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
    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.
  2. Backtobanks
    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.
  3. Backtobanks
    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.
  4. Backtobanks
    He deserves a lot of credit, but it doesn't make him a genius.
  5. Backtobanks
    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.
  6. Backtobanks
    I'm not listening to The Score, I'm reading the Tribune (which owns the Cubs).
  7. Backtobanks
    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.
  8. Backtobanks
    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.
  9. Backtobanks
    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.).
  10. Backtobanks
    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.
  11. Backtobanks
    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.
  12. Backtobanks
    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.
  13. Backtobanks
    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.
  14. Backtobanks
    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.
  15. Backtobanks
    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.
  16. Backtobanks
    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.
  17. Backtobanks
    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.
  18. Backtobanks
    God forbid it would be a move that would hurt the team. I wonder where Mike is going to play when he's not catching? I read that he will catch, play some 1B, and DH during interleague games. Assuming he stays healthy, he ought to get quite a few ABs.
  19. Backtobanks
    I agree with some of you who say that Kearns isn't very much different from Corey Patterson. I would like to have Kearns as a platoon 4th OF, but I don't think he's worth Williams. Offer them Welly plus Koronka. Good luck to the Reds if they think they can get a good starter for Kearns.
  20. Backtobanks
    He could never get lefthanded hitter out. That wasn't his area. He was a relief pitcher that should be used against right handers. You should have told Baker that.
  21. Backtobanks
    Los Angeles Daily News If he sits out '06, he'll be sitting out '07, '08, '09... But you never know, he might get $10 million as a 37-year-old catcher in 2010. Bengie's not thinking too good.
  22. Backtobanks
    Wow, people actually complimenting JH.
  23. Backtobanks
    Could that spectacular prospect be Pie or Cedeno now that the Red Sox are apparently going in another direction as SS? I predict Cedeno will be as good as Lugo within a year or two.
  24. Backtobanks
    Just goes to show what I have said all along: these "experts" don't know any more than the rest of us. Football analysts go through the games and end up picking the favorite. Look at their records using the point spread and you will see that most of them end up at or below .500. In baseball it's easy to see who the best teams are, but all it takes is a few key injuries to change everything. The 2006 Cubs will be competitive if they remain healthy. I believe that Hendry has had a competitive team for the last few years barring injuries and stupid personnel choices by the manager.
  25. Backtobanks
    I don't think that Lofton, at this stage of his career, is equal to Pierre. I think Jones is going to be okay in RF and surpise a lot of people.
×
×
  • Create New...