4/17 Cubs (Dempster) @ Miami (Johnson) 6:10 CDT , CSN TV

[Backtobanks]

Aramis Fan, you're starting to make backtobacks look like an eternal optimist.

 

Actually the 2012 Cubs are making me look very accurate about my predictions for this year and it's interesting to see how many posters are starting agree about this year's team. I am optimistic about Rizzo & Brett coming up, but there's still a ton of holes to fill for this year and next.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I totally get that game threads are where it's easier to be irrational. And no one wants to see their favorite team lose. But the writing was on the wall for this season before it started. Sure, hope for the best, but try and enjoy the process. Because if anyone's truly getting pissed over THIS team losing, it's kind of unhealthy.

 

It's really more venting than irrationality too, and that's really one of the purposes of a message board, at least a game thread. Some just do it more than others and I doubt that Erik, Aramis Fan or whoever walk around grumbling about how awful the Cubs are all day any more than Fred walks around spouting out stats. When you watch a game at a bar or with friends, you hear the same talk if not worse when things aren't going your teams way. The difference is once something's been said it's said and not sitting on a message board waiting for the more "rational" fans to pick it apart well after the fact.

[erik316wttn]

He'd better start throwing strikes. Nothing is more annoying than a pitcher who doesn't throw strikes. That Hanley homer was so predictable I called it before the pitch.

 

You've got a great future in the erik arts.

 

I must train the young padawan.

[erik316wttn]

No matter how bad you may think they'll be, it's still a hell of a lot more fun to win game than to lose. If you're talking about people like Erik, he was spazzing out with every loss in '08, there's no hope there.

 

Yeah, because you can judge anyone by their actions from four years ago. :roll:

[SouthSideRyan]

Aramis Fan, you're starting to make backtobacks look like an eternal optimist.

 

Actually the 2012 Cubs are making me look very accurate about my predictions for this year and it's interesting to see how many posters are starting agree about this year's team. I am optimistic about Rizzo & Brett coming up, but there's still a ton of holes to fill for this year and next.

 

You're the worst.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Aramis Fan, you're starting to make backtobacks look like an eternal optimist.

 

Actually the 2012 Cubs are making me look very accurate about my predictions for this year and it's interesting to see how many posters are starting agree about this year's team. I am optimistic about Rizzo & Brett coming up, but there's still a ton of holes to fill for this year and next.

 

You're the worst.

 

I worked damn hard for that title and won't give it up without a fight. Castro to Peoria! Free Matt Tolbet!

[davell]

Dempster and money for prospects. The root of backtobanks problem is that's what he's got for us, as far as trade proposals go.

[SouthSideRyan]

Dempster and money for prospects. The root of backtobanks problem is that's what he's got for us, as far as trade proposals go.

 

You don't know much about BacktoHendry do you?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Aramis Fan, you're starting to make backtobacks look like an eternal optimist.

 

Actually the 2012 Cubs are making me look very accurate about my predictions for this year and it's interesting to see how many posters are starting agree about this year's team. I am optimistic about Rizzo & Brett coming up, but there's still a ton of holes to fill for this year and next.

 

I don't think there are as many holes as you think. CF, SS, 2B, and C, are the hardest positions to fill and we seemingly have them held down long term. Yes, I'm beginning to believe that Barney is a legit starting 2B and can give us Theriots bat with competent defense. We have 1B and hopefully 3B between Stewart, Vitters, and Lake. The holes we need to fill are LF, which will quasi competently held down by Soriano until something else comes along, which will hopefully be soon, as well as a front end starter to go with Garza(let's face it, whatever Demp does the next few months, at 35 he'll only be able to do it for so much longer), and piece together a bullpen. DeJesus will hold down RF for now, but will also require a long term answer.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I don't think there are as many holes as you think. CF, SS, 2B, and C, are the hardest positions to fill and we seemingly have them held down long term.

 

I'm not really sure we have any of those positions locked down long-term. SS probably, but definitely not certainly. CF? That's not even close to a guarantee. C? Maybe. 2B? Not even close.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm interested to hear how we don't certainly have SS locked down long-term.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'm interested to hear how we don't certainly have SS locked down long-term.

 

I know you are a fanboi, but there is no guarantee that Castro stays at SS.

 

It's certainly way too early to think about moving him, but that day could come.

[Hawk4Hall]

I'm interested to hear how we don't certainly have SS locked down long-term.

 

I know you are a fanboi, but there is no guarantee that Castro stays at SS.

 

It's certainly way too early to think about moving him, but that day could come.

Baez is currently a SS but it's possible he may move to 3B because of Castro.

 

Junior Lake can play 2B even though he's got a cannon of a arm. Vitters appears to be staying at 3B but can play 1B. Marco Hernandez plays SS but can play 2B as well. Those are the options off the top of my head of prospects who can play 3B or 2B.

 

I think Castro at SS will stay as long as the young guys develop.

[Backtobanks]

I still find it interesting that some of you get upset by my "negativity" when some others are posting the same kind of comments. I guess my comment about a ton of holes to fill sounds negative instead of realistic. 1B, 2B, SS, CF, #1 starter, #3 starter look to be set long term. 3B is still a question mark until Stewart/Vitters/Lake prove they can deliver on a regular basis. Soto needs to get his act together or else catcher is a question mark. LF, RF, and #1/#2 starter are targets for free agency. The bullpen is really questionable with only Dolis and Russell looking like long term solutions.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I'm interested to hear how we don't certainly have SS locked down long-term.

 

I know you are a fanboi, but there is no guarantee that Castro stays at SS.

 

It's certainly way too early to think about moving him, but that day could come.

Baez is currently a SS but it's possible he may move to 3B because of Castro.

 

Junior Lake can play 2B even though he's got a cannon of a arm. Vitters appears to be staying at 3B but can play 1B. Marco Hernandez plays SS but can play 2B as well. Those are the options off the top of my head of prospects who can play 3B or 2B.

 

I think Castro at SS will stay as long as the young guys develop.

 

Perhaps either Cardenas and Valbuenas PCL number are legit. I'm not suggesting that they'll OPS in the 1.000s, but they could be decent. Does Logan Watkins project to be any thing more than Ryan Theriot II? He seems to have a touch more power. There's Hernandez, Amaya, and Alcantara, but anyone of them are likely further down the road.

[Andy]

He'd better start throwing strikes. Nothing is more annoying than a pitcher who doesn't throw strikes. That Hanley homer was so predictable I called it before the pitch.

 

You've got a great future in the erik arts.

I don't walk around predicting doom and gloom. It's not hard to predict a home run on a 3-1 pitch to a slugger from a pitcher who has no clue what he's doing. That was my only point.