Lou Piniella, here with Ozzie Guillen, and the dumbest trophy in the history of sports will retire after another dismal Cubs season. Unfortunately, for Cubs fans, Jim Hendry will continue to do a miserable job building the Cubs.
It shouldn’t have come as news to Cubs fans at the Lou Piniella funeral the other day that new owner Tom Ricketts plans on keeping GM Jim Hendry and “president” Crane Kenney in their jobs past this season. Most fans, with a clue, would think that a new owner coming in would want to clean house and build the organization his way, with his people, and his vision. When that didn’t happen before another un-watchable season, I thought, ok fine, let Ricketts see for himself just how incompetent the team is run, and he’ll start fresh in time for the 2011 season. Then a funny thing happened as Ricketts and Hendry were eulogizing Uncle Lou– I remembered these are the Cubs. When do they ever get shit right?
The Piniella news isn’t a surprise to anyone who follows this team. You knew that Lou wanted out after last season, but wasn’t dumb enough to walk away from $4 million dollars this year. He was going to come back and get that money even if he mentally retired after game 3 of the ‘08 Dodgers series. That should have been the first clue to Ricketts that this year was doomed from the get go. Year one has turned into year 102 with no end to that streak in sight.
I know that Tommy Noodle looks at the cashed strapped Cubs and thinks why would I fire Hendry when the stink of his work will be felt for another 3-5 years? It makes sense, but that doesn’t mean ‘ol fatso shouldn’t see the door the second the last out is recorded after game 162. Only the Cubs can botch new ownership. Just so we’re clear, Hendry will stay on along with the Greek priest finder Crane Kenney to find the next manager. When the team fails to make significant improvements in the next two years (as long as Soriano and Zambrano are here it’s a lock), the heat will be on Tommy Boy to find a new GM. What will that GM want to do before the ink dries on his contract? Fire the manager Hendry hired. It’s so backwards that all I can say is that it’s “sooooooooo Cubs.” Ricketts has had to seen enough of the garbage that Hendry put together to know he needs to be fired. He apparently likes how Hendry has built the lower levels of the organization. That’s what passes for success at Clark and Addison. Do you want to vomit yet?
The move for Ricketts to make is to clean house and start fresh. Will the stench of Hendry’s work remain? Of course it will, but that doesn’t mean he should stay and risk killing the Cubs future anymore than he already has. Thanks again for the Soriano contract Jimbo. Only 4 more years of that dog making $18 million- plus per season. I wouldn’t entrust Hendry to run my 16” inch softball team let alone one of the most popular teams in the sport. Did I mention the Cubs have a $146 million dollar payroll? That kind of dough doesn’t go as far as it used to. Why is Hendry coming back, Tom?
Ricketts should think big on this. Hire a top baseball executive who has experience building an organization. Not the former Tribune suit who somehow was given the president’s title. I’d love for Steve Stone to be given the opportunity to run this team. Let him hire a GM, manager, and every position in between. In my perfect world, he’d be what Bill Parcells is for the Miami Dolphins. Parcells came in, hired a GM (Jeff Ireland), a coach (Tony Sporano), and turned a 1-15 team into an 11-5 playoff team in 1 year. That, Tommy Boy, is a real “Year One” for a franchise.
Cubs fans aren’t that lucky, however. It’s the same kind of small minded-shortsighted thinking that has been as much a part of their culture as the ivy at Wrigley. Since we are only going to get a new manager, here’s how my list would shake out.
FYI– Hendry’s list won’t look like this because he doesn’t know what he’s doing, and he’d probably spill ranch dressing all over it.
1. Tony La Russa-Cardinals: One of the biggest know-it-all ass-bags in baseball is also it’s best manager. If the Cubs could snag him from the Cardinals, they would hit the biggest home run they can.
2. Joe Girardi-Yankees: Girardi, like La Russa, is a free agent after the season. It’s hard to imagine him leaving New York, but he’s always wanted to manage the Cubs.
3. Joe Torre-Dodgers: The Dodgers skipper is said to be intrigued by the challenge of managing the Cubs. Like Giradi, Torre knows how to manage under the spotlight. The Cubs could do worse.
Ryne Sandberg was my favorite player growing up. I think he'll be a good manager, but he would be screwed working for Jim Hendry.
4. Ryne Sandberg: The fans choice. Ryno was my favorite player growing up. I nearly caught one of his home runs as a 9 year old in ‘89(you should have had that ball Big Lou). Ryno has paid his dues and says “he’s ready” for the challenge. I wouldn’t want to see him fail, and if Hendry is still the GM, I can’t see how he wouldn’t.
5. Bob Brenly: Why the Cubs brilliant color man would leave his plush gig for the madness that is the Cubs job is anyone’s guess. He’s got the ‘01 world series on his resume, and would not be asleep at the wheel like Lou was during the ‘09 season.
6. Greg Maddux: Maddux is one of the best baseball minds on the planet. Braves manager Bobby Cox raves about how much Maddux thinks and knows the game. Will he be a candidate? Who knows, but at the very least I want him as my pitching coach.
Naming candidates for the Cubs job should be predicated on just what the team will look like. I want Stone hired to build the organization his way. If things stand pat and Hendry cleans up the ranch dressing and makes this hire, I’d hope for La Russa or Girardi. If they were able to move the awful contracts they are saddled with and went young, I’d say Sandberg. So, it really doesn’t matter who they hire because at the end of the day, it’s all about players. It’s about the players Hendry brought in here that have underachieved. It’s also Hendry’s players who will be here for the foreseeable future. Why isn’t this guy getting fired, Tom?
