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Backtobanks

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  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Backtobanks
    Hendry won't hire him because Frank is too old to hold up a sea bass.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Backtobanks
    The Cubs stink like a dead fish, so I guess the message is that he can handle it.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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."
  17. Backtobanks
    With Bonds on the team, Murton might swell to 240 lbs. and hit 65 HRS.
  18. 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.
  19. Backtobanks
    Gillette is the same no-talent hack that thought he'd be cute and refer to the Cubs as Flubs in a previous chat. What's funny, if one reads through his chats, it's pretty clear he has no more inside info than you are I do. He just speculates...maybe tries to listen in on a few of Kurkijan's phone calls, but he's not a good writer and I've found he's rarely had anything insightful to write. What I have found over the years is that very few of these "experts" have any more inside info than most of us do. I think a bunch of them go strictly on speculation (i.e. the Cubs need power, so the Cubs are interested in Soriano. The Cubs need power and a CF, they might try Soriano in CF or trade for Andruw Jones) I have seen more "tips" and on NSBB than what you get from the "experts". To tell the truth I think many of their ideas come from sites like NSBB.
  20. Backtobanks
    What kind of question? He's going to be worthless regardless of health. Agreed. The question would be whether he's well enough to play or be traded or whether his health will cause him to retire.
  21. Backtobanks
    Why is that a more attractive job? Because you'll get to watch expensive players leave after they hit arbitration while managing a team in an empty stadium and having Loria in your ear at all times? The Cubs have to be one of the most attractive jobs around. A guaranteed 2 years with low expectations, a full stadium, a big budget, and all the perks that go with a big city (commercials, etc.)
  22. Backtobanks
    That's what I have been saying all along. Have Prior as a #4 and Miller/Marshall/Mateo as a #5. In the bullpen, have Wood (Howry) as your closer with Wuertz (Howry/Wood) and Eyre as setup men. Trade bait for an impact bat: Cedeno (Izturis), Guzman, Dempster, Novoa, Gallagher. O'Malley, Marmol, Pagan, and Theriot would probably have no trade value. Obviously, Rusch is a question mark because of his health.
  23. Backtobanks
    I disagree. Teams settle for defense only catchers because they have no other choice. Many teams would love to get a player that provide what Barrett does offensively. AL teams in particular that could keep his bat in the lineup would be very eager. Already it looks like we're stuck with a defense-only SS in the lineup daily, so I don't think I want a defense-only catcher too. That would put a lot of pressure on the other six hitters to produce.
  24. Backtobanks
    That might be what you or I might do, but most of these guys would take a job right away, especially if it's a desirable situation.
  25. Backtobanks
    It's actually quite a different situation. He signed Lee early in the season, when he had incentive to sign early (avoiding the risk that injury would hurt his negotiations). With Aramis the season is over. There's no incentive to sign early. Hendry is up the proverbial creek with Aramis. He's got to sign him and Aramis's agent knows it. Hendry would look like a complete fool if RAM bolts. Not only would he look like a fool, but he would probably be an unemployed fool next fall. There would be too many holes to fill if ARam leaves.
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