Not Bob Howry!

Before Aaron Miles and Milton Bradley, there was only one Cub I ever begged Jim Hendry to release: Bob Howry.

The right-hander was simply dismal with the Cubs in 2008. But the best record in the NL masked Howry’s inabilities as a set-up man.

Hendry stuck with him…Howry got hammered…and I fumed each time he took the hill.

It wasn’t a personal dislike of Howry–I’ve always respected his up-most professionalism–but rather, a distaste for what the pitcher had become–extremely hittable.

So when the D-backs released Howry earlier this week…it didn’t go without notice on my end.

In fact, I planned a post about it…

Scott Podsednik & Mark DeRosa

Scott Podsednik doesn’t belong on the North Side, and it’s not just a White Sox thing, either.

The guy’s injury prone and his defense isn’t what it use to be, which was never above average to begin with.

Despite Podsednik’s ability as a solid leadoff man, he’s just not the fit the Cubs need in center field. Better options are available (Reed Johnson) and the Cubs are better off taking a flyer on Scotty Pods.

Besides, an aging Alfonso Soriano in left field is already enough poor defense to overcome. Adding a second sub-par defender isn’t the shot-in-the- arm Jim Hendry should be looking for.