Jim Hendry’s highs and lows
August 19, 2011 11:34AM
FILE - This June 20, 2011, file photo shows Chicago Cubs' general manager Jim Hendry, left, and Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams, before an interleague baseball game in Chicago. The Cubs have fired Hendry after another disappointing season. The Cubs announced the move Friday, Aug. 19, 2011, before a game with the rival St. Louis Cardinals. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
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The Chicago Cubs fired general manager Jim Hendry on Friday after another disappointing season that will add to their historic World Series championship drought.
Here are some of Hendry’s highlights and lowlights during his tenure:
--This year the Cubs went into the All-Star break 18 games under .500 and that’s where they were Friday morning, 18 ½ games out of the National League Central lead.
--Pitcher Carlos Zambrano — who criticized his own closer early in the year — was banished from the team for a month after walking out of the clubhouse on a night he surrendered five home runs.
--Hendry brought back one-time ace Kerry Wood with a one-year, $1.5 million deal to be a setup man for closer Carlos Marmol.
--Cubs make one move at this year’s trade deadline, dealing outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to Cleveland.
--Hendry was behind deals in 2003 to bring Ramirez, Kenny Lofton and Randall Simon to the Cubs, pushing them into the NLCS. They came within five outs from the World Series.
--In 2004, Hendry landed pitcher Greg Maddux and traded for Nomar Garciaparra to set the Cubs up for another playoffs run — only to watch them blow the wildcard lead in the final week of the season.
--Hendry hired veteran managers Dusty Baker and Lou Piniella.
--Hendry gave Milton Bradley a three-year, $30 million contract for a brief, explosive stay in Chicago.
--Cubs were 749-748 during his time as general manager.
