Bad year doesn't trash Hendry record

Even a broken clock is right twice a day, which would make me about half as effective as a busted timing device.

Nevertheless, when I was certain in 2007 and 2008 that the Cubs would win their division, it had little to do with the Cubs and everything to do with their NL Central competition.

I assumed the Cubs had no choice but to prevail, and they did each time.

This season, with Khalil Greene the Cards' Opening Day cleanup hitter, and new St. Louis "closer" Jason Motte - who? - blowing a lead and losing Game 1, I was certain it would go the same way again.

But I was wrong about 2009, mostly because the Cardinals actually made in-season moves, a development I never expected.

When they traded for free-agent-to-be Matt Holliday in late July, their lead over the Cubs was only 11/2 games, and by the time they were done adding several names to the roster, they were a much better team.

At the same time, I didn't expect the Cubs' sale to drag on so long that they couldn't adjust the roster.

They were only a half-game back of St. Louis at the end of July, but the Cubs essentially did nothing on July 31, and tanked shortly thereafter.

Meanwhile, all the right moves by the Cards gave St. Louis the spark the Cubs never found.

Let's be clear: The bloated and ineffective Cubs roster was the fault of GM Jim Hendry, who readily accepts the blame.

He knows his last off-season was a bad one, and he'll take this winter to try to fix it.

In fairness, however, everyone - especially Lou Piniella - demanded changes a year ago after the Cubs were swept out of the postseason for a second straight October.

Furthermore, everyone thought in April that the Cubs were a lock to win the Central again.

So Hendry wasn't the only one mistaken.

Perhaps this is a painfully low bar and a faulty barometer, but Hendry's track record is still much better than the men who preceded him, including Andy MacPhail, Ed Lynch and Larry Himes.

Hendry has five winning records in his seven full years as GM. There were only six winning records in the previous 30 seasons.

He's had three playoff teams in seven years, compared to three playoff teams in 57 years before Hendry took the job.

True, he hasn't done well spending money and on that you'll get no argument.

It said here at the time that the contracts handed out to Carlos Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome and others were disasters, but how many others genuinely disliked those deals when they happened?

Not many.

As for Milton Bradley, we all knew the man needed a full team of psychiatrists when he got here, but who knew the guy wouldn't hit a lick?

I didn't.

So, yes, there have been mistakes, and, yes, Hendry had a rough year, especially now that some of those ugly deals are coming home to roost.

Nevertheless, he's had a good run and Hendry deserves a chance to fix what's broken.

He's going to be aggressive this winter and with a couple decent moves, they're right back in the postseason a year from now.

If next year is another ugly one, massive changes will be in store, payroll will be dumped, and a new era will begin.

But for now, relax and remember, this is the NL Central, where the Cubs are always one Chris Carpenter injury away from playing in October again.

brozner@dailyherald.com