Todd Walker to Baltimore?--comment from Sun-times

[CubDad4Ever]

I am very curious , how 2nd base is going to shake out. I too am very leery about a Nefi-Cedeno middle. Defense very strong , offense a chance to be scarry low. Nefis value lies in his abilty to play everday short with great D from a backup positon and spell 2nd. With our payroll , i had no problem with that. However as i said , i would not be excited about a nefi , cedeno middle. Both of them carry greater value as shortstops. God Bless Coach L

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Walker is the best choice for second. There really shouldn't be much debate on that. Hendry's desire to trade Walker at all costs is maddening.

 

 

 

"It's not the things you do that tease and wound me bad, but it's the way you do the things you do to me," Vance

[NCCubFan]

The song lyrics tangent now has its own home in Social. Back to your regularly scheduled Todd Walker discussion.

[abuck1220]

Hendry reiterated that he had a good chat recently with second baseman Todd Walker and that Walker, Hairston and Neifi Perez should have a lively competition next month in spring training in Mesa, Ariz., to determine the starting second baseman.

 

Manager Dusty Baker has said he envisions Walker as his likely starter, but Hendry views it as a decision that Baker will have to make in March.

 

''I spoke to Todd and we had a good conversation, and he realizes our situation has changed from last year,'' Hendry said. ''Ronny is going to get a shot to play every day at shortstop, and that gives us three good candidates to play second.

 

''Todd, Neifi and Jerry are all going into camp with a chance to see who gets the most playing time. Dusty is going to decide from there who earns it. Playing time always has a way of working itself out by performance. There is certainly no controversy involved in this situation from our viewpoint, and Todd understood that.

 

''Neifi had a good year last year, and we all believe Jerry is in better shape this year after battling injuries last year and is ready to show his best. Todd certainly has made defensive improvements since he has been with us and he's a guy that can hit .300, so he's very valuable in his own right. Todd also unfortunately had to deal with some injuries last year, and we're looking forward to seeing how he is when he's healthy again.''

 

Hendry has had trade talks with other teams in the last couple months about Walker, but nothing seems imminent. However, the Cubs have heard that scouts from other clubs will be focusing during spring training on the Cubs' second basemen and their bullpen to see if a deal can be made then.

 

So it's possible a trade that involves Walker still could be made in March.

[UK1679666180]

Glad to see that Cedeno will likely be the starting SS, not much of a surprise there. He's definitely earned the right to go into this year as the starting SS.

 

Interesting as far as an open competition for 2B with Walker as the early fav. and how they'll judge each of them.

 

Will they need to see Walker make strides defensively? Regardless of what was said, Walker did not improve defensively over '04 and has to be factored.

 

Will they judge Perez on his bat? Regardless of what was said, Neifi had a very good year defensively, but a poor year offensively. His poor year offensively has to be factored into the decision

 

 

How will they judge Hairston? Hairston is almost in-between Walker and Perez, not as good offensively as Walker, but better defensively and the vice versa for Perez. He has slightly better speed than Perez and Walker, but lacks the instincts of Perez.

 

For me, I have no problem with competition and it would be Walker's job to lose heading into ST.

[CuseCubFan69]

Glad to see that Cedeno will likely be the starting SS, not much of a surprise there. He's definitely earned the right to go into this year as the starting SS.

 

Interesting as far as an open competition for 2B with Walker as the early fav. and how they'll judge each of them.

 

Will they need to see Walker make strides defensively? Regardless of what was said, Walker did not improve defensively over '04 and has to be factored.

 

Will they judge Perez on his bat? Regardless of what was said, Neifi had a very good year defensively, but a poor year offensively. His poor year offensively has to be factored into the decision

 

 

How will they judge Hairston? Hairston is almost in-between Walker and Perez, not as good offensively as Walker, but better defensively and the vice versa for Perez. He has slightly better speed than Perez and Walker, but lacks the instincts of Perez.

 

For me, I have no problem with competition and it would be Walker's job to lose heading into ST.

 

Do you really think that this is going to happen? I remember Hendry saying the same things about Dubois last year and look who Baker played.

[goonys evil twin]

Glad to see that Cedeno will likely be the starting SS, not much of a surprise there. He's definitely earned the right to go into this year as the starting SS.

 

I've heard this storyline all offseason, and I'm still waiting for the proof this season.

 

 

Hendry called Dempster his closer all last offseason and still Dusty found a way to foolishly put him in the rotation.

[UK1679666180]

I think so, everything surrounding a potential lineup change compared to last year has been 2B. Neifi is the possible replacement and he's being considered as the starting 2B, not SS.

 

Fwiw, the Cubs brought Hollandsworth back last year to start in LF and it backfired, there wasn't any indication that Dubois would be replace Alou in LF, even with Hollandsworth being a 4th OF'er.

 

Hendry called Dempster his closer all last offseason and still Dusty found a way to foolishly put him in the rotation.

 

That was more health related, IIRC. I think it's a different scenario and the circumstances surrounding it.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Im still feel Baker will use Walker as his starter against righthanders this year. My guess is that neither will so distinguish themselves this spring to prevent that from happening.

[UK1679666180]

Im still feel Baker will use Walker as his starter against righthanders this year. My guess is that neither will so distinguish themselves this spring to prevent that from happening.

 

I'd have no problem with a Walker/Hairston platoon at 2B, I feel that would likely be the best bet.

[CuseCubFan69]

Im still feel Baker will use Walker as his starter against righthanders this year. My guess is that neither will so distinguish themselves this spring to prevent that from happening.

 

I'd have no problem with a Walker/Hairston platoon at 2B, I feel that would likely be the best bet.

 

And give Hairston some bats from the CF spot too unless Grissom is on the team. Baker will find a way for Marquis to get some AB's.

[Blueheart05]

Im still feel Baker will use Walker as his starter against righthanders this year. My guess is that neither will so distinguish themselves this spring to prevent that from happening.

 

I'd have no problem with a Walker/Hairston platoon at 2B, I feel that would likely be the best bet.

 

And give Hairston some bats from the CF spot too unless Grissom is on the team. Baker will find a way for Marquis to get some AB's.

 

 

I don't see Pierre getting a day off unless he's injured.

[craig]

...For me, I have no problem with competition and it would be Walker's job to lose heading into ST.

 

Do you really think that this is going to happen? I remember Hendry saying the same things about Dubois last year and look who Baker played.

 

Hollandsworth was the veteran, Walker is the veteran. Hollandsworth was the incumbent, the more known commodity; Walker is the incumbent, the more known commodity. By all accounts Baker likes Walker well enough, no indication that he has any strong anti-Walker bias.

 

Also, to be fair, Dubois hit .239 with a .289 OBP and whiffed more than a 3rd of his AB's, all while playing bad defense.

 

I expect that if walker is K'ing 35% of his AB, hitting for low average, getting on base very little, and playing bad defense, to whatever degree there is a competition Walker won't win it with Dubois-type numbers.

 

He'll probably need to be a pretty competent producer offensively if he wants to overcome his defensive deficiencies. If he hits like Dubois, he loses.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Im still feel Baker will use Walker as his starter against righthanders this year. My guess is that neither will so distinguish themselves this spring to prevent that from happening.

 

I'd have no problem with a Walker/Hairston platoon at 2B, I feel that would likely be the best bet.

 

And give Hairston some bats from the CF spot too unless Grissom is on the team. Baker will find a way for Marquis to get some AB's.

 

I don't see Hairston playing much CF unless Pierre is dinged up or it's in one of Dusty's forfeit line-ups. I guess it could happen as part of a double switch, but I'm not sure you'd want Hairston in CF late during a close game.

 

I could see Hairston stealing some AB's from Murton in left.

[CuseCubFan69]

Im still feel Baker will use Walker as his starter against righthanders this year. My guess is that neither will so distinguish themselves this spring to prevent that from happening.

 

I'd have no problem with a Walker/Hairston platoon at 2B, I feel that would likely be the best bet.

 

And give Hairston some bats from the CF spot too unless Grissom is on the team. Baker will find a way for Marquis to get some AB's.

 

 

I don't see Pierre getting a day off unless he's injured.

 

So he is going to play 162 games?

[E.J.]

Im still feel Baker will use Walker as his starter against righthanders this year. My guess is that neither will so distinguish themselves this spring to prevent that from happening.

 

I'd have no problem with a Walker/Hairston platoon at 2B, I feel that would likely be the best bet.

 

And give Hairston some bats from the CF spot too unless Grissom is on the team. Baker will find a way for Marquis to get some AB's.

 

 

I don't see Pierre getting a day off unless he's injured.

 

So he is going to play 162 games?

 

He has the past 3 years in a row. He prides himself in playing every day.

[CuseCubFan69]

Im still feel Baker will use Walker as his starter against righthanders this year. My guess is that neither will so distinguish themselves this spring to prevent that from happening.

 

I'd have no problem with a Walker/Hairston platoon at 2B, I feel that would likely be the best bet.

 

And give Hairston some bats from the CF spot too unless Grissom is on the team. Baker will find a way for Marquis to get some AB's.

 

 

I don't see Pierre getting a day off unless he's injured.

 

So he is going to play 162 games?

 

He has the past 3 years in a row. He prides himself in playing every day.

 

I can't imagine Baker playing him all 162 even though he can.

[Balsa]

In 2004, he led the National League in at-bats (for the second year in a row) with 678 and in addition, he was the only player in Major League Baseball to play every inning of each of his team's games in 2004.

 

On June 3, 2005, Pierre's consecutive-games streak ended at 386 (including 375 after joining the Marlins). It was the second-longest such streak in the majors at the time, behind that of Miguel Tejada of the Baltimore Orioles.

 

Info from Wikipedia.

[Mark Priors Calves]

In 2004, he led the National League in at-bats (for the second year in a row) with 678 and in addition, he was the only player in Major League Baseball to play every inning of each of his team's games in 2004.

 

On June 3, 2005, Pierre's consecutive-games streak ended at 386 (including 375 after joining the Marlins). It was the second-longest such streak in the majors at the time, behind that of Miguel Tejada of the Baltimore Orioles.

 

Info from Wikipedia.

 

Wikipedia is awesome.

[goonys evil twin]

Hendry called Dempster his closer all last offseason and still Dusty found a way to foolishly put him in the rotation.

 

That was more health related, IIRC. I think it's a different scenario and the circumstances surrounding it.

 

It was partially health related. But he still gave Dempster the job even though he was the worst of the candidates in spring training, and he had Rusch and Mitre available for the duty. The point is Dusty has a history that would seem to indicate Cedeno is not a lock to start at SS, at least not for long.

[Brian]

I can't imagine Baker playing him all 162 even though he can.

 

Well Derrek Lee is much the same type of player, and if i recall the only time he hasn't played is when he had little injuries and the end of blowouts (we've never really had a true backup 1B in that time though).

[CuseCubFan69]

I can't imagine Baker playing him all 162 even though he can.

 

Well Derrek Lee is much the same type of player, and if i recall the only time he hasn't played is when he had little injuries and the end of blowouts (we've never really had a true backup 1B in that time though).

 

And that bugged me too. I think Lee is a wonderful player that can play almost every game but IMO he needs a couple of days off.

[UK1679666180]

I can't imagine Baker playing him all 162 even though he can.

 

Well Derrek Lee is much the same type of player, and if i recall the only time he hasn't played is when he had little injuries and the end of blowouts (we've never really had a true backup 1B in that time though).

 

And that bugged me too. I think Lee is a wonderful player that can play almost every game but IMO he needs a couple of days off.

 

Agreed, if you have a player that has been fortunate enough not to land on the DL at any point of the year; a manager can bench him when he's not in a slump although many won't.