Cubs That Got Through Waivers

[mhuber92211]

The bottom line is that Dusty is an idiot that makes everything more expensive.

 

Err...your conclusions baffle me at times. While it might be fun to try to find the "6 degrees of Dusty's idiocy" I don't think that every situation can be traced back to him.

[Beer Kaese]

The bottom line is that Dusty is an idiot that makes everything more expensive.

 

Err...your conclusions baffle me at times. While it might be fun to try to find the "6 degrees of Dusty's idiocy" I don't think that every situation can be traced back to him.

 

How good was Perez with the bat in June and July? Not good, actually pretty bad.

 

Why didn't Cedeno get a look? Dusty?

 

Garciaparra was out long enough and Perez was bad enough that we should have some idea if Cedeno can play at the major league level. Can we count on Cedeno as a SS or even a utility IFer? Yes? No? The answer is maybe because he still hasn't had an opportunity.

 

If I am the GM of this club I'm frustrated. Can I pencil in Cedeno on the 25 man next year or do I need to bring Perez back? Can Cedeno take over for Garciaparra so I can use that money for a quality LH outfielder?

 

Can Murton play? Can I consider him my Leftfielder for next year or do I need to bring in someone else? Can I use Garciaparra money or is that money spent?

 

The reason I have these questions is simple. These young kids had an opportunity to play but my manager didn't play them. He instead stuck with guys with sub .300 OBP's. Quality bench guys but not starters. A week or two is fine, months on end is different.

 

Did you know Burnitz has an OPS of .587 since the break? Hollandsworth has a .490 OPS since the break. Murton doesn't play. Why? Give me an answer to that question that makes Dusty appear to be intelligent. They're lefties, they're vets, they're paid the big bucks ... the best way to learn how to play at the major league level is to watch ... (if that were true, wouldn't it make sense to start season ticket holders?) Our most productive outfielder since the break plays the least. He's a young kid. We don't know if he's going to make it at the major league level. We have a manager who seems intent on keeping it that way.

 

Yea, it seems like the cool thing to do, fire Dusty. Well, I'm close to calling for Hendry's head as well. He as allowed his manager to mismanage for too long. At some point, I think we're already there I'm just reluctant, it's Hendry's fault.

[mhuber92211]

I understand the frustration, I just don't understand some of the conclusions. How would a "look" answered your questions about Cedeno or Murton more then their minor league abilities shown? How can the lack of a look equal the assumption that it will be "expensive"?

 

I just don't get the conclusions. Yes I did not that Burnitz has been slumping and yes I know that Hollandsworth has cooled off again, but there is some truth to the idea that "setting up someone to suceed" actaully has merit.

 

How do you get someone out of a slump?

[Beer Kaese]

I understand the frustration, I just don't understand some of the conclusions. How would a "look" answered your questions about Cedeno or Murton more then their minor league abilities shown? How can the lack of a look equal the assumption that it will be "expensive"?

 

I just don't get the conclusions. Yes I did not that Burnitz has been slumping and yes I know that Hollandsworth has cooled off again, but there is some truth to the idea that "setting up someone to suceed" actaully has merit.

 

How do you get someone out of a slump?

 

The problem with Burnitz, I believe, is over use. Early in the year he was hitting about .290 then he hit the wall and his average dropped to .260 so Dusty gave him a game off and he came back with his bat. He was burnt to a crisp in July. July when Murton should have had half of the starts in left and Hollandsworth should have gotten a couple starts in right to give Burnitz time off. Playing in 90+ degree temps in the sunshine in July takes more out of a 36 y/o then playing in 80+ degree temps under the lights.

 

I'm not handing the keys to Murton. I'm giving him lefties and some righties. I'm giving Holla time in right. I'm giving Burns some time off. Dusty's plan of only giving kids the opposite pitcher means we need to trade every RH hitter on the farm and stock up on LH hitters so they get an opportunity to play enough so they can be properly evaluated.

 

There is no way you can justify playing Perez for two months when he posts sub .300 OBP's. He's our utility infielder. A guy with a roster spot because of his glove. If you bring up a plus .400 OBP kid (because your starter goes down for an extended period) and don't play him you're an idiot in my book.

[SCCubbieFAN]

I doubt there is a GM in the league who tells his manager who to put in the lineup on a daily basis. I also doubt it is Hendry's MO to tell Dusty who to play. Hendry gives Dusty the players. It's Dusty's job to use them correctly. If he doesn't, I have confidence JH will not renew Dusty's contract after next year.

[Exile on Waveland]

I doubt there is a GM in the league who tells his manager who to put in the lineup on a daily basis. I also doubt it is Hendry's MO to tell Dusty who to play. Hendry gives Dusty the players. It's Dusty's job to use them correctly. If he doesn't, I have confidence JH will not renew Dusty's contract after next year.

 

I guarantee you both Billy Beane and Theo Epstein are directly involved in who plays and who doesn't.

 

It isn't enough that Hendry fires Baker at the end of the year -- which I'm still doubtful will even happen -- he has to force Baker to take advantage of these built-in chances to give youngsters a shot.

[mhuber92211]

There is no way you can justify playing Perez for two months when he posts sub .300 OBP's. He's our utility infielder. A guy with a roster spot because of his glove. If you bring up a plus .400 OBP kid (because your starter goes down for an extended period) and don't play him you're an idiot in my book.

 

One thing I don't understand about this is that nearly every single broadcaster that has done a Cubs game has made mention of how great Neifi has been for the Cubs and has gone on to say that he made it easier to lose Nomar. Now broadcasters are fickle sure, but to have every one of them (including Len) state that Neifi was a savior to me means that he had to have done something right.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

There is no way you can justify playing Perez for two months when he posts sub .300 OBP's. He's our utility infielder. A guy with a roster spot because of his glove. If you bring up a plus .400 OBP kid (because your starter goes down for an extended period) and don't play him you're an idiot in my book.

 

One thing I don't understand about this is that nearly every single broadcaster that has done a Cubs game has made mention of how great Neifi has been for the Cubs and has gone on to say that he made it easier to lose Nomar. Now broadcasters are fickle sure, but to have every one of them (including Len) state that Neifi was a savior to me means that he had to have done something right.

 

I think it reflects that the broadcasters are not knowledgable or just say that to satisfy someone.

[mhuber92211]

There is no way you can justify playing Perez for two months when he posts sub .300 OBP's. He's our utility infielder. A guy with a roster spot because of his glove. If you bring up a plus .400 OBP kid (because your starter goes down for an extended period) and don't play him you're an idiot in my book.

 

One thing I don't understand about this is that nearly every single broadcaster that has done a Cubs game has made mention of how great Neifi has been for the Cubs and has gone on to say that he made it easier to lose Nomar. Now broadcasters are fickle sure, but to have every one of them (including Len) state that Neifi was a savior to me means that he had to have done something right.

 

I think it reflects that the broadcasters are not knowledgable or just say that to satisfy someone.

 

I would think the same way if it wasn't for EVERY single one of them. While Perez isn't the best SS in the league, he certainly was useful. Sometimes there are times where we can not like one or two players, but that can cloud the actual reality. Yes there are different options at SS, but what if Cedeno flamed out? Then would we be anywhere as close as we are? I'm not saying that Perez is the reason that the team is still alive but how would it feel to be a certainty that there isn't a chance? I personally still like the fact that the Cubs are still competitive.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

There is no way you can justify playing Perez for two months when he posts sub .300 OBP's. He's our utility infielder. A guy with a roster spot because of his glove. If you bring up a plus .400 OBP kid (because your starter goes down for an extended period) and don't play him you're an idiot in my book.

 

One thing I don't understand about this is that nearly every single broadcaster that has done a Cubs game has made mention of how great Neifi has been for the Cubs and has gone on to say that he made it easier to lose Nomar. Now broadcasters are fickle sure, but to have every one of them (including Len) state that Neifi was a savior to me means that he had to have done something right.

 

I think it reflects that the broadcasters are not knowledgable or just say that to satisfy someone.

 

I would think the same way if it wasn't for EVERY single one of them. While Perez isn't the best SS in the league, he certainly was useful. Sometimes there are times where we can not like one or two players, but that can cloud the actual reality. Yes there are different options at SS, but what if Cedeno flamed out? Then would we be anywhere as close as we are? I'm not saying that Perez is the reason that the team is still alive but how would it feel to be a certainty that there isn't a chance? I personally still like the fact that the Cubs are still competitive.

 

Numbers help us from having perceptions cloud reality. If Cedeno "flamed out", it would be very very difficult for him to perform worse than Neifi did during the time when Cedeno could have been starting. Instead, his hot month bought him a season of ineptitude.

[cbbryan]

There is no way you can justify playing Perez for two months when he posts sub .300 OBP's. He's our utility infielder. A guy with a roster spot because of his glove. If you bring up a plus .400 OBP kid (because your starter goes down for an extended period) and don't play him you're an idiot in my book.

 

One thing I don't understand about this is that nearly every single broadcaster that has done a Cubs game has made mention of how great Neifi has been for the Cubs and has gone on to say that he made it easier to lose Nomar. Now broadcasters are fickle sure, but to have every one of them (including Len) state that Neifi was a savior to me means that he had to have done something right.

 

I think it reflects that the broadcasters are not knowledgable or just say that to satisfy someone.

 

I would think the same way if it wasn't for EVERY single one of them. While Perez isn't the best SS in the league, he certainly was useful. Sometimes there are times where we can not like one or two players, but that can cloud the actual reality. Yes there are different options at SS, but what if Cedeno flamed out? Then would we be anywhere as close as we are? I'm not saying that Perez is the reason that the team is still alive but how would it feel to be a certainty that there isn't a chance? I personally still like the fact that the Cubs are still competitive.

 

What if he hit .900 w/ 200 HR? While I liked the limited time I was able to see Cedeno play, he should have played alot more. By saying "Then would we be anywhere as close as we are?" and "I personally still like the fact that the Cubs are still competitive." It's almost as if you believe that Perez may not have been THE factor, but a HUGE contributor to the Cubs record. Am I reading this correctly?

 

Well, whose to say that Cedeno couldn't have helped this club not go through some of the losing stretches that they went through? Who's to say that he doesn't start tearing the cover off the ball w/ regular play? Who's to say that he wouldn't have made plays in the field that Neifi wouldn't have made because of his defensive range?

 

By playing Cedeno, I don't believe for a second that the Cubs would be WORSE off. IMO, they only had something to gain by playing Cedeno.

[SCCubbieFAN]

I doubt there is a GM in the league who tells his manager who to put in the lineup on a daily basis. I also doubt it is Hendry's MO to tell Dusty who to play. Hendry gives Dusty the players. It's Dusty's job to use them correctly. If he doesn't, I have confidence JH will not renew Dusty's contract after next year.

 

I guarantee you both Billy Beane and Theo Epstein are directly involved in who plays and who doesn't.

 

It isn't enough that Hendry fires Baker at the end of the year -- which I'm still doubtful will even happen -- he has to force Baker to take advantage of these built-in chances to give youngsters a shot.

 

Involved, yes. But I doubt even Beane and Theo tell their managers who to play on a daily basis.

[illiniguy]

I doubt there is a GM in the league who tells his manager who to put in the lineup on a daily basis. I also doubt it is Hendry's MO to tell Dusty who to play. Hendry gives Dusty the players. It's Dusty's job to use them correctly. If he doesn't, I have confidence JH will not renew Dusty's contract after next year.

 

I guarantee you both Billy Beane and Theo Epstein are directly involved in who plays and who doesn't.

 

It isn't enough that Hendry fires Baker at the end of the year -- which I'm still doubtful will even happen -- he has to force Baker to take advantage of these built-in chances to give youngsters a shot.

 

Involved, yes. But I doubt even Beane and Theo tell their managers who to play on a daily basis.

No but I am sure they would have not allowed Neifi Perez to play everyday this summer when they had a rookie who was more than capable of outperforming him. Hell Dusty would have never even let Bobby Crosby play.