Perspective on Furcal from Atlanta

[The Voice of Reason]

After reading the attached, I'm convinced the Cubs will get their man (Furcal). The fact that a respected and well-run organization like the Braves want to keep him (but just probably can't afford him) only makes him more desirable in my eyes. Sure getting Giles would be incredible but with so many suitors, I doubt the Cubs could get it done. Better to get Furcal than come in second or third with Giles. Get it done Jim.

 

 

 

[CubinNY]

$9 mill/year for 5 is way too much.

[jyoung55]

$9 mill/year for 5 is way too much.

 

Is it really too much to keep Neifi from the top of the order and playing SS on a team we would like to play meaningful games at the end of the season? I'll let the Cubs worry about payroll... heck the Trib has the money. Hopefully, they are worrying about secondarily to winning.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

$9 mill/year for 5 is way too much.

 

Is it really too much to keep Neifi from the top of the order and playing SS on a team we would like to play meaningful games at the end of the season? I'll let the Cubs worry about payroll... heck the Trib has the money. Hopefully, they are worrying about secondarily to winning.

 

yeah, it's just money now, but when Z, Prior, and Lee are due the big bucks, we're going to look back on Furcal's contract with loathing.

[goonys evil twin]

$9 mill/year for 5 is way too much.

 

Is it really too much to keep Neifi from the top of the order and playing SS on a team we would like to play meaningful games at the end of the season? I'll let the Cubs worry about payroll... heck the Trib has the money. Hopefully, they are worrying about secondarily to winning.

 

Unfortunately they have a budget. The only reason I worry about $9m being too much is that it will undoubtedly take away money from other areas. If this were the Yankees, I'd be all over a 5/50 for Furcal, and a 4/48 with Giles, and 3/30 with Ryan/Wagner and 3/30 with Burnett. But this isn't the Yankees.

 

You don't overspend in an effort to stop your manager from being stupid. You simply fire him. Dusty's incompetence is not justification for compounding the mistake by overpaying for non-stars.

[The Voice of Reason]

$9 mill/year for 5 is way too much.

 

Is it really too much to keep Neifi from the top of the order and playing SS on a team we would like to play meaningful games at the end of the season? I'll let the Cubs worry about payroll... heck the Trib has the money. Hopefully, they are worrying about secondarily to winning.

 

yeah, it's just money now, but when Z, Prior, and Lee are due the big bucks, we're going to look back on Furcal's contract with loathing.

 

 

Not me. Although I may look back with loathing at the $9 million dollars paid a 40 year old pitcher, the $12 million paid to Sosa when he was with the Orioles and the incredible sum paid Kerry Wood.

[bannor10]

Worry about winning this season......In two or three years if we have a WS ring no one will complain about the budget....

 

The Cubs should have enough money to sign Furcal, Giles, and Burnett to 10 mil a year seasons....

 

Sign Giles to play RF and you won't have to worry about Pattersons production in center....Sign Furcal and Cpatt won't have to keep leading off and just maybe he can develop if he gets a chance to hit 7th in the line up for 162 games....

 

Actually use the farm system and the budget won't get to high if used for the 5th OF and extra infielder....Or maybe acutally play Cedano and Murton and not waste 5 mil on Jermony Burnet(sp) and whatever Hollinsworth was making... Remlinger etc. etc.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

That would be fine, but we're not even close to winning a WS. So many things have to go right for us to make the playoffs. We need a healthy pitching staff and a fixed OF, bullpen, and MI. We're not even close.

[goonys evil twin]

That would be fine, but we're not even close to winning a WS. So many things have to go right for us to make the playoffs. We need a healthy pitching staff and a fixed OF, bullpen, and MI. We're not even close.

 

I don't know if the Cubs are far or close, but it wouldn't be difficult to turn this into a WS winning team. But I do know that Furcal alone doesn't do much to improve this team's chances.

[YearofDaCubs]

I guess the money is all relative. Renteria makes 10mil per year and we used to pay AGone 6mil per year. I think 8mil would be nice and I'm hoping we don't give him 10mil but whatever, if we give Perez 6mil for 2 years why not give Furcal 9mil.

[Roast]

I'd rather bring back nomar for cheap with the risk of injury. Nomar at his best is better than Furcal at his. And if nomar flops, throw Cedeno in there. Save the money now, use it on taking on some contract in a trade (or something)

[goonys evil twin]

I guess the money is all relative. Renteria makes 10mil per year and we used to pay AGone 6mil per year. I think 8mil would be nice and I'm hoping we don't give him 10mil but whatever, if we give Perez 6mil for 2 years why not give Furcal 9mil.

 

And since they paid Maddux $9m they should pay Zambrano $18m?

 

Salaries matter. There is a budget. The more they spend for lesser talent, the less they'll have for greater talent.

[bannor10]

Sure but not signing Furcal because we are 1 mil off and playing Nefi everyday will guarantee the Cubs not to make the post season...Isnt everybody tired of settling.....Think about last season...We went into last year losing 75 hrs(or so) from the corners and replaced them with no production....How could we have even thought our team was better from the year before when we came up short.....At least make the effort to try and win with the best team......I hate waiting for lightning to strike every year and someone to have a career year

 

That would be fine, but we're not even close to winning a WS. So many things have to go right for us to make the playoffs. We need a healthy pitching staff and a fixed OF, bullpen, and MI. We're not even close.

[Roast]

 

Salaries matter. There is a budget. The more they spend for lesser talent, the less they'll have for greater talent.

 

Thats almost poetic.

[YearofDaCubs]

I guess the money is all relative. Renteria makes 10mil per year and we used to pay AGone 6mil per year. I think 8mil would be nice and I'm hoping we don't give him 10mil but whatever, if we give Perez 6mil for 2 years why not give Furcal 9mil.

 

And since they paid Maddux $9m they should pay Zambrano $18m?

 

Salaries matter. There is a budget. The more they spend for lesser talent, the less they'll have for greater talent.

Well, that concept was thrown out the window when we signed Perez and Rusch to the ridiculous contracts.

[bannor10]

Maybe the Nomar from 2000......He's done being a top tier player...Put him in LF and he is nothing special......

 

I'd rather bring back nomar for cheap with the risk of injury. Nomar at his best is better than Furcal at his. And if nomar flops, throw Cedeno in there. Save the money now, use it on taking on some contract in a trade (or something)

[goonys evil twin]

Sure but not signing Furcal because we are 1 mil off and playing Nefi everyday will guarantee the Cubs not to make the post season...Isnt everybody tired of settling.....Think about last season...We went into last year losing 75 hrs(or so) from the corners and replaced them with no production....How could we have even thought our team was better from the year before when we came up short.....At least make the effort to try and win with the best team......I hate waiting for lightning to strike every year and someone to have a career year

 

Why not let Ronny start at SS and spend the money on a difference maker? There's also guys like Lugo out there who is a small step down from Furcal, but much less expensive.

[YearofDaCubs]

Sure but not signing Furcal because we are 1 mil off and playing Nefi everyday will guarantee the Cubs not to make the post season...Isnt everybody tired of settling.....Think about last season...We went into last year losing 75 hrs(or so) from the corners and replaced them with no production....How could we have even thought our team was better from the year before when we came up short.....At least make the effort to try and win with the best team......I hate waiting for lightning to strike every year and someone to have a career year

 

Why not let Ronny start at SS and spend the money on a difference maker? There's also guys like Lugo out there who is a small step down from Furcal, but much less expensive.

I'm for that idea too, who do you have in mind?

[bannor10]

New Cubs theme: The more we spend the less talented players we have.... That is great...

 

I know what you meant but I read it differently the first time

 

 

Salaries matter. There is a budget. The more they spend for lesser talent, the less they'll have for greater talent.

 

[nick23]

Sure but not signing Furcal because we are 1 mil off and playing Nefi everyday will guarantee the Cubs not to make the post season...Isnt everybody tired of settling.....Think about last season...We went into last year losing 75 hrs(or so) from the corners and replaced them with no production....How could we have even thought our team was better from the year before when we came up short.....At least make the effort to try and win with the best team......I hate waiting for lightning to strike every year and someone to have a career year

 

Why not let Ronny start at SS and spend the money on a difference maker? There's also guys like Lugo out there who is a small step down from Furcal, but much less expensive.

I love how you don't even consider Furcal a difference maker. I'm sure there are some people in Atlanta that might disagree with you.

[CubsWin]

Sure but not signing Furcal because we are 1 mil off and playing Nefi everyday will guarantee the Cubs not to make the post season...Isnt everybody tired of settling.....Think about last season...We went into last year losing 75 hrs(or so) from the corners and replaced them with no production....How could we have even thought our team was better from the year before when we came up short.....At least make the effort to try and win with the best team......I hate waiting for lightning to strike every year and someone to have a career year

 

Why not let Ronny start at SS and spend the money on a difference maker? There's also guys like Lugo out there who is a small step down from Furcal, but much less expensive.

I have agreed with everything you've written in this thread so far. A question though, with Cedeno still somewhat of an unknown offensively, are you sure you want to take the risk of him hitting .240/.310/.390 as your starting SS? That would seem to be his floor. I think he'll do much better than that, but I thought Dubois would do much better than he did also.

 

Another question if Cedeno plays 2B, Murton plays LF and Pie plays CF starting in '07 and they do so for the next 4 years rather cheaply, wouldn't the Cubs still be able to afford to give raises to players like Prior, Zambrano, Lee and Ramirez even with Furcal on the books for 9 mill?

[goonys evil twin]

Sure but not signing Furcal because we are 1 mil off and playing Nefi everyday will guarantee the Cubs not to make the post season...Isnt everybody tired of settling.....Think about last season...We went into last year losing 75 hrs(or so) from the corners and replaced them with no production....How could we have even thought our team was better from the year before when we came up short.....At least make the effort to try and win with the best team......I hate waiting for lightning to strike every year and someone to have a career year

 

Why not let Ronny start at SS and spend the money on a difference maker? There's also guys like Lugo out there who is a small step down from Furcal, but much less expensive.

I love how you don't even consider Furcal a difference maker. I'm sure there are some people in Atlanta that might disagree with you.

 

A career 750 OPS player is not a difference maker, especially when you have a minimum wage guy on your team that would probably put up a 700 OPS pretty easily. A difference maker is a guy with a 900+ OPS, or if you are a SS, you better be an 825-850 OPS guy at least.

[CubsWin]

Sure but not signing Furcal because we are 1 mil off and playing Nefi everyday will guarantee the Cubs not to make the post season...Isnt everybody tired of settling.....Think about last season...We went into last year losing 75 hrs(or so) from the corners and replaced them with no production....How could we have even thought our team was better from the year before when we came up short.....At least make the effort to try and win with the best team......I hate waiting for lightning to strike every year and someone to have a career year

 

Why not let Ronny start at SS and spend the money on a difference maker? There's also guys like Lugo out there who is a small step down from Furcal, but much less expensive.

I love how you don't even consider Furcal a difference maker. I'm sure there are some people in Atlanta that might disagree with you.

On this Cubs team, Furcal alone won't be a difference maker. I think that is what Goony has been trying to say.

 

If the Cubs sign Furcal but miss out on a Giles-like upgrade in RF, the Cubs won't have any better of a shot at making the playoffs than they did this season.

[Roast]

Maybe the Nomar from 2000......He's done being a top tier player...Put him in LF and he is nothing special......

 

I'd rather bring back nomar for cheap with the risk of injury. Nomar at his best is better than Furcal at his. And if nomar flops, throw Cedeno in there. Save the money now, use it on taking on some contract in a trade (or something)

 

What in the blazes does that have to do with anything. The goal is to get top production out of each position. You wont find any (save Arod) Bobby Abreu's or Barry Bonds at short stop.

 

As for him being nothing special....

 

Dude has a .320 career average.

 

Since 2000 (when he was stellar, as you pointed out) he has batted .289(injury shortened), .310, .301, .321/.297 (redsox/cubs), and .283 (he batted well above .300 after the injury). Those stats are still VERY good and still put him atop most of the other SS's baseball. And cheaper too.

[JeffH]

If the Cubs sign Furcal but miss out on a Giles-like upgrade in RF, the Cubs won't have any better of a shot at making the playoffs than they did this season.

 

Utterly ridiculous.