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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    In today's Tribune, Roberts' agent is really talking up the White Sox as the perfect fit for his client. In case he didn't notice, the Cubs are in need of a CF. Maybe he thinks that Roberts, at his age, would have a better shot at winning the World Series with the White Sox.
  2. Backtobanks
    I repeat my original contention, your team needs to be good enough to get into the playoffs and then hope that one or two players get hot at the right time. One or two hitters OR pitchers can carry a team throughout the playoffs.
  3. Backtobanks
    Bottom line is that if the Cubs get some decent players, the Cubs would win with Piniella, Bochy, Girardi, or Brenly. I'm a firm believer in good players make good managers. None of those guys, Leyland, La Russa, or Guillen could have won with the 2006 Cubs. Bring in a couple of top FAs and make one impact trade and the Cubs will be in contention in the NL Central.
  4. Backtobanks
    Bruce, do you think it gets done? Eventually, yes. The agent is doing a little squeezing right now. You're definitely the authority Mr. Miles, but I still feel Aramis is walking away. I think he wants to sign with a consistent playoff-caliber team. I'm not so sure this is all about money. Hoops, He might want a warmer climate and/or a playoff caliber team, but it's always about the money. I'll believe it's not about the money when one of these guys signs for significantly less than what another team offers.
  5. Backtobanks
    I don't understand why they would sign him and then trade him for next to nothing. I would think the Yankees are expecting a little more than "next to nothing." I think they care much more about where he goes than what they get in return. Letting him become a free agent means there is a chance he could sign with Boston or the Mets. Picking up the option guarantees he won't go to Boston or the Mets. Sounds crazy to make a $13M move based on that, I know, but as one source told me: for George, it's all about the Mets and Red Sox. Yes it said in many of the papers that the Yankees didn't want him to go to Boston, which is where they think he would end up. Okay then, Bynum for Sheffield even up. That's as close to "next to nothing" as I could get.
  6. Backtobanks
    I don't care how many pitchers you have, you can't win with the Cubs' offense. I agree that the Cubs need a #2 starter and possibly a #4, but they also need at least one impact bat in addition to a platoon player for Jones (if he stays) in addition to re-signing ARam. What the WS shows me is that you need to improve enough to win the division and after that it's just a matter of who gets hot at the right time. Playing in cold weather sites obviously helps the pitching (except for throwing to 1B), but a WS in a warmer climate might have been a pitcher's nightmare.
  7. Backtobanks
    I don't understand why they would sign him and then trade him for next to nothing. I would think the Yankees are expecting a little more than "next to nothing."
  8. Backtobanks
    Agreed, the last thing I am worried about is Aramis signing now. Larger, fish are ready to be caught. Let's go get a stud bat and a stud pitcher and play in late October come 07. There aren't any fish much larger than ARam. I'm hoping your indifference is based on the thought that he will re-sign with the Cubs. If he leaves, Hendry has to get 2-3 impact bats and 2 good pitchers. I can't see Hendry being able to accomlish that.
  9. Backtobanks
    Don't you know that a #4 starter is all that's keeping us from the WS?
  10. Backtobanks
    I think there are players out there in FA and in the trade talks that can help the Cubs rather than Alou or Sheffield. Granted both of these players CAN be very productive, but I'd like to see some players who are near their prime rather than 3-4 years past their prime. Of course, they will probably go to other teams and hit a ton and then I will have to eat my words, but I would still rather look elsewhere.
  11. Backtobanks
    The Cubs motto for 2007: Zambrano, Matsuzaka, and Hill then go take a pill.
  12. Backtobanks
    I would hope he would be a target because he fills the role of an additional power hitter and he fills the CF hole with outstanding defense. Another reason is that the Braves might be good trade partners is because they will want young players, unlike the Yankees. Assuming he only stayed one year, it would be a great way to ease Pie into playing in the majors.
  13. Backtobanks
    Relax people, it's Scott Boras talking. Nobody listens to those ridiculous numbers he throws out. As for the no-trade contract, I would think Andruw will approve any trade that will get him an extension for a decent amount of money (but not $20 million per).
  14. Backtobanks
    I look for Girardi to sit out the year as a broadcaster, take the Marlins money, and then take over the Yankees job next year when Torre retires.
  15. Backtobanks
    While he could be posturing to drive up Burrell's value, this is a change from earlier statements. A GM saying there is a strong possibility that his current left fielder, who is under contract for a couple year, is going to be his left fielder, is hardly a ringing endorsement. If Gillick can get anything of value and relieve himself of most of Burrell's contract, he will be traded asap.
  16. Backtobanks
    And I feel that people would be more than happy if he let Ramirez walk and added Lee and Soriano, or if the replacement for Ramirez was Tejada or ARod, and he added a Jones like bat as the addition. If he lets Ramirez walks and does nothing, he'll get grilled. But as long as he does something that can be passed off as adding to the roster, he won't get killed. Lots of people want Ramirez gone, not to mention the group that isn't that desperate to see him extended. The only problem with letting ARam go is that the replacement players will all cost you something in trade. Using an example like Tejada, if Hendry trades Hill, Cedeno, and Gallagher, Hendry will hear about the fact that he gave up 3 good young players for equal production. Also, trading these young players means your pool of players to trade to fill the other holes is diminished. Attitude or not, the wisest decision is to add to ARam and not replace him.
  17. Backtobanks
    BenMaller.com is hinting that a Burrell-Beltre trade might make sense. Both players have a lot of money owed and the Phillies need a 3B and protection for Ryan Howard.
  18. Backtobanks
    You'd probably also have to get another starter after losing Hill or Z in a trade for ARod. That's exactly my point. ARam can be replaced but it would involve a trade which would cost players which then causes more holes. Even if we traded prospects for ARod or Tejada, the Cubs wouldn't have those prospects to make trades to fill the other holes on the team. Signing ARam is a must.
  19. Backtobanks
    Why? After being swept they needed a good chuckle. they probably lost because they clogged the bases with walks.
  20. Backtobanks
    I don't think there is any chance of the Cubs contending next year if ARam walks. Hendry could replace ARam with ARod or Tejada, but that would use up the resources (money and players) needed to fill the other holes. The Cubs need a big bat in addition to ARam not in place of.
  21. Backtobanks
    I can't see any team taking Prior (let alone a deal featuring Prior) until they have some sort of assurance that he's healthy. If he was making less than $1 million, somebody might take him in a package deal as a project.
  22. Backtobanks
    I'm all for Matsuzaka, but $90 million is a pretty steep price for a pitcher who has yet to prove himself in the major leagues.
  23. Backtobanks
    That's what I would think. However, this guy implied that no one in the organization seemed to feel that way. From what he said, it sounded like the Cubs see it as a choice between ARod and Aramis. Of course, I have no idea how connected he really is, vs. how much of the conversation was just opinion presented as fact. It wouldn't surprize me one bit. They could have had Nomar this year in RF this year. I think the world of Nomar, but Nomar in RF would have been really ugly.
  24. Backtobanks
    That shows why Santo isn't in the HOF.
  25. Backtobanks
    I agree with you on this one. Often I have tried being somewhat supportive of Hendry and usually been attacked by many posters. I do think Hendry gave too much decision-making power regarding personnel to Dusty, probably because of Dusty's reputation as a winner. One of Hendry's faults is that he had trouble being Dusty's "boss" and allowed him to be a consultant. I think a lot of people will go back to seeing Hendry's potential as a GM after this offseason.
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