BREAKING: Cubs fire GM Jim "Anchovies" Hendry after 9 sad, beautiful years

Could be good for the Cubs, but bad for this blog, and for scrappy, middle-aged ballplayers everywhere. In tribute, I'm cramming in one last round of Hendry tags.

Jim 'Anchovies' Hendry: A great genius? Or, the greatest genius?

Scoring Summary
Top 3rd: Chi Cubs
- J. Edmonds homered to deep right
Top 4th: Chi Cubs
- J. Edmonds homered to deep left, M. DeRosa, A. Ramirez and K. Fukudome scored

breaking, SHOCKING news

Cubs acquired RHPs Rich D.L. Harden and Chad Gaudin from the Oakland Athletics for RHP Sean Gallagher, OF Matt Murton, INF Eric Patterson and C Josh Donaldson. If Harden can stay healthy, and that's a huge "if," the deal fills the Cubs' biggest need on the heels of Milwaukee signing C.C. Sabathia earlier this week. Harden is 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts this season, and has 92 strikeouts in 77 innings, but he did spend a month on the disabled list. Gaudin is 5-3 with a 3.59 ERA, and will join Chicago's bullpen.

Hendry vindicated

No doubt: Jim can do it
Edmonds no longer a star, but play answers critics -- and himself

Jim Edmonds is 37 years old, can't run anymore, can't hit. That's what the critics were saying when he signed with the Cubs. Stupid critics. The least they could have done was give the guy a chance, and ...

Yes, I was the one who wrote that four Wednesdays ago. I also said he couldn't make his signature diving, back-to-the-infield catches anymore. At least I wasn't booing, like the fans.

In other words, it was ''Welcome to Chicago, Jim.'' And while he's still 37, still can't run, still can't make the highlight dives, he has been a big catch for the Cubs. Edmonds still has something left after all.

And it's something the Cubs needed: a left-handed hitter to share the job in center field.