Cubs pick up options for Walker, Williamson

[Sabermetrician]

Good and good.

[Andy]

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.

I wasn't worried. I feared the worst but I was above 90 percent sure that Walker's option would be picked up.

[MPrior]

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.

 

This is funny.

[MPrior]

Secondly, both of these moves are EXCELLENT. Walker, of course, has been one of our best hitters, and he comes extremely cheap. Plus, he could be a very good trading chip, if people (i.e., Hendry) are set on upgrading defensively.

 

Williamson, on the other hand, is stupid good (I love this phrase) when he's healthy. And an offseason should, hopefully, get him there. At worst, it's only a one year, $2 million deal for a low end middle reliever. At best, we get a lights-out setup man for WAY less than he would normally cost.

 

As far as the Demspter signing goes, the jury is still out, as far as I'm concerned, but I will say that a WHIP of 1.23, while not Wagner's .84, isn't as bad as we make it out to be. Secondly, if I recall correctly, he had an extremely good BAA as a reliever, which is a much more important stat than K/BB, IMO.

 

EDIT: it's worth pointing out that Wagner would cost at least twice as much as Dempster, and he's older.

Edited October 29, 2005 by MPrior

[Fred Hornkohl]

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)

 

Denpster was 4-0 with 33 saves as a reliever. His line.......

 

05/10 - 10/02        IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
Dempster           57.3   42   12   10   27   51    1   953  4.24  8.01  0.16  1.20  1.57

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Sheez, would people get off Dempster's case? He did an excellent job as closer, $5MM/year is cheap for the closer nowadays. Ryan is not the best closer in the game, but he's not paid top-dollar either. I like him and I like the contract.

 

We have lots bigger problems than the money paid to Ryan Dempster, folks. Much MUCH bigger problems.

 

$3MM to Glendon Rusch, but $5MM to Ryan Dempster, haha....point #1.

[wvcbxl]

So far so good as far as I'm concerned.

Picking up Walker should have been a no-brainer all along, and Williamson is the type of low risk, high reward situation that Hendry seems to love.

Giving Dempster a contract was predictable, and I agree the Rusch situation is ... debatable.

[David]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-051028cubs,1,1825971.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

 

 

The Cubs still can talk to Burnitz about returning, but there was never any thought of picking up his $7 million option. The Cubs are likely to trade for a right fielder with more speed than power.

 

:x :x UGH, do not like the sound of that at all.. (the bolded part)

 

Jacque Jones or Juan Encarnacion, here we come.. bleh

 

Then again, it's Paul Sullivan, so take it for what it's worth.

Edited October 29, 2005 by David

[Beer Kaese]

With Lee, Ram, Barrett and Murton pretty much a given, we need a LH stick somewhere. Walker fits top or bottom just fine. If Grudz was quality hitting 6th for the Cards, why not Walk for the Cubs?

 

The whole R/L is over rated anyway. Dernier, Sandberg, Matthews, Moreland, Durham, Cey, Davis, Bowa. That worked out pretty good.

[wade]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-051028cubs,1,1825971.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

 

 

The Cubs still can talk to Burnitz about returning, but there was never any thought of picking up his $7 million option. The Cubs are likely to trade for a right fielder with more speed than power.

 

:x :x UGH, do not like the sound of that at all.. (the bolded part)

 

Jacque Jones or Juan Encarnacion, here we come.. bleh

 

Then again, it's Paul Sullivan, so take it for what it's worth.

 

I was just getting ready to post the same thing.

 

So, is Brian Giles fast?

[UK1679666180]

That article metions trading for a RF'er with speed. How many current RF'ers have speed and no power beyond Ichiro?

 

Poor writing again from Sullivan.

[Outshined_One]

Then again, it's Paul Sullivan, so take it for what it's worth.

 

I'm guessing that since the White Sox won the WS with a (s)crappy and speedy leadoff hitter at a corner OF spot, the Cubs should do the same in Paul Sullivan's world.

 

If this is true, I'm trying to think of some guys who fit this mold that the Cubs could realistically acquire.

 

Maybe it's Juan Pierre! :shock:

[mg420]

is it pretty much a given that williamson will set up dempster or will the cubs sign another rh reliever? if (a big if imo-see chad fox) he can stay healthy he would be a very good set up guy.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

it's funny that we hear all this talk about improving defensively and our GG caliber RFer is the first one shown the door. :lol:

 

 

edit: of course we could always resign Burnitz at a lower price. :x

Edited October 29, 2005 by Meat&PotatoesMan

[Backtobanks]

I think re-signing Walker, Williamson, and Rusch are great moves. All three of them not only can help the team and it's depth, but also gives Hendry many more options on the trade front. In addition to whatever free agent signings the Cubs can get, Hendry now has additional trade bait in Walker, Williams/Rusch, Novoa, Patterson, and prospects. With our starting pitchers, you had better have 2 or 3 extra. Also, one of the things lacking in the bullpen last year was a veteran presence......hopefully Williamson can help in that role.

[XZero771679666304]

Sheez, would people get off Dempster's case? He did an excellent job as closer, $5MM/year is cheap for the closer nowadays. Ryan is not the best closer in the game, but he's not paid top-dollar either. I like him and I like the contract.

 

We have lots bigger problems than the money paid to Ryan Dempster, folks. Much MUCH bigger problems.

 

$3MM to Glendon Rusch, but $5MM to Ryan Dempster, haha....point #1.

 

I agree with you. His numbers as a reliever ranged from good-excellent across the board. His stuff is just fine.

[Neuby]

I really hope Hendry has more plans for this offseason than just Furcal . I hope he takes a gamble on Dotel , and makes a strong push for another starter like Millwood or Burnett.

 

Is it too much to dream for Manny?

[Jehrico]

Sheez, would people get off Dempster's case? He did an excellent job as closer, $5MM/year is cheap for the closer nowadays. Ryan is not the best closer in the game, but he's not paid top-dollar either. I like him and I like the contract.

 

We have lots bigger problems than the money paid to Ryan Dempster, folks. Much MUCH bigger problems.

 

$3MM to Glendon Rusch, but $5MM to Ryan Dempster, haha....point #1.

 

I agree with you. His numbers as a reliever ranged from good-excellent across the board. His stuff is just fine.

 

I think there is just an inordinate amount of people around here looking to throw stones at Hendry. He could bring Brian Giles in for $1 mil and trade Welly, Mitre, and Leicester for ARod with the Yanks picking up half his salary and people would still complain about him.

 

The only major thing he's done wrong so far, IMO, is stick with Dusty for so long.

[CubsWin]

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

What makes you think that if Walker is playing 2B, the Cubs wouldn't have Nomar at SS? And, while I believe in Cedeno, I'm not sold that he would put up better numbers than Walker would next season, so why would it be so bad to have Cedeno backing up both Walker and Nomar?

[CubsWin]

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.

CR,

 

Just curious, what led you to believe that Hendry might not pick up Walker's option. Did I miss something?

[ltb]

why would it be so bad to have Cedeno backing up both Walker and Nomar?

 

it wouldn't be.

 

i'd be fine with this, as long as it meant neifi was as far away from this team as possible.

[CubsWin]

why would it be so bad to have Cedeno backing up both Walker and Nomar?

 

it wouldn't be.

 

i'd be fine with this, as long as it meant neifi was as far away from this team as possible.

I agree.

 

I was asking UMFan83, though. :wink:

[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.

CR,

 

Just curious, what led you to believe that Hendry might not pick up Walker's option. Did I miss something?

 

The rumblings and rumors that he wouldn't pick up the option and wanted to move in a different direction in regards to second base.

[CubsWin]

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.

CR,

 

Just curious, what led you to believe that Hendry might not pick up Walker's option. Did I miss something?

 

The rumblings and rumors that he wouldn't pick up the option and wanted to move in a different direction in regards to second base.

Oh. I must have missed these rumblings and rumors. Did they appear in an article or something?

 

I mean, if they were just rumors or talk on a message board, then whatever, but if there was some truth to these rumors then I can understand the doubts.

 

Regardless, Hendry did what I think was the right thing by picking up both Williamson's and Walker's options and, in the end, he will be judged by his actions and not the rumors that preceded them.

[Warpticon]

I've said before that I prefer a Walker/Nomar middle infield, assuming you can get a managable contract for Nomar, with Cedeno backing up both positions, and Neify going far, far away. There is still hope for that situation.