Hendry makes his move
When Jim Hendry called me over to talk last Friday in St. Louis, he had that look about him. It was a look that said he was ready to deal. Hendry had been talking with the Indians about CC Sabathia, but he knew then the Cubs didn't have the right match for Cleveland. I asked Friday and Saturday about Rich Harden of the A's, and I could tell then that was his top target. I wrote that for Sunday's paper, and Hendry finalized things with Oakland GM Billy Beane today, getting Harden and reliever Chad Gaudin for Sean Gallagher, Matt Murton, Eric Patterson and Josh Donaldson.
So in one way, this looks to be the perfect counterpunch to Milwaukee landing Sabathia, and it is. On the other hand, Hendry had been working with Oakland for about three weeks on landing Harden.
Hendry and Beane have a great personal and working relationship that goes back several years. Before the 2002 season, Hendry, then the assistant GM, obtained infielder Mark Bellhorn from the A's. In December 2003, Hendry couldn't get anywhere with Montreal GM Omar Minaya on obtaining catcher Michael Barrett. So Beane did the work for him, getting Barrett from the Expos and sending him to the Cubs the next day. Last year, Beane and Hendry pulled off a deal that got the Cubs catcher Jason Kendall for the stretch drive.
"Billy Beane, to me, is as good as it gets," Hendry said today. "Really on top of his profession. Blunt honest. Not afraid to trade talent for talent. Not trying to beat anybody up in a deal. If he gets what he wants, he's not afraid to give up good players. Look at his track record. Winning-type organization, not always the highest payrolls."
To many on the outside, Hendry and Beane seem to be an odd couple. After all, Beane is the "Moneyball" GM who relies on stats, and Hendry is the seat-of-the-pants guy who goes by the "tools" a player has. Truth be told, these two guys are a lot more similar than they are different. Beane values his good scouts, and Hendry and his crew study the stats and listen to their scouts.
The Harden deal says the Cubs are in this thing to win it all. When healthy, Harden is a No. 1 starter, an ace. Put him in a rotation with Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster and Sean Marshall, and it can take a team to the World Series. Of course, all these guys, especially Harden, have to stay healthy. Harden has had shoulder problems, as has Zambrano. (Marshall would be my preference over Jason Marquis, whom the Cubs can send to the bullpen.)
And to think we've still got a ways to go before the July 31 trading deadline.
You sound like a gap toothed , er jealous, Sox Fan..But if you are a Cub fan then I guess if you were the Gm you wouldv'e been smarter than Hendry and not traded for Ramirez, wouldve known Prior was a mistake, never got Derek Lee but wouldve keep Sammy Sosa , right ? You sound like Larry Himes, you do know what he did dont you ?
Ed,
Yeah, I'm thinking either a Cards fan who realizes his team is about to be left in the dust , or another Cubs-obsessed Sux fan, concerned more with the Cubs than with their red haired, step child team, who no matter how many WS they may win will always be known as the "other" team in Chicago. Case closed.
HEY CHICAGO DON'T YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS TODAY!
Bruce, do you get get like giggly and flustered when you talk with Jim Hendry, like Chris Farley in that old SNL skit with Farley interviewing Paul McCartney?
"Look at (Beane's) track record. Winning-type organization, not always the highest payrolls." - Jim Hendry.
So, the Amazing Jim Hendry has been allowed some of the highest payrolls in MLB and had what was ballyhooed as one of the best farm systems in MLB and what exactly is Hendry's track-record?
Last year a weak 85 wins in the worst division in MLB. Then swept away in the playoffs.
Jim Hendry, you're the best!
But I also don't hide behind an anonymous screen name when I get giggly with Jim.
What is Hendry's W/L record as GM?
Can you answer a straight forward question, how do you rate Jim Hendry as Cub GM?
How many World Championship rings has Hendry won?
There's your answer, Mr. or Ms. C.
Journalists and those who claim to be such usually use their name, don't they?
Now give Jim a kiss goodnight and go to sleep.
I'm sure that's what you told your friends with great pride. How you bravely stood up to the big, bad media. By posting an anonymous comment that will be read by literally dozens of people.
Years from now, children will sing songs of the legendary C is for Century.
Just curious as this was brought up by Jim's friend, Bruce Miles, what percentage of posters here use their full name?
"Bucky" isn't that anonymous?
As long as we're going to engage in baseball discussions and honest, civil debate and even disagreement, I have no problem with people using screen names. I find it cowardly for people to engage in personal attacks and hide behind screen names. I criticize plenty _ see the Jim Edmonds item and my nose-to-nose battle with him _ and I use my name and meet the people I criticize face to face and man to man. You used the Chris Farley analogy. I can picture you acting like Ralph Kramden _ "homina, homina, homina" _ when he had to answer the $64,000 question.
Now, Ms. or Mr. C, why the obsession with the Cubs? And what's wrong with writing a positive comment about someone when they do something that looks to be good? And how many World Series rings does Billy Beane have? It's zero, but people consider him a good GM.
Have a good one, Ms. or Mr. C.
"As long as we're going to engage in baseball discussions and honest, civil debate and even disagreement, I have no problem with people using screen names. I find it cowardly for people to engage in personal attacks and hide behind screen names."
Where was the personal attack in my first post?
"You used the Chris Farley analogy. I can picture you acting like Ralph Kramden _ "homina, homina, homina" _ when he had to answer the $64,000 question."
No, not at all. Sorry to disappoint you.
I criticized your work. Doesn't seem as though you can handle it and you turned it personal.
Virtually no one uses their personal names when posting on blogs. So rather than defend your opinions YOU turned it personal with that "screen name" tactic. IF it wasn't personal it sure isn't "honest" to base your attack on something that is the common, accepted practice here.
Funny too that "bucky" here followed your "attack" even while he "hid behind a screen name."
"Now, Ms. or Mr. C, why the obsession with the Cubs?"
Is this a "personal attack"? I follow the cubbies, since when is that wrong?
Jimmy Hendry:
81.4 average wins, 2003-2007. That excludes the horrific 2002, which Hendry also played a role in.
Billy Beane:
90.2 average wins
What I really like about this is that Hendry apparantly was working on this deal irregardless of what the other teams in the central were going to do.
Personally, I think Harden, when healthy, is a better pitcher than Sabathia. It's just that "healthy" word -- but I suppose Harden wouldn't even have been available if he were a 200 innings a year horse.
I'm not surprised that Hendry was able to get Harden, but I am surprised that he was able to get him this much before the deadline, with the A's only 2 games down in the lost column in the AL wild card race. And I am very surprised -- but extremely pleased -- that they didn't have to give away all of their depth in starting pitching to make the deal: I was afraid it might cost Sean Marshall as well as Gallagher, leaving the Cubs short on options if Harden goes on the DL. The logical move in my mind is to send Marshall back to Iowa's rotation to stay stretched out and bring up Micah Hoffpauir again: the A's pitchers bring the Cubs staff back to 13 when they report.
I'm glad to see Matt Murton headed for an organization that will value what he can do more than fret about what he can't yet do. I was afraid the Cubs wouldn't get much of anything for him after the way they blocked up the positions he can play. Instead, Murton helped to buy a potential difference maker.
I was going to get my first look at Josh Donaldson tomorrow night. From what I know, I think he'll be a pretty good catcher someday; but the Cubs are deeper at catcher right now than any other position, starting with the NL Rookie of the year frontrunner and including 1 (or more guys) at every level except Iowa.