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Backtobanks

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  1. Backtobanks
    It's not the matchup itself that's the difference it's how each team would use their RH'ers that made the difference. STL would challenge them inside and would pay for it, LA stayed away and the Cubs wet their pants trying to pull HRs into LF. Then would being less right-handed by having Ibanez or another left-handed outfielder have made much of a difference? And then is the correction for what LA pitching did to us not be more left-handed but to have Perry work with existing right-handers (maybe something as simple as working on taking the outside pitch to the opposite field)? Good hitters don't need coaching to "hit the ball where it's pitched". Ramirez, Lee, Theriot, etc. hit the ball to center or right on an outside pitch. Soriano couldn't hit the ball to right if you offered him a million bucks. The bottom line is that the Cubs slumped at the wrong time for the second year in a row.
  2. Backtobanks
    3-Way Deal: Cubs send: Cedeno, Marshall, Pie, Ceda to Marlins Marlins send: Hermida, Uggla, Gregg to the Mets Mets send: Beltran to the Cubs Marlins shed 3 arbitration-eligible players and get Cedeno to play 2B (replacing Uggla) plus young and cheap CF, SP, and relief pitcher. Mets get Uggla (replacing Beltran's power and Castillo's position), corner OF, and closer. Cubs get power-hitting, speedy CF.
  3. Backtobanks
    Lee is turning into Mark Grace, which is fine as long as you are getting power numbers from other positions. He seems to be an obvious choice at #2 in the lineup if this trend continues.
  4. Backtobanks
    The last time I looked none of these guys were available.
  5. Backtobanks
    It would be great to have another lefty bat, but RH hitters should be able to hit RH pitchers too. Most ML hitters have faced RH pitching 85-90% of the time from Little League, Pony League, HIgh School, College, and the minor leagues. I'll give you that Lowe can be hard to hit, but that doesn't explain games 2 and 3.
  6. Backtobanks
    The team that has gone the longest with winning the WS is the automatic champion. :grin:
  7. Backtobanks
    I totally agree with you. Possibly trade for McLouth (or Beltran) for CF, pick up a SP, etc. Many of us have been saying all along that all you can do is put together the best team possible and win your division, the playoffs are a crapshoot. The Cubs put together the best team in the NL for 162 games and then lost to the hottest team at the moment. I'm sure they will be favorites to win the NL Central again next year, but who knows what will happen in the playoffs. When the playoffs begin, you need to have 1 or 2 players that hit a hot streak for a few weeks. As streaky as we all think the Cub players are, the vast majority of ML players are streaky. Unfortunately, it seems that all of the Cub players hit a slump at playoff time.
  8. Backtobanks
    Assuming the White Sox follow the Cubs lead by losing quickly, what about a deal centering around Fukudome for Swisher. Both underperformed to the point of embarassment and a new start might help both of them. Obviously the deal would have to be expanded with other players and cash, but those two would be the main players involved.
  9. Backtobanks
    After turning down a decent offer last year, why would AM accept a lesser deal this year. Obviously the package should be less since BRob is a year older and now is one year away from FA instead of 2.
  10. Backtobanks
    For all of the ranting about getting rid of Lee, Soriano, Fukudome, Theriot, etc., realize none of those are going to happen. My suggestions: 1. Trade for McLouth or Beltran (if available). 2. Resign Dempster and Wood. 3. Hire a hypnotist to convince Soriano he can hit lower in the lineup. 4. Realize Lee is now your #2 hitter in the lineup. Lineup: Theriot Lee Ramirez (if Beltran is acquired, he bats 3rd and everyone else moves down 1) Soriano/Soto Soto/Soriano McLouth DeRosa Fukudome/Johnson Bench Fukudome/Johnson Hoffpauir Fontenot Cedeno or other MI utility man Backup Catcher Comments: 1. Theriot is loved by Lou and Hendry, so SS change is unlikely. 2. Lee, ARam, Soriano, Zambrano, Shark, etc. all have NTCs. 3. Fukudome has no trade value and certainly won't leave $38 million on the table to go back to Japan because of embarassment. 4. Pie, Marshall, and Cedeno probably would be used in a package for McLouth, Beltan, or a corner OF.
  11. Backtobanks
    First let's get the Cubs to the WS and then I'll think about who we're playing.
  12. Backtobanks
    .280/.360 + 18-20 HRs + very good speed + good defense + youth + cheap contract = great CF Does he even have a good reputation on defense? Chris Dial's system and +/- have him as absolutely horrendous with the glove this year. I don't know about his defense, but defense isn't why the Cubs would be interested. If they want defense, they already have Pie.
  13. Backtobanks
    Which he can waive, it's certainly not impossible to trade him. I think there are a lot of NTCs on the Cubs which makes trades a whole lot harder. I can't see Lee waiving his NTC.
  14. Backtobanks
    There's no way that the Cubs trade Lee or Theriot. Lee is the high character leader of this team and Theriot is loved by Hendry and Lou. The best that we can hope for is moving Lee out of the 3rd spot in the lineup. I'm all in favor of going after McLouth which means the end of Felix Pie. As I posted in the thread about Peavy, the price will be ridiculous (probably 5 players). As others have posted, unless there's a way out of either Soriano or Fukudome's contract, CF is the only real opening to explore (McLouth or Beltran?).
  15. Backtobanks
    How about all of us that have been Cub fans throughout the good and the bad. Those Cub fans who used to be able to go to Wrigley with our kids and buy affordable tickets. Sick or healthy, young or old, how about winning for us.
  16. Backtobanks
    Yes. He should be giving all of his players big hugs and leading the team in a sing-along before they take the field. And after the game he can take them all out for pizza. We already have one coach in town who does that - Lovie Smith.
  17. Backtobanks
    Looks like you have them trading Greene if they put Theriot at SS.
  18. Backtobanks
    You can't be serious about that offer as being an opener. Pie, Marshall, and those three might get their attention. He said as an opener. If Vitters, Castillo, pitcher, Pie, Marshall is merely the opener, we might be trading the most players in a single deal ever. My point is that Vitters, Castillo, and a pitcher wouldn't even be considered an opener for Peavy. When you look at the deals made for Santana, Bedard, Sabathia, etc. and then figure in the fact that the Padres aren't desperate to trade him, he's not a free-agent-to-be, and he's 27 years old, the price would be staggering.
  19. Backtobanks
    I didn't expect a sweep, but if the Cubs would have beaten Lowe in Game 1, I thought a sweep very likely could happen. When you are the better team and beat a team's ace in the first game, it knocks the wind out of the other team. Now we have to hope Zambrano, Harden, and Lilly step up and the offense wakes up.
  20. Backtobanks
    While we're at it why don't we trade Marquis and sign Sabathia too.
  21. Backtobanks
    You can't be serious about that offer as being an opener. Pie, Marshall, and those three might get their attention.
  22. Backtobanks
    When push comes to shove Lou (and most managers) go to the veterans over rookies. That's why Ward and Howry are on the roster. Pie is on because the wind will be howling in for the first two nights, which means you need to emphasize speed and defense.
  23. Backtobanks
    After watching what Sabathia did for the Brewers, it might change my mind on whether a pitcher should be considered for the MVP. It won't happen (MVP), but you can't find a better example of carrying a team to the playoffs almost single handedly than Sabathia in 2008. I would love to be his agent this offseason, unless his arm falls off during the playoffs.
  24. Backtobanks
    A lot of sites are mentioning the Tigers trading Ordonez, so I'm sure they're not going to trade Granderson too.
  25. Backtobanks
    I'm amazed that they're in contention every year. Gardenhire ought to be Manager of the Year every year.
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