frostwyrm

Neifi was once a backup, and still could be if Hendry puts enough pressure on Dusty to start Cedeno. He's stated over and over that Cedeno is here to start. I don't know how sincere he is, but he was never that way with other young players who got the shaft. The most he offered Dubois was a chance to get some time. I could easily see Cedeno used as a utility man in that situation. But that at least gives you the option of letting Lugo go in the offseason (saving yourself from overpaying) and inserting Cedeno into the starting role then. If you trade Cedeno, you basically have no choice but to resign Lugo, which doesn't intrigue me at all. The "other valuable chips" would probably be some low level bats that won't be helping this team for years, if at all, or some arms that would end up being lost to rule 5 anyway, or shunned for more proven relievers. As long as it's not Pie or Cedeno, I don't care who they give up for Lugo, assuming it's not 2-3 really top notch guys at once. I'd give up Cedeno in a deal for Tejada, where you are practically guaranteed solid SS production for several years, but not dime a half dozen Lugo. I don't think we'll get Lugo for low level bats. The DRays think they can get Marte, and Furcal got $13M per year, so a veteran SS is worth quite a lot right now. To get Lugo we'll have to give up something we'll actually miss in the near future. Personally I'd just stick with Cedeno and let him start, but it's not my decision. Under the current regime, I have no faith that Cedeno will get a chance to be a major contributor in 2006. Hendry says he's high on Cedeno , but I don't believe it, and I know Dusty isn't falling all over himself to play him. If Hendry feels he absolutely positively HAS to get Lugo, then I think Cedeno should be offered.

You don't think Cedeno could match Lugo's production? If we have to trade Walker, I'd put Cedeno at 2B. That would be a pretty nifty defensive middle infield. I think Cedeno could, but I'm not willing to assume he will. There are many problems with trading Cedeno for Lugo though. Lugo isn't that good, and Perez is awful. Cedeno for Lugo means Neifi will more than likely start everyday. That might end up the case regardless, but at least if you keep Cedeno you have a chance of Neifi not hurting this lineup again. Lugo is a 30 year old MI with modest career stats coming off a peak season and approaching free agency. Unless he completely bombs this year, he will get a big money contract next offseason, something approaching the 4/32 range. And that would be a terrible deal for whoever signs him. He might repeated his 2005 numbers this season, and if he does it in the right market, with the right hype, he could get a 4/40 or more. And by the middle of that contract his new team will be regretting the move. He'll be a 32-33 year old middle infielder who has lost a step or two on defense, who has reverted back to his pre 2005 unimpressive offensive numbers. Looking at his numbers on baseballreference.com you notice the list of similar batters. Five current SS on that list, with the already overpaid Furcal at the top. All younger. Similar through age 29, and the 2nd name of the list is Neifi. Very close is Blauser, who failed with the Cubs and was done by 33. So, you trade Cedeno for him and this year's MI is Lugo/Perez. Just having Neifi in the same lineup with this poor OF is bad enough. Then you have to make the decision on whether to overpay him next year, likely regretting it within a year or two, or letting him go, in which case you traded Cedeno, and his chance to duplicate Lugo's (and so many other very similar SS in today's game) modest career, all while getting paid minimal salary for the next few seasons, and pre free agency dollars for several years after. I don't see the value in the Cubs trading Cedeno for Lugo, not without follow-up moves that drastically improved this year's chances. Alright, let's assume Hendry uses some other valuable trading chip(s) to get Lugo. That leaves Lugo, Neifi, Cedeno, and Hairston all on the roster. Given that situation, how much playing time do you think Cedeno gets?

You don't think Cedeno could match Lugo's production? Could or would? Do you forget who our manager is? I promise you, if we have Lugo, Neifi, Cedeno, and Hairston on the roster we will all end up grossly disappointed with Cedeno's playing time and we'll all regret parting with whatever extremely valuable trading chips Hendry burned to get Lugo.

I'd be fine with using Cedeno as the centerpiece of a deal to get Lugo. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - Cedeno can best help the Cubs as trade bait.

Routine or not, it's still surgery, and I'd still be annoyed if I were a Dodgers fan. For what the Dodgers paid for Furcal, you'd expect a perfect physical specimen.

You are absolutely right. Macias as a 25th man and not as the 1st bat off the bench, substitute CF, or top-of-the-lineup hitter makes some sense. For those Hendry haters out there, I contend that if Baker used the players as they were supposed to be used the team record would have been 8-10 games better. Look at how much of the season was wasted on finding a closer, figuring out other roles in the bullpen, using players like Perez, Patterson, and Macias at the top of the lineup, etc. I don't argue it. So then: why does Hendry stay with Baker? Why does he not fire a manager who obviously isn't implementing his plan properly? Got to ask the obvious question.... I'll argue it. Just slapping a "25th man" label on a player doesn't excuse him being useless. I think a lot of people have a notion that the 25th roster spot is a special place in the baseball universe where being a non-contributor is OK.

Is that you, Sammy?

Why are teams interested in Macias? John Erhardt at Baseball Prospectus put it better than I could:

Kenny Lofton is the worst troublemaker in baseball.

Ouch. They also wanted Burnitz but he dissed them at the last minute. Hey, that's why they needed Corey! They should be getting all our trash, seeing that the point of entry of a typical garbage receptacle is shaped like a capital letter O.

So has Hendry officially given up on getting another SS?

Ouch. They also wanted Burnitz but he dissed them at the last minute.

I still think the 1st team offense should have started the last game in Minnesota. IMO Rex really would have benefited from another start, and the whole offense was terrible for large stretches of the season, so really the whole unit needed more work, especially with a new QB running the show. With a bye week I think it was overcautious to sit out all the offensive starters. They will now end up getting 3 weeks of rest instead of 2. If Rex is shaky Lovey will justifiably get some criticism for it.

Bruce said the Cubs don't see Neifi as an everyday player and project Cedeno as a starter, but the Cubs have a history of spreading disinformation. Don't forget, Hendry talked up Dubois as a potential ROY when the Cubs' actual plan was to stick Dubois with the short and greasy end of a platoon, which of course would leave him zero chance at the ROY. Simply put, Hendry shoved a steaming load of bullcrap down the public's collective throat. Stuff like that doesn't do much for the Cubs' credibility. Bruce will give us the straight dope on what he hears, but if the Cubs lie to him he will still be giving out bad info, through no fault of his own. Who are the Cubs that are saying this to Bruce....Hendry or Baker? I really doubt it's Baker that has been saying that and he is the one that fills out the lineup card. I have raised that question myself. Bruce does occasionally say "the Cubs" told him this or that. I always want to know specifically who said what, because "the Cubs" is too vague when the team has a history of giving out contradictory messages. Of course Bruce or any other reporter can't always name his sources, so we are left wondering. Just clarifying - are you now saying that, b/c Miles' sources are within the Cubs org. that nothing Miles reports to us can be believed? May be its just wishful thinking, but when Bruce said the Cubs view Neifi as a backup (and expensive one at that), I believed him. And Paul Sullivan backed that up. The only one reporting otherwise has been Kiley, to the best of my recollection. Again, who specifically are "the Cubs" who view Neifi as a backup? There is only one person who makes out the lineup cards, and his is the only opinion that counts. Until Dusty Baker goes on record saying Neifi will be a backup and Cedeno will be a regular I remain skeptical.

Bruce said the Cubs don't see Neifi as an everyday player and project Cedeno as a starter, but the Cubs have a history of spreading disinformation. Don't forget, Hendry talked up Dubois as a potential ROY when the Cubs' actual plan was to stick Dubois with the short and greasy end of a platoon, which of course would leave him zero chance at the ROY. Simply put, Hendry shoved a steaming load of bullcrap down the public's collective throat. Stuff like that doesn't do much for the Cubs' credibility. Bruce will give us the straight dope on what he hears, but if the Cubs lie to him he will still be giving out bad info, through no fault of his own. Who are the Cubs that are saying this to Bruce....Hendry or Baker? I really doubt it's Baker that has been saying that and he is the one that fills out the lineup card. I have raised that question myself. Bruce does occasionally say "the Cubs" told him this or that. I always want to know specifically who said what, because "the Cubs" is too vague when the team has a history of giving out contradictory messages. Of course Bruce or any other reporter can't always name his sources, so we are left wondering.

Bruce said the Cubs don't see Neifi as an everyday player and project Cedeno as a starter, but the Cubs have a history of spreading disinformation. Don't forget, Hendry talked up Dubois as a potential ROY when the Cubs' actual plan was to stick Dubois with the short and greasy end of a platoon, which of course would leave him zero chance at the ROY. Simply put, Hendry shoved a steaming load of bullcrap down the public's collective throat. Stuff like that doesn't do much for the Cubs' credibility. Bruce will give us the straight dope on what he hears, but if the Cubs lie to him he will still be giving out bad info, through no fault of his own.

And ironically, of that 100+ mil payroll, only one of our suppsed ace pitchers is getting paid big $, and that's the one who won't even be with us a full season!! So, with a horrid offensive outfield and middle infield, where is all this money going? I agree, with Prior and Z making peanuts, and the highest payroll in the league, it's pathetic to field a team like this.

If we get Tejada, then who is the projected 2B? I know who the ACTUAL 2B would be, but the projection could provide some amusement.

Don't know if buyouts are included. Burnitz made a $4.5M base with a 500K buyout.

Augie Ojeda life-size bobblehead doll. Fits on the dashboard of a Ford Festiva.

Yes or no answers only please - will Cedeno start over Neifi? Will Murton and Cedeno be allowed to work through slumps?

Huh? Frere Jacques, Lucky Pierre, Marquis de Sod, John Mabry, Mike Restovich. And Jerry Hairston plays some OF, too. That's six OF-ers if necessary. Patterson is flotsam. I guess we can't have a good 4th OF because such a player would be almost as good as our regulars, and that would create tension in the clubhouse and the media.

I don't like this. Aram's baseball skills are already plenty good and they don't need more work. He needs to be in the gym toughening up his muscles and improving flexibility.

I'm torn. If any of our regular OF gets injured Corey is our only backup who has a snowball's chance of performing non-horribly in an everyday role, and he would build up value if he does well even in a part-time role. On the other hand, his refusal to play winter ball was absolutely intolerable after such a bad year, and I believe it reflects a desire to be traded. He could be a serious malcontent if he stays.

Sure, unless he spends his spare time as Stretch Armstrong. Knees don't that bend that way and Walker was not out of position when he rec'd the feed at 2B. Plus, I vividly remember Grudzielanek having two injury plagued seasons with the Cubs in similar flukish type manners. Doesn't equate to the fact he's injury prone or what not, just bad luck that can reverse as Mark was healthy last year. Well, I think we can agree that Grudz is better built than Walker, but perhaps you're right. However, I still stand by the Cubs being better off w/ Grudz. Grudz is one inch taller and five pounds heavier, according to their ESPN profiles, and it's not like either is completely out of shape. Lee would have hurt either of them. Never trust listed weights from ESPN or the team website. I've seen players grow and shrink visibly and their listed weights stay the same for years. Sammy's listed weight never reflected his post-roid shrinkage, and Randall Simon's didn't reflect the roughly 30 lbs. he gained before 2004. Anyone believe Ray King only weighs 242? Unnatural shrinkage and obesity are embarrassing and teams aren't going to be in any hurry to share that info.