Looking Ahead without Furcal

[Careless]

I have absolutely no faith that Jim Hendry can put together a winning ball club anymore. I for one really wanted Furcal, and it is a huge blow that he is signing with the Dodgers, maybe its because I'm not in the right state of mind right now, but I really don't know what Hendry can do now that will 1). restore my faith in Hendry and 2). give me hope that this team can do anything. I don't see this team winning the World Series any time soon, and I don't even see this team making the playoffs. Thank God the Bears are good, I don't know how much longer I can take this team. I really feeling like just crying right now.

 

Do you honestly feel that we should have paid 13 million or more per year for Furcal? I understand we havent won in forever and we have a huge payroll but we would definitely regret that signing in the future. I hope Hendry can land a big impact RF and I have faith that he will. If he doesn't then you can cry, but dont blame Hendry for not grossly overpaying for Furcal.

Agreed. I may bash hendry (see sig), but I'm not going to give him crap for not signing furcal at >$13/year or $55/5+

[Careless]

Neifi needs to be at $3, btw.

And no, I won't let that die.

[JeffH]

Neifi needs to be at $3, btw.

 

Nope.

[Careless]

Neifi needs to be at $3, btw.

 

Nope.

2 years 6 million, $1 million signing bonus.

2 years 6 million, $1 million signing bonus.

[oldcubsfan]

Man, I have no clue what Hendry has planned for right now. I do agree with Vance though. Why the Cubs did not get involved in trying to get Castillo is a huge mystery to me. He was probably one of my top interests for this offseason. I really don't know what we're gonna do now though. Anyone know Hendrys plan B?

For the same reason the Mets didn't-worries about his hip.

 

Can someone tell me what is wrong with Cedeno's play at SS? I don't understand why the cubs are in such a hurry to get another SS? Is his defense that bad?

[JeffH]

Neifi needs to be at $3, btw.

 

Nope.

2 years 6 million, $1 million signing bonus.

2 years 6 million, $1 million signing bonus.

 

Nope.

[XZero771679666304]

Man, I have no clue what Hendry has planned for right now. I do agree with Vance though. Why the Cubs did not get involved in trying to get Castillo is a huge mystery to me. He was probably one of my top interests for this offseason. I really don't know what we're gonna do now though. Anyone know Hendrys plan B?

For the same reason the Mets didn't-worries about his hip.

 

Can someone tell me what is wrong with Cedeno's play at SS? I don't understand why the cubs are in such a hurry to get another SS? Is his defense that bad?

 

Because despite what he says, Dusty doesn't want to play kids unless he absolutely has to. Cedeno is a very good defender.

[rawaction]

Man, I have no clue what Hendry has planned for right now. I do agree with Vance though. Why the Cubs did not get involved in trying to get Castillo is a huge mystery to me. He was probably one of my top interests for this offseason. I really don't know what we're gonna do now though. Anyone know Hendrys plan B?

For the same reason the Mets didn't-worries about his hip.

 

Can someone tell me what is wrong with Cedeno's play at SS? I don't understand why the cubs are in such a hurry to get another SS? Is his defense that bad?

 

Exact opposite. He's a solid defender with the potential to be really good. I think the Cubs want a leadoff hitter no matter the position. Furcal was the best on the market. And Cedeno has the flexibility to play 2B very well also.

[fearthecubs]

 

Because despite what he says, Dusty doesn't want to play kids unless he absolutely has to. Cedeno is a very good defender.

 

Well, dude, you know, I've never really had any good young players to play. I had Rich Aurilia, I sort of played him, hey, I played that Pedro Feliz guy too. You know dude, when I was playing with Hank Aaron, I was lucky if I got to bunt him to second base then clean his cleats later in the locker room!

[Backtobanks]

First, I want to repeat what I have written many times in other threads: I think Cedeno is going to match Furcal's production within 2-3 years (for less than 5% of the cost). If the Cubs acquire any 2 of the OFs that have been mentioned in these posts, they will have a much stronger team than they did last year. At this point, keeping Walker at 2B is sounding like a good idea. With all of what I have mentioned, the only problem could be at leadoff man (unless Pierre is acquired). Also, unless one of the OFs is Abreu or Manny, the Cubs should have more than enough money to go after a free agent starter.

[wastra]

First off, I'm not upse that we apparently won't be getting Furcal.

 

What I'm upset about is the Cubs' offseason mindset again.

 

 

It is starting to feel more and more like LAST offseason, where Hendry doesn't have a comprehensive plan so much as he has one all-or-nothing target. Rebuilding the pen is a good idea, but his focus on guys like Furcal is the problem, not the fact that he didn't get him.

 

 

This team has a very short window, to be honest. Wood, Prior, Zambrano. This will be, what, year 4 of failing to put together a legitimate roster around them intended to dominate the league?

 

It seems Hendry is looking for that one guy who fits his "tools" profile who was on a winning team instead of recognizing that except for about 6 players, we're just not a very talented team, and on top of that, we're CERTAINLY not a roster of a big-market team that intends to compete. Neifi Perez, two years of Macias, going with Hoolandsworth, Dubois, Burnitz at the cornsers last year- these are not moves that a team like the Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals make. THESE are the teams we need to be emulating. Those GMs would be crucified by local media and fans if they entered a season with a roster as putrid as ours last year, and with what is looking to be a very similar roster again this year.

 

Again, I recognize that it's early in the offseason, so this is jsut surmising at this point, but nothing I've heard or seen from the Cubs camp this winter leads me to beleive they even RECOGNIZE the mistakes they keep making.

 

We need more guys on base? LEt's re-sign Neifi, one of the prime culprits of bad hitting approaches.

 

We need a leadoff hitter who gets on base? Let's target Furcal ,who doesn't even post a high OBP.

 

These moves don't inspire confidence.

[soapy]

Unfortunately, more realistic might be:

 

CF Pierre

LF Murton/Mabry platoon

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

RF Jacque Jones ($8M)

C Barrett

2B Neifi!

SS Cedeno

 

Add SP Burnett or Weaver ($10-$12M)

 

Patterson/Walker traded for prospects

Welcome to the forum!

 

I must say, though, your line-up doesn't sound very realistic to me.

 

The only unrealistic thing about that lineup is that Dusty will never put Murton in the 2-hole. You can pencel Neifi in there.

[YearofDaCubs]

Neifi a starter? It will probably happen but it is a move that will probably make me boycott the Cubs. I will not stand for Neifi as a starter in 2006. Guys, 100mil payroll we deserve better than to see Neifi as a starter for our team.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I predict Hendry and Baker are going to get skewered big time this year at the Cubs convention regarding Neifi. The fans have to let them know that NO ONE in baseball except themselves think Neifi should EVER start for a ballclub, much less a putative contender. He was released by the flipping Giants, for chrissakes.

[abuck1220]

I predict Hendry and Baker are going to get skewered big time this year at the Cubs convention regarding Neifi. The fans have to let them know that NO ONE in baseball except themselves think Neifi should EVER start for a ballclub, much less a putative contender. He was released by the flipping Giants, for chrissakes.

 

believe it or not, lots of people think neifi is good.

[soapy]

I predict Hendry and Baker are going to get skewered big time this year at the Cubs convention regarding Neifi. The fans have to let them know that NO ONE in baseball except themselves think Neifi should EVER start for a ballclub, much less a putative contender. He was released by the flipping Giants, for chrissakes.

 

believe it or not, lots of people think neifi is good.

 

Agreed. Unfortunately, I have several friends who think Neifi is good and were glad to see him return INSTEAD of Nomar (If they had to choose between the two).

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I predict Hendry and Baker are going to get skewered big time this year at the Cubs convention regarding Neifi. The fans have to let them know that NO ONE in baseball except themselves think Neifi should EVER start for a ballclub, much less a putative contender. He was released by the flipping Giants, for chrissakes.

 

believe it or not, lots of people think neifi is good.

 

just read the lemmings' comments on cubs.com for further proof that those people exist en masse.

[HoopsCubs]

Also, unless one of the OFs is Abreu or Manny, the Cubs should have more than enough money to go after a free agent starter.

 

I think that is an excellent point. With Furcal passing on the Cubs, I think the likelihood of acquiring another starting pitcher went up big time.

That, in itself, may be fueling the Barry Zito rumours.

[UK1679666180]

Since I'm bored and brainstorming:

 

Mets:

Soriano

Mench

 

Cubs:

Floyd

Matsui (cash)

 

Rangers:

Walker

Diaz

Heilman

Williams/Rusch

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

All these three ways with the Mets and Rangers rip off the Mets REALLY hard. There is absolutely no reason for them to make those trades.

[CubsWin]

Unfortunately, more realistic might be:

 

CF Pierre

LF Murton/Mabry platoon

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

RF Jacque Jones ($8M)

C Barrett

2B Neifi!

SS Cedeno

 

Add SP Burnett or Weaver ($10-$12M)

 

Patterson/Walker traded for prospects

Welcome to the forum!

 

I must say, though, your line-up doesn't sound very realistic to me.

 

The only unrealistic thing about that lineup is that Dusty will never put Murton in the 2-hole. You can pencel Neifi in there.

Here is what I find unrealistic about it. Acquiring Weaver. Starting Perez who has only played as much as he has because of injuries. Acquiring Jones who has not been mentioned as being pursued by the Cubs in any articles and certainly there haven't been any actual quotes coming from anyone inside the Cubs about wanting Jones. And the idea of a Murton/Mabry platoon doesn't sound very likely to me, either.

 

Angry cynics and those convinced of the ineptitude of Jim Hendry would probably disagree, however. I understand. I guess we'll find out who's right. I've certainly been wrong before.