|
Entry #9
Cubs Search For A New General Manager
Posted August 24, 2011, 9:50pm by Jamal
Collier
 The
greatest Cubs general manager of my generation, Jim Hendry, was fired last
week. I’ve never been one to call for Hendry’s head, actually I’ve sang his
praises; he pulled off a steal in 2003 trading for Aramis Ramirez and Kenny
Lofton and the Cubs won three division titles during his tenure.
It was not his fault that the team in 2003 was five outs from the World
Series and blew it, or his fault that the team with the best record in 2008
did not even win a playoff game. However, I am happy that Hendry was fired
because it was time for him to go and time for a change. He did everything
he could to try and win this team a World Series when the window was open,
but unfortunately it did not happen. It completed one of the craziest weeks
in Cubs history, starting with Carlos Zambrano being placed on the
disqualified list. So, a change is good for the organization and offers hope
to the fan base, and this fan, that is looking for some reason to hope.
The Hendry firing assured me one thing: the Cubs and owner Tom Ricketts
appear to have a plan. Ricketts wants to hire a general manger with
experience and put him completely in charge of baseball operations. Members
of the media believe the Cubs GM job is seen as one of the top three jobs in
baseball, sans the Red Sox and Yankees, because of Ricketts willingness to
spend money when necessary and the loyal fan base.
Top general managers such as Yankees GM Brian Cashman, Red Sox GM Theo
Epstein, Rays GM Andrew Friedman and Oakland GM Billy Beane all have been
rumored as candidates and it has me excited. Besides Beane, who was given a
miniscule payroll in Oakland, all of those guys have been to the World
Series at least once.
I am an optimistic Cubs fan but a realist, so I do not believe any of these
guys will leave their perfect situations except Friedman, who’s dad could be
the next owner of the Houston Astros, so he’d be the likely general manger
in that situation.
So I would like the Cubs to go after White Sox asst. GM Rick Hahn. He grew
up in Chicago and was a Chicago Cubs fan growing up, and is highly regarded
around the league as one of the best GM candidates.
It seems as though the Cubs are a long way away from becoming a contender
again, but then again the same thing was said after 2002. And then in 2003
Hendry was hired and new manager Dusty Baker was brought in. The Cubs are in
a bad division with a lot of money set to come off the payroll after this
year, so anything can happen if Ricketts can hire the right guy. See, I told
you I was optimistic.
To comment on this story through
Facebook,
click here.
Latest Posts
|
