Jime Hendry has done it again. Fresh off an offseason in which he assured the Cubs of having the most frustrating leadoff man in the game for the next seven years, Hendry, for one reason or another, decided to be for the Tigers what Dave Littlefield has been for the Cubs, a fan. Hendry has just pulled the trigger on a deal that sent Jacque Jones, who in having his worst season as a pro finished with an acceptable line of .285/.335/.400, and put together a second half to the tune of .332/.374/.458, to the Tigers for Omar Infante, who couldnt beat out Brandon Inge(.241/.304.394) for the job at 3b. Infante's career best average, OBP and SLG% are .277/.325/.449. He has played just 407 games over the last four years.
Jacque Jones, despite having his worst year in 07, is making just 5 million this year and the Cubs should have waited until the market for outfielders thinned out and the demand for Jones would have increased. I feel that Hendry, fresh off of a first round sweep, made this move just to make a move. I understand that Jones was maybe the most frustrating Cub of 07 and hit only five home runs, but if the Cubs fail to get their hands on a premier outfielder by opening day, Jime Hendry will rue the day he traded Jacque Jones.
While writing my respnse to a comment, i realized that not only is Hendry giving up Jones for a lesser player, but he is giving up Jones to acquire a player who will in no way shape or form help bolster the team. Infante presumabbly was brough in to be some sort of utility guy, not a starter, and mainly sub in at SS and 2B. The Cubs already have themselves one of the most durable infielders in the game, Mark Derosa. Derosa played 1B,2B and 3B last season(not to mention LF) and did a great job at all three. Theriot, who i believe can be one of the best 2B/SS bench guys in the game, can do everything Infante does, except Theriot does it better. In watching Ryan play every day last year it was pretty clear that a) He wasnt good enough defensively to be a starting SS and b) He coudlnt handle the wear and tear of a full time gig at SS. If relegated to bench status, Theriot would perform at a higher level with all of the rest he would get and would provide some rest here and there for Derosa. Also, if the Cubs were to acquire Kaz Matsui(and his injury history) and play him at SS, i would feel much safer with Theriot behind him than i would with Infante.
The fans, myself included, were all too ready to see Jones traded before last year's trading deadline. But after looking at his second half, together with his dirt cheap contract and the Cubs lack of goot hitting outfielders(righty or lefty), this move looks like it resulted from one of a few things things: 1) Jim Hendry is a poor general managers, 2) Hendry was acting on what he believed to be on the behalf of the fans, or 3) This trade is just one of many that will result in a bigger acquisition. Unless the third is true, which it most likely isnt, Hendry messed up, bigtime.
Even if the trade should prove to be because of Cubs fans, Hendry should be fired on the spot. Any General Manager should know that the minute you start making moves because of pressure, whether it be from fans or ownership, you are not doing a good job. Good GM's know when to make a move and how to best address specific needs. Hendry doesnt.
Kaz Matsui?? Omar Infante?? Jaques Jones?? Who cares?
The Cubs are making sure they don't have two good seasons in a row. They seldom have two bad in a row. Last year was good!
I am college kid out of chicago and love Chicago sports aka a huge homer. My writing may contradict this, but i do care and know about sports outside of Chicago, although I may never blog about it.
