The Cubs made their first noteworthy signing Tuesday night by inking Rays free agent 1B Carlos Pena to a one-year, $10 million deal. However, GM Jim Hendry quickly regretted the deal after being reminded Pena’s .196 batting average last year was terrible.
“Oh gosh, there I go again,” said Hendry. “I always confuse batting averages and ERAs. One of them is better when it’s higher and the other is better lower. I’m such a goof sometimes.”
Hendry then set out for day three of baseball’s annual Winter Meetings in Florida with a Sarah Palin-style crib note written on the palm of his hand.
“On my left hand I wrote ‘Low ERA = Good’ and ‘Low batting average = Bad,'” said Hendry. “On the other hand I wrote ‘Stay away from Milton Bradley’s agent.’ God I hope these notes help.”
