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Backtobanks

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Everything posted by Backtobanks

  1. Backtobanks
    Phil Rogers suggests in today's Tribune that the trade of Raffy for Mitch Williams was worse than the Brock for Broglio trade. I disagree because Williams filled a need on the Cubs and helped them win a Division title. Also, the Cubs did have a pretty decent 1B in Mark Grace. Broglio never helped the Cubs while Brock went on to a HOF career. Of course, hindsight is always 20-20 and the Cubs would love to have had Brock & Raffy for their whole careers.
  2. Backtobanks
    I like Dunn, but I still say he is not worth stripping the Cubs of 5 players under 25 years old. I would love to see the Cubs win the WS in the next few years, but to restock another team's future is silly. Knowing the Cubs, they would trade 5 players for Dunn and lose in the playoffs this year and next and then lose Dunn to free agency and watch the Reds overtake us with the 5 players we traded to them.
  3. Backtobanks
    I'm not sure it's entirely fair to compare the offensive numbers of the consensus best fielder of all-time at the most important fielding position to those of a first baseman. Just saying. Also, despite some overlap in their careers, Grace played in a much more hitting-centric time. Grace was great and all, but no Hall of Famer. Yeah, I agree with you. You can't compare a middle infielder's numbers to a power position player's numbers. If you did, you might not have any 2B or SS in the HOF. During most of baseball's history, 2B & SS were manned by slick-fielding, mediocre-hitting players and they were appreciated for those skills that they brought to the game. 1B, 3B, LF, & RF are positions of power. I think Raffy is a 1st ballot HOF probability, even though he always seemed to fly under the radar as a great player.
  4. Backtobanks
    I don't know when Hendry will pull the trigger on a trade, but the Cubs certainly won't be sellers with their payroll.
  5. Backtobanks
    Hendry has been quoted as saying that the Cubs might solve their problems "in house" (waiting for Nomar & Williamson). Neither one of these guys are going to be ready by the trade deadline, so how can he make a determination as to whether they can help us. Or is Hendry just saying that to keep his plans secret?
  6. Backtobanks
    I agree that the Yanks aren't compatible with our needs, but let's figure out a 3-team or 4-team trade. The Yankees are really desparate for starting pitchers (Rusch, Mitre, or Williams), like Patterson (according to thr rumors), and have nothing at AAA. It looks like we have a lot to offer the Yanks, but short of Sheffield I don't see much that we want from them. Get those creative minds working.
  7. Backtobanks
    Also, he said that he is a quick learner. I don't see much proof of that over the years.
  8. Backtobanks
    I don't think the Red would take Patterson, and I don't think the Reds would give up Wagner under any circumstances. He's young and cheap, something Cincy seems to value. Cincy doesn't need another OF'er unless it's a prospect. It wouldn't surprise me to see us have to pay for someone to take Corey. Isn't it amazing that nobody wants Corey, but we salivate at getting Kearns. I suggested a Patterson-Kearns trade a while ago, even though the Reds don't need an OF. Why should we give up one of our top pitching prospects for an underachieving OF who was sent to the minors.
  9. Backtobanks
    W-L is still the measuring stick for starting pitchers (i.e. 20-game winner, 300 wins = HOF, etc.). You may not agree with using W-L, but most people still know the 20-game winners over the ERA leaders.
  10. Backtobanks
    I'd love to have Dunn, but some of the deals mentioned make him sound like the second coming of Babe Ruth. With all of those fancy numbers that everyone loves to throw around, he is still a .240 hitter with a ton of strikeouts.
  11. Backtobanks
    I was hoping to see Ichiro. From what I hear, he puts on quite a show in batting practice (and that's what the HR derby is). People are amazed at how many HRs and how far they go when he hits them. He changes his philosophy once the game starts. Wade Boggs used to do the same thing.
  12. Backtobanks
    And the moment of open-mindness shown by Dusty to try something new ---playing rookies.
  13. Backtobanks
    Speaking of "Sucky major league outfielder that got sent down to AAA", how about Patterson for Kearns and then both teams can keep their fingers crossed.
  14. Backtobanks
    I know there are lots of factors that go into a team winning, but I find it interesting that the Cubs snapped out of a losing streak when Dusty put Murton in the lineup. It seems to me the Cubs had a pretty good streak earlier in the year when he made Dubois his regular LF. Of course Murton has done very well for 2 games, so now let's sit him down against another lefty.
  15. Backtobanks
    You mean for the 3 weeks that he has been healthy.
  16. Backtobanks
    It would not be surprising since Dusty Baker has never seem enamored with Hairston Jr. as a starter. I am not sure what we could hope to get for Hairston Jr. though. The Orioles tried to trade Jerry Hairston Jr. for a few years before they finally dumped him in return for Sosa. Also it does appear that for better or for worse Felix Pie will make it to Chicago this season, since this is at least the third or fourth report I have read that stated that Pie would becoming up soon or already be here if not for injury. -Banghart You need to get rid of Hairston because that .400 OBP is clogging up the bases.
  17. Backtobanks
    I look for Greenburg to be the future Todd Hollandsworth. A 4th OF/pinchhitter seems to be his future. I would love to be wrong and see him playing everyday and doing a good job at leadoff, but I doubt it.
  18. Backtobanks
    I think the Cubs are really stuck between wanting to turn the page and deal Patterson and being scared to death that he will go somewhere and turn into the next Lou Brock. It might help Hendry's anxiety if Murton and Pie can show something or Patterson can be used in a deal to get a quality player.
  19. Backtobanks
    I was watching a Comcast sports show and I don't remember which panelist said it, but pointed out that Corey never really dominated at any level since A ball. Maybe it was a case of being rushed and never learning what you need to learn in the minors, but there were periods when he would show some of that 5-tool potential.
  20. Backtobanks
    Many of us aren't giving up, but we're being realistic. It is a wakeup call when you get swept by the Braves' AA team. I do have trouble with people who lose faith in Hendry though. I think Hendry will make the moves necessary to make sure we are somewhat competitive this year, but a force to be reckoned with for the next few years. The problem with the Cubs is that we haven't seen anything (or anybody) that we can count on except Lee and Aram. None of our starting pitchers have shown consistency. The bullpen has had it's ups and downs. Burnitz and Walker have been reasonably consistent, but the other 4 position players have been hit or miss. I really think that the only hope we have is for our prospects to really ignite a spark that has been lacking all season. Of course, that assumes Dusty will let them play.
  21. Backtobanks
    I've said this before, I'd love to have Dunn on this team, but he's not the second coming of Babe Ruth. 6 players plus $5 million for Dunn is ridiculous.
  22. Backtobanks
    Which is why trading Wood or Zambrano for an elite OF bat, and then signing AJ Burnett is not too far off the beaten path strategy-wise. Execution-wise is a whole other ballgame. Yeah, thats actually a very good idea. I'd much rather trade wood and keep zambrano, but im sure wood's trade value is nowhere near zambrano's. Hoops, who do you suppose we could get for one of them? I saw someone say mench and delucci or nix, but i dont think texas would give up mench and another ML outfielder for wood, maybe zambrano but not for wood. You might be able to get Mench for Wood straight up, but then again i thought wood doesn't want to go to the AL...and therefore he wouldnt waive his no trade to Texas You should trade from strength, we have pitching & Texas has hitting. Wood for Mench straight up. 2007 Of of Murton, Mench, Pie looks great to me.
  23. Backtobanks
    Who knows, maybe Dusty learned something from Bobby Cox. Cox played his whole AA team and kicked our butts.
  24. Backtobanks
    I think it would be a bigger headline to find someone who thinks the Cubs are contenders.
  25. Backtobanks
    After watching half of today's early game, it has become obvious that the Cubs aren't going to catch the Cards or the Braves. This Braves team with a roster full of rookies is kicking our behinds on a daily basis. Also, don't forget that this Brave team is waiting for the return of Hampton & Hudson. I guess we can hope the Braves win their Division and some mediocre team ends up fighting for the WC. Let's quit kidding ourselves into thinking that one hitter or one relief pitcher is going to turn this club around. I agree with all of the other posts that Baker, Patterson, and Macias have to go. I think Mitre, Rusch, Patterson, Dubois, and prospects should get us young players who can help us in the next few years. If Hendry can make any deals that turn this year's club around with Baker as manager, he deserves the title "Executive of the Century."
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