Nomar to the AS game...

[Butterscup1679666578]

Hafner and Liriano both got snubbed. What a joke.

 

I am so angry Liriano didn't make it. He's arguably the best pitcher in the AL right now. God I'm angry.

[Fro]

I doubt anyone would have predicted Nomar would have this type of season, and be relatively healthy. He was trending into an "good" shortshop from a "great" shortshops.

[soccer10k]

Sign him to play OF. Don't sign Jones. When Lee breaks his wrist: Move Walker to 1B, put Hairston in RF, and have Nomar play 2B

 

Or you could just make it easier and just have Nomar play 1B, leave Walker at 2B and put Hairston in RF. After all, Nomar is playing 1B for the Dodgers right now and Walker's natural position is 2B.

[soccer10k]

Better yet, you lock up Nomar and give him the shortstop job until it's obvious he really can't play the position anymore. Try him out in the outfield. If that doesn't work, I'm sure Cubs management and Nomar could have reached some sort of agreement to move him to a team that could use him. And if they took that approach, they might have been able to actually get something for him.

 

And once the end of spring training comes and you realize he can't play anywhere but first base anymore, what do you do until June 15 when you're allowed to trade him? He hadn't played more than half a season since 2003, and if he was healthy he probably would only be able to play where we had an MVP caliber player. There was plenty good reason not to pursue him after last season, and it's still valid considering the Cubs' injury troubles last year and considering Nomar hasn't shown an ability to play anywhere other than first(despite LA going to multiple options at 3B and LF).

 

The playing just first base and often injured arguments were my main reasons why I didn't think Nomar should have been resigned. Obviously nobody knew DLee would miss 2 months considering he's never injured. I just didn't want the Cubs to sign Nomar and have him go down with an injury again and end up wasting the money on a guy that only plays half the season at most.

 

Nomar's play has proven me wrong on the injury part but like TT said, we haven't seen him play anywhere other than first. If Nomar was putting up numbers like these in RF, then you could have easily made the 'we should have resigned him' argument. But Nomar has only played 1B where DLee plays. It still ends up looking like a bad move to not resign him because Nomar is hitting .360 and DLee got hurt. For a team that didn't have a 1B like the Dodgers, signing Nomar was a good gamble to take.

 

All that being said, I am happy for him that he is finally healthy and putting up great numbers again.

[BigbadB]

Better yet, you lock up Nomar and give him the shortstop job until it's obvious he really can't play the position anymore. Try him out in the outfield. If that doesn't work, I'm sure Cubs management and Nomar could have reached some sort of agreement to move him to a team that could use him. And if they took that approach, they might have been able to actually get something for him.

 

And once the end of spring training comes and you realize he can't play anywhere but first base anymore, what do you do until June 15 when you're allowed to trade him? He hadn't played more than half a season since 2003, and if he was healthy he probably would only be able to play where we had an MVP caliber player. There was plenty good reason not to pursue him after last season, and it's still valid considering the Cubs' injury troubles last year and considering Nomar hasn't shown an ability to play anywhere other than first(despite LA going to multiple options at 3B and LF).

 

He couldn't be traded before June 15th without his approval. What, Nomar would veto a trade that would likely mean more playing time at a position that he can play better? I doubt it.

 

Nomar has been doing very good at 1b in LA. Why move him? LA does have multiple options at 3b and LF. Mueller, Izturis, Saenz, Guzman and Aybar can all play 3b. Kemp, Ethier, Lofton, Ledee, Repko, Cruz Jr., etc.. can all play LF.

 

Because he hasn't played other positions is not a good enough excuse to say he can't. His transition to 1b has been quite good. SS or at least former SS can play just about anywhere. Heck, Barrett was a former SS. Other than the fact his knees are probably too screwed up now, I think he'd be fine just about anywhere in the field.

 

Going into 2006 with Cedeno as the everyday SS was a tremendous gamble. Especially with Murton penciled in as the everyday LF. Especially with Dusty as the manager.

 

It's not my mess. It can't be undone. But, the results speak for themselves.

[thedaymen]

Capuano is certainly good enough to be there too. But nope.

 

AJ shouldn't have gone over Liriano. I heard a bunch of Sox fans had their computers running all night long with a voting macro. Rolled up thousands of extra votes.

 

You just think that because of his last three starts against the Cubs :)

[CubsBullsBears]

Sign him to play OF. Don't sign Jones. When Lee breaks his wrist: Move Walker to 1B, put Hairston in RF, and have Nomar play 2B

 

Or you could just make it easier and just have Nomar play 1B, leave Walker at 2B and put Hairston in RF. After all, Nomar is playing 1B for the Dodgers right now and Walker's natural position is 2B.

No I meant that we sign him over the winter with the intent of playing RF. When Lee breaks his wrist, move Walker to 1B, and only move Hairston to RF and Nomar to 2B, b/c Hairston has better OF defense.

[beowulf28]

=D> Congratulations, Nomar! Good luck in the ASG! :D

[littleburr24]

It's really great to see Nomar having such an awesome year. He's my favorite player in the game, so congrats to Nomar!!!

[Bruno7481]

 

Going into 2006 with Cedeno as the everyday SS was a tremendous gamble. Especially with Murton penciled in as the everyday LF. Especially with Dusty as the manager.

 

It's not my mess. It can't be undone. But, the results speak for themselves.

 

I'm not sure where Nomar would have played, really liked the guy, but I can't flame hendry too much for not committing more money to him.

 

I'm with you on Cedeno/Murton though. It was a risk, despite the "play the kids" drive that was going around at the time. I'm all for playing them if they are good enough, so far they haven't been.

[goonys evil twin]

 

I'm with you on Cedeno/Murton though. It was a risk, despite the "play the kids" drive that was going around at the time. I'm all for playing them if they are good enough, so far they haven't been.

 

The risk would have been completely reasonable if Hendry had even done a moderate job of filling out the rest of the lineup. Every team should try and blend in a kid or two a year, it'll allow them to spend more on actual difference makers. The problem is when you need those guys to be really good in order for your lineup to be any good. With the way this lineup was constructed, Murton had to platoon with Jones and they needed another impact corner OF.

[Bruno7481]

 

I'm with you on Cedeno/Murton though. It was a risk, despite the "play the kids" drive that was going around at the time. I'm all for playing them if they are good enough, so far they haven't been.

 

The risk would have been completely reasonable if Hendry had even done a moderate job of filling out the rest of the lineup. Every team should try and blend in a kid or two a year, it'll allow them to spend more on actual difference makers. The problem is when you need those guys to be really good in order for your lineup to be any good. With the way this lineup was constructed, Murton had to platoon with Jones and they needed another impact corner OF.

 

Agreed.

 

Having Cedeno and Murton in there together wouldn't be as bad if the lineup was better. I'm not against playing young guys, I enjoy watching them play. I just don't expect huge production from them either.