Backtobanks
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Everything posted by Backtobanks
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Personally, I think Dunn would look better in RF than LF. Play Murton and sit Jones.
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That is pretty funny. Steinbrenner though......he's never been one to apply the old zipper to himself, either. Ozzy can do this and get away with it just as long as the White Sox keep winning. When the tables turn, he's going to have to keep it zipped or else there will be real trouble for him. An angry winner is confusing to most folks, so they give it a pass thinking it's just "colorful." In Ozzy's case, I don't think it's colorful. He's just a hateful person who happens to be on the winning end right now, IMHO. An angry loser is a sore loser and a turn off. Most people lose patience with those folks very quickly Your comment about Ozzie can get away with this as long as the Sox are winning is true. Look at Mike Ditka. Anything he says is considered the Gospel in Chicago. That's what's happening with Ozzie & Kenny Williams now. Not too long ago, Kenny Williams was considered a laughing stock among GMs. Unfortunately, with the team they have and in the Division they're in, we might have to put up with these two for awhile.
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wow, i hadn't realized that he'd retired. If he can regain his health, he could easily pitch at least 5-6 more years, so how can he be a bust. Nolan Ryan wasn't injured, but look at his record at Wood's age. Hopefully, Wood will recover and straighten out his mechanics and end any talk of him being a bust.
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That looks a little optimistic for the Pirates and Reds, but the others look reasonably accurate. I think if you take their predicted records as a starting point and then watch for an outstanding rookie to catch fire or a season-ending injury to a key player and adjust the predictions accordingly, they will be very accurate.
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There are rumors that Craig Wilson and Luis Matos are both going to be riding the bench for their respective teams. Since Welly has no spot in the bullpen and is out of options, maybe we could get one of them for Welly. Wilson, as a RF platoon/PH, is the more desirable of the two. I remember there was a thread on Wilson a while ago, but I think that was before he lost his job(s) to Burnitz and Casey.
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Sammy can't help any Major League team, that's why he can't get a job. The only value he has is to put some people in the stands and that won't last long when the fans see he's running on empty. If he had anything left, don't you think some team would give him a contract just for the PR?
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Sosa will get in, but not on the first ballot. Of course, a lot may depend on the other players eligible the same year Sosa comes up.
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Interesting Article on the Twins and Contraction
Backtobanks replied to vance_the_cubs_fan's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
This is what would make the draft or lottery interesting. If a lower placed team doesn't have the money, they might pick a top prospect rather than one of the stars. This would mean that some of the stars could get through quite a bit of the draft until a team could afford their contract. Also, think of the possibility of trades happening after the draft. This would really be exciting. Or what is more likely is that the lower team drafts the star and then trades the star for a player another team chooses along with some prospects from their own system. Whichever way it happens, I think it would be a great thing to watch and talk about. Can you imagine the action NSBB would be having? -
Interesting Article on the Twins and Contraction
Backtobanks replied to vance_the_cubs_fan's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
This is what would make the draft or lottery interesting. If a lower placed team doesn't have the money, they might pick a top prospect rather than one of the stars. This would mean that some of the stars could get through quite a bit of the draft until a team could afford their contract. Also, think of the possibility of trades happening after the draft. This would really be exciting. -
Interesting Article on the Twins and Contraction
Backtobanks replied to vance_the_cubs_fan's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
I'd love to see those teams contracted and then a lottery for their players (major and minor league). Players like Santana, Willis, Cabrera, and all of those prospects the Marlins received in their fire sale would be available. I think it would add as much excitement to all of the rest of baseball as the Hot Stove League. -
Edward K from Indy fills out a lineup card for Dusty
Backtobanks replied to CubinNY's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
I would assume that Jones will be hitting 5th or 6th in the order and Walker would probably be 2nd. I do think that Murton and/or Cedeno could develop into very good #2 hitters. -
He deserves a lot of credit, but it doesn't make him a genius.
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So is that your prediction - the Cubs will win the division? I hope you're right! On the other hand, won't that mean three more years of Dusty Baker? Hmm... Yeah, but at least Dusty & JH will be geniuses for the next 3 years.
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I'm not listening to The Score, I'm reading the Tribune (which owns the Cubs).
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I agree that Murton has what it takes to be a very good OF for a long time. Now let's hope everyone quits talking about platooning him or packaging him in some trade.
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I am trying to be open-minded and fair about the White Sox winning the WS, but I am getting tired of reading how brilliant Kenny Williams is. First, we heard that Ozzie was the greatest manager in the history of baseball and now Williams is the president of Mensa. I give him credit for making some very good deals, but some of those deals brought in players that had career years. The White Sox will again contend because of their pitching, but hopefully the Twins will rebound and the Indians will mature enough to compete with the Sox. Not too long ago, Williams was considered a front office idiot. I guess that's what comes with a championship team.
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Will Williams be moved?
Backtobanks replied to marc_foust's topic in MLB Draft, International Signings, Amateur Baseball
I would like to find a way to keep Williams or at least find a trade partner who understands his true value as a young, cheap, experienced pitcher who is capable of being a #3 starter on most teams. In other words, package him for a player that will make an impact on the Cubs (Dunn, Abreu, Tejada, etc.). -
Why does everyone keep saying we have Jones for 3 years. Jones has a three year contract and can (and probably will) be traded after this year. Hendry had to give him a three year contract to match the contracts being offered, but there's no guarantee he will be a Cub for 3 years. If Pie is ready next year, Jones will be traded or platooned.
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The Cubs don't eat salary. They were adamently opposed to the idea until the Sosa situation came up. Unfortunately, the Cubs like Jones. Hendry likes Jones. He's not going to trade him. He didn't sign him with any intention to trade him. Jones could repeat his mediocre career stats every year and Hendry would be ecstatic. He wanted an athletic RF, not a productive one. Hendry needed a RF this year and had to give Jones a 3-year deal to match other offers. If Pie is ready next year, he will be the athletic and productive RF that Hendry wants and Jones will be traded. As much as Hendry likes Jones, he is gaga over Pie.
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Part of the appeal of people wanting Jones is that he didn't cost anything in players to acquire. Just because a couple teams were rumored to be interested in Jones doesn't guarantee any sort of market for him later.[/quote] I think there will be a market for him. His salary isn't that bad and if Pie is ready, the Cubs could trade him for prospects. As a last resort, the Cubs could eat a little bit of his salary.
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I really don't know how anyone can pick the Astros to do much. With Clemens and Bagwell as question marks, the rest of their team getting older, and their offensive deficencies, I just don't see them as much of a threat in the NL Central.
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Perception is probably reality on this one B to B! Regardless of what the numbers and sabermetrics may actually show, there is surely a perception among GMs around the league that from July through October Jose Contreras was the best pitcher in baseball. carlos zambrano, a pitcher half his age, who had a better second half AND first half, and has for the last 3 years, would disagree with their assessment. I have to agree with Hoops. He didn't say Contreras was the best, he said there was a perception he was the best. Look no further than Steve Phillips for somebody who puts far greater emphasis on win totals down the stretch than actual pitching performance. I'd bet Phillips would take Contreras over Zambrano (who he has constantly bad mouthed as immature, unstable and unproven). A lot of GMs still come from the conventional wisdom crowd. That explains why Phillips isn't a GM anymore.
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I keep reading about teams ready to trade a superstar for a #1 or #2 starter and they talk to the White Sox about Contreras. I don't get it. I might understand if they asked for Garland or Garcia, but Contreras????? Maybe we ought to offer the Phillies Rusch or Maddox for Abreu.
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The January issue of Vineline has a story about him. After reading the article, it seems that he is in good health and hasn't changed a bit. He is still the eternal optimist and breaks into song every chance he gets. What a wonderful attitude and a great person.
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As you can see by my screen name, Ernie was my first favorite player. Being a southside Cub fan in 1954, Ernie was one of the few bright spots in my early days of fandom. I'm not exactly over the hill, but I do miss the days of watching Banks, Santo, Williams, etc. competing against Mays, Aaron, Clemente, Musial, Spahn, Koufax, etc. Also, I miss the days of going to the ballpark and buying a ticket from the ticket window, not from a scalper. Seeing that skinny shortstop (and later 1B), with those quick wrists, hitting all those HRs and listening to Brickhouse's call of homerun #500 will always be one of my biggest thrills. Happy Birthday Ernie and many more to come.