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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    He's 22 years old. If he gets hit by a truck tomorrow and never plays again he'll be financially secure for the rest of his life. He signed this with essentially no ML experience, so there's the possibility that he busts as well. It's happened before. That's the trade off. He could possibly earn double that (I'd say it would be something like $5M, $10M, $15M tops but who knows), or he could take complete financial security right now. I know what I'd do. Going from $3M to $17M is a much bigger deal than going from $17M to $30M (OK, whatever his take-home actually is from these numbers). The utility of the second $13M isn't worth the risk. Also, don't forget that these pro athletes, their agents, and the stupid owners don't know the meaning of a contract anyhow. A few years into the contract, he will demand more money, an extension, or a trade and make all the money he was going to get without this contract. Pro athletes want the security of a long-term contract and then complain about the money.
  2. Backtobanks
    Furcal wants Dodgers extension? Rafael Furcal says he wants to remain with the Dodgers, though he doesn't want to concern himself with talk of a new deal until the end of the season. Until then, he's leaving the matter in the hands of his agent, Paul Kinzer, who visited Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti during spring training and has had a few follow-up conversations. Kinzer said the 30-year-old Furcal was looking for a long-term deal that would allow him to "finish his career there." "There's no deadline," Kinzer said. "We'll give them every opportunity to sign him." Said Colletti: "We want him to be a Dodger, so at some point in time, we'll sit down and sort it out." -- LA Times If the Dodgers are going to extend Furcal, they have no use for Hu. Even if Hu isn't ready to start this year, he could be the starting SS next year. I don't know what the Dodgers would ask for, but a pitching prospect plus Fontenot (to replace Hu) sounds like a fair deal.
  3. Backtobanks
    There's an old saying.....Jack of all trades and master of none. That sums up the "versatility" idea.
  4. Backtobanks
    From Foxsports.com: Reasons to be patient and remember it's a long season: Five lowest batting averages (through Tuesday) among 201 big-league batters who have enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting race belong to David Ortiz (.113), Troy Tulowitzki (.149), Placido Polanco (.149), Andruw Jones (.149) and Casey Blake (.150). And the two highest earned-run averages belong to C.C. Sabathia (11.57) and Roy Oswalt (9.00).
  5. Backtobanks
    Calling him up doesn't mean Lou would play him.
  6. Backtobanks
    Gammons said that Lou is not happy with Pie and his .160 AVG or something to that extent, and went on to say that Crisp is the best defensive center fielder in baseball and that he could be a solution for the Cubs leadoff problem. Overall Gammons acted like it would be a good deal for the Cubs as a second option with Roberts being the first. Ok, that makes me feel better. It sounds like Gammons is speculating here, and I think there are several reasons why his speculation is way off: 1) Crisp hasn't started the season that well 2) He's day to day with a hamstring injury. Lou's already frustrated enough with Soriano's leg injuries. He isn't going to want to acquire somebody with a balky hamstring and an injury history. 3) Lou is working with Pie considerably, and from all his quotes seems to indicate that he knows that Pie would continue to destroy the ball if sent down (with all his quotes about how he just wants to translate the great production every time he's at AAA), thus making it useless to send him down. They're certainly not going to do anything with Pie until this week of hands on coaching is over and he's given another chance in the field. After Johnson's big game yesterday, Pie's chances of playing regularly are just about gone. Anytime Pie plays, he better get two hits or he'll be back on the bench.
  7. Backtobanks
    I literally just suffered some brain damage. Obviously, Hendry is the beneficiary of the frequent flyer miles on the corporate credit card. As I poster said, I'm done believing anything positive that Hendry or Lou say about Murton. Actions speak louder than words.
  8. Backtobanks
    Here we go again, jump all over Hendry and give Lou a pass. All of these negative posts about Hendry's decision to call up Patterson over Murton are ridiculous. I'm sure Lou told Hendry who to call up. For all of Hendry's flaws, allowing the manager to make all of the personnel decisions might be his biggest flaw. Yeah, I will jump on Hendry because he is a terrible GM like it or not. If Lou is calling the shots or Hendry it doesn't matter, it is still a terrible move. My point is that everyone jumps on Hendry for decisions that are made by Lou. The fact that you think Hendry is a terrible GM is one thing, but don't blame him for decisions that are made by "teflon" Lou. Not only is calling up Patterson over Murton a bad decision, but playing DeRosa in LF and Fontenot at 2B (over Murton and DeRosa) is also a terrible decision. Both of those decisions were made by Lou.
  9. Backtobanks
    Good.
  10. Backtobanks
    Here we go again, jump all over Hendry and give Lou a pass. All of these negative posts about Hendry's decision to call up Patterson over Murton are ridiculous. I'm sure Lou told Hendry who to call up. For all of Hendry's flaws, allowing the manager to make all of the personnel decisions might be his biggest flaw.
  11. Backtobanks
    The real question is whether he will get playing time.
  12. Backtobanks
    I've posted some of the same complaints when it comes to Lou over Dusty. I'm not a supporter of Dusty, but when push comes to shove, Lou usually goes for the veteran just like Dusty. Also, for all of the complaining about Hendry, a lot of these decisions were made in the dugout or at the request of the manager. I like Lou, but it seems like he has a teflon coating when it comes to criticism.
  13. Backtobanks
    The problem is that Hill is a bit of a head case. Remember last year when he was doing some kind of "meditation" to relax during games. I really think he overthinks about pitching rather than letting his natural talent take over. Also, don't forget that he's left-handed which adds to his eccentricities.
  14. Backtobanks
    This reminds me of the Roberts trade talk. People need to understand that the average 2B is defense first and offense second. Utley is pretty much in a league of his own. Roberts and Hudson are very good players, but totally overvalued because they bring some offense to a defensive position. The fact that Hudson is asking $15 million per year and the O's wanted 5 players for Roberts is ridiculous. Keep the 5 players and the $15 million per year contract and go with DeRosa.
  15. Backtobanks
    I always thought Hudson might be an interesting option to the Brian Roberts trade talk, but not at those prices. D-Backs far apart from Hudson extension? The D-Backs have had intermittent talks with Orlando Hudson's camp about an extension since late in 2007, but the sides appear so far apart that it would take a major move by one to rekindle meaningful dialog. Hudson, a three-time Gold Glove winner who will become a free agent after this season, is said to be seeking a yearly salary similar to the $15 million Philadelphia's Chase Utley will receive in each of the final four years of his seven-year, $85 million dollar extension signed before 2007. -- East Valley Tribune
  16. Backtobanks
    I've been teased about coming up with 3-way deals in which we end up with Marte. He would be a great addition.
  17. Backtobanks
    Maybe Hendry ought to get in discussions with DD about a trade involving Wertz and Renteria.
  18. Backtobanks
    all because this guy cheated and juiced...thats the bad thing about the PEDs, the teams get cheated when these guys come off them. cheaters, cheaters never prosper..... Looks to me like a cheater (Gibbons) seems to be prospering.
  19. Backtobanks
    I know there have been many discussions on the existence of "clutch" hitters, but if such a thing does exist, the Cubs need a few of them.
  20. Backtobanks
    My theory is the Cubs will get rid of two of Marquis/Dempster/Lieber by the deadline and put Marshall back in the rotation. Some of you are forgetting that one strike against Marshall is that he's a lefty. Lou doesn't want 3 lefties with similar stuff in the rotation. I think somewhere down the line you will see Marshall traded.
  21. Backtobanks
    Just their entire farm system :D Seriously, though, while Brandon Wood might hit for enormous power, given his terrible defense he is way too expensive. Remember we were looking at Willits to back up Pie but Willits for even Marquis would be a horrendous trade for the Cubs (unless they paid his contract in full, which wouldn't happen) Find out if the O's would like Brandon Wood and make a deal with the Angels and flip Wood to the O's as part of the Roberts deal.
  22. Backtobanks
    hey dude...do me a favor! stop making sense! There isn't a lot there that makes sense. Why can't Cedeno sub for Aramis? How does the lack of a Roberts trade mean Murton gets traded for nothing? Cedeno isn't losing his trade value by making the team. Patterson will not be "wasting" another year in the minors -- he would be there with or without the trade. I have no idea what Gallagher, Patterson, Veal, Ceda, and Hoffpauir have to do with the roster "problem". To answer your points in order: 1. I suppose Cedeno could sub for ARam, but I don't think he's ever played 3B or even taken grounders at 3B. 2. It's pretty obvious that Murton won't be a Cub for long. Hendry even admitted that he promised he would try to trade him. Another stint in the minors only decreases his trade value. 3. Cedeno is out of options and he doesn't seem to be the type of player that is successful playing part time. Not getting regular ABs will probably hurt his ability to showcase his potential. 4. Patterson could have been a valuable piece of the trade package for Roberts. Patterson, like Murton and Cedeno, have very little to prove at AAA.
  23. Backtobanks
    There are mixed reports on whether the deal is dead or they're still talking. Personally, I think they're still talking. Signing Johnson adds to the roster problem of what to do with Murton. Cedeno is out of options and can't sub for ARam. Gallagher, Patterson, Veal, Ceda, and Hoffpaur are all back in the minors. Again, the Roberts' trade just makes too much sense for both teams not to find a way to complete it. Trading for Roberts automatically gives you DeRosa to back up 2B, 3B, LF, RF, and possibly SS. Johnson backs up all 3 OF positions. Fontenot or Cintron would be available to back up SS. Without the trade, Murton gets traded for nothing, Cedeno loses whatever trade value he had by sitting on the bench, and players like Patterson waste another year in the minors.
  24. Backtobanks
    But it does make you wonder where Murton is going and for whom.
  25. Backtobanks
    Cubs just signed Reed Johnson from MLB Trade Rumors
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