What happens to Nomar when he comes back to Chicago?

[Cubzfan64]

Honestly what do you think Dusty will do with Neifi when Nomar is finally determined to be "healthy" enough to come up to Chicago?

 

I find it hard to believe that Dusty will just give the job back to Nomar - if I had to guess, I would say Nomar gets < 50% of the playing time after he comes back.

 

I suppose alot depends on how his rehab goes in Peoria, but I just don't see Dusty "dissing" his pal Neifi by taking the SS job away from him.

[hawkeyecub]

If Nomar is healthy, he's going to play. He probably won't be able to play everyday, but I suspect he'll get 8 out of 10 starts.

 

Some people are carried away on this Dusty-Neifi thing. Dusty choosing to play Neifi over a rookie is one thing. Dusty choosing to play Neifi over Nomar is completely different.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If Nomar is healthy enough to play 4-5 games a week, he is going to play. There's no way Dusty doesn't play him.

[imb]

I really don't see Nosemar getting more than 50% of the starts when he first gets back. He's going to need days off.

[CubsFaninPA]

Even though Neifi has tailed off some, he's still contributed. Personally, I'd still like to see the Cubs use Nomar, if he's healthy, and get Cedeno more playing time. I've got the feeling that Cedeno is going to get sent back down so he can get the playing time he needs.

[Cubzfan64]

I hope you are all correct - I just see Dusty using the excuse that Neifi has "earned" the right to play most of the time and that Nomar should be slowly worked into the starting lineup - and I just see that "slowly working him into the lineup" never really happening.

 

I may be wrong - I just think unless Nomar excels immediately, Neifi will continue to get at least 50% of the playing time.

[rocket]

maybe neifi will be moved to cf to replace the struggling hairston

[ZZ Thorn]

You can't not play Nomar. You can't play Neifi Perez instead of Nomar either. You can play Neifi over a rookie, tho I'd like to see more Cedeno.

 

I hope they ease in Nomar, Kerry and Williamson. No need to rush any of them.

[hawkeyecub]

I hope you are all correct - I just see Dusty using the excuse that Neifi has "earned" the right to play most of the time and that Nomar should be slowly worked into the starting lineup - and I just see that "slowly working him into the lineup" never really happening.

 

I may be wrong - I just think unless Nomar excels immediately, Neifi will continue to get at least 50% of the playing time.

 

No way in heck.

[Illini Iceman]

You can't not play Nomar. You can't play Neifi Perez instead of Nomar either. You can play Neifi over a rookie, tho I'd like to see more Cedeno.

 

I hope they ease in Nomar, Kerry and Williamson. No need to rush any of them.

 

I agree - if Nomar is back he will play at least 4 games a week until he is 100% healthy. There is no way Hendry or Baker would let him rot on the bench. If it costs anyone playing time it might be Walker against LH pitching, but that would be a shame. I hope they just give Neifi 1 or 2 starts a week at SS to keep Nomar healthy and maybe use him as a defensive replacment as needed.

[Marco4]

You can't not play Nomar. You can't play Neifi Perez instead of Nomar either. You can play Neifi over a rookie, tho I'd like to see more Cedeno.

 

I hope they ease in Nomar, Kerry and Williamson. No need to rush any of them.

 

I agree - if Nomar is back he will play at least 4 games a week until he is 100% healthy. There is no way Hendry or Baker would let him rot on the bench. If it costs anyone playing time it might be Walker against LH pitching, but that would be a shame. I hope they just give Neifi 1 or 2 starts a week at SS to keep Nomar healthy and maybe use him as a defensive replacment as needed.

 

I'm with that - though it does leave Cedeno in the cold. I'd prefer to see him sent down if Neifi is going to be the fill-in when Nomar has his days off, cos he just won't see anything like any playing time.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

I've been wondering about this as well. One issue that I think could arise is Neifi getting time at 2nd base against LH pitching in place of Walker. I'm just going based on past history and the fact that if there's a right-handed option against a LH pitcher, Baker will use it. The only problem with that is:

 

Walker vs. LH ('05) - .474 ( 18-38 ) BA, 1.381 OPS

 

My hope is that Nomar gets back into full-time playing shape by Septemeber. Maybe you start him 4 games and Neifi 3 for the first couple weeks in August and go from there.

[chopsx9]

If Nomar's health is OK there is NO way Neifi plays more than he does, zero, zilch, nada. Not even Dusty would do that.

[TB_11]

If Nomar's health is OK there is NO way Neifi plays more than he does, zero, zilch, nada. Not even Dusty would do that.

 

Don't challenge Dusty's stupidity. He'll rise up and prove you wrong.

[barrettismyidol]

If Nomar's health is OK there is NO way Neifi plays more than he does, zero, zilch, nada. Not even Dusty would do that.

 

Don't challenge Dusty's stupidity. He'll rise up and prove you wrong.

 

Nomar isn't a rookie. If he's healthy, he'll play.

[Scott G. F.]

Nomar and Niefi will split time. Neifi deserves the playing time and Nomar needs to have a day off. I don't see a big deal. As long as the Cubs win Ronny Woo Woo can play short.

[gus_dog]

I think if Nomar is healthy, he will get the lion's share of PT.

 

More importantly, when Nomar comes back, will Cedeño get sent down, or.......

 

 

 

 

 

 

will they DFA Macias? :D

[Evers2Tinker2Chance]

I think that we can pretty much give up on them DFAing Macias. As much as we all wish and want it to happen, we're stuck with him.

 

When Nomar come back Ronny gets sent down, and Nomar starts about 4 games per week and gradually gets more playing time as he proves his health.

[10man]

Uhh, when Grudz came back from his injury last year how much PT did Todd Walker get? Neifi should get less than that.

[satxcubfan]

for the love of all that's good..please... oh, PLEASE! DFA Macias!!

[LoneStarCubFan]

Somebody's got to get DFA'd sooner or later because there are 39 guys on the 40 man right now and Williamson and Nomar are almost ready to come off the 60-day DL.

 

It should be Macias but it'll probably be Grieve, with Cedeno and Mitre going to Des Moines.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

My guess is that Koronka or Rohlicheck will be removed from the 40-man. I don't think either one of those would get claimed off waivers.

[LoneStarCubFan]

My guess is that Koronka or Rohlicheck will be removed from the 40-man. I don't think either one of those would get claimed off waivers.

 

I didn't think of this, and somebody else mentioned it on another thread, but they could also put Guzman on the 60-day DL to free up a 40-man spot.

 

My guess now is that is what they'll do.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Here are some quotes by Dusty Baker about Neifi and the Shortstop situation.

 

"He gave us an instant jolt from the very beginning," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said of Perez, who hit .368 in April. "He was All-Star caliber, and then he squandered a little bit at the break.

 

"He's played Gold Glove shortstop," Baker said. "He's gotten some big hits for us. He's batted leadoff, he's batted second, he's got 40 RBIs -- that's quite a bit. Neifi's done a great job. I think he's proven that he's more than just a utility guy. There are a lot of shortstops in baseball who are playing who aren't as good as Neifi. Neifi has a lot of life left in him."

 

Here's his thoughts on Nomar's return and what he's gonna do with Neifi and about Ronny Cedeno sitting on the pine.

 

"It depends on how Nomar looks when he comes back," Baker said. "Neifi realizes when he came here, he came as a utility guy. I hear, 'Play [Ronny] Cedeno.' What am I supposed to do? Ditch Neifi? This guy saved us. I think Cedeno is going to be a fine player but sometimes you have to wait your turn. Sometimes you have to serve your apprenticeship."

[nilodnayr]

Here are some quotes by Dusty Baker about Neifi and the Shortstop situation.

 

"He gave us an instant jolt from the very beginning," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said of Perez, who hit .368 in April. "He was All-Star caliber, and then he squandered a little bit at the break.

 

"He's played Gold Glove shortstop," Baker said. "He's gotten some big hits for us. He's batted leadoff, he's batted second, he's got 40 RBIs -- that's quite a bit. Neifi's done a great job. I think he's proven that he's more than just a utility guy. There are a lot of shortstops in baseball who are playing who aren't as good as Neifi. Neifi has a lot of life left in him."

 

Here's his thoughts on Nomar's return and what he's gonna do with Neifi and about Ronny Cedeno sitting on the pine.

 

"It depends on how Nomar looks when he comes back," Baker said. "Neifi realizes when he came here, he came as a utility guy. I hear, 'Play [Ronny] Cedeno.' What am I supposed to do? Ditch Neifi? This guy saved us. I think Cedeno is going to be a fine player but sometimes you have to wait your turn. Sometimes you have to serve your apprenticeship."

 

:pukel: