Come To Think Of It...Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry Dropped the Ball

All winter long we heard rumor after rumor that Brian Roberts was coming to the Cubs. Finally, the Cubs were going to get that high OBP, speedy leadoff man that they so desperately needed. This way, they could move Alfonzo Soriano, who swings as if he's trying to land an airplane, further down in the batting order where he belongs. And take advantage of a leadoff hitter who can actually run without fear of his hamstrings exploding.

Of course, now comes word from Andy MacPhail, of all people, that Hendry's offers just won't get 'er done. And that it's looking like Roberts will not be wearing Cubbie blue any time soon, if ever.  And that sucks for Cubs fans everywhere. I can just imagine ol' Andy smirking at the irony of it all. Remember, that's MacFAIL to you and I.

Yes, despite the protests to the contrary, the Cubs haven't done much to help the ballclub this offseason. Sure, they signed Fukudome, but what have they done for me lately? Hendry repeatedly said he wasn't done tweaking the club. In fact, his boss, Crane Kenney, said that Hendry had three major moves this offseason that would "significantly" improve the club. I heard him say so right on the Cubs flagship station, WGN radio in Chicago. Uh, Jim, where are those moves?

Aside from Fukudome, who is a very expensive gamble to say the least, the only moves that Hendy has made to improve the club has been the signing of Jon Lieber and Reed Johnson. But Lieber is a 38 year old journeyman pitcher who didn't even make the Cubs rotation. And Johnson is nothing more than a spare part; useful but hardly newsworthy.

The Cubs have a sometimes-ace in Zambrano, when he's not chortling like a bull in a rodeo. And a solid number two in Lilly. Outside of that, the rest of the rotation is 'Spahn and Sain and pray for rain'.  Or is that Zambrano and Lilly and pray for drizzly?

I mean, Rich Hill is inconsistent and hardly has a proven track record. Dempster hasn't started in years. And we all know that Marquis is prone to second half struggles. He was left off of two playoff rosters two seasons in a row.

And while I wish nothing but the best for Kerry Wood as closer, one can't help but worry about his propensity to break down more often than a parapalegic in a sack hop race.

Add the fact that Pie is not ready to be an everyday centerfielder and that Theriot, cool nickname or not ("the riot"), shouldn't be starting at shortstop for a contending team, and you quickly see why the Cubs haven't won in almost a century. Even when they have a good team, they don't go that extra mile to finish the job.

Sure, in a relatively weak division, the Cubs are the favorites to go to the playoffs again. Personally, I don't think it will happen. But even if it does, will they go further than three-and-out like last year? I don't know about you, but just winning the division isn't enough for me, I want to end the drought so we can stop being the laughingstock of the sports world.

Their farm system, under Hendry directly and under his watch as GM, has not produced a single everyday player of star quality. His first round draft picks have been horrible. He does not preach an organizational philosophy supporting the well respected fact that OBP is the single most important element for an effective offense. That explains why so many of the players that come through the system, like Patterson, Theriot and Pie, don't know the strike zone.

Did you know that Theriot saw the fewest number of pitches and had the lowest slugging percentage of any MLB infielder last year?

Bottom line, Jim Hendry hasn't done enough with the payroll he has. And if that means the Cubs go yet another season without a title, then he should go too. Come to think of it, he should have already been gone.