Hendry - not good

So, how is the Cubs' offseason looking so far? Well, if you're interested in the Cubs winning, the offseason (not unlike virtually every other offseason in team history) isn't looking too good, is it?

The BIG free agent signing was Milton Bradley. Milton was coming off an unbelievable season last year - some would call it a career year and rightfully so. Well, how's he doing so far? Hmmm...not too good unless you're a pitcher on the opposing team. Let's just say he makes D-Lee look like Albert Pujols by comparison.

Milton started off the season 0-10 before hitting his 1st HR as a Cub for his first hit and first RBI too in his 4th game of the season. So much for a fast start...that's OK "it's still early" - MAN do I HATE that stupid saying! His next "anti-hitting streak" would last another 14 at bats before his second hit. His second and last RBI (for all you non-math students out there, he has only 2 more RBIs than you and me!) so far this season came in his 14th game and was also a solo HR. He's now hitting .128 - what's it called when you're barely hitting halfway to the Mendoza line? I don't know, but it's NOT good.

So Hendry put all his "eggs" in Bradley's offseason basket. Why? Here's a guy with a history of injury (CHECK - he's started 14 of the Cubs' 27 games) and is a total headcase (CHECK - he's been suspended pending appeal for a run-in with an umpire on a terrible called 3rd strike in the Cubs' 9th game of the season). It's like a self-fulfilling prophesy as most experts totally expected exactly this from Milton; of course, the experts also thought he'd hit a little bit too so they were wrong there. Great.

So who else was even available that would have been better? Well, gee, who could possibly be doing better than hitting .128 with 2 RBIs through the first month of the season? Let me think...how about nearly EVERY player in MLB and probably half the Minors too? But seriously, how about some real names of guys Hendry not only could/should have signed, but also given a shorter commitment and less money? Keep in mind Hendry gave Bradley 3 years for $30 million - $10 million per season for 2 more years after this one (if we get through this one!).

Raul Ibanez - how about 12 HRs, 21 RBIs, and .351 BA? He signed a 3-year $31.5 million deal with the defending World Series Champs - Phillies.

Bobby Abreu - how about .344 BA, 12 RBIs, and 11 freakin' SBs without being caught once? He signed a 1-year $5 million contract with the Angels.

There are MANY players Hendry could have brought in here besides Milton Bradley. Can you imagine what the Cubs' record would be right now with Ibanez batting 4th in this lineup? Holy cow!

There's an addage out there saying "addition by subtraction" which typically means you got rid of a problem player and it actually made your team better. Well, what's the addage when you give away your best player for NOTHING and replace him with even less? You know I'm talking about DeRosa, right? And his "replacement" Aaron Miles. That's what I like to see from my big market baseball team - cost-cutting when you just passed the 100-year anniversary of the last time you actually won the World Series. What the HECK was with this Hendry move? My initial thought was that Hendry was stockpiling Minor leaguers to make another run at Peavy or Brian Roberts, but neither came close to materializing so this must be a cost-cutting maneuver and logic dictates that the money saved by getting rid of DeRosa was given (ya, completely GIVEN as he hasn't earned a wooden nickel as of yet) to Milton Bradley. Doesn't that count as a double HORRIBLE move?

As dense and in his own world as Lou is, I'm sure he's with me ripping Hendry for this HORRIBLE bullpen. Hendry didn't give Lou much to work with out there in the pen. He's got a lefty in Neal Cotts that cannot get lefties out, so what's the point there? Lefties are hitting .308 against Cotts with a .462 OBA. WHY is he still here? Chad Gaudin was supposed to be the steal of the Rich Harden trade. Well, where is he now? GONE! AND Hendry and the Cubs are still paying the guy anyway - "here's $2 million; go away". Rather than focus on improving on last year's nice run as a late inning reliever, they decide to focus on making Samardzija a starter too. Total disaster thus far.

i don't remember Hendry signing any Tommy John guys this year though. So that's a start. But for the umteenth time, he still did nothing to get the Cubs a REAL lead-off hitter which you just know is going to bite us come playoff time if not earlier.

Who would have thought John Paxson was the best GM in town 6 months ago? OK - Dale Tallon is doing a fine job with the Blackhawks so he's probably #1 with Pax at #2. But both Kenny Williams and Jim Hendry are WAY down the list. Maybe Angelo moves up to #1 with that unbelievable Cutler signing though. Hendry's done - time to retire and let someone else give it a shot. You had your chance and couldn't get it done...NEXT!