Cubs, Neifi Perez agree on 2-year contract

[NorthsideAvenger]

Only one image can adequately sum up everyone's feelings.

 

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/3020/spideyscreamnoooooo2ba6bk9bv.gif

 

Which one....the one in your avatar, or the one in your sig?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I can't believe people are shocked.

[Outshined_One]

Which one....the one in your avatar, or the one in your sig?

 

My avatar is what I wish would happen to Neifi. Pikachu needs to lay the smackdown on him, imo.

 

As for my sig, its hilarity will cheer me up somewhat in this dark time. :(

[NorthsideAvenger]

Which one....the one in your avatar, or the one in your sig?

 

My avatar is what I wish would happen to Neifi. Pikachu needs to lay the smackdown on him, imo.

 

As for my sig, its hilarity will cheer me up somewhat in this dark time. :(

 

I was thinking your avatar is what Hendry should be doing to himself, cause he's clearly "Asleep at the wheel." Or is that Baker?

[Outshined_One]

What irks me the most is that we all know what's going to happen next.

 

The Cubs will set up a situation where Neifi and Cedeno will compete for a position (either SS or 2B, depending on Furcal and Walker). Cedeno will look a bit shaky in Spring Training, causing Dusty to "platoon" him, saying that he and Neifi will split SS duties, with Cedeno facing lefties and Neifi facing righties.

 

Of course, early in the season, Neifi will go on a tear, causing Baker to play the hot hand and using Cedeno sparingly off the bench. However, when Neifi regresses to the norm (again), Baker will either (A) state that Neifi needs to ride out his slump with more reps or (B) start Cedeno regularly for about two weeks, but since Cedeno will have had few ABs and is still a rookie that needs to get into a groove, he will be inconsistent at the plate or on the field and will promptly be benched for most of the rest of the season, then traded for some useless bench player for pennies on the dollar.

 

Seriously Hendry might as well ship Cedeno out while he has value now. With Baker and Neifi prominently involved, I do not see any realistic way he can win the starting SS or 2B job unless he comes in like Murton and hits the holy crap out of the ball. Cedeno's confidence will be shot, he won't get regular playing time, and will basically regress.

 

Then everyone can point at his failure as another example of the Cubs' inability to develop a position player. Most of the people in this group will then advocate trading the minor league hitting sensation du jour (I'm going to guess Felix Pie) since he will never, ever, ever, ever amount to anything since he's a Cubs positional prospect.

 

The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

[CubsWin]

Well, its official now. Hendry is motivated to improve the Cubs defense, and he will do it at the expense of OBP, at least in his bench players.

 

The article also stated that Cedeno is "is expected to get a shot at regular playing time at either shortstop or second base, depending on whether the Cubs sign Furcal or another veteran middle infielder."

 

So while this article tells us that Perez will be on the team for another 2 seasons, it also tells us that Hendry intends for him to be a reserve. I haven't seen much evidence to suggest that Perez would make a terrible reserve infielder, so, for now, I okay with that.

 

But lets see if Hendry can get Baker to use him that way. Assert yourself, JH.

[wvcbxl]

So while this article tells us that Perez will be on the team for another 2 seasons, it also tells us that Hendry intends for him to be a reserve. I haven't seen much evidence to suggest that Perez would make a terrible reserve infielder, so, for now, I okay with that.

 

But lets see if Hendry can get Baker to use him that way. Assert yourself, JH.

 

I agree that this could work, but only if Baker leaves, which isn't going to happen.

[WrigleyinEngland]

I see peoples points about him being an above average reserve IF, you have to be mad if you think niefi or dusty see it like that.Did anyone else notice Hendrys pissy comment about how he likes guys that can catch the ball?. Hey Jim i like guys who can get on base in front of D lee and A Ram but i guess it doesn't matter a crap what i think. Trade Murton Trade Ronnie and let Pie go to teams where they will actually be given a chance . Man this isn't the way i saw this week going....

[TrueBlueCubFan]

So while this article tells us that Perez will be on the team for another 2 seasons, it also tells us that Hendry intends for him to be a reserve. I haven't seen much evidence to suggest that Perez would make a terrible reserve infielder, so, for now, I okay with that.

 

But lets see if Hendry can get Baker to use him that way. Assert yourself, JH.

 

Neifi Perez is one of the best back-up SS's in MLB. However, he was looking for a starting job this off-season, so why would he sign with the Cubs if not guaranteed or given a legit shot @ starting for the Cubs in 06'? If he starts he will be an asset defensively & a liability offensively, especially if he bats 1st or 2nd in the line-up. Neifi is alot better than most people give him credit for on this board.

 

This move doesn't suprise me all that much. JH listed his top off-season priorities as improving: defense & pitching & Neifi is a very solid defender. I wish he also had listed OBP.

 

What if Walker is not moved & the Cubs sign Furcal? Cedeno will not see the light of day if he is on the 25 man roster. Neifi will platoon @ 2nd with Walker.

 

This signing of Neifi Perez just made the acqusition of Furcal a little less likely. JH has made it known he doesn't like signing 4 or 5 year deals & that's what it might take to get Furcal.

 

I will not judge JH this off-season until he is done making his moves before ST. If any of you are fair & rational you will do the same.

 

FYI, Patterson was a much bigger detriment to the 05' Cubs than was Neifi, yet by reading this board you could have never make that distinction.

[XZero771679666304]

I can't believe people are shocked.

 

Oh, I'm not the least bit shocked. I just held out some slim hope that Neifi would be snapped up be Bowden, or go to Colorado.

[SouthSideRyan]

Times like these I hate that this is a family board.

[CubinNY]

No, no, no wha!

 

I need an intervention. I'm addicted to the Cubs. I want to rid myself of this addiction until the Cubs get better people running the organization.

 

OO, your scenario is exactly what will happen.

 

Dusty Baker, "I gotta' pick the spots to set Cedeno up to be succesful."

[CuseCubFan69]

No one should be surprised at this. The Cubs think that they had a good team last year and injuries and defense are the areas that they need to fix. They say no to Nomar and yes to Perez. Hendry is doing what he said he was going to do and we all know what Baker is going to do. What's the saying if you keep doing the wrong thing and keep expecting good results?

 

What happens if Furcal doesn't sign? I do believe that Perez is a recruiting tool to get Furcal and part of the reson he was signed but what happens if the Mets or some other team gives him an outragous amount of money? IMO for this team to even win 85 games you have to hope that the Cubs sign Furcal and they find 2 outstanding bats for the OF.

[CubinNY]

What's the saying if you keep doing the wrong thing and keep expecting good results?

 

Some people call it insanity, some call it stupidity. Take your pick.

[J.R.]

From all accounts, Nomar Garciaparra would love to return to the Cubs for a third season. But the veteran shortstop whom the Cubs made it a priority to keep is Neifi Perez, who has agreed to terms on a two-year deal that is expected to be announced on Tuesday.

 

That reads like the damn joke it is.

 

I can't believe we're looking at two more years of this garbage.

[Balsa]

:( :( :(

 

Here's hoping this is just to lure Furcal, since I guess he knows and is friends with Neifi? I think it's insurance in case Cedeno pulls a Dubois and can't get it working. He'll just be used as late inning defense.

 

Oh god, please please please let me be right.

 

No starting Neifi, no starting Neifi, no starting Neifi......

[CubinNY]

:( :( :(

 

Here's hoping this is just to lure Furcal, since I guess he knows and is friends with Neifi? I think it's insurance in case Cedeno pulls a Dubois and can't get it working. He'll just be used as late inning defense.

 

Oh god, please please please let me be right.

 

No starting Neifi, no starting Neifi, no starting Neifi......

 

If Hendry is using Neifi to lure Furcal, he is a worse GM than what I thought he was. That is very bad business and stupid baseball.

 

Shouldn't the lure to Chicago be playing for great fans in a historic ballpark and making crapload of money?

[J.R.]

If Hendry is using Neifi to lure Furcal, he is a worse GM than what I thought he was. That is very bad business and stupid baseball.

 

Seriously.

[frostwyrm]

If we get Furcal Cedeno doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting regular playing time. Don't think terrible hitting by Neifi will cost him his job at 2B either. Neifi went through some prolonged horrendous slumps in 2005 and saw no reduction in his playing time. Even falling out of the playoff race couldn't get Cedeno more action. Fact is, unless Hendry signs high-profile stars at both SS and 2B, Neifi is virtually guaranteed a starting spot. Why do you think he agreed to stay? He stated he wanted a starting job for 2006, and I bet he's smart enough to know that this stuff about Cedeno competing for a spot is a joke.

[CuseCubFan69]

If we get Furcal Cedeno doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting regular playing time. Don't think terrible hitting by Neifi will cost him his job at 2B either. Neifi went through some prolonged horrendous slumps in 2005 and saw no reduction in his playing time. Even falling out of the playoff race couldn't get Cedeno more action. Fact is, unless Hendry signs high-profile stars at both SS and 2B, Neifi is virtually guaranteed a starting spot. Why do you think he agreed to stay? He stated he wanted a starting job for 2006, and I bet he's smart enough to know that this stuff about Cedeno competing for a spot is a joke.

 

Perez has been there you know. Where? I have no idea.

 

This does put Walker in a precarious situation and I agree that no way Cedeno gets a shot over a veteran that just signed a 2 year deal. Perez said he wanted to start are they (Hendry+company) trying to tell us that Cedeno is in the picture? It's Holla/Dubois once again only I can't wait to hear the lame excuse they come up with when Perez is starting..

[SpanishFortCub]

You have no idea what would have happened if Nomar hadn't gotten hurt in April. Until then, Neifi was a backup. That's clearly the plan this year as well. Good grief, people.

[CuseCubFan69]

"I've decided I really like the guys who catch the ball," Hendry said."

 

Wow...you just can't make stuff like this up. Does this guy have any thoughts of his own or does he just watch who wins the World Series and try to imitate what the winning team did? What kind of leader of a team is? Dal was right...it is Hendry.

[illiniguy]

why dont we just go ahead and trade Z and Prior for Suppan and Matt Morris and completely destroy what made us a fun team to watch a couple of years ago? This is a joke, Jim Hendry is worthless. They gave Neifi Perez a raise based on last years performance. Think of this applied to regular day activities. Well Doctor you just cut that man who had a heart attacks head off and glued it to his stomach, but you have been here before so here is a raise and two year extension. I cannot handle this team at all right now.

[SCCubbieFAN]

Can Neifi be traded before the June 15 deadline w/o his consent? If he wants to start and doesn't, maybe we can all hope he will be used in a trade to a team that will give him a starting role.

[frostwyrm]

If we get Furcal Cedeno doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting regular playing time. Don't think terrible hitting by Neifi will cost him his job at 2B either. Neifi went through some prolonged horrendous slumps in 2005 and saw no reduction in his playing time. Even falling out of the playoff race couldn't get Cedeno more action. Fact is, unless Hendry signs high-profile stars at both SS and 2B, Neifi is virtually guaranteed a starting spot. Why do you think he agreed to stay? He stated he wanted a starting job for 2006, and I bet he's smart enough to know that this stuff about Cedeno competing for a spot is a joke.

 

Perez has been there you know. Where? I have no idea.

 

This does put Walker in a precarious situation and I agree that no way Cedeno gets a shot over a veteran that just signed a 2 year deal. Perez said he wanted to start are they (Hendry+company) trying to tell us that Cedeno is in the picture? It's Holla/Dubois once again only I can't wait to hear the lame excuse they come up with when Perez is starting..

 

This is actually much worse than Holla/Dubois. As a left fielder, Holla could lose his job by hitting poorly for a month and a half, but all Neifi has to do is play respectable defense and he'll start all year and bat in front of Lee. Cedeno has no chance. NONE. I laugh at anyone who thinks a RH-batting rookie will get a chance vs. a switch-hitting veteran who is signed for 2 years and is Dusty's girlfriend.