How sad is the Cubs team if you have to drop Rizzo to 5th in the line-up, and Castro to 7th or 8th because they are not hitting? Your two franchise players so-to-speak are one step away from possibly being sent back to the minors to work and adjust things.
And people actually think that it is a bad time to invest in some much needed free agents? WOW!
How about giving these guys something around them so their performances are not magnified ten times over because they are the supposed bright spots on a stink-hole of a team?
Hitters going into slumps is pretty common. But yes if you have more overall talent in the line up then one player going into a slump can be made up by the overall strength of the line up.
One way if tossing money at the problem. Any one with a shred of common sense should know that this is not going to happen.
The solution that ownership is looking for is in house but they are willing to invest into short term solutions as long as they can be turned over into more cost effective options.
To be perfectly honest and looking on what has been happening. Winning is not the goal right now. If it was then ownership would have given Theo more payroll to work with.
What has been done with payroll: Spent on short term players who were looking to increase their value in that deal.
Feldman: 1 year deal trying to establish himself as a starter again.
Villenueva: As above.
Baker: Coming off T.J. Needed to establish himself again or be paid rehab at least.
Schierholtz: Career 4th OF given a chance to start.
Dejesus: 2 plus option. Wife grew up here and was a Cub fan. Needed to bounce back after poor production in Oak.
Hairston: Surprised he took the short end of a platoon. Market must have been bad for him.
In general 1 or 2 of these players on the team is not a bad thing. But not the team core.
So in view of this the main goal is fielding a team that keeps the fan base coming in. (IE the goal is a W.S. every year is a bunch of crap to keep the cash cow flowing)
Ownership is using those generated profits to rebuild the stadium. And build a jumbo-tron that will basically be a digital ad space that they can sell time share to business.
So in view of this. I expect the Cubs to suck not this year but next year also.
Next year: They could open up RF. Doubt they bother. Most likely scenario: Soler plays out the year in AA. They trade out Schierholtz this year and back fill with Sweeney. Status que with Hairston. Little trade value.
CF: Can cash out with Dejesus or pull option. They have Borbon. Jackson sucks and has not forced anything. Szczur has been playing at a high level at AA I expect them to promote him to AAA soon. I can see hm in CF in 2014 late year.
LF: I see Sori playing out the term of his deal. Don't have to worry about it until 2015.
3B: Big question will be how long will they make Bryant sit in the minors.
SS: Status que.
2B: as above.
1B as above
C as above. Back up maybe sold.
SP: Feldman sold, Garza sold. I don't see them retaining here to be honest. They are playing the waiting game. I expect them to go into 2014 with Shark, Wood and Jackson as 1-3. 4/5 I can see Baker resigned to another 1 year deal. last spot probable another flip. Hughes maybe. I don't see a heavy investment.
To be perfectly honest I could stop following the Cubs for 1-2 years and be better off for it. The way the business is being run it is unwatchable.
