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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    Look at the bright side, it has delayed Dusty's extension.
  2. Backtobanks
    Not only does it ruin his confidence, but it ruins his trade value in case the Cubs have to include him in a package for someone like Cabrera.
  3. Backtobanks
    So he can be ready for long relief on Friday.
  4. Backtobanks
    Marshall seems to have more trouble the second time around the lineup, so he might work in relief. I agree that we haven't seen enough of Marmol to make any decisions.
  5. Backtobanks
    And if Walker isn't playing, why didn't he pinch hit? He is certainly the best bat on the bench.
  6. Backtobanks
    I don't agree that the Cubs are 1/3 of a team away from contention. I believe the Cubs without the injuries to Prior, Wood, and Lee would be contending this year, especially with the injury to Pujols. I also agree that the Cubs need to make some kind of blockbuster trade (Abreu, Cabrera, Soriano, etc.) and not tinker with the free agent market. There is no way the Cubs are going to trade the likes of Zambrano, Prior, Lee, Ramirez, and Barrett and "rebuild" the team. Whether we like it or not, the major moves the Cubs are going to make will involve them trading young players (Hill, Guzman, Wuertz, etc.) away and receiving players that will help now and in the future. Obviously, other deals (Maddux, Williamson, Pierre, Walker, etc.) will involve receiving prospects that might eventually help. Who could you get for someone like Zambrano that could have a bigger impact on the team than Zambrano? The same would pretty much hold for Lee, Ramirez, Barrett, etc. The Cubs are not going to rebuild from scratch and allow the contending White Sox to take over the city.
  7. Backtobanks
    Mench would be under the Cubs control for 2 more years and would be the power hitting OF they needed this year. It would open up the possibility of trading Pierre, Jones, or Murton (bad idea) in another deal. Also, I suggested a package of Rusch plus a pitching prospect (Hill/Williams/Wuertz?). I don't think any of these guys figures prominently into the Cubs plans for 2007. There's a lot of discussion on this site about getting Cabrera, which would change everything, but I can't see the Cubs really getting Cabrera unless they include Pie, Hill, Guzman, plus someone like Dopriak.
  8. Backtobanks
    According to sources, Kevin Mench has lost his starting job. There was a lot of speculation on this site that Hendry was interested in him during the off season. I'm sure Texas needs pitching, so how about Rusch plus a pitching prospect (Hill/Williams/Wuertz?) for Mench. Mench could platoon in RF, share time with Murton in LF, and pinch hit.
  9. Backtobanks
    Anyone who thinks Ernie would be more than a PR figurehead for the group is fooling themselves. Ernie has had some financial problems over the years and isn't very likely to be able to contribute much financially. By the way, for all of those owners who claim they are "losing" money, the Tribune bought the Cubs for 21 million in 1981 and now they're worth over 500 million.
  10. Backtobanks
    Since the play that Rowand ran face first in the fence, and broke his nose, Rowand has became a fan favorite. That coupled with the face that Phillies are battling the Mets for the division, I just DON'T see the Phillies dealing Rowand. He does that at Wrigley, he would be dead.
  11. Backtobanks
    You mean a GM called the Pirates soon after losing their best hitter for a right-handed power hitter who can fill in at 1B, play the OF, and pinch hit. That's hard to believe. I'm a Hendry supporter, but if the Cards pull off this deal without giving up their whole farm system, I'm going to be POed.
  12. Backtobanks
    Rumors persist about Kenny Williams trying to get Rowand back from the Phillies for Garland. I would love to see Rowand playing for the Cubs. Is there any way the Cubs could get Rowand (perhaps in an expanded deal)?
  13. Backtobanks
    Sitting Jones today while playing him last night is completely assinine. That's just further proof that Dusty pays no attention to statisics whatsoever. That is of course, assuming Jones didn't come in and ask for the day off or something due to soreness. Earth to Dusty: "When your team is offensively challenged, you don't sit Barrett (one of your best hitters) against a lefty at Minute Maid Park and then sit Jones (one of your hottest hitters) against a righty the next day."
  14. Backtobanks
    I don't know why some here can't take a fun question and just have fun with it. Its a good point and I would have thought we were well in the race....sucks that all the other stuff happened. I agree with your point about taking a fun question and answering it. In the statistics you listed, the obvious omissions are Lee and Ramirez. So, not only did the injury to Lee (Prior and Wood) happen, but the other power/RBI guy has slumped all season. There's lots of blame to go around, but if Ramirez had the numbers that we should expect at this point, the Cubs other faults might not be so obvious.
  15. Backtobanks
    But Dusty should be able to figure out that Wood, while recovering, will be giving up some runs and might need the offensive cathcher rather than the defensive catcher.
  16. Backtobanks
    Shouldn't Baker be playing Barrett everyday until his suspension? Barrett is one of the few right-handed offensive threats that the Cubs have and they were facing a lefty in Minute Maid Park where the LF fence is 315 feet away.
  17. Backtobanks
    The sad part is that he probably won't pitch well enough to warrant a trade, but then someone will offer him $60 million over 4 years and he will be healthy and pitch like we hoped he would.
  18. Backtobanks
    Dayn Perry of Foxsports wrote a column the other day (6/1/06) about the 10 players who might lose their jobs. Included on the list was Ronny Cedeno because "he isn't hitting well". At the time, he was hitting .290 with an OBP of .377. I'm not quite sure what Perry thinks a SS (let alone a rookie) ought to be hitting, but .290 with an OBP of .377 sounds like offense sure isn't his problem. Sometimes you have to wonder about the IQ of some of these sportswriters and sportscasters.
  19. Backtobanks
    We often talk about how undervalued Todd Walker is and why he is, but what's the story about Grudzielanek? This guy has been a solid player for over a decade and yet is now on his 5th team. I would think that Walker and Grudzielanek have to be 2 of the most undervalued and underrated players in the majors. Does anyone know what the beef is against Grudzielanek?
  20. Backtobanks
    I think a team might overpay for Maddux depending on whether a veteran starter might put them over the top. Other things to consider would be the offensive support you could give Maddux, the dimensions of the home field, and the strength of the bullpen since he's basically a 6 inning pitcher.
  21. Backtobanks
    In theory, it'd be a good offer, but another team would trump it if ARod was on the block. If he ever gets traded, the team that gets him will vastly overpay. I don't think that the bolded statement is necessarily true. Arod has been the whipping boy of Steinbrenner, the fans, and the media in NY. Also, taking into account is his salary and how much the new team will pay. Of course, everyone's definition of "overpaying" may be different. I happen to think the offer you stated (Wood, Aram, Jones, and a reliever) is overpaying depending on salary issues and other deals that the Cubs might make.
  22. Backtobanks
    Aram has had some problems this year, but is showing signs of coming out of it. A lot of people forget that Aram is still young and if possible should be one of the cornerstones of a "young" team. Of course, if the Cubs could get Cabrera or Arod, then trading Aram might make some sense. I can't believe that Hendry would back up the truck totally and go into a rebuilding mode. I don't think the Tribune is ready for a 2-3 year rebuilding program while the White Sox are in contention for the World Series.
  23. Backtobanks
    It does bother me when sportscasters talk about what a "bad" team the Cubs are with or without Lee. I'm not going to go out and bet my life savings on the Cubs winning the WS, but I do think they could contend. As has been stated, winning 6 or 7 series in a row would be a good start to getting back to respectability. I do not think the Cubs are the kind of team that will go on a long winning streak, but it is still early enough to gain ground slowly. Pujols' injury will bring the Cards back to the pack. The Brewers haven't showed the promise that most people predicted for them. The Reds still don't have the pitching to win it all. The Astros will benefit from Clemens return, but I still question their offense. Finally, I think the Cubs have the most flexability with personnel and finances to make a big-time deal.
  24. Backtobanks
    The DH is a stupid rule. For those of you who like it, why don't you go all the way and have an offensive team made up of 9 steroid induced sluggers and a defensive team made up of the Neifis of the world. Barry Bonds could play until he's 70 and hit 1000 HRs.
  25. Backtobanks
    With interleague play coming, hopefully Dusty will use Nevin as DH and not Neifi.
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