From today's Kiley article.........

[nolanwood]

I think the bottom line is that we are witnessing this organization going rapidly downhill and there is no reason why we shouldn't be fielding a better team than we did in '03.

 

PUKE :x

[JeffH]

Did anyone else listen to Baseball 365 this morning one ESPN1000? Joey Cora was commenting on Ronny Cedeno's performance at the Ven. Winter League. He said that he's a very special player who the Cubs are going to be very happy with. He commented that he's a very tough out even with breaking balls. Very good defensively and had said something to the effect that he thought Cedeno was going to be the NL Rookie of the Year.

 

It may be true that Cedeno will become a special player.

 

However, the only thing Joey Cora knows about baseball is that it's a very difficult game to play.

 

And Cedeno can't be ROY.

[RockTheIvy]

Did anyone else listen to Baseball 365 this morning one ESPN1000? Joey Cora was commenting on Ronny Cedeno's performance at the Ven. Winter League. He said that he's a very special player who the Cubs are going to be very happy with. He commented that he's a very tough out even with breaking balls. Very good defensively and had said something to the effect that he thought Cedeno was going to be the NL Rookie of the Year.

 

It may be true that Cedeno will become a special player.

 

However, the only thing Joey Cora knows about baseball is that it's a very difficult game to play.

 

And Cedeno can't be ROY.

 

Plus Cora is a WSox bum, so special player is pretty subjective if you ask me.

[BigbadB]

Did anyone else listen to Baseball 365 this morning one ESPN1000? Joey Cora was commenting on Ronny Cedeno's performance at the Ven. Winter League. He said that he's a very special player who the Cubs are going to be very happy with. He commented that he's a very tough out even with breaking balls. Very good defensively and had said something to the effect that he thought Cedeno was going to be the NL Rookie of the Year.

 

It may be true that Cedeno will become a special player.

 

However, the only thing Joey Cora knows about baseball is that it's a very difficult game to play.

 

And Cedeno can't be ROY.

 

I thought it was only Murton that couldn't be ROY? :-k

[Jazz]

I guess it's time to break out the voodoo to have Neifi get injured in the WBC. :twisted:

 

srsly, if that were to happen, i think it would make my offseason, and propel the cubs all the way to the world series :)

[JeffH]

I thought it was only Murton that couldn't be ROY? :-k

 

Both burned their ROY eligibility - Murton for PAs and Cedeno for days on the active roster.

[BigbadB]

Also, someone needs to be handed some serious credit for Cedeno. Wasn't Cedeno added to the 40 man roster after 2003? Cedeno hadn't put up an AVG better than .220 except for rookie ball back in 2000. He's been a stud ever since. Well, maybe not a stud in 2004, but he sure made a huge jump in 2004. 2005 has everyone penciling him in as a starter.

 

I remember the headscratching over the 40 man roster move, but it's looking like a good call.

[BigbadB]

I thought it was only Murton that couldn't be ROY? :-k

 

Both burned their ROY eligibility - Murton for PAs and Cedeno for days on the active roster.

 

Well, that's quite a shame. What's the magic number for days on the active roster? 40?

[JeffH]

What's the magic number for days on the active roster? 40?

 

45, not counting days from September 1st on.

[NewUserName]

so those 43 days he sat on his butt last year cost cedeno any chance of roy. i dont really concern myself that much with personnel awards but this just goes to show again how stupid hendry was to have himon the roster not playing and dusty for not playing him.

 

if perez is projected as the starting 2b i am projecting myself being a full-time Indians fan by june 1st

[BigbadB]

What's the magic number for days on the active roster? 40?

 

45, not counting days from September 1st on.

 

What do you have him at? 62 games on the active roster?

[CubfaninCA]

How much are they spending on pitching?? About $45 - 50 million?? That has to be one of the highest amounts in baseball. I'm guessing top 3. The Yankees are obviously #1.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think all the comments about Perez being the starting secondbaseman are based on the assumption that Walker is traded. If we open the season with Walker on the roster (I know the liklihood of that is slim), I still think Walker is the secondbaseman.

[JeffH]

What do you have him at? 62 games on the active roster?

 

I don't remember, but I reviewed his game log a while back and it was pretty clear he was over the limit.

[BigbadB]

What do you have him at? 62 games on the active roster?

 

I don't remember, but I reviewed his game log a while back and it was pretty clear he was over the limit.

 

I was just going over his game log, too. I count 67 games on the active roster and 62 at bats. Wow, if that isn't wasted development time, I don't know what is. Less than an at bat per game.

[cubfanfromoz]

Also, someone needs to be handed some serious credit for Cedeno. Wasn't Cedeno added to the 40 man roster after 2003? Cedeno hadn't put up an AVG better than .220 except for rookie ball back in 2000. He's been a stud ever since. Well, maybe not a stud in 2004, but he sure made a huge jump in 2004. 2005 has everyone penciling him in as a starter.

 

I remember the headscratching over the 40 man roster move, but it's looking like a good call.

 

I've got to agree with this wholeheartedly. Makes me wonder why we'd even contemplate Prior in a trade for tejada

[anemic offense]

I can't ever say I've wished injury on a Cubs player before, but I seriously hope Neifi gets hurt. Nothing extreme, rather a nagging injury that keeps him out of action for a significant period of time. Right now, I just don't see any other way.

[RynoRules]

pretty tough for a team w/ a 100+ mil payroll to sport arguably the worst offensive outfield AND the worst offensive middle infield in baseball. the cubs are a lee/ramirez/barrett injury from having one of the worst offenses in baseball.

 

And the Giants are one Bonds injury from being horrible. And the Mets are one Pedro injury...yadda yadda yadda

[Laura]

It'll be interesting.

 

If Neifi starts at 2B, my money says he'll usually bat second. He's a switch-hitter, he's a middle infielder, he's a veteran bat.

 

Pierre CF

Neifi 2B

DLee 1B

Aramis/JJones 3B/RF

Jones/JJones RF/3B

Murton LF

Barrett C

Cedeno SS

Pitcher

 

Dusty wouldn't want to bat Murton - Cedeno back-to-back. Of course, that might be more incentive to start a L bat in LF.

[frostwyrm]

I know that we are all assuming the worst around here these days, but didn't Bruce contradict this statement by Kiley?

 

Bruce said the Cubs don't see Neifi as an everyday player and project Cedeno as a starter, but the Cubs have a history of spreading disinformation. Don't forget, Hendry talked up Dubois as a potential ROY when the Cubs' actual plan was to stick Dubois with the short and greasy end of a platoon, which of course would leave him zero chance at the ROY. Simply put, Hendry shoved a steaming load of bullcrap down the public's collective throat. Stuff like that doesn't do much for the Cubs' credibility. Bruce will give us the straight dope on what he hears, but if the Cubs lie to him he will still be giving out bad info, through no fault of his own.

[NorthsideAvenger]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cub07.html

 

Starts about about Patterson trade, then this nugget is in there:

 

"Neifi Perez is the projected starting second baseman for '06"

 

Thanks, Hendry.

 

And the beat goes on...the beat goes on...

[Guancous]

Also, someone needs to be handed some serious credit for Cedeno. Wasn't Cedeno added to the 40 man roster after 2003? Cedeno hadn't put up an AVG better than .220 except for rookie ball back in 2000. He's been a stud ever since. Well, maybe not a stud in 2004, but he sure made a huge jump in 2004. 2005 has everyone penciling him in as a starter.

 

I remember the headscratching over the 40 man roster move, but it's looking like a good call.

 

Let's hope that Jose Reyes turns into a serviceable catcher someday.

[bmkhawk]

I love it when my worst fears are confirmed. It's so exhilarating.

 

Some of you guys give these reporters FAR too much credibility.

[CuseCubFan69]

I know that we are all assuming the worst around here these days, but didn't Bruce contradict this statement by Kiley?

 

Bruce said the Cubs don't see Neifi as an everyday player and project Cedeno as a starter, but the Cubs have a history of spreading disinformation. Don't forget, Hendry talked up Dubois as a potential ROY when the Cubs' actual plan was to stick Dubois with the short and greasy end of a platoon, which of course would leave him zero chance at the ROY. Simply put, Hendry shoved a steaming load of bullcrap down the public's collective throat. Stuff like that doesn't do much for the Cubs' credibility. Bruce will give us the straight dope on what he hears, but if the Cubs lie to him he will still be giving out bad info, through no fault of his own.

 

Who are the Cubs that are saying this to Bruce....Hendry or Baker? I really doubt it's Baker that has been saying that and he is the one that fills out the lineup card.

[craig]

I could be way wrong on this but it seems like all the articles that mention Perez as the starting 2B are from Kiley or in the Sun-Times.

 

You are correct. All references to Neifi as a projected starter, or to Walker as the 3rd string 2B, have come from Kiley. Neither Bruce Miles nor Paul Sullivan have ever made either of those claims.

 

And obviously Bruce has specifically said the Cubs signed him with a reserve role in mind. (Of course, when they signed him they probably assumed Walker would be long traded and that Furcal would likely be acquired before now... So even if they did see Neifi as a reserve when signed, given subsequent disappointments perhaps they have changed their view by now, who knows.).

 

I don't really believe Kiley knows much on this, though.

 

If the Cubs were going to start Neifi and Cedeno, why wouldn't they keep Neifi at SS, where he's played most of his games and has done so very well, and of course has tenure? And move Cedeno to 2nd, where he might be excellent and where his erratic throwing arm might not result in as many throwing errors? Seems to me that if Dusty is going to count on a veteran to start, out of deference to the veteran he'd keep the veteran at the veteran's preferred position.

 

Summary: if Neifi was projected to start, he'd start at SS. That Kiley is suggesting Neifi will start at 2B probably means Kiley doesn't really know what is likely to happen.