(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Dumping the albatross Sammy Sosa, Hendry was able to secure minor leaguer Mike Fontenot in return who has been a good contributor for the team, though not quite so good this year. When do the Cubs ever get a minor league player in a trade that makes the big league roster and contributes? Fontenot has. That in itself is a miracle.
Being patient and waiting until Dusty Baker was available after the 2002 season was a great move by Hendry. He had led the Giants to the World Series in 2002.
Normally the Cubs settle for managers with training wheels.
Baker took the team to the brink of the World Series in 2003; just one game away. He soon fell out of favor and was informed he was no longer needed after the 2006 season.
It was not all his fault. In fact, most of the blame belongs to Hendry for the team he put on the field the last two years, but this is the good part of the trilogy, so excuse me for losing focus.
He also hired the grizzled veteran Lou Piniella to run the show after Baker. I thought it was a good choice at the time. Piniella led the Cubs to consecutive division titles for the first time in a hundred years.
Unfortunately he went on vacation during the playoffs and looked like he belonged in a nursing home or a homeless shelter with his disheveled look.
I’m not so sure if I’m too fond of him now as he keeps repeating he has no answers for the Cubs June swoon. I like my managers to have a solution. Even if he doesn’t have one, I don’t want to hear that he doesn’t know what to do.
Again I digress, but we’re at the end of Part 1 and heading to The Bad, so this is a perfect segue.
Look for Part 2 coming soon to a computer near you. It could be released Tuesday.
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