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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    There goes our chances of winning the NL Central. :lol:
  2. Backtobanks
    From MLBTR: Cubs Sign Enrique Acosta By Zach Links [July 2 at 12:57pm CST] The Cubs have signed Dominican shortstop Enrique Acosta, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. Acosta's signing bonus is said to be worth $1.1MM. Acosta, at 6-foot-1 and 180-pounds, is considered to have one of the top bats this year in Latin America. It seems likely that the right-handed hitter will move from shortstop; possibly to a corner outfield spot or third base.
  3. Backtobanks
    While nobody in their right mind really picked the Cubs to contend, I don't think it's too outrageous to use injuries as an excuse for this team to be a borderline .500 team. The #4 & #5 starters are something like 8-24 since Wells and Cashner went down.
  4. Backtobanks
    Since I posted, Hendry has said Marshall won't be traded. That's good news.
  5. Backtobanks
    From MLBTR Chat: Rumors here in DFW today that the Rangers may be talking with the Cubs, Chris Davis and Julio Borbon to CHI for Sean Marshall and Marlon Byrd. Have you heard anything?? Wednesday June 29, 2011 2:26 Georgio D 2:27 I have not, though the idea of the Cubs and Davis has come up before. Not sure whether they want to leave 1B open for a potential FA though. Although Davis can play some other positions and they do not have a 3B after this year. I would hope Marshall isn't in any trade talks, but I'd love to get Davis.
  6. Backtobanks
    I think Hendry really wants to wait for everyone to get off the DL to see how the team performs before making any deals. Also, I agree with N&G that he's not going to announce a fire sale. When the time comes he will listen to offers, but not make a public spectacle of it.
  7. Backtobanks
    ZiPS must not have thought much of Cashner/Wells/Garza if they expected them to put a ~7.00 ERA in limited innings during their missed starts. I think the point is more that they have been so freaking bad that even having those guys miss no time doesn't make up the difference. Plus, a lot of other teams have missed a lot more, and better, players. ZIPS has to be kidding. The injuries to Wells, Cashner, Byrd, Wood, etc. haven't cost this team some wins??????????? Especially when they have been replaced by the likes of Davis, Lopez, Coleman, Campana, etc. Nobody is saying that it would have made the 2011 Cubs into contenders, but I would think the regulars would have accounted for 4 or 5 more wins at this point. The Cubs are not the only team who have missed guys. Much better players from around the league have missed considerable time. The Cubs may not be the only team with injuries, but nobody can convince me that the Cubs' record would be the same with the injuries they have suffered and the replacements they have used.
  8. Backtobanks
    ZiPS must not have thought much of Cashner/Wells/Garza if they expected them to put a ~7.00 ERA in limited innings during their missed starts. I think the point is more that they have been so freaking bad that even having those guys miss no time doesn't make up the difference. Plus, a lot of other teams have missed a lot more, and better, players. ZIPS has to be kidding. The injuries to Wells, Cashner, Byrd, Wood, etc. haven't cost this team some wins??????????? Especially when they have been replaced by the likes of Davis, Lopez, Coleman, Campana, etc. Nobody is saying that it would have made the 2011 Cubs into contenders, but I would think the regulars would have accounted for 4 or 5 more wins at this point.
  9. Backtobanks
    Your right he doesn't "quit" on a ball 20 feet from a wall, he just slows down to a slow trot on anything hit toward a wall so he doesn't get there to crash into the wall and plays it after it hits the ground or the wall. Sure, why not? You are confused about why an OF would want to try hard to catch a batted ball on the fly? Not at all. Any player is going to avoid crashing into a wall if they can. And BtB description is ridiculous because he's trying to make it sound like Soriano is acting like he's on the verge of slamming into the wall left and right instead of, y'know, playing a ball off the wall like everyone else does. It's just indicative of the irrational hatred the guy gets; if he's not slamming into the wall or diving for balls every other game he's worthless and a coward. I certainly don't hate Soriano, but he is what he is. He's not a great defensive player except for his arm. Other posters have agreed that he has a problem with balls near the wall and a tendency to not always hustle after balls hit in the gap. I guess none of this is too surprising since he's basically a DH that's been forced to play the field.
  10. Backtobanks
    Your right he doesn't "quit" on a ball 20 feet from a wall, he just slows down to a slow trot on anything hit toward a wall so he doesn't get there to crash into the wall and plays it after it hits the ground or the wall.
  11. Backtobanks
    I understand not wanting to leap or run into a brick wall, but you don't quit on a ball that's 20 feet away from the wall.
  12. Backtobanks
    don't confuse making an occasional diving catch for being good defensively. I like Johnson but could go either way on him coming back as a back up. I think he is the type of player that the wrong manager would way over use and always scares me. Playing next to Soriano in left might make me look good defensively and I'm old with bad knees. :yahoo: i'd wager that soriano would be 10x the superior defender than you would I'm sure you're correct, but I'll play for 1% of Soriano's contract to make up for my lack of defensive skills. At least I'm not allergic to brick walls like he is.
  13. Backtobanks
    don't confuse making an occasional diving catch for being good defensively. I like Johnson but could go either way on him coming back as a back up. I think he is the type of player that the wrong manager would way over use and always scares me. Playing next to Soriano in left might make me look good defensively and I'm old with bad knees. :yahoo:
  14. Backtobanks
    Why are you talking about this like it even has a shred of possibil-...oh. Right. I didn't start the thread so I don't understand using my quote to question the possibility of such a trade. Obviously, the Sox wouldn't go for the Soriano/Dunn deal, but KG asked the question and solicited replies. If such a deal could happen, I think there would be a decent possibility of another team willing to take a chance on Dunn if the Cubs ate 68% of his contract. Then again, we might be able to trade Soriano if we eat enough to make him a $4-$5 million per year player.
  15. Backtobanks
    I'm all for him coming back as a 4th OF. He's fast, good defensively, and seems to add some spark when he's playing.
  16. Backtobanks
    I would do this in a heartbeat. Assuming 1/2 the salary is owed for this season, the Cubs would save $13 million over the next 3 1/2 years. I'm sure we could find a team willing to take a chance on Dunn if we eat $10 million per year (leaving the other team owing $4 million, $5 million, and $5 million). In other words, we might get out from under Soriano's contract for about $36 million spread over 3 1/2 years and possibly get a prospect in return for Dunn.
  17. Backtobanks
    I don't think there's any way Fielder would settle for those numbers and if he did there would be a whole bunch of competition for his services.
  18. Backtobanks
    I didn't take that as defense of Hendry. He hasn't gotten it done and it's time for him to go. IMO it was a dig at the "wannabe GMs" and their notion that if the Cubs were only smart enough to sign A and B, and trade X and Y for Z, bam they'd be awesome. Well Adam Dunn was last year's 'step A' signing. Point being, if you think you could/would do better, think again. Any of us would make lots of mistakes in that job (albeit probably different ones). Not signing Dunn wasn't a "smart move." It turned out to be a lucky move. The majority of moves or non-moves a GM makes end up being more lucky than "smart". The problem that I have had over the years with critics of Hendry is that every good move (or non-move) he makes is labeled luck, while his bad moves (or non-moves) are considered incompetence.
  19. Backtobanks
    I didn't take that as defense of Hendry. He hasn't gotten it done and it's time for him to go. IMO it was a dig at the "wannabe GMs" and their notion that if the Cubs were only smart enough to sign A and B, and trade X and Y for Z, bam they'd be awesome. Well Adam Dunn was last year's 'step A' signing. Point being, if you think you could/would do better, think again. Any of us would make lots of mistakes in that job (albeit probably different ones). My point about all of these discussions is that many of us (myself included) like to speculate on trades and FA signings without knowing all of the "behind the scenes" stuff. That's not a defense of Hendry, it's just that everybody else's job sure looks easy from the front of a computer monitor.
  20. Backtobanks
    Hendry's best move this year. So much for all of the wannabe GMs here who were begging for Adam Dunn.
  21. Backtobanks
    They might want "a very nice return" for him, but it's going to be a hard sell with those ugly stats for the last 2 1/2 years.
  22. Backtobanks
    From MLBTR: The latest from ESPN's Jayson Stark... •The Rays are not likely to trade B.J. Upton this summer, though the Nationals have been monitoring the center fielder just in case. Though the Rays feel they have a long-term need for catching, they're not enticed by the Nats' dangling of Jesus Flores and Ivan Rodriguez. Jaramillo might be able to get him back on track after 2 1/2 terrible years. He's still young (26) and would add speed to the lineup. Maybe a deal centered around Castillo, Colvin, and a pitching prospect. Also, I'm sure the Rays wouldn't mind getting rid of his salary ($4.8 million) considering his production for those 2 1/2 years (.235/.315/.706).
  23. Backtobanks
    20 HR production at 3B is below average, while 20 HR production at SS is great.
  24. Backtobanks
    Work something out with Ramirez for a year or 2 at a reduced rate (until Baez or Vitters are ready), sign Fielder/Pujols, Kemp, and a starter. With that kind of lineup mediocrity at 2B is tolerable.
  25. Backtobanks
    Correct, which is why number of errors isn't a very good measure of defensive ability. A perfect example of this, my favorite player (Ernie Banks) held the record for fewest errors by a SS for quite a few years. I love Ernie, but he was never a great SS. Of course the reason he set the record was because he had such limited range that he made all the plays hit near him.
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