Once again, Cubs GM Jim Hendry has shown his failure to learn to learn from his mistakes. In 2003, he signed on a reliever named Dave Veres who was just about completely spent. Last year, he signed a washed up shortstop named Rey Ordonez. Now, he has just signed a guy named Enrique Wilson whose past prowess was such that even several baseball trivia enthusiasts of this writer's acquaintance as well as Internet forum posters and sports talk radio hosts had never heard of him. There was a common denominator in all of these signings: they were willing to play cheap.

What's really strange about all this is that there is a 46 year old Chicago native by name of Rickey Henderson who is both still actively playing the game of baseball and who would bring more to the Cubs' table than any of the 3 above "veterans." Consider the following stats from Henderson's 2004 season with the Newark Bears:

91 Games
303 At Bats
85 Hits
.281 BA
.462 OBA
.436 SLG
898 OPS
16 Doubles
9 Home Runs
96 Walks
37 Stolen Bases
2 Caught Stealing

That he compiled these stats in a league (the independent Atlantic League) comprised mainly of college age kids is remarkable, especially the 37 SB's & only 2 CS's. That shows that he still has remarkable speed. Those stats are superior to those of many of the players in the Cubs minor league system despite the age difference.

Following is an excerpt from a 2004 interview with then Newark Bears Manager Bill "Mad-Dog" Madlock (remember him, Cub fans?):

Madlock has crossed paths in an unusual way with fellow former All-Star Rickey Henderson, who currently is playing for Madlock's minor-league Newark Bears, trying to get back to the majors at age 45. Henderson, MLB's all-time steals leader, played in 10 All-Star Games himself.

"When he first came here, I was like - Rickey's gotta go home," said Madlock of Henderson, who struggled initially. "Then, all of a sudden, he's the best player in the league. The one thing about Rickey is his conditioning. I wouldn't be surpised if he made the big leagues again."

You would think that a manager would feel funny trying to help a former All-Star and future Hall of Famer back to the bigs, but for Madlock, it's same story - different day.

"I've had major league players here before, so that's never a problem. I had Jose Lima and some other guys. Rickey came in here with a great attitude. He really wasn't looking for anything from me."

Now, here's a tried and true professional who still has great speed and is both willing and able to take walks, talents that are rare on the 2005 Cubs. Next time Hendry wants to add another MLB minimum wage player to the Cubs roster, he ought to sign Henderson right up.