I guess no big-league execs think that Kosuke could make their team more popular in Japan, or make the rest of their players more patient, or inspire new and better conditioning programs ...

Ugh. Can Cespedes play center?

Key part: "Wood, a free agent, also told NBC-5 Chicago television on Sunday night that he'll make a decision on where he will pitch next season by Friday, which, ironically, is the day that the Cubs' 26th annual Cubs Convention begins."

Wow, if true.

Potentially important to the Cubs because Washington could have been a destination for Byrd.

They can have him.

Also, Fielder might not be in the cards because Theo wants to build from within, Cafardo says. I'd be disappointed if this is all true, but I wouldn't be shocked, either.

Important to note that this is not a context-low tweet.

Not sure how much this advances things. But in a subsequent tweet, Heyman says the Mariners are the most serious competitor, with the Rangers and Blue Jays "thinking hard about it".

http://twitter.com/#!/JonHeymanCBS/statuses/146273794833657858

I hope the Cubs get him. Fielder's gotta figure that it would be more lucrative to be a baseball player in Chicago than it would be in Seattle. And neither team was a contender last year.

Bruce Levine has been criticized over the years as someone who relied heavily on Hendry for information. This story -- and the fact that Levine's number of scoops have fallen pretty far with the new administration -- would seem to back up that criticism. Key line:

Hendry has talked to numerous teams about returning as a top lieutenant in a major league front office, according to major league sources.

If I were a cynic, I'd say attributing this to "major league sources," and not Hendry himself, would be a great way to potentially gin up interest in Levine's old friend among other baseball teams.

if I were a cynic.

Perhaps the biggest question mark going into 2012 appeared to pitch adequately in Venezuela last night (three runs in six innings). But considering the competition Z's facing, should he be doing better? Can somebody provide a little context?

Well, that's MY theory, anyway. The hats are especially bad.

Submitted without comment.

Two baseball sources have confirmed that Theo Epstein is on the cusp of leaving his job as general manager of the Red Sox [team stats] to accept a position with the Chicago Cubs that is believed to include powers greater than he has in Boston, with an announcement expected to be made "within the next 24 to 48 hours."

Have at it.

Works for me, depending on the price. It is interesting that while Hendry engendered a lot of loyalty, no one -- yet -- has said they won't return as a result of his dismissal.

Not a lot of new ground, but it's well written and paints an interesting picture of Sandberg with the IronPigs.

"With the Cubs struggling again, Hendry is seen throughout the game as embattled at the moment. But two factors lead one person who has dealings with Cubs owner Tom Ricketts to believe that Hendry will be retained: 1) Ricketts is anything but an impetuous fellow, and 2) he likes Hendry. Others connected to the Cubs agree that the rapport is strong between the owner and GM, whose tenure has been marked by some high highs -- like the first back-to-back postseason appearances in Cubs history in 100 years -- and lately, low lows, which is actually much better than most of his predecessors in the history of the star-crossed organization. And if Hendry is retained, the assumption is that Quade, a baseball lifer rewarded with a two-year deal after guiding a stunning turnaround last year, will make it to 2012, as well."

There's quite a bit more, including some new details on the Cubs' work to deal Z and Soriano to the Yankees. Also, Heyman thinks Baker is a catcher, apparently.

But overall, I feel ill. I have been holding out hope that Ricketts has more sense than to bring back Jimbo and Quade after this debacle of a season. No offense to my fellow BCB regular, but nothing would be worse in my eyes than TJ's predictions to actually come true.

I was thinking about the lack of position player depth in the Hendry years and something hit me. Other than Geovany Soto in 2008 and Starlin Castro this year, I couldn't think of a homegrown position player who made the All-Star team since Hendry became GM. Sure enough, I was right.

I did a little bit more digging, and, sure enough, the Cubs' last homegrown position player to make the All-Star before Soto in 2008 was the injury-replacement choice of Joe Girardi in 2000 (Girardi was on his second tour with the Cubs at that point). The link is from a Tribune story three years ago showing the Cubs All-Stars through the years.

Prior to that, it was Mark Grace in 1997. Grace made the team three times ('93, '95, '97). Oh, and Shawon Dunston made it in 1990. This is, again, among homegrown position players.

In other words, the Cubs have had five homegrown position players make the All-Star team in the past 21 seasons, and one of them was essentially a meaningless pick in Girardi! To be sure, the Cubs have had homegrown pitchers make the team. Oh, and I know that All-Star selections aren't exactly the best measures for success.

The point is, I doubt there is a single team in baseball with this lousy mark against it over the past 20 years. This problem existed well before Jim Hendry took over. But it's a problem that the Cubs really need to fix. When you look at the homegrown position player core of the Yankees (Jeter, Posada, Cano), the Phillies (Rollins, Utley, Howard) or even a team like Milwaukee (Braun, Fielder, Hart) ... well, it's kind of troubling.

Mark Riggins has gotten a lot of criticism around here this season, including some from yours truly. But Buster Olney says Riggins has helped Marmol improve this season, and I'd guess Riggins has something to do with Shark's improvement.

A question Jessica asked Hendry and Quade at the convention is mentioned near the bottom of this story. Interestingly, Sully quotes Hendry's somewhat rambling answer, but didn't mention the "I wasn't making those decisions" comment by Quade that (I thought) was especially illuminating.

Haven't seen this posted yet. Levine's been dropping the name Orlando Cabrera a few times in recent chats, and this is what he had to say today:

Questioner: You've been talking about Orlando Cabrera quite a bit in the chats lately, is this wishful thinking or do you have a lead ?

Bruce Levine: Well if you read my stuff, you know I don't make things up. Read between the blogs.

And ...

Look for the Cubs to look at Orlando Cabrera, Christian Guzman, or Julio Lugo. In my opinion, the first two make the most sense.

The second comment was in response to a question about Felipe Lopez.

I'm not sure why Hendry would make this move, unless he has very little confidence in Darwin Barney.

Pretty funny. Personal favorite:

""The Japanese Art of Lowering Expectations" with Kosuke Fukudome"

As somebody who was hoping Hudson's value would fall and the Cubs could take a $1 million flyer on him, I am shocked by this. $5.5 million for Hudson for two seasons?

Wow!

That would probably put him out of the Cubs' price range, unless the deal is severely back-loaded. I know, I know -- Wood might accept a discount to play in Chicago.

Some other good Cubs info in Rosenthal's piece. He essentially suggested the four-man outfield rotation suggested by some BCBers (fsu, I think?). There's also some interesting Garza analysis.

Not a done deal yet, but it's close. Really disappointing news for the Cubs. Hendry's inability to close this deal might put the nail in his coffin. Gonzalez was an ideal fit for so many reasons. Really depressing news.

This could have fallout for the Cubs. The Tigers had been connected to guys (notably Adam Dunn) who have been and might continue to be on the Cubs' radar. Even if Dunn is off the table (sounds like he is) the number of destinations for middle-order guys who play first got smaller today.

One less opening for Sandberg. Also means Cora is probably staying put, I'd guess.

I don't really agree with much of this. Zambrano, if he continues to pitch well for the rest of the season, could end up as the No. 3 starter -- behind Dempster and Gorzo. It's been debated around here, but I think the Cubs are better off rolling the dice with Z than taking on another team's problem child (e.g. Oliver Perez). Anyway, if the Cubs trade anybody to dump salary, they'll trade Fukudome to open a spot for Colvin. At least, that's what I would do.

Meanwhile, I also don't see Wells and Silva as sure bets. Wells is no more than a decent No. 4 starter and I bet Silva ends up in the bullpen because of his conditioning/health issues.

If Z somehow returns to old form and finally grows up ... it could be one key to fringe contention for the Cubs in 2011.

Interesting stuff. Sounds like Colvin won't be getting time at first, after all. And it sounds like Dunn is very high on becoming a Cub.