What We've Learned from the Cubs Convention

Two things we've confirmed from a Cubs convention that, as I wrote recently, is a lovefest to mediocrity, are, 1) Tom Ricketts thinks Jim Hendry is doing a good job (gulp); and, 2) no more major changes are expected.

Both of these facts are bad news for us Cubs fans. The end result is that we will have a second consecutive season of a starter at second base who shouldn't be a starter, and a GM who shouldn't be the GM of a major market club.

I previously wrote a piece on why career backup Jeff Baker is not the answer. It seems that Hendry doesn't learn from past mistakes, as this is likely to end as badly as the Mike Fontenot experiment last season. 

In both cases, Hendry extrapolated small successful sample sizes into full-season results, and baseball just doesn't work like that.

And does he really think that Larry Rothschild can turn around one of the worst pitchers in a major league uniform, Carlos Silva? Talk about rationalizing a trade of Milton Bradley that was not a baseball deal as much as it was an overreaction to a fan backlash!

One thing that I don't like about what Ricketts had to say is that he doesn't expect to interfere in the baseball side of things. Well, if he doesn't, then he needs to get a president that knows baseball, not a businessman like Crane Kenney.

Otherwise, who will hold Hendry accountable? Because from a pure business aspect, as long as fans continue to fill the park, everything is wonderful. 

I'm really surprised that the fans didn't bomb management like the previous year. Then again, I shouldn't be so surprised, since most fans seem to be content with this mediocrity.

The questions at the convention were focused on the park, and spring training, rather than on what really counts, and that is the product on the field. Then again, there's a reason why this team hasn't won in so long.

Geo Soto, cycling off of steroids, looks like a shell of his former self. I definitely think this shows why he came out of nowhere to become a Cubs prospect so suddenly.

The only questions worth a damn were responded to in typical Cubs stone age fashion.

When asked about the value of sabermetrics, Rothschild spoke of the value of the dreaded won-loss record for a starting pitcher. Ouch.

And when asked about the organizational philosophy, Hendry pointed to the existence of Oneri Fleita and Tim Wilken as evidence.

OK, Jimbo, so OBP isn't a part of that philosophy then? Because judging by the recent drafting and development of players like Tyler Colvin, Josh Vitters and Brett Jackson, this team doesn't value the most important offensive statistic there is, which is not making outs.

Vitters can be a great player someday of he would only take a walk more than once a week.

Otherwise, the convention was useless and only served to prove that this is a team without a clue.

Oh, and by the way, Lou thinks that the most important position in the lineup is the fifth spot, which will be taken up by Marlon Byrd, and that Mark McGwire should be in the Hall of Fame.

Enough said, come to think of it.