The Neifi Chronicles

by Al Yellon on Nov 9, 2005 1:34 PM CST in Chicago Cubs News

Man, you'd think the Cubs had just signed an axe murderer. Or a known steroid user. Or this guy.

Why? Because of the amount of vitriol being spewed at Jim Hendry for re-signing Neifi Perez from various members of the CBA; if you haven't seen it, check, for example, here, here, here, or even here.

Well. That stuff might have fried a few microchips in everyone's computers, it's so angry.

So, time for me to be the voice of reason.

It ought to be clear to everyone, as it is to me, that the primary reason Neifi Perez got so much playing time in 2005 is because three Cub infielders missed so much time with injuries -- by my count, 102 games missed by Nomar Garciaparra, 65 games missed by Todd Walker, and 43 games missed by Aramis Ramirez.

That adds up to 210 games missed, and not even Neifi! could have played that many in one season, no matter how many times Dusty Baker wrote his name on the lineup card. Caveat in those numbers quoted above: I calculated that based on the number of defensive games played by each player named; some of the games missed by Ramirez were, of course, replaced by Nomar at 3B -- although, that meant that Neifi played SS in most of those games (a total of 130 SS games for Perez in 2005).

It is clear to me that Baker wrote Perez' name on the starting lineup card so often mainly because he didn't have any other choices. Ronny Cedeno wasn't quite ready (and when he was, he ALSO got hurt, in September games that he might very well have started), and would you have rather seen Enrique Wilson in there?

I do have some faith, given that this is November 9 rather than April 9, that Jim Hendry will acquire someone who will start every day at SS, and hopefully will not get hurt. And that Neifi will start perhaps 20 or so games, and maybe bat 150-200 times, and play defense in the late innings, and as such, he is a useful player to have on the roster.

Many of you don't like Dusty and I think this is coming out in the knee-jerk reactions I'm seeing ("Dusty's going to start him no matter what! AAAAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGHHH!").

I counsel you again: PATIENCE

And now, a word from our sponsor(s). I hate to be so mercenary, and I don't often do this, but I did want to point out that I have signed up with a number of different websites to be "affiliates". I think many of you would be interested in the products and services these companies offer. They've been added to the left sidebar; you may have also noticed some Google ads have been added to the right sidebar.

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Comments

Patience is nice...

...but seriously, what's drawing the ire moreso than Neifi himself is the idea of Neifi. He's a representative, a symbol...the guy Dusty went to all the time, even when he had young talent waiting on the bench. That's what's drawing the vitriol. It's viceral and gutteral and I'm using a lot of words I don't normally use...but you get what I mean.

by drone1047 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 1:58 PM CST reply actions

My point was in part...

... that MOST of the time, there wasn't young talent waiting on the bench.

Ronny Cedeno was the only possible "young talent" you could be referring to. He played 29 SS games in 2005.

He got hurt early in September, the one time when he could have been the regular starter for a few weeks.

I believe your vitriol is misplaced.

by Al Yellon on Nov 9, 2005 2:01 PM CST up reply actions

Heh!

Ronny Ce was on the ML Roster for 94 games in 2005. He missed 17 games due to injury.

That means, he was available to play for 77 games.

He only played in 41 games.

He only got in the field 30 times.

He only started 18 games.

Dusty didn't use him.

Given that Ronny Ce hit 26 points higher, had an OBP 58 points higher, and and an OPS 50 points higher, Dusty's use of Neifi was criminal.

AND, considering the season was over on August 26th when he was recalled from Iowa, playing him only 6 starts in the 15 games before he got hurt meant that Jim Hendry was denied an opportunity to evaluate Ronny. And that hurts THIS year's team.

Dusty was negligent using Neifi. And it hurt the team for 2006.

by Ivychat on Nov 9, 2005 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

Neifi earned his PT

, and Cedeno got his.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 2:59 PM CST up reply actions

Those numbers

are skewed due to the fact that Cedeno had limited at-bats. I bet if you let Cedeno play the games Niefi did then his numbers would be alot less than Niefi's.

by amaru on Nov 9, 2005 7:56 PM CST up reply actions

Other than Cedeno, what were Dusty's choices

and Cedeno was not necessarily the answer.

I think people need to come to expect that the Cubs attempted to put the best team out on the field that could have. Injuries pretty much killed that plan and thats it.

Neifi is a good signing, and I have confidence in Hendry right now, you tell me what else he should have done thus far?

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 2:05 PM CST up reply actions

Thank you....

Thank you Al for your sage words...
I don't really have a problem with this signing at all....
If it was our only signing in the off season then sure I'd be ropeable but I'm prepared to see how this all unfolds and then be fed up

by kiwibob on Nov 9, 2005 2:03 PM CST reply actions

They haven't signed Jose F. Macias yet,

and hopefully they won't

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 2:06 PM CST reply actions

Macias...

... is arbitration-eligible.

The best thing they can do with him is non-tender him.

by Al Yellon on Nov 9, 2005 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

My confidence in JHendry...

....Began to erode after the 2003 season when he dismantled a playoff squad and besides Hawkins ignored the bullpen. Whatever confidence I had left in him completely dissolved after the 2004 season when he did the same and essentially gave the 2005 season a lethal injection by doing nothing about Sammy until the last second.

Then this year he extends the contracts of all the coaches and again shows that he is unable to make the tough decisions in order to improve the club, choosing loyalty over progress.

The signing of Neifi as of now, does not bother me. He is afterall a very solid and versatile backup. The Cubs as most of you know, had to sign him before Friday or would've most likely lost him to another team. Now ask me in April if I like the signing of Neifi and it could change, depending on what else Hendry does to assure that Neifi will be a bench player.

If he re-signs Macias and doesn't non tender him, I will donate every Cubs article of clothing to charity and sink the rest in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and become an Angel fan full time.

by SoBlueCal on Nov 9, 2005 4:36 PM CST up reply actions

Did I mention

his comment this week where he suddenly realized that players that can catch the ball might actually be a good thing?

o why me god, why?

by SoBlueCal on Nov 9, 2005 4:46 PM CST up reply actions

Look at it this way...

Hendry has learned something. Learning is good, it helps you be better. If he didn't give defense as much importance before, it's about time he gave it a little more consideration.

The important thing is he realized something, so now we can move forward.

Cubbie blue always sPaRkLeS in my eyes.

by sparkles721 on Nov 9, 2005 4:52 PM CST up reply actions

I'm sorry but,

I have to TOTALLY disagree with that assessment of "well atleast he now knows"....HE'S A GM OF A MLB TEAM. He's SUPPOSESD to know this kind of stuff, WELL before now. If he's just now learning that, the most basic and primary necessities of the game, I'm afraid to know how long it'll take him to realize that a team needs to score runs to win.

by SoBlueCal on Nov 9, 2005 5:31 PM CST up reply actions

Amen

I lost a lot of confidence in Hendry this year.

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

by cubbiejulie on Nov 9, 2005 5:43 PM CST up reply actions

There is no doubt...

... that Hendry did not have a very good 2005. I think he's even admitted that.

I believe that because of his previous track record, particularly in trade acquisitions, he ought to be given the benefit of the doubt this off-season.

by Al Yellon on Nov 9, 2005 9:30 PM CST up reply actions

LOL!

Didja see the Daily Herald? When your #3 best offseason move is trading for a catcher that can't catch, high confidence is not warranted.

http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=116126

by Ivychat on Nov 9, 2005 9:41 PM CST up reply actions

I bet

Barrett doesn't like being referred to as a "backstlop." lol

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

by cubbiejulie on Nov 10, 2005 11:39 AM CST up reply actions

Just trying to look at it positively..

Everyone should learn from previous mistakes. And I'm hoping that Hendry learns from his and doesn't make more.

Hendry isn't dumb. He also has eyes and ears. He can't deny the Cubs had a losing record. He knows this team has big time problems. I don't like to wait, which is why I expect Hendry to move fast, well maybe not too fast. Since he has so much to do he will need all the time he has.

Cubbie blue always sPaRkLeS in my eyes.

by sparkles721 on Nov 9, 2005 6:19 PM CST up reply actions

A few things

First off, and not to be rude, but you're entitled to look at things positively, but too often, people who take the opposite tact on much of this stuff are said thought of as looking at things negatively. I aired some real concerns before the 2005 season, especally on usenet, and I was told that I was overreacting, being overly negative, etc. I was actually kind of annoyed with the canned response that was shot my way every time I brought up a concern that I was just being negative. My point? People who take issues with certain or many facets of this team aren't doing so to be negative or doomsdayers. They may have real concerns. No, we have no control over what happens, but that doesn't mean that people shouldn't present their side, even if it's "negative".

Secondly, I like Hendry. I believe that he had one off year after several good years. I think most of his moves and philosophies have been good. The main criticisms, aside from the overall 2005 season have been his decisions as far as relievers go as well as his decision to stick by Dusty Baker. I do believe that he'll have a good off season and will restore the general belief that people had when he was pulling off some damn good trades. One area where I'll disagree, though, is about learning from mistakes. One of the things I've seen in baseball all too often is that with the egos involved, with the GMs and managers, all too often they do not learn from their mistakes. The tend to become more firmly entrenched in their views, stick to their guns, and ultimately this leads to a death spiral as they don't like admitting their mistakes.

DmL

by dmlichte on Nov 9, 2005 11:14 PM CST up reply actions

ahhh

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 2:23 PM CST reply actions

Well Al

I think the vitriol is not really pointed at Neifi. It's pointed at what will likely be the future misuse of him. We all know about the injuries in '05, so let's throw that out. But you only have to take a look at his use in late '04 after the Cubs picked him up off waivers for evidence. He started regularly (12 games @ SS in the last month) and batted almost exclusively 2nd. Even though there was a healthy platoon of Grud/Walker in the lineup everyday. Both of these guys are better suited to hit 2nd than Neifi. Even a baseball neophyte can see that. This was a team that had Alou & Sosa along with Lee and Ramirez in the middle of the order! There was no excuse such as "I like Walker to hit in a RBI spot like 6th over Perez" availble. Walker and Grud hit 7th and Barrett 8th during that stretch.

You say be patient and I am. But this evidence, shows that Dusty will misuse Neifi without injuries as an excuse for increased PT.

by csb059 on Nov 9, 2005 2:33 PM CST reply actions

Funniest comment ever

All he did in those games that he played was hit .371 with a .400 OBP, can you fault dusty for playing him?

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 2:37 PM CST up reply actions

File that under

"Even a blind squirrel find a nut once in a while." Review what I stated Will. I'll make it simple for you...

1 - Dusty played Neifi, not due to injury.
2 - Dusty hit Neifi 2nd, not due to a lack of thump in the middle or a lack of a better option for that spot in the order.

I think your reply was the stupidest thing I've ever seen in print (right back at you).

by csb059 on Nov 9, 2005 2:42 PM CST up reply actions

not sure

if a blog counts as print, since it doesn't actually physically exist anywhere. Without claiming to be inside Jim Hendry's head in some sort of "Being John Malkovich" way I am lead to assume neifi's pickup in 04 was to deepen the bench and get some better defense for what was then a playoff run. Being upset that Dusty played him 2 years ago and that he played well doesn't really make sense.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 2:54 PM CST up reply actions

again please read

my comments because you are not getting it. I stated tha Dusty played him with any injury concerns, because everyone has stated that the only reason he played in '05 was because of injuries. His use in '04 refutes this. Get it know?

Also, he used him in the 2-spot almost exclusively eventhough he had better options and did not need to drop any other options down (Walker/Grud) to protect teh 5 hitter.

If you are going to rip me at least you could read the comment thoroughly.

by csb059 on Nov 9, 2005 3:00 PM CST up reply actions

I thought Perez played in 2004

because Nomar could not go every day, because of his wrist, I believe that was it, yep.

Maybe you should do your research.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:05 PM CST up reply actions

did he also have to hit

2nd in the order due to that? Please, I want to hear your excuse for this. I doubt that Nomar needed to be off every other day, but so be it. But there can be no argument that Dusty believes Neifi is a top of the order hitter (1 or 2). He has hit him there nearly exclusively, not matter what the rest of the line up looks like. That's why some of us are upset. Neifi back, means Neifi hitting in the 1 or 2 hole when he plays (whether that's a alot or a little).

by csb059 on Nov 9, 2005 3:11 PM CST up reply actions

know here we go

.373, .400, .350. OBP for Grudz, Neifi and Walker. .347, .371, .291: BA's for the same. All September 2004. Looks like Baker did a good job getting the most out of his players at the right time. So your mad Baker put neifi there, for apparently no reason, evethough he got results. Neifi took over for an injured Nomar in 04 because he had a better fielding percentage at short than grudz did, who also hadn't played there in 5 years. So yeah I got your "point" the first time.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:31 PM CST up reply actions

RIGHT

I was only halfway through that drubery before I was looking for those numbers, he was on a tear those last couple weeks.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 2:49 PM CST up reply actions

But he was inserted

in the 2 spot immediately, not after he started getting hot. Your logic is the same reason why we had to put up with Gary Gaetti (sp?) being resinged in 1999. Heck, he had a great 6 weeks in 98. He must be the best 3B ever.

by csb059 on Nov 9, 2005 2:52 PM CST up reply actions

You go with the hot hand down the stretch

Dusty is supposed to see into the future, we know Neifi is not a top of the order hitter, but baseball players can get into a zone, and Neifi was in one.

Are you seriously saying Dusty shouldn't have gone with the hot hand?

Gaetti was a hero in 98 and didn't pan out in 99, they released. Neifi's numbers are nowhere near as poor as Gaetti's were in 99.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 2:57 PM CST up reply actions

Where did I state that???

re-read the comments where I have explained and re-explained.

by csb059 on Nov 9, 2005 3:01 PM CST up reply actions

You were saying

Dusty playing Neifi in 2004 and that Neifi got hot was a problem.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:05 PM CST up reply actions

Here is what you said

" But you only have to take a look at his use in late '04 after the Cubs picked him up off waivers for evidence. He started regularly (12 games @ SS in the last month) and batted almost exclusively 2nd."

"But he was inserted in the 2 spot immediately, not after he started getting hot. Your logic is the same reason why we had to put up with Gary Gaetti (sp?) being resinged in 1999. Heck, he had a great 6 weeks in 98. He must be the best 3B ever."

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:08 PM CST up reply actions

you took two separate comments and

mixed them. They're now out of context. Red the original comments and responses.

by csb059 on Nov 9, 2005 3:13 PM CST up reply actions

Neifi

was picked up on 8/19, and was not inserted into the lineup until 9/6 as a defensive substitution for Nomar.

He didn't play again till 9/11 again as a late inning sub.

Started his first game on 9/12 in the 2 hole, going 1-4. And then began to tear it up, going 3-6 on 9/14.

I believe this was around the time we realized that nomar was unhealthy again.

So yes it was injuries in 04 as well and no Neifi was not "immediately inserted into the 2 spot" as you mischaracterized it before.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:17 PM CST up reply actions

check your facts

Neifi was picked up and sent to the minors. He was added to the 25 man roster on 9/2 and in his first start he hit in the two hole. The "immediate" term was meant to show that he wasn't batting in other spots in the starting line up previously, i.e. he hit lower, got hot, then Dusty moved him up. Dusty had him in the 2 hole from his 1st start on.

by csb059 on Nov 9, 2005 3:22 PM CST up reply actions

On September 13

when Neifi started playing regularly was the day that Nomar was declared out for the season

There you have it. I win the argument, you lose, Dusty put him in because of injuries like I suspected, and Neifi tore it up.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:24 PM CST up reply actions

so why

did he hit him in the two hole? Explain that wizard.

by csb059 on Nov 9, 2005 3:26 PM CST up reply actions

It was either Neifi or Grudz

Dusty chose Neifi and used Grudz to protect Sammy. It ended up working out offensively, because Neifi tore it up, unfortunately the bullpen imploded down the stretch.

As for "check your facts" you should heed your own advice before you make claims about Perez starting not due to injury.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:29 PM CST up reply actions

I'm glad hindsight is

20/20. So because the decision works for 3 weeks means it was the more intelligent one for the long term, right? No wonder you like Dusty.

My apologies, I didn't see a DL stint for Garciaparra so I made an erroneous assumption.

by csb059 on Nov 9, 2005 3:40 PM CST up reply actions

I never said intelligent

just said it worked.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:43 PM CST up reply actions

And I never stated that

it didn't work or that I was unhappy that it didn't work. I do believe that it is not a defensible decision just because Baker caught lightning in a bottle. It just means Baker was lucky in that instance.

by csb059 on Nov 9, 2005 3:50 PM CST up reply actions

He made the decision

based on the injury, he couldn't do anything else.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:51 PM CST up reply actions

Should have clarified

referring to hitting second in the order.

by csb059 on Nov 9, 2005 4:06 PM CST up reply actions

and how come Nomar

started 12 games after that date if he was out for the season? Looks like you don't win.

by csb059 on Nov 9, 2005 3:29 PM CST up reply actions

Then you just proved my point

Once Nomar got healthy, he played Nomar instead of Neifi, There Now I WIN.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:30 PM CST up reply actions

crown

dusty's use of neifi in the two spot ad nauseum cost Lee a very good shot at the triple crown and/or mvp this year. sure its an individual accomplishment, but you can't win the crown without driving in a whole heck of a lot of runs.

complaint number 1. when did al become such a dusty/management apologist? i've been patient for the last 40 years, i don't have to be patient anymore if i don't want to. i can demand action if i feel like it. and dusty is not a good manager, i don't care how many awards he's won. nobody who follows the cubs closely can argue that he is anymore

complaint number 2. is there are way to remove the requirement that every comment have a subject? that's annoying.

by tomas21 on Nov 9, 2005 2:51 PM CST reply actions

Lack of a number 2 hitter caused

Dusty to insert Neifi there. And Neifi was very good for awhile and average for the rest of the year.

INJURIES INJURIES INJURIES and LACK OF A DECENT OUTFIELD

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 2:58 PM CST up reply actions

BFD

"dusty's use of neifi in the two spot ad nauseum cost Lee a very good shot at the triple crown and/or mvp this year."

I don't care about awards. I care about WINS. Dusty's use of Neifi cost WINS!

Then again, it may have helped an opponent throw a no-hitter. That's always nice to see.

by Ivychat on Nov 9, 2005 2:58 PM CST up reply actions

Chuck,

who else was Dusty supposed to use at that time. Cedeno was used as a rookie should be used, he was eased in, and played 41 games out of the 77 he was available.

There was no one else, unless you preffered JFM.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:01 PM CST up reply actions

Duh

You have to ask?

Todd Walker should have hit 2nd. All year.

Ronny Ce should have had +50% of the starts.

by Ivychat on Nov 9, 2005 3:11 PM CST up reply actions

Ummm

Walker was injured chuck

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:13 PM CST up reply actions

Unbelievable

The whole year? Really! Neifi never hit second when Walker hit 6th?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=250831116

by Ivychat on Nov 9, 2005 4:01 PM CST up reply actions

Who would you rather have protecting the

heart of your order, Neifi or Todd Walker?

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 10, 2005 8:18 AM CST up reply actions

Protection...

...comes from the front. I want a guy throwing to Derrek Lee with runners on base.

Protection from below is an assanine concept. By that logic, linups should be made with the lowest OPS leading off.

by Ivychat on Nov 10, 2005 10:55 AM CST up reply actions

Protection comes from the back as well

Case in Point, Barry Bonds and intentional walks

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 10, 2005 10:59 AM CST up reply actions

So...

Hitting Walker behind BURNITZ makes more sense than batting him IN FRONT of Lee?

by Ivychat on Nov 10, 2005 11:31 AM CST up reply actions

Different team than the 2004 version that we

were talking about. Always changing the subject when you know you're wrong.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 10, 2005 1:21 PM CST up reply actions

Please

Every single one of my comments are referring to this year. Right down to the boxscore link.

Who's chaning the subject?

Or, are you saying, Ronny Ce was an option in 2004?

by Ivychat on Nov 10, 2005 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

This current thread was referring

to Dusty's use of Neifi in 2004, maybe you should read those before you jump into the middle of the discussion.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 10, 2005 1:58 PM CST up reply actions

My bad,

I am on the wrong thread

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 10, 2005 1:59 PM CST up reply actions

Chuck,

You need some new material. That one's getting old.

by Al Yellon on Nov 9, 2005 3:28 PM CST up reply actions

Old...

...but still good on occasion! :)

by Ivychat on Nov 9, 2005 3:52 PM CST up reply actions

Um, nope...

... sort of like the "Houston, we have a problem" signs I saw at the Cell during the World Series. Obviously, those people had never been to a game involving the Astros before.

by Al Yellon on Nov 9, 2005 4:09 PM CST up reply actions

Unfortunately...

... no, there isn't.

You can always just make it the first few words of your post. That's what I wind up doing.

by Al Yellon on Nov 9, 2005 3:08 PM CST up reply actions

re: complaint #2

lol. most of these comments dont have a subject! : )

by kjk on Nov 9, 2005 7:37 PM CST up reply actions

Here are my problems with Neifi's contract.

Problem 1 is Dusty's use of veterans. Yes, i agree Dusty had little choice on who to use in the starting lineup every day, and Neifi would have started with most managers. However, the problem is greater than the number of starts Neifi received last year. The problem is in Dusty's use of personnel in general, and particular his mis/over-use of players like Perez and Macias. Dusty was not forced to bat Neifi in the top 2 spots in the order, yet he did so 91 times. Dusty also wasn't forced to use Jose Macias as the pinch hitter 54 of the 215 times he called someone off the pine. Now i'm not trying to equate Macias to Perez, but the point is that Dusty will give ABs to Perez over other, better options next year just as he did with Macias last year.

Problem 2 is the contract's size. The contract will pay him $2.5 million per year, which is exactly what Todd Walker will be making this year. Walker's contract is a steal, so maybe this isn't a fair comparison. However, he's getting paid more than David Eckstein, and is paid only slightly less than Michael Young. Both of these players are much more valuable than Perez is, and Esckstein was signed just last off-season (and he also brings all the "intangibles" to the table that supposedly make this a good signing). I'm not against signing Neifi as a backup infielder/defensive replacement... but if that's the role we're signing him to play, we should pay him accordingly. Then, we we can have more money available for the really important free agent signings, such as for Rafael Furcal.

In summary, Perez should be used as a late-inning defensive sub, and as one of the last guys off the bench in pinch-hitting situations. We should pay him and play him that way. Unfortunately, we're likely to play him as a semi-regular starter, will make him the first pinch hitter called upon when he's on the bench, and we're going to pay him like an everyday player.

One more caveat to this argument... if sligthly overpaying Perez means we have the inside track on Furcal, then its worth the extra money. If we sign Furcal this weekend, i'll be patient and reserve judgement on the Perez signing until we see how Dusty uses Neifi next season.

The Cubs will thrive in twenty-oh-five... or sometime thereafter!

by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Nov 9, 2005 3:18 PM CST reply actions

Who should have been in the number 2 hole

instead of Neifi?

Isn't Young's minimal contract also due to the fact that he is still on his first contract? That probably isn't a fair comparison either. A fair comparison is Juan Uribe, who is a bit better with the bat than Neifi, but basically equal with the glove.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:21 PM CST up reply actions

OK...

Juan Uribe's 2005 salary was $2.125 million per year, and we're still comparing Neifi to someone who was the starting SS. The best defense of this signing is "we're not signing him to start, we're gonna sign someone else." That means he isn't going to be our starting SS so comparing him to other starting SS's is being quite generous, which is exactly what the Cubs were with this offer.

I would say that paying Neifi almost 20% more than a guy who is slightly superior in the field and at the plate and who is expected to get more playing time qualifies as overspending.

The Cubs will thrive in twenty-oh-five... or sometime thereafter!

by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Nov 9, 2005 3:29 PM CST up reply actions

I thought Uribe was going

to be makin about 3.5 million this year after arbitration, at least thats what espn said.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:31 PM CST up reply actions

could be...

ESPN's page still has 2005 salaries up, which is what i'm comparing things to.

The Cubs will thrive in twenty-oh-five... or sometime thereafter!

by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Nov 9, 2005 3:34 PM CST up reply actions

as to your first question...

Todd Walker, Ronny Cedeno, Michael Barrett, Jerry Hairston Jr., and Nomar Garciaparra all would have been better options in the 2 hole, in my opinion.

The Cubs will thrive in twenty-oh-five... or sometime thereafter!

by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Nov 9, 2005 3:33 PM CST up reply actions

No. 2 hole

Murton.

His OBP was 100 pts higher than Neifi.
The Cubs needed to find out if he could play, but his lack of PT leaves them with that question for '06.
Table setters are hard to find. Why not tell the kid to work on that, instead of Dusty telling him to concentrate on power. This is the same old-school thinking that ruins high OBP corner OF. The Cubs are proof that SLG is easier to come by than OBP.

by Seamer on Nov 10, 2005 12:28 AM CST up reply actions

by the way...

i'm not on the crazy opinion that we should can Jim Hendry because of this move. I just disagree with it. Overall, i think Hendry has done a phenomenal job as GM of the Cubs, and i fully expect him to have a fireworks show of an offseason. Look for him to right this move by signing Furcal and then go out and make a trade for a BIG OF bat, such as Dunn or Kearns.

The Cubs will thrive in twenty-oh-five... or sometime thereafter!

by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Nov 9, 2005 3:36 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed,

sorry to attack so much, by some people's responses you would think that Neifi is the reason that we have not won a world series in 98 years.

In 2003, if Neifi was on the roster, and a defensive replacement for a certain shortstop, we might not be arguin about why the Cubs have not won a world series.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 3:45 PM CST up reply actions

hey

Have we ever talked about moving nomar to second and signing furcal? Not sure how I feel about it, just sort of popped in my head. Sorry if I missed this once already.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 4:20 PM CST reply actions

Good Luck Nomar...

... where ever you play next season as long as it's not with the Cubs.

He still will be overpayed no matter where he goes and has yet to prove he can stay healthy. His Defense is much worse than I ever thought it was and the idea of Nomar at 2nd, while I played around with it myself for a short time, is a very bad idea.

The Cubs NEED to sign Furcal and then trade Walker for solid bullpen or starter and move Cedeno to 2nd where his Defense will always be solid and will be a cheap alternative and Cubs can address other positions via FA (trade Barrett,sign Hernandez would be a wonderful start).

I'm sick of Walker. I now know why he's unable to stick with a team for any given period of time, despite his OBP. He's a dick and can't keep his mouth shut and appears to be a Cancer and is a big time liability on Defense.

Time to see what Cedeno can do. If he struggles, atleast the Cubs will have Neifi!

by SoBlueCal on Nov 9, 2005 4:44 PM CST up reply actions

Much as I do like Nomar...

... he didn't have a very good run with the Cubs, due to injuries.

Does this mean he is "injury-prone"? We are probably going to let another team find that out.

I will close this part of the discussion by saying that the last team that got rid of him, won the World Series shortly thereafter.

by Al Yellon on Nov 9, 2005 4:58 PM CST up reply actions

Heard that joke one too many times...

(Since I'm an entirely new person, I will preface this by saying how much I enjoy your blog, and that I've learned quite a bit about the Cubs by following it. That said - )

Oh come on now, Al. That particular joke was overplayed when Bill Simmons was making it a year and change ago. And a rational person couldn't possibly mean it seriously, that the mystical act of no longer having Nomar on your team (as opposed to the improved defense of different player, or using a healthier if less effective one,) will magically catapult the Cubs into the Series. It's rather like blaming an 86 year old deficit on a curse rather than the triple-headed monster of racism, incompetence, and pure bad-luck. (This is Red Sox history of course. I don't know enough about Cubs history to know if racism played as big a role, but I will guess that incompetence and bad-luck showed up from time to time.)

Then of course, I've always been slightly out of step with the rest of RSN, in that while I ultimately came to see the trade as the right move, I don't at all believe that it was the reason we won the series. It's about 10th on the list, after David Ortiz, the legs of Dave Roberts, the dual aces Schilling & Pedro, and Derek Lowe finally finding his testicles. I'll break it down by parts: World Series? Manny was MVP, Foulke should've been MVP, Bellhorn had a case for it. ALCS? Papi all the way, with help from the pitching which finally decided to show up in the last four games. ALDS? Pitching until game three, then Papi again. I like Cabrera quite a bit, but his part in this was overrated. (That .429 ALCS average? The bulk of it came in game 3 where we were blown out, and game 7 where we blew out the Yankees.) And again, if Posada's throw in Game 4 is to the 2nd base side of the bag and not the SS side, then trading away Nomar is the-huge-mistake-by-Theo-&-the-Red-Sox-and-look -how-the-Yankees-swept-them-and-gosh-what-happened to-the-chemistry-that-was-supposed-to-make-us-win and-gee-we-could've-used-Nomar's-offense-couldn't we? And I don't think either view of the team or trade is accurate.

So it's an easy assumption that Furcal will be bring lesser offense, but greater defense, speed, and reliability. No question about the reliability. I would have argued about Nomar being injury-prone until 4-20-05. It would be hard for me to say that with a straight face now. Furcal should play a lot of games, and play them well. Defense I assume will be better, although be warned that Furcal has been extremely error prone in the past. (Of course errors aren't the best indicator of real defensive value.) His arm is strong (although Nomar's is very strong too,) and I assume, accurate? I haven't watched the Braves much. But Furcal can't make Prior & Wood healthy, he can't slow down Maddux's aging, and he can't make Rusch more than what he is. (Zambrano is wonderful and I covet him. I know, we can't have him. It's mere coveting.)

Yes, I'm focusing on pitching there. The Cubs are a NL team; I wouldn't try to match an AL offense because I don't think you can. (I don't know how the Cards do it.) But Zambrano, Prior & Wood, if all is right, are certainly no worse than Contreras, Buerhle, and Garland, and I'd say all three are better, or at least can be better, than the Chi Sox starters.

I think there's no reason why the Cubs can't win the WS soon. (Bad managers/GMs? Like the Diamondbacks were divinely led in 2001. We almost got to the WS in 2003 in spite of friggin' Grady [I'll take Dusty over Grady anyday, by the way.]) And don't misunderstand - I would probably sign Furcal over Nomar if I were the Cubs (if I don't have to overpay too egregiously.) But replacing Nomar with Furcal won't be the main reason you win the WS if you do get there, and if that's the only change you make (which of course, it won't be,) I don't think it's gonna do a damn thing for y'all in October.

by Casilda on Nov 10, 2005 12:34 AM CST up reply actions

I'm happy to have Neifi

as long as I don't see him in the lineup on opening day. I love his attitude, I love his hustle, I love how he stepped up and exceeded our expectations of him. That said, I love Cedeno, Walker, and Furcal a whole lot more.

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

by cubbiejulie on Nov 9, 2005 5:41 PM CST reply actions

Looks like the Neifi Meltdown

spread to BCB. Today is November 9th, and I am ok with this move today. If he is the starting shortstop on opening day, then I think I will be ticked. We have no choice but to give Hendry a chance to build a good team for next year. I know this has been said ad-nauseum, but the Sammy circus last year I think took away Hendry's focus from where it should have been. Give the man one more chance I say....

by LT on Nov 9, 2005 5:48 PM CST reply actions

This will certainly

be Hendry's last chance, by a majority Cub fans and I would have to say certainly by the Trib brass.

With all the extra revenue and all the other recent developements, the Cubs should and better have a payroll of around $105-$110 Million, easy. With that and the uprising of most Cub fans who are sick and tired of the "luvable losers" tag and CRAVE a team that will compete on a daily basis, comes a lot of pressure and this upcoming season is very important to a lot of different people, and Hendry's head is first in line on the chopping block.

2006 is make or break for Hendry, especially when you have to assume that he will get atleast $100 to play with and build a contender.

by SoBlueCal on Nov 9, 2005 5:56 PM CST up reply actions

Well, Al,

...you'd have to say there's a lot of passion on this thread, isn't there?
However, I guarantee you -- Neifi is going to be depth this year, not a starter. And that is how it should be. A lot of teams would love to have this guy coming off their bench. This isn't a lot of cash for a guy who can play 3 IF positions. A lot of anger here is misdirected, but that's OK.

by Smooth Jazz Man San Diego on Nov 9, 2005 6:14 PM CST reply actions

Man...

... I had no idea when I posted this, that it would engender such passionate discussion!

I happen to agree with you. Perez, given 150-200 AB, and maybe 30 starts a year, is a useful player.

And that's exactly how I think he will be used in 2006.

by Al Yellon on Nov 9, 2005 9:29 PM CST up reply actions

Me either...

All I said in the diaries was that I don't like it if it doesn't get us Furcal.

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

by Whitebacon on Nov 10, 2005 1:57 AM CST up reply actions

One more chance

Give the man [Neifi] one more chance I say....

The Patterson Principle at work, I see.

by drone1047 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 11:09 PM CST reply actions

Jim Hendry

*cough* Theo Epstein *cough*

by drone1047 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 9, 2005 11:11 PM CST reply actions

False logic

I will close this part of the discussion by saying that the last team that got rid of him, won the World Series shortly thereafter.

I've heard a variation on this too...

2004 Red Sox
2005 White Sox
2006 Cubs!!!!

The problem with that is, as a simple matter of progression, or hidden patterns, we all know the universe DOES NOT work that way. Besides, its just as plausible...perhaps even moreso because there's actual evidence, in this case...that this was a more likely sequence:

2003 Cubs!!!!
2004 Red Sox
2005 White Sox

...and we blew it.

by drone1047 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 10, 2005 8:59 AM CST reply actions

The one constant

Oh boy....

I like that some are still counseling patience, which is a fair and rational thing to say, since the offseason has just begun and the 2006 season does not begin until April.

On the other hand, the dance displayed by Hendry's moves while GM show that he is adept at making distress moves, but rather pedestrain at finding the best available player when the market is open and not driven by a short deadline.

As I said in other places, in one player, Neifi Perez symbolizes what is wrong at this moment in time with the Cub brass way of thinking. This is a guy who has never, I repeat, never been a competent major league hitter, as nearly 5000 ABs have proven.

He can catch the ball, which is a necessary skill, especially if you are a backup, who gets 125-150 ABs in a season.

However, the problem is and always will be, the usage patterns of one Johnny B Baker Jr.

It has been a strange journey with this man at the helm, and the more I see of him, the more he reminds me of Don Baylor - a man driven to try the same thing, over and over again, regardless of the results. A man driven to play the same older veteran, because somewhere in his convoluted thought process, he believes that is the best option.

What Baker did last year reminds me of the asinine choice that Don Baylor made in 2001 when he kept putting one Ron Coomer in the lineup at 3b, 1b, or wherever he needed to plug a hole, even though Coomer sucked the air out the offense faster than Corey Patterson (OK, I'll admit that Perez is Coomer with a glove).

IF Perez is a backup in 2006 and 2007, then of course he has value.

IF Hendry can acquire a front line player to suck away Dusty's mad plan to get Perez ABs, then it is a good move.

IF Ronny Cedeno proves again that he is major league ready, then the signing of Perez is a good move.

However, if things don't go according to plan, or if injury strikes, beware, because Johnny B will do what Johnny B always does. He will, more often than not, call on the guy least likely to help the team score runs.

As he has said before, this ain't the giving business, its the earning business.

I can feel the scream in my mind slowly working its way up my throat.

by Jk1969 on Nov 10, 2005 11:13 AM CST reply actions