Middle Infield = Womack & Neifi

[stitchface]

why not start womack in cf?

[TheDude]

why not start womack in cf?

Because he isn't a center fielder.

[CubsBullsBears]

With any other organization, I wouldn't mind giving Womack a shot...he has the potential to get hot and make things happen (he also has the potential to royally suck it up for months at a time).

 

But this just scenario has "Gary Gaetti Part II" written all over it.

 

Who else thinks that if Womack hits .270 or higher for us, he gets a 2-year deal?

I do.

[KaiserCesar]

Honestly what's the big deal about Womack playing at 2B right now? He's no worse than any of our other options while Walker is at 1st. We all know how bad Neifi has been and Hairston is hitting .215/.262/.253. He was hot at Iowa and has given us a few hits so far.

 

Now if he's taking AB's from Walker once Lee gets back or if they bring him back next year, then I'll be upset. But I don't see any reason to complain about him getting starts at 2B right now.

 

I think its because there's a track record for letting old bad players who had mediocre years come back for more years.

 

I agree and that's why I included that in my post.

 

I saw that, but you treat them as independent events. In my mind, every time Womack gets an AB, its another step closer to "impressing" enough to get resigned. Keep him off the field, and the danger is much less.

[YearofDaCubs]

Laughing stock of MLB right now.

 

Dusty's New Friend:

 

http://rotoworld.com/content/features/column.asp?sport=MLB&column=83&articleid=22079

 

In the mood for a riddle? Too bad, because you’re getting one anyway. When is a player collecting four hits in his first start bad news for a team? When the player is Tony Womack and the team is managed by Dusty Baker.

 

Womack went 4-for-6 as the Cubs’ starting second baseman Sunday, giving way to fate’s inevitable outcome by combining with Neifi Perez to form one of the worst-hitting double-play tandems in baseball history and all but guaranteeing himself regular playing time under Baker for the next couple months.

 

Womack, who has topped a .700 OPS just once in the last six years and a grand total of two times during his nine full seasons, will further drag the already-struggling Chicago offense down with every pathetic at-bat. All of which is nothing new for Baker, who has always shown an unhealthy (for the Cubs and Giants, at least) infatuation with non-hitters like Perez, Jose Macias, Tom Goodwin, and Lenny Harris.

 

The good news is that with his speed Womack is a still must-grab in NL-only leagues, where Baker’s bad decisions in regard to playing time will only give him more chances to run. Despite hitting .249 with a putrid .556 OPS for the Yankees last year, Womack did swipe 27 bags in just 108 games.

 

While Cubs fans ponder exactly how things can—and probably will—get any worse this season, here are some other notes from around baseball …

[Sammy Sofa]

Why DOES Dusty love crappy hitters so much? Especially since he was a damn good one when he played...maybe their crappiness makes him feel better about his own hitting?

[sunnydoo]

All of which is nothing new for Baker, who has always shown an unhealthy (for the Cubs and Giants, at least) infatuation with non-hitters like Perez, Jose Macias, Tom Goodwin, and Lenny Harris.

 

What is everyone's obsession busting on Goodwin for? Guy hit .268/.332 in his 14 year career. Thats about average for todays standard.

 

I think i will write rotoworld a nasty note.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Goodwin was 34 by the time he became a Cub. He hit .253/.298/.365/.663 as a Cub.

[hawkeyecub]

Laughing stock of MLB right now.

 

Dusty's New Friend:

 

http://rotoworld.com/content/features/column.asp?sport=MLB&column=83&articleid=22079

 

In the mood for a riddle? Too bad, because you’re getting one anyway. When is a player collecting four hits in his first start bad news for a team? When the player is Tony Womack and the team is managed by Dusty Baker.

 

Womack went 4-for-6 as the Cubs’ starting second baseman Sunday, giving way to fate’s inevitable outcome by combining with Neifi Perez to form one of the worst-hitting double-play tandems in baseball history and all but guaranteeing himself regular playing time under Baker for the next couple months.

 

Womack, who has topped a .700 OPS just once in the last six years and a grand total of two times during his nine full seasons, will further drag the already-struggling Chicago offense down with every pathetic at-bat. All of which is nothing new for Baker, who has always shown an unhealthy (for the Cubs and Giants, at least) infatuation with non-hitters like Perez, Jose Macias, Tom Goodwin, and Lenny Harris.

 

The good news is that with his speed Womack is a still must-grab in NL-only leagues, where Baker’s bad decisions in regard to playing time will only give him more chances to run. Despite hitting .249 with a putrid .556 OPS for the Yankees last year, Womack did swipe 27 bags in just 108 games.

 

While Cubs fans ponder exactly how things can—and probably will—get any worse this season, here are some other notes from around baseball …

 

I disagree. The combo of he and Walker really can't be worse than Walker and Mabry or Hairston/Neifi/Bynum and Walker.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Laughing stock of MLB right now.

 

Dusty's New Friend:

 

http://rotoworld.com/content/features/column.asp?sport=MLB&column=83&articleid=22079

 

In the mood for a riddle? Too bad, because you’re getting one anyway. When is a player collecting four hits in his first start bad news for a team? When the player is Tony Womack and the team is managed by Dusty Baker.

 

Womack went 4-for-6 as the Cubs’ starting second baseman Sunday, giving way to fate’s inevitable outcome by combining with Neifi Perez to form one of the worst-hitting double-play tandems in baseball history and all but guaranteeing himself regular playing time under Baker for the next couple months.

 

Womack, who has topped a .700 OPS just once in the last six years and a grand total of two times during his nine full seasons, will further drag the already-struggling Chicago offense down with every pathetic at-bat. All of which is nothing new for Baker, who has always shown an unhealthy (for the Cubs and Giants, at least) infatuation with non-hitters like Perez, Jose Macias, Tom Goodwin, and Lenny Harris.

 

The good news is that with his speed Womack is a still must-grab in NL-only leagues, where Baker’s bad decisions in regard to playing time will only give him more chances to run. Despite hitting .249 with a putrid .556 OPS for the Yankees last year, Womack did swipe 27 bags in just 108 games.

 

While Cubs fans ponder exactly how things can—and probably will—get any worse this season, here are some other notes from around baseball …

 

I disagree. The combo of he and Walker really can't be worse than Walker and Mabry or Hairston/Neifi/Bynum and Walker.

 

You hush your mouth. I think we all know what happens when we say things like "can't be worse". :wink:

[neely crenshaw]

my thoughts are this...if womack starting now means less neifi and allowing hairston to play a little rf vs lefties then it can help short term. if it means having a middle infiled of neif and womacj against anyone but the toughesy righties then dusty must be fired. if we are 15-20 games under and he plays anyone like womack, neifi or hairston over murton or cedeno-and hopefully pie after the deadline..except for days off. then he must go. if the front office doesn't recognize this...they should go. we have said it many times this miserable year...it is far better to be young and bad, then old and bad!

[Ding Dong Johnson]

my thoughts are this...if womack starting now means less neifi and allowing hairston to play a little rf vs lefties then it can help short term. if it means having a middle infiled of neif and womacj against anyone but the toughesy righties then dusty must be fired. if we are 15-20 games under and he plays anyone like womack, neifi or hairston over murton or cedeno-and hopefully pie after the deadline..except for days off. then he must go. if the front office doesn't recognize this...they should go. we have said it many times this miserable year...it is far better to be young and bad, then old and bad!

 

The only problem is, Ronny has been awfully good against righties --

338/356/462/817

[JakeSlater]

Thing is, I don't mind Womack in small doses. Beats Neifi starting. Not a bad pickup for Hendry. He's a top of the order guy with speed.

 

And there's no way Neifi will go, and that's not because of this so called Dusty favortism. He plays 2nd, short, 3rd, and can emergency catch. Plus he played a little outfield in the American League, IIRC. Not a great player by anyone's standards, but it gives Baker some options when players get injured, or a double switch in a blowout.

 

Thing is, the Womack option is good as long as Lee's out. After that, we need to get back to normal. I just hope Walker doesn't forget how to play second.

[frostwyrm]

Womack is horrible, and having him come up and immediately have a couple of good games is the worst possible scenario. There is absolutely nothing positive to say about Womack or the fact that he's going to play a lot for the Cubs.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Thing is, I don't mind Womack in small doses. Beats Neifi starting. Not a bad pickup for Hendry. He's a top of the order guy with speed.

 

And there's no way Neifi will go, and that's not because of this so called Dusty favortism. He plays 2nd, short, 3rd, and can emergency catch. Plus he played a little outfield in the American League, IIRC. Not a great player by anyone's standards, but it gives Baker some options when players get injured, or a double switch in a blowout.

 

Thing is, the Womack option is good as long as Lee's out. After that, we need to get back to normal. I just hope Walker doesn't forget how to play second.

 

Are you talking about Neifi? He never played OF. And how exactly can he "emergency catch"? He spent less than 1 inning behind the plate 8 years ago on a less than stellar Colorado team. If Neifi can do it, we have 22 others who can.

[cubfan1955]

Of the 4 choices we have at 2B when Walker is playing first I'd have to give the nod to Womack over Neifi, Hairston, and Bynum. Sadly the Cubs aren't going to get rid of Neifi as he is our only backup SS. Hendry having those 4 on the same team is the real travesty. Quantity over quality...the Cubs new motto.

[Pinktermite]

I think there's a little too much Womack bashing on here personally. He's played two games for the cubs and done well. When he was with the cubs, he played hurt. He certainly is more patient than Neifi, and has better speed. So let's give the guy a shot, he's no worse than what we have. Neifi, like all the other players, is being asked by Dusty to do things he is not capable of. Neifi is a defensive replacement who handles a bat well (doesn't strike out, can bunt if you need him to...etc). Stop all the Womack bashing, and let's see how it plays out. They nearly won on sunday except for Aramis, and they won yesterday. Rome wasn't built in a day

[goonys evil twin]

I think there's a little too much Womack bashing on here personally. He's played two games for the cubs and done well. When he was with the cubs, he played hurt. He certainly is more patient than Neifi, and has better speed. So let's give the guy a shot, he's no worse than what we have. Neifi, like all the other players, is being asked by Dusty to do things he is not capable of. Neifi is a defensive replacement who handles a bat well (doesn't strike out, can bunt if you need him to...etc). Stop all the Womack bashing, and let's see how it plays out. They nearly won on sunday except for Aramis, and they won yesterday. Rome wasn't built in a day

 

Hendry and Co. aren't being asked to build a world-wide empire.

 

Neifi handles the bat well? He sucks with the bat and his defense is overrated. He brings nothing to the team. Womack is 36 and has sucked the vast majority of his career. Just because he is no worse than what we have doesn't mean he's any good, or that fans should except him with open arms. That's similar to all the people who say fans who are pissed at the record under Hendry/Baker should be happy it's not as bad as other Cubs teams (although the current record is certainly making that ridiculous argument even more pointless). He's a crappy baseball player on a crappy baseball team put together by crappy management. He's as eligible for bashing as anybody else.

[Cubway]

Personally, I would have like to have seen what Ryan Theriot could do. The Cubs called him up and he sat on the bench the whole time.

 

Just like Ricky Nolasco, the Cubs never even gave him a cup of coffee even though he was the Southern League pitcher of the year. This is how our young players get away from us. Never get a chance.

[TB_11]

The argument that Womack is better than Neifi could be applied to 99% of the major league infielders playing today. It is true that he is better than Neifi, but that shouldn't be a reason that he's on the team.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

The argument that Womack is better than Neifi could be applied to 99% of the major league infielders playing today. It is true that he is better than Neifi, but that shouldn't be a reason that he's on the team.

 

Yes, we should all keep in mind that Womack is only marginally better than Neifi.

[frostwyrm]

I don't think Womack is an improvement over Neifi in any way. I'd rather see Neifi keep playing and maybe get a Neifurious hot streak going so he can be traded. Benching him for trash like Tony Womack only ruins whatever trade value he has or might have and it really doesn't help the team win in the short term either. Womack just flat out sucks, worse even than Neifi.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I don't think Womack is an improvement over Neifi in any way. I'd rather see Neifi keep playing and maybe get a Neifurious hot streak going so he can be traded. Benching him for trash like Tony Womack only ruins whatever trade value he has or might have and it really doesn't help the team win in the short term either. Womack just flat out sucks, worse even than Neifi.

 

Career OPS+

 

Womack - 73

Neifi - 65

 

They both suck, but Womack sucks a little bit less. How lucky are we to have them both?

[frostwyrm]

I don't think Womack is an improvement over Neifi in any way. I'd rather see Neifi keep playing and maybe get a Neifurious hot streak going so he can be traded. Benching him for trash like Tony Womack only ruins whatever trade value he has or might have and it really doesn't help the team win in the short term either. Womack just flat out sucks, worse even than Neifi.

 

Career OPS+

 

Womack - 73

Neifi - 65

 

They both suck, but Womack sucks a little bit less. How lucky are we to have them both?

For predictive purposes I don't pay attention to career numbers of a player as old and broken down as Womack. 29 MLB teams think he's finished and I see no reason to disagree.

Edited May 30, 2006 by frostwyrm

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I don't think Womack is an improvement over Neifi in any way. I'd rather see Neifi keep playing and maybe get a Neifurious hot streak going so he can be traded. Benching him for trash like Tony Womack only ruins whatever trade value he has or might have and it really doesn't help the team win in the short term either. Womack just flat out sucks, worse even than Neifi.

 

Career OPS+

 

Womack - 73

Neifi - 65

 

They both suck, but Womack sucks a little bit less. How lucky are we to have them both?

For predictive purposes I don't pay attention to career numbers of a player as old and broken down as Womack. 29 MLB teams think he's finished and see no reason to disagree.

 

I think the same can be said about Neifi.