Hendry to Nomar: Feel free to find a better fit...

[DesMoinesCub]

Am I in the minority here, but I don't see this as a "bad" thing.

 

Nomar is not illiterate (although if my spelling is wrong, he could be :D), he knows they are going after Furcal. I personally don't believe Nomar will be signed by anyone until after Furcal. If Furcal doesn't go to the Cubs, Hendry can still go get Nomar.

 

Was it the smartest thing to say...No, but Nomar knows what is going on he is not stupid.

[imb]

i really wish they would cut this "catch the ball" garbage out.

[CuseCubFan69]

i really wish they would cut this "catch the ball" garbage out.

 

It's like they all just got back from an Amway convention and found their key phrase.

[badgercub]

Am I in the minority here, but I don't see this as a "bad" thing.

 

Nomar is not illiterate (although if my spelling is wrong, he could be :D), he knows they are going after Furcal. I personally don't believe Nomar will be signed by anyone until after Furcal. If Furcal doesn't go to the Cubs, Hendry can still go get Nomar.

 

Was it the smartest thing to say...No, but Nomar knows what is going on he is not stupid.

 

Nomar is not a bargaining chip that can be used either way in signing Furcal. I think their are very few teams out there that would be interested in signing Nomar to play short stop. He likely will move to third base, or as has been speculated before learn to play left field. I think his days as a SS are over.

[CubfaninCA]

Despite popular belief among some of us here, I don't believe Hendry is a complete idiot.

 

1. I don't see him trading Walker until Furcal is signed. That would mean that Cedano and Walker would be 2nd and SS. If/When Furcal is signed, then I would look for TWalk to be traded.

 

2. If the Cubs don't get Furcal, Hendry is going to go get someone that will make a significant change to this ballclub. Dunn or Giles possibly.

 

3. Despite what the quote says, if the Cubs don't get Furcal, I could still see Nomar coming back.

 

1. Pierre-CF

2. Walker-2nd

3. Lee-1B

4. Dunn/Giles -RF

5. Ramirez-3B

6. Barrett-C

7. Murton-LF

8. Cedano-SS

 

Still not a bad line-up

 

Just my two cents worth.

 

Yep, good points. The sky hasn't fallen yet. It appears the Cubs are in good position w/ Furcal. It's unrealistic to expect him to sign a few days after free agency begins. Most top 5 free agents take a while.

[Gunned]

Hendry better be pretty damn sure that he's got Furcal in his back pocket, because where does he go if he's dumped Nomar and Furcal goes elsewhere? If Neifi starts at short I'm hanging myself.

 

The Cubs have been doing this as long as I can remember.

 

Let Player A walk because you're pursuing via trade/FA Player B.

 

Player B doesn't come here, Player A is gone, so you're stuck with incredibly inferior Player C.

 

Yeah - none of th other ML teams do this...ever.

 

I never once said no other team did it. I'm stating the Cubs do it far more often than other teams.

 

Do you closely follow the free agent negotiations of all other Major League teams?

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Despite popular belief among some of us here, I don't believe Hendry is a complete idiot.

 

1. I don't see him trading Walker until Furcal is signed. That would mean that Cedano and Walker would be 2nd and SS. If/When Furcal is signed, then I would look for TWalk to be traded.

 

2. If the Cubs don't get Furcal, Hendry is going to go get someone that will make a significant change to this ballclub. Dunn or Giles possibly.

 

3. Despite what the quote says, if the Cubs don't get Furcal, I could still see Nomar coming back.

 

1. Pierre-CF

2. Walker-2nd

3. Lee-1B

4. Dunn/Giles -RF

5. Ramirez-3B

6. Barrett-C

7. Murton-LF

8. Cedano-SS

 

Still not a bad line-up

 

Just my two cents worth.

 

Yep, good points. The sky hasn't fallen yet. It appears the Cubs are in good position w/ Furcal. It's unrealistic to expect him to sign a few days after free agency begins. Most top 5 free agents take a while.

 

good point, but is hinging the rest of your offseason on a top 5 free agent signing a smart move? i hope Hendry's backup plan for Furcal falling through is solid.

[erik316wttn]

Despite popular belief among some of us here, I don't believe Hendry is a complete idiot.

 

1. I don't see him trading Walker until Furcal is signed. That would mean that Cedano and Walker would be 2nd and SS. If/When Furcal is signed, then I would look for TWalk to be traded.

 

2. If the Cubs don't get Furcal, Hendry is going to go get someone that will make a significant change to this ballclub. Dunn or Giles possibly.

 

3. Despite what the quote says, if the Cubs don't get Furcal, I could still see Nomar coming back.

 

1. Pierre-CF

2. Walker-2nd

3. Lee-1B

4. Dunn/Giles -RF

5. Ramirez-3B

6. Barrett-C

7. Murton-LF

8. Cedano-SS

 

Still not a bad line-up

 

Just my two cents worth.

 

Yep, good points. The sky hasn't fallen yet. It appears the Cubs are in good position w/ Furcal. It's unrealistic to expect him to sign a few days after free agency begins. Most top 5 free agents take a while.

 

good point, but is hinging the rest of your offseason on a top 5 free agent signing a smart move? i hope Hendry's backup plan for Furcal falling through is solid.

 

I'd be willing to bet that he doesn't have a backup plan.

 

Or if there is, it's Neifi.

[biittner77]

Perhaps Hendry is saying this because Furcal has all but signed with the Cubs and he's just waiting on some last minute details to be worked out.

 

Then there's the other end of the spectrum- the recruiting element. It shows the Cubs are serious about signing Furcal if they're willing to publicly burn bridges with one of the other options.

[mlarner]

Im not sure this is so much a ploy having to do with positioning for other players, sending signals, etc. as much as just the realization that Nomar is not wanted by the team as next year's SS. Partly due to injuries, and partly that he was never the best defensive SS in the first place, I think, means the Cubs are done with the experiment. Don't get me wrong, the storyline was there for Nomar to come to the Cubs and help them get to the WS (especially after he is traded by the Sox and they go all the way) and I was as excited as anyone else, but going into another year depending on him is just a mistake IMO. Its been said on here that his values is probably higest at 3rd base, and obviously thats a spot where the Cubs are set. I don't know where (or even at which position!) he will end up, but I certainly wish him well and Im glad that Hendry is being up front with him.

[BigbadB]

Perhaps Hendry is saying this because Furcal has all but signed with the Cubs and he's just waiting on some last minute details to be worked out.

 

Then there's the other end of the spectrum- the recruiting element. It shows the Cubs are serious about signing Furcal if they're willing to publicly burn bridges with one of the other options.

 

Which would also mean that the Cubs would have to be leaning towards giving in to Furcal's recent demands of a 50m contract.

 

This won't be done anytime soon, unless the Cubs REALLY overpay.

[badgercub]

Im not sure this is so much a ploy having to do with positioning for other players, sending signals, etc. as much as just the realization that Nomar is not wanted by the team as next year's SS. Partly due to injuries, and partly that he was never the best defensive SS in the first place, I think, means the Cubs are done with the experiment. Don't get me wrong, the storyline was there for Nomar to come to the Cubs and help them get to the WS (especially after he is traded by the Sox and they go all the way) and I was as excited as anyone else, but going into another year depending on him is just a mistake IMO. Its been said on here that his values is probably higest at 3rd base, and obviously thats a spot where the Cubs are set. I don't know where (or even at which position!) he will end up, but I certainly wish him well and Im glad that Hendry is being up front with him.

 

The people calling for the Cubs to re-sign Nomar are most likely the same people that complained that Hendry relied to heavily on players with a history of injuries. I think if the Cubs do not sign Furcal, Cedeno will be the starting SS and Walker will remain a Cub and be the starting 2b with Neifi backing up both.

[fromthestretch]

The backup plan is probably Cedeno. If you don't get Furcal, start Cedeno at short, keep Walker at 2B. Neifi is the primary backup for both. You can also keep Hairston as a backup for 2B and OF if you want. They also have Fontenot and Theriot as possible bench options.

 

Throw the Furcal money at the outfield then. Let Murton play left and get two very good bats for RF and CF...probably one via free agency and one via trade.

 

I'm more worried about the outfield than I am about the infield. Because the Cubs have so many options for middle infield, I think bringing back Nomar, if the price is reasonable, would have been a good idea. They'd still have plenty of money for the outfield that way, and they could deal Hairston to a team looking for a second baseman.

 

Also, no matter how you look at this...there doesn't appear to be a Macias in the mix. :)

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Nomar can't play SS well any more (he wasn't a defensive monster even when healthy). If we had a solid OF, I'd love to have him with Cedeno waiting in the wings for the probable injury. We don't have a solid OF, so Nomar is gone.

 

Nomar in the OF is ridiculous and Nomar at 3B doesn't work for us. Nomar has to go, although he is a super nice human being and a stud with the bat (at SS) when healthy.

 

This offseason's success depends on what we get in the OF. A stud OF will make me overlook Cedeno at SS and Neifi at 2B (worst MI scenario) as at least the defense will be solid.

 

So far Hendry looks to be after mediocre OF options (Pierre, Mench). That's not encouraging.

[mlarner]

The people calling for the Cubs to re-sign Nomar are most likely the same people that complained that Hendry relied to heavily on players with a history of injuries. I think if the Cubs do not sign Furcal, Cedeno will be the starting SS and Walker will remain a Cub and be the starting 2b with Neifi backing up both.

 

I agree 100% badgercub

[CubfaninCA]

Despite popular belief among some of us here, I don't believe Hendry is a complete idiot.

 

1. I don't see him trading Walker until Furcal is signed. That would mean that Cedano and Walker would be 2nd and SS. If/When Furcal is signed, then I would look for TWalk to be traded.

 

2. If the Cubs don't get Furcal, Hendry is going to go get someone that will make a significant change to this ballclub. Dunn or Giles possibly.

 

3. Despite what the quote says, if the Cubs don't get Furcal, I could still see Nomar coming back.

 

1. Pierre-CF

2. Walker-2nd

3. Lee-1B

4. Dunn/Giles -RF

5. Ramirez-3B

6. Barrett-C

7. Murton-LF

8. Cedano-SS

 

Still not a bad line-up

 

Just my two cents worth.

 

Yep, good points. The sky hasn't fallen yet. It appears the Cubs are in good position w/ Furcal. It's unrealistic to expect him to sign a few days after free agency begins. Most top 5 free agents take a while.

 

good point, but is hinging the rest of your offseason on a top 5 free agent signing a smart move? i hope Hendry's backup plan for Furcal falling through is solid.

 

Gotta take risks in order to be really good, and I bet Walker's going nowhere until things are sorted out w/ Furcal. Surely, Hendry has multiple backup plans.

[erik316wttn]

The people calling for the Cubs to re-sign Nomar are most likely the same people that complained that Hendry relied to heavily on players with a history of injuries. I think if the Cubs do not sign Furcal, Cedeno will be the starting SS and Walker will remain a Cub and be the starting 2b with Neifi backing up both.

 

I agree 100% badgercub

 

Neifi will not be a backup as long as Dusty Baker is managing this team.

[BigbadB]

Im not sure this is so much a ploy having to do with positioning for other players, sending signals, etc. as much as just the realization that Nomar is not wanted by the team as next year's SS. Partly due to injuries, and partly that he was never the best defensive SS in the first place, I think, means the Cubs are done with the experiment. Don't get me wrong, the storyline was there for Nomar to come to the Cubs and help them get to the WS (especially after he is traded by the Sox and they go all the way) and I was as excited as anyone else, but going into another year depending on him is just a mistake IMO. Its been said on here that his values is probably higest at 3rd base, and obviously thats a spot where the Cubs are set. I don't know where (or even at which position!) he will end up, but I certainly wish him well and Im glad that Hendry is being up front with him.

 

The people calling for the Cubs to re-sign Nomar are most likely the same people that complained that Hendry relied to heavily on players with a history of injuries. I think if the Cubs do not sign Furcal, Cedeno will be the starting SS and Walker will remain a Cub and be the starting 2b with Neifi backing up both.

 

The PEOPLE who say "the people calling for this or that" are people who are labeling other posters, and it is NOT WELCOME here! Please stop. I believe this is the second warning I've given you recently.

 

I wanted Nomar resigned because he'll likely come fairly cheap, provides excellent production offensively (which offsets his defense) at a position that can be difficult to find good production. There is the matter of health, but with Cedeno backing up, we should be covered.

 

I never said a word about Hendry relying to heavily on injured players.

[RynoRules]

Hendry better be pretty damn sure that he's got Furcal in his back pocket, because where does he go if he's dumped Nomar and Furcal goes elsewhere? If Neifi starts at short I'm hanging myself.

 

The Cubs have been doing this as long as I can remember.

 

Let Player A walk because you're pursuing via trade/FA Player B.

 

Player B doesn't come here, Player A is gone, so you're stuck with incredibly inferior Player C.

 

Yeah - none of th other ML teams do this...ever.

 

I never once said no other team did it. I'm stating the Cubs do it far more often than other teams.

 

Do you closely follow the free agent negotiations of all other Major League teams?

 

Enough to know that the sort of scenario described above has happended countless times to other teams and Gms. It does not make JH blameless for last year, it does, however, mean that the worst-case scenario is less likely to happen the second time around. More importantly, the second-time around has barely begun.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

I get this sinking feeling Nomar's going to be signed by the White Sox.

 

:-&

[RynoRules]

Perhaps Hendry is saying this because Furcal has all but signed with the Cubs and he's just waiting on some last minute details to be worked out.

 

Then there's the other end of the spectrum- the recruiting element. It shows the Cubs are serious about signing Furcal if they're willing to publicly burn bridges with one of the other options.

 

Which would also mean that the Cubs would have to be leaning towards giving in to Furcal's recent demands of a 50m contract.

 

This won't be done anytime soon, unless the Cubs REALLY overpay.

 

I could be wrong, but didn't his agent essentially retrac that, noting that a spanish-speaking reporter mistraslated his comments (or something)?

[BigbadB]

Haven't heard a thing about it, but I'd be thrilled to know that.

[mlarner]

Yeah, I think his agent did retract the $50 million demand.

-Sorry if I labled anyone around here above. Hendry has gotten hit pretty hard for relying too heavily on players with a history of injuries (Woody and Nomar) thats all I was saying.

[badgercub]

Im not sure this is so much a ploy having to do with positioning for other players, sending signals, etc. as much as just the realization that Nomar is not wanted by the team as next year's SS. Partly due to injuries, and partly that he was never the best defensive SS in the first place, I think, means the Cubs are done with the experiment. Don't get me wrong, the storyline was there for Nomar to come to the Cubs and help them get to the WS (especially after he is traded by the Sox and they go all the way) and I was as excited as anyone else, but going into another year depending on him is just a mistake IMO. Its been said on here that his values is probably higest at 3rd base, and obviously thats a spot where the Cubs are set. I don't know where (or even at which position!) he will end up, but I certainly wish him well and Im glad that Hendry is being up front with him.

 

 

 

 

The people calling for the Cubs to re-sign Nomar are most likely the same people that complained that Hendry relied to heavily on players with a history of injuries. I think if the Cubs do not sign Furcal, Cedeno will be the starting SS and Walker will remain a Cub and be the starting 2b with Neifi backing up both.

 

The PEOPLE who say "the people calling for this or that" are people who are labeling other posters, and it is NOT WELCOME here! Please stop. I believe this is the second warning I've given you recently.

 

I wanted Nomar resigned because he'll likely come fairly cheap, provides excellent production offensively (which offsets his defense) at a position that can be difficult to find good production. There is the matter of health, but with Cedeno backing up, we should be covered.

 

I never said a word about Hendry relying to heavily on injured players.

 

Settle down, No one was singling anyone out or labeling anyone. There has been much debate on this board about signing and relying on players with injuries that have limited their playing time in the past. Just stating facts, not being derogatory to anyone. Quit acting so holier than thou.

Edited November 14, 2005 by badgercub

[fromthestretch]

The people calling for the Cubs to re-sign Nomar are most likely the same people that complained that Hendry relied to heavily on players with a history of injuries. I think if the Cubs do not sign Furcal, Cedeno will be the starting SS and Walker will remain a Cub and be the starting 2b with Neifi backing up both.

 

I agree 100% badgercub

 

I think you need to look at this in context. Personally, I'm not upset that the Cubs have players with a history of injury on the team. What bothers me is that the fallback options in 2005 were weak. If you are going to have a Nomar on your roster, you can't afford to have a bench spot occupied by Macias. You need to make sure that you have better bench options.

 

Injuries are going to happen...even to people that don't have a history of injury. A player might get hit by a pitch and break a bone. A middle infielder might get hurt on a hard slide by a runner coming into second base. Collisions in the outfield happen (see Mike Cameron). You just need to make sure you have enough options so that if an injury does happen, you have someone you're comfortable plugging into that spot for an extended period of time. Either that or you need to have the resources and presence of mind to make a trade for someone that you can plug into that spot soon after the injury, if you anticipate that the injured player is going to be out for more than just a few weeks. You also need to have a productive enough lineup/pitching staff where if someone gets hurt, you can still manage to score/prevent runs.

 

If Nomar gets hurt, I'm comfortable with Cedeno starting everyday, with Neifi backing him up. You can't expect to replace the production of a Mark Prior if he gets hurt. That said, the Cubs have several people they can put on the mound every fifth day that should be somewhat effective.