Cubs pick up options for Walker, Williamson

[YearofDaCubs]

Cubs.com confirms that Walker's option was picked up, as well as Williamson's.

Nice! Good to see Williamson back.

So far, we have two good moves (Walker and Williamson), one debatable move that will probably turn out to be positive (Dempster) and one move that probably shouldn't have been made (Rusch). I'll take that.

I really dont like the Rusch move. Hendry yet again outbid himself for Rusch's services.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

well, hendry is 2 for 4 so far (Williamson and Walker were solid moves and Dempster and Rusch weren't).

 

he'd better improve his average. :lol:

[YearofDaCubs]

well, hendry is 2 for 4 so far (Williamson and Walker were solid moves and Dempster and Rusch weren't).

 

he'd better improve his average. :lol:

I'll give him Demspter as well, but this Rusch situation scares me.

[LuvChicagoSports]

Why is Dempster not a good move. All he did last year was be a fantastic closer. Damn we should have let him walk.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Why is Dempster not a good move. All he did last year was be a fantastic closer. Damn we should have let him walk.

 

it's called overpaying based on save percentage rather than stuff. not a smart move if you want consistent numbers...especially from an important piece like your closer.

 

even a good player is a bad deal based on the money and years you give them.

[Larry Horse]

Am I missing the boat on Williamson?

5.65 ERA

14 IP 15 H 9 ER

3 HR

23 K 6 BB

 

Great walk to K ratio, but other than that I don't see much. I honestly only saw him pitch twice and he didn't look that great either time. Is it just a matter of getting the rust off? I'd appreciate some opinions regarding him.

[Outshined_One]

I'm a fan of picking up the options. Williamson is filthy when healthy and Walker has been solid.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Am I missing the boat on Williamson?

5.65 ERA

14 IP 15 H 9 ER

3 HR

23 K 6 BB

 

Great walk to K ratio, but other than that I don't see much. I honestly only saw him pitch twice and he didn't look that great either time. Is it just a matter of getting the rust off? I'd appreciate some opinions regarding him.

 

He's coming of TJ surgery, IIRC.

 

His numbers before the injury were solid and he as much as admitted that he came back too fast. It's a risk to bring him back, but the numbers he's capable of make it a decent gamble, IMO.

[Outshined_One]

Plus it's a cheap Dempster-like option, if memory serves me.

 

I wonder if Hendry sees Williamson as being Dempster's primary setup man?

[otis89]

Plus it's a cheap Dempster-like option, if memory serves me.

 

I wonder if Hendry sees Williamson as being Dempster's primary setup man?

 

If healthy, there's no reason he shouldn't set-up. Plus, he can save a game if Dempster needs rest.

[YearofDaCubs]

Plus it's a cheap Dempster-like option, if memory serves me.

 

I wonder if Hendry sees Williamson as being Dempster's primary setup man?

If healthy, no doubt in my mind he will be our setup man. He is that good. Also is young too.

[Andy]

Why is Dempster not a good move. All he did last year was be a fantastic closer. Damn we should have let him walk.

 

it's called overpaying based on save percentage rather than stuff. not a smart move if you want consistent numbers...especially from an important piece like your closer.

 

even a good player is a bad deal based on the money and years you give them.

Dempster could have gotten much more than a 3/15 on the open market. Watch the contracts a lot of relivers get that had much worse seasons than Dempster and you will see what I mean.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Why is Dempster not a good move. All he did last year was be a fantastic closer. Damn we should have let him walk.

 

it's called overpaying based on save percentage rather than stuff. not a smart move if you want consistent numbers...especially from an important piece like your closer.

 

even a good player is a bad deal based on the money and years you give them.

Dempster could have gotten much more than a 3/15 on the open market. Watch the contracts a lot of relivers get that had much worse seasons than Dempster and you will see what I mean.

 

i guess it's not bad if you rate a pitcher based on save percentage. look at the man's WHIP and K/BB, not his ERA. his success won't last. wait till next season and you will see what I mean. :(

[AAApittsburgh]

Why is Dempster not a good move. All he did last year was be a fantastic closer. Damn we should have let him walk.

 

it's called overpaying based on save percentage rather than stuff. not a smart move if you want consistent numbers...especially from an important piece like your closer.

 

even a good player is a bad deal based on the money and years you give them.

Dempster could have gotten much more than a 3/15 on the open market. Watch the contracts a lot of relivers get that had much worse seasons than Dempster and you will see what I mean.

 

i guess it's not bad if you rate a pitcher based on save percentage. look at the man's WHIP and K/BB, not his ERA. his success won't last. wait till next season and you will see what I mean. :(

Are you looking at his numbers just as a reliever, or his end of season stats?

[CP_414]

So, is this true? If so it is good news.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Why is Dempster not a good move. All he did last year was be a fantastic closer. Damn we should have let him walk.

 

it's called overpaying based on save percentage rather than stuff. not a smart move if you want consistent numbers...especially from an important piece like your closer.

 

even a good player is a bad deal based on the money and years you give them.

Dempster could have gotten much more than a 3/15 on the open market. Watch the contracts a lot of relivers get that had much worse seasons than Dempster and you will see what I mean.

 

i guess it's not bad if you rate a pitcher based on save percentage. look at the man's WHIP and K/BB, not his ERA. his success won't last. wait till next season and you will see what I mean. :(

Are you looking at his numbers just as a reliever, or his end of season stats?

 

as a reliever compared to the other "dominant" closers in MLB.

 

as a reliever (back of the envelop calculations):

 

WHIP 1.23

K/BB 1.96

 

wagner (0.84 WHIP, 4.35 K/BB) ; ryan (1.14 WHIP, 3.85 K/BB) ; lidge (1.15 WHIP, 4.47 K/BB)

[Balsa]

YES! YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!

 

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[UMFan83]

Terrible move if the Cubs really plan on keeping Walker to play 2B next year. If thats the case, it pretty much IMO pushes Nomar out of the picture and makes it so we MUST sign Furcal, while relagating Cedeno to Iowa or the end of the bench. Otherwise, its 98 years for the Cubbies

[otis89]

Terrible move if the Cubs really plan on keeping Walker to play 2B next year. If thats the case, it pretty much IMO pushes Nomar out of the picture and makes it so we MUST sign Furcal, while relagating Cedeno to Iowa or the end of the bench. Otherwise, its 98 years for the Cubbies

 

Does anyone else see Cedeno as a super-sub Freel type of guy that could play 3rd, short, or 2nd? He can give ARam's brittle legs rest, Nomar's explosive groin rest, and he can give Walker rest.

[YearofDaCubs]

Terrible move if the Cubs really plan on keeping Walker to play 2B next year. If thats the case, it pretty much IMO pushes Nomar out of the picture and makes it so we MUST sign Furcal, while relagating Cedeno to Iowa or the end of the bench. Otherwise, its 98 years for the Cubbies

 

Does anyone else see Cedeno as a super-sub Freel type of guy that could play 3rd, short, or 2nd? He can give ARam's brittle legs rest, Nomar's explosive groin rest, and he can give Walker rest.

I think he can be a starter.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

It's kinda sad that we have to give Hendry kudos on making such moves.

[otis89]

It's kinda sad that we have to give Hendry kudos on making such moves.

 

So, we're not supposed to say good job when our GM makes a good move? That's news to me. What are we supposed to do? Complain?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

It's kinda sad that we have to give Hendry kudos on making such moves.

 

So, we're not supposed to say good job when our GM makes a good move? That's news to me. What are we supposed to do? Complain?

 

Sorry, I meant that more along the lines of how we had to worry about whether he'd actually make an obvious move like picking up Walker's option.

[David]

It's kinda sad that we have to give Hendry kudos on making such moves.

 

So, we're not supposed to say good job when our GM makes a good move? That's news to me. What are we supposed to do? Complain?

 

Well, I sort of agree that it should be expected. Especially when it's something as simple as these moves.

 

But I'm glad it happened...because, unfortunately, with Hendry's track record since 7/31/04, it's hard to know what to expect.

[mhuber92211]

I don't think that pickking up Williamson was a good idea. $2 million seems a bit steep considering what else is available and what the Cubs already have available. Yes he is a talented pitcher but the numbers he put up weren't good enough to quiet the concerns from 2 TJS. I hope this gives us the 8th inning guy we despartely need but I also hope it doesn't come back around to bite us.

 

As far as Cedeno, he is in Iowa this season until our SS gets injured. No doubt that Furcal or Nomar are in Cub blue and if that is the case then Cedeno is better served in Iowa until the injury happens. I would rather have Hairston and Fontenot on the bench then Cedeno.