Archive for the ‘Jim Hendry’ Category

Top 10 Reasons the Cubs Hired Mike Quade as Manager

Here are the top 10 reasons Jim Hendry (with a gentle nod from Tom Ricketts) hired Mike Quade to manage the Chicago Cubs through 2012 (with a team option for 2013). From the home office in Davenport Iowa*: 10: Mike is a solid baseball lifer who began managing 25 years ago and earned his shot [...]

October 19, 2010 Tags: Chicago Cubs, Mike Quade, Tom Ricketts Posted in: Jim Hendry, Mike Quade, manager, observations, oddities One Comment

Observations on Chicago Baseball Managers

Mike Quade started off his MLB managerial career off with a bang, posting one of the best beginnings in Cubs franchise history. I wonder now if some of the luster has worn off. He’s lost Geovany Soto, Tyler Colvin, and Carlos Silva for the year. Now two of the club’s most dependable starters get blown [...]

September 25, 2010 Tags: Carlos Silva, Chicago White Sox, Geovany Soto, Jim Hendry, Kenny Williams, Mike Ditka, Mike Quade, Ozzie Guillen, Tyler Colvin Posted in: Jim Hendry, biz of baseball, coaching, controversy, game of baseball, manager, observations, rivalries No Comments

New Cubs Manager Choice Will Be Telling

With Year One of the Ricketts regime coming to an end, we really haven’t seen much from them to really define their priorities and style. I mean, sure, we’ve seen more fan outreach, some new marketing ideas, bison on the menu; but not much to indicate what kind of owners they will be from a [...]

September 18, 2010 Tags: 2011 Chicago Cubs, Alan Trammel, Andy MacPhail, bison dog, Bob Brenly, Bob Melvin, Bobby Valentine, Crane Kenney, Davey Johnson, Eric Wedge, Fredi Gonzalez, George Steinbrenner, Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, Mark Grace, Mike Quade, Pat Listach, Ryne Sandberg, Tom Ricketts, Tony LaRussa, Year One Posted in: Jim Hendry, Ricketts family, Team Ownership, biz of baseball, manager, observations No Comments

Big Z: Too good, too late

Carlos Zambrano is an enigma. There is no telling what will happen when he takes the mound for the Chicago Cubs. He could get shelled for 8 runs in just an inning and third as he did on opening day 2010 against the Braves in Atlanta. Or Big Z can effortlessly toss 8 2/3 shutout, [...]

September 11, 2010 Tags: anger management, Carlos Zambrano, waivers Posted in: Jim Hendry, controversy, legal issues, observations, photo of the day, players, roster, stats One Comment

Bob Dernier finds his way back to the Cubs

When Dallas Green came to the Cubs from the Phillies organization, he systematically plucked ‘his guys’ from the Phillie system to stock the Cubs for a playoff run. Within a year or two, the Cubs acquired Larry Bowa, Gary Matthews, Keith Moreland, Dickie Noles, Warren Brusstar, a young third baseman named Ryne Sandberg, and outfielder Bobby [...]

August 24, 2010 Tags: Bobby Dernier, Dallas Green, Dickie Noles, Elfstrom Stadium, Gary Matthews, Gold Glove, Ivan DeJesus, Kane County Cougars, Keith Moreland, Larry Bowa, Peoria Chiefs, Philadelphia Phillies, photo, Randy Bush, Ryne Sandberg, Warren Brusstar Posted in: Jim Hendry, awards, biz of baseball, coaching, manager, observations, photo of the day No Comments

Mike Quade gets an audition

With Lou stepping aside early, this allows the organization to get on with player evaluation and for coach Mike Quade, an opportunity to audition for the Cubs managerial position in 2011 and beyond. When I first hear Tribune beat writer Paul Sullivan say Quade is a leading candidate for the job, I started talking to myself, alone [...]

August 23, 2010 Tags: Alan Trammel, manager, Mike Quade, Paul Sullivan Posted in: Jim Hendry, biz of baseball, coaching, manager, observations No Comments

Lou Piniella rides off into the sunset

Lou Piniella has called it a career. He came to Chicago saying this would be his final managerial job and yesterday morning it was announced he would retire following what would be a 16-5 drubbing by the Atlanta Braves, the exact same outcome from Cubs vs Braves on opening day this year. Ironic how that [...]

August 23, 2010 Tags: Alan Trammel, Atlanta Braves, Derrek Lee, Jim Hendry, Leo Durocher, Lou Piniella, Mike Fontenot, Mike Quade, photo, Ryan Theriot, Ted Lilly Posted in: Jim Hendry, Lou Piniella, announcement, biz of baseball, coaching, manager, news, photo of the day No Comments

Derrek Lee will be missed, but it was time

The Cubs having traded fan favorite Derrek Lee to the Atlanta Braves, it was strange to see him playing first base and batting cleanup for the visiting team on Friday at Wrigley Field. In his first at bat, Lee stepped to the plate to a rousing standing ovation, tipped his helmet to the crowd and [...]

August 21, 2010 Tags: Aramis Ramirez, Atlanta Braves, Derrek Lee, Jeffrey Lorick, photo, prospects, Robinson Lopez, salary, trade, Tyrelle Harris, Wrigley Field Posted in: Jim Hendry, biz of baseball, fielding, photo of the day, players, roster, stats 2 Comments

Cubs and Zambrano have a long road ahead

I was impressed with the ‘conclusion’ to the Carlos Zambrano matter announced by Jim Hendry yesterday. I think the consensus arrived at by Hendry, Zambrano with his agent, MLB and the players union was both supportive and creative but perhaps not as matter-of-fact as Hendry would like us to believe. Big Z will be evaluated by [...]

June 29, 2010 Tags: All Star break, anger management, Carlos Zambrano, higher power, Jim Hendry, Lou Piniella, MLB, MLBPA Posted in: Jim Hendry, controversy, legal issues, players One Comment

The 25th Man

Your 2010 Chicago Cubs 25-man active duty roster is due on Monday for the opening of the baseball season. With the position battles mostly settled for Lou Piniella‘s squad, only the 25th and final position remains uncommitted. Carrie Muskat of MLB.com writes about the four candidates for the one roster spot: There are four players [...]

March 30, 2010 Tags: 2010 Chicago Cubs, Aramis Ramirez, Carrie Muskat, Chad Tracy, Derrek Lee, Kevin Millar, Micah Hoffpauir, Sam Fuld, Tyler Colvin Posted in: Jim Hendry, Lou Piniella, players, roster One Comment