Let's start projecting what the Cubs will look like in a few years!

[2323]

Honestly, the Cubs could be a power house in a couple years....if the prospects pan out.

That a huge if, coupled with a rather mediocre pitching staff and even if those same prospects pan out, they are still at stage one. Theo is taking an awful risk thinking teams will be lining up for prospects the way he chose to build this team. He is either one step ahead or he is out to lunch in that regard. Granted, the Cubs will surely have the number one farm system in baseball next year if they dont already. The addition of Russell puts them with three top ten prospects in all of baseball right now.

They are the Edmonton Oilers of MLB. You are projecting greatness without showing even one shred of proof it can actually happen at the highest level yet.

I agree with practically all the sentiment criticizing the Cubs but if you're going to get one or the other first, it's better to get offense. If teams have good offense, they still usually lose and get a crack at a high end arm. But if you already have high end arms but very little offense, you typically win a decent amount games. And if you get the right high end pitcher, it's more common for them to contribute at the big club right away.

 

[KBIB]

I agree with practically all the sentiment criticizing the Cubs but if you're going to get one or the other first, it's better to get offense. If teams have good offense, they still usually lose and get a crack at a high end arm. But if you already have high end arms but very little offense, you typically win a decent amount games. And if you get the right high end pitcher, it's more common for them to contribute at the big club right away.

Tell that to the St. Louis Cardinals.

 

[Captain Obvious]

The payroll is at $88M and its 23rd in all of baseball. That's "fine."

Yep.

Fanboys will be fanboys.



I'll believe it when I see it.

You're not considering the money we offered Tanaka that is being rolled over. Sure, you'll believe that when you see it, but how could they offer it to him if it isn't available?

Also, would you rather they spend $110 Mil to get to last place or $88?

 

[nwfisch]

You're not considering the money we offered Tanaka that is being rolled over. Sure, you'll believe that when you see it, but how could they offer it to him if it isn't available?

Also, would you rather they spend $110 Mil to get to last place or $88?

 

[JosMin]

I'll play along. If everything pans out, here's what I feel like 2017 will look like:

C: Wellington Castillo
1B: Anthony Rizzo
2B: Arismendy Alcantara
3B: Javier Baez
SS: Addison Russell
LF: Jorge Soler
CF: Albert Almora
RF: Kris Bryant

When some of the heftier prospects start to trickle in next year (Bryant and Baez, for example), I feel like the Cubs will open up to trading the likes of Castro (and feel they eventually will) and some of their other "depth" prospects (Vogelbach, Watkins, Villaneuva, maybe even Schwarber and McKinney) for top tier pitching. Lake and Olt aren't worth much, unless a team is looking for cheap reclamation projects that they can have for excess pitching (a team like Tampa comes to mind, with what they did with Wade Davis and James Shields).

It appears that the Cubs are going with a plan to add a glut of position players and let some of their mid-tier pitching guys find their way to back-end spots and trade for ace-caliber guys later once they're closer to contention. I'm fine with this plan, mainly because the likelihood of them developing an ace out of their current crop seems unlikely.

 

[CSF77]

I'll play along. If everything pans out, here's what I feel like 2017 will look like:

C: Wellington Castillo
1B: Anthony Rizzo
2B: Arismendy Alcantara
3B: Javier Baez
SS: Addison Russell
LF: Jorge Soler
CF: Albert Almora
RF: Kris Bryant

When some of the heftier prospects start to trickle in next year (Bryant and Baez, for example), I feel like the Cubs will open up to trading the likes of Castro (and feel they eventually will) and some of their other "depth" prospects (Vogelbach, Watkins, Villaneuva, maybe even Schwarber and McKinney) for top tier pitching. Lake and Olt aren't worth much, unless a team is looking for cheap reclamation projects that they can have for excess pitching (a team like Tampa comes to mind, with what they did with Wade Davis and James Shields).

It appears that the Cubs are going with a plan to add a glut of position players and let some of their mid-tier pitching guys find their way to back-end spots and trade for ace-caliber guys later once they're closer to contention. I'm fine with this plan, mainly because the likelihood of them developing an ace out of their current crop seems unlikely.

Little RH heavy.

I would go with:

2017:
CF: Alcantara
SS: Russell or Castro (1 will be traded)
1B: Rizzo
3B: Bryant (seriously doubt they move him)
2B: Baez
C: Schwarber
RF: Soler
LF: McKinnley

I believe they slow down Schwarber in AA/AAA to develop his catcher skills. His bat should plane out soon with the talent.

McKinney has almost a 1:1 BB:SO ratio going. He is some one to keep in the mix.

Almora they should hold on until the players above him settle. If the talent above performs at high levels then sorry to say he becomes expendable.

 

[Boobaby1]

I'll play along. If everything pans out, here's what I feel like 2017 will look like:

C: Wellington Castillo
1B: Anthony Rizzo
2B: Arismendy Alcantara
3B: Javier Baez
SS: Addison Russell
LF: Jorge Soler
CF: Albert Almora
RF: Kris Bryant

When some of the heftier prospects start to trickle in next year (Bryant and Baez, for example), I feel like the Cubs will open up to trading the likes of Castro (and feel they eventually will) and some of their other "depth" prospects (Vogelbach, Watkins, Villaneuva, maybe even Schwarber and McKinney) for top tier pitching. Lake and Olt aren't worth much, unless a team is looking for cheap reclamation projects that they can have for excess pitching (a team like Tampa comes to mind, with what they did with Wade Davis and James Shields).

It appears that the Cubs are going with a plan to add a glut of position players and let some of their mid-tier pitching guys find their way to back-end spots and trade for ace-caliber guys later once they're closer to contention. I'm fine with this plan, mainly because the likelihood of them developing an ace out of their current crop seems unlikely.

And this is why the line-up won't be like this. The Cubs will have to trade to get pitching, and furthermore, some around here have every prospect hitting the line-up for the Cubs. That is next to, if not impossible.

How about splashing some free agents in there since the line-up suggested would be in the 11 million dollar per year range, with Rizzo and Castillo taking 80% of that figure?

 

[dabynsky]

Tell that to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Yep exactly like St. Louis, who led the league in scoring runs in 2013 when they made it to the World Series and 2011 when they won the World Series.

 

[Mongo_76]

Wow.

WTF are you wanting that they aren't doing?

Most notably I want them to stop tanking seasons and purposefully losing. isn't that the point of sports: To try and compete to win.

Instant gratification? The usual "go for it now, one year window" type of team?

If you're going to try and convince anyone with a brain that the ONLY way to "maybe" one day put together a winner and have some prospects succeed at the pro level is to throw away 4 seasons, then you just may be the biggest blister-lipper out there.

n one year, we will have an IF consisting of 4 of these 6: Bryant, Baez, Castro, Russell, Alcantara and Rizzo.

Which guarantees nothing.

One of these may be in the OF. Two may be in the OF. One may be traded.

We will still have a deep farm system, and will be positioned for LONG TERM success.

Really? Why. Because Theo mind-fucked you into believing that?

.

I have not heard one single analyst/expert outside the organization criticize the Cubs' approach. Every one of them has praised what Theo and Jed are doing. Every one of them says the Cubs are going to be good and for a long time.

Not one said the Cubs will definitely be good. They all say the Cubs now have some prospects that might pan out. And if they do, that could lead to a good team. All of them also note that the Cubs have sucked ass for 4 years+ and have thrown away this season as well.

The fact that it had been 103 years when Theo took over doesn't mean he should have done it the wrong way. That's what Cub GM's have been doing since Dallas Green left. Green was the last guy we had who really "got it", and naturally he was criticized too.

The "right way" is a matter of opinion. Most real fans are pissed that in a league/ sport where winning is what matters, the Cubs have said "we want to lose".

 

[SilenceS]

Most notably I want them to stop tanking seasons and purposefully losing. isn't that the point of sports: To try and compete to win.




If you're going to try and convince anyone with a brain that the ONLY way to "maybe" one day put together a winner and have some prospects succeed at the pro level is to throw away 4 seasons, then you just may be the biggest blister-lipper out there.




Which guarantees nothing.

Really? Why. Because Theo midn-fucked you into believing that?

.



Not one said the Cubs will definitely be good. They all say the Cubs now have some prospects that might pan out. And if they do, that could lead to a good team. All of them also note that the Cubs have sucked ass for 4 years+ and have thrown away this season as well.




The "right way" is a matter of opinion. Most real fans are pissed that in a league/ sport where winning is what matters, the Cubs have said "we want to lose".

Well, Jason McLeod believes it. He turned down possibly being a GM to resign with the Cubs because he wants to see it when it happens. I would re read about of evaluators and even some ML executives that keep saying the Cubs are going to be real good in a couple of years. Oh and throw in David Price name as well.

No success is guaranteed. But, do not trash the farm. It is extremely deep and even if a bunch fail. They still have the depth to have enough succeed. People are saying the Cubs have the best group of hitters maybe in major league history. Well, at least since the 70's when they started keeping track of rankings and farms.

 

[Mongo_76]

No success is guaranteed.

Everything you wrote before this was made irrelevant to anyone who isn't a blister lipper - because of this.

People are saying the Cubs have the best group of hitters maybe in major league history.

Please provide me even a single quote from a qualified mlb analyst on this.


And even if they do have the most prospects with high potential, it does not excuse the team losing games on purpose. Sorry, that's not what sports are about. You always try to win. Now, next year, the year after.

 

[diavolos]

And even if they do have the most prospects with high potential, it does not excuse the team losing games on purpose. Sorry, that's not what sports are about. You always try to win. Now, next year, the year after.

i'm just bolding this because too many fanboys on this forum seem to have forgotten.

i guess it's ok, because the sheeple will come back with a vengeance once they improve. make no mistake, i'm sure they'll get better. they actually can't get worse. 2012, 2013 and the so far record is 2014 is the most horrendous stretch that this organization has ever gone through.

 

[diavolos]

No success is guaranteed. But, do not trash the farm. It is extremely deep and even if a bunch fail. They still have the depth to have enough succeed. People are saying the Cubs have the best group of hitters maybe in major league history. Well, at least since the 70's when they started keeping track of rankings and farms.

baseball american ranked the pirates farm the system the best in baseball from 2000-2010. what exactly did that get the pirates?

 

[Mongo_76]

baseball american ranked the pirates farm the system the best in baseball from 2000-2010. what exactly did that get the pirates?

105 Losses in 2010. A record blister lippers are hoping the Cubs put up this season.

 

[SilenceS]

baseball american ranked the pirates farm the system the best in baseball from 2000-2010. what exactly did that get the pirates?

A team who traded away a fuck ton of them. lol

 

[chibears55]

Yawn.. must be that time of month again for the haters to come out and spout off the same old garbage. ..
Ricketts cheap. Epstein sucks Cubs bad
Thanks for your monthly input , see you next month.

 

[SilenceS]

Everything you wrote before this was made irrelevant to anyone who isn't a blister lipper - because of this.





Please provide me even a single quote from a qualified mlb analyst on this.


And even if they do have the most prospects with high potential, it does not excuse the team losing games on purpose. Sorry, that's not what sports are about. You always try to win. Now, next year, the year after.

I agree the Cubs should have done some more things. I blame that on Ricketts more then anything. But, you are going overboard and trashing a farm that should get ya dick hard if ya a true baseball fan.

 

[SilenceS]

i'm just bolding this because too many fanboys on this forum seem to have forgotten.

i guess it's ok, because the sheeple will come back with a vengeance once they improve. make no mistake, i'm sure they'll get better. they actually can't get worse. 2012, 2013 and the so far record is 2014 is the most horrendous stretch that this organization has ever gone through.

I bet you jump on the bandwagon as well when they get good. Its what fans like you do. Your not a fan. You are a douche.

 

[diavolos]

Yawn.. must be that time of month again for the haters to come out and spout off the same old garbage. ..
Ricketts cheap. Epstein sucks Cubs bad
Thanks for your monthly input , see you next month.

rather be a skeptic than a fanboy.

have fun spending your money on the cubs. but i'm sure they're setup for "sustained success".

 

[Mongo_76]

I agree the Cubs should have done some more things. I blame that on Ricketts more then anything.

Fine... We agree.

But, you are going overboard and trashing a farm that should get ya dick hard if ya a true baseball fan.

Show me how I trashed our farm except to say they're not guaranteed... Same thing you said.