goonys evil twin

As of 8/26 how many at bats did he have? 50, spread out over 4 months. You can't tell if that is major league ready. Nomar went down early, and Neifi stepped up initially. It was the right call at the time. He was the backup. But Neifi's initial success quickly turned to crap. He had an OBP of .283 in May, .248 in June and .245 in July. He was absolutely terrible, a miserable player who was really hurting the team. Given his history, this should not have been unexpected. During this time, Ronny was killing AAA with an OPS over 900. Immediately following Neifi's return to normalcy, Ronny should have been given the job. At the very least, by the end of June, Ronny should have been starting, given that Neifi's season long numbers had already disintigrated, and Ronny would have had to be extremely bad, even underperforming his early pro numbers, to be as bad as Neifi. It was pretty simple. Once you realized Neifi was your #1 SS, you should have done whatever possible to find a new SS. He's okay as a bench player, but awful as a starter. Once he's moved to starter because of injury, and you have a AAA player with an OPS of 900+, you go to that AAA player who has a chance of being good, instead of sticking with the veteran who is guaranteed to be god awful.

how many signs did he miss last year? i can't find that stat (SM...MS?) on espn's stat page. also, how were is SM numbers compared to walker's? I wouldn't bust anyone's balls for that one. The whole damn team missed signs like crazy last year. It was sickening, and it got worse as the season went along. I wish they would keep stats for that, it would have further highlighted how pathetic last year's team was at times. Given the apparant quality of coaching in other areas, and the number of players who reportedly did miss signs, I'm not sure this whole thing isn't a start at the top problem instead of just a few slacker players.

Did somebody do that?

no kidding. did you see that usher? he had his hands all over her and she seemed not to mind. i swear he was copping a feel. lucky old fart. From what I can tell, she's quite the looker. But she also seems to be just a few steps shy of Mrs. Warner and Mrs. Christie in the full of herself pyscho sports wife category.

Neifi can only start, or play a lot, on a team that is willing to lose a lot of games (the Cubs should not be that team), or on a team with an otherwise aweseom lineup (the Cubs are not that team).

I would like to see a Cubs team in Orlando, making it a bit easier for me to plan a little trip around some of their games.

There's a much bigger difference. Corey had some success at a young age in the minors, as well as some success in the majors. Luis absolutely sucked as a pro until he was much older than all the competition.

I think you have something to back that up, that's how Dusty used him. There's been rumors that he is now out of the doghouse, but Dusty didn't like him before, and included him in the few guys who got called out in public.

I have my doubts about Ronny as well, but it's much better to take your chances on a kid (making the minimum) who might be good but might suck over a veteran who will definitely suck because he's always sucked and will always suck (and who you're stuck paying $5 million).

He could be a sleeper for decent play this season. But he'll turn 30 early in 2006, and his 2005 season closely mirrors his career numbers. The only times he's been better have been sub 300 AB seasons. If the Cubs could get 500 AB with somewhere between his 2003 (.271 .353 .372) and 2004 (.303 .378 .397) seasons, I'd be ecstatic, but I don't see it happening. The best we can hope for from 2B is that the Cubs make an about face on the Walker thing and let him be the starter this year, in which case you'd have a pretty good chance to see .290 .348 .441 (TW's career) from 2B this year.

OBP outweighs SLG pretty significantly, and Neifi doesn't provide SLG. Last year the midpoint for team SLG from a SS was .385, Neifi was .383. But that was also a 4 year high for him that was inflated by a hot April. That leaguewide number also takes into account every SS who plays, not just everybody who gets significant playing time. Neifi, outside of Coors, is typically around .330-.340 in the SLG department, which is all the way down the list of MLB SS. He sucks people, stop trying to gloss over that fact and just accept it. The Cubs overvalue him, just like they overvalue several mediocre players. It's possible to win with him on the team, and making far too much money, but it'll just be tougher to do so.

I think somebody will offer something, but it might not be worth it for them to take and suffer the cap hit from a trade. I just think they wanted to prove a point with TO, and didn't think it would go as far as it did. They didn't want him signing with a rival midseason, when they were still fighting for a spot. Now that time has passed, I think they would be more than happy to simply cut him, and I've read numerous "experts" who also think he'll be released after March 1.

For the same reason Prior opted for arbitration this year, because it was a right negotiated into his deal, and he could get a lot more money if he exercised that right. One big year and he could quite possibly be the most sought after free agent on the market. If he can play 150 games, and match his 2004 line: .318/.373/.578, with 100+ runs scored, 100+ RBI, 30+ HR and 30+ doubles, with decent defense, he would be in-line to make a lot more than the 2 year $22.5 million guaranteed that is left on his contract. He could easily sign a 5/60 with a big 2006, and would be risking a lot to not take that option. Perhaps the Cubs could sign him for 4/48 before he would opt out. But all of that is better than 2/22.5.

i don't know how the cap restrictions work, but i'd bet he could be had for a draft pick. and since philly is in a terrible negotiating spot, it probably wouldn't even have to be a high pick. I have a sneaking suspicion that Benson could be the chip. Eagles need some sort of "pounding" back since the lack that in Westbrook. I think we'd have to rework or give him a new contract. The Bears would take a huge cap hit if they trade Benson. I don't think they should trade anything for TO, because I think Philly will end up releasing him anyway. But they might be better off trading Thomas Jones instead, although Philly just spent big on Westbrook this year.

i don't know how the cap restrictions work, but i'd bet he could be had for a draft pick. and since philly is in a terrible negotiating spot, it probably wouldn't even have to be a high pick. Would TO play for his Philly contract, or would he make a big stink again if the Bears didn't re-negotiate? I don't think Philly will be able to trade him, they will release him. But if they do trade him, I don't see how any team could try and have him play under his current deal. That deal, below market because of his past agent's mistake, is the entire reason for the problems (in his mind at least). I think that a team who signs TO should give him a top money contract, possibly with some insurance against him being a baby. 1 year guaranteed $8m (or whatever very close to top dollar is), then after 1 year he gets a sizable roster bonus (sort of a delayed signing bonus), and a salary for the next 4 years that would keep him among the highest paid. If the deal puts his salary among the highest for WR right now, allows the team a chance to walk away after 1 year if he's a jerk, but keeps him highly compensated if the team retains him, then it could work out for all parties.

I'm betting that Hendry will sign Pierre longterm, possibly doing what he's done with others, first signing a 1 year deal this winter, then ripping it up and going 3 years right before spring training. I also think he'll resign Lee this year, unless DLee wants to max out in his next contract. I suspect Ramirez will opt-out, if given the chance, but if he stays healthy and productive this year, Hendry will extend him a bit before he does opt out.

I think you pretty much have to just pay him top dollar and he'll be happy. That's what this has all been about. His old agent's screw up, coupled with the trade to Baltimore that he didn't like and ultimately the lower contract he felt forced to sign in Philly caused him to get pissed off and feel underpaid. If they could find a way to pay him top dollar, there's a chance everything could work out. The next contract will likely be his last big contract, unless he just does the 1 year make good deal, which I doubt will happen. TO would be the indisputable best offensive player on the team. There would be no $100 million QB for him to feel underpaid. Of course, you'd have to be ready to cut bait with him, and not try and pull the "if he won't play for us he won't play for anybody else" thing.

Not offended at all, just wondering what sort of argument you were looking for, bringing back an old thread that wasn't going anywhere and obviously trying to antagonize somebody about something.

He didn't say that at all. He said "Has anyone in this thread said that they hate Neifie? People have siad they hate the way Neifie has been employed by the managment of the Cubs. That is all most people ever say. Come down off the box. " There was no sweeping comment about anybody using the word hate. Regardless, quit being so sensitive. When people say they hate X, they are saying they think X is a big reason why the Cubs aren't winning, and I hate that the Cubs aren't winning. Do you really need everybody to be crystal clear in pointing out exactly what they are pissed off everytime they write? My lord, people use such throwaway lines all the time. All they are talking about is that they want the freaking Cubs to win, and there are a lot of things making it difficult to win.

I appreciate the follow up. I still think this whole thing was blown out of proportion. But did you really think those steadfast that it wasn't a direct quote would come out and say they were wrong? Why wouldn't they? I've been wrong and admitted on this site before. I don't think anyone on this site thinks that they are perfect, do they? Wow - silence on that one was deafening. What sort of argument are you guys trying to start now?

Has anyone in this thread said that they hate Neifie? People have siad they hate the way Neifie has been employed by the managment of the Cubs. That is all most people ever say. Come down off the box. People on this bd. have stated that they hate several Cubs; Neifi, Dusty, and Hendry included. I can't do a search, so you'll just have to take my word for it. In any case, it wasn't directed at you or anyone in particular, so take it easy. EDIT: FYI, here is one prominent member's signature line: What the heck does that have to do with what that person said? He clearly stated people hate management's use. You didn't prove anything here regarding whether people hate Neifi personally. Obviously when people are complaining about a player and the team's use of the player, they don't typically mean they hate the player personally, because they don't know him. The only players I've known people to talk about personal hatred for are guys like Sosa, Patterson, Hundley, Farnsworth and possibly Walker. People attack those guys on a personal basis. The attacks on Neifi are strictly professional related. He fails to do the job but the Cubs keep giving him the chance to fail, and people hate that. They aren't questioning his motives, effort, personal life or anything else, just how much he sucks and how much the Cubs let him suck.

I don't hate Neifi. I hate how much, and how, Dusty plays him. I hate how much value Hendry places on him and how much of the payroll is dedicated to him. And I hate how much credit people give him for "saving the Cubs", "playing excellent last year" and "being one of the lone bright spots on the team". I hate that people still completely dismiss the concepts behind the theories that say just how worthless Neifi is. Neifi is a completely replacable back of the bench player. He should not have a two year contract. He should not have a guaranteed contract, or come close to making $2.5m. He should not be considered as a potential starter. This is as ignorant as purposefully going into a season with an OF of Hollandsworth, Patterson and Burnitz. If he's on your team, he should be making the minimum, and strictly be a backup. He's proven over and over that he sucks offensively, and will severely hurt your team the more he plays. What I hate most about Neifi is the circumstances surrounding his presence on the roster.

Is Arroyo really that good though? I think he's completely replacable, and no better than Jerome Williams. His unimpressive major league numbers are more or less in-line with his equally blah minor league stats. I don't see him turning into much more than a mediocre innings eater. Baseballreference.com compares him closely to Harang and Harkey, not exactly solid company. Now, Griffey has his own issues, but I wouldn't go as far as saying he can't play CF anymore, and Boston needs a CF.

Perhaps because they aren't fooled into thinking these guys are geniuses with a talent for baseball knowledge that no mere mortal could comprehend. Also, I don't think fans always think they know more, they just know that the decision making process employed by the Cubs has been proven a failure, so they need to find another way to go.

Most likely true, unfortunately. But they still need a RH bat for the OF.