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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    The point is you don't know. Guzman gives you the opportunity for success. You don't know if he will, but he can. Rusch on the other hand is almost a guaranteed suck game. You aren't disagreeing with him, you are stating the same thing he said: "This, folks, this is what people are talking about when they say that the management of this team cost us a win. You knew that Rusch was going to stink. You didn't know that about Angel. Angel has not had 286 games of (mostly) sucking to let us know he's going to be bad. " Nobody thinks Angel is a guaranteed great outing. But he's showed promise before, so this should not be a surprise. Nothing in life is guaranteed, but some things about the Cubs are. Rusch starting and Neifi starting and batting 2nd are guaranteed disasters.
  2. Backtobanks
    Not that it makes anyone feel any better, but the Cubs aren't the only "contenders" that are pretty much out of it for this season. The Orioles are 9 back, the Indians 12, the Phillies 9 1/2, the Braves 13, and the Brewers are 8 back. Many sportswriters picked the Indians, Phillies, and Brewers to win their divisions.
  3. Backtobanks
    With all of the personnel moves that need to be made in the next few weeks (Barrett's suspension, Wood & Prior's return, Lee's return, etc.), Hendry has to DF Rusch or find someone who will give us a used resin bag for him (while we pay his salary). Len & Bob were discussing the possibilities of using Nevin as the backup catcher. I can't believe that Soto won't be called up. With a weakened Wood and Prior, I would think that Dusty is going to need a long bullpen to the detriment of our "powerful" offense. Playing with a 24 man roster and holding a spot for Rusch is ridiculous. Today's loss has to be chalked up to Dusty for starting Rusch. All of us predicted that he would be gone by the 2nd inning with the wind blowing out.
  4. Backtobanks
    I'm not saying he's worthless and can't continue to improve. I just think he's overrated by the hype, hasn't done enough as a pro to warrent all the excitement, and isn't capable of being a cornerstone corner outfielder. I think he might peak at a little higher level than Jacque Jones, and probably make a lot of money as a major leaguer for many years. But I don't think he's worth giving up a ton of talent, because I don't think he can be a difference maker. Guys who walk as infrequently as him have to be one of a kind talents to have great success. He's no Vlad, or even Soriano. Exactly how many "difference makers" are out there and possibly available in a trade?
  5. Backtobanks
    It is interesting that as the Cubs approach the worst record in baseball, we are arguing about the merits of obtaining a 24 year old speedster with power potential that has an obp of .346. It is fun to discuss the merits of these trade rumors, but the Cubs do need to do something to make a splash.
  6. Backtobanks
    Look at the bright side, it has delayed Dusty's extension.
  7. 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.
  8. Backtobanks
    So he can be ready for long relief on Friday.
  9. 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.
  10. Backtobanks
    And if Walker isn't playing, why didn't he pinch hit? He is certainly the best bat on the bench.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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)?
  18. 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."
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. 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.
  24. 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?
  25. 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.
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