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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    Never bought into that. There's plenty of poverty in Latin America, even moreso than in US inner cities, yet there's no shortage of latin kids finding their way onto pro baseball rosters. Simple fact is baseball is no longer very popular with young African Americans. That's why the scarcity of black players isn't going away anytime soon. Jesse Jackson can bitch about it all he wants but it won't change anything. I think the bottom line here is that in the NBA and NFL these kids go straight to the big league...and the money. In MLB, that doesn't happen too often with much success and in today's society of instant gratification, kids don't want to put in a couple of years or more in the minors. They want the money and glory and they want it now. So, where are the protests about the lack of diversity on the field in the NFL and NBA? And don't Jesse Jackson and his minions have better things to do with their time and other people's money? I agree with what you said. In addition, being successful in high school, college, or the minors doesn't necessarily translate to success in the majors. The correlation between success in basketball and football at the college level is much greater than baseball. At the high school level it is even greater.
  2. Backtobanks
    Maybe Lou can use his powers of persuasion to convince Soriano that not only should he bat in the middle of the lineup, but he should play RF too. Assuming it wouldn't affect his offense, Soriano in RF makes the most sense. A future OF of Murton, Pie, and Soriano would provide decent defense at the corners, spectacular defense in CF, and strong arms in CF and RF.
  3. Backtobanks
    I can't imagine the Cubs getting Cabrera and then not being able to re-sign him. Can you imagine the uproar of getting someone like Cabrera, having him help you get into the playoffs, and then letting him walk?
  4. Backtobanks
    The Cubs seem to lead the league in jumping out to a 4-5 run lead and then hibernating for the next 6-7 innings.
  5. Backtobanks
    i can't see the giants giving up Lincecum if they're in it in July because he will likely have been one of the driving forces behind them still being in the race. Don't want any part of Ervin Santana or Jered Weaver either. Santana is AWFUL on the road. Weaver...well...meh. He's okay, but I think we could do better. Don't look at his run out of the gates at th beginning of his career as an indicator of future success. He also added about 120 innings last year from his professional debut, which I don't really like for his future. Didn't he have arm problems in march/april? If Z starts pitching well, we could do a whole lot better than ESantana or Weaver, I think. I would think it would be ESantana plus someone (Brandon Wood?).
  6. Backtobanks
    Obviously, rap music isn't to blame for domestic violence, but it sure isn't helping the situation either.
  7. Backtobanks
    Those are always 95% of the trade proposals here. I think it really just goes with the whole message board community idea. I'm sure SoSH gets just as many of them. right, but people should at least try to separate "wishful thinking" from "realistic idea." I mean, think about the players you're throwing in these trades - Eyre, Jones, Izturis, Marshall, etc. If you're so eager to get rid of them, do you really think other teams are willing to give much up for them? Probably not. I agree that some trade proposals are "wishful thinking", but it depends on the teams involved and their specific needs or mood. If a team needs a LOOGY to win their division, Eyre might be valuable trade commodity. Jones could have value to a team that needs a platoon OF. If a team is having a "fire sale", Marshall could be part of a trade proposal for an expensive veteran. As for Izturis, let's not forget the Tigers thought they needed a defensive IF (Neifi Perez) late last year. So let's not give up on the Izturis for Cabrera trade just yet :).
  8. Backtobanks
    The key to this whole argument is that there's no hurry in trading him or signing him. The deadline that they set has already passed. Wait for awhile to see whether he corrects his situation or not. If he becomes the Zambrano of old, make him a good offer. If he continues having poor starts, make him a lower offer and if he doesn't accept, then trade him. If an injury shows up, obviously an offer can be made based on the probability of his return to top form. Another factor might be the success of some of our minor league prospects. Getting top price for a mediocre Zambrano might be in the best interest of the Cubs especially if our minor league prospects and the players we get in trade are ready to step into the starting rotation.
  9. Backtobanks
    There have been hints of Toronto having a fire sale. Now might be the time to make an offer for Vernon Wells. Jones, Eyre/Ohman, and Marshall for Wells. I think he becomes a free agent after this season, but Pie should be ready for next year.
  10. Backtobanks
    When you combine a bigger-than-life ego and alcohol (or drugs), you are going to have a combustible situation.
  11. Backtobanks
    I would. Alfonso seems to have a great arm. Bruce Miles has been saying since the day he signed that Soriano should be the everyday RF for this club especially with Pie being groomed to become the everyday CF. Some of that was predicated on the belief that Jones could be dealt, which I still think can happen. He definitely should be in RF. I don't know if his offensive resurgence had anything to do with his move back to LF, but I wouldn't chance another move unless it was an emergency. He does have the arm, but RF in Wrigley is tough.
  12. Backtobanks
    Just think of the Pandora's Box you would open by releasing your medical records. As others have pointed out, there could be something embarassing in your records (not having to do with steroids) that would be found out even if everything else was "blacked out". Secondly, you would be ostracized in your clubhouse and throughout baseball.
  13. Backtobanks
    Checking everyone is not practical. It seems like they are targeting former or current Orioles. Do you think there is a slight possibility that there may be a reason (or leads) to substantiate why they are targeting Palmeiro, Grimsley, Sosa, Segui, Tejada, Tatis and Jerry Hairston, Jr.? But when someone is found guilty of steroid use, why should they be the only one. Point your finger at Bonds, Sosa, Palmeiro, etc., but what about Clemens, Giambi, et al. They are never going to uncover everyone who used (or uses) steroids, so call it the Steroid Era and move on.
  14. Backtobanks
    It would be great if he was picked as a sub by LaRussa since he won't get voted in. He could be a valuable asset to an All Star team because of his versatitlity (2B, SS, pinch hitter, pinch runner).
  15. Backtobanks
    The players union gave Sammy the OK to release his records. Why not just do it and end all the speculation? The standard is and should be higher for high profile athletes. This is his chance to develop some good will with the HOF voters. Look what happened to McGwire after his ridiculous performance under oath before Congress. He didn't admit using steroids but in the eye of the HOF voters, by dodging the questions, he might as well have. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2864613 The most obvious answer to the question is that there might be something incriminating in his records. My stance is that you can't pick and choose who's records to check, check (or test) everyone in baseball or no one until you have proof.
  16. Backtobanks
    How can you say that any other team with the Cubs' payroll and farm system would have made the playoffs every year? Let's see if the Cards and Yanks continue to struggle, if Cashman and Jocketty are considered morons. Being a GM is a fickle job, you're either a genius or a loser (see Kenny Williams). Whether it should be considered or not, you have to admit that the Cubs have had an unbelievable number of injuries to key players during this time frame.
  17. Backtobanks
    Why not just put Theriot at SS and have infield set??? I know we've discussed this, but the article acts as if this isn't a perfectly logical solution. This certainly isn't good to hear... Again, it sounds as if Theriot as starting SS is a tough decision, and Pie is not going to start much, if at all.... http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070507cubsbits,1,6510210.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines This article talks about how Murton is a bench player but may start against LHP. But another viable option is to have Izterrible starting and Derosa in RF. :roll: I think that all Lou is doing is trying to get everyone some playing time while protecting the egos of some of his veterans (Izturis). As much as I would love to see Pie playing everyday, right now Jones deserves to play. I also think Theriot at SS should be a given, but I do think there might be some chinks in the armor if Theriot played everyday. Derosa should never start in RF over Murton, especially with the lack of middle IFs on the Cubs.
  18. Backtobanks
    That would project the Cubs to about 95 wins, if they can do that I think they win the Central without a doubt. As with any team but especially the Brewers, they are one injury to their starting rotation away from being a totally different team, and with Ben Sheets' history I don't think it is a jump to think this could happen. The Brewers do not have the depth to sustain a major injury to their starting rotation. If the Cubs win 95 games they will run away with the division. There aren't many teams that win 95 games in any division most years.
  19. Backtobanks
    Murton should get some playing time in the next 3 days because the Pirates are starting 2 lefties. Here's hoping Murton takes advantage of this opportunity to earn more playing time.
  20. Backtobanks
    The reasons Pie is still with the Cubs are that Jones is playing great and Cedeno was totally clueless. Keeping Cedeno on the team served no purpose because he couldn't help offensively or defensively. Pie has shown some spark offensively in very limited duty and has been great defensively. You summed it up when you said Pie is helping the Cubs win while Cedeno wasn't doing anything to help the club win.
  21. Backtobanks
    In Today's Tribune, there was a mention of the Mets needing a 2B. How about sending Izturis to the Mets? I would assume we could get a prospect for him. Also, with their glut of injuries (especially in the OF), I would think the A's might be interested in Jones.
  22. Backtobanks
    That has been discussed. The guys in Mississippi mentioned it as well. But he really is a good defensive catcher. My guess is that he'll be traded, but it won't happen unless the Braves get what they really want. He definitely won't be moved for Jacque Jones. The Braves might take Pie and Ohman for him. Thanks, but no thanks. I am amazed how posters build up other team's prospects and tear down the Cubs' prospects. I would think Pie is pretty much untouchable, especially for an unproven prospect. Now if you're talking about Cabrera, then you might mention Pie's name.
  23. Backtobanks
    Why should you try to fix it when one of the top pitchers in the league has turned into the team's worst starter? One reason you might want to fix it is that the lower arm angle makes breaking balls break horizontally (staying in the same plane) instead of vertically. Also, it's pretty obvious that Zambrano is walking quite a few more batters than he used to. Maybe you need to work on it Larry.
  24. Backtobanks
    It would be great if they could invent a car with a sensor that wouldn't start if the driver is impaired. Another feature would be a cut-off switch on the ignition when it senses cell phone use. With those two features you could probably reduce accidents by 80%.
  25. Backtobanks
    I'm not a religious fanatic, but it's people like you that prove there's a higher power watching over us. Of course, the veteran potheads that you are mentioning aren't the ones that were killed while "lighting up, and in many cases doing something else in addition." It's a tangent, but I partially blame the harsh anti drinking and anti pot laws that are out there, that force so many kids, who are going to drink and going to smoke to go into hiding when doing it. Many adults conveniently forget when their drinking age was 18, and how they still broke the laws. Kids are going to drink, and many kids are going to smoke. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, on it's own. You obviously don't get it and that's the scary part. I don't care how much or how often you get high or drunk, just don't drive a car while you're doing it. I'm trying not to make this personal, but to brag about driving while lighting up and doing numerous other things at the same time is insane.
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