BP on Cubs Secondbase Battle.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Cubs’ second-base: Nominally a three-man competition, but if Neifi Perez is a regular again in 2006, I have to assume the heavens will open up and simply swallow Dusty Baker, toothpick and all.

 

That leaves Todd Walker and Jerry Hairston Jr. battling. The situation that could simply end up a platoon, with Hairston also getting some time in left field, where Matt Murton may be too young for Baker. Walker’s glove really is bad, and at 32, he’s no lock to continue posting good numbers at the plate. Hairston, meanwhile, lost some speed and saw his plate discipline go backwards last season, and he himself is 30 now, so as good as he was in 2004, he may not be much of a bargain.

 

As much as Baker likes defense, he did play Walker regularly last season, so as long as the veteran sustains his batting average, he will do no worse than a platoon role. I think you can expect Perez to be next in line, with his Baker-approved glove and experience, with Hairston reduced to a utility spot, picking up time at four or five positions, perhaps even working into a right-field platoon with Jacque Jones.

 

 

I've been saying all along that I thought Dusty would play Walker at 2b if he were still on the team. Let's hope that happens.

[CubfaninCA]

Hairston in RF. Hmmm

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Hairston in RF. Hmmm

 

The quote said LF, with Murton. Or were you not referencing that?

[goonys evil twin]

Hairston in RF. Hmmm

 

The quote said LF, with Murton. Or were you not referencing that?

 

 

with Hairston reduced to a utility spot, picking up time at four or five positions, perhaps even working into a right-field platoon with Jacque Jones.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Hairston in RF. Hmmm

 

The quote said LF, with Murton. Or were you not referencing that?

 

 

with Hairston reduced to a utility spot, picking up time at four or five positions, perhaps even working into a right-field platoon with Jacque Jones.

 

You people and your reading comprehension. The nerve!

[BigbadB]

Not that I believe Hairston is much of a threat with a bat, I would much rather see him in RF against a lefty starter than Jones. But, for a true platoon at 2nd base, Hairston should have been penciled in at 2nd, leaving someone like Marquis Grissom or Michael Restovich to start in RF. Though, I doubt Dusty goes with a platoon at both positions. And if he does platoon, I see him platooning at 2nd and not RF.

[CubfaninCA]

Lineup v lefties...

 

Pierre

Hairston

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett or Murton

Barrett or Murton

Cedeno

Neifi

 

Neifi will start all 162.

[TheDude]

Neifi will start all 162.

 

Absurd.

 

Anyway, like Vance, I've predicted Walker will play 2B as the primary if he is retained.

[goonys evil twin]

Neifi will start all 162.

 

Absurd.

 

Anyway, like Vance, I've predicted Walker will play 2B as the primary if he is retained.

 

I think he'll be somewhere between a regular and a platoon. If healthy maybe 110-120 games.

[oldcubsfan]

Sorianno will probably be the starter for most of the games this year. IMO.

[EricG]

Neifi isn't that bad against lefties, it might be fine at 2B and Hairston in RF occationally against lefty starters.

[goonys evil twin]

Neifi isn't that bad against lefties,

 

Really?

 

From 2003-2005, against lefties, .255/.288/.408.

 

Don't let those whopping 9 homeruns fool you into thinking he's any good there, just because announcers insist on calling him a threat from that side.

[EricG]

Neifi isn't that bad against lefties,

 

Really?

 

From 2003-2005, against lefties, .255/.288/.408.

 

Don't let those whopping 9 homeruns fool you into thinking he's any good there, just because announcers insist on calling him a threat from that side.

Yeah after checking the stats Neifi sucks against lefties, but if you look at against lefties at home/day games from last year it he looks much better.

[EricG]

Neifi isn't that bad against lefties,

 

Really?

 

From 2003-2005, against lefties, .255/.288/.408.

 

Don't let those whopping 9 homeruns fool you into thinking he's any good there, just because announcers insist on calling him a threat from that side.

Yeah after checking the stats Neifi sucks against lefties, but if you look at against lefties at home/day games from last year it he looks a little better.

[Derwood]

I love this notion that once players hit 32 years old they suddenly fall apart and can't hit. Are there actual stat sets that prove this, or is this just "common baseball knowledge"?

[goonys evil twin]

I love this notion that once players hit 32 years old they suddenly fall apart and can't hit. Are there actual stat sets that prove this, or is this just "common baseball knowledge"?

 

I'm not sure who said players fall apart at 32. I haven't see it. I know the Cubs talk like they believe guys are just getting to their prime at 32.

 

Anyway, guys typically peak from 26-28, plateau from there, and then decline in their 30's. Decline does not mean fall apart.

[stitchface]

I think the BP article said it. 32 is the typical end of a players prime years. Obviously some players fall apart faster than others. Certain types of players also have been shown to retain their skills better than others.

[stitchface]

and what it says is "he's no lock" - I'm not sure where you got fall apart and can't hit.

[sandberg23]

Sigh. I just wish the Cubs would take Neifi out of the equation altogether and allow Walker to start and Hairston to back him up.

 

I can't wait for the season to start. I'm bored of being bored.

[goonys evil twin]

I think the BP article said it. 32 is the typical end of a players prime years. Obviously some players fall apart faster than others. Certain types of players also have been shown to retain their skills better than others.

 

The article in the first post of this thread?

 

This is what I read:

 

"at 32, he’s no lock to continue posting good numbers at the plate. " That's hardly talking about falling apart. He'll turn 33 this May. He is coming off back to back 800+ OPS seasons, but at this age he could easily take a step back to 5-6 year lows. As a 700-740 OPS hitter, his defensive issues would be tougher to deal with.

[frostwyrm]

It's still not too late for Walker to be dealt. If a team has a 2B injury in spring training you can bet Walker will be avaliable.

[CubsWin]

Neifi will start all 162.

 

Absurd.

 

Anyway, like Vance, I've predicted Walker will play 2B as the primary if he is retained.

 

I think he'll be somewhere between a regular and a platoon. If healthy maybe 110-120 games.

That's certainly a possibility with Baker at the helm, but I think the only way Neifi sees that much playing time is if Walker is traded and no other 2B is brought in or there are major injuries again at SS and 2B.

 

Injuries are the only reason why he has seen as much playing time as he has thus far, and I don't see any reasons why that should change.

[goonys evil twin]

Neifi will start all 162.

 

Absurd.

 

Anyway, like Vance, I've predicted Walker will play 2B as the primary if he is retained.

 

I think he'll be somewhere between a regular and a platoon. If healthy maybe 110-120 games.

That's certainly a possibility with Baker at the helm, but I think the only way Neifi sees that much playing time is if Walker is traded and no other 2B is brought in or there are major injuries again at SS and 2B.

 

Injuries are the only reason why he has seen as much playing time as he has thus far, and I don't see any reasons why that should change.

 

I was talking about Walker, not Neifi. I think Neifi will get anywhere from 50-100 starts at SS, depending Ronny's progress, and then another 10-20 starts at 2B (if Walker stays).

[frostwyrm]

Neifi will start all 162.

 

Absurd.

 

Anyway, like Vance, I've predicted Walker will play 2B as the primary if he is retained.

 

I think he'll be somewhere between a regular and a platoon. If healthy maybe 110-120 games.

That's certainly a possibility with Baker at the helm, but I think the only way Neifi sees that much playing time is if Walker is traded and no other 2B is brought in or there are major injuries again at SS and 2B.

 

Injuries are the only reason why he has seen as much playing time as he has thus far, and I don't see any reasons why that should change.

 

I was talking about Walker, not Neifi. I think Neifi will get anywhere from 50-100 starts at SS, depending Ronny's progress, and then another 10-20 starts at 2B (if Walker stays).

 

I also think Neifi will see plenty of action at SS, even if Cedeno is playing well. I just can't see Dusty letting a righty rookie hit against all the good RHPs.

[Vinestal]

Dusty's veteran fetish really sickens me, I really really hope he gets caned by the allstar break or at least is not resigned for next year. Just my 2 cents. I cant remember a manager that bothered me more filling out a line up than Baker (except maybe Don Baylor, who is basicly just Baker with a different face).