Our long national nightmare is over.
<div class="headline"><h2>Cubs fire GM Jim Hendry</h2></div><div class="subhead"><span class="page-actions">
<cite class="source">
By Bruce Levine
ESPNChicago.com
Archive
</cite></span></div>
With one of the highest payrolls but the second worst record in the National League, the Chicago Cubs fired general manager and vice president Jim Hendry on Friday.</p>
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Assistant general manager Randy Bush was named Interim general manager, the team announced.</p>
"My
family and I appreciate Jim's dedication during our time with the Cubs
and thank him for his overall 17 years of service to the Cubs
organization," team chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. "It is
time for a fresh approach in our baseball leadership and our search
begins immediately for our next general manager."</p>
Hendry was hired
in 1994 as director of player development. He was promoted to scouting
director the next season. The 55-year-old Florida native was promoted to
general manager in 2002 after serving as assistant to then-president
Andy MacPhail.</p>
Under Hendry, the Cubs hired two high-profile managers in Dusty Baker in the fall of 2002 and Lou Piniella in the fall of 2006.</p>
The
Cubs won divisions in 2003, '07 and '08. The 2003 team came within five
outs of going to the team's first World Series since 1945.</p>
The back-to-back playoff berths were the first for the franchise since 1907-08.</p>
Rumors surfaced earlier in the season that Ricketts had conversations with former Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes.</p>
Rumors of discussion with former Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays general manager Pat Gillick surfaced a month ago but were shot down by people close to Ricketts. </p>
Hendry and most of his front office have one year remaining on their contracts.</p>
He signed a four-year, $5 million extension before the 2008 season.</p>
Ricketts was scheduled to address the media at 11:15 a.m. CT at Wrigley Field.</p>
<div class="headline"><h2>Cubs fire GM Jim Hendry</h2></div><div class="subhead"><span class="page-actions">
<cite class="source">
By Bruce Levine
ESPNChicago.com
Archive
</cite></span></div>
With one of the highest payrolls but the second worst record in the National League, the Chicago Cubs fired general manager and vice president Jim Hendry on Friday.</p>
</p><div class="mod-container mod-no-footer mod-inline content-box floatright mod-no-header-footer"><div class="mod-content"><h4>More On The Cubs</h4>
Can't get enough Cubs information? ESPNChicago.com has all the latest from the North Side. Blog
</p>
</p></div></div>
Assistant general manager Randy Bush was named Interim general manager, the team announced.</p>
"My
family and I appreciate Jim's dedication during our time with the Cubs
and thank him for his overall 17 years of service to the Cubs
organization," team chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. "It is
time for a fresh approach in our baseball leadership and our search
begins immediately for our next general manager."</p>
Hendry was hired
in 1994 as director of player development. He was promoted to scouting
director the next season. The 55-year-old Florida native was promoted to
general manager in 2002 after serving as assistant to then-president
Andy MacPhail.</p>
Under Hendry, the Cubs hired two high-profile managers in Dusty Baker in the fall of 2002 and Lou Piniella in the fall of 2006.</p>
The
Cubs won divisions in 2003, '07 and '08. The 2003 team came within five
outs of going to the team's first World Series since 1945.</p>
The back-to-back playoff berths were the first for the franchise since 1907-08.</p>
Rumors surfaced earlier in the season that Ricketts had conversations with former Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes.</p>
Rumors of discussion with former Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays general manager Pat Gillick surfaced a month ago but were shot down by people close to Ricketts. </p>
Hendry and most of his front office have one year remaining on their contracts.</p>
He signed a four-year, $5 million extension before the 2008 season.</p>
Ricketts was scheduled to address the media at 11:15 a.m. CT at Wrigley Field.</p>
