Baker Plans a Talk with All Three Secondbasemen

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

From the Trib...

 

Link

 

Dusty Baker says he isn't concerned about the three-headed monster at second base, where Jerry Hairston appears to have the edge over Todd Walker and Neifi Perez.

 

Baker plans to talk to all three of them together in Las Vegas, where the Cubs finish the exhibition schedule with games against San Diego on Friday and Saturday.

 

Hairston is hitting .286 and Perez is at .278. Walker, the incumbent, has hit .267 and is second on the team with 11 RBIs. How he would handle his role as a backup is unknown, though Baker doesn't expect any problems.

 

"I've talked to `Walk' about things," Baker said. "I haven't talked to them all together. I haven't talk to Jerry individually yet, but I'll talk to them.

 

"I lay it on the line. I'm very rarely indecisive, and I'm not wishy-washy too much in my decisions. If anything I'm probably more headstrong in my decisions sometimes. Ask my wife. I don't change my mind."

[E.J.]

From the Trib...

 

Link

 

Dusty Baker says he isn't concerned about the three-headed monster at second base, where Jerry Hairston appears to have the edge over Todd Walker and Neifi Perez.

 

Baker plans to talk to all three of them together in Las Vegas, where the Cubs finish the exhibition schedule with games against San Diego on Friday and Saturday.

 

Hairston is hitting .286 and Perez is at .278. Walker, the incumbent, has hit .267 and is second on the team with 11 RBIs. How he would handle his role as a backup is unknown, though Baker doesn't expect any problems.

 

"I've talked to `Walk' about things," Baker said. "I haven't talked to them all together. I haven't talk to Jerry individually yet, but I'll talk to them.

 

"I lay it on the line. I'm very rarely indecisive, and I'm not wishy-washy too much in my decisions. If anything I'm probably more headstrong in my decisions sometimes. Ask my wife. I don't change my mind."

 

I'm pretty sure that every baseball fan figured that out a long time ago, right around the time of Shawn Estes. :wall:

 

Doesn't look good for TWalk as a starter. Remind me again how it makes sense to put maybe out 3rd best hitter on the bench. [-(

[Cubfanintheknow]

"Eenie... meenie...minie... moe..."

[TuffyRhodes]

"I lay it on the line. I'm very rarely indecisive, and I'm not wishy-washy too much in my decisions. If anything I'm probably more headstrong in my decisions sometimes. Ask my wife. I don't change my mind."

 

 

 

Except of course when he has decided to give a rookie a chance to play everyday, then he seems change his mind pretty quickly.....

[Jehrico]

"Eenie... meenie...minie... moe..."

 

I was thinking more along the lines of "I have three straws in my hand. Each of you will draw one..."

 

I bet Dusty wishes they had a 3 sided coin. :D

[nolanwood]

I thought the big concern at 2b was defense? Is Hairston's defense any better than Walker's? It would be nice to see 2 guys with speed in front of Lee and Ramirez. But I'd rather see somebody who could get on base in that 2 hole. I'm assuming if Hairston starts that's where Dusty puts him in the lineup. I'd almost rather see Neifi start if Walker isn't in the picture. Bat Neifi 8th and I'll take his stellar defense at 2b. Put Murton in the 2hole.

[RynoRules]

"Eenie... meenie...minie... moe..."

 

I was thinking more along the lines of "I have three straws in my hand. Each of you will draw one..."

 

I bet Dusty wishes they had a 3 sided coin. :D

 

What was the thing on South Park years ago with John Smith from The Cure? :

"I'll rochambeau you for it!"

[goonys evil twin]

I find it weird that he hasn't spoken with Jerry individually yet, after a month and a a half of spring training. How does a manager not have a one on one conversation during the spring, with a guy who will potentially be the starting second baseman and #2 hitter? It's not like they guys are getting on a plane every other day.

[rawaction]

Why is Neifi still being mentioned? He hasn't played much 2B this spring. There's no way he could be even close to winning the job.

[ltb]

Why is Neifi still being mentioned? He hasn't played much 2B this spring. There's no way he could be even close to winning the job.

 

he's going to get the bulk of the starts that hairston doesn't get, probably.

[goonys evil twin]

Why is Neifi still being mentioned? He hasn't played much 2B this spring. There's no way he could be even close to winning the job.

 

Yeah, it's going to be tough for him to compete for the 2B job when starting at shortstop.

[badgercub]

Yeah, I don't get why Neifi is being mentioned either as he should be the primary backup at SS and possibly get some playing time backing up 3b. If Walker is not starting I am willing to give Hairston a chance to see what he can do at 2b now that he is healthy, maybe he will break out, maybe.

[Tracer Bullet]

What was the thing on South Park years ago with John Smith from The Cure? :

"I'll rochambeau you for it!"

 

Um...that's Robert Smith.

[Wheelimus]

Well, as far as the spring goes it's been about a wash, Jerry has gotten on base more, Todd has slugged more. Since we're talking about the 2 hole here, might be better to have the OBP and speed.

 

(note: i realize that past numbers dictate that Walker would have the better OBP than Hairston, simply talking about spring numbers if we're to believe this was an open competition)

[CDBears1259]

Yeah, I don't get why Neifi is being mentioned either as he should be the primary backup at SS and possibly get some playing time backing up 3b. If Walker is not starting I am willing to give Hairston a chance to see what he can do at 2b now that he is healthy, maybe he will break out, maybe.

 

You have a lot more confidence in Hairston than I do. I don't care how hard he supposedly worked this off-season, I've just not been impressed by him or his ability to stay healthy. That said, if he does start most of the time, I will be pulling for him to succeed.

[Warpticon]

Is it just me, or does the thread title sound about as pertinent as "Baker to arrive at Wrigley Field with team" or "Baker to awaken in morning?"

[wastra]

If Hairston is starting at second, we should start Walker in right.

[Bixby]

If Hairston is starting at second, we should start Walker in right.

 

Yeah, and we should pull a trade for Soriano and stick him in left.

[TB_11]

Yeah, I don't get why Neifi is being mentioned either as he should be the primary backup at SS and possibly get some playing time backing up 3b. If Walker is not starting I am willing to give Hairston a chance to see what he can do at 2b now that he is healthy, maybe he will break out, maybe.

 

You have a lot more confidence in Hairston than I do. I don't care how hard he supposedly worked this off-season, I've just not been impressed by him or his ability to stay healthy. That said, if he does start most of the time, I will be pulling for him to succeed.

 

The most important thing Hairston brings to the Cubs is that he's not Neifi.

[srbin84]

I find it weird that he hasn't spoken with Jerry individually yet, after a month and a a half of spring training. How does a manager not have a one on one conversation during the spring, with a guy who will potentially be the starting second baseman and #2 hitter? It's not like they guys are getting on a plane every other day.

 

It seems like Dusty would tell the guys who didn't get it first, so they don't find out from someone else. You know how he is all about protecting his players feelings.

[Omar]

"Eenie... meenie...minie... moe..."

 

I was thinking more along the lines of "I have three straws in my hand. Each of you will draw one..."

 

I bet Dusty wishes they had a 3 sided coin. :D

 

What was the thing on South Park years ago with John Smith from The Cure? :

"I'll rochambeau you for it!"

 

I was expecting more along the lines of

 

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3867/801/400/dusty_dice.jpg

 

With Neifi getting 10 sides, and Hairston/Walker getting 2.

[rawaction]

"Eenie... meenie...minie... moe..."

 

I was thinking more along the lines of "I have three straws in my hand. Each of you will draw one..."

 

I bet Dusty wishes they had a 3 sided coin. :D

 

What was the thing on South Park years ago with John Smith from The Cure? :

"I'll rochambeau you for it!"

 

I was expecting more along the lines of

 

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3867/801/400/dusty_dice.jpg

 

With Neifi getting 10 sides, and Hairston/Walker getting 2.

 

I know that picture has been around for ages, but I think that's one of the funniest things ever to appear on this board.

[erik316wttn]

Todd, on behalf of Cub fans, I apologize for the idiocy you deal with in that clubhouse every single day. You deserve better.

[Andy]

Todd, on behalf of Cub fans, I apologize for the idiocy you deal with in that clubhouse every single day. You deserve better.

In all seriousness, how would the Neifi signing have gone down if it was reported during the season?

 

"Hey guys, Neifi just got signed to a two year extension worth 5 million." - Dusty

 

"Hey, way to go, Neifi, awesome, dude, that's great" - General reaction in clubhouse

 

"My BATTING AVERAGE is higher than his ON BASE PERCENTAGE and he's getting paid more than me" - Walker in his head

 

If I was Walker I'd lose my mind.