Dusty is already preparing excuses to sit Cedeno

by Rotodaddy on Mar 7, 2006 9:16 AM CST

This from the Trib:

"Baker puts a premium on defense, and Cedeno is no slouch himself, but he has to show he can keep the starting job. Baker said Monday that Cedeno has been pressing a bit. He wants Cedeno to "be himself," though Cedeno understands the pressure is on him and left fielder Matt Murton to succeed."

If there was any doubt before, I am now convinced that Cedeno will have a very short leash. Dusty is already setting up excuses. If Cedeno has a slow first week, I can hear Dusty now,"We're just going to give Ronny a little time to clear his head."

I'm not sure Cedeno is anything special, but I have a sinking feeling we may never know. Here's to Cedeno hitting .500 the 1st week of the season.

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

Yuck!

To Dusty and his excuses to lack trust in a young promising talent! You know he is just setting up a regularly playing Neifi with this crap!

Anyone can have a bad century...

by Kinky Reggae on Mar 7, 2006 9:35 AM CST reply actions

If he hates young players so much

why doesn't he want to play Walker?!?!?!?!?

Hey-Dawson backwards is Noswad!---Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on Mar 7, 2006 12:00 PM CST up reply actions

In the grand scheme of things...

I'd say that Walker doesn't strike me as "young". However, I feel like it is Hendry too that is invested in this conspiracy to trade Walkewr with no better options out there.

Anyone can have a bad century...

by Kinky Reggae on Mar 7, 2006 12:05 PM CST up reply actions

He's not "young"

That's my point: as Dusty supposedly favors veterans, why wouldn't he want Walker in there instead of a Jerry Hairston? It seems like he only likes bad veterans.

Hey-Dawson backwards is Noswad!---Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on Mar 7, 2006 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

Absolutely.

Anyone can have a bad century...

by Kinky Reggae on Mar 7, 2006 12:26 PM CST up reply actions

Could be worse.

Could be worse. We could have signed Furcal, which most people here seem to have determined now would have been a signing of disasterous proportions.

Be happy, no Furcal!

What was the over/under on Neifi? 400 ABs? I'm still going to say under.

"Bite my shiny metal ass!" -- Bender Bending Rodriguez

by The Jade Scorpion on Mar 7, 2006 10:50 AM CST reply actions

I have to disagree.........

..........and, in fact, say the lack of signing Furcal was one of the biggest off-season mistakes.

After he finishes 2006 with a +.290 BA, 40 SBs and +100 runs scored, we'll all be wondering why Hendry didn't do the necessary to bring him in.

Cedeno could have been the starting 2B and with far less pressure to perform offensively. He and Furcal would have made a formidable middle infield tandem.

Instead we have to face the prospects of Walker, Neifi, Harriston and Cedeno, with Dusty running the show. Far too interesting for my liking.

by tville on Mar 7, 2006 11:17 AM CST up reply actions

hahahahah

ok remember this post and at the end of the year when Furcal has been on the DL and underperformed or had the season you envison above one of us will eat some crow

KSUCubbie

by ksucubbie on Mar 7, 2006 11:22 AM CST up reply actions

will you remember it in three years

when furcal has ticked off three more years of his frighteningly consistent output while the cubs haven't had a decent shortstop in all that time?

it astounds me that some people really think that missing on furcal was the right thing to do. people, this club hasn't had a threat at shortstop since ivan dejesus, and there isn't a decent offensive shortstop in the entire organization.

in a year when payroll outlay was actually trimmed by $10mm per annum despite increased revenues, his $3mm was too much? you have GOT to be joking!

by gaius marius on Mar 7, 2006 12:08 PM CST up reply actions

You may be right...

... but you cannot predict this with certainty. We can only know this three years from now.

by Al Yellon on Mar 7, 2006 1:14 PM CST up reply actions

that's very philosophical

but in the meantime the cubs don't have a decent shortstop. the team has to act to fill the holes, and doesn't have the luxury of retrospect from the future to aid in doing so.

by gaius marius on Mar 7, 2006 2:07 PM CST up reply actions

speculation

you dont know if cedeno will fail
nobody does

period- use all the minor league stats you want

but all we know is he did very well last year in the ML's and we dont know how he will hold up for a season

what we DO know is that furcal who has a bad past- not a leader or clubhouse plus- is hurting and is getting paid 13 !!! mill a year to do it

NO its not worth it

KSUCubbie

by ksucubbie on Mar 7, 2006 6:22 PM CST up reply actions

you're right

i don't know anything definitely.

what i know is that cedeno becoming something more than neifi is merely very unlikely.

and what i also know is that furcal will very likely -- not definitely, but very likely -- be one of the top five shortstops in baseball for the next few years.

by gaius marius on Mar 7, 2006 10:55 PM CST up reply actions

no ss since dejesus?!?

two words for you gaius:

sha won

the threat may never have materialized, but he was a threat to be a great player.

and how can you not love a guy who, when introduced as a new member of the cardinals, while putting on his jersey for the first time, says to the assembled press corps that it feels strange to put on the uniform because in his heart he'll always be a cub?

All will be fixed in 2006

by DSZ on Mar 8, 2006 9:24 PM CST up reply actions

Ya gotta luv.............

..........the SHA WON!!!!!!

I saw him go from 1st to 3rd on an infield ground out at Dodgers Stadium back in 1992. Seated just behind the dugout on the 3B side, I can still picture him flopping face-first to the ground and hugging the bag safely ahead of the throw. Cubs didn't win, of course, but Shawon always provided some excitement.

by tville on Mar 9, 2006 8:43 AM CST up reply actions

lol

the threat may never have materialized

"may"? shawon was a bust, plain and simple. i loved the meter, but a spade is a spade.

by gaius marius on Mar 9, 2006 1:16 PM CST up reply actions

At last...

... something Gaius & I completely agree on.

Dunston had tremendous physical tools, but absolutely no idea how to use them.

I wonder if he might not have become a good pitcher, with that arm.

by Al Yellon on Mar 12, 2006 7:45 AM CST up reply actions

I'll bet the obligatory..............

..........donut that Furcal's stats exceed those of any Cubs middle infielder. It's likely his numbers will be better than any two Cubs MIs COMBINED, but I don't want to miss my chance to collect the goods..........

And as others have since posted, his numbers over the full 4-year contract term will CERTAINLY be better than anything the Cubs post, unless they swing a deal for Tejeda or A-Rod......

by tville on Mar 9, 2006 8:36 AM CST up reply actions

i'll take the over, nrc

the guy has managed to accumulate 500 ab in six of the last eight years. that's not accidental -- a maybe like cedeno (who committed 12 errors in 65 games in iowa last year) isn't going to keep him from nailing down short.

by gaius marius on Mar 7, 2006 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

Well...

....I'm still hoping there's a Spring move or two yet to come, remember.

Maybe I'm nuts, but I gotta hold on to that hope.

"Bite my shiny metal ass!" -- Bender Bending Rodriguez

by The Jade Scorpion on Mar 7, 2006 12:47 PM CST up reply actions

I'm gonna agree with Tville

I think that Furcal will end up with a solid season and even if 2006 isn't his best...he is a great SS that will ultimately produce what is expected. I was all for a Furcal Cedeno middle IF. Hell, I was even for a Nomar Cedeno IF. Neifi...ha! Here we go again Dusty!

Anyone can have a bad century...

by Kinky Reggae on Mar 7, 2006 11:35 AM CST reply actions

Cedeno

Be honest here. Do we want a virtual rookie going out every day and come August is wore down so far he's toast? He needs to sit and play, probably 5 games per week play and 1-2 off days. I think Cedeno will be a very good shortstop but let him get some confidence and keep him healthy and fresh. Letting Neiffi play a couple of days will pay off in the long run. I think all of you know Dusty well enough to know this will happen. And let's face it, who ever is hot, let them play. Neiffi can put up a good week, we just don't want him in there all year! I'm hoping Cedeno puts up good MONTHS which adds up to a good year. But to think or hope he is in there every day is crazy for a first year starter.

by mrcubsfan on Mar 7, 2006 12:32 PM CST reply actions

While I agree

Cedeno may get worn out by August, I'd rather see a consistent line-up. I realize people need rest now and then, but Dusty goes a little crazy with the positions/batting order. It can't be good for players to go from batting #5, to #2, to #7.

Also, furcal will put up good numbers, but just imagine what we'd be saying if we had both him and K. Wood having surgery at this point in Spring Training.

"I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want somebody else to go chase it.

by 10 14 23 26 on Mar 7, 2006 1:48 PM CST reply actions

people who try to make

Dusty's comments into anything more than him trying to get Cedeno to relax have never played the game and expreienced pressing in trying hard to impress teammates, coaches, et al. This is much ado about nothing.

Dusty actually taking Cedeno aside and speaking to him shows he cares and wants him to succeed.

by socalbob on Mar 11, 2006 11:44 AM CST reply actions