Walker's comments on 2nd base battle

[badger1679666666]

"In some cases, to get people to sign, they have to tell them certain things," said Walker. "I don't know what they told Neifi, I don't know what they told Jerry.

 

"I just want to do my thing," he added. "If I do that, I don't have to worry about anything else. If we had [Alfonso] Soriano at second base and I felt I had to hit 40 homers, it'd be tough. Right now, if I do what I'm capable of doing, I'll play."

 

Cubs.com

 

Is that a backhanded insult to Jerry and Neifi?

 

I agree, but I didn't expect him to come out and say if he plays, he's better than those two.

 

:lol:

[CubinNY]

Walker sure doesn't know when to keep his head down and mouth quiet. I don't know maybe he doesn't feel like he should have to compete for a job. I can't say I blame him. But I wouldn't talk like that.

 

I still think he doesn't make it out of Arizona as a Cub.

[CUBZ99]

"In some cases, to get people to sign, they have to tell them certain things," said Walker. "I don't know what they told Neifi, I don't know what they told Jerry.

 

"I just want to do my thing," he added. "If I do that, I don't have to worry about anything else. If we had [Alfonso] Soriano at second base and I felt I had to hit 40 homers, it'd be tough. Right now, if I do what I'm capable of doing, I'll play."

 

Cubs.com

 

Is that a backhanded insult to Jerry and Neifi?

 

I agree, but I didn't expect him to come out and say if he plays, he's better than those two.

 

:lol:

 

Walker is not afraid to speak his mind it seems. I think I would have to concur with him on his comments.

[David]

WHAT A CANCER!!!!!

 

 

 

:lol: I love it. Go TWalk!

[Monco]

:lol:

 

Walker is not afraid to speak his mind it seems. .

 

I think thats why they're trying to move him.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

What Walker said is no worse than Neifi's comments. If Walker runs his mouth too much, so did Neifi.

[Monco]

Yeah but Neifis one of Dustys boys."He saved us last year"

[CubinNY]

What Walker said is no worse than Neifi's comments. If Walker runs his mouth too much, so did Neifi.

 

What did Neifi say, I missed it?

[stitchface]

I don't find what he said at all controversial.

[CubinNY]

From the Cubs.com article

 

He may have said something different this winter to Walker, who reportedly told a Chicago radio station early Sunday that he'll be the starting second baseman on Opening Day, and that Baker told him so.

 

"I don't recall saying that," said Baker. "I don't even know who's pitching on Opening Day for [the Cincinnati Reds]."

 

 

I'd say that is pretty contriversial. I wonder what Dusty will say to him, because one of them isn't being truthfull.

[Andy]

It is exactly Walker's headstrong nature that will get him booted out of here.

 

Not that I blame him. If I was being told that I had to compete with Neifi Perez and Jerry Hairston after the two years that Todd has had, I'd be a little bitter myself.

[jjgman21]

From the Cubs.com article

 

He may have said something different this winter to Walker, who reportedly told a Chicago radio station early Sunday that he'll be the starting second baseman on Opening Day, and that Baker told him so.

 

"I don't recall saying that," said Baker. "I don't even know who's pitching on Opening Day for [the Cincinnati Reds]."

 

 

I'd say that is pretty contriversial. I wonder what Dusty will say to him, because one of them isn't being truthfull.

 

did anybody hear this on the radio today?

[abuck1220]

i don't have a problem w/ what he said, but he doesn't seem like he really wants to stay in chicago when he says stuff like this...

 

He said he wouldn't be surprised if Hairston or Perez were told they'd be the starting second baseman.

 

"They probably told them that," Walker said. "I don't know what they told Neifi to make him sign a two-year deal. Believe it or not, they don't always tell you the truth.

 

"We're grown men. Just tell me what the reality of it is. In some cases they have to get people to sign, and they have to tell them certain things to get them signed. I don't know what they told Neifi. I don't know what they told Jerry. I don't want to know.

 

walker's mouth is going to lead to us suffering through 150 games of neifi at 2b.

[Mizzou]

Walker is right on with his comments, but all he's doing is pissing management off even more by saying this stuff. I wish he'd just shut the hell up for once.

[UMFan83]

Honestly, I want to see Todd Walker leave just to hear him finally uncork what he's been wanting to say for over a year now. The second he gets traded thats what's going to happen.

 

Honestly, Todd deserves better.

[rocket]

Haha. All this does is give us a crappier prospect, since Hendry will be a little more willing to give Walker away for peanuts.

[jjgman21]

I know we can't copy and paste the entire article, but it seems to me that this thread takes alot of the context and kind of spins it. it also seems like a little muchraking going on by Muskat. noone here seems to have heard the interview today. maybe it will be on this week sometime so we can here the tone and context, but that article also included this quote,

 

"If I did say something to that effect, I certainly meant that when we had the conversation in the offseason, [baker] said, 'If you're there, you're my guy,' " said Walker. "But it was also, 'I want to see how your knee's doing, I want to see how your arm's doing, see how well you play.' It's always competition out here. As long as I keep doing what I'm doing, I'm in good shape."

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Give the starting job to Jerry Hairston Jr. He deserves it! :?

[frostwyrm]

What Walker said is no worse than Neifi's comments. If Walker runs his mouth too much, so did Neifi.

 

Walker's comments were slightly more obnoxious than Neifi's, but I agree, they both should keep their mouths shut.

[hankp101]

I would suggest reading the entire article. If you read the quotes in context, I don't think Walker crossed the line.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

I would suggest reading the entire article. If you read the quotes in context, I don't think Walker crossed the line.

This isn't crossing the line?

He said he wouldn't be surprised if Hairston or Perez were told they'd be the starting second baseman.

 

"They probably told them that," Walker said. "I don't know what they told Neifi to make him sign a two-year deal. Believe it or not, they don't always tell you the truth.

I understand he is frustrated, but he was given more playing time in 2004 then he could have expected when he signed as a backup, and was a starter all of last year. He has not been cheated of playing time up to this point, and knows that the Cubs are unhappy with his defense since last year. He dis the same thing in 2004 going to the press about playing time when Grudz came back from injury in 2004. Why should this be any different?

 

There is no market for him right now, so he is still likely to break camp as a Cub.

[CubinNY]

Bruce clears the air

 

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/cubs.asp

 

Walker is backing off his statements on the SCORE.

[Blueheart05]

Walker should really keep his comments about management to himself. As a fan, it might be fun to read but I doubt that we would last long at our respective workplaces by publically going against the higher ups. I think it's unprofessional. He should just let his play speak for itself.

 

The Score loves to bate him as well because he doesn't know when to stop talking... On 2/21 Walker was on the Mike North Show and North seemed to be egging him on while also stroking his ego (North is a Cubs antagonist so this doesn't surprise me). I'm sure Walker's latest interview will make The Score Audibles page soon.

 

Baker's comments in the Suntimes are also interesting.

 

Told Sunday morning that Walker had said hours earlier on WSCR-AM (670) that Baker had assured him he was the Cubs' Opening Day second baseman, Baker said: "I don't recall saying that. I've got to talk to Walk about that. Walk's been on the radio a lot lately.''

 

Walker also back peddling

 

"No, I didn't say that,'' Walker said. "I said that Dusty said I'm his guy, whatever that means. We had the conversation in the offseason. He said that 'if you're there, you're my guy.'

 

"That being said, he'd also say that could change. I'm trying to make sure that it doesn't. As long as I keep doing what I'm doing, I'm in good shape.''

 

On further review, Walker couldn't recall his exact words in the radio interview.

 

"It was awful early in the morning,'' he said.

[Mizzou]

Now Walker is saying that he and Baker had a conversation in the offseason? After he said that the two played phone tag but never spoke? He needs to get his story straight.

[Blueheart05]

Now Walker is saying that he and Baker had a conversation in the offseason? After he said that the two played phone tag but never spoke? He needs to get his story straight.

 

Good point. He should do a lot less talking and more hitting because, even though Jerry was forced to take a few days off following the beaning, Hairston seems be winning the all around battle on the field. According to yesterday's game notes, Jerry is hitting .444 and Todd is hitting .231 so far this Spring.