CSF77
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He brought in his best MR. Well his best pitcher. His ERA was under 1.50. I would call that playing the odds.
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He brought in his best MR. Well his best pitcher. His ERA was under 1.50. I would call that playing the odds.
TC in Mississippi
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I'm not hanging my hat too much on wins and losses this year. The more they win the more experience the young team gets and that's good but they aren't winning a World Series this year so I'm not too concerned. What I look for when I watch a game is development, does Russel look better, how does Schwarber look, is Kris Bryant learning to adapt as pitchers adjust to him? Also are there players on the team that shouldn't be there. That led to my fairly irrational criticism of Clayton Richards last night. He doesn't matter but he's also a necessity right now. I let the heat of the game get to me when, as I said, nothing should really matter right now in year 4 of a 5 year rebuild. Now next year if they lose a game like last night I'll probably be pissed but I'm taking a different approach this year while they gel.
beckdawg
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Glad I'm not the only one talking about this. Feel like I've been alone in saying he's fine for about a month now.
brett05
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You may not get another shot at the brass ring. Especially with all the free agent pitching out there. Teams like the Dodgers and Nats can make what the rest of the NL does moot.
brett05
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And that is something someone does, but not an elite manager like Joe should do. He should match the strengths of his pen to the scouting report. Perhaps he had no one that could do that. It could also be a mistake by Joe.
TC in Mississippi
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Except I believe the Cubs will get another TOR pitcher themselves in the offseason. To me this is at best year one of a six plus year window and likely T-1 with 2016 being year one. So could they win this year with a couple of acquisitions and some breaks? Sure, but the likelihood is slim. No team has ever won a World Series with 3 rookies starting and if Schwarber hits like it looks like he's going to they may end up with 4. The odds just don't favor this as being their year. This isn't shutting down Strasburg in a pennant race here, and I'm not suggesting they don't make moves, if they're smart ones, but I am saying that the goal for this year was and is development. Of course making a Wild Card slot is development and winning that game is development and competing in a NLDS is most certainly development. I hope all those things happen, but first and foremost I want to see this team get better week by week month by month. I saw a lot of really positive signs last night in a loss. I'm going to focus on those signs not the loss when you're talking about an individual game. A losing streak is a different story but that wasn't the point here.
brett05
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The issue is the Cubs adding a TOR may not be in the same league as what the Dodgers and Nats do which would in effect close the window. But I understand you wanting to hold. Cub Fans have dealt with a lot of stuff with this organization and to finally see some fruit it would be a shame if they don't see the bountiful harvest, but you never know when something is going to strike the crops. This maybe the year that the bounty is there with the right fertilizer.
Ok, I think I want to be a farmer.
TC in Mississippi
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Washington is extremely cashed strapped and had to pull a minor miracle to sign Scherzer with a ton of deferred money. They likely won't sign Zimmerman and I'd say they probably lose Strasburg when he comes due the next year as well. There was some relationship souring there, maybe it's repaired or maybe it isn't. To me they're in a window in a window that closes in about 2 years Bryce Harper notwithstanding. The Dodgers are made of money and Andrew Friedman is a very good GM. They'll be around a while as well. I think they're likely to trade for Hamels as they know they'll lose Grienke in the offseason when he opts out of his deal. Even money says he signs with the Giants who you don't mention but also aren't going away anytime soon. I love what Atlanta has done and they're going to be a factor in short order maybe in 2016. I also will never count out the Cardinals because they just always seem to do the right things. Oh and not to forget Pittsburgh who proably has 2 years left in their window. Also some team will surprise, one or two always do.
So is there going to be competition for the Cubs in the next few years? Heck yeah there will be, that's what makes baseball fun. The thing is they're not going away either. Add a TOR to that staff next year and there aren't many pitching staffs better. The rookies won't be rookies anymore and while there always could be regression there are also more players coming. Oh and the made of money thing? The Cubs are going to join that club soon. Revenues are estimated to be up 30% this year and a little known fact is the debt limits imposed by the bankruptcy court could cease to be a factor early next year. The team is estimated to have doubled in value since the Ricketts family purchased the team and refinancing will happen making the debt service issues moot.
Listen I'm not saying "wait til next year" I'm sick of that as much as the next guy, I'm just saying the idea that 2015 is the end all be all is a little shortsighted. Could it all fall apart in short order? I guess but the foundation that's been built doesn't suggest that at all. I have been begging for an organization this well constructed since Dallas Green was run out of town and I'm going to trust in it for awhile.
So is there going to be competition for the Cubs in the next few years? Heck yeah there will be, that's what makes baseball fun. The thing is they're not going away either. Add a TOR to that staff next year and there aren't many pitching staffs better. The rookies won't be rookies anymore and while there always could be regression there are also more players coming. Oh and the made of money thing? The Cubs are going to join that club soon. Revenues are estimated to be up 30% this year and a little known fact is the debt limits imposed by the bankruptcy court could cease to be a factor early next year. The team is estimated to have doubled in value since the Ricketts family purchased the team and refinancing will happen making the debt service issues moot.
Listen I'm not saying "wait til next year" I'm sick of that as much as the next guy, I'm just saying the idea that 2015 is the end all be all is a little shortsighted. Could it all fall apart in short order? I guess but the foundation that's been built doesn't suggest that at all. I have been begging for an organization this well constructed since Dallas Green was run out of town and I'm going to trust in it for awhile.
brett05
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Just for the record I never said 2015 is the be all end all do it or else.
TL1961
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The Nats added Scherzer, Harper has been MVP, and they have same record as Cubs. They have been the pick for a while now, but they haven't proven anything.
CSF77
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Word is Price most likely hits the market. Unless the owner blocks it.
They are looking for more ready players and most likely will trade expiring this year.
Tough call what Price is worth in a rental. He would be the #1 pitcher on the market.
I've said I would do it IFF there is a long term commitment hand shake. I'm never a fan of rentals but this is a exception
Thinking that it would cost Edwards to start
They are looking for more ready players and most likely will trade expiring this year.
Tough call what Price is worth in a rental. He would be the #1 pitcher on the market.
I've said I would do it IFF there is a long term commitment hand shake. I'm never a fan of rentals but this is a exception
Thinking that it would cost Edwards to start
brett05
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I could see the Tigers getting Edwards, Baez, Vogelbach, and a project spec for a few rental months of Price.
beckdawg
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Gordon Wittenmyer @GDubCub
Cubs starters last 17 games have a 1.47 ERA in 110 innings. Hendricks tops in that stretch: 0.34 in 4gs/26ip. Arrieta next: 1.17, 4/30.2.
Cubs starters last 17 games have a 1.47 ERA in 110 innings. Hendricks tops in that stretch: 0.34 in 4gs/26ip. Arrieta next: 1.17, 4/30.2.
TC in Mississippi
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Plus likely McKinney and more. That's not going to happen because he isn't going to sign an extension. He's the biggest money FA out there this coming offseason and will probably start by asking for or above what Scherzer got. Unless the Cubs just want say "here's $210 million" I don't see it happening. First of all they wouldn't and if they did and I were Price I would be thinking "these guys are offering all this without competition? Maybe I could get $230 mil.". This coming market is going to be nuts.
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If Price is so high on the cubs which again he seems to be, why give up anything unless you literally view him as the last piece to a WS team? You could in theory just sign him next offseason for probably just money since as you're saying he may get traded which voids the QO.
Ultimately, the problem the cubs have is they need offense but they really don't have the places to play offense. The entire infield is full of future players for the cubs unless you're trading out Castro for Baez/Alcantara/whomever. RF should be Soler's. That leaves CF, LF, and C. Outside of Rizzo and Bryant, Cogs and Montero have been the cubs two best hitters. And as for Fowler in CF I've more than supported my argument on keeping him but even if you change him out who has enough impact to really change the offense? Carlos Gomez is arguably the most talented CF available and he's hitting .268/.329/.440 with 8 hr's and 7 SB. Fowler is hitting .235/.321/.368 with 8 HRs and 13 SB. So, clearly Gomez isn't a substantial upgrade here at least not enough to push the cubs over the hump offensively. Like it or not, the cubs are going to have to get more out of their young players and especially Castro if they are going to contend. Their pitching has been some of the best in the league.
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I don't think the Cubs include Baez in any deal this year. He wouldn't be back from injury to right after the deadline. Why sell low with a ceiling so high that has made progression before injury? Not for a rental. No way.
brett05
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It's not any rental, it's Price. Cubs got Russell for Shark. Price is way way way better than Shark, so the take will be higher IMO
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The Cubs need more from the entire up the middle crew. Russell, Castro, and Fowler. I don't care Fowler has been good for 4 games. We need him consistent. Lets hope it continues. Castro cant buy a hit and is missing balls he never misses. There has to be a mental block in there. Russell is young, but still not performing with the bat.
It also doesn't help that Rizzo and Bryant have been just average or a tick below the past month or so. Bryant is struggling right now. I have watched him in the minors and here and he is missing balls he never missed in the minors. He needs to look to go the other way more. Pitchers are living on that outside corner on him for a reason.
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Shark had another year of control and was dominant that year. Price is a FA. The Cubs aren't winning the world series. Why give up some of your higher ceiling talent for Price when he could be had in the off season? The Cubs starting pitching has been great. I don't think this is a move you make this year. Maybe another year but not this one.
beckdawg
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Honestly, think the biggest issue is just hitting with RISP. As a team they are hitting .229/.340/.352. The league as a whole is hitting .254/.332/.395. Obviously the OBP is nice with the cubs but you're not exactly driving many runs in via walks. They are 25 points off the average and 43 off slugging.
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