This may be giving him a bit too much credit, however he has to know the sentiment in Chicago (at least on the North Side) is that of pure animosity towards Baker.

After watching him pull out every stupid move in his book (which by now should look like a college thesis) Hendry needs to acknowledge that before it's going to get any better, it's going to get much worse.

Then again, this is Jim Hendry we're talking about, so god only knows.

Let's hope he does the right thing.

I don't think that's possible anymore...

How the Cubs play the final 10 games of the season is not at all indicative of what we could have expected Baker to do with his "horses" were they healthy.  There's no reason to think that if the Cubs win the final 10 games of the season that Hendry will re-sign him.  THIS team and the one the Cubs had hoped to have are not the same.  If THIS team was the team the Cubs hoped to have in April or May and they won 10 in a row, you may be on to something here, but that's just not the case.  

Baker is gone.  No doubt about that.

...conclusion that Baker will be fired. It's hard to imagine that Hendry's opinion of Baker has changed much over the course of the last four years. Unless that is Hendry didn't know much about Baker prior to signing him.

Hendry could come to the conclusion that his career either sinks or swims with Baker and with the fact that Hendry has only a two year extension it will be highly unlikely to sign a seasoned manager to anything less than 3 years. He also could be leary of signing a rookie manager that in his opinion might take a couple of years to yield success and that's a couple of years Big Jim can't afford. Hendry knows that Baker is a proven commodity(at least he still is to those on ESPN) and it might be a safer bet to stick it out with him rather than the alternative.

I don't mean to bring anyone down but don't be surprised if he's still a Cub for at least the next 2 years.

This will give the Tribune more of a distraction for the fan base. Imagine the offseason we'd need to calm us if they kept Baker.

Not bringing back Dusty will be a highly publicized 'step forward' and grant JH a little more leeway in the offseason.

A few weeks I boldly declared that if Dusty Baker was in the Cubs dugout next year I wouldn't go to Wrigley. I really hope they don't call my bluff on that. I'd have a hard time staying away. Though it would allow me the opportunity to ask this at the convention: Mr. Hendry. Considering the team's performance the past few years and the fact that he has managed to alienate a large portion of the fan base, what exactly was your thought process when rehiring Dusty Baker?

The Cubs don't look to be a playoff team in 2007. If that were not the case, Hendry could take a slight chance that Baker would turn the 90+ losses around.

However, if he didn't and the team had another poor year, and that includes a .500 performance, Hendry would spend every waking hour trying to defend his decision. Even as close as the two used to be, I doubt Jim would be willing to accept that. And certainly the Trib doesn't look forward to that negative energy surrounding the team when it has its own set of financial difficulties.

"grant JH a little more leeway in the offseason".

The only places Hendry should be looking for some leeway is with the fans and my fear is that with a rookie manager the organization would take advantage of lowered expectations.

"Not bringing back Dusty will be a highly publicized 'step forward"

Look, I'm not in favor of bringing back Baker but the majority of cubdom considered the hiring of Baker a "step forward". What's changed in the last 4 years? Either the majority of cub fans didn't know much about Baker and his managerial tendencies or they have selective memory. Remember the embarrasing "In Dusty we Trusty"? Well, what's changed?

"About Baker, the atmosphere around Baker is poisoned similar to how the atmosphere around Corey Patterson was at the end of last year. Patterson HAD to go. For the same reasons, Baker HAS to go".

The poison around Patterson was injected into the atmosphere by the tribune. How does a guy go from having an All Star beginning to a season in '03(remember he was on pace for 25hr and 100rbi), tears up his knee, Patterson then follows that up with a 24hr 72rbi '04 season. Then in '05(after having how many coaches screwing with this guys head?) he becomes the pariah of chicago. The cubs wanted him to become a leadoff hitter, which was never going to happen and they trashed him in the media.

As far as Baker is concerned the Cubs have gone out of their way to protect him. Remember the "Lynching" quote that was whitewashed from the trib? Well there are plenty other examples that could be used. If the Cubs are going to get rid of Baker then who is going to allow whom to start the war of words first? The cubs know Baker's nature in that he will fire shots at them once he departs, afterall, Baker has a career and reputation to uphold. The cubs have also resorted to trashing former employee's in the past ie; patterson and Sosa so they won't be immune to that type of behavior if the departing of Baker is imminent. The point is neither party has taken to finger pointing which indicates to me that the relationship may still be solid.

Again, don't be surprised if Baker's services are retained.

Sorry for my incoherant ramblings, my lunch our is about to end.

There'll be more tham a couple Hendry effigies hung in front of Dunkin' Donuts franchises thoughout the Chicagoland area.

...you make it sound as though SS is insulting a family member.

my now infamous comment to Freddy Bynum's face isn't funny anymore. (".....you stink....") Been there, done that. Jokes about Hendry's girth mean nothing anymore, and are pointless after the 357th one.

Girardi will be here, that is my story and sticking to it.

Just a hunch, Marlins no playoffs, Management won't feel obligated to keep him in FLA.
Joe lands in Wrigley, next day Nova, Rusch,Bynum, Pagan,Mabry gone. Cedeno to AAA.

anymore that Baker will be back.  There's a lot of negativity surrounding the Cubs right now.  This would be a marketing nightmare and if there's one thing the Cubs do not mess up it's marketing.  

There's a strong argument to be made that Baker is a good manager, but it's a more difficult argument to say that things have worked out well with him as manager.  

There's no way he gets re-signed (and that is differnt than getting fired).