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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    As others have posted, Quade would never hire Sandberg as bench coach. As for which job is a better stepping stone to managing in the majors, I would think it would be managing in AAA rather than being a bench coach. Usually the only bench coaches that take over are hand-picked successors to the manager (Like Mattingly with Torre). It's hard to prove you would be a great manager when you're sitting in the dugout with someone else making all of the decisions. At least managing in the minors has a win/loss record to go by.
  2. Backtobanks
    I could see a young guy or first-timer take the job to build a resume to be considered for better jobs in the future. Riggleman, Wedge, Girardi, Gonzalez, Quade, etc. are now part of the "insiders" that are considered for open positions because of some early success. There are only 30 major league manager positions and probably 60 people who are "qualified" for the job plus another 60 who want to become qualified for the job. There's probably only a handful of guys who have any business turning down that gig. Jim Tracy was an established major league manager who went to Pittsburgh, then moved onto the job in Colorado. It's not just first timers who would have interest. That's my point. A managerial job in Pittsburgh is better than a coaching job or minor league job somewhere else. Do a decent job and you become one of the names that's always in the running for open managerial positions.
  3. Backtobanks
    Well, he's 1 for 1, as Fredi returns to Atlanta. That was the easy one though. I know there are only so many managerial jobs available but I just don't see why anyone would want to take the Pirates job when you know there is virtually no way to succeed there. I could see a young guy or first-timer take the job to build a resume to be considered for better jobs in the future. Riggleman, Wedge, Girardi, Gonzalez, Quade, etc. are now part of the "insiders" that are considered for open positions because of some early success.
  4. Backtobanks
    Well, at least he gets to the playoffs.
  5. Backtobanks
    I can't believe DeJesus and Ross wouldn't be able to find a starting gig somewhere.
  6. Backtobanks
    The average is terrible, but his OBP is quite good for a guy with a sub-.200 BA and he still managed a .433 SLG in a down year with a terrible BA. He seems to be a very up and down player (.843 and .892 OPS in 2007 and 2009, .779 and .753 OPS in 2008 and 2010), but his walk rate has improved each of the past 4 years and he generally has a decent or better slugging (.458-.543 from 2007 to 2009). His horrid average this year could make him pretty cheap as well, considering the possibility (probability?) of a rebound in production next year. The strikeouts don't concern me that much. He seems like a poor man's Adam Dunn, to be honest. My thought exactly. We need a 1B, not a 3B or pretend RF. Can you imagine Dunn, Reynolds, and Soriano in the same lineup? Lots of HRs? 100 HRs and 600 Ks.
  7. Backtobanks
    The average is terrible, but his OBP is quite good for a guy with a sub-.200 BA and he still managed a .433 SLG in a down year with a terrible BA. He seems to be a very up and down player (.843 and .892 OPS in 2007 and 2009, .779 and .753 OPS in 2008 and 2010), but his walk rate has improved each of the past 4 years and he generally has a decent or better slugging (.458-.543 from 2007 to 2009). His horrid average this year could make him pretty cheap as well, considering the possibility (probability?) of a rebound in production next year. The strikeouts don't concern me that much. He seems like a poor man's Adam Dunn, to be honest. My thought exactly. We need a 1B, not a 3B or pretend RF. Can you imagine Dunn, Reynolds, and Soriano in the same lineup?
  8. Backtobanks
    How do you feel about Carlos Pena? Not crazy about Pena either, but at least he plays 1B.
  9. Backtobanks
    I would love to have him back for 2 years, but it won't happen when there are teams offering more money and more years than the Cubs will be willing to pay.
  10. Backtobanks
    Personally, I would pass on Reynolds. More than twice as many strikeouts as hits and a sub-.200 BA just doesn't get me too excited.
  11. Backtobanks
    Not saying he deserves the credit, but he had the same pitchers and pitching coach that Lou had all season.
  12. Backtobanks
    What are you basing this on? Everything I've seen makes it sound like: 1. Girardi 2. Quade 3. Sandberg
  13. Backtobanks
    I think they really ought to have 2 awards to clear up the question of MVP meaning "best" player or "most valuable" player. Most Valuable Player goes to a player on a playoff team (or no lower than 2nd place team) and Player of the Year goes to the player who had the best season. Obviously one player could win both awards. As my username shows, I'm a big fan of Ernie Banks, but how could he be a two-time MVP on teams that were at the bottom of the NL?
  14. Backtobanks
    From MLBTR: Ozzie Guillen To Manage White Sox In 2011 By Ben Nicholson-Smith [september 27 at 5:12pm CST] White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, who is under contract for 2011, told Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times that he'll be "with the White Sox next season" and that he wants to return (Twitter links). There has been uncertainty around Guillen, partly because of the many upcoming managerial vacancies and partly because he appeared to want more job security. The Marlins, in particular, seemed like a potential fit, but Guillen isn't going anywhere soon. GM Kenny Williams says he won't allow rival teams to interview Guillen for potential jobs. The 46-year-old is now in his seventh season as White Sox manager and has a regular season record of 595-533. Guillen, who led the team to a World Weries title in 2005, steered Chicago back into contention this year after a poor start to the season. Thankfully this will end the ridiculous speculation of Ozzie to the Cubs.
  15. Backtobanks
    At least he wouldn't be behind Adrian Gonzalez or Albert Pujols here (unless we sign Dunn).
  16. Backtobanks
    I'm surprised that all the sports reporters aren't smart enough to realize Ozzie is using them to get an extension from the White Sox.
  17. Backtobanks
    With all of the discussion about Carlos Lee being moved to 1B next year, rumors have started about Brett Wallace being on the move again. He would certainly be a great long-range option at 1B. Obviously if the Cubs really think they can contend next year they need someone like Dunn, but if they really don't expect to contend next year it might be worth exploring a trade for Wallace.
  18. Backtobanks
    I think Sandberg will leave the Cubs organization for another job if he doesn't get the managerial job this year.
  19. Backtobanks
    As opposed to Mark "perfect mechanics" Prior.
  20. Backtobanks
    Obviously something wrong with his thinking if he prefers the Braves to the Cubs. :-k
  21. Backtobanks
    That's missing the point entirely. It's not that Aramis could receive more money on an annual basis. It's that he could receive one last long-term contract in case next year is all 1st 2 months, and no strong finish. That was from MLBTR, not something I wrote. I would assume he is thinking he will remain healthy enough to get in 500+ ABs and will earn a "long-term" (3 year?) contract. Coming off of this year (even though he has rebounded the 2nd half), I'm not sure anybody would be offering him $40+ million over 3-4 years.
  22. Backtobanks
    Aramis Ramirez “Staying” In Chicago By Ben Nicholson-Smith [september 14 at 8:24am CST] Aramis Ramirez will be back in Chicago next year. The third baseman had suggested he might not return, but he told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times on Monday that he’s not considering opting out of his contract. ''I'm staying here,'' he said. ''Put it that way.'' Ramirez has a 2011 player option for $14.6MM and the Cubs will have to pay him $2MM more even if they buy him out in 2012. That's a lot of money, likely more than Ramirez would be able to find as a free agent, but the Cubs are getting a player who has recovered from a slow start to hit well in the second half. Ramirez had a .550 OPS heading into July, but has since posted a .940 mark and now has 22 home runs in total.
  23. Backtobanks
    Same division - won't happen.
  24. Backtobanks
    With his latest run of good starts, it makes no sense in trading him. With the bad publicity from this year, we would be trading him for pennies on the dollar, a terrible player with a terrible contract (Oliver Perez), or paying him $10 million per year to pitch for another team. As eccentric as he is, he still is a very good pitcher (though not worth his contract).
  25. Backtobanks
    I'm sure he's not on the Cubs' radar.
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