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

[JeffH]

Can I take a shot at the board as a whole?

 

One point that was made on another, more reasonable board :D is that it seems like one way that Dusty may endear himself to the grizzled veterans is to help them make their incentive money.

 

By guaranteeing the $2.5, you take that reason for playing the veteran away from Dusty.

 

It's not the right way to handle the situation - Fire Buttermaker! - but it is a plausible explanation.

[YearofDaCubs]

Hendry on ESPN 1000 right now..

[USSoccer]

Hendry on ESPN 1000 right now..

 

 

Somebody post a recap!

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Can I take a shot at the board as a whole?

 

One point that was made on another, more reasonable board :D is that it seems like one way that Dusty may endear himself to the grizzled veterans is to help them make their incentive money.

 

By guaranteeing the $2.5, you take that reason for playing the veteran away from Dusty.

 

It's not the right way to handle the situation - Fire Buttermaker! - but it is a plausible explanation.

 

That's a terrific point. With incentives, didn't Neifi make 2.5 mil this past season? I thought I read he earned 1 mil as base and another 1.5 based on plate appearances, etc.

[YearofDaCubs]

Hendry on ESPN 1000 right now..

 

 

Somebody post a recap!

Talked about Dempster and how he is happy with him at the closer role. At this point nt looking for the high-priced closers to sign.

 

Mentioned Baker's credentials and how you have to look at what he did as a whole instead of one thing. Also said team has been affected by injuries

 

Mentioned that he isnt worry about the contract extensions to him and Baker. Mentioned that Lee deserves a good contract. Sounds like they will work on that with Lee's agent.

 

Nomar door not completely closed on returning. Will talk to agent this week.

 

Thats all I got..

[USSoccer]

Thanks for recapping. It doesn't sound like anyone asked any good questions.

[snoodmonger]

Can I take a shot at the board as a whole?

 

One point that was made on another, more reasonable board :D is that it seems like one way that Dusty may endear himself to the grizzled veterans is to help them make their incentive money.

 

By guaranteeing the $2.5, you take that reason for playing the veteran away from Dusty.

 

It's not the right way to handle the situation - Fire Buttermaker! - but it is a plausible explanation.

 

If that is the reason, it does nothing to instill faith that we're in the right GM's hands.

[YearofDaCubs]

Thanks for recapping. It doesn't sound like anyone asked any good questions.

They did ask about Corey but I missed that part. After Hendry left they did say it sounded like Corey was a goner.

 

Also asked about Pierre but Hendry kinda went around that question.

 

They will replay the Hendry interview a little later.

 

EDIT: I forgot to add that they asked about Wood and Hendry is expecting him to be fully healthy and into the rotation. He also mentioned that he will be working in a backup plan just in case.

Edited November 9, 2005 by YearofDaCubs

[USSoccer]

Can I take a shot at the board as a whole?

 

One point that was made on another, more reasonable board :D is that it seems like one way that Dusty may endear himself to the grizzled veterans is to help them make their incentive money.

 

By guaranteeing the $2.5, you take that reason for playing the veteran away from Dusty.

 

It's not the right way to handle the situation - Fire Buttermaker! - but it is a plausible explanation.

 

I guess, but that's like putting a bandaid on a gunshot wound. Just fire the manager if he's not managing the team the right way.

[JeffH]

(Hendry said) At this point nt looking for the high-priced closers to sign.

 

That's a shame. B.J. Ryan.

[imb]

(Hendry said) At this point nt looking for the high-priced closers to sign.

 

That's a shame. B.J. Ryan.

 

It's not a shame for BJ Ryan, however.

[CubfaninCA]

So I don't get it. Are the people that are backing up Hendry supporting this signing, or using the reaction to the signing as an opportunity to bash posters and trot out phrases like "groupthink"?

 

I haven't seen anyone really support the signing, as all the Hendry-supporters seem to be quite wary of Dusty's usage of Nef. I have to take issue w/ the theory of Hendry "bidding against himself" again. This theory seems to be gaining more momentum.

 

This board used to be a place of high decorum. However, threads like this where the words moron, idiot and stupid are continually trotted out are becoming more common. I guess if a person supports Jim Hendry then they're a moron as well. That sure seems to be the implication... I get tickled by the irony, but I'm sure others get a little offended, which may explain the "poster bashing."

[SAMMYWHO]

I agree with the optomistic ones. As I said in another thread, I'm not calling out Hendry until we go into Spring Training with Neifi as the starting 2B. There are possibilities I wouldn't mind him there anyways. Like Giles in right, Dunn in LF. Or Abreu, Burrell, Manny. Possibilities we have no clue what he's working on. Things that we can't speculate on yet because it's not Friday. He can't talk money with Furcal or Giles. Whatever Hendry says about pressure in winning, he's playing it off but I got to believe he's feeling the pressure and has the dough to make a splash. I think we all agree that he needs to stop throwing it away little by little and start making a splash.

[imb]

I agree with the optomistic ones. As I said in another thread, I'm not calling out Hendry until we go into Spring Training with Neifi as the starting 2B. There are possibilities I wouldn't mind him there anyways. Like Giles in right, Dunn in LF. Or Abreu, Burrell, Manny. Possibilities we have no clue what he's working on. Things that we can't speculate on yet because it's not Friday. He can't talk money with Furcal or Giles. Whatever Hendry says about pressure in winning, he's playing it off but I got to believe he's feeling the pressure and has the dough to make a splash. I think we all agree that he needs to stop throwing it away little by little and start making a splash.

 

Why? that makes no sense, Niefi and Walker will make the same exact amount next season, and Walker is clearly superior. Face it, Hendry is not a good gm, it's time we accepted that and moved on.

[frostwyrm]

I don't understand why anyone is buying this crap about Neifi being Cedeno's backup. Dusty has stated explicitly that he doesn't see Neifi as a utility player, and in 2005 Cedeno couldn't get regular playing time even after the Cubs fell out of the playoff race. Also, we are well acquainted with Dusty's pathology concerning L/R platooning of rookies. Does anyone really believe an RH-batting rookie will get regular starts vs. RH pitching when there is a veteran switch-hitter available, one who makes $2.5M no less? Dusty has also criticized Cedeno's defense, while he adores Neifi's. The only plausible best-case scenario for Cedeno is that he gets to start vs. LH pitching, which of course means Neifi is the starter. If Hendry can somehow acquire established stars at BOTH middle infield positions, then - and ONLY then - will Neifi be a bench player.

[nick23]

I don't understand why anyone is buying this crap about Neifi being Cedeno's backup. Dusty has stated explicitly that he doesn't see Neifi as a utility player, and in 2005 Cedeno couldn't get regular playing time even after the Cubs fell out of the playoff race. Also, we are well acquainted with Dusty's pathology concerning L/R platooning of rookies. Does anyone really believe an RH-batting rookie will get regular starts vs. RH pitching when there is a veteran switch-hitter available, one who makes $2.5M no less? Dusty has also criticized Cedeno's defense, while he adores Neifi's. The only plausible best-case scenario for Cedeno is that he gets to start vs. LH pitching, which of course means Neifi is the starter. If Hendry can somehow acquire established stars at BOTH middle infield positions, then - and ONLY then - will Neifi be a bench player.

I could be wrong, but hadn't Cedeno broke into the starting lineup before his injury last year?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't understand why anyone is buying this crap about Neifi being Cedeno's backup. Dusty has stated explicitly that he doesn't see Neifi as a utility player, and in 2005 Cedeno couldn't get regular playing time even after the Cubs fell out of the playoff race. Also, we are well acquainted with Dusty's pathology concerning L/R platooning of rookies. Does anyone really believe an RH-batting rookie will get regular starts vs. RH pitching when there is a veteran switch-hitter available, one who makes $2.5M no less? Dusty has also criticized Cedeno's defense, while he adores Neifi's. The only plausible best-case scenario for Cedeno is that he gets to start vs. LH pitching, which of course means Neifi is the starter. If Hendry can somehow acquire established stars at BOTH middle infield positions, then - and ONLY then - will Neifi be a bench player.

I could be wrong, but hadn't Cedeno broke into the starting lineup before his injury last year?

 

Cedeno got consecutive starts twice last year. I don't consider that breaking into the everyday lineup.

[imb]

at this point, Cedeno may have to literally "break in" to get into the starting lineup. And by break in, I mean, break in, and write his name on the lineup card.

[SAMMYWHO]

I agree with the optomistic ones. As I said in another thread, I'm not calling out Hendry until we go into Spring Training with Neifi as the starting 2B. There are possibilities I wouldn't mind him there anyways. Like Giles in right, Dunn in LF. Or Abreu, Burrell, Manny. Possibilities we have no clue what he's working on. Things that we can't speculate on yet because it's not Friday. He can't talk money with Furcal or Giles. Whatever Hendry says about pressure in winning, he's playing it off but I got to believe he's feeling the pressure and has the dough to make a splash. I think we all agree that he needs to stop throwing it away little by little and start making a splash.

 

Why? that makes no sense, Niefi and Walker will make the same exact amount next season, and Walker is clearly superior. Face it, Hendry is not a good gm, it's time we accepted that and moved on.

 

I never said I liked the Neifi signing. I'm a realist. If I was with Jim Hendry all day and listened to who he called. Agents, players, and scouts then I would call him out and say this is who I think you should and shouldn't call. I would tell him his "plan" sounds good or not. I as a fan am not in the position to know what he's thinking.

I can say, Neifi's signing went way overboard. Money and term. I pay money to see them play every year so I have the right to say I'm not looking forward to watching Neifi play every day. But to call out our GM who's probably on the phone right now talking to Giles agent or the GM of the Phillies or calling about Johan Santana or whoever he's talking to. I want it to be clear you and I don't have a clue as far as transactions this off-season. That's why I've said before let's wait and see what happens.

[CoolHandLuke]

Would you rather have Furcal (est. 9 million), Neifi (2.5 million), Rusch (3 million) Dempster (5 million) (total = 19.5 million) or Cedeno (300,000) Walker (2.5 million) Byrd (est 7 million) and BJ Ryan (est 9 million)

(total = 19 million) ?

[SAMMYWHO]

Would you rather have Furcal (est. 9 million), Neifi (2.5 million), Rusch (3 million) Dempster (5 million) (total = 19.5 million) or Cedeno (300,000) Walker (2.5 million) Byrd (est 7 million) and BJ Ryan (est 9 million)

(total = 19 million) ?

 

No brainer. I would substitute Washburn in for Byrd if it was roughly the same cost.

[CubfaninCA]

Would you rather have Furcal (est. 9 million), Neifi (2.5 million), Rusch (3 million) Dempster (5 million) (total = 19.5 million) or Cedeno (300,000) Walker (2.5 million) Byrd (est 7 million) and BJ Ryan (est 9 million)

(total = 19 million) ?

 

I don't want Bryd for $7 mil/yr. and it sounds like he's pretty content w/ staying w/ Anaheim... Furcal could fill a couple needs for 4 years. Walker's a stop gap and the jury's still out on Cedeno. Would love to have Ryan tho.

[nick23]

I don't understand why anyone is buying this crap about Neifi being Cedeno's backup. Dusty has stated explicitly that he doesn't see Neifi as a utility player, and in 2005 Cedeno couldn't get regular playing time even after the Cubs fell out of the playoff race. Also, we are well acquainted with Dusty's pathology concerning L/R platooning of rookies. Does anyone really believe an RH-batting rookie will get regular starts vs. RH pitching when there is a veteran switch-hitter available, one who makes $2.5M no less? Dusty has also criticized Cedeno's defense, while he adores Neifi's. The only plausible best-case scenario for Cedeno is that he gets to start vs. LH pitching, which of course means Neifi is the starter. If Hendry can somehow acquire established stars at BOTH middle infield positions, then - and ONLY then - will Neifi be a bench player.

I could be wrong, but hadn't Cedeno broke into the starting lineup before his injury last year?

 

Cedeno got consecutive starts twice last year. I don't consider that breaking into the everyday lineup.

True, but right before the injury in a stretch of 11 games he started 7 of them. I do consider that breaking into the lineup. At least I'd be happy with that for next year.

[BigbadB]

I'd love to see what Neifi's incentives were for last year. I'm not going to say he didn't deserve them last year, because he really did. It was Baker's fault he batted at the top of the order.

 

But, if Cedeno did more sitting toward the end of the season because Baker was helping Neifi get incentives added on to his contract, I won't be happy.

 

I assumed it was because Baker was trying to help his own cause (reach .500) and he just couldn't trust a rookie to help him.

[cjbucks]

I'd love to see what Neifi's incentives were for last year. I'm not going to say he didn't deserve them last year, because he really did. It was Baker's fault he batted at the top of the order.

 

But, if Cedeno did more sitting toward the end of the season because Baker was helping Neifi get incentives added on to his contract, I won't be happy.

 

I assumed it was because Baker was trying to help his own cause (reach .500) and he just couldn't trust a rookie to help him.

 

I think I read somewhere they were based on plate appearances?