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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    I've been saying the same thing for quite awhile. The Cubs are in a great position for a midseason trade as long as they can stay competitive. As you said, they are loaded with trade bait and have the money to add a high priced star at midseason. I think there is a good possibility Dunn and/or Tejada will be available as the Reds and Orioles start to realize they aren't going anywhere in their respective divisions and won't be contenders for the forseeable future. If any OF is available, I'm hoping Jones will be part of the deal or will become the 4th OF because I think Murton is the real deal. Obviously, the key to staying competitive and being in the position to make that big deal hinges on the health of Wood, Guzman, Williamson, and Miller. With all (or most) of that pitching healthy and the potential of Novoa, Wuertz, and Hill, the Cubs will be overstocked with major league pitching.
  2. Backtobanks
    But can he catch the ball?
  3. Backtobanks
    I agree, Dusty has no choice in the matter. If Mabry or Grissom play more than once every two weeks, the Cubs will be a 4th place team.
  4. Backtobanks
    According to today's Tribune, the Cubs will not invite Gonzalez to spring training.
  5. Backtobanks
    Grissom's 3 year splits (2003-2005): vs. Left: .322/.359/.567/.926 (335 AB) vs. Right: .267/.299/.396/.695 (951 AB) Grissom from a few years ago might not be a bad platoon player, but he is getting older and recovering from some injuries.
  6. Backtobanks
    Personally, I think Dunn would look better in RF than LF. Play Murton and sit Jones.
  7. Backtobanks
    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.
  8. Backtobanks
    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.
  9. Backtobanks
    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.
  10. Backtobanks
    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.
  11. Backtobanks
    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?
  12. Backtobanks
    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.
  13. 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. 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?
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. Backtobanks
    He deserves a lot of credit, but it doesn't make him a genius.
  18. 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.
  19. Backtobanks
    I'm not listening to The Score, I'm reading the Tribune (which owns the Cubs).
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.).
  23. 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.
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
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