Official Offseason Thread - CUBS edition

[dabynsky]

I'm confused by the people who say they don't want another team that just makes the playoffs. The thought being that unless it was a team virtually guaranteed winning the World Series, they don't want to make the playoffs. What Rice said earlier is so true. The Braves mad the playoffs 14 years in a row and won 1 World Series. I want my team to make the postseason every year because eventually you will get hot in the playoffs and win like so many other teams have had in the past.

 

[nwfisch]

I'm confused by the people who say they don't want another team that just makes the playoffs. The thought being that unless it was a team virtually guaranteed winning the World Series, they don't want to make the playoffs. What Rice said earlier is so true. The Braves mad the playoffs 14 years in a row and won 1 World Series. I want my team to make the postseason every year because eventually you will get hot in the playoffs and win like so many other teams have had in the past.

I don't want another team that just makes the playoffs, I want the Cubs to win the World Series, and the best chance at that is building the best team possible.

I really hope you do want a not only a playoff team, but a team that can contend for the World Series every year (Boston, New York, Philly)

 

[Rice Cube]

I don't want another team that just makes the playoffs, I want the Cubs to win the World Series, and the best chance at that is building the best team possible.

Right, the best team on paper should win the most regular season games and should make it to the playoffs. But the short series in the playoffs will make it so that even a crappy team can knock them out in the first round where you only need three wins.

 

[nwfisch]

Right, the best team on paper should win the most regular season games and should make it to the playoffs. But the short series in the playoffs will make it so that even a crappy team can knock them out in the first round where you only need three wins.

My thinking is if you have the best team in baseball for 6 years, you'll win at least 1 title.

 

[Rice Cube]

My thinking is if you have the best team in baseball for 6 years, you'll win at least 1 title.

The Yankees were pretty good from 2001 to 2007 and won no titles. Before that they were pretty good from 1996 to 2000 and won four titles. Of course, they also won in 2009.

You can have the best team ever assembled and there is still a chance that they will suddenly shut down at the wrong time and get swept by the Houston Astros. But the point is that you have to get to the playoffs for this to even become an argument. Build the best regular season team and you'll almost always make the playoffs.

 

[poodski]

Cubs Shopping Spree ( Will They Spend/Will They Not ?) Thread

Hell look at the A's during that time too. Best team alot of years and never won.

 

[poodski]

Cubs Shopping Spree ( Will They Spend/Will They Not ?) Thread

That was fun, and it was a good season.

The problem I have is that some posters seem to have not wanted the title.

Or are you just reading into it to much an seeing things that aren't really there?

People say things and other people read something else.

Like defending aramis means people think he is a hall of famer. Or people saying 2008 wasn't a total failure means they don't care about the world series

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

someone give me a summary of this thread...

dont feel like reading all of this...

reading is fundamental...but timely reading is wasteful if you get what im sayin

 

[2SeamHeat]

Or are you just reading into it to much an seeing things that aren't really there?

People say things and other people read something else.

Like defending aramis means people think he is a hall of famer. Or people saying 2008 wasn't a total failure means they don't care about the world series

I'll quickly state that 2008 pissed me off. No one but DLee and DeRosa showed up for that series. However, I refuse to say winning 97 games and making it to the playoffs was a total waste. It was very disappointing that we didn't do jack with the opportunity given us... and all that built that team up that year fell to total shit.

Sad thing is, if Piniella would have played things intelligently, we could have face the Mets in the first round rather than the Dodgers. LA got hot late and carried that into the playoffs. The Mets had a big league heading into August, and wound up not even getting the WC. Problem is, the Cubs had the Mets then the Brewers to finish off the season.

If Lou would have been paying attention and noticed the strategic goldmine he had... he would have put nothing but callups in the games against the Mets (brief starts by Demp and Lily at the end of that series)... and GIVE them as many win as possible in those 4 games. (Problem is, the one game that Lou actually did this in, the Cubs won). This would have rested the guys and gotten everyone a late-season breather and heal up some aches and pains. Then you stack everyone back up against Milwaukee for the final 3 games, while trying to make sure Dempster and Lilly were ready for game 1-2 of the NLDS. You fight to win those three games. This will get them tuned up for the playoffs... if you play those games like the playoffs were on the line.

Had the Mets swept us, then we swept the Brewers... we would have faced the Mets in the LDS.... and probably would have kicked the hell out of them. Then you build momentum to face either Philly or LA in the NLCS after they beat each other up.

 

[Mr. Cub]

All I know... There is all this Pujols and Fielder talk, while either would be good ( I almost prefer Prince over Pujols because of age) We need to address our pitching staff almost more than anything else. I am a pretty firm believer in pitching wins the trophies. A good offense can only do so much if you are giving up as many runs as you score. I hear the FA pitching market is bleak but we need to try and do something big pitching wise this off season. Our offense isn't really too bad.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

with the variability of the MLB right now i think its hard to say exactly who's going to win the WS..but i always think having a solid foundation pitching wise is important as well as maybe an ace

batting is very deviated correlation....really up and down..all about streaks because of the nature of the game...as more games are played we get a more accurate picture data wise(partly why MLB has a 162 game season..but of course there are other numerous reasons for that)

having good pitching will be alot less varied because the production is an independent rather than dependent variable(in other words, you're probably going to get the same stuff pitching wise from a pitcher every time...results may vary a bit but good pitching will give you,the majority of the time, positive results on the diamond)

 

[Jntg4]

What Do You Want In Free Agency?

I hear that Minka Kelly is a free agent now.

Really though, who do you want from free agency (not trades)?

 

[Mr. Cub]

Pitching!!!!

 

[nwfisch]

Dews made a sticky for this

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

CJ wilson or prince fielder

i think pitching should be a priority though

 

[Jntg4]

Dews made a sticky for this

 

[bleacherbum54]

We have like the worst pitching in baseball. You can compete if you can pitch look at the padres last year and the Giants.


But more importantly look at the Dbacks. As soon as there GM took over last season first things he did was trade for pitching and completely overhauled there pitching staff. I remember people called him crazy for trading some of the position players he did but look what he has done the Dbacks are in 1st after a shitty season last year. Pitching wins in MLB.

You can have a shitty lineup and still compete but we must improve our pitching it needs a complete 180.


But stay patient dont overpay mediocre players and have more bad contracts. Build and spend heavy in the draft in the next 5 years and dont rely on getting high paid players who don't produce or will only produce for the next few years.

 

[Uman85]

C.J. Wilson, Roy Halladay, CC Sabathia, Prince Fielder, David Wright, Ryan Braun, Yadier Molina.

 

[Jntg4]

C.J. Wilson, Roy Halladay, CC Sabathia, Prince Fielder, David Wright, Ryan Braun, Yadier Molina.

Free Agents Only

 

[nwfisch]

No Prince Fielder??