Who's On Second?

The hot rumor de jour is back to Jose Vidro. Now, this is a guy first mentioned as an Ivy Chat Wish Lister as far back as 2003 (along with Miguel Tejada, Juan Pierre and Jim Thome -- all of whom were subject of "heading to Chicago" rumors or actual trades this winter -- so nice that logic is followed years later).

It would seem to this viewer that taking a flyer on Vidro would be a smart thing for the Cubs to do. The upside is a Todd Walker bat with a Neifi Perez glove. Then again, the upside is only there if Vidro's leg is cured of Magglio Ordonez disease.

The downside is if you trade for Vidro and he remains on crutches, Neifi Perez is going to get 60% of the starts and Jerry Hairston will get the other 40%.

Oh, wait! That's what's going to happen even if Todd Walker isn't traded so long as Dusty Baker is making the lineup card! Well, Neifi will get 55%, Hairston 35%, and Walker 10%. Therefore, this is a risk-free move.

The scary move would be to trade for Alfonso Soriano. That would be essentially re-acquiring Corey Patterson and giving him a $9 million per year raise.

In two words, no thanks.

Go take a flyer on Vidro. Why not? The Cubs aren't winning anything with Wlaker benched and Neifi starting.