As Expected, Paul Bako Is A Cub Again
by Al Yellon on Jan 30, 2009 1:13 PM CST
in Chicago Cubs News
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PrintFrom the official press release:
photo via cache.gettyimages.com
The Chicago Cubs and catcher Paul Bako have agreed to terms on a 2009 contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Bako, 36, last season set career highs with 30 runs scored, 35 RBI and six home runs in 99 games with the Cincinnati Reds. He batted .217 (65-for-299) with 11 doubles and two triples. He owns a career .231 batting average (482-for-2086) with 94 doubles, 21 home runs and 186 RBI in 745 big league games. Bako’s .305 career on-base percentage is 74 points higher than his career batting average.
The left-handed hitter rejoins the Cubs organization after spending his first 11 major league seasons with 10 different clubs, including two years with the Cubs from 2003-04. He broke into the big leagues with the Tigers in 1998 and has also played for the Astros (1999-2000), Marlins (2000), Braves (2000-01), Brewers (2002), Cubs (2003-04), Dodgers (2005), Royals (2006), Orioles (2007) and Reds (2008).
The contract was supposed to be, according to rumors the last couple of weeks, for $500,000. That sounds about right. Note the spin in the press release, saying Bako "set career highs" last year. Sure, but he still had a pretty bad offensive season, hitting .217/.299/.328.
He's always been a pretty bad hitter, even when he was the backup catcher for two pretty good Cubs teams in 2003 and 2004. His value has always been his defense. It's not likely to be improving, but Lou has his heart set on a lefthanded hitting backup to Geovany Soto. Now he has three in camp -- Bako, Koyie Hill (a switch-hitter) and Mark Johnson. Since Bako will join the 40-man roster, he'll be the favorite to win the job.
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too bad
stupid insistence on lefties… it will be our downfall this year.
Boy..
what an awesome trio
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Hank White
signs for 750K, glad they saved 250K.
Maybe Lou will have Theriot go back to switch hitting. This obessions with the left side is wearing me out.
Just what the Cubs need an automatic out in the 8 hole, or 9th when Z is pitching.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
Exactly.
Couldn’t they have taught Blanco to hit lefty for a year?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Why the double standard Al?
Why would you want the Cubs to teach Blanco how to hit lefthanded and not Bako?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 30, 2009 1:24 PM CST up reply actions
Let me rephrase that.
Couldn’t they have taught Blanco, Bako, Hill AND Johnson to hit lefthanded?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
without practice
I think Blanco would still bat beter lefty than Bako
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
To be fair ...
Here are the career numbers for Blanco and Bako vs. RHP:
Blanco – .222 AVG / .281 OBP / .633 OPS
Bako – .240 AVG / .317 OBP / .637 OPS
Harry Caray: Marshall is going back to LA to get cocaine for his injured foot.
Steve Stone: Harry, that’s Novocaine.
by Julio Zuleta's Voodoo on Jan 30, 2009 2:09 PM CST up reply actions
Man backup Catcher is almost as sweet a gig as backup QB
they dont expect much at all from you
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
I read that Bako signed for $725K
"Every team will win 60 games, every team will lose 60 games, it's what the team does in the other 42 games that decides the season."
another source claims $750K + $300K in incentives for at bats
http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1000/blog?id=3738908&post=3872312
"Every team will win 60 games, every team will lose 60 games, it's what the team does in the other 42 games that decides the season."
is that HITS
or simply standing at the plate?
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Jan 30, 2009 2:55 PM CST up reply actions
When Bako plays...
…and Zambrano pitches, Lou needs to try something different and hit Z 8th and maybe even 7th.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Couldn't agree more...
Bako is a worse hitter than most of our pitchers. Hit him 9th most days he plays. So we have a catcher who’s left handed- too bad that Lou was seeking a left handed hitting catcher. Bako don’t fit that profile as he doesn’t hit. At all.
Not hating on Bako, but I just can’t believe he’s still in the majors. I should have been a major league catcher- I’m in the wrong business.
Bako is here for his catching ability, not his hitting
Backup catchers are not evaluated on their hitting ability, but rather their ability to be good defensively behind the plate and work well with pitchers. Bako answers the bell on both counts.
Yep
If backup catchers could hit, they would be starting catchers.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 1:29 PM CST up reply actions
Then why did you point out that he "swings the bat from the left side" in your post down below?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 30, 2009 1:32 PM CST up reply actions
God forbid something happens to Geovany Soto...
Paul Bako WILL NOT be the everyday catcher. Something happens to Soto and Jim Hendry will be out on the market to acquire somebody ala the acquisition to get Jason Kendall in 2007. Or perhaps Wellington Castillo will be ready for a big league trial.
Paul Bako is here to be a backup catcher. It’s something he is good at. It’s idiotic to fixate on the wondrous hitting talent of a backup catcher. And you know that. At least I think you know that.
by BLou on Jan 30, 2009 1:35 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
back up catchers also act preparing the pitching game plans
Bako is a fine back up catcher, he will hold the runners, prepare for the occasional game and when called upon force the opposing manager to either burn a reliever. When he does start it probably will be against a tough right hander.
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
Not as well as
Henry Blanco does.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Jan 30, 2009 2:26 PM CST up reply actions
A backup catcher gets about 100 at bats a year
The difference between a .220 hitter and a .270 hitter is 5 hits over the course of that season.
I don't care about the hits
I care about the fact that Henry Blanco helped this pitching staff take us to a division title last year, and Bako… didn’t.
The intagibles are worth the extra cost — if, as some have suggested, there’s any savings at all.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Jan 30, 2009 2:59 PM CST up reply actions
Bako is a medoicre backup catcher and Blanco was an exceptional backup catcher...
…both offensively and defensively.
"Just win tonight" - derv
Oh right
It was the intangibles, of course.
I forgot that some of the posters here have magical insight into the clubhouse effects of certain players, and the lack thereof of others.
Clearly Hendry has less of an idea of the merits of these things vs the blog readers of the world.
another expert speaks
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
While you might find the tone disagreable
Wreckard has a point
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 3:41 PM CST up reply actions
It was the intangibles
And numerous players, including Soto and Zambrano have on more than one occasion over the past two years said so. Guess we should believe that they were lying so we could all look like idiots?
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
Don't blame them for that, you guys are doing that on your own
To me that sounds like athletes saying the right things, and praising a teammate. But there may be merit to what they’re saying – my point is that, from the outside in I have no way of evaluating the validity of those claims.
It’s too bad there isn’t someone inside the organization, someone whose job it is to make these sorts of evaluations and decisions, someone who has worked with both of these players in the past. Because if there was, I’d probably just default to their wisdom on this ultimately low-significance decision.
And besides, wasn’t Bako called upon by the Great Maddux himself to serve as his personal catcher due to his defense and exemplary play-calling abilities? We like him still right? Don’t we trust his judgment on these things?
I thought it was
wasn’t Bako called upon by the Great Maddux himself to serve as his personal catcher due to his defense and exemplary play-calling abilities
Bako was being compared to Barrett.
True
but then why does it matter if Blanco is a righty and Bako a lefty IF that is why Hendry signed Bako instead of Blanco?
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
Wasn't Dale Long a left-handed catcher and 1st baseman for the Cubs?
I think I found a place for Micah!!!!!!!!
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
this opens up step 1 in a season of sadness
step 1. Soto gets hurt for an extended period, losing a great bat. his replacement is Paul Bako.
seriously, season collapses can begin this way. this, is a terrible move. just dumb.
I like it
Welcome back Paul Bako. Good addition. Works well with pitchers, is good behind the plate and swings the bat from the left-side. Plus he’s got solid National League Central experience.
Where's Todd Hundley when we need him?
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
You must be joking.
I’d rather have RANDY Hundley catching than Todd. And he’s 67 years old.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I said that with tongue in cheek
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
LOL....
What the hell? What difference does it make what side of the plate he “swings the bat from”? He’s just unseated Gaithright as the worst hitter on the team.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 30, 2009 1:31 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Quality of trades and signings lately make me wonder....
if Hendry is losing his mind
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
You think he's lost his mind because ...
… he spent barely over the minimum salary for a backup catcher?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
You get what you pay for....
is that backup or bullpen?
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
What do you want????
For Jim Hendry to acquire Johnny Bench in his prime to be the backup catcher???
I think that we could all get
behind that move, actually.
However, given the choices, I think most of us would have preferred Henry Blanco to Bako.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Jan 30, 2009 2:34 PM CST up reply actions
Paul Bako & Bill Plummer
Bill Plummer was an even worse hitter than Bako. Bako, like Plummer with the Big Red Machine, is a backup catcher there for defense and to keep the starting catcher from getting worn out. Bako needs to start at least 30 games this season to take the wear and tear off of Soto. We don’t want the same thing to happen to Soto that happened to Jody Davis.
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
Smokey Burgess
or Ed Bailey would make me happy.
Baseball is too much of a sport to be a business and too much of a business to be a sport.
William Wrigley Jr
by bubbamike the one and only on Jan 31, 2009 2:07 PM CST up reply actions
Will Bako be the first Cub to wear 00?
because that’s what I think he will contribute
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
He wore #9 last year and when he was w/ the Cubs....
I’m thinking he takes Onedec’s #5——which may be the number of hits he gets.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Jan 30, 2009 1:47 PM CST up reply actions
Start printing those World Series tickets!!!!
Meh, I’d rather have Hank, but, hey, it’s only a backup catcher. I’m sure with his experience he could be a “mentor” as well.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
I know Bako was well-regarded...
… by the pitching staff when he was here in 2003 and 2004. Only Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Michael Wuertz remain from those pitching staffs.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
What do you mean Bako can't hit?
Didn’t he hit a home run off Jon Lieber in that game against the Reds last year? Oh, wait…EVERYONE hit a home run off Jon Lieber in that game.
Well, this is hardly a shocking move, and I’d hope we can dispense with another lengthy debate about Bako vs. Blanco. Hey, I’d rather have Hank White around, too, but that’s not how it went down and there’s probably more important things to worry about.
We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.
Bako hit 6 HR last year.
They were off, in order:
Eric Gagne
Keiichi Yabu
Tom Glavine
Jon Lieber
Renyel Pinto
Mark Hendrickson
(the last two were in the same game)
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
WOW
old and washed up
got lucky
old and washed up
old and washed up
gave up 9 homers in 2008
gave up 17 homers in 2008
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
I'm curious....your reference to number of "homers in 2008" means what?
I see your point about “old and washed up”
Do you think 9 and 17 are a lot?
Cubs pitchers gave up homers, too
Ted Lilly gave up 32 homers in 2008
Zambrano gave up 18
Dempster 14
Marquis 15
Even Marmol gave up 10 in 87 innings
"Every team will win 60 games, every team will lose 60 games, it's what the team does in the other 42 games that decides the season."
Plus the "got lucky" reference
So, when the data doesn’t support his claim, it’s an outlier?
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 2:43 PM CST up reply actions
check their innings pitched
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
You're going to make me do the work???
j/k
"Every team will win 60 games, every team will lose 60 games, it's what the team does in the other 42 games that decides the season."
yes
9 & 7 are a lot for the innings pitched…they are both relievers
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
If you're going to make me work, you may want to be right
Hendrickson gave up 16 HR as a starter (101 innings in 19 starts) and only 1 as reliever (32.2 innings in 17 relief appearances).
But you did get the total number of homers right :)
Clutche, I’m just busting your chops.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/psplit.cgi?n1=hendrma01&year=2008
"Every team will win 60 games, every team will lose 60 games, it's what the team does in the other 42 games that decides the season."
That is still a lot of homers in 101 innings as a starter.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Yes, it is.
He’s on pace with Lilly.
16 HR in 101
32 HR in 205
"Every team will win 60 games, every team will lose 60 games, it's what the team does in the other 42 games that decides the season."
I hate perfectionists :)
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Oh man...
…I either conveniently forgot or never realized that Lilly gave up that many dingers. Eh, I still love the guy.
We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.
Of course you do
Otherwise he’ll kick your ass!
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 3:41 PM CST up reply actions
Only his arm is . . . .
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 3:46 PM CST up reply actions
He's from Louisiana.....
Gonna be a lot of Gumbo in that clubhouse….
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
so are theriot and fontenot
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Yeah, that was my point.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Jan 30, 2009 1:50 PM CST up reply actions
So shouldn't he be...
Bakot
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Bakeaux
"I'll take one in the mouth over the eyes any day". - AJ Pierzynski
http://lostinthevines.blogspot.com/
by lostinthevines on Feb 1, 2009 11:08 AM CST up reply actions
I think we have ourselves a 25 man roster (except for one more infielders)
Rotation – Zambrano, Harden, Dempster, Lilly, Heilman
Bullpen – Marmol, Gregg, Vizcaino, Gaudin, Guzman, Cotts, Marshall
Outfield – Soriano, Kosuke, Bradley, Johnson, Gathright
Infield – Ramirez, Theriot, Fontenot, Lee, Miles, ???
Catcher – Soto, Bako
Triple A – Samardzija, Hart, Stevens, Ascanio, Atkins, Hoffpauir, K. Hill
Still to be traded – Wuertz
You're probably pretty close.
I suspect Marshall makes the rotation and Heilman goes to the pen.
Hoffpauir is likely to be the 25th man. Miles will be the backup infielder.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I have an eerie feeling...
…that it’ll be the other way around. Is it possible Hendry and Heilman have a gentleman’s agreement that Fully Krausened (no? yes?) has first dibs on the fifth starter’s role? Heilman’s been dying to be a starter for years now and Hendry’s has had his eye on him for just about as long. Maybe Lou has indicated that he’d prefer to keep Marshall in the swing/DHB (designated Harden backup) role. Just throwin’ it out there.
We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.
Samardzia will not be sent down
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
I like the Shark in the pen.
But I think Lou and the brass want to make a starter out of him; there’s no room on the ML roster for that, so best he does it at Iowa.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
He'll be lights out in ST
so my guess is Lou won’t have a choice but to keep him up
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Lou always has a choice, he the one who chooses.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 30, 2009 1:53 PM CST up reply actions
I thought the Boss was the decider!
Springsteen drew several laughs, the loudest being when he was asked which songs the band will perform. “I’m the Boss!” he said to a roar. “The Boss decides what we play. Nobody else decides. People suggest. Hint. Beg. Cajole. But I decide.”
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
And he plays the HOT hand
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Numbers game
Vizcaino, Gaudin and Cotts all make good guaranteed money. Guzman is out of options. And the rotation is already full.
Therefore it translates to Samardzija headed back down to Des Moines.
Unless Vizcaino can be moved during ST.
His contract isn’t that large.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
$4M for a mediocre middle reliever?
Good luck finding a taker.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 2:19 PM CST up reply actions
I can't imagine
that Gaudin is actually in the running. If Shark starts, Marshall stays in the pen. If Marshall starts, Shark…. ???
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Jan 30, 2009 2:42 PM CST up reply actions
It's got to be window dressing.
Gaudin sees himself as a starter and I guess if you want him on task and motivated, he has to think he has a chance.
...goes to Triple A to learn how to be a starter.
As mentioned, however, Aaron “Fully Krausened” Heilman could very well crack open a cold one on everyone and steal the 5th starter’s spot, putting Marshall back in his swing man/Harden backup role. BOOK IT!
We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.
+1
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
And getting him stretched out in the beginning of the season
will be the smart thing to do, as I think Lou wants him ready to take Harden’s rotation spot if/when he goes on the DL or is shutdown for a significant amount of time.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 30, 2009 1:53 PM CST up reply actions
If he is lights out in ST...
… as suggested above, maybe he makes the rotation.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
that's the plan
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
damn you're good
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
strike three!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
it's not Shark.
It’s his mother.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Jan 30, 2009 2:43 PM CST up reply actions
Shark has to get sent down.
Take a look at the roster. None of the other players can be because they don’t have options.
You can’t always take the 12 best players and put the 13th best in AAA. There are, believe or not, other concerns sometimes.
like the Bako pitcher from the series
vs. the Devil Rays where Sosa’s corked bat exploded
'talkin 'bout practice?
by CubFanRaysaddict on Jan 30, 2009 1:50 PM CST reply actions
I looked this up after I posted the photo.
Baldelli was safe on that play.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Looks like he doesn't want to block the plate, does he?
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Neither does Geo
Before everyone gets up in arms, Soto’s been great — but that is a hole in his game. He is lousy at blocking the dish.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 2:23 PM CST up reply actions
How 'bout this one instead....seems fitting
Left-handed and all…..
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Jan 30, 2009 1:54 PM CST up reply actions
Better.
He probably popped up on that swing, though.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
which would make it even more fitting...lol
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Jan 30, 2009 1:55 PM CST up reply actions
Just tell yourself that "his hitting doesn't really matter, he's here to catch and handle the pitching staff"
when you get to watch him pop up 3 times a game.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 30, 2009 1:56 PM CST up reply actions
And we can always pinch hit Z for him
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
This is different from Blanco how exactly?
They’re basically opposite hitting versions of each other. Their career EQA’s are nearly identical.
Looks like half the fans left when he came to bat
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
wow i said pitcher not picture...
'talkin 'bout practice?
by CubFanRaysaddict on Jan 30, 2009 1:57 PM CST up reply actions
It's "Tangent Friday"....we ran with it.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Jan 30, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions
haha
appreciate it
'talkin 'bout practice?
by CubFanRaysaddict on Jan 30, 2009 2:04 PM CST up reply actions
Warning Track Power Paul is Back in Town
No he hit it to the warning track
Lets track how many SHOTS he hits to the front edge of the Track
I've been bleeding double blue Cubbies & NY Rangers
Heavens to mergatroid
Why o’ why all the fascination with the hitting ability of a backup catcher? It is low down the list on how backup catchers are evaluated. Bako is here to be solid behind the plate and work effectively with a pitching staff. Two things he is solidly adept and proven at.
He ain’t here to hit. And probably wont.
Again with the Snagglepuss catch phrase
Way to keep it alive.
"Who's Bob Brenly? The guy that used to be the manager for Arizona?" ~ Alfonso Guilleard Soriano
Exit...Stage right!
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jan 30, 2009 8:32 PM CST up reply actions
He could be Z's personal catcher and bat ninth....
That way we lose a bat in the line-up but gain one with Z
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Mr. Maddux would like to have a word with you.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I think it's a damn good idea
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Maddux
Greg Maddux could have thrown to a carnival dunk tank and still been effective. To give Paul Bako an ounce of credit for being Maddux’s “personal caddy” is silly….no matter whether Maddux says so himself.
Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?
I don't think anyone's giving him "credit"
Merely pointing out that Maddux had a preference.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 2:37 PM CST up reply actions
Well, they had a lot in common.
They both rarely saw game action. :)
"They say we live and learn. Often what we learn is what damn fools we have been." ~Thomas Sowell
Prior was a better hitter....
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 11:04 PM CST up reply actions
Eddie Perez
He was Greg’s personal catcher in the late 1990’s with the Braves.
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
I don't know about a drunk
but I can’t resist ANY opportunity to re-post this article for anyone who missed the first two times.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3336514&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines
FYI Maddux does pretty much say so himself. He basically said he just wants a guy to catch the ball because he
calls his own game. I actually remember a quote where he defended Bako and by extension all the catchers he works with
because he throws so slow and does not hold runners on it is not the catchers fault when runners steal on him.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Jan 30, 2009 3:53 PM CST up reply actions
Wow, that's a really cool story.
If he wanted to, I’m sure he could spend the rest of his life as a pitching coach.
"If I ever saw myself saying I'm excited going to Cleveland, I'd punch myself in the face, because I'm lying." - Ichiro
by The Guy Who Accidentally Saved the World on Jan 30, 2009 7:19 PM CST up reply actions
And you are clearly a good judge of things related to baseball
So long as an idea passes The Clutche gold standard of baseball knowledge it’s good enough for me.
And when we're in a pennant race...
and need Soto’s bat, will we still play Bako? In the playoffs?
Free Ronny Cedeno
No No
"Truth does not do as much good in the world as the semblance of truth does evil," - Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims, 64.
Because his batting average is blank?
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 3:46 PM CST up reply actions
Oh, c'mon
This is our backup catcher, people. He might play once a week. And if Soto gets hurt, Hendry will probably swing a trade.
I agree that Lou is getting a little crazy regarding left-handed bats, But I don’t think the difference between Bako in ’09 and Blanco in ’09 will make or break our season — or even cost us more than a game (if that).
Bah
FREE HENRY BLANCO!
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
Brutal
Paul Bako is Tim Blackwell without the stache. Oh, and but for the fact that Blackwell couldn’t hit from either side of the plate. Does that make him better or worse than Bako?
Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?
This is Dusty's way of getting back at us for booing him out of Chicago
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Might as well save $500k and go with Hill
and hope Wellington Castillo can make the jump.
by dr stabbingworth on Jan 30, 2009 2:29 PM CST reply actions
Castillo needs to play regularly
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 2:29 PM CST up reply actions
Castillo may still make the jump mid-season.
Bako is no obstacle to that, but he does allow Castillo to go at his own pace.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
Soto is an obstacle to it
What good what it do Castillo to sit 5 times/week?
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 2:36 PM CST up reply actions
I'm thinking more about Sept and the playoffs.
Only earlier in case of emergency.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
Seems reasonable
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 3:22 PM CST up reply actions
Castillo will not make the jump anytime soon
He’s not going to be called up to be a backup catcher.
Agreed
Castillo needs to prove himself in the Pacific Coast League before coming to the National League.
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
And here I was hoping Micah Hoffpauir would be the backup C...
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
Another move that I don't get all the angst over
There have been plenty of times that I’ve criticized Hendry, Piniella & Co. But gnashing of teeth over a backup catcher? Really?
Baseball is no longer a game where the same 15-20 players stay together for a number of years; hasn’t been for a long time. There are always going to be changes. I was disappointed to see Wood and DeRosa leave, and Pie not get a chance. But this doesn’t even show up on the radar.
To use a cliche, this ain’t rocket science . . . however, I also have to believe that the professionals have a bit more insight into why they make the moves they do. Yes, some trades are pretty easy to see that they are stupid from the beginning (Smith for Schiraldi and Nipper comes to mind), but a minor move like this . . . the Cubs have their reasons why Blanco won’t be back. As far as Rich Hill goes, Al has about as much chance of getting a major league hitter out right now as Hill does.
And hey, at least we’ve gotten away from the Peavy posts for a while!
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 2:35 PM CST reply actions
Hendry has taken a lot of criticism this winter....criticism undeserved
The peanut gallery has crapped all over the following moves…
Goners…Wood, Hill, Ceda, DeRosa, Pie, Blanco
Additions…Heilman, Bradley, Gathright, Bako
I’m not sure what some of you expect? This latest move to switch Blanco for Bako has elicited ridiculous critique. Why? Blanco is actually a worse hitter than Bako over their respective careers while the two are a wash defensively and in terms of working with pitchers.
Pie > Gathright
especially for the ultimate package we got from Pie. They are about the same hitter, but Pie is a much better defender.
I really don’t think it will matter between Blanco and Bako
Gregg + Marmol < Marmol + Wood
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
Well..
Joey Gathright is superior to Felix Pie in that he has proven the ability to hit at least minimally. Pie hasn’t hit, period.
Kerry Wood wanted 3 years out of the Cubs. Given his medical history and the fact that he has spent 36% of the last four seasons on the DL? Coupled with the presence of a golden arm in Carlos Marmol whose time has come to close? The right decision was made to say bye-bye to Wood.
Kevin Gregg is signed to a fair one year contract and is a quality relief pitcher who will come in here and get the job done for a season.
Pie hasn’t hit, period.
This has been, and continues to be, untrue.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Jan 30, 2009 3:00 PM CST up reply actions
Oh, c'mon drew, don't leave it at that.
Go get 2008’s stats for Gathright and Pie. Let’s have some real fun here.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
heh...
Kevin Gregg…will come in here and get the job done for a season.
Your baseball acumen includes clairvoyance?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 30, 2009 3:19 PM CST up reply actions
Well It won't be too much of a difference if Marmol sets up with Gregg closing
I’d like that MUCH better
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
I forget.
Others opinions are from the peanut gallery, yours are gospel.
Some of these moves make sense but move well liked players (Wood, DeRosa, Blanco). Others acquire talent at questionable cost (Gregg & Heilman).
Time will tell what works and what doesn’t, but if you don’t like others opinions don’t read them. Better yet, don’t post yours.
the two are a wash defensively and in terms of working with pitchers.
I STRONGLY disagree with this statement. Bako hasn’t worked with Cubs pitchers in years. Blanco helped this team win the division LAST YEAR.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Jan 30, 2009 2:55 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Drew, that implies the Cubs pitchers
are the only ones that constitute real pitchers in terms of working with a staff.
A lot of people helped. No roster stays 100% stagnant from year to year. The Cubs may not repeat, but if they don’t, it won’t be because of the backup catcher.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 3:25 PM CST up reply actions
Goody
Heilman, Gathright, and Bako will be our whipping boys..
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
Somewhere, The Riot breathes a sigh of relief.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Jan 30, 2009 2:50 PM CST up reply actions
I haven't forgotton about Theriot...he's not off the hook at all.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 30, 2009 3:20 PM CST up reply actions
Weak
Name that Cub, when you have his name in the title……
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
Weaker....
….posting a reply in the wrong fanpost.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Jan 30, 2009 2:54 PM CST up reply actions
thanks
nice someone got my joke
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
Yeah, sometimes you have to spell it out for me...
sorry, man.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Jan 30, 2009 5:11 PM CST up reply actions
its all good....
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
Bako...
I’ll never get the image of him popping out to end the 03 NLCS and watching the Marlins celebrate in our house. I was standing in the right field bleachers wondering why he was allowed to be the Cubs last out of the year. Whenever I hear Paul Bako, I equate it to disappointment. Sorry.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
how can I forget that one?
thanks for reminding me and ruining my night of sleep tonight.
"Just win tonight" - derv
No problem...
I still haven’t gotten over that last game. And haven’t slept good since…
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
So Bako is why the Cubs blew the pennant??
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 3:23 PM CST up reply actions
Nope...
But I’ll always remember he was the last out of that series and how I felt. It’s just one of those things for me. When I hear his name or see him, I always remember standing there in the bleachers with my buddy saying, “Wow… another heartache.”
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
Ok, that's more reasonable
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 3:35 PM CST up reply actions
How have you been?
Since the playoffs ended so quickly and my attitude was so poor I took a hiatus from the site.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
Not too bad, all in all
Got laid off October 1 . . . at least I had the Cubs to distract me. Oh, wait . . .
Found a new job relatively quickly. It’s not what I want to do long-term, but hey — it’s a job. And it actually pays a bit more than the old one. So, biding my time and figuring out what’s next. Really looking forward to the season.
How about you?
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 3:43 PM CST up reply actions
Glad to hear you made the transition
…rough times out there. Nailing down a new job myself. Lot of transitions going on… oy.
"Truth does not do as much good in the world as the semblance of truth does evil," - Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims, 64.
Thanks
Yes, and it’s only going to get worse. The key for me is going to be not to get complacent . . . I have an idea of what I’d like to do; now I need to keep working on it.
For some reason, I thought that you worked kind of freelance/consulting. Am I remembering wrong?
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 3:54 PM CST up reply actions
*the job situation is what's going to get worse
Not my own! Or yours, I hope.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 3:54 PM CST up reply actions
You remember correctly
these are not the times to be self-employed. Time to go back to the warm institutional embrace ;-)
"Truth does not do as much good in the world as the semblance of truth does evil," - Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims, 64.
Glad to hear you found something
Not the easiest time to do so.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 3:56 PM CST up reply actions
Doing good
Got married in October… Had it planned out to watch the WS at a Cubs bar in Puerto Vallarta on our Honeymoon but we all know that story. Work is good… I can’t complain. I too am ready for this season. I am going to TRY not to hang on every pitch like the last few years but hey… It’s what we live for. Can’t wait for baseball to start up again.
Glad to hear you landed on your feet after the lay off…
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
Congratulations!
Hopefully you found other modes of entertainment in PV . . . .
Yeah, I’m telling myself I’m going to scale it back a bit — but that will still be plenty into the season. Probably won’t be in game threads as much during weekday games, but we’ll see.
Thanks for the kind words.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 3:55 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks!
We had a blast. Even watched the WS…
I hear you… Game threads are going to be slim for me as well. I’ll probably be in on pre and post game when I have some time.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
Wow...
my browser is freaking out. Posts are posting weird. Sorry all.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
phones are still a good way to communicate
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Then go use one
and call someone who gives a $hit.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
have another beer
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Wish I could...
Just messin with ya… relax.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
this buds for you
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
The thoughts of Bako make me puke
but I feel better now
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Shhh, do you want him to think he puked for nothing?
We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.
We've gone through catchers like water the past few years
Soto, Blanco, Hill, Bowen, Kendall……so whats one more? Wasnt he Maddux’s personal catcher?
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
So why not
keep Blanco who knows the pitchers…… and to hell with the lefty vs. righty
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Im with you
i dont see what all the fuss was about, how many ABs does a backup catcher get, especially when your no.1 is young….this seems like change for the sake of it
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Strategically it helps to have an extra lefty on the bench
Especially when they’re disposable (i.e. you don’t mind announcing them just to get the opposing manager to bring in the lefty, only to yank them and replace them with a better right-handed PH).
What was that other guy's name. Mike the bruiser/bruised
something like that.
Hendry was in love with Barrett and it’s taken some time to find a battery Lou likes. I liked Blanco, Bako not so much, but it is the backup catcher. If Hendry paid Bako 750k, then he did overpay.
I never compared the two
I think they are both mediocre at best
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
you're a friend indeed. thanks you
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
I'm batting about .750. I'm getting better
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
calling me retarded in a nice way, huh?
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
you have a problem my friend
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
My worst fear has come true
Paul Bako is one of my least favorite Cubs of all time. He seems like a nice enough guy, but wow he can’t hit. Let me be the first to say, Paul Bako won’t make the major league team and will be release before OD. What a waste of 500k.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
Paul Bako’s career EQA: .218
Henry Blanco’s career EQA: .221
I’m selling my season tickets now, we’re obviously going down the tubes.
I'll but 'em
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
buy
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
I'd mention that you missed my point
but I think like most things it would just continue to be lost on you anyway.
I got your point..........
just thought you were dumb enough to bail
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
It's cute that you're trying on this one, it really is
You swing and miss more than a blindfolded Adam Dunn.
or a 20/20 Bako
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Bako
Why???? Just why now that he was just out of my memory,,,,, until this!!! I hope he hits in the 9th position. At least he should hit after Zambrano.
This move by the Cubs is about as surprising
as learning that Britney Spears lip-syncs at her concerts. Why all the surprise and angst? Wouldn’t it have been a surprise if Bako wasn’t signed by the Cubs?
I have never seen so much anxiety over one of the most telegraphed moves of the off-season. I seriously doubt that Bako or any back up catcher is going to be a “game-changer” for Cubs v.2009.
"If it's obvious, it's obviously wrong." - a well known stock market guru
but it doesn't hurt till it hits you between the eyes
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Your friend:
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 4:24 PM CST up reply actions
Damn, I almost busted up laughing at work
Good job, Carl
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 4:27 PM CST up reply actions
my reply button seems not to be working
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
Neither is mine
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 4:27 PM CST up reply actions
i know its very confusing
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
not working now either!
damnit!
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
working now
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
100x on the blackboard
reply is my friend reply is my friend reply is my friend reply is my friend reply is my friend reply is my friend reply is my friend ;-)
"Truth does not do as much good in the world as the semblance of truth does evil," - Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims, 64.
cute
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
osla gnikrow ton si nottub ylper ym
my reply button is not working also
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
tried it and damnit it still isn't working
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
Over-angst
Call it over-angst if you will but since it’s already clearly established that Bako will not hit a lick in 2009, the real alarm should be sounding if he’s now considered a better defenseive catcher than anyone else in the system from AAA on down. If that is the case, I’d hold off on any further suggestion that the Cubs minor league C situation is at all rosy.
Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?
That's not a logical argument
If he wins the job, it’s because he’s best suited in the system to be a MLB backup C. It doesn’t mean he’s a better catcher than a hot prospect who might be in A ball.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 4:26 PM CST up reply actions
Uniform numbers assigned.
Bako takes over Blanco’s #24.
Heilman will wear #47.
I’ll adjust the roster list I posted a couple of days ago.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
which means 44 is still available for the major league team!!
For when Christopher Columbus signs..
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
Pierce Brosnan
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 4:43 PM CST up reply actions
Ben Franklin
and my bloody reply button is still not working!
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
eh, it was a running joke from above....
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
Now I can order my Bako jersey
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
24 just doesnt look right on a catcher
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
It looked fine on Blanco.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
nah, 24 should be reserved for outfielders
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Oh.
You mean like Michael Tucker, Roosevelt Brown, David Kelton and Tom Goodwin?
Those are the last four outfielders to wear #24.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
All unforgettable Cub legends.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jan 30, 2009 8:15 PM CST up reply actions
hey!
Don’t talk shit about David Kelton!
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
I mean in general, its more of an OF look
see Mays, Henderson, Sizemore etc.
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Going through these posts, I see I'm going to be in the minority...
but, I don’t feel that signing Paul Bako is the worst move yet. Look, I had my problems with him during his previous stint as a Cub. I was bitterly disappointed when he stayed and Damien Miller was let go. But hindsight and occasionally catching up on what he was doing after his time with the Cubs has shown me he isn’t the worst choice for a back-up catcher. He gets walked more times than not when the pitcher is a weak hitter. Regardless of what we may think, he’s still managed to keep himself in the Major Leagues for several years, handled a variety of pitchers and worked for a variety of managers. He might even have an insight or two to offer Soto.
Do I wish Henry Blanco was coming back? Yes! But’s he not. I’ve grown to have a grudging respect for Paul Bako for his …scrappiness. There, I said it.
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain
by brook on Jan 30, 2009 6:59 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Aaaaaaaahhh!
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jan 30, 2009 11:05 PM CST up reply actions
didnt bako make the last out of the 2003 playoffs?
"I played with one of the best pitchers in history, Greg Maddux," Zambrano said"
well if we are going off that
DeRosa made the last out two years ago..
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
And I believe it was Soriano this past year, right?
We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.
I know people have really been hating on the offseason moves this year
And I really have been trying to defend them. DeRosa, was selling high considering his age and entering the final year on his contract, after a career year. Kerry Wood, as much as we all love him is an injury risk and it is Marmol’s time, etc. etc. And I don’t even really care about this Bako move. But can we REALLY say that the Cubs are better off (on paper) now, than last year? I don’t think so at all. If we would have got Peavy, the answer to that question would have undeniably been yes. But that will obviously not happen and I hope that in offseason’s to come we can all stray away from the ramped rumors such as Peavy and Roberts. At this point, I don’t care. Hendry can make all the moves he wants, I’ll start pay attention in spring training, when actual baseball gets played.
Sure we can say that.
We have, oh I don’t know, Rich Harden and Milton Bradley in addition to the core of the team we had last year going into camp. I think it’s silly to claim this team hasn’t improved on paper over where it was last season at this time.
Id say its a HUGE assumption that both of them can stay healthy
But as a cubs fan, I’d like to say that they will. So lets make that assumption, we have lost our closer and everyday starter at 2nd base (and other positions), and added downgrades at both positions in Aaron Miles and Kevin Gregg. (Yes, I know that Gregg will most likely not be the closer). Yes we added Bradley and will now have Harden for the whole year, but we have also downgraded as well, so if anything, I’d say we havent improved or declined. Since they were a 97 win team last year, that is obviously a good thing. But that team didn’t get it done in October, will this one?
I forgot to mention that we downgraded
offensively at catcher, by about .07 in BA at least(although a back up catcher will only receive limited at bats, obviously), but also the production of Jim Edmonds was substantial. I am not saying he was great, but what have we seen from any of his replacements that they will be able to duplicate that kind of production. Joey Gathright gives flexibility, but not even close to the run producer that Jimmy was. There is no reason as of now to think Kosoke isnt the Rich Hill of the offense, though I hope he isnt. And Reed Johnson is a hell of a player but come on. As for our starting rotation, I think it would be naive to assume Dempster will have a repeat of last year. We also need Harden and Z to stay healthy, Z to bounce back and Ted to have a full season of good work with someone replacing Marquis durability and consistency (“consistency of sucking”, some will certainly say). Sorry that I rambled here, I just really can’t imagine this team being better than last years and can no longer support these strange moves
If it couldn't be Blanco,
For whatever reason (maybe Towers was just messing with us), I’m glad it is Bako. Though that could just be the homer in me speaking. He did privide some pop last season. Though he’ll never replace Blanco’s tattoos.
Chalk Bako up for 8 HRs and we’ll all be happy.
by BucknerKongCardenal on Jan 30, 2009 10:56 PM CST reply actions
bako????
we should have kept hank.is it that important to have a lefty who plays once a week.im sure the employee is thrilled to have henry back.very bad move.
Bako made the last out
of the 2003 NLCS…he’s back to right an old wrong!
"Cub fans like to think of things in catastrophic terms." - Crane Kenney
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