-
Posts
3,563 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Joomla Posts 1
Chicago Cubs Videos
Chicago Cubs Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits
2026 Chicago Cubs Top Prospects Ranking
News
2023 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks
Guides & Resources
2024 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks
The Chicago Cubs Players Project
2025 Chicago Cubs Draft Pick Tracker
Blogs
Events
Forums
Store
Gallery
Everything posted by fromthestretch
-
Rob Mackowiak only made $1.5 million in 2005, and I'd prefer to have him on the bench than Neifi. -
I'd hate to think they are questioning Walker's durability when the time he missed this year was due to a 235+ lbs. outfielder sliding hard into his knee. Yes, he was hurt a bit last year, but this year's injury wasn't really a durability issue. Outside of 2004, he's never really had injury issues that I know of. Based on your list above, I think he's being dealt for (3) and (6), with (6) being perceived willingness to speak honestly with the media.
-
What I think they'll do: 1. I see them dealing Walker, which I think is a bad move. He gets on base as well as Furcal and has more power. Factor in that he's only due $2.5 million this year, and I think it's a no-brainer that you keep him. If they do deal Walker, I really hope they get something good in return. 2. I see them overpaying for Furcal. Not that Furcal wouldn't be an improvement over last year, but I'm not sure it's enough of an improvement to justify the huge salary. 3. I see them doing way too little to address the outfield. Getting someone like Giles or Dunn would be nice. However, I see them settling for a Juan Pierre or Juan Encarnacion. 4. I can see them getting a mediocre arm to add to the bullpen. I could also see them overpaying for a mediocre starter. I really hope it isn't Washburn. I do think Hendry has a plan. I just don't think it's a very good one. Obviously, it appears that he wants to bolster defense, and with the Neifi signing, it appears he's willing to overpay for it and take care of it at the expense of the offense. If the Cubs didn't have Cedeno, bringing Neifi back for a bench role wouldn't have been bad (although not for that amount of money). However, there's no doubt in my mind that Cedeno can outproduce Neifi offensively, and he's a solid defensive player.
-
How angry is Mike Fontenot right now?
-
Are you serious man? What more do you need to see to finally realize Hendry has a jockstrap for a brain? He signed not one but two mediocre players to be back on this roster. Who the hell is Neifi Perez to get a 5mil contract? We have Cedeno that could do anything that Neifi can but better. This is a terrible move. Typical Hendry. I have lost all faith in this man. Him and his personal clown Dusty. You can add the money he gave Rusch and Perez to get a really good relief pitcher. What are these clowns thinking? These are the type of moves I feared going into the offseason and now I know why. Hendry has no gameplan and he is signing the mediocre players we had last year to be back this next year. What a farce. Nice of you to read one freaking post of mine and make a judgement based on that. If you read through my numerous posts in this thread, I'm not happy with the signing at all. Not one bit. I think it's absolutely terrible. I also believe that Cedeno could produce as well if not better than Perez. Personally, I'd rather have Nomar and Walker starting with Cedeno as the primary backup. Unfortunately, that won't happen. However, if he does actually have something good planned and this is part of it, then I'm going to wait until it unfolds. As you'll see from my post you responded to, I'm not optimistic that he has any plan whatsoever. At least not a good one anyway. I think this signing actually handicaps the team. Having several options for middle infield is a good thing. However, the point of having those options is to keep the ones that actually help your team. Unfortunately, the Cubs are not re-signing Nomar, they are probably going to deal Walker, and they'll probably throw too much money at Furcal.
-
I don't see better backup infielder options. Tomas Perez? Rey Sanchez? I'd rather have Furcal/Walker startign with Cedeno backing up too but evidently the plan is for defense and for Cedeno to start. Walker will be traded to open a space for Cedeno, not Neifi. I say there's no chance Cedeno ends up in AAA. If the Cubs land Furcal, they'll deal Walker and Cedeno will start at 2B. If they don't get Furcal, Cedeno will start at SS and Walker at 2B. In any case, I think Neifi is a backup and brings better intangibles than his alternatives. Yes, $2.5 million is too much but so would anything you'd pay for Perez/Reese/Sanchez, etc. If Neifi ends up starting I won't be happy, but I'm confident Cedeno will start. I have no problem with Neifi as a backup. I do have a problem with paying him that much. I also am not as optimistic as you regarding Neifi's backup status. I think he's going to be playing a lot more often than you think.
-
I don't think anyone is surprised. But you can still be disappointed even if you knew it was going to happen. His leadership skills aren't worth a two-year, $5 million deal. Don't be so sure about the backup thing. I would be extremely surprised if Perez got less than 400 plate appearances next season. That's the problem. Signing Perez probably will lead to Walker being dealt. Walker is making $2.5 million in 2006. That's a great price for a second baseman that provides his level of offense. We could have him starting at second, Furcal at SS and Cedeno backing up both. Instead, if someone isn't dealt (possibly even if someone is), Cedeno could end up back at AAA.
-
I'd kill for Castillo if it blocked Neifi from regular playing time. The scary thing is this may be the proverbial robbing Peter to pay Paul. If Castillo comes to the Cubs I think that means they couldn't sign Furcal and guess who slides over to the SS spot? Maybe Walker goes to Flordia, thus eating a little bit of Castillo's salary. The Hendry will have his 2 speedsters in the 1-2 spots. The part I don't understand is this. Hendry knows Perez wants to be a starter and it's in Hendry's character to be straight up about things like this. This is why I think Perez will be starting at 2B or SS for the Cubs or another team if he is eligable to be traded. Then I guess we're stuck with him. Great. I'm not going to crucify Hendry until I see how this plays out, but I'm certainly not optimistic about all of this. Unless this is part of a very good plan that no one can possibly predict, this is just not a good signing.
-
I'd kill for Castillo if it blocked Neifi from regular playing time. The scary thing is this may be the proverbial robbing Peter to pay Paul. If Castillo comes to the Cubs I think that means they couldn't sign Furcal and guess who slides over to the SS spot? Maybe Walker goes to Flordia, thus eating a little bit of Castillo's salary. The Hendry will have his 2 speedsters in the 1-2 spots. The part I don't understand is this. Hendry knows Perez wants to be a starter and it's in Hendry's character to be straight up about things like this. This is why I think Perez will be starting at 2B or SS for the Cubs or another team if he is eligable to be traded. Even if he is eligible to be traded, there are some things to consider: 1. Exactly how much can you realistically expect to get in return for Neifi? Probably not much, which means you'll either have to throw in a prospect or two and/or take on a lot of salary to get something good in return. 2. Who the hell wants to trade for Neifi Perez when he is due $5 million over the next two years?
-
Just like Hendry said in spring training that Dempster would be a closer. Yet, he began the season in the rotation. He didn't move to the bullpen full-time until after his sixth start. And yes, I know there were injuries. There was also Sergio Mitre and Glendon Rusch that could have started instead. Then there was also the Dubois situation. I think one thing that we've seen is that Hendry has certain ideas and Dusty has completely different ones.
-
I'm not bent out of shape about the Rusch signing. But the Perez signing really makes no sense whatsoever. As someone mentioned, with Cedeno on the roster, Perez is pointless. The fact that he was signed for two years makes it absurd. Even if he is only a backup on this team, I don't think you can justify $5 million for two years. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the Cubs currently have the following: Perez (SS/2B) Cedeno (SS/2B) Hairston (2B/OF) Walker (2B) You have to think they are going after Furcal. Let's say they get him. With Furcal, you have five guys that can play 2B and three that can play SS. Who's the odd man out? Obviously, it won't be Furcal, who would be signed to start at SS. When you consider his offensive production and low pricetag, it would be stupid to trade Walker unless you can get something in return that would actually help the team. Hairston is a valuable guy to keep since he can fill in at 2B and in the OF. Cedeno is young, and has improved with the bat the past couple of years. If the Cubs view him as a future starter, you'd think they'd want to put him in a situation to actually play once in awhile. With Perez on the roster, that might not happen. At this point, perhaps the Cubs can deal Hairston to a team in need of a 2B and maybe get something useful in return (a fourth outfielder perhaps?). Send Cedeno back to AAA for half a season so he can actually get some at-bats. Maybe by mid-season, some contender will need a middle infielder, the Cubs could deal Perez and call up Cedeno.
-
Is it really over reacting to a pattern that repeats itself? I agree with you that it's only November but Hendry is continuing to do things the same way he always has and is expecting different results. Examples? Todd Hollandsworth, Jeromy Burnitz, Neifi Perez, Antonio Alfoseca, etc. ad infinitium. Don't forget two years of Macias.
-
It's a message board, pal. People have the right to voice their opinions, and frankly I happen to agree that this is not a good signing. Signing Neifi to be a backup middle infielder isn't all that bad. Signing Neifi for TWO YEARS and $5 million is a bad idea, especially when you have Ronny Cedeno who at worst would probably post similar numbers to Neifi. Plus, when you have a manager that won't hesitate to give Neifi several starts AND bat him near the top of the order, it becomes a bad signing. IF the Cubs sign Furcal, then you will most likely see Walker dealt and Neifi "competing" with Cedeno for playing time at 2B. I don't view that as a good situation.
-
(Disclaimer: I should have said, "Furcal would have a bigger impact on the Cubs, then Giles would have on the Cards, Angels, Dodgers, etc) I understand the man-love certain Cubs fan have for Giles, cause I would love Giles, but for a team that doesn't have a LEGIT leadoff hitter, Furcal will impact the Cubs lineup, if Chicago signs him. I mean people will say that well they believe Murton and/or Cedeno can handle the leadoff spot, to which I reply, "no you don't." Neither was asked to leadoff on a consistant basis in the minors, and neither leadoff in the majors. So you don't have a clue how Cedeno and/or Murton, besides Baker wouldn't put either in the spot, anyways. I'm not quite sure how a player with a sub-.350 OBP can be considered a legit leadoff hitter. I do believe that Murton could handle the leadoff spot. That doesn't mean I know he can, just that I believe he can. He's shown the ability to get on base, and he has OK speed. The Cubs have Todd Walker under contract. Walker's career OBP is the same as Furcal's. Walker's OBP has been HIGHER than Furcal's in each of the past two seasons. The only difference is that Walker isn't going to steal 20+ bases, which to me isn't a big deal. I'm not saying Walker is the ideal leadoff hitter. However, he can get on base as often as, if not more often than, Furcal. And he costs much less.
-
I'm of the opinion that winning breeds chemistry more often than chemistry breeds winning. Players don't go 0-for-4 because they don't get along with one of the starting outfielders. Pitchers don't lose the ability to spot a fastball because they didn't like the music someone was playing in the clubhouse. I've been on some lousy teams that had great chemistry. I've been on a championship team that had guys that didn't get along well at all. I've also been on a team that had average talent but everyone got along great. It was a team that should have been around .500. Instead, we lost quite a few one-run games and finished in dead last. If chemistry really makes a difference, you'd think we would have done better with the roster we had. The media overhypes chemistry, which you said earlier. But they overhype chemistry because people eat that crap up. For some unknown reason, it sells papers. No one wants to read about the winning teammates that hate each other, and no one cares enough about the losing team to want to know anything about their chemistry. As long as guys aren't getting into frequent shouting matches and physical altercations or sleeping with each other's wives, chemistry shouldn't be an issue.
-
There are also plenty of good parents who have bad kids. And bad parents who have good kids. Probably more of the former and less of the latter though. Now back to the chemistry argument.
-
ESPN Power Rankings: 22nd?????
fromthestretch replied to rynesrevenge0206's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
Go look at Clemens game log. Using the Joe Morgan philosophy, one might say that neither of them knows how to win. :roll: -
Stoney: Furcal over Giles
fromthestretch replied to Banedon's topic in MLB Draft, International Signings, Amateur Baseball
Pure heresy! I was lukewarm when Kasper was hired, but he's proven that he is an excellent play-by-play guy. As he grows into the job, I think all in all, we will be very pleased with this hire. He was their 4th choice, not a ringing endorsement for the Cubs-probably one of the Top 3 broadcast jobs in the country. He's too vanilla for my tastes. I much prefer a play-by-play man who knows what they are talking about than someone with a sensationalist voice. Find me another PBP guy who has even heard of DIPS, never mind mention it on the air, then we can talk about Kasper not being the best in the biz. Harry is a HOF announcer. He knew the game better than Len, Bob, Ron, Pat, etc.. He loved the game. Do not think for a moment that he didn't. A little defensive, perhaps? I don't think anyone has said that Harry didn't know the game, didn't love the game, or didn't do a good job. Outside of a select few that do the job for fame or a paycheck, I think it's safe to say that just about everyone who broadcasts baseball games loves the game. Len does a fine job. I personally think he's a lot easier to listen to than Chip was, but that's just my opinion. I've also grown to appreciate Pat Hughes more over the past two years. -
Gammons said Esptein might just take the year off. Maybe the Cubs will look at him in 2007 after Hendry blows it again this year. I don't think the Cubs will pay the GM 2.5 mil. Sorry to burst the dream. I don't think any team is going to pay a GM 2.5 mil. The highest paid right now is Schuerholz in Atlanta and he makes 1.7 mil. Well, that's the figure Theo wanted from the Red Sox. Actually, I believe he had asked for $1.5. I haven't read anything that says he asked for more than that. I believe he wanted the $2.5 million that Beane was offered to come to Boston a few years back. Articles have mentioned that he initially accepted the $1.5 million offer. The only mention of $2.5 million has been when writers are comparing it to the offer that Beane got. I can't find anywhere that says Epstein asked for that much.
-
Gammons said Esptein might just take the year off. Maybe the Cubs will look at him in 2007 after Hendry blows it again this year. I don't think the Cubs will pay the GM 2.5 mil. Sorry to burst the dream. I don't think any team is going to pay a GM 2.5 mil. The highest paid right now is Schuerholz in Atlanta and he makes 1.7 mil. Well, that's the figure Theo wanted from the Red Sox. Actually, I believe he had asked for $1.5. I haven't read anything that says he asked for more than that.
-
This could be an opportunity for the Angels to sell high with Brandon Wood.
-
His numbers have been dropping off a little the past two seasons. His strikeouts are up a bit, and this year, his walk rate was down. He's still very young though and a decent third baseman. I wouldn't give up on him yet though.
-
If a team wanting to trade for Dunn is forced to take Milton and any part of his salary, then the Reds better be flexible with the level of talent they expect to get back in the trade. Milton is not good. 40+ homers allowed in each of the past two seasons. Estes only gave up 30 in over 200 innings while pitching for the Rockies in 2004, if that tells you anything. As much as I'd like for Dunn to be a Cub, I'd like just as much for Milton to not be one.
-
Isn't Young abysmal on defense, too? As a SS yes, I thought he was avg. defensively as a 2B, although I haven't seen the stats. Is he really that bad? I know his fielding percentage at SS is around league average, but I honestly know nothing about what kind of range he has. As far as range, not as bad as putting a china cabinet out there, but it could be close. Yikes. I didn't realize he was that bad. Worse than watching Orton scramble, huh? :wink: (and this is coming from a fan of both Purdue and the Bears)
-
A three-team deal would be nice: Phillies get Blaylock (and possibly a prospect) Cubs get Abreu Rangers get Patterson and ???, with ??? = a talented pitcher or two from the Cubs I'm too lazy to look up salaries right now, but I would think some cash would have to trade hands here, the amount largely dependant on the talent of the prospects included in the trade. Perhaps if the Cubs tossed a high-level prosepct the Rangers way, they could eat some of Abreu's salary. Feel free to tinker with this as I have put no more than 30 seconds of thought into it.
