Dunn wants to sign here if he doesn't re-sign with the Nationals. I think that would be a great fit for us. He is something we've been lacking for quite some time now, a LH power bat.

Adam Dunn's a Wrigley fan :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Cubs

 

[CYdTracked]

Getting rid of the guys on the team that overachieved, were leaders, and had heart such has Ted Lilly, Derek Lee, and Ryan Theriot and keeping Carlos Zambrano and Aramis Ramirez only add to my point. The Cubs need to be re-built from the ground up and Jim Hendry is not the person I want doing it. Go Cyclones and Go Cubs!

I'm not a big fan of Hendry but they have produced more playoff appearances in the past decade than they did before he was GM. Reason why he traded those guys were they were the only guys of value with expiring contracts that he at least got something instead of nothing for. It's hard to trade Z, Soriano, Fukudome, and A-Ram because they still are owed a lot of money and not worth what they produce. I'm sure he's tried to trade them but no one wants to eat those salaries and give up prospects as well. I think Fukudome will be gone one way or another before next season, he has 1 year left on his contract but we're stuck with the other guys till they catch fire and someone wants to gamble on their contracts.

 

[billpickles]

Maybe instead of trying to change, they should just embrace what they have always been. Perhaps a move to the Phillipines, where they could play as the "Manilla Folders"?

 

[CyJack13]

There is no quick fix for the Cubs IMO. They are 5 years out from being a contender. They need to dump their old guys and their bloated salaries which is almost impossible. They need to find and develop young talent, as well as sign some good free agents since they have the coin.

Can the Cubs do this? Absolutely. Will they do it? I think they have a long history of not doing it.

To say they are five years away from being a contender is ridiculous. With no salary cap in baseball, teams can change so much from year to year. It's not like the NBA where a couple bad contracts can ruin your team for years, if the Ricketts wanted to, they could eat Soriano or Z's contract today and just move on. I think they have a decent young core (Colvin, Castro and Soto) that they can build around. A power hitting 1B is a must get for the off season, as well as relievers who have proven to be successful at the MLB level.

 

[PGreen ISU '92]

All I'm saying is that there are teams that get more for less -- see Twins, see A's. And there are teams that get less for more -- see Cubs, see Dodgers, see Mets. That coupled with the fact that I do not see the Cubs competing for the Penant in the next several years does not make me feel good about Jim Hendry.

 

[drednot57]

Gardy and Girardi are pretty damn much off limits.

Not according to sources I heard over KXNO, Girardi seems to be available for the right price. Sounds like he want to manage in Chicago in a bad way. Gardy more than likely will stay put unless the Cubs owners offer an insane deal -- not likely.

 

[Wesley]

Need to work on the mentals with the Big Z in the off season.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Need to work on the mentals with the Big Z in the off season.

I don't think one offseason is enough time to fix Zambrano's mental problems, and he will just lose whatever progress he makes during spring training assaulting a water cooler anyway...

 

[CyJack13]

All I'm saying is that there are teams that get more for less -- see Twins, see A's. And there are teams that get less for more -- see Cubs, see Dodgers, see Mets. That coupled with the fact that I do not see the Cubs competing for the Penant in the next several years does not make me feel good about Jim Hendry.

Except the Dodgers and Mets have both played in the NLCS recently, and the A's and Twins have, what one or two combined playoff series wins this decade. The Twins, and the A's earlier this decade, put together nice teams that could win the division but didn't do anything in the playoffs, similiar to what the Cubs have done recently. Obvioulsy it helps to be smart wiht your personel moves, but having money always helps.

 

[CyJack13]

I don't think one offseason is enough time to fix Zambrano's mental problems, and he will just lose whatever progress he makes during spring training assaulting a water cooler anyway...

His loss of velocity lately is a much bigger issue than his mental problems.

 

[Mclone]

Dunn is not the answer. He's a one dimensional player. The Cubs need to focus on speed and defense, getting a #1 pitcher and a RH setup guy to go with Marshall. Power gets neutralized in the playoffs by good pitching. Speed at the top of the order with a decent obp will put pressure on good pitching and the opposing defense.

The need a leadoff hitter than can steal 30+ bases. Obviously a very difficult position to fill. I'd try to buy low on Chone Figgens. With a legit leadoff hitter and Castro in the #2 hole, the Cubs will have a solid foundation to build on.

 

[gocubs2118]

How is Dunn a one dimensional player? His defense is actually quite average over at 1B.

 

[CUIClone]

The main problem this year was 1-4 in the lineup. I fully expect Ramirez to be the player he has always been, and has been in the second half. Castro has shown lately he can be a top of the lineup guy. If they can find a true #3 hitter the turn around could be sooner than people think. Obviously that is easier said than done. With Soto's OBP I wouldn't mind seeing him hit in the #2 spot if Castro could lead off. Theriot and his .315 OBP killed the Cubs probably as much as Lee and A-Ram not hitting.

I think this is would be a formidable lineup:

Castro SS
Soto C
New first baseman (In a dreamers world - Adrian Gonzalez)
Ramirez 3b
Colvin RF
Byrd CF
Soriano LF
Dewitt 2b
P

They will need a true #1 starter though to be a legit contender, and preferably a closer that doesn't walk so many guys.

 

[Mclone]

From all the statistics I've seen, he's a below average fielder. Not to say he's horrible. But even if he was average, I would not consider him two dimensional. He hits for power and that's about it. His walk rate this year is down 30% off of his career average and is K rate going the wrong direction. I would not spend the $60M over 4 years he's going to be asking for. He's never played for a winning ball club, which is not his fault, but when you have a losing tradition like the Cubs do, I would think if your going to spend that kind of money you want to do so on someone with a winning pedigree or some kind of playoff track record.

 

[CycloneErik]

Not according to sources I heard over KXNO, Girardi seems to be available for the right price. Sounds like he want to manage in Chicago in a bad way. Gardy more than likely will stay put unless the Cubs owners offer an insane deal -- not likely.

Girardi has to have that rumor out there for leverage. I'd imagine that staying put is is first option, but he needs the Yankees to know that he's available for the Cubs, and vice versa.

Girardi would have to really mess this up to avoid walking out as an extremely wealthy man.

 

[Mclone]

The main problem this year was 1-4 in the lineup. I fully expect Ramirez to be the player he has always been, and has been in the second half. Castro has shown lately he can be a top of the lineup guy. If they can find a true #3 hitter the turn around could be sooner than people think. Obviously that is easier said than done. With Soto's OBP I wouldn't mind seeing him hit in the #2 spot if Castro could lead off. Theriot and his .315 OBP killed the Cubs probably as much as Lee and A-Ram not hitting.

I think this is would be a formidable lineup:

Castro SS
Soto C
New first baseman (In a dreamers world - Adrian Gonzalez)
Ramirez 3b
Colvin RF
Byrd CF
Soriano LF
Dewitt 2b
P

They will need a true #1 starter though to be a legit contender, and preferably a closer that doesn't walk so many guys.

Gonzalez would be a dream. I think the Red Sox will go hard after him. But until something happens with him, I would delay making any large financial commitments at 1st. Pujols, AGon and Fielder will all be free agents after 2011. Pujols won't go to the Cubs and I'll be surprised if the Cards don't lock him up. But if he hits free agency, I think it will be only because he wants to break the bank and that means the Red Sox will be the likely destination.

 

[Rural]

Adam Dunn will be the answer much like Dave Kingman was in an earlier generation.

 

[geburgess]

I think the correct answer is disband the organization and go find a new sport.

 

[Clonegrad07]

Wow.... my poor Cubbies obviously have the worst starting five in the major leagues.... Ryan Dempster is our ace.... YIKES! This is where we need to start with our offseason moves...

• R. Dempster
• R. Wells
• T. Gorzelanny
• T. Diamond
• C. Zambrano