One way to keep Nomar

by cubzfan on Oct 13, 2005 7:27 PM CDT

Garciaparra said he would be willing to move to left field to help the Cubs next year. Why left? Well, for one thing, he wouldn't have many explosive movements to his right, which might be a problem given his rehabilitated muscles (or lack of them) on his left leg side. But, as Dusty noted, Nomar would have to learn to throw differently. His underarm slings wouldn't work from the outfield. And his speed is average. Plus, where would Murton play? Maybe a slight change would work?

What I'm thinking is, let Nomar play THIRD. Then move Aramis Ramirez to the outfield, and put him in RIGHT. Ramirez has a strong enough arm and decent speed, and getting out of the infield might help his back problems. That way, you can leave Murton in left and acquire a centerfielder.

What do you think?

Poll

Is Aramis capable of playing RF?

Absolutely. He's the next Gary Sheffield--his hitting will improve!

2 votes

Sure, he'd be better than the last few years of Sosa

15 votes

Maybe. But why go out of your way to keep Nomar?

8 votes

Nope. Have you seen him snatch at popups? Too nonchalant.

5 votes

Absolutely not. Right field in Wrigley is really tough.

25 votes

55 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Interesting...

idea. I think Aramis may have a strong arm, but he doesn't have speed at all. I don't think Aramis could play left, so I don't think he can play right. Plus, Nomar isn't good defensively at third base. I think he was on pace to make 50 errors over a full season at third.

But since you mentioned a third base moving to the outfield, I just have to say this idea that popped into my head the other day, quite random I might add. I thought that A-Rod had speed and I don't know about his arm, but I had the sudden idea that the Yanks should put him in center field. Very random thought, I know.

Cubbie blue always sPaRkLeS in my eyes.

by sparkles721 on Oct 13, 2005 8:10 PM CDT reply actions

Nomar did fine ...

... (for a newbie) at third. that seems to be a position where you really have to depend on an explosive move because you usually only get one or two steps to get the job done before the ball gets by you (not to mention defending against the bunt).

if he gets hurt again, it will be because he would have gotten hurt sweeping peanut shells off the dugout floor. i say keep him and send him back to short.

it's worth the risk if his contract is incentive-based.

by kjk on Oct 13, 2005 8:30 PM CDT reply actions

i didn't vote

my choice would have been: "if it ain't broke, why fix it?"

by kjk on Oct 13, 2005 8:38 PM CDT reply actions

So...

..playing in 75 games over a season and a third is working?

Anyone couting on 150 games from Nomar at short for next year might as well count on 250 innings from Kerry Wood and 75 strikeouts over 600 ABs from Korey.

The Cubs need a new shortstop.

Well, they do if you want to see them win.

by Ivychat on Oct 14, 2005 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Chuck

Are you still of the position Nomar should be an OF'er? Or should the Cubs walk away from him?

I don't see where his position makes any difference to his injuries. He injured his groin while hitting and injured his achilles hitting (so he said). His wrist injury was from a HBP.

So if he's healthy, it shouldn't matter the position. He doesn't get hurt on D.

by socalbob on Oct 14, 2005 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Depends

Nomar on the infield, only? Walk away.

Left field? Perhaps. That means you trade Matt Murton. And, unless you get a Johann Santana type, then you probably pass.

by Ivychat on Oct 14, 2005 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions

if he's going to get hurt ...

... he'll get hurt no matter what position he plays. so why take him out of his natural position and put him in an unproven one?

my point was only that: IF we keep him, play him at short.

by kjk on Oct 16, 2005 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Still wrong

If he'll get hurt no matter what position he plays, then you have to play him at a position in which you can get a capable replacement.

An injured Nomar signed for Short means a replay of 2004 with 60 games going to a Rey Ordonez.

An injured Nomar in left and you could swing a trade for a Matt Lawton.

Lawton vs. Rey Rey? Only an imbecile votes for Rey Rey.

by Ivychat on Oct 18, 2005 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions

You are assuming...

... that he will get hurt.

How do you know this?

by Al Yellon on Oct 18, 2005 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions

ARGH!!!!

Al. Please go to m-w.com and look up "IF"!

by Ivychat on Oct 18, 2005 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions

we have

a capable player in Cedeno. Yes, it would be devastating, but to say Ordonez is not accurate.

by socalbob on Oct 18, 2005 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions

More or less?

Which is more fixable in-season? Losing your LF or your SS?

Case closed.

by Ivychat on Oct 18, 2005 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm with kjk

on this. If you want to reshuffle the players all over the field, what's the plan for SS?

Michael Barrett? For everyone that couldn't hit the "Reply to This" quick enough, I'm kidding.

He has such a huge value playing SS versus any OF position, I want to keep him there unless Furcal is signed and Nomar takes an incentive-laden deal to play 2B.

Murton needs to stay as our LF for the next decade.

by socalbob on Oct 13, 2005 8:52 PM CDT reply actions

Agreed on all points.

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -Homer J. Simpson

by Whitebacon on Oct 13, 2005 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Likewise, but...

...what about Cedeno (or bringing someone else aboard) for the honorary Neifi position? No, not stinking up the yard. It seems that in any given game at least one of Nomar and Ramirez will be injured, so if the Cubs retain them both, the team will need someone good (i.e. not Neifi and not Macias) who can play in their places, since he'll probably be playing almost every day. It'll be tough to acquire a good veteran willing to accept a "backup" roll even if we all know he'll wind up with more starts than either of the guys he's backing up, but if Cedeno is as good as we're hoping/expecting....
Two problems: 1) One can easily argue either that it would be better to just make Cedeno the SS in the first place and forget the incentive-laden Nomar deal or that Cedeno should really be playing in AAA (depending on one's feelings about him). 2) Keeping Nomar and Ramirez will probably mean a not-insignificant number of games in which two good backups are required.

by Loon from Left on Oct 17, 2005 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions