Bleed Cubbie Blue

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.

Grockcubs - January 30, 2009 reply

Exactly.

Couldn’t they have taught Blanco to hit lefty for a year?

Why the double standard Al?

Why would you want the Cubs to teach Blanco how to hit lefthanded and not Bako?

Let me rephrase that.

Couldn’t they have taught Blanco, Bako, Hill AND Johnson to hit lefthanded?

without practice

I think Blanco would still bat beter lefty than Bako

I doubt it

He cant even bat better than Bako when he hits right handed

Julio Zuleta's Voodoo - January 30, 2009 reply

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

Man backup Catcher is almost as sweet a gig as backup QB

they dont expect much at all from you

I read that Bako signed for $725K

http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1000/blog?id=3738908&post=3872312

another source claims $750K + $300K in incentives for at bats

is that HITS

or simply standing at the plate?

Yikes

If Soto is injured, that would be motivation to start someone else.

or when almost

anyone is pitching

100yearitch - January 30, 2009 reply

When Bako plays...

…and Zambrano pitches, Lou needs to try something different and hit Z 8th and maybe even 7th.

MPH73 - January 30, 2009 reply

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.

reedjohnson - January 30, 2009 reply

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.

Then why did you point out that he "swings the bat from the left side" in your post down below?

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.

ah it's good to see the old blue mike coming back

well put

kylejo - January 30, 2009 reply

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.

Ivy Walls - January 31, 2009 reply

Not as well as

Henry Blanco does.

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.

Bako is a medoicre backup catcher and Blanco was an exceptional backup catcher...

…both offensively and defensively.

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

While you might find the tone disagreable

Wreckard has a point

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?

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?

Wasn't Dale Long a left-handed catcher and 1st baseman for the Cubs?

I think I found a place for Micah!!!!!!!!

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.

ballstitch - January 30, 2009 reply

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?

You must be joking.

I’d rather have RANDY Hundley catching than Todd. And he’s 67 years old.

I said that with tongue in cheek

Whew.

I’d still rather have Randy than Todd.

Well

Randy Hundley > Paul Bako > Todd Hundley…that equation works for me too.

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.

Quality of trades and signings lately make me wonder....

if Hendry is losing his mind

You think he's lost his mind because ...

… he spent barely over the minimum salary for a backup catcher?

You get what you pay for....

is that backup or bullpen?

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.

bubbamike the one and only - January 31, 2009 reply

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.

memphiscub - January 30, 2009 reply

Smokey Burgess

or Ed Bailey would make me happy.

Amen brother

Will Bako be the first Cub to wear 00?

because that’s what I think he will contribute

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.

dr stabbingworth - January 30, 2009 reply

Hopefully it's the number of games he plays in

You and he will have that in common then

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.

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.

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.

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)

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

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

Plus the "got lucky" reference

So, when the data doesn’t support his claim, it’s an outlier?

check their innings pitched

You're going to make me do the work???

j/k

yes

9 & 7 are a lot for the innings pitched…they are both relievers

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/psplit.cgi?n1=hendrma01&year=2008

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.

That is still a lot of homers in 101 innings as a starter.

thank you

Yes, it is.

He’s on pace with Lilly.

16 HR in 101
32 HR in 205

I hate perfectionists :)

Oh man...

…I either conveniently forgot or never realized that Lilly gave up that many dingers. Eh, I still love the guy.

Of course you do

Otherwise he’ll kick your ass!

well said

we’re just so desperate for some good news around here

tony412 - January 30, 2009 reply

He's from Louisiana.....

Gonna be a lot of Gumbo in that clubhouse….

so are theriot and fontenot

Yeah, that was my point.

and gaudin

elgato - January 30, 2009 reply

So shouldn't he be...

Bakot

Bakeaux

lostinthevines - February 1, 2009 reply

Theriot, Fontenot, Gaudin, Bako....all Louisianians

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.

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.

Samardzia will not be sent down

No, but Samardzija will.

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.

He'll be lights out in ST

so my guess is Lou won’t have a choice but to keep him up

Lou always has a choice, he the one who chooses.

Yes, he is the decider.

I thought the Boss was the decider!

Linky

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.”

And he plays the HOT hand

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.

$4M for a mediocre middle reliever?

Good luck finding a taker.

Yep

http://www.jeff-samardzija.com/news.asp

I'm hoping so too.

Did you read this?

I can't imagine

that Gaudin is actually in the running. If Shark starts, Marshall stays in the pen. If Marshall starts, Shark…. ???

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!

+1

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.

If he is lights out in ST...

… as suggested above, maybe he makes the rotation.

that's the plan

Mr. Samardzija, is that you?

damn you're good

TWSS

Fastball down the middle.

strike three!!!!!!!!!!!!

it's not Shark.

It’s his mother.

Shark's mom

died when he was in high school.

tragic

very sorry to learn that

thanks SP

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.

what a lousy team

Somebody needs a hug.

CubFanRaysaddict - January 30, 2009 reply

like the Bako pitcher from the series

vs. the Devil Rays where Sosa’s corked bat exploded

I looked this up after I posted the photo.

Baldelli was safe on that play.

Looks like he doesn't want to block the plate, does he?

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.

How 'bout this one instead....seems fitting

Left-handed and all…..

Better.

He probably popped up on that swing, though.

which would make it even more fitting...lol

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.

And we can always pinch hit Z for him

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

CubFanRaysaddict - January 30, 2009 reply

wow i said pitcher not picture...

It's "Tangent Friday"....we ran with it.

CubFanRaysaddict - January 30, 2009 reply

haha

appreciate it

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

parrotinct - January 30, 2009 reply

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.

willie mays hayes' gloves - January 30, 2009 reply

Again with the Snagglepuss catch phrase

Way to keep it alive.

JohnM - January 30, 2009 reply

Exit...Stage right!

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

No thanks.

Personal catchers is a bad idea.

Kansas25 - January 30, 2009 reply

Greg Maddux begs to differ

Mr. Maddux would like to have a word with you.

Excellent

Let’s start the rumor Hendry signed Bako to lure Greg back.

I think it's a damn good idea

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.

I don't think anyone's giving him "credit"

Merely pointing out that Maddux had a preference.

Wasn't Bako preferred

by Mark Prior too?

Well, they had a lot in common.

They both rarely saw game action. :)

Goodie1969 - January 30, 2009 reply

lol

Prior was a better hitter....

The Guy Who Accidentally Saved the World - January 30, 2009 reply

Eddie Perez

He was Greg’s personal catcher in the late 1990’s with the Braves.

memphiscub - January 30, 2009 reply

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.

Doggie Stalker - January 30, 2009 reply

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.

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?

Kansas25 - January 31, 2009 reply

Okab?

Kansas25 - January 30, 2009 reply

Kabo?

No No

Taebo!

Because his batting average is blank?

Blech!

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).

elgato - January 30, 2009 reply

Bah

FREE HENRY BLANCO!

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?

This is Dusty's way of getting back at us for booing him out of Chicago

dr stabbingworth - January 30, 2009 reply

Might as well save $500k and go with Hill

and hope Wellington Castillo can make the jump.

Castillo needs to play regularly

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.

Soto is an obstacle to it

What good what it do Castillo to sit 5 times/week?

I'm thinking more about Sept and the playoffs.

Only earlier in case of emergency.

Seems reasonable

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.

memphiscub - January 30, 2009 reply

And here I was hoping Micah Hoffpauir would be the backup C...

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!

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.

My goodness...I FORGOT the biggest name that gets crapped on ....Kevin Gregg

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

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.

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.

heh...

Kevin Gregg…will come in here and get the job done for a season.

Your baseball acumen includes clairvoyance?

Well, if the job is walking in runs in the 8th...

Well It won't be too much of a difference if Marmol sets up with Gregg closing

I’d like that MUCH better

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.

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.

Too many sacred cows on that list

I’d rather have a steak dinner than a sacred cow.

Goody

Heilman, Gathright, and Bako will be our whipping boys..

Somewhere, The Riot breathes a sigh of relief.

I haven't forgotton about Theriot...he's not off the hook at all.

Weak

Name that Cub, when you have his name in the title……

Weaker....

….posting a reply in the wrong fanpost.

Ummm.

Joke, see picture above of unidentifiable Cub in catching gear…

thanks

nice someone got my joke

Yeah, sometimes you have to spell it out for me...

sorry, man.

its all good....

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.

how can I forget that one?

thanks for reminding me and ruining my night of sleep tonight.

No problem...

I still haven’t gotten over that last game. And haven’t slept good since…

So Bako is why the Cubs blew the pennant??

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.”

Ok, that's more reasonable

How have you been?

Since the playoffs ended so quickly and my attitude was so poor I took a hiatus from the site.

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?

Glad to hear you made the transition

…rough times out there. Nailing down a new job myself. Lot of transitions going on… oy.

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?

*the job situation is what's going to get worse

Not my own! Or yours, I hope.

You remember correctly

these are not the times to be self-employed. Time to go back to the warm institutional embrace ;-)

Glad to hear you found something

Not the easiest time to do so.

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…

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.

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.

Wow...

my browser is freaking out. Posts are posting weird. Sorry all.

phones are still a good way to communicate

Then go use one

and call someone who gives a $hit.

have another beer

Wish I could...

Just messin with ya… relax.

this buds for you

The thoughts of Bako make me puke

but I feel better now

How

do you not see that Bako is better than Blanco

Shhh, do you want him to think he puked for nothing?

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?

So why not

keep Blanco who knows the pitchers…… and to hell with the lefty vs. righty

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

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).

Ah ha!!!

Suddenly, Lou isn’t so foolish. Seriously, that’s a good point. Although I suppose it begs the question – who will the Cubs better right-handed PH be?

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

reply button is your friend

how many times do i have to tell you

cubswynn - January 30, 2009 reply

you're a friend indeed. thanks you

I'm batting about .750. I'm getting better

he's

a slow learner, and not a particularly good listener.

calling me retarded in a nice way, huh?

Not retarded, just really stooopid

you have a problem my friend

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.

cubswynn - January 30, 2009 reply

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

buy

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

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

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.

bluedave - January 30, 2009 reply

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.

Like Koyie calling a pitch,

everyone saw it coming.

but it doesn't hurt till it hits you between the eyes

Your friend:

the little blue pill?

Damn, I almost busted up laughing at work

Good job, Carl

my reply button seems not to be working

Neither is mine

mine

is

stuck

i know its very confusing

not working now either!

damnit!

working now

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 ;-)

cute

osla gnikrow ton si nottub ylper ym

my reply button is not working also

tried it and damnit it still isn't working

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.

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.

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.

which means 44 is still available for the major league team!!

For when Christopher Columbus signs..

Pierce Brosnan

Ben Franklin

and my bloody reply button is still not working!

Seems to work just fine.

eh, it was a running joke from above....

Now I can order my Bako jersey

24 just doesnt look right on a catcher

It looked fine on Blanco.

nah, 24 should be reserved for outfielders

Oh.

You mean like Michael Tucker, Roosevelt Brown, David Kelton and Tom Goodwin?

Those are the last four outfielders to wear #24.

willie mays hayes' gloves - January 30, 2009 reply

All unforgettable Cub legends.

hey!

Don’t talk shit about David Kelton!

Why?

He wasn’t very good.

Al Yellon - January 31, 2009 reply

I mean in general, its more of an OF look

see Mays, Henderson, Sizemore etc.

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.

brook - January 30, 2009 reply

Aaaaaaaahhh!

didnt bako make the last out of the 2003 playoffs?

fischisgod - January 30, 2009 reply

Yes.

well if we are going off that

DeRosa made the last out two years ago..