Mets - Goin after Furcal

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Full story on mets.mlb.com

 

I think he goes to NY and we sign Nomar... (fine with me)

 

Some Mets personnel are aware of indications that Furcal is not opposed to playing second base and he is interested in playing with the Mets.

 

"I'm not sure. Maybe he's just been saying things like that to get a New York club involved," one Mets player said last week. "But there have been a few times we heard he wanted to come over."

 

The Mets were prohibited from speaking with Furcal until he filed. They can't negotiate with him until after the final day of the free agency filing period, Nov. 11, but they can speak with him about playing second base and other salient points, other than money.

[MPrior]

This would be fine with me. I don't think Furcal is a good option for this team. I'd rather have Nomar, with Cedeno backing him up.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

If Furcal is willing to play 2nd he's as good as Yankee.

 

Nomar plz.

[badger1679666666]

Good.

 

Nomar/Cedeno + Brian Giles please.

[CubfaninCA]

I'd much prefer Furcal and Walker over Nomar/Cedeno and Walker. NoMah will breakdown by May and who knows about Cedeno.

[E.J.]

If Furcal plays 2b I feel sorry for whoever the Mets get to play 1b. Could you imagine that gun of his thrown from 2b? :shock:

[RockTheIvy]

Sign Giles and Trade for Cameron, have Cedeno backing up at short and second, and you have a lineup of:

 

Murton

Walker

Lee

Giles

Aram

Nomar

Barrett

Cameron

 

Lots of runs, great defense in CF and Cedeno can fill in at short on days when Z pitches. Plus, we would only be taking on about 25mil, leaving plenty of dough to finish up the bullpen and grab Millwood/Burnett.

 

Offense first, please.

[LuvChicagoSports]

I know you guys don't want Furcal, but what do you suggest for a lead-off hitter for this team. Notice something about the teams in the playoffs this year. They ALL have pretty good leadoff hitters, except maybe the Padres, but they weren't really a playoff team, just a lucky team who happens to be in a horrific division.

 

White Sox- Podsednik

Red Sox- Damon

Yanks- Jeter

Angels- Figgins

Cards- Eckstein

Stros- Biggio

Braves- Furcal

Padres- Roberts (weakest of the bunch but still better than what we have)

 

I understand the negatives to Furcal with the biggest being that it would significantly put a dent in the chances of Giles joining our team, but what are the chances that he comes to the Cubs anyway. What if he simply doesn't want to play for us. Then what do you suggest. Do nothing except keep our current team and resign an aging Nomar who has spent more time hurt than playing the past two years.

[TheDude]

I don't get this one. The Mets already have Reyes to satisfy the role Furcal plays both in the field and in the lineup.

 

The Mets don't need another Reyes, especially not at a 30+ million dollar contract. They need a solid defensive 2B that puts the ball in play on offense with respectable AVG and OBP. Someone like Adam Kennedy.

[RockTheIvy]

I know you guys don't want Furcal, but what do you suggest for a lead-off hitter for this team. Notice something about the teams in the playoffs this year. They ALL have pretty good leadoff hitters, except maybe the Padres, but they weren't really a playoff team, just a lucky team who happens to be in a horrific division.

 

White Sox- Podsednik

Red Sox- Damon

Yanks- Jeter

Angels- Figgins

Cards- Eckstein

Stros- Biggio

Braves- Furcal

Padres- Roberts (weakest of the bunch but still better than what we have)

 

I understand the negatives to Furcal with the biggest being that it would significantly put a dent in the chances of Giles joining our team, but what are the chances that he comes to the Cubs anyway. What if he simply doesn't want to play for us. Then what do you suggest. Do nothing except keep our current team and resign an aging Nomar who has spent more time hurt than playing the past two years.

 

I agree that a good leadoff hitter is important. But I think a leadoff hitter can be made too, assuming he has the right skills. The main skill, IMO, is patience and plate discipline. He doesn't have to be Bonds, but he has to have the ability to at least work the count. I think Murton could be a good leadoff hitter next year.

 

My problem with the idea of a "leadoff hitter" like Podsednik or Roberts, is that they don't do anything else. They are fast, sure, but hit for a very low power, and their OBPs are largely a factor of their average, so when Scott's average tumbles, as it did in 2004, his OBP will go with it. And if he doesn't get on base, he doesn't have any real value.

 

Hendry needs to assemble a team with the best 25 players he can find. Let Dusty build the lineup with the players he is given. Make the lineup foolproof so that at worst Dusty's lineup would look like the one I have given above.

[RynoRules]

I don't get this one. The Mets already have Reyes to satisfy the role Furcal plays both in the field and in the lineup.

 

The Mets don't need another Reyes, especially not at a 30+ million dollar contract. They need a solid defensive 2B that puts the ball in play on offense with respectable AVG and OBP. Someone like Adam Kennedy.

 

I don't think they see Reyes as a leadoff hitter. I think he's closer to being a Soriano-type player in their eyes. Just my opinion having been around the NY media from 2002-March 2005.

[HoopsCubs]

Full story on mets.mlb.com

 

I think he goes to NY and we sign Nomar... (fine with me)

 

Some Mets personnel are aware of indications that Furcal is not opposed to playing second base and he is interested in playing with the Mets.

 

"I'm not sure. Maybe he's just been saying things like that to get a New York club involved," one Mets player said last week. "But there have been a few times we heard he wanted to come over."

 

The Mets were prohibited from speaking with Furcal until he filed. They can't negotiate with him until after the final day of the free agency filing period, Nov. 11, but they can speak with him about playing second base and other salient points, other than money.

 

NY Daily News points out some of the reasons why Furcal is seriously interested in looking at the Mets 2B job:

 

(1) With Pedro and Reyes, there is already a Dominican presence on the team, which is very important to him

(2) Furcal and his agent probably want 4 years and $40M (similar to Renteria), and the Mets are probably only one of 2 teams in the NL (other being the Cubs), who can afford to pay him that amount

(3) he has family in NYC

[JeffH]

(1) With Pedro and Reyes, there is already a Dominican presence on the team, which is very important to him

 

Aramis!

[YearofDaCubs]

(1) With Pedro and Reyes, there is already a Dominican presence on the team, which is very important to him

 

Aramis!

How many Domincan players did the Braves have? Not many.

[TheDude]

Full story on mets.mlb.com

 

I think he goes to NY and we sign Nomar... (fine with me)

 

Some Mets personnel are aware of indications that Furcal is not opposed to playing second base and he is interested in playing with the Mets.

 

"I'm not sure. Maybe he's just been saying things like that to get a New York club involved," one Mets player said last week. "But there have been a few times we heard he wanted to come over."

 

The Mets were prohibited from speaking with Furcal until he filed. They can't negotiate with him until after the final day of the free agency filing period, Nov. 11, but they can speak with him about playing second base and other salient points, other than money.

 

NY Daily News points out some of the reasons why Furcal is seriously interested in looking at the Mets 2B job:

 

(1) With Pedro and Reyes, there is already a Dominican presence on the team, which is very important to him

(2) Furcal and his agent probably want 4 years and $40M (similar to Renteria), and the Mets are probably only one of 2 teams in the NL (other being the Cubs), who can afford to pay him that amount

(3) he has family in NYC

 

I don't recall Minaya's nationality, is he also Dominican?

[Warren Brusstar]

(1) With Pedro and Reyes, there is already a Dominican presence on the team, which is very important to him

 

Aramis!

How many Domincan players did the Braves have? Not many.

 

Maybe that's why he was drunk all the time.

[YearofDaCubs]

(1) With Pedro and Reyes, there is already a Dominican presence on the team, which is very important to him

 

Aramis!

How many Domincan players did the Braves have? Not many.

 

Maybe that's why he was drunk all the time.

:lol:

[Mark Priors Calves]

In a similar article posted at yahoosports.com, it mentions that Furcal can play 2nd because he's done it before allowing everyone's favorite SS to continue playing shortstop in winterball.

 

Furcal, who has been a shortstop with the Braves, played second base at least five years in winter ball in order to allow mentor Neifi Perez - another free agent this winter - to play shortstop with the Dominican club Escogido.

[David]

In a similar article posted at yahoosports.com, it mentions that Furcal can play 2nd because he's done it before allowing everyone's favorite SS to continue playing shortstop in winterball.

 

Furcal, who has been a shortstop with the Braves, played second base at least five years in winter ball in order to allow mentor Neifi Perez - another free agent this winter - to play shortstop with the Dominican club Escogido.

 

So Furcal is Neifi's protege? :shock: :shock: :shock:

[Mark Priors Calves]

In a similar article posted at yahoosports.com, it mentions that Furcal can play 2nd because he's done it before allowing everyone's favorite SS to continue playing shortstop in winterball.

 

Furcal, who has been a shortstop with the Braves, played second base at least five years in winter ball in order to allow mentor Neifi Perez - another free agent this winter - to play shortstop with the Dominican club Escogido.

 

So Furcal is Neifi's protege? :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

Once Furcal signs, you can already hear him campaigning to re-sign his favorite double play combo.