MLB: Fire Lou and Hendry

[cycloneworld]

Every guy you have listed there was an all-star at one point. And it's not like they're all OLD. They just aren't performing the way they should. It is the manager's job to get the most out of his players and Lou isn't getting that job done AT ALL...

Do you really think the reason these guys aren't All-Stars and aren't hitting is because of Lou? Because I don't. There is a reason in baseball they are called Managers and not Coaches.

I'm not saying Lou should stay but Hendry is the one to blame for this giant payroll (3rd highest in the MLB) with horrible results.

 

[istater7]

not sure why hendry needs to be fired since he acquired the two best players on the team right now and was able to get rid of milton bradley..but Lou needs to go..he hasn't really shown the fire he used to and the team needs a new kickstart

 

[Neckbeard]

Hendry can't be blamed nor could he have forseen the downfall of Lee and Ramirez. Hendry deserves to go for the long-term backloaded contracts armed with unnecessary no-trade clauses that have crippled this team going forward. He designed those contracts so much in favor of the players you would think he was trying to entice them to play for the Pirates or in a Siberian prison camp.

For the proponents of the "blow it up" solution (I'm in this camp) this will take a good deal of time and effort to move. Z, Soriano and Fukudome are untradeable. Ramirez is now untradeable b/c he can't play. Any blow it up solution needs to involve moving these four players and it can't be done now.

It's going to be years before this team has a meaningful playoff run and that's if Colvin, Castro and Cashner are really good. If they aren't we are looking at the 1990's all over again. That wasn't particularly fun.

 

[Clonegrad07]

Do you really think the reason these guys aren't All-Stars and aren't hitting is because of Lou? Because I don't. There is a reason in baseball they are called Managers and not Coaches.

I'm not saying Lou should stay but Hendry is the one to blame for this giant payroll (3rd highest in the MLB) with horrible results.

Hendry should go. The Milton Bradley deal alone is a fire-able offense, let alone the Zambrano contract, the Soriano contract, and most of all, the Fukudome contract.

However, the guys look un-motivated. (I personally can't understand how anyone can't get MOTIVATED to play baseball everyday... but I digress...) The manager's job is to keep these guys motivated and push the right buttons at the right time. I've been thinking for a year or more that what these guys need is to get their *** chewed. Lou has been trying this "calmer Lou" thing and it might be working for the bases and umpires, but it's not working worth a damn for the players and their performance.

 

[Clonegrad07]

Hendry can't be blamed nor could he have forseen the downfall of Lee and Ramirez. Hendry deserves to go for the long-term backloaded contracts armed with unnecessary no-trade clauses that have crippled this team going forward. He designed those contracts so much in favor of the players you would think he was trying to entice them to play for the Pirates or in a Siberian prison camp.

For the proponents of the "blow it up" solution (I'm in this camp) this will take a good deal of time and effort to move. Z, Soriano and Fukudome are untradeable. Ramirez is now untradeable b/c he can't play. Any blow it up solution needs to involve moving these four players and it can't be done now.

It's going to be years before this team has a meaningful playoff run and that's if Colvin, Castro and Cashner are really good. If they aren't we are looking at the 1990's all over again. That wasn't particularly fun.

Easy there Paco... I agree we need to look toward the future with those three C's, but Ramirez has been hurt this year and hasn't played well. He still is a stud when healthy. Lee is a great clubhouse guy and hasn't played terrible at all the last few weeks. And was by far our best hitter last year. He's still got some left.

Also, Fukudome is done after this year. He signed a 3 year contract and this is his 3rd year.

 

[Neckbeard]

Easy there Paco... I agree we need to look toward the future with those three C's, but Ramirez has been hurt this year and hasn't played well. He still is a stud when healthy. Lee is a great clubhouse guy and hasn't played terrible at all the last few weeks. And was by far our best hitter last year. He's still got some left.

Also, Fukudome is done after this year. He signed a 3 year contract and this is his 3rd year.

Fukudome is signed for 4 years. He will be back. Looking forward to April!

Lee's deal is up and while he is getting cheaper by the day, what are you willing to offer him? He's hitting .244 with 4 HR's this month. Hardly the middle of the order presence he was last year. I do believe Lee is hurt though, something that may be more of the norm for a 6'5" first baseman. He's at the end of his prime. Sign him to more than a 3 year deal and you are screwing up.

Rammy's "injury" wasn't a big deal. He was sent to the DL to find his swing and to get him out of the lineup. He's the worst hitter in MLB this season. I have watched him suck all season and if he's hurt it's hard to see. He's swinging harder than he ever has. His timing is shot and he's lost his formerly solid eye. He's swinging at everything. Rammy is under contract for one more after this one, I believe. He will be back b/c you would have to give him away to move him. Hopefully he has a bounce back 2011.

 

[IcSyU]

Sweet Lou is the least of the Cubs problems. Hendry is the anti-Billy Beane. Beane used to trade players for younger players before they got hurt (see: Zito, Mulder, etc.). Hendry gets them and their careers go to Chicago to die.

 

[Clonegrad07]

Fukudome is signed for 4 years. He will be back. Looking forward to April!

Lee's deal is up and while he is getting cheaper by the day, what are you willing to offer him? He's hitting .244 with 4 HR's this month. Hardly the middle of the order presence he was last year. I do believe Lee is hurt though, something that may be more of the norm for a 6'5" first baseman. He's at the end of his prime. Sign him to more than a 3 year deal and you are screwing up.

Rammy's "injury" wasn't a big deal. He was sent to the DL to find his swing and to get him out of the lineup. He's the worst hitter in MLB this season. I have watched him suck all season and if he's hurt it's hard to see. He's swinging harder than he ever has. His timing is shot and he's lost his formerly solid eye. He's swinging at everything. Rammy is under contract for one more after this one, I believe. He will be back b/c you would have to give him away to move him. Hopefully he has a bounce back 2011.

Ugh... Maybe that was a "wishful thinking" memory that I thought Fuk-u-do-me was only signed for 3... he's not an asset at that cost.

I would like to see Lee back for next year, but on a 2 year deal at a somewhat smaller cost.

I really don't know what happened to Ramirez. Guys like him just don't "lose" their swing usually. Unless they're on the juice. I am concerned that he is supposed to be our 3/4 hitter and he's looked like he shouldn't even be allowed out of Des Moines. Something's gotta give. He's got to be hurt or something else is wrong. I hope Rudy figures him out soon.... we need him back to the ARam of old.

 

[Neckbeard]

The Ramirez thing is a head scratcher. He slimmed down 4-5 years ago, not last year. I think he just got out of rhythm and has pressed himself into not being able to hit at all. It's incredible to watch him unravel. This was one of the more consistent hitters you could find. He'd have his slumps but his strikeout rate was low and he would end up with the same numbers nearly every year. He's a totally different guy now.

 

[CYdTracked]

Here's a thought, give Hendry an ultimatum and say if you want to keep your job you have to move Soriano, Z, and Fukudome and eat as little as salary as possible with them. If you can do that and acquire a couple pieces in the process you can keep your job. Basically a "fix the mess you made" kind of ultimatum. Those guys are damn near impossible to trade, you probably couldn't even give them away and you'll likely have to take back another bad contract in return but if Hendry could pull one out of his rear and find a way to rid them of those 3 cancers and save some money in the process then he'd prove he deserves to keep his job.

 

[CYdTracked]

The Ramirez thing is a head scratcher. He slimmed down 4-5 years ago, not last year. I think he just got out of rhythm and has pressed himself into not being able to hit at all. It's incredible to watch him unravel. This was one of the more consistent hitters you could find. He'd have his slumps but his strikeout rate was low and he would end up with the same numbers nearly every year. He's a totally different guy now.

It is baffling, 2 years ago they could have got a pretty big return on a trade for him as he was one of the better hitting 3B in the game and now you'd be lucky to get much at all for him at the moment. Same thing with Zambrano and Lee.

 

[Clonegrad07]

Here's a thought, give Hendry an ultimatum and say if you want to keep your job you have to move Soriano, Z, and Fukudome and eat as little as salary as possible with them. If you can do that and acquire a couple pieces in the process you can keep your job. Basically a "fix the mess you made" kind of ultimatum. Those guys are damn near impossible to trade, you probably couldn't even give them away and you'll likely have to take back another bad contract in return but if Hendry could pull one out of his rear and find a way to rid them of those 3 cancers and save some money in the process then he'd prove he deserves to keep his job.

I like that. I think Fukudome is movable because he could be a speed, pinch hit, fill in asset to some contending team down the stretch.

Zambrano is completely untradable. He's expensive... not very good... and a complete d-bag in the clubhouse.

Soriano MIGHT be tradable to the right spot. He's hit ok this year, but he'd have to probably go somewhere he can DH. Idk... he's a tough one to figure out too. He looks healthy, and has the tools, but has been terrible. Is he lazy or just not as good as everyone thought? Also, that contract is awful. He'll be tough to trade.

 

[Neckbeard]

Here's a thought, give Hendry an ultimatum and say if you want to keep your job you have to move Soriano, Z, and Fukudome and eat as little as salary as possible with them. If you can do that and acquire a couple pieces in the process you can keep your job. Basically a "fix the mess you made" kind of ultimatum. Those guys are damn near impossible to trade, you probably couldn't even give them away and you'll likely have to take back another bad contract in return but if Hendry could pull one out of his rear and find a way to rid them of those 3 cancers and save some money in the process then he'd prove he deserves to keep his job.

Ricketts wouldn't do that. The only way for Hendry to move these deals is to spend a hell of a lot of his money. After having to go to management with his hat in his hands to move Bradley, it will be tough to go back to do it for Soriano, Z, and Fukudome. If I were Ricketts and it was my team I would fire him and get my own guy. Hendry should be put out of his misery at season's end.

Piniella won't be fired, he will retire at the end of the year. He's the guy you want when you are on the verge, not the guy you want when are you are looking to rebuild. He's no longer the right fit for this club. His handling of Colvin and of Geo Soto are great examples. There's no reason for the future of this team why Nady or Koyie Hill are playing as much as they are. I have no idea if Geo can rediscover his 2008 form, but the Cubs need to find out.

Ryno is my all-time fav player but I have real concerns about him as a manager. It's not just his experience, or lack thereof. He has such a dry personality. I have a hard time seeing how he could command a clubhouse. Kudos to him for going to the minors and doing it the right way.

 

[Clonegrad07]

Ricketts wouldn't do that. The only way for Hendry to move these deals is to spend a hell of a lot of his money. After having to go to management with his hat in his hands to move Bradley, it will be tough to go back to do it for Soriano, Z, and Fukudome. If I were Ricketts and it was my team I would fire him and get my own guy. Hendry should be put out of his misery at season's end.

Piniella won't be fired, he will retire at the end of the year. He's the guy you want when you are on the verge, not the guy you want when are you are looking to rebuild. He's no longer the right fit for this club. His handling of Colvin and of Geo Soto are great examples. There's no reason for the future of this team why Nady or Koyie Hill are playing as much as they are. I have no idea if Geo can rediscover his 2008 form, but the Cubs need to find out.

Ryno is my all-time fav player but I have real concerns about him as a manager. It's not just his experience, or lack thereof. He has such a dry personality. I have a hard time seeing how he could command a clubhouse. Kudos to him for going to the minors and doing it the right way.[/QUOTE]

He was a dry personality while playing, but he's become a hell of a lot more firey... His first year in Peoria, he was thrown out of more games then any other manager in the Midwest League. Also, if you remember his HOF speech, he didn't really beat around any bushes. He pretty much called all steroid people out and told them they suck for not doing it the right way.

He's got a little spirit...

 

[cyson]

Ricketts wouldn't do that. The only way for Hendry to move these deals is to spend a hell of a lot of his money. After having to go to management with his hat in his hands to move Bradley, it will be tough to go back to do it for Soriano, Z, and Fukudome. If I were Ricketts and it was my team I would fire him and get my own guy. Hendry should be put out of his misery at season's end.

Piniella won't be fired, he will retire at the end of the year. He's the guy you want when you are on the verge, not the guy you want when are you are looking to rebuild. He's no longer the right fit for this club. His handling of Colvin and of Geo Soto are great examples. There's no reason for the future of this team why Nady or Koyie Hill are playing as much as they are. I have no idea if Geo can rediscover his 2008 form, but the Cubs need to find out.

Ryno is my all-time fav player but I have real concerns about him as a manager. It's not just his experience, or lack thereof. He has such a dry personality. I have a hard time seeing how he could command a clubhouse. Kudos to him for going to the minors and doing it the right way.[/QUOTE]

He was a dry personality while playing, but he's become a hell of a lot more firey... His first year in Peoria, he was thrown out of more games then any other manager in the Midwest League. Also, if you remember his HOF speech, he didn't really beat around any bushes. He pretty much called all steroid people out and told them they suck for not doing it the right way.

He's got a little spirit...

I suspect the slimming down had something to do with getting off the juice. Z is a fraction of his former self though he's been able to maintain the roid rage. Cubs have some players but the environment is toxic. I'm a Lou fan but he absolutely needs to go it's only going to get worse.

 

[BCPanther]

The best shot the Cubs have to get rid of any of them is Z. The Mets have shown interest, but you have to take their horrible contracts (Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo) and eat about $11 million.

Your probably better off doing that than letting Z continue to fester in that clubhouse and, especially, in that young bullpen...

 

[Clonefan32]

There is talk that Sandberg may not wait for the Cubs job to open up and could take any job offered to him after this year. So unless the Cubs know they are making a move after this year, Sandberg may not be an option.

Also, is it Lou's fault that the following guys got ridiculously sick contracts:

Soriano - $19 mil
Zambrano - $18.9
Ramirex - $16.8
Fukadome - $14
Dempster - $13.5
Lee - $13.3
Lilly - $13

Isn't it the GM's fault when you can trade any of those guys for a bag of balls because they contracts are so horrible? And isn't it the GM's fault when you have the 3rd highest payroll and have been terrible for the last 2 years?

You'd think Donny Walsh put together that roster.

 

[DaddyMac]

There is talk that Sandberg may not wait for the Cubs job to open up and could take any job offered to him after this year. So unless the Cubs know they are making a move after this year, Sandberg may not be an option.

As a season ticket holder for the ICubs - I'm beginning to wonder how much I want Sandberg to be an option for Chicago. Might be a "careful what you wish for" scenario.

Of course, being the manager in the bigs means he's not a base coach at third - which is where many of his problems are.... :wink:

 

[HILLCYD]

As a season ticket holder for the ICubs - I'm beginning to wonder how much I want Sandberg to be an option for Chicago. Might be a "careful what you wish for" scenario.

Of course, being the manager in the bigs means he's not a base coach at third - which is where many of his problems are.... :wink:

Ryno ain't ready to manage a big league team IMO. He needs some time up as a bench coach or something first.

Hire Brenly....let Ryno be bench coach for a couple years. Bring in Maddox as the pitching coach and the Hawk as the hitting coach....

Ok, that was just my fantasy.

 

[DaddyMac]

Ryno ain't ready to manage a big league team IMO. He needs some time up as a bench coach or something first.

Hire Brenly....let Ryno be bench coach for a couple years. Bring in Maddox as the pitching coach and the Hawk as the hitting coach....

Ok, that was just my fantasy.

No all-time great Cubs coaching staff is complete without Grace.

General Manager?