The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself

Why? Why do teams in the Cubs division always add players at their peak while the Cubs add players who are good, but not dominant at their position before the Cubs get them?

Scott Rolen, Carlos Beltran, and now Mark Mulder. All three of these guys were All-Stars when acquired by their new teams. All three were on the verge of big money. And there are more. The Cubs didn’t offer enough for Mike Lowell in 2003 and it cost them a pennant. The Cubs didn’t go after Ugueth Urbina hard enough and it cost them a pennant. Jim Hendry is so stingy with his trading you have to wonder if he thinks prospects can accrue interest like a savings account.

Sure, the Cubs added Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, and Nomar Garciaparra. Only Nomar was an All-Star before the Cubs got him, and he was hurt, significantly lowering his price. Ramirez may become a mini-Rolen one day, but the cost for Ramirez was just about the same for Rolen. And Rolen was better then than Ramirez is now.

I’m tired of hearing about moving Sammy Sosa and freeing dollars to get Beltran and J.D. Drew and Jacque Jones. You know what? The Cubs found over $10 million in new revenues from new seats to rooftop revenue shares to rotating behind-home-plate signs. Go make some moves, now. We fans deserve it. The Cubs can afford it.

And if takes throwing in some prospects to get deals done, do it. About 75% of those names under Future Watch probably will never make the Majors. Jim Hendry ahs always appeared to fear making a risky move for fear of looking stupid – like Kenny Williams. Jim, if you fail to win with Prior, Zambrano, Wood and Maddux, you will be called stupid. Even if Ricky Nolasco goes to the Hall of Fame.

Make some moves. The other guys have less to trade yet seem fearless. What the hell is Hendry afraid of?