Cubs Fire GM Jim Hendry

Big News from the Chicago National League Ballclub this morning, where owner Tom Ricketts announced the dismissal of General Manager Jim Hendry. Ricketts, who just yesterday re-introduced a polished version of the same plan to renovate Wrigley Field with tax funds that was rejected last year by the city and state, said "it's time for a change."

We're certain the Cubs fans we know are universally cheering this move. Hendry, who was general manager since July 2002, helped put together three NL Central champions, but he's been widely perceived to have had a horseshoe up his ass in recent years as the Ricketts regime has gotten to a rocky start. The news also gives Our Town's sports talk radio stations enough hot air to add to the carbon footprint.

Randy Bush, Hendry's assistant, has been named interim GM.

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By Chuck Sudo in News on August 19, 2011 10:40 AM

Comments [rss]

ScooterLibbby

When are people going to realize that Phil Wrigley totally rebuilt the place in the 1960s?

ChicagoD

That's still 50 years ago.

ScooterLibbby

But it's not 1914 like the Trib Co. constantly used as the construction date. And even that isn't true as only the lower deck was built then, the upper deck came in the mid 1920s & the bleachers were built by Veeck's father in the 1930s.

sat3911

Holy ship! Now that is the way to wake up. Fire Zambrano then Hendry? This isn't going to be as bad of an ownership as I had feared.

Joseph

Seriously. Next thing will be to replace Wrigley, or at least finally gut it and rebuild it properly.

ChicagoD

I would say that Wrigley was built properly the first time. It needs to rehabbed and needs some major maintenance, but it is pretty old, and pretty used . . .

sat3911

Can't replace it. Have you seen how many fans are tourists? They would have to field a winning team. No, they are going to have to do a gut rehab. Fortunately they have started with the bleachers. The balconies are going to be the hard part.

ChicagoD

The good thing is that the Red Sox have already essentially done this and if Ricketts is smart he'll pick their brains.

sat3911

If Ricketts was smart he wouldn't have purchased the Cubs. I think his bigger problem is going to be the $ required to get it done.

ChicagoD

Oh, I totally disagree with that. Over time there is almost no chance they will lose money on the Cubs, and they have some really neat toys to play with (like Wrigley Field) in the interim. ROI-wise it might not be the best use of money, but ROI + utility . . . maybe.

thatdudeguydude

may the healing begin.

ChicagoD

Huh. I wonder what happened yesterday (or this morning) that made it time to fire him. Maybe they just wanted him in place to get the draft class signed, then out the door . . . Seems like an odd thing to do. Have him negotiate longish term contracts with kids, *then* fire him.