Any Time You Think Jim Hendry Hasn't Done A Good Job...
by Al Yellon on Jan 15, 2009 8:43 AM CST
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PrintAfter officially adding reliever Guillermo Mota to the roster on Wednesday, the Dodgers will officially subtract Andruw Jones from the roster on Thursday.
It's time for the Dodgers to trade or cut bait with Jones. Surprisingly, the Dodgers this week actually discussed a trade with two clubs interested enough in Jones to consider giving up something rather than compete with another club to get him as a free agent.
Dodgers management, however, isn't counting on any miracles. It still expects to be forced to release the 31-year-old outfielder as part of a recent contract renegotiation that assures Jones he'll play elsewhere in 2009 while providing the Dodgers payroll flexibility by deferring the remaining $21.1 million of his salary over the next six years.
It may give them "payroll flexibility", but they are paying him $21.1 million just to go away. And, they paid him about that much ($12m signing bonus, $9m in 2008) to hit .158/.256/.249 with 3 HR in 75 games before spending most of 2008 on the DL.
Ned Colletti -- responsible for some of the worst free-agent signings ever, including Juan Pierre and Jason Schmidt. But Jones might be the worst.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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Exactly...
Colletti is largely buoyed by the great farm system developed by previous GMs (DePodesta primarily). Without guys like Ethier, Kemp, Loney, Martin, and their young power pitchers, that team would be a complete travesty.
Yep
Ned Colletti is a joke. He’s living off the farm system fruits put in place by former GMs Danny Evans and Paul DePodesta. Colletti is methodically ruining the farm system having already spent millions on horrific free agent signings and getting routinenly fleeced in trades. Apparently he’s got pictures of Frank McCourt getting it on with a farm animal.
I remeber Steve Stone
saying how great Colletti was and the Cubs should have kept him over Hendry. Steve is not always right.
Um ok
Ned Colletti has been out of the Cubs employment since the 1995. Jim Hendry was just starting in the Cubs scouting department. The two had different jobs and neither were anywhere close to being GMs. Sorry, but your recollection doesn’t jibe in the least.
correction
Colletti’s last year with the Cubs was actually 1993. Hendry joined the Cubs in 1995. I believe Colletti departure was a product of Larry Himes ineptitude. Colletti was well respected for the job he did with the Cubs.
Which was actually Public Relations, and not baseball-related--correct?
"Who's Bob Brenly? The guy that used to be the manager for Arizona?" ~ Alfonso Guilleard Soriano
He started in PR
then worked his way into baseball operations, handling arbitration and other duties.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
by Bill Potter on Jan 15, 2009 12:13 PM CST up reply actions
While I don't believe Hendry has done anything close to a bad job
and continue to tell others, “quit crying about letting Woody walk and trading DeRo, he isn’t done yet”, the fact someone else sucks doesn’t by default make Hendry better.
Only Hendry himself doing a better job makes him better.
That’s the equivalent of a kid being told he doesn’t have the best grade in the class and he immediately points out he wasn’t the worst. Who cares. You don’t aspire to just be better than the worst, you aspire to be the best.
Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.
by blackhawk24 on Jan 15, 2009 9:32 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Well, your point is taken.
But still, I think Hendry has, in general, done a good job. We could do far worse.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Actually it does
The fact that someone else sucks does make Hendry “better.” It does not necessarily make him “good,” which can be debated. Personally, I think he’s done a fine job.
Aside from the Pierre trade ...
I don’t think Hendry has really done anything stupid as GM. He’s done some things that were questionable, some things that didn’t work out all that well and some things that might look worse a few years from now (Ceda for Gregg).
As a rule, I used to think Hendry’s biggest flaw was that he was overly loyal, making him think too highly/give to much to HIS guys. This led to the Wood/Prior saga and re-signing Neifi and Rusch to questionable deals (before 2006).
What’s odd about this offseason is that he’s gone in the other direction with three big moves. Wood was a huge Hendry guy, DeRosa was a big Hendry guy and Hendry at least liked Marquis more than the rest of us. And all three guys are gone.
Has Hendry decided to be more cut-throat, or has the unique set of situations this offseason prompted the moves counter to Hendry’s loyalty?
Could be
My feeling is that last season’s playoff debacle might have woken him up a little bit re; loyalty vs. results.
Also, the fact that this team is aging and has a relatively small window to get to the promised land might also have had an effect on his approach.
by bluekoolaide on Jan 15, 2009 10:50 AM CST up reply actions
Wood, DeRosa and Marquis
Likely did all they were going to do.
You can’t listen to fans. I wanted us to keep the Karros/Simon platoon and hated to see them leave for D. Lee.
The worst beer I had was pretty good.
I don't agree
I think DeRosa would have had a fine year. But if you mean he won’t repeat or improve upon 2008, then I agree.
i'm still
a little annoyed at the derosa deal. maybe if we’d gotten someone that was going to play, or we knew we’d flip right away. but to see the one guy who buoyed the team all season go away, still rubs me the wrong way.
There's nothing wrong with this team that more pitching, more fielding and more hitting couldn't help......"--Bill Buckner
by laidbackliam on Jan 15, 2009 2:59 PM CST up reply actions
I'm always going to like Hendry.....
for swindling the Dodgers and dumping Todd Hundley!
MMMMMMM, just thinking about that makes me feel warm today ;)
Hendry is a good but not great GM...
You can say what you want about him but Hendry makes things happen. A lot of other teams in baseball have money and when you look at all the signings Hendry has pulled off over past few years. I do believe that more than money has gone into the negotiations. Yes, he has been allowed to offer some massive contracts but some of our big free agents had similar offers from other teams. These players probably chose the Cubs because of how they liked dealing with Hendry.
He certainly has his shortcomings…Our farm system isn’t anywhere near the top in baseball, he definitely was to loyal to Wood/Prior, and sometimes I think he spends without a real plan. It also seemed like he was completely ignorant to the idea of OBP during his early years as the GM but he seems more in favor of this now.
I like Hendry, don’t mind keeping him as long as he can continue to make things happen.
I agree with this assessment.
Jimbo is by no means perfect, but a huge part (most?) of any GM’s job is to take gambles (safe and otherwise) and not every one of those gambles is going to pay off. Meanwhile, he is, if nothing else, very proactive – and I, for one, appreciate that.
In a superficial sense, being proactive makes the off-season a lot more fun. But, in a more profound sense, it also accounts for the fact that no two baseball seasons are the same and even teams that look good (or somewhat good) on paper can fail miserably. Hendry could have sat on his hands for the most part this off-season, but he (and, presumably, Lou) appear to have gone into November with a plan and Jimbo is carrying out that plan to the best of his ability. Maybe it’ll work, maybe it won’t. But at least he’s doing something.
RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)
Andruw Jones seemed like a good signing
until he put on like 50lbs and became FAJ… Fat Andruw Jones… sort of reminds me of our Center Fielder RoY Jerome ‘Baloney’ Walton.
I don’t know if you can see stuff like this happening before you sign a guy to a contract.
Cubs Karma: Don't take anything for granted.....
His last season in Atlanta
Jones hit .222 / .311 / .413. The warning signs were there which is why there was little interest in him as a free agent and he only got a 2 year deal. It was a bad signing at that salary.
true
but you never know if its an off year or the start of a serious decline, I think if he gets back into shape he could play ball again. Unless he is serious about his training etc he is a lost cause
Cubs Karma: Don't take anything for granted.....
by Andre Fonseca on Jan 15, 2009 1:34 PM CST up reply actions
I am very fond of Jim
and most of you know why. My biggest problem though is that he bends too much to desire of a manager in building a team. I would prefer a stronger GM who builds a team from his vision and gets a manager to work with a la Theo Epstein. Today’s article that Blanco who is probably the best back up in baseball will be gone BECAUSE he is not a lefty is just nuts.Yes maybe it is because he needs time off but I would not be so sure. I find it hard to believe that Jim was the one who wanted Eyre dumped etc. He does a really good job with what he is given financially etc but his flaw again is working too closely with his managers.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Jan 15, 2009 11:08 AM CST reply actions
That likely won't happen
Until Pinella leaves.
Hendry’s managers have been strong personalities like Baylor, Dusty and Pinella.
He needs a lower-key manager like Francona.
And I for one am already tired of the whining over Blanco. He was a backup catcher, for God’s sakes. Hardly enough to get your panties riding up your crack.
The worst beer I had was pretty good.
you're right - it is nuts. that's why it can't be the whole story.
I gotta believe it’s more of a money thing than a lefty-righty thing. If I’m reading his splits correctly on baseball-reference.com, Hank batted .270 against RHP last year. Hell, .270 from your backup catcher all the time is gold, Jerry, gold!
If you put Hank side by side with Bako or Hill and salaries were equal, there’s no way Jimbo goes with Bako or Hill just because of the lefty bat. No way.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
It's money
Lou knows that. Lefty/righty is a deterrent or smokescreen.
And…I don’t see the Cubs running off and signing any replacement. Does anyone else?
What does that mean? To a lesser extent, the same thing as Peavy; Hendry is waiting for money clearance. In this case there were more pressing issues than re-signing Hank White.
Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.
by blackhawk24 on Jan 15, 2009 12:12 PM CST up reply actions
that (I think) ties into Hendry's strategy ...
Bako/Hill and Miles are essentially cheaper versions of Blanco and DeRosa. But they’re versions that could be as good as the players they’re replacing, assuming Blanco and DeRo had career years in 2008 and won’t repeat those performances. And if you’re not sold on Miles, it’s possible that Miles/Fontenot will be better than DeRosa.
The money saved went toward signing Bradley and it might go toward another move. Will all this rearranging work? We won’t really know for a while.
On GM's
I don’t think they are ever as bad or as good as people think. Sure, the onus of responsibility falls on them, so when things go well, they get the credit and when things go poorly, they get the blame. Hendry isn’t as bad … or as good … as fans may opine. He’s made some good decisions, he’s made some bad.
Let’s look at Colletti for a moment. I don’t think he’s a good GM, but I don’t think he’s bad either. Keep in mind that there was a story in late 2008 (or maybe it was closer to September, I’ll go google in a bit) that suggested McCourt was Steinbrenner-ing Colletti and forced him to sign some players. There has been noted turmoil under McCourt’s ownership of the Dodgers that supposedly stemmed from McCourt.
The only horrible deal I see is Juan Pierre’s. That length of a contract for that poor a player? That’s just bad. Whoever made that decision, whether it was McCourt, Colletti, or whomever, that’s just bad. Now, the Andruw Jones deal is bad … but not horrible. The Pierre contract is far worse due to the length of the deal. A 2 year gamble on a formerly decent CF that had become too bulky and slowed down with his swing, particularly when CF, coming into the year, was a question because of Pierre, isn’t the worst thing in the world.
So, let’s look at the other contracts. Schmidt? How’s that bad? Again, we have the benefit of hindsight, but deals are made at the moment. How is 3/36.5 over 2007-2009, with a 10.5 signing bonus spread from 2008-2011 that bad? Jason Schmidt still looked like a solid arm at the end of 2006. A 3 year deal for a pitcher is fine, if not the ideal length. The AAV may be slightly high when averaged out, but it wasn’t exorbitantly high when you consider that name players that are still solid often get overpaid.
Another contract that gets referenced is Nomar’s. It was 2 years/18.5 million from 2007-2008. People seem to forget that in 2006, Nomar was solid. .303/.367/.505. At that point, Andy LaRoche still had not established himself and the plan was to have Nomar act as a stopgap for a year and hope LaRoche emerged. That never happened.
Again, this isn’t to say Ned Colletti was a good GM. I just don’t think he’s been as bad as people suggest, particularly with an overbearing owner like McCourt. Dealing Carlos Santana to net Casey Blake because of financial problems looks bad for Ned, but it needs to be viewed within the prism of the bad contracts that McCourt forced. The idea that Colletti had a silver plate handed to him may be true – the system was loaded. But .it is
a) Not moving youngsters when your owner is in a win now mode, when your kids are struggling, is easier said than done. For all the talk he’s done, he’s never pulled the trigger on moving many kids, even when it would’ve landed him some critical talent that might’ve helped in the short term.
b) The Dodgers system is still fine. This credit shouldn’t go to DePo and others, and it shouldn’t go to Colletti. Logan White is the guy who deserves the credit.
Ned Colletti’s plan of finding stopgap veterans until his kids were ready wasn’t the worst idea. It’s execution has been spotty, certainly, but the development of said youngsters were also spotty at times. That said, in this day and age, it’s hard to suggest that contracts that are 3 years or shorter are horrible. I can think of 5 GM’s off the top that I would consider worse than Colletti as of right now, and yet, some of those 5 GM’s may end up building successful squads.
interesting that Pierre
… is the subject of arguably the worst moves by both Hendry and Colleti.
The Jason Schmidt signing...
… was a terrible risk due to his injury history.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I'm not Hendry's biggest fan.
Don’t dislike him, just don’t think he’s all that good, either.
He gets tunnel vision about certain players and there’s basically nothing that will stop him from getting those guys.
Trade away DeRo and sign Miles, who stinks, and there was never even a mention of Orlando Hudson, who is still available. Yes, more expensive than Miles, but the Cubs specific economic troubles can be hung on Hendry and the way he structures backloaded contracts.
Who here wouldn’t rather have Hudson over Miles? Hudson could likely have been had for about 7 or 8 million per on a 4 year deal.
Trading Ceda for Gregg has the potential to be horrible.
Maybe I’m just disillusioned with this offseason and the fact that it comes on the tail of the 2nd consecutive year of getting swept out of the playoffs and I just don’t feel that Hendry has made moves that makes this team better.
The biggest offseason move so far is the signing of a Free Agent with documented behavior problems, a history of poor fan relations and a big question mark as far as health.
I’m unimpressed.
On that biggest offseason move
The only point that concerns me is the “question mark as far as health” which is pretty damned speculative. Your other points — fan relations and behavior problems are irrelevant. IMHO. I think Hendry did what he sought out to do, and as fans we’ll just have to take it.
How can they possibly be irrelevant
if they keep him off the field in the form of suspensions or injury?
And speculative?? The most games he’s ever played in a season is 141, back in 2004. After that was 126, last year, when he spent the majority of the year as a DH.
Just between Sept 13 and 16th of last season, he had a cortisone shot in his wrist and was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.
He left multiple games early LAST YEAR because of knee, back and wrist soreness. This isn’t speculation, this is fact.
He was ejected again last July for arguing balls and strikes. He missed significant time with a quad injury.
In June, he tried to go up to the broadcasters booth to confront a guy who said something negative about him.
On May 21st, he was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.
These are all last year, during his “best year ever.”
These things aren’t irrelevant and definitely had an impact on the Rangers and that behavior will have an impact on the Cubs.
Ok
So his past injuries are a solid indicator of the future? We learned that with Harden didn’t we?
I don’t claim to have my finger on the pulse of player health, but I can see how his performance on the field can benefit the club. You seem happy to write the guy off to the psycho ward, and are prepared to see a meltdown on the field, with all the theatrics of a slasher film. Well I prefer to consider the notion that he is happy to be playing for the Cubs and will work hard to perform to his highest ability on the field…and curb his “behavior”. And as “fan relations” goes…if he does have issues with that, I think I’ve figured out the types of fans they will be.
Whoa whoa whoa
Slow down here.
Please take your words out of what I wrote, because it’s patently wrong.
My entire statement was this: The biggest offseason move so far is the signing of a Free Agent with documented behavior problems, a history of poor fan relations and a big question mark as far as health.
YOU said the stuff other than injury was irrelevant. I fail to see how his behavioral problems that he’s had that keep him off the field are going to help the Cubs. I provided a few different examples of that behavior and specific instances where it took him off the field. Do you not agree that it’s hard for him to help the Cubs when he’s not on the field?
YOU said that the injury history is speculative. I provided several examples, just from the last year, where nagging and sometimes serious injuries kept MB off the field. Again, it’s pretty damn hard for him to help the club when he’s not playing.
Are the past injuries a solid indicator of the future? Hell yes. Is Harden an example? Hell yes. He had to be skipped in a few starts last year after the Cubs got him to help keep him healthy.
Bradley has been in the majors for parts of 9 seasons and his highest games played total is 141 games. In 9 seasons. That’s not a small sample size.
He’s played in 100 or more games 3 times in 9 seasons. He averages missing 1/3 of the season. That is significant and should be taken into account when evaluating the pick up. HE CAN’T HELP THE CUBS IF HE DOESN’T PLAY.
NOWHERE did I say I don’t want him to succeed. NOWHERE do I take it to any fairy tale level that you ascribe to me. Then you want to insult me by saying that I’m the type of fan that he has issues with. You know absolutely nothing about me. You’re grasping at straws because your argument doesn’t hold up. That’s fine.
I agree with you that his performance on the field can benefit the Cubs. But he has to be on the field. Injuries and behavioral issues over his 9 season history show that he has trouble staying on the field.
Period.
With that being the biggest offseason move, I’m not ready to say that Hendry really improved this team so far this offseason.
Ok fair enuff
I didn’t mean to blatantly suggest that your argument had no merit, regarding his injury risks. The point I was trying to make (and failed to make) was that I believe too much is ascribed to his personality or behavior. This site and others are riddled with comments about Bradley being a “cancer” or a “hot head”. I guess I prefer to wait and see how he approaches the situation in Chicago. Sorry, if I suggested that you were just waiting to gloat when he blows a gasket and knocks out a fan or ump, but thats kinda how I felt your post came off — my bad. You are correct I do not know you, so that was an unfair jab.
Ok so he argued balls and strikes, some players do that, its dumb but they do, if he can produce then maybe I’m willing to take some of that fluff. I don’t discredit Ted Lilly because he throws inside once in awhile and gets ejected. Why? because he has produced enough to let me forgive it, and thats a pitcher with not nearly as much playing time to make it up as Bradley will have. As for Harden, ok so they handled him with kid gloves as a precaution — but hardley the injuries (and resultant lost playing time) that were predicted by many a Cub fan.
I agree on the number of games missed overall — that is an issue.
And I think your last sentence is what most of us kinda feel in out guts, its a good point.
However, I resent the fairy tale thing — I thought I went alot more violent than that.
you have over-sensationalized
his “behavior” problems. The reports form his former teammates speak louder than all of us sitting on the outside trying to comment on him. He’s repsected and well-liked.
The issue is injuries, not “behavior.”
Getting into it with Jeff Kent—I applaud him as did several of his teammates.
Confronting an opposing broadcaster who is speaking garbage about you on TV without ever having met you or interview you is hardly condemning.
Going off on an ump is done weekly in baseball, but never is the umpire suspended for his actions like Winters was for his role in the beef.
Telling a fan to stick the bottle he threw at you up his butt and slamming it on the ground is not something I have a problem with. Milton doesn’t come to your place of employment, cuss you out, and throw beer bottles at you when you make a typo in an e-mail. Not “you” in general, but to everyone.
I hope we have a player with a little emotion and a little life. I’m tired of Lou having to go on a tirade to wake this team up for 2 consecutive years.
Bradley needs to stay healthy. the rest we will all be fine with. Just my take.
Oh Please
I’m not going to shed any tears for a minor league reliever who by definition is a failed starter with only one plus pitch. For every Marmol, the road to the majors is paved with dozens of these failures. At least Gregg has proven he can get people out at the major league level and should, at least, be an above average reliever or a good option when Marmol gets hurt again this year. Also lefties hammered Ceda at AA this year so to me that means his offspeed stuff isn’t getting any better.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Jan 15, 2009 2:07 PM CST up reply actions
Epstein perhaps
Kenny Williams ain’t bad. He had the cahoonas to assemble that ’05 team and stand by them long before Oct 26th ever came along.
Walt Jocketty also ain’t bad. He did some very good things with the redbirds.
Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.
Kenny?
Really?!?!?!? Anyone who can’t stand up to Ozzie is a little bitch and someone I wouldn’t want on my team.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
Can't stand up to Ozzie?
Have you noticed Ozzie has curbed it quite a bit the last couple years. I have it from several friends who are die-hards of that team (and can openly discuss both of the cities’ teams w/o any acrimony) that Ozzie has been told by Kenny and Jerry to tone it down, period.
Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.
Ozzie called Kenny out in the media
Not to mention the way Kenny sent Frank Thomas away. I would never want to see that guy in the front office at Wrigley.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
The Big Hurt was a Big Whiner
While he put up HoF numbers for years he wasn’t the team guy everyone thought he was.
And Ozzie will call out his own mother if he felt like it, he’s never known when to just shut up.
Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.
by blackhawk24 on Jan 18, 2009 11:05 AM CST up reply actions
Where do you get the idea that Thomas wasn't a team player?
Let’s hear some specific examples.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
well, here's one GM I'd prefer
not quite cubbie blue, but close enough for me. 1961, I believe. A very good year…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Here's the GM I'd prefer
Gabriela Monteiro
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jan 15, 2009 8:13 PM CST up reply actions
LOL......Honesty compels me to say,
that I would probably be nice and give her a ride in my Ford Focus as well.
Hey Lou, we're long overdue.
by deadcatbounce on Jan 15, 2009 9:24 PM CST up reply actions
I would just flat out give her my Ford Focus.
After one ride with her I would just float everywhere I needed to go and wouldn’t need a car.
Tommie Agee was out.
"This field, this game, is a part of our past. It reminds us of all that was once good, and it could be good again." TM
by Weeghman Park on Jan 15, 2009 9:32 PM CST up reply actions
c'mon - any fool can see that's a 283.
yeah, right. ;-) Well, I’m definitely a fool but all I know about vettes is they look very cool. So did a little surfing and found a site with lots of info here.
Here’s the scoop on the 1961s
1961 Corvettes were produced from September 1960 through July 1961 with a total production of 10,939. All 1961 Corvettes were convertibles with over half receiving an auxiliary hardtop.
A. Exterior styling was facelifted for 1961. It was the first Corvette without heavy “teeth” in the grill area. The rear was completely restyled with four taillights, now a Corvette tradition.
B. Exhausts exited below the body on 1961’s
C. The grill for ’61 was finished in argent silver
D. Popular & Optional Engine Combinations Were: 283ci, 315hp engine (fuel injection) – 1,462 produced; 283ci, 270hp engine (2×4 carburetor) – 2,827 produced; 283ci, 245hp engine (2×4 carburetor) – 1,175 produced.
E. RPO-687 included special front and rear shocks, air scoops/deflectors for front brakes and air scoops for rear brakes, metallic brake facings, finned brake drums with cooling fans, and quick-steering adaptor of which only 233 were produced!
F. This was the last year for use of 283ci engines in Corvettes. This was the last model with “wide” whitewall tires.
G. 1961 Colors were: Tuxedo Black – 1,340 produced; Ermine White – 3,178 produced; Roman Red – 1,794 produced; Sateen Silver – 747 produced; Jewel Blue – 855 produced; Fawn Beige – 1,363 produced; Honduras Maroon – 1,645 produced.
H. Jewel Blue exterior paint was exclusive to 1961
I. Contrasting cove colors were last available in ’61, as were dual-four carburetors.
and here’s the scoop on the 1962s
1962 Corvettes were produced from August 1961 through August 1962 with a total production of 14,531. All 1962 Corvettes were convertibles with over one-half receiving an auxiliary hardtop.
A. Engine displacement for 1962 increased from 283ci to 327ci. Dual-four barrel carburetors were not available. 1962 Corvettes could not be ordered with coves painted to contrast body color. This was the first model with rocker panel moldings. The conventional trunk design of the 1962 was the last until 1998. This was the last year for electric generators and solid rear axles. This was the first year to have tires with narrow whitewalls. The grill for 1962 was finished in black anodized, gold anodized, or gold anodized painted black.
B. Popular & Optional Engine Combinations were: 327ci, 340hp engine – 4,412 produced; 327ci, 360hp engine (fuel injection) – 1,918 produced; 327ci, 300hp engine – 3,294 produced.
C. RPO 687 included special front and rear shocks, air scoops/deflectors for front brakes and air scoops for rear brakes, metallic brake facings, finned brake drums with cooling fans, and quick-steering adaptor of which only 246 were produced.
D. 1962 Colors Were: Tuxedo Black ; Fawn Beige – 1,851 produced; Roman Red; Ermine White; Almond Beige – 820 produced; Sateen Silver; Honduras Maroon.
E. 1962 Corvettes were the last with a solid rear axle which marked the end of the Corvette’s first generation.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I'll take...
… Epstein, Cashman, Kenny Williams, Bill Smith (and Terry Ryan if he’ll unretire, same for Bill stoneman and Larry Beinfest, John Heart and John Schuerholtz), Billy Beane, Walt Jockety, Doug Melvin, Mark Shapiro. There are a few GMs who are relatively unknown but Andrew Friedman in Tampa has done an excellent job. The jury is undoubtedly out on Jack Zduriencik, Neal Huntington and Ruben Amaro Jr.
Melvin?
You can’t be serious about Doug Melvin. The whole Ned Yost debacle alone should disqualify him from being considered a good GM. Milwaukee’s farm system isn’t something he can take credit for either.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on Jan 15, 2009 10:33 PM CST up reply actions
pardon me
Ya I can be serious and I am. First off… what part of the Ned Yost situation was a debacle? Can’t go back in history and replay things but without that late firing the Brewers may not make the playoffs at all.
As for the farm system, why can’t he take credit for it? Maybe Zduriencik gets more credit, but it happened under his watch. The team has not only drafted well under Melvin, but the players have been developed.
no pardon me
As far as Yost goes he should have been launched after 07. When he finally was let go it was the owner that launched him, Melvin didn’t have the nerve to make the move. Did you think entrusting the closer duties to Eric Gagne was a good idea? They very well may have won the division last season if they had a reliable closer. His bullpen has been a mess for the last two seasons and now he’s gotten the over the hill Trevor Hoffman to do the job for him. Did you like the Jeff Suppan signing? Was that good allocation of his budget? Speaking of his budget what is he doing with that $100 MM he offered CC? Hmmm.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on Jan 15, 2009 11:34 PM CST up reply actions
Hendry
gets a D- this off season. I don’t care for any of the moves personally he has made this winter.
Thats fine, people blow off the Hank White move, in exchange for Paul Bako. Bako sucks at the plate, and just becasue he is lefty, please. Lou may as well be the GM the past two years.
This team has gotten worse not better.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
past 2 years
The past 2 years have gone pretty well considering the Cubs won back to back division titles. If Lou has had an influence on Hendry’s decisions then they have at least resulted in wins. The statistical projections I have seen so far have this team projected to score anywhere from 5.2 to 5.6 runs per game. That’s pretty decent. They have improved by getting Bradley as well as moving Marquis. Fontenot is a better defender than DeRosa and his offensive projection for next season, according to John Dewan, is actually better than DeRo’s. Hendry has made some really nice off-season moves considering the limbo of ownership.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on Jan 15, 2009 10:41 PM CST up reply actions
I respectfully disagree
Fontenot as good as DeRosa? I am sorry I don’t care John Dewan, Sabermatics, Bill James or Jesse James, DeRo is a better player and that includes the glove than Fontenot. Kevin Gregg is better than Wood and Ceda I guess? Bradley is a huge IF, The guy is always hurt.
The Cubs also are going to close with Marmol and who knows how he will pan out.
This team is not improved, even though Hendry will insist they are.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
who knows?
You are right about who knows how Marmol will pan out. We could also say who knows if Kerry Wood will stay healthy. The fact is anything is possible and we need to decide what is probable. I’m not sure if it’s just your personal opinion but Fontenot was in fact a better defender than DeRosa. You can go by your gut I will go with what I saw and the defensive analysis that said Fontenot was a +11 defender at 2nd last season and DeRo was -8. Fontenot’s projected OPS next year is .809 and DeRo’s is .783, and Fontenot is 5 years younger. You may not care about statistical projections but sometimes they are useful in informing our opinions. There is an interesting post at statoftheweek.com titled, “Top 10 reasons to like what the Cubs are doing this winter.” It is a very thought provoking analysis of what the Cubs have done so far.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on Jan 15, 2009 11:26 PM CST up reply actions
Is Fontenot's projected OPS based on him in a full-time role or at least close to a full-time role?
or is it based on him platooning, i.e. being put in a role where he produces well, but obviously with limited ABs.
If the former, then it is fair to compare him to DeRosa and if this Dewan guy says he’ll be better than DeRosa, well, I want some of what he’s smoking.
If the latter, then it’s a meaningless argument.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
anyone else the least bit scared
we wake up in the morning to find we’ve traded for A. Jones?! j/k
Can't happen,
the Dodgers have released him. Anyone can now sign him for the minimum salary.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Jan 15, 2009 11:03 PM CST up reply actions
How can Ned Colletti possibly be the worst GM in a league that includes Jim Bowden?
"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007
Ranking of GMs
Top of the list has to be names like Theo Epstein, Larry Beinfast, Kenny Williams, Walt Jocketty.
Bottom of the barrel is Ned Colletti, Jim Bowden.
Jim Hendry? He falls somewhere in between. The thing that saves Hendry’s behind is the fact that he operates with generous payroll with the Cubs. I doubt seriously he could be effective at any level if he were GM in a place like Minnesota, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay, etc. The most damning case against Hendry is the futility of the farm system that he has played a part of since arriving to the Cubs in the mid-90’s.
farm system
I would agree that the Cubs don’t have one of the better systems as far as drafting and developing. However, they have used their farm system to acquire DLee, Aramis, and Harden which has to be taken into consideration. Drafting and developing the rookie of the year at catcher, Soto, is not a bad product out of the farm system either. Zambrano, Wood, Samardzija and Marmol have come out of the Cubs system as well so there have been some valuable players that have come out of their system.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on Jan 15, 2009 11:51 PM CST up reply actions
That's still a pretty short list...
especially when you consider how often we had bad teams (resulting in high draft picks).
by SouthernCub on Jan 16, 2009 10:32 AM CST up reply actions
I'd add Billy Beane...
to the list of GMs at the top. Anyone that can consistently remain competitive with one of the bottom-feeder salaries is a pretty good GM in my book. Epstein is just Billy Beane but with MUCH more of a payroll to work with.
by SouthernCub on Jan 16, 2009 10:31 AM CST up reply actions
Billy Beane is overrated
Don’t get me wrong, I think the guy is smart and operates under a plan. But what’s the point of perpetually building and tearing down just as soon as things get north of the $50 million or so mark? Frankly, I don’t understand why he is still in Oakland.
It's not his choice to keep the payoll so low...
You seem to be working under the mistaken impression that Beane is building up and tearing down by choice. The reality is that he’s working with the payroll that he’s given by his boss. That’s precisely why I think he’s so good. He’s able to keep that team functional DESPITE the fact that he has to tear down the team every few years for financial reasons.
Beane still has a job in Oakland because he has continually proven to be able to field a competitive team for the money that his boss allots him. Give Beane Epstein’s budget, and Beane probably has some World Series hardware too.
by SouthernCub on Jan 16, 2009 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
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