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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    We both know that is the current problem. He hasn't bounced back well from the surgery and is not close to performing as he did with Houston. I believe the Cubs front office is probably handling this appropriately. Let the younger guys play until/if Miller gets enough of his "stuff" and endurance back to be able to battle in the major leagues. I do believe we'll see him before the season ends. That sounds great except you only have 1 month to make a decision on Miller, while you have this month plus all of spring training to make decisions on the young guys.
  2. Backtobanks
    Today's Tribune discusses the return of Sean Marshall and how the Cubs will have trouble finding room in the rotation for Wade Miller. Personally, I think the Cubs ought to give a long look at Miller during September. If Miller can be somewhat effective, he could be a cheap bottom-of-the-rotation pitcher for next year. Hoping for a free agent signing and a return to form from Prior would leave the Cubs with only one rookie in the rotation and 2-3 others for depth. Also, the young pitchers who aren't in the regular rotation could be part of a trade package to acquire an impact bat. The article states Marmol will go to the bullpen with Miller, Mateo, and Guzman fighting for the 2 rotation spots behind Zambrano, Hill, and Marshall.
  3. Backtobanks
    Dusty won't be leaving until after the season, but the way it's going it could be announced during the post-game wrap up for the last game. I'm sure it will be announced (mutual decision) within 48 hours after the last game.
  4. Backtobanks
    I happen to think that the loss of Lee cost the Cubs closer to 10 games than 4 games, but the bottom line is the Cubs would be a 5th place team with or without Lee. The one intangible in all of this is that with Lee in the lineup, there's less of a chance that Dusty can mess with the lineup.
  5. Backtobanks
    I blame Dusty for not seeing the obvious. Dempster was really laboring after 40 pitches and should have been taken out. I don't really care about any individual's ego, in a close game you should have a pitcher warmed up in case your closer gets in trouble. Dempster has been shakey for the last few appearances and Dusty couldn't predict what was going to happen. I saw it coming a mile away.
  6. Backtobanks
    I think Hendry needs to sign a starting pitcher (Schmidt) and make a trade for an impact bat for the Cubs to be in contention next year. With Hill, Marshall, Mateo, Guzman, and Marmol all showing some major league potential, the Cubs have what a lot of teams want (young pitching). Put a couple of those pitchers together with Cedeno and you might get someone like Tejada if Angelos finally wakes up to the status of his team. I dream about the Cubs putting together a good enough package to get Cabrera, but that probably won't happen. I am assuming that Prior can come back and be a decent #3 starter. Finally, let's not forget that the Cubs are in the NL Central where contending might mean winning 88 games.
  7. Backtobanks
    But we could trade pitching prospects to the Marlins who could then trade them for positional prospects. Most teams are looking for pitching prospects over positional prospects.
  8. Backtobanks
    I think Hendry would have fired Dusty at mid-season if he would have known that there was going to be a daily soap-opera with Dusty as the star.
  9. Backtobanks
    I disagree. Obviously they need to sign or trade for at least one starter, but you can't win with the 8 position players they put into the lineup everyday. The Cubs have shown some promise in the young pitchers, but the offense continues to be pitiful. I wouldn't be surprized if Hendry gets an impact bat by packaging Cedeno and some of the pitching prospects. If Angelos ever realizes that his team is going nowhere, Tejada might be available. My hope is that the Marlins might trade Cabrera for a ton of prospects before he starts costing them too much money. The emphasis has been on the free agents (Lee & Soriano), but we don't know what names might be available in a trade during the off season.
  10. Backtobanks
    It is becoming rather obvious that Dusty is through being the Cubs manager at the end of the season. Both Hendry and Dusty will polish it up to make it look good, but when the lead story about your team continues to be the manager day after day, week after week, and month after month, it's time for the Cubs and Dusty to part ways.
  11. Backtobanks
    The Northside is still considered an attractive place to play because the expectations are low and the adoration (unless you're awful) is high. Also, there's plenty of extra money to be made through local advertising, personal appearances, etc. Finally, contrary to all of the excuse-makers, I think quite a few players enjoy the day baseball and having a regular relationship with their families.
  12. Backtobanks
    Is that even a possibility? The Cubs would never go with a total youth movement and risk their season sellout of tickets. This is especially true with the White Sox in or near contention every year.
  13. Backtobanks
    Buy the ring. It's not like you're spending my money anyhow. Ticket prices are raised every year and are unavailable to the vast majority of "common" fans (unless you pay scalper's prices), so don't tell me that it's going to trickle down to the fans.
  14. Backtobanks
    Compare those decisions to starting Neifi at 2nd Base and batting him 2nd, letting pitchers throw 120+ pitches in a game, etc.
  15. Backtobanks
    Let me get this straight, the choices are spend $200 million and win the World Series or spend $110 million and continue fighting for 5th place in the weakest division in baseball. I think I'll pick the former.
  16. Backtobanks
    Proven himself longterm in a crucial position? Wasn't that the big on Dusty when he was hired? How did that work out. "Proven managers" might be one of the few things more overrated than proven veterans. Joe Torre sure as hell wasn't proven, neither was Terry Francona or Ozzie Guillen, how about Scioscia or Brenly? Jack McKeon was the closest thing to a proven manager among the recent winners, yet he didn't win much of anything prior to the Marlins gig. All this proves is that catchers and weak hitting MIFers make the best skippers. :wink: Neifi is going to someday manage a team to 14 straight WS victories. He might as long as he avoids using players as bad as he is.
  17. Backtobanks
    Ben Maller's rumors included a tidbit that Mike Hargrove is in a precarious situation in Seattle and if he is fired, Dusty Baker would jump at the chance to go back to the West Coast.
  18. Backtobanks
    I think Zambrano needs to do 3 things to win the Cy Young: 1. Improve his WHIP 2. Improve his ERA 3. Lead the league in victories by 2-3 wins The 3rd item will be to counter the lousy season the Cubs have had. Webb and Carpenter will receive a little extra consideration because of the teams they play on.
  19. Backtobanks
    The real question might be which rookies make the cut and for which teams. Hendry will have to make at least one trade for an impact bat over the winter and the package would probably include some of the pitchers (Marmol/Hill/Marshall/Mateo/Guzman) and possibly Cedeno. Of course, after the Cubs trade them they will all be 20 games winners and Cedeno will be the starting SS in the All-Star game.
  20. Backtobanks
    I think Pie is the only player who hasn't been called up this year.
  21. Backtobanks
    It's always refreshing to read such a positive post.
  22. Backtobanks
    I don't think the Cubs are cursed. pitchers get injured all the time on all teams. That may be true, but I can't believe there are too many teams that have led the league in players on the DL for so long.
  23. Backtobanks
    I think we need to be patient with a 23 year old player, but with Theriot, Fontenot, and Patterson around, Ronny has to improve. I do think Hendry will be making a blockbuster trade during the off season and Ronny (or Murton) could be part of the package along with a few of our young pitchers for an impact bat.
  24. Backtobanks
    There's no truth to the rumor that our minor league pitchers are praying that they don't get called up. Anybody who still doesn't think the Cubs are cursed?
  25. Backtobanks
    At least Leyland has enough sense not to bat him 2nd.
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