One thing that genuinely irks about front office types in baseball, is the apparent lack of urgency they have to improve things when they are not going so good. Looking at the Cubs it is fairly evident that they lack a right handed relief man, and they lack a true run producer. While, I’ll be the first to admit that there is not much that can be done through way of trade to improve our offense, their is, however, the chance to improve the Cubs bullpen through trade. Yet, according to words of Jim Hendry himself, you have to be patient and not make a move just to make a move.
"There are no deals pending, no scouts scouring other rosters to find help.“There really isn’t anywhere to look,” Hendry said. “I would think our position players are not a weakness at all. We’re just in one of these funks where we can’t get over the hump and get runs in. It’s not for lack of talent or lack of these guys working.” Carrie Muskat"
The one major thing that makes that statement really get to me is…There are no deals pending, no scouts scouring others rosters to find help. Now let me get this straight, a scout’s main duty is to observe players on other teams for a possible trade, and yet that is not the case with the Cubs scouts. When the Cubs are 5 games below .500, and already 6 games out of their division, that is not a sign that everything is going to be okay and you need to be patient. That is sign that changes are in order
And, for your own general manager to personally insist that nothing is wrong, when their are glaring wholes on this team, that is just ridiculous.
How Can Nothing Be Wrong, When…
- Your so called middle of the order hitters in Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez are hitting .229, and .159 respectively
- Your Bullpen has a cumulative ERA of 5.44. and only 2 of your 7 relievers have more strikeouts than walks.
- Your offense cannot hit with runners in scoring position
- Your are the second worst team when it comes to defense
So, I’m not the only one that see’s these problems, and I’m not the only one that doesn’t feel like things are going to be okay. For a General Manager in Jim Hendry, whose job maybe on the hot seat, he certainly is not acting like it. But, maybe that is good thing for Cubs fans, because personally the only real hope I have is that the Cubs fire Jim Hendry after the season, and then maybe, just maybe they can get a general manager that knows a little something about baseball.