Listing

Bruce Bochy
Bob Brenly
Joe Girardi
Past Listach
Lou Piniella
Mike Quade

Quite a list of managerial candidates that Jim Hendry has seemingly compiled. One has to ask, why is it taking him so long to make up his mind on who to hire? It's clearly not a matter of due diligence.

See, Jim told us fans back in July that he was going to evalute the departed Dusty Baker for the rest of the season. Jim announced that Dusty would not be offered a new contract the morning after the season ended.

That means that Jim Hendry is a hell of a speed evaluator. He analyzed the data and made up his mind in about 18 hours!

That may not be right, tho. It could also be that Hendry made up his mind some considerable time before the end of the season. That would have given Hendry anywhere between 2 weeks to three months to start evaluating new managers.

So, which is it? Is Hendry the quick draw who now can't get his gun out of his holster? Or is he the patient artist who has completed the due dligence but just can't seem to make an offer to his chosen candidate?

To think that Jim Hendry, a man who is about to make one of the most important choices in his future, waited for the season to end to make all these choices is disconcerting to say the least.

Beting Line

Think back three years to October 1, 2003. Would anyone have been willing to bet then that every sports franchise in Chicago, exlcuding the Black Hawks, would win a title before the Cubs?

Anyone take that bet today stipulating the White Sox?

Thought not.