Jump to content
North Side Baseball

Backtobanks

Old-Timey Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    7,315

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

 Content Type 

Profiles

Joomla Posts 1

Chicago Cubs Videos

Chicago Cubs Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

2026 Chicago Cubs Top Prospects Ranking

News

2023 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks

Guides & Resources

2024 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks

The Chicago Cubs Players Project

2025 Chicago Cubs Draft Pick Tracker

2026 Chicago Cubs Draft Pick Tracker

Blogs

Events

Forums

Store

Gallery

Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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)?
  5. 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."
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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?
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. Backtobanks
    With interleague play coming, hopefully Dusty will use Nevin as DH and not Neifi.
  18. Backtobanks
    That says a lot when the top MVP candidates don't even have to play the field. That's what's wrong with the DH rule. and exactly why the AL rules the baseball world and why the NL is falling behind fast AL teams understand the need for good batters up and down the lineup, not the old traditional play for 2 runs crapola the NL plays off my soapbox now Then why not go all the way and have a 9-man offensive team and a 9-man defensive team that plays the field. The offensive team could be made up of all-steroid enhanced 230 pounders since they wouldn't have to play the field. Barry Bonds could play until he's 70 and hit 2500 HRs.
  19. Backtobanks
    Ah, but I didn't say he shouldn't, I just don't think he will. God forbid we ought to have 2 right-handed power hitters as an option off the bench. He ought to go after Wilson and sign him for a few more years. Nevin is a temporary (this year) solution.
  20. Backtobanks
    That says a lot when the top MVP candidates don't even have to play the field. That's what's wrong with the DH rule.
  21. Backtobanks
    To sum it all up, not exactly the blockbuster trade everyone was hoping for, but Nevin seems to be more of what the Cubs need at this point than JHJR. The deal certainly would have looked better 3-4 weeks ago. As for pushing Walker back to 2B and wondering what to do with Womack, it does open the possibility of Walker as trade bait especially if the Cubs go into a "sell" mode. As for all of the negativity about obtaining a 35 year old, overpriced, and washed up veteran, realize that Pujols wasn't available.
  22. Backtobanks
    ..yep..Wood and Prior have really exposed our pitching "prospects". Hill, Guzman, and Ryu likely had some type of trade value before this season. Guzman will get better. Ryu is not that bad. I dont know what to make of hill. I just wonder what kind of deals Hendry turned down because the other teams wanted Ryu, Guzman, or the "untouchable" Hill. When Hendry was interviewed during Saturday's Fox broadcast, he mentioned that he had talked to a lot of teams and was even willing to "overpay" to get a replacement for Lee. If these three don't start showing something you can kiss their trade value goodbye. Of course teams with a real pitching coach might still see their value.
  23. Backtobanks
    I don't mind starting Womack because he might bring a little spark to the top of the lineup. To tell the truth, it might not hurt to give Pierre a day or two off, put Hairston in CF, and bat Womack at leadoff. If Womack can add a little spark for a few weeks, so be it. If he cools off, put Walker at 2B when Lee comes back.
  24. Backtobanks
    You wonder if it was just a bad decision or a desperate move because the offense hasn't been scoring runs. With this slump continuing, you see a lot of mistakes (swinging at bad pitches, trying for a HR, etc.) because of the desperation.
  25. Backtobanks
    Spoken like a true Cub fan.
×
×
  • Create New...