The 1969 Cubs left an imprint in Chicago that never will disappear, and not just because of its late-summer collapse that scarred a generation of fans.
In this age of instant-messaging, it’s hard for anyone younger than 20 to imagine an era when everything seemingly stayed the same, year to year.
That team’s lineup, like many others of that era, remained the same day after day, year after year.
Before the advent of free agency, Don Kessinger, Glenn Beckert, Billy Williams, Ernie Banks, Ron Santo and Randy Hundley were constants in manager Leo Durocher’s lineup. Every fourth day, Ferguson Jenkins would take the mound.
This is the way it was every year from the mid-’60s through the early ’70s, with the same cast of characters, the same old home and the same old announcers.
Those days may never return, but this year’s Cubs could be the closest thing to a retro team.
The Cubs have been completely overhauled in the Jim Hendry era, with only four players remaining from late in the 2001 season. Since last May, he has discarded Antonio Alfonseca, Mark Bellhorn, Jose Hernandez, Bobby Hill, Hee Seop Choi, Eric Karros, Damian Miller, Shawn Estes, Troy O’Leary, Dave Veres, Lenny Harris, Kenny Lofton, Randall Simon, Doug Glanville and Tony Womack.
Now Hendry has a team he believes will contend for years, and he has tied up important pieces such as Kerry Wood and Derrek Lee with multiyear deals. Soon enough, this lineup and rotation could be as familiar as the ’69 Cubs. If Hendry’s approach works, the residual effects could be as lasting.
“Woody and Lee are guys who really fit the criteria of players who are young enough and talented enough,” Hendry said. “We felt if we could come up with a fair, multiyear deal, they [would] feel they have their security.
“At the same time, if they played it out, hit the bull’s-eye and wanted to leave, they probably would make more money. And we didn’t go out too many years–a five- or six-year type of risk. It’s a balance.”
A year ago in spring training, the Cubs were looking at Choi, Hill and Bellhorn as three-fourths of their starting infield, plus unknown quantities in center fielder Corey Patterson and fifth starter Carlos Zambrano. It was considered a mini-youth movement, even though veterans surrounded the youth brigade.
One spring later, Patterson is considered one of the team’s strong points, Zambrano could be an All-Star in the making and prime-time sluggers Lee and Aramis Ramirez man the corners.
No one is likely to be going anywhere any time soon.
Patterson and Zambrano are Cubs’ property through 2007, while Lee is signed through ’06 and Ramirez’s final year of arbitration eligibility is ’05. Sammy Sosa’s option year is ’06, while Wood’s is ’07.
The only starting position players or starters who may leave as free agents next November are Moises Alou, Matt Clement, Mark Grudzielanek and Alex Gonzalez.
Hendry has proved adept at making last-minute audibles and patiently waiting players out. The Greg Maddux negotiations lasted from early January to the start of spring training, while the Lee trade was accomplished in less than 36 hours. The Cubs took on Lee without any guarantees he would re-sign beyond this season.
“We had 24 hours to talk,” Hendry said. “If I didn’t get a good feeling we couldn’t do a multiyear deal, I might’ve backed away. Then I would’ve re-signed Randall [Simon] and not worried about if Hee Seop came in and played great.”
While Hendry was negotiating with Lee’s agent, he was trying to induce Maddux to come and ensure Wood wouldn’t flee after this season.
The Wood signing was significant for several reasons. It not only showed management’s commitment to a home-grown star, but Wood’s dedication to finishing the job the Cubs couldn’t last October.
“He knew he could probably get a little more money on the street,” Hendry said. “But if Woody stays healthy, it’s not his last multiyear deal.”
Hendry wouldn’t have been able to give Lee and Wood long-term deals if the farm system hadn’t produced enough low-salaried players to give him payroll flexibility. Wood and Lee agreed to take lower salaries in the first years of their deals to accommodate the payroll.
Hendry credited the players for putting the team ahead of themselves, and his bosses for giving him more financial resources to come up with some creative packages.
“That’s the nature of the game,” Hendry said. “One thing I learned from [club President Andy MacPhail] is you want always to be able to have the ability to [make deals] like we did with Maddux, or even taking on Lee.
“The easiest thing to do would have been to do is sign Simon for 1 1/2 or two years, hope Choi comes around. We took on [$6 million] more in Lee. It was a financial commitment.”
If Sergio Mitre and Todd Wellemeyer make the roster cuts, the Cubs could have eight players from their farm system, although only one position player in Patterson. Hendry said he believes up-and-coming outfield prospects Jason Dubois and Nic Jackson, second baseman Brendan Harris and pitchers like Mitre, Wellemeyer and Angel Guzman will keep the farm system pipeline running smoothly for years to come.
“If you have seven or eight guys in your dugout that your system produced and they’re productive players or serviceable guys, that’s good,” he said. “If you can have your [three-year-and-under] guys perform well, you’re putting a good dent in it.
“Then you keep it rolling and all of a sudden you need that one free-agent guy–like we did (with LaTroy Hawkins or trading for Lee)–then you have the resources to still do it.
“This winter, we were able to do some things because we got a payroll increase and a lot of good clubs didn’t. So there are a lot of clubs you’re used to seeing being active in the winter that really didn’t do much. It’s always nice to have some [financial] flexibility.”
Cubs recap
SCORES: Split squad: Cubs 10, Milwaukee 0; Oakland 9, Cubs 8.
SPRING RECORD: 8-10-2.
AT THE PLATE: Sammy Sosa hit a monstrous home run against Milwaukee. Ramon Martinez had three RBIs vs. Oakland.
ON THE MOUND: Wood pitched six scoreless innings against Milwaukee. Matt Clement allowed five runs (two earned), walked two, struck out five and had two wild pitches against Oakland.
NEXT UP: Vs. San Diego at 2:05 p.m. in Mesa. Juan Cruz will face Brian Lawrence.
