Mike Nadel: Oft-ripped Cubs GM Hendry deserves praise now

His career in jeopardy and his organization seemingly in shambles, Jim Hendry pulled off one of the great clutch performances baseball has seen in this or any year. The man is the Chicago Cubs' comeback "player" of the decade.

Had the team been lousy again this season, Hendry almost surely would have generally managed his last game. The franchise's yet-to-be-determined new owners, who theoretically will take over from Tribune Co. honchos sometime after this season, would have sent Hendry packing ... and many a Cubbie fan would have lined up at the Wrigley Field exit to wave a not-so-fond farewell.