Hey Bruce...do you have time for a few questions?

[JeffH]

Why would Texas EVER do that for that collection of Cubs' mediocrity?

 

Because Blalock suspiciously became awful just when steroid testing began?

 

Nevertheless, such a trade is extremely unlikely.

[USSoccer]

Didn't Walker request that if the Cubs had plans on trading him, that they not pick up his option?

 

Who cares. He should have thought about this a year ago. Walker's not the sharpest knife.

 

#1. You didn't answer my question.

 

#2. If you don't know the answer, why are you responding?

 

#3. I care. If you don't like it, don't respond.

 

I'll answer:

 

Yes, I believe Walker did request that. However, I think Hendry's doing the proper business thing by picking up his option, and then exploring all options.

 

I don't disagree with that. Even if the best option was to extend him and trade him. But, resigning Neifi at the same time you have basically extended him just blatantly disrespects Walker in every possible way.

 

He took less money to come here, and he took less money to stay here. He's been nothing but loyal to the organization and he's been everything expected of him. By signing Neifi, they've just kicked Walker where it hurts. Now, if they kept Walker and signed Furcal, and Neifi was just Walker's back up, that might be something entirely different. But, all indications are that Walker's days are numbered.

 

Something tells me that player relations on this team are traveling further south than they already have been.

 

I completely concur with your assesment of how Walker should feel. The intelligent thing that Hendry should have done was to let Neifi go past Friday, let him get some bids while trying to move Walker. Ideally, you'd move Walker before resigning Perez, if that was your plan.

 

This way, on paper, it looks like he has "flexibility".

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Something tells me that player relations on this team are traveling further south than they already have been.

 

Actually, "player relations" are one of the few explanations that can be given for re-signing Neifi, unless Hendry really is a 100% complete moron. By all accounts, Aramis Ramirez is an emotionally fragile guy, he was hurt by the departure of Sammy and particularly, Moises Alou. Now he has a countryman on the team in Neifi, and Furcal would complete the Dominican version of the Cub Musketeers. Some of these Caribbean players in the big leagues really struggle with life in The Show, and if it takes a couple compatriots to bring out the best in Aramis, then maybe that's why Hendry brought back Perez. That, and it might help bring in Furcal rather than see him go to the Mets.

 

Makes sense actually--we all know from direct observation that Neifi seems to be everyone's "buddy" on the team, I guess Hendry didn't want to lose that. Crappy justification for the kind of money he paid him, but then, Hendry never has been smart with the wallet.

[USSoccer]

Something tells me that player relations on this team are traveling further south than they already have been.

 

Actually, "player relations" are one of the few explanations that can be given for re-signing Neifi, unless Hendry really is a 100% complete moron. By all accounts, Aramis Ramirez is an emotionally fragile guy, he was hurt by the departure of Sammy and particularly, Moises Alou. Now he has a countryman on the team in Neifi, and Furcal would complete the Dominican version of the Cub Musketeers. Some of these Caribbean players in the big leagues really struggle with life in The Show, and if it takes a couple compatriots to bring out the best in Aramis, then maybe that's why Hendry brought back Perez. That, and it might help bring in Furcal rather than see him go to the Mets.

 

Makes sense actually--we all know from direct observation that Neifi seems to be everyone's "buddy" on the team, I guess Hendry didn't want to lose that. Crappy justification for the kind of money he paid him, but then, Hendry never has been smart with the wallet.

 

If that was the reason, okay, I guess I can buy that. I was of the mind that losing Alou and Sosa might affect ARam. It didn't seem to, but if Hendry thought bringing back Neifi would help his best player, fine.

 

But still, $2.5m per? You cannot tell me that you could have had him for less.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

we let the offensive black hole start at 2B (in all likelihood) just so Ramirez can feel comfortable? he could ride the pine and make Aramis just as happy. :?

[JeffH]

I should preface this by saying definitively that I have no idea how contract negotiations really work.

 

Having said that, what if Kinzer told Hendry that, unless he signed Neifi to this deal, he'd advise Furcal to take a larger Mets offer? But, if he signed this deal, he'd advise Furcal to take the Cubs offer as long as it was within X% of the Mets offer?

 

Unethical? Maybe, but either way Kinzer could say he acted in Furcal's best interest - a) I got him the most money or b) I advised him to stay at SS where his future value will be highest.

 

I don't know if that's realistic or not, but, if it is, what do you do? Call his bluff? (You should answer that question assuming that you're dead set on adding Furcal to the club.)

 

I wouldn't want to be in that situation.

[BigbadB]

Something tells me that player relations on this team are traveling further south than they already have been.

 

Actually, "player relations" are one of the few explanations that can be given for re-signing Neifi, unless Hendry really is a 100% complete moron. By all accounts, Aramis Ramirez is an emotionally fragile guy, he was hurt by the departure of Sammy and particularly, Moises Alou. Now he has a countryman on the team in Neifi, and Furcal would complete the Dominican version of the Cub Musketeers. Some of these Caribbean players in the big leagues really struggle with life in The Show, and if it takes a couple compatriots to bring out the best in Aramis, then maybe that's why Hendry brought back Perez. That, and it might help bring in Furcal rather than see him go to the Mets.

 

Makes sense actually--we all know from direct observation that Neifi seems to be everyone's "buddy" on the team, I guess Hendry didn't want to lose that. Crappy justification for the kind of money he paid him, but then, Hendry never has been smart with the wallet.

 

Well put. There's probably a lot of truth to that. But couldn't we have asked about Miguel Tejada's availability before giving Neifi the big money? :D

[USSoccer]

I should preface this by saying definitively that I have no idea how contract negotiations really work.

 

Having said that, what if Kinzer told Hendry that, unless he signed Neifi to this deal, he'd advise Furcal to take a larger Mets offer? But, if he signed this deal, he'd advise Furcal to take the Cubs offer as long as it was within X% of the Mets offer?

 

Unethical? Maybe, but either way Kinzer could say he acted in Furcal's best interest - a) I got him the most money or b) I advised him to stay at SS where his future value will be highest.

 

I don't know if that's realistic or not, but, if it is, what do you do? Call his bluff? (You should answer that question assuming that you're dead set on adding Furcal to the club.)

 

I wouldn't want to be in that situation.

 

That sounds far fetched. Really far fetched.

 

But it's not unrealistic.

[Guest]

Boo hoo walker. It's his own fault he signed a bad contract. Maybe he'll go Terrell Owens. :)

I feel sorrier for us Cubs fans, who have to put up with a managment team that's apparently so abysmally stupid that it thinks Neifi Perez is more productive and valuable than Todd Walker.

[BigbadB]

Preach it, Bob's Keeper!

[BigbadB]

Something tells me that player relations on this team are traveling further south than they already have been.

 

Actually, "player relations" are one of the few explanations that can be given for re-signing Neifi, unless Hendry really is a 100% complete moron. By all accounts, Aramis Ramirez is an emotionally fragile guy, he was hurt by the departure of Sammy and particularly, Moises Alou. Now he has a countryman on the team in Neifi, and Furcal would complete the Dominican version of the Cub Musketeers. Some of these Caribbean players in the big leagues really struggle with life in The Show, and if it takes a couple compatriots to bring out the best in Aramis, then maybe that's why Hendry brought back Perez. That, and it might help bring in Furcal rather than see him go to the Mets.

 

Makes sense actually--we all know from direct observation that Neifi seems to be everyone's "buddy" on the team, I guess Hendry didn't want to lose that. Crappy justification for the kind of money he paid him, but then, Hendry never has been smart with the wallet.

 

I responded once that you post was well put.

 

But, as I sit here and think about a player who took less money to come to Chicago for a potential bench role (Walker) get treated with disrespect...

 

and as I sit here and think about how Nomar seemed to want to stay in Chicago (quite possibly for non personal reasons, like playing a full year healthy for the wonderful fans of Chicago and attempting to prove he can still be the great player he was) and no one showing any interest whatsoever....

 

and how the whole Sosa thing went down.....

 

and the unprofessional comments like "I like guys who can catch the ball"....

 

I wonder what some of the other guys on the team think about all of this stuff going on. Walker had to have some friends in that locker room.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I should preface this by saying definitively that I have no idea how contract negotiations really work.

 

Having said that, what if Kinzer told Hendry that, unless he signed Neifi to this deal, he'd advise Furcal to take a larger Mets offer? But, if he signed this deal, he'd advise Furcal to take the Cubs offer as long as it was within X% of the Mets offer?

 

Unethical? Maybe, but either way Kinzer could say he acted in Furcal's best interest - a) I got him the most money or b) I advised him to stay at SS where his future value will be highest.

 

I don't know if that's realistic or not, but, if it is, what do you do? Call his bluff? (You should answer that question assuming that you're dead set on adding Furcal to the club.)

 

I wouldn't want to be in that situation.

 

That sounds far fetched. Really far fetched.

 

But it's not unrealistic.

 

Even though it's not out of the realm of possibility, I find it hard to believe that Hendry, who called Boras's bluff in the Brownlie negotiations at the risk of losing him, would fall for that type of ploy.

[USSoccer]

Something tells me that player relations on this team are traveling further south than they already have been.

 

Actually, "player relations" are one of the few explanations that can be given for re-signing Neifi, unless Hendry really is a 100% complete moron. By all accounts, Aramis Ramirez is an emotionally fragile guy, he was hurt by the departure of Sammy and particularly, Moises Alou. Now he has a countryman on the team in Neifi, and Furcal would complete the Dominican version of the Cub Musketeers. Some of these Caribbean players in the big leagues really struggle with life in The Show, and if it takes a couple compatriots to bring out the best in Aramis, then maybe that's why Hendry brought back Perez. That, and it might help bring in Furcal rather than see him go to the Mets.

 

Makes sense actually--we all know from direct observation that Neifi seems to be everyone's "buddy" on the team, I guess Hendry didn't want to lose that. Crappy justification for the kind of money he paid him, but then, Hendry never has been smart with the wallet.

 

I responded once that you post was well put.

 

But, as I sit here and think about a player who took less money to come to Chicago for a potential bench role (Walker) get treated with disrespect...

 

and as I sit here and think about how Nomar seemed to want to stay in Chicago (quite possibly for non personal reasons, like playing a full year healthy for the wonderful fans of Chicago and attempting to prove he can still be the great player he was) and no one showing any interest whatsoever....

 

and how the whole Sosa thing went down.....

 

and the unprofessional comments like "I like guys who can catch the ball"....

 

I wonder what some of the other guys on the team think about all of this stuff going on. Walker had to have some friends in that locker room.

 

Again, great post. I think this mess is bringing out some of the best in our postings here.

[CUBZ99]

Boo hoo walker. It's his own fault he signed a bad contract. Maybe he'll go Terrell Owens. :)

I feel sorrier for us Cubs fans, who have to put up with a managment team that's apparently so abysmally stupid that it thinks Neifi Perez is more productive and valuable than Todd Walker.

 

I don't think anybody in the Cubs organization was hiding the fact that they wanted to trade Todd Walker this winter. I'm not saying that I agree with it, but you couldn't watch a game on any channel where the announcers didn't mention how bad the Cubs wanted to improve defensively on the infield. Neifi as awful as he is offensively, does represent an upgrade defensively. However committing to Neifi, puts Hendry a position in which he must try to score big with a SS, CF, and RF. Otherwise the Cub's already low scoring offense is going to be in worse shape.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Boo hoo walker. It's his own fault he signed a bad contract. Maybe he'll go Terrell Owens. :)

I feel sorrier for us Cubs fans, who have to put up with a managment team that's apparently so abysmally stupid that it thinks Neifi Perez is more productive and valuable than Todd Walker.

 

I don't think anybody in the Cubs organization was hiding the fact that they wanted to trade Todd Walker this winter. I'm not saying that I agree with it, but you couldn't watch a game on any channel where the announcers didn't mention how bad the Cubs wanted to improve defensively on the infield. Neifi as awful as he is offensively, does represent an upgrade defensively. However committing to Neifi, puts Hendry a position in which he must try to score big with a SS, CF, and RF. Otherwise the Cub's already low scoring offense is going to be in worse shape.

 

Neifi played 150 games last year. He's at best treading water defensively, since he had a career year defensively. The Cubs were very good defensively this past year, 3rd in the NL in DER if memory serves.

[RockTheIvy]

Something tells me that player relations on this team are traveling further south than they already have been.

 

Actually, "player relations" are one of the few explanations that can be given for re-signing Neifi, unless Hendry really is a 100% complete moron. By all accounts, Aramis Ramirez is an emotionally fragile guy, he was hurt by the departure of Sammy and particularly, Moises Alou. Now he has a countryman on the team in Neifi, and Furcal would complete the Dominican version of the Cub Musketeers. Some of these Caribbean players in the big leagues really struggle with life in The Show, and if it takes a couple compatriots to bring out the best in Aramis, then maybe that's why Hendry brought back Perez. That, and it might help bring in Furcal rather than see him go to the Mets.

 

Makes sense actually--we all know from direct observation that Neifi seems to be everyone's "buddy" on the team, I guess Hendry didn't want to lose that. Crappy justification for the kind of money he paid him, but then, Hendry never has been smart with the wallet.

 

Isn't he Furcal's boozing buddy?

[jmajew]

I don't know if what JeffH said is that far fetched. I mean the White Sox won't even deal with Scott Boras anymore. Having a good relation with agents probably does help in luring players to your team. If you are on good terms with the agent he may not take as much of a hard line stance.

 

No way is Nefi worth 2.5 million per year. Who cares if people like him his OBP was below 300. I'd rather have Walker starting at second. Yes he doesn't have the best range, but actually last year was one of his best defensive years. Todd Walker has to be fuming right now. Hendry is treating him like crap and frankly if Hendry keeps treating players this way even the draw of playing at wrigley won't help us get the players we want.

[da bears]

Something tells me that player relations on this team are traveling further south than they already have been.

 

Actually, "player relations" are one of the few explanations that can be given for re-signing Neifi, unless Hendry really is a 100% complete moron. By all accounts, Aramis Ramirez is an emotionally fragile guy, he was hurt by the departure of Sammy and particularly, Moises Alou. Now he has a countryman on the team in Neifi, and Furcal would complete the Dominican version of the Cub Musketeers. Some of these Caribbean players in the big leagues really struggle with life in The Show, and if it takes a couple compatriots to bring out the best in Aramis, then maybe that's why Hendry brought back Perez. That, and it might help bring in Furcal rather than see him go to the Mets.

 

Makes sense actually--we all know from direct observation that Neifi seems to be everyone's "buddy" on the team, I guess Hendry didn't want to lose that. Crappy justification for the kind of money he paid him, but then, Hendry never has been smart with the wallet.

 

I responded once that you post was well put.

 

But, as I sit here and think about a player who took less money to come to Chicago for a potential bench role (Walker) get treated with disrespect...

 

and as I sit here and think about how Nomar seemed to want to stay in Chicago (quite possibly for non personal reasons, like playing a full year healthy for the wonderful fans of Chicago and attempting to prove he can still be the great player he was) and no one showing any interest whatsoever....

 

and how the whole Sosa thing went down.....

 

and the unprofessional comments like "I like guys who can catch the ball"....

 

I wonder what some of the other guys on the team think about all of this stuff going on. Walker had to have some friends in that locker room.

 

Good post. The more I think about it, the more of a mess this franchise seems to be. Hendry does seem unprofessional in his comments, and just the way they treat the players who want to play here is crap. The more I'm reading this, the more depressed I get. It just seems that the World Series we want so freakin badly is so far away. I personally can't believe that, at least up until the last few games, the greatest season of my life, 2003, was just two full seasons ago.

[RockTheIvy]

Something tells me that player relations on this team are traveling further south than they already have been.

 

Actually, "player relations" are one of the few explanations that can be given for re-signing Neifi, unless Hendry really is a 100% complete moron. By all accounts, Aramis Ramirez is an emotionally fragile guy, he was hurt by the departure of Sammy and particularly, Moises Alou. Now he has a countryman on the team in Neifi, and Furcal would complete the Dominican version of the Cub Musketeers. Some of these Caribbean players in the big leagues really struggle with life in The Show, and if it takes a couple compatriots to bring out the best in Aramis, then maybe that's why Hendry brought back Perez. That, and it might help bring in Furcal rather than see him go to the Mets.

 

Makes sense actually--we all know from direct observation that Neifi seems to be everyone's "buddy" on the team, I guess Hendry didn't want to lose that. Crappy justification for the kind of money he paid him, but then, Hendry never has been smart with the wallet.

 

I responded once that you post was well put.

 

But, as I sit here and think about a player who took less money to come to Chicago for a potential bench role (Walker) get treated with disrespect...

 

and as I sit here and think about how Nomar seemed to want to stay in Chicago (quite possibly for non personal reasons, like playing a full year healthy for the wonderful fans of Chicago and attempting to prove he can still be the great player he was) and no one showing any interest whatsoever....

 

and how the whole Sosa thing went down.....

 

and the unprofessional comments like "I like guys who can catch the ball"....

 

I wonder what some of the other guys on the team think about all of this stuff going on. Walker had to have some friends in that locker room.

 

Maybe Hendry thinks being more upfront with the players and saying cute statements like Ozzie Guillen will help our chances. You are right, this organization treats players the wrong way.

[CUBZ99]

Boo hoo walker. It's his own fault he signed a bad contract. Maybe he'll go Terrell Owens. :)

I feel sorrier for us Cubs fans, who have to put up with a managment team that's apparently so abysmally stupid that it thinks Neifi Perez is more productive and valuable than Todd Walker.

 

I don't think anybody in the Cubs organization was hiding the fact that they wanted to trade Todd Walker this winter. I'm not saying that I agree with it, but you couldn't watch a game on any channel where the announcers didn't mention how bad the Cubs wanted to improve defensively on the infield. Neifi as awful as he is offensively, does represent an upgrade defensively. However committing to Neifi, puts Hendry a position in which he must try to score big with a SS, CF, and RF. Otherwise the Cub's already low scoring offense is going to be in worse shape.

 

Neifi played 150 games last year. He's at best treading water defensively, since he had a career year defensively. The Cubs were very good defensively this past year, 3rd in the NL in DER if memory serves.

 

I don't want to pick a fight with you over your use of Stats, but this maybe on of those times that your citing of stats is useless. Anybody who watched a game last year knows that the Cubs were not good defensively. Just as anybody who watched the Cubs last year knows that Neifi played a good to great defensive SS. I agree that Neifi was a poor signing but to say Neifi is treading water defensively is utterly ridiculous.

[oldcubsfan]

After reading this entire thread, I find it hard to fathom why Jim Hendry would waste his time coming on here to discuss anything. The number of times he's called an idiot, moron, etc is mind boogling. How many actually buy tickets? How many experts do we have here that insult people in baseball and think they know so much more, actually understand there is more to a business than selective numbers?

Yep, I'd pay to see

Bobby Hill 2b

Hee Flop Choi 1B

Brendan Harris 3B

Cedeno SS

DuBois LF

Bradley CF

Murton RF

Miller C

Kelton bench

Grieve bench

 

Jeminez bench/starter

 

 

It goes on and on....

 

Every time some is released, we have threads on picking them up, it is immature and tiresome IMO.

If someone is offended, I'm sorry. But it isn't fantasy baseball, as DoPo found out. If I get banned for this, well that's the breaks. It should be a free exchange, not a group think board. If you expect mature people to frequent the board, then you should not demand they be fired, call them idiots and morons and act like you could do so much better. If you can, please explain why you aren't working in baseball.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Boo hoo walker. It's his own fault he signed a bad contract. Maybe he'll go Terrell Owens. :)

I feel sorrier for us Cubs fans, who have to put up with a managment team that's apparently so abysmally stupid that it thinks Neifi Perez is more productive and valuable than Todd Walker.

 

I don't think anybody in the Cubs organization was hiding the fact that they wanted to trade Todd Walker this winter. I'm not saying that I agree with it, but you couldn't watch a game on any channel where the announcers didn't mention how bad the Cubs wanted to improve defensively on the infield. Neifi as awful as he is offensively, does represent an upgrade defensively. However committing to Neifi, puts Hendry a position in which he must try to score big with a SS, CF, and RF. Otherwise the Cub's already low scoring offense is going to be in worse shape.

 

Neifi played 150 games last year. He's at best treading water defensively, since he had a career year defensively. The Cubs were very good defensively this past year, 3rd in the NL in DER if memory serves.

 

I don't want to pick a fight with you over your use of Stats, but this maybe on of those times that your citing of stats is useless. Anybody who watched a game last year knows that the Cubs were not good defensively. Just as anybody who watched the Cubs last year knows that Neifi played a good to great defensive SS. I agree that Neifi was a poor signing but to say Neifi is treading water defensively is utterly ridiculous.

 

The numbers say the Cubs were a good defensive team last year. I'd rather trust that imperfect measure than my own selective memory, especially since I saw very little of other teams defensively.

 

About Neifi treading water, I think you misconstrued what I was saying. Neifi is a good defender at short, and was great defensively last year. Therefore, him returning isn't an improvement, it's staying the same, treading water. Much like Lee coming back next year isn't an upgrade offensively, since he was already there all of last year.

[JC]

I'm glad we got a maturity lesson from someone who employs Hee Flop Choi and DoPo with such authority.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

After reading this entire thread, I find it hard to fathom why Jim Hendry would waste his time coming on here to discuss anything. The number of times he's called an idiot, moron, etc is mind boogling. How many actually buy tickets? How many experts do we have here that insult people in baseball and think they know so much more, actually understand there is more to a business than selective numbers?

Yep, I'd pay to see

Bobby Hill 2b

Hee Flop Choi 1B

Brendan Harris 3B

Cedeno SS

DuBois LF

Bradley CF

Murton RF

Miller C

Kelton bench

Grieve bench

 

Jeminez bench/starter

 

 

It goes on and on....

 

Every time some is released, we have threads on picking them up, it is immature and tiresome IMO.

If someone is offended, I'm sorry. But it isn't fantasy baseball, as DoPo found out. If I get banned for this, well that's the breaks. It should be a free exchange, not a group think board. If you expect mature people to frequent the board, then you should not demand they be fired, call them idiots and morons and act like you could do so much better. If you can, please explain why you aren't working in baseball.

 

well, in my defense, i called him a "moran!" so there. =P :lol:

[Transmogrified Tiger]

After reading this entire thread, I find it hard to fathom why Jim Hendry would waste his time coming on here to discuss anything. The number of times he's called an idiot, moron, etc is mind boogling. How many actually buy tickets? How many experts do we have here that insult people in baseball and think they know so much more, actually understand there is more to a business than selective numbers?

Yep, I'd pay to see

Bobby Hill 2b

Hee Flop Choi 1B

Brendan Harris 3B

Cedeno SS

DuBois LF

Bradley CF

Murton RF

Miller C

Kelton bench

Grieve bench

 

Jeminez bench/starter

 

 

It goes on and on....

 

Every time some is released, we have threads on picking them up, it is immature and tiresome IMO.

If someone is offended, I'm sorry. But it isn't fantasy baseball, as DoPo found out. If I get banned for this, well that's the breaks. It should be a free exchange, not a group think board. If you expect mature people to frequent the board, then you should not demand they be fired, call them idiots and morons and act like you could do so much better. If you can, please explain why you aren't working in baseball.

 

You've done this before. No one ever advocated that team any more than anyone advocated a team of

 

C Blanco

1B Karros

2B Jose Hernandez

SS Neifi

3B Lenny Harris

LF Todd Hollandsworth

CF Tom Goodwin

RF Burnitz