From ESPN chat about Cubs SS

[cubfan]

I found this answer from the chat interesting and thought I would pass it on.

 

Who plays shortstop for the Cubs if they don't sign Furcal? Neifi Perez? Nomar?

 

JERRY CRASNICK

I think they'll go with the kid, Ronny Cedeno at short, and play Todd Walker at second next year. That way Neifi can be their super utility guy. If they pick up a shortstop, Cedeno will go to second and they'll trade Walker to an AL team.

 

This is the first time I think I really heard some say they thought Walker could stay with the Cubs. Getting Furcal would be nice, but if this is right (I'm not saying it is), at least we might not looking at Neifi starting if they don't.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

That's what common sense would suggest, but common sense doesn't resign Neifi Perez for $5M/2 years.

[davecubsfan]

That's what common sense would suggest, but common sense doesn't resign Neifi Perez for $5M/2 years.

 

Also, Common sense is not a synonym for Dusty Baker.

[cubfan]

I just thought it might be some what encouraging that someone in the media thought we would keep Walker if the Cubs are not able to sign Furcal. I do not know how reliable Jerry Crasnick is but thought he could have some inside information but I guess it is just as likely that he was just using common sense and we all know that common sense has not been a strong point of the Cubs that last few years either

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I certainly hope he's right.

[Bull]

I've always thought that this is why Cedeno is playing SS in winter ball.

[soapy]

I'd prefer a Cedeno/Walker middle infield to a Furcal/Cedeno MI. I'd prefer to get my lead-off hitter elsewhere, even if it meant Pierre.

 

Pierre

Walker

Lee

RF (you now have all of Furcal's money)

Ramirez

Murton

Barrett

Cedeno

 

Or, even better would be to trade for Castillo and Walker is dealt for an OF bat or pitching. Maybe Bradley or Wilkerson acquired to play CF.

 

Castillo

Murton

Lee

RF

Ramirez

Bradley

Barrett

Cedeno

 

Depending on the RF acquired, I'd prefer either of those scenarios instead of paying Furcal 5/50.

[St.Paul Cub]

That does make sense. While we paid too much, I've always thought Neifi was only insurance against a total Cedeno meltdown and it's going to be Cedeno and Walker if it's not Cedeno and Furcal.

 

Of course I have a gut feeling Walker is part of some deal and you see him shipped to Texas for Soriano. Then we go with Pierre in CF and a power hitting RF.

 

CF-Pierre

LF-Murton

1B-Lee

RF-Abreau

3B-ARam

2B-Soriano

C-Barrett

SS_Cedeno

[erik316wttn]

The X factor in this whole discussion is if Cedeno will be the starter on Opening Day, and if he is, will he get a fair shot at holding onto the job?

 

I think we'll see some thinly-veiled comments from Dusty about Cedeno starting (but only because management is pushing it on him), then if we see just one 1-12 slump, Neifi will be in there for 2 months.

[frostwyrm]

Cedeno would have a better chance with the Cubs if he weren't a RH batter. I can't see Dusty trusting him to start against RH pitching when Neifi is an option. Also, has anyone considered that Cedeno might be playing SS in winter ball because shorstops are much more valuable trade bait than second basemen?

[goonys evil twin]

I choose not to entertain thoughts of Neifi as a starter until it happens. Ignorance is bliss, which is not to say I want to be ignorant, rather I just want to ignore Neifi for as long as possible.

[Marco4]

I just want to ignore Neifi for as long as possible.

 

Now... is there ANY way of transmitting this to Dusty?

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

If trading away Cedano, Walker and pitching and starting Neifi at short meant that we picked up Abreu, Pierre, and Soriano, and signed a mid to high tier SP, would you be happy about the offseason or upset? I think I'd be a happy, even though it meants we put almost all of our chips on winning next season.

[goonys evil twin]

If trading away Cedano, Walker and pitching and starting Neifi at short meant that we picked up Abreu, Pierre, and Soriano, and signed a mid to high tier SP, would you be happy about the offseason or upset? I think I'd be a happy, even though it meants we put almost all of our chips on winning next season.

 

I am not a big Pierre or Soriano fan, but depending on the pitcher, I probably wouldn't be all that upset. Neifi can be the 8th hitter on a team with a very good lineup and solid pitching, but that is all he can be.

 

 

Who would backup at SS?

[CubsWin]

I found this answer from the chat interesting and thought I would pass it on.

 

Who plays shortstop for the Cubs if they don't sign Furcal? Neifi Perez? Nomar?

 

JERRY CRASNICK

I think they'll go with the kid, Ronny Cedeno at short, and play Todd Walker at second next year. That way Neifi can be their super utility guy. If they pick up a shortstop, Cedeno will go to second and they'll trade Walker to an AL team.

 

This is the first time I think I really heard some say they thought Walker could stay with the Cubs. Getting Furcal would be nice, but if this is right (I'm not saying it is), at least we might not looking at Neifi starting if they don't.

I'm not surprised by Crasnick's note at all. This is what I thought Hendry's plan was all along. If he doesn't sign Furcal, he will go with Cedeno at SS and Walker will play 2B with Perez backing up both positions. This was talked about in one of the articles written about the Perez signing. I didn't think it was a secret.

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

If trading away Cedano, Walker and pitching and starting Neifi at short meant that we picked up Abreu, Pierre, and Soriano, and signed a mid to high tier SP, would you be happy about the offseason or upset? I think I'd be a happy, even though it meants we put almost all of our chips on winning next season.

 

I am not a big Pierre or Soriano fan, but depending on the pitcher, I probably wouldn't be all that upset. Neifi can be the 8th hitter on a team with a very good lineup and solid pitching, but that is all he can be.

 

 

Who would backup at SS?

 

Macias? Heh. No idea, but if Neifi got injured...wouldn't it be a fun problem to solve?

 

To add to my question....I don't think we could get all those players without losing Pie. Is it still a happy offseason without him in the wings? I still say yes. I mean, the team would be UNQUESTIONABLY better or equal at every position than last year, except for Garciaparra over Neifi at short....I really don't understand why we paid so much for Neifi when Nomar probably wouldn't have cost much more.

 

I'm getting off topic here, but does anyone else here think that Angel Guzman has a shot of making some noise next year if (/when) someone does down? I do, but then again, I liked Cruz over Zambrano way back when.