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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    Let's remember that Nomar has already been on the DL once this year and we have a long way to go. As for Nomar in RF, the pitchers would be having fits when every single to CF or RF turned into a double when the throws take 15 bounces into 2B.
  2. Backtobanks
    Johnson homered twice yesterday off of 2 lefties. I think it's time to overpay for Craig Wilson. Most of the players that might be available are overpaid, overage veterans. After filling in for Lee, Wilson can platoon in RF and pinch hit. Obviously, the Cubs cannot wait for Lee to return or they will be 20 games out.
  3. Backtobanks
    Kind of like Remlinger was a lefty so he could automatically get out lefties.
  4. Backtobanks
    Christian Guzman is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Maybe a deal involving Neifi and Hill for Nic Johnson would work. Johnson bats lefty, but hits lefties at .314 over the last three years. The Nationals have Daryl Ward to replace Johnson.
  5. Backtobanks
    If he makes it to the bigs, he can shut out the Cubs on 2 consecutive days.
  6. Backtobanks
    Miller is a FA after this year, so he'll want to pitch. Wood is too, and the Cubs won't pick up that option if he doesn't do anything this year. And Prior, it doesn't matter what you do to safeguard, he will miss significant time just like he does every year. I'm not saying don't pitch them. I am saying to be mighty carefull with them. Pitch them in more of a sense to feel them out for next year, don't worry about making them throw 120 pitches to win a close game.[/quote] But if you pitch them carefully, can you make a good enough evaluation to decide whether you want to sign them at big money. Also, you might be right about this season being pretty hopeless now, but it's the beginning of May. If somehow the Cubs can figure out a way to ride out Lee's injury and still be less than 10 games out, the addition of Wood, Prior, Miller, Lee, and another midseason bat could make for a run at the division. I'm not saying I would bet on it, but you must admit that adding those players for the second half could make things interesting.
  7. Backtobanks
    I do think teams and players do regress toward the mean. You have multiple players hitting .340 - .350, Pujols is on a pace to hit over 100 HRs, and teams playing .750 ball. Obviously, some teams are better than others and may regress to .600 ball instead of .750, but it is a regression. The same goes for the players.
  8. Backtobanks
    Today's Tribune reports that the D'backs are asking too much for Clark.
  9. Backtobanks
    Oh, I'm not doubting Hill's stuff, but he's had a real tough time locating anything other than that curve. A look at their respective WHIP and walks/9 really bears this out. Hill's minor league BB/9 is 4.8. Marshall's is nearly half that at 2.5. Add to this that Marshall is younger and shown success at the Major League level, I believe he is the one to hang on to, if given the choice. I post the same message everytime I see Hill's name mentioned: I have yet to see anything that makes him "untouchable" in trade talks. He shows some potential, but I don't think he's the second coming of Sandy Koufax.
  10. Backtobanks
    RF and 1B (temporarily) are the only places to look for improvement right now. There is no way JJ is going to be here for 3 years unless he hits .300 with 25 HR and 90+ RBI. I think there will be quite a few teams interested in JJ depending on how much salary Hendry is willing to pay after this season. Don't forget he will be able to eat some salary assuming Pie (at league minimum) is ready.
  11. Backtobanks
    I'm not a big Dusty fan, but let's give him some credit. There's no way he would sit Murton in favor of Jones now. Murton has been the most consistent clutch hitter on this team this season and Jones has striggled since day 1. It may have taken a lot of persuading to get Dusty to play the kids, but I think he's sold on Murton and Cedeno.
  12. Backtobanks
    Carlos is safe as long as Prior and Wood spend half of their careers on the DL.
  13. Backtobanks
    He does seem to be "overthrowing" on every pitch.
  14. Backtobanks
    I'm getting tired of Zambrano's act. I keep hearing how young he is and how he has calmed down this year, but it still bothers me when he flips his mitt, smirks after a HR, and generally acts like everybody on the team has let him down. Many people picked him for the Cy Young this year, but I'm starting to wonder if he will ever have the maturity to win it. It's time to grow up and start taking care of business.
  15. Backtobanks
    I don't think any professional team "loses" money. Look at the huge profit the owners turn when they sell a team after owning it for a few years. These owners are business people and they don't own teams as a hobby. Don't forget the tax write-offs they get on depreciating players over the life of their contracts.
  16. Backtobanks
    Has anyone noticed that Jones' first move at the plate is to bring the bat back while the pitch is on the way? I guess it's too late to change, but it's amazing he hits anything against major league pitching with that hitch in his swing.
  17. Backtobanks
    I don't know about "much, much better", let's say Bynum is a "somewhat" better player than Cloris Leachman.
  18. Backtobanks
    We're 12-8 without Wood, Prior, and Lee. Pierre, Jones, and Ramirez haven't produced as expected yet. By the end of June, the Cubs could have the equivalent of #2 and #3 starters added to the rotation and an all-star 1B added to the lineup, plus (hopefully) a productive 3B and leadoff man. This is without adding in the possibility of Miller's return. Also, the showing of some of our young pitchers increases the possibility of a package deal at midseason for an additional bat (Abreu?).
  19. Backtobanks
    That's what I was thinking, but as long as it's only a rumor, how about Maddux for Pujols even up.
  20. Backtobanks
    Very good point. Hopefully, Williams will straighten out his act and Hill will get a chance to show what he can do. It not only gives Hendry a look at the future, but it also gives other GMs a chance to measure their ability in a trade situation. Success from Guzman, Marshall, and/or Hill could be the centerpiece for a deal involving someone like Abreu or Tejada. The Cubs will just have to win with that "youngster" named Maddux.
  21. Backtobanks
    It'd be better to have a right handed power source off of the bench. I hoping Hendry can pull off some kind of miracle and get Craig Wilson. Perfect player for the situation the Cubs are in: 1B, platoon RF, and right-handed power hitting bat off the bench. On top of all that he doesn't have a long term contract, so Hendry can make the decision later in the year to sign him and bring him back for 2007.
  22. Backtobanks
    Before Maddux singled in the next inning, I was hoping he would ask the ump to check the ball. That would have cracked me up.
  23. Backtobanks
    Only Dusty can make 2 double switches and end up with a lineup including Perez, Blanco, and Bynum. Strategically he took out the correct players (who made the last out in the previous inning), but taking out Walker and Murton when Lee is injured, Ramirez is slumping, and Barrett isn't playing doesn't leave much hope of coming back from a 3-run deficit.
  24. Backtobanks
    There aren't many people on that list that are going to get you much in a trade, especially since most of them have issues (Perez - benchwarmer, Williams, Pierre, Jones - slow starts, and Wood - health). I think the best possibility would be Craig Wilson from the Pirates.
  25. Backtobanks
    The last thing Hendry needs to do now is to panic. Walker, Mabry, and Restovich can play for a few weeks and then Hendry can reassess whether a deal needs to be made.
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