Cubs manager Dusty Baker has praised his boss for giving the team a chance to win. Cubs broadcaster/legend Ron Santo finally believes he acquired a third baseman after 30 years of lackluster production at the hot corner.

Despite the ringing endorsements from a perennial manager of the year candidate and a beloved future hall of famer, Cubs fans should have nothing but disdain for General Manager Jim Hendry.

I know what you’re thinking: How could I have anything but good things to say about Hendry?

After all, when Corey Patterson, the team’s most valuable player at the time, tore his ACL on July 6, and was ruled out for the season, Hendry went out and acquired centerfielder Kenny Lofton to fill the gap in the outfield.

Also, in the trade with Pittsburgh, the Cubs received slugging third baseman Aramis Ramirez and only had to part with strikeout king Jose Hernandez, talented but erratic infielder Bobby Hill and pitching prospect Matt Bruback.

When the ball club needed a left-handed first baseman to replace struggling Hee Seop Choi and deals for former Cubs Rafael Palmeiro and Matt Stairs fell through, Hendry went out and made a waiver wire deal for Randall Simon.

When an inside pitch on Aug. 2, hit Mark Grudzielanek and broke a bone in his hand, Hendry made another waiver wire deal for Colorado Rockies second baseman Tony Womack.

All four mid-season moves have been a success for the Cubs.

Lofton has filled in admirably for Patterson. Ramirez was an immediate upgrade from any of the Cubs third basemen this season. Simon has shown he can hit right-handed pitching and has raised his average nearly 10 percentage points since his arrival. Womack has given the Cubs a solid number-two hitter to allow Alex Gonzalez to move down in the batting order, and his speed and aggressiveness is another luxury helping the Cubs.

I don’t have a problem with the acquisitions Hendry has made during the last month, but the problem I do see is the moves he didn’t make during the off season.

The biggest blunder Hendry made was allowing Ruthian type power hitter Jim Thome to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies. Coming from Peoria, Thome would have taken a hometown discount to sign with the Cubs. The Cubs showed no interest in Thome, only meeting him for lunch in a outing set up by Thome’s agent. In the end, Thome signed a six-year deal worth $85 million.

While that may seem like a lot for the Cubs brass to pay, keep in mind those in charge of Cub faithful are paying Eric Karros $8 million this year. Thome is second behind only Barry Bonds in home runs with 36, and he ranks in the top five in RBIs.

Karros is having a solid season with 10 homers and 28 runs batted in, but the Cubs would certainly have received more bang for their buck have they signed Thome.

Choi had to be the main reason the North Siders shied away from pursuing Thome. The Cubs were high on his ability and still believe he is the future at first base. ‘Big Choi’ has shown flashes of being a productive player, but since a collision with Kerry Wood in early June, Choi has been regulated to the bench and was demoted to Triple A Iowa last week.

If the Cubs would have signed Thome they could have killed two birds with one stone. Not only would they be set at first base for many years to come they could have traded Choi for a third baseman. A rumor circulating around the Chicagoland area was a deal that could have sent Choi to Texas for Hank Blalock. All Blalock has done this year is hit .314 with 23 homers and 75 RBIs.

If the Cubs had Thome and Blalock since opening day there is little doubt in my mind the Cubs would would be more than a weeks worth of games ahead in the National League Central rather than fighting for a playoff spot with Houston and St. Louis.

I hope Hendry’s recent trades put the Cubs in the playoffs for the first time since 1998, but it would be a moot point if the proper moves were made in December and January rather than July and August.