Hendry mum on off-season plans, defends players
Cubs general manager Jim Hendry wouldn't tip his hand Sunday when asked what areas he'd like his team to improve on for 2008.
While expressing satisfaction that the Cubs won the National League Central, Hendry also defended his players against charges they didn't have what it takes to perform in the playoffs in the wake of a 3-0 sweep at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League division series.
"I feel good we won the division," Hendry said, one day after his club got knocked out of the playoffs. "We can't be satisfied with where we ended up, but it was a good accomplishment.
"Unfortunately, we didn't deliver the big blow at the right time. That doesn't mean our players had bad years or couldn't play in the playoffs. It's the playoffs. It's baseball. You've got to give them (the D'backs) credit. They pitched, and they hit."
Cubs batters were just 2-for-23 with runners in scoring position over the three games. They hit into 4 double plays in Saturday's series-ending 5-1 loss.
Off-season plans: Jim Hendry said Sunday he'd like pitcher Kerry Wood to come back for 2008. Wood, who becomes a free agent next month, made the transition from starting pitcher to reliever after rehabbing his right shoulder.
In the regular season, Wood was 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA in 22 games. He struck out 24 in 24½ innings.
Not likely to come back are catcher Jason Kendall and pitcher Steve Trachsel. The Cubs probably will give Geovany Soto every opportunity to win the starting catcher's job in spring training after a strong season at Class AAA Iowa and a good finish with the Cubs.
Veteran outfielder and Chicago native Cliff Floyd is iffy to return, to the Cubs or anywhere. Floyd's father died during the season.
"It won't be long," Floyd said of his own timetable for deciding whether he will play baseball in 2008. "I hate the waiting game, getting all the way to January and stuff like that.
"I'm going to talk to my mom and my family and everybody. If they're OK with me being away from home again, then I'll play. If not, it's daddy day-care center."
Who bats first in 2008?
Jim Hendry sidestepped questions of whether the Cubs would look for somebody else to bat first in the order next year.
Alfonso Soriano was the Cubs’ leadoff man this year, and although he put up only a .337 on-base percentage, he did hit 33 home runs.
Soriano suffered leg injuries early in the season and in August.
"If Soriano hadn’t had those two injuries, he might have stolen 40-45 bases, and people would be looking at it differently," Hendry said.