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Backtobanks

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  1. Backtobanks
    .280/.360 + 18-20 HRs + very good speed + good defense + youth + cheap contract = great CF I might think about Pie + Cedeno + Marshall, but I would prefer Pie, Cedeno, plus 1-2 other prospects.
  2. Backtobanks
    From MLBtraderumors: The following three names are being bandied about in the Yankees' clubhouse for center field next year: Nate McLouth, David DeJesus, and Matt Kemp. DeJesus seems the most reasonable target, though Robinson Cano could be part of a package for Kemp. DeJesus, it should be noted, played a poor center field this year according to the plus/minus system. If McLouth is available, we should be able to match any Yankee offer. Obviously, Pie would be in the package. Including Cedeno would allow them to trade one or both of Wilson and Sanchez for more prospects. Throw in a couple of young pitchers and the offer should be competitive.
  3. Backtobanks
    There's a fine line between resting your regulars and having them lose their sense of timing. Stagger days off for Theriot, DLee, Ramirez, Soriano, DeRosa, and Soto while using your starters for 5 innings. Give a lot of ABs to Pie, Ward, Hoffpauir, Fukudome, McGahee, etc. and innings to Wells, Wuertz, Guzman, Hart, Wells, etc.
  4. Backtobanks
    http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AnODyGEKA8kw2TsPLpkidmU5nYcB?slug=txcubssnyder&prov=st&type=lgns Can anyone tell me the point of this? It probably means Pie will make the team next year or be traded and Iowa needs a CF.
  5. Backtobanks
    Basically. And he arguably got the job done by getting the batter to hit into a perfect DP ball that would have ended the inning that DeRosa completely screwed up. As Kasper and Brenley have pointed out, he needs to work on his secondary pitches. The reason I think he is in trouble is that he can't throw strikes until he's in a hitter's count and then the batter knows a fastball is coming. Lou is very intolerant of pitchers who walk people and fall behind on every batter.
  6. Backtobanks
    And that's ultimately where we're at. Hard to imagine anyone that's eligible to replace him actually replacing him. If he keeps sucking, he'll just be held back from remotely important situations. Which is terrifying, because then there's the ever-looming spectre of Bobby Howry... Howry does have that "experience" factor going for him. I think Samardzija had better start showing something in these last 10 games or he could be left off of the playoff roster. Walks and falling behind in the count are something Lou doesn't tolerate.
  7. Backtobanks
    I'm betting that Kosuke will be great at taking advice from Piniella and Perry. I look for a solid year for him next year.
  8. Backtobanks
    Knowing Piniella's lack of patience when it comes to walks, Smardzja could be in trouble. He's falling behind every batter and they're sitting on his fastball.
  9. Backtobanks
    And he's going to show that in a week? Pie will likely make it regardless of his hitting because of his defense and speed. Fact is, he is the guy you want in center when trying to preserve a lead, and he is the best guy the cubs have to use as a pinch runner. I think the cubs roster will look like this: Pitchers (11) (S) Z, Demp, Harden, Lilly ® Marquis (longman), Cotts, Marmol, Wood, Howry, Shark, Gaudin (if healthy, Marshall if not) Position players (14) Lee, Derosa, Riot, Ram, Soto, Fukudome, Edmonds, Soriano, Reed, Fontenot, Blanco, Cendeno, Ward, Pie I expect the Cubs to clinch within a few more days and then Lou probably will be giving a lot of playing time to Pie. Pie might be great for speed and defense, but Edmonds and Johnson are pretty solid defensively. If Gaudin is healthy, it wouldn't surprise me for both Marshall and Gaudin to be on the roster. A second lefty in the bullpen might be necessary.
  10. Backtobanks
    Edmonds will positively be on the roster. Howry has the "experience" factor going for him. Marquis will make it unless he really sucks the rest of the way. Pie won't make it unless he shows he can hit. Fukudome will make the roster for depth and defense.
  11. Backtobanks
    The latest from MLBtraderumors: File this under rumor… Word on the street is that Thomas Ricketts and the Ricketts family are the winning bidders for the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field, and a 25 percent stake in ComcastSports Chicago. Thomas Ricketts is the chief executive of Chicago investment bank Incapital LLC, His father, Joe Ricketts, is the founder of TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.
  12. Backtobanks
    I really feel old when posters grew up listening to Steve Stone. I go back to Jack Brickhouse and Vince Lloyd.
  13. Backtobanks
    That team is full of chokers. Only one of them has a World Series ring. And we don't have a bullpen. With that lineup and those starters, even Howry could pitch in relief.
  14. Backtobanks
    The topic of this thread is what we would do during the off season, but realistically DLee isn't going to be traded by the Cubs. He is the high-character, elder spokesperson for the team. It might be in the best interest of the Cubs to replace him, but it won't happen.
  15. Backtobanks
    If you're interested in Burrell, that means Fukudome moves to CF and Pie is traded. It looks like the Mets will be in the playoffs, but I had heard that they might shop Beltran if they missed the playoffs. A package starting with Pie and Marshall (plus others) for Beltran and his overpriced contract would be interesting. I would think that Cedeno will be traded to someone who needs a young SS.
  16. Backtobanks
    And replace him with?
  17. Backtobanks
    Did anyone else look at the title and think the Cardinals called up Randy Wells?
  18. Backtobanks
    As long as you consider Jason Marquis your #5 starter, he's decent. The problem has always been about the raised expectations because of his contract. You can't blame Marquis for taking the money.
  19. Backtobanks
    Fixed
  20. Backtobanks
    I don't see how Lou should be given any credit for not pitching a pitcher who is obviously hurt. Lou should get credit for many things about the Cubs, but he has many faults too. The most obvious fault with him is his "doghouse" where players have been known to disappear for weeks at a time (i.e. Murton, Eyre, Wuertz, Marshall, Pie, etc.).
  21. Backtobanks
    I think Wood and Dempster will be back with favorable contracts because of their relationship with Hendry and the Cubs. I do think that Edmunds will be gone opening the way for Pie/Johnson in CF. I'm not sure what Johnson will cost, but he is a decent 4th OF/platoon, so I think he will be back. As you pointed out, Wuertz should be back even though he seems to be "out of the picture" with Lou. With a good spring, he might be valuable as trade bait if Lou doesn't want him. To me, Cotts is a question mark because he is hot and cold. I guess a lot will depend on who might be available during the off season to cover possible holes at CF/RF and lefty relief pitching.
  22. Backtobanks
    There's nothing that says Pie can't be called up after Iowa's season ends. Pie could be valuable as a pinch runner and defensive replacement after his season ends.
  23. Backtobanks
    I wonder if Detroit would want to move their RF? I have seen Magglio's name mentioned as a possible trade candidate because of his salary and the Tiger's pitching woes.
  24. Backtobanks
    The big issue I see with that rotation is that you could easily have half your rotation down by midseason. You trade Lilly and Marquis, and suddenly you lose 2 of your guys who you trust to make every start. Harden, Marshall, and Hill are all huge question marks in one way or another. They give you the best production when things are going good, but they also have a high chance of being gone for at least 1/4 of the season. That's a major problem in the rotation when you have to start dipping down into your 7th and 8th starters for long stretches of the season. That makes me wary about going with that particular rotation. I'm not advocating trading both Lilly and Marquis, but with enough advance notice the coaching staff could stretch out one or two of Gaudin/Marshall/Hart/Samardja in addition to any other players from the minors plus any free agents or players obtained in trades.
  25. Backtobanks
    I agree with you that the Cubs will re-sign Dempster somehow, but I still think it's hilarious to think the Cubs would let the year-long ace of the rotation leave because they have one year left on their #5 starter. That would make for a real public relations disaster for the new owner after Dempster leads the Cubs to a WS championship. Dempster has already stated he wants to stay with the Cubs and to me that translates into something will be worked out. If Marshall continues to improve, trading Lilly (and Marquis) could be a possibility if money really is an issue.
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