Chicago Cubs baseball returns to Wrigley Field tonight, hoping for some home stew after an 0-6 road cooking on trips to St. Louis and San Diego.

In case you missed it - well, you really didn’t miss anything.  Besides going winless on the road and dropping their seventh game in a row overall, the Cubs offensive output was as pathetic as you’ll have found since the 2006 season.

That was the year from April 29th to May 6th, the Cubs offense managed six runs in eight games and was shutout in four of those contests.

Funny how the more things change the more they stay the same.  Dusty Baker was manager then and the payroll was a mere $94 million.  Oh yeah, and the Cubs finished 66-96 that year.

One of the few constants through it all, however, has been the presence of general manager Jim Hendry.  In fact, Hendry has been in his gm’s role since July 2002 when, coincidentally, the Cubs were in the midst of an identical 67-95 season.

Only staff ace Carlos Zambrano remains from that 2002 team, while the remainder of the Cubs roster has gone through enough complete makeovers to warrant a discount on the next face lift.

Instead, Chicago’s payroll has steadily increased over the years under Hendry’s hand - with the exception of the 2005 season when salaries dropped nearly $3 million.  If only the Cubs fortunes corresponded to the payroll hikes.

Sadly, for the franchise and Cub fans, that hasn’t been the case.  In Hendry’s six full seasons the Cubs have posted winning records in four of the six years with three Central Division titles and three exits from the post-season - without, needless to say, reaching the World Series.

Which puts him in the same company as 18 other big league general managers for that same span.  And whatever success Hendry has been able to reap at the helm of the Cubs brain trust, it hasn’t come without a price.

Since 2002 the Cubs payroll has increased from $75.6 million to 2009’s $134 million.  Not only have salaries increased but many of the high-end players have been signed to long-term contracts with steady increases with each subsequent year.

Has Hendry’s tenure been worth it?  It’s hard to judge.  There probably hasn’t been a general manager in Chicago Cub history who’s had the luxury of an open checkbook or access to as much talent.

Heading into tonight’s game, the 2009 Cubs are 21-21.  Since taking over in 2002, Hendry’s winning percentage as Chicago’s GM isn’t much better.