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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    a season is a marathon, not a sprint, like i said. although the games appear to matter more in august and september, they really don't. don't let the "music of the spheres" fool you. although a pennant race may appear to be more of a race in september, it's just as much of a race in april. I agree with you, but it is obvious his lack of production that past two months has hurt their chances. ARam & Pierre's April hurt our chances, too. BTW - I think the Reds' demise can be linked to the idiotic trade with Washington. I agree with A-ram and Pierre hurt the Cubs. But why is it so hard for everyone to admit that Dunn has been abysmal since August? To say his lack of production didn't effect the Reds chances is puzzling to me. Combine ARam & Pierre's April with Dunn's end of the year and you would really have a pitiful team (more pitiful).
  2. Backtobanks
    That sure is a scary list of predictions. You forgot #8 - Hendry fired for allowing #1-7.
  3. Backtobanks
    Ha this was rumored last year. I even started a post on it then. Clemens is a jucie head. With these allegations, it just shows what an outstanding pitcher Greg Maddux has been and still is.
  4. Backtobanks

    Murton

    Backtobanks replied to Jazz's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk

    The Cubs need power, but I'm not so sure on CLee anymore. I think there are ways of addressing the power issue (Andruw Jones, Soriano at 2B or CF, Craig Wilson in a platoon with Jones, Jones in CF with a power hitter in RF, etc.) without replacing Murton.
  5. Backtobanks
    Everything that I have seen says Pierre wants to test the FA market. Assuming that is true, I can't see Hendry paying Pierre what he wants for the number of years that he wants. I would assume Pierre wants something like $24 million over 3 years and Hendry doesn't have that kind of money to pay a singles-hitting CF when he has a ton of other problems to address. Lofton could produce about the same for $4 million for 1 year.
  6. Backtobanks
    I assume you meant Pie. An OF of Murton, Jones, and Sanders would really be horrible. A deal for Brown or Sanders has to be looked at as a minor deal for a platoon player and not as a starter.
  7. Backtobanks
    As many of you have stated, Theriot deserves a chance to compete for a starting job (2B or SS) during spring training. I'm a big fan of Cedeno, but package him with some of our young pitching and you might be able to get an impact bat. Better yet, package Izturis with the young pitching and keep Cedeno.
  8. Backtobanks
    Obviously, Dusty will be "let go" on Monday. In what order do you think these other events will happen (of course, some are based on hope)? 1. Cubs name a new manager. 2. Wood re-signed. 3. ARam's contract extended. 4. Cubs make a minor trade or sign a minor free agent (non-starter). 5. Cubs sign a major free agent. 6. Cubs make a major trade.
  9. Backtobanks
    That's a nice, quick summary of the free agents or trade candidates out there. In the end, my gut tells me that CLee will become a Cub, and Murton will be dealt along with a prospect to get a starter. I think Hendry and a lot of GMs will think long and hard about CLee and his stats at the end of the year. I'm hoping Hendry goes the FA route to get Schmidt and uses his young players to get an impact bat (Tejada or Andruw Jones). I think dumping Dempster is a must.
  10. Backtobanks
    I wonder how long it will take Hendry to hire a new manager. Most of the rumored names aren't in the playoffs, so interviews could start soon.
  11. Backtobanks
    I don't think Murton's season has gone unnoticed by Hendry. I think the only way Murton gets traded is if it's for Cabrera and I don't think there's a big chance of the Cubs getting Cabrera.
  12. Backtobanks
    Source: http://bleedcubbieblue.com/ Is it me or is Hendry getting dumber and dumber with every passing day? Ugh. Why are you using some random speculation by a person not connected to the Cubs to attack Hendry? Did Hendry say GMJR is a target? Did Hendry say Murton is on the trading block? Let's citicize Hendry on his actions or his statements and not on someone's speculation as to what might happen in the offseason.
  13. Backtobanks
    Hendry won't hire him because Frank is too old to hold up a sea bass.
  14. Backtobanks
    I'd call his 2003 great, without question. Not down in history great, but great nonetheless. As great as Zambrano last year. zambrano wasnt great last year either imo. we must have a different opinion on what "great" means. i look at some of the years pedro, maddux, clemens, johnson & sanatana have had and woods 2003 just looks like a very average year that a good pitcher would have. not a great year by any stretch imo. Woods' greatness has always had more to do with potential and short term achievement rather than season-long achievement.
  15. Backtobanks
    He's way too infatuated with jack of all trade types, as opposed to masters of one. He needs to get guys who are good at something, not just mediocre at everything. He thinks a bench is there for defensive backup, and doesn't even think about the need for offense, accept for finding guys who can put it in play and bunt (because Dusty actually used pinch hitters to sac bunt on a regular basis). Preferably the one thing they are good at would be delivering a pinch hit. Who needs a .220-hitting defensive SS on the bench? One backup middle IF, one backup C, one player who can play 1B & 3B, and 2 OF should make up the bench. It would be nice to have at least 1 lefty and 1 righty who have some power. By signing Craig Wilson and you fill a lot of holes .....RF platoon, backup 1B, right-handed power off the bench (left-handed power off the bench when Jones is sitting). Theriot can certainly fill the substitute middle IF role and I think Soto can fill the substitute C role.
  16. Backtobanks
    The Cubs stink like a dead fish, so I guess the message is that he can handle it.
  17. Backtobanks
    Guillen and his band of thugs have made lots of enemies. they have a disappointing season next year and people will see that Ozzie as the sham that he is.
  18. Backtobanks
    Poor Ozzie is quoted that people were hoping the White Sox wouldn't make the playoffs. I admit I was hoping they would lose because I'm tired of hearing Ozzie as much as I'm tired of hearing Dusty. I guess winning a World Championship makes you a genius and gives you the right to comment on any subject (see Mike Ditka). It will be interesting to see how the White Sox do next year when they go back to "Ozzieball". It looks like it could be a very interesting and busy offseason on both sides of town. They had better hope Buerhle regains his form, Thome stays healthy, and Dye doesn't regress to his career averages. Of course, they will have Pierre to save the franchise.
  19. Backtobanks
    No matter what anyone thinks of Juan Pierre, he just isn't worth re-signing at the amount he is going to ask for. $7-8 million per year for 3 years for Pierre is ridiculous.
  20. Backtobanks
    He hasn't even had one quality start. Then I'll plead ignorance to what a "quality start" technically is. I figured he pulled them off the last 3 starts, but if I had to guess, they're not technically quality starts because of the amount of innings pitched each game, right? Well, despite that, I'd still call them quality starts, just in the "rest of the world" definition of the word "quality." Sure, I'd like to see him last longer and get a bit more oomph on his velocity, but he looked pretty damn good. He's looked pretty darn mediocre to me. He's a junkballer, and he's given up nearly as many walks as strikeouts. His WHIP is 1.58. And he's getting the majority of his outs in the air. He's doing it with mirrors right now. And he's not lasting past the 5th inning. People gave Wood and Prior a ton of crap for not lasting 7. I'm not against a low guarantee with high incentives for innings pitched. But if they offer him big money in those incentives, they better have a manager who is not afraid to pull him if he's pitching like garbage in those innings. **** A quality start is 6+ innings with 3 or fewer runs allowed. And that isn't even a good start since it's a 4.50 ERA. It's a short leash, to an extent, but he's also getting to 90 pitches in the 5th inning. That's inefficient. You need to realize that September is his spring training. Having not pitched for that long of a time has to affect his location. I agree that there shouldn't be even a hint of "big" money in the contract offer, but I would take a chance on a low-base-with-incentives contract. Actually, the way he is pitching should help the Cubs re-sign him because nobody will be offering much more than what I've suggested.
  21. Backtobanks
    Bring him back on an incentive-heavy contract. It's pretty much a no risk situation. If he helps great, if he doesn't it cost you a little. Zambrano, Schmidt (assuming Hendry can sign him) , Hill, Prior, Miller/Guzman/Mateo/Marshall could end up a very strong rotation. Better to have 6 or 7 starters than 3 or 4.
  22. Backtobanks
    I agree that Rusch has been terrible, but if he shows anything at all there might be a GM that takes a chance on him. Don't forget he's left-handed and can pitch both as a starter and reliever. There are a lot of crappy pitchers who manage to hang around because they're lefties.
  23. Backtobanks
    A new manager in Florida would have to be compared to Girardi's season (over-achieved and in contention for the wild card). A new manager in Chicago would be hailed as a savior to reach .500 and have some sort of direction for the 2008 team. I totally agree with you that the Cubs' job is by far a better situation. The Marlins might be good for a new under-the-radar manager to give him a chance to get some experience. I think you're wrong here. I think as a fan base we don't except a .500 ballclub anymore. As a whole we want a World Series or at least the playoffs. Espically with the Sox winning it all last year and Boston the year before. Anything less is not acceptable anymore... I'll believe that when I see some empty seats at Wrigley and a non-sellout at the Cubs Convention. We invented the motto "Wait until next year." You saw it this year. The last two months you saw a ton of empty seats. You see it when players are boo(ed) on a daily basis. Yea, but those seats were sold and next year's tickets will be sold out within hours.
  24. Backtobanks
    A new manager in Florida would have to be compared to Girardi's season (over-achieved and in contention for the wild card). A new manager in Chicago would be hailed as a savior to reach .500 and have some sort of direction for the 2008 team. I totally agree with you that the Cubs' job is by far a better situation. The Marlins might be good for a new under-the-radar manager to give him a chance to get some experience. I think you're wrong here. I think as a fan base we don't except a .500 ballclub anymore. As a whole we want a World Series or at least the playoffs. Espically with the Sox winning it all last year and Boston the year before. Anything less is not acceptable anymore... I'll believe that when I see some empty seats at Wrigley and a non-sellout at the Cubs Convention. We invented the motto "Wait until next year."
  25. Backtobanks
    With Bonds on the team, Murton might swell to 240 lbs. and hit 65 HRS.
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