Official Offseason Thread - CUBS edition

Rice Cube · Nov 9, 2011

dabynsky said:
Why do teams with less talent win any series against teams with more talent because it happens all the time in baseball?

Magic. Duh.

:lol:

nwfisch · Nov 9, 2011

dabynsky said:
Why do teams with less talent win any series against teams with more talent because it happens all the time in baseball?

Because there are intangible effects on a team.

dabynsky · Nov 9, 2011

nwfisch said:
Because there are intangible effects on a team.

So the Astros winning a series against the Phillies was because of intangibles?

Rice Cube · Nov 9, 2011

nwfisch said:
Because there are intangible effects on a team.

By that he means that the ball might bounce weird.

nwfisch · Nov 9, 2011

dabynsky said:
So the Astros winning a series against the Phillies was because of intangibles?

:yep:

What would you attribute it to?

The Astros pitchers being better than the Phillies pitchers?

dabynsky · Nov 9, 2011

nwfisch said:
:yep:

What would you attribute it to?

The Astros pitchers being better than the Phillies pitchers?

I guess I don't know what you mean by intangibles then. If it means anything that can't be directly measured I suppose I can agree with that, but I think the explanation is pretty clear. A guy that is a .333 hitter isn't going to get a hit every third time to the plate. Sometimes he is going to hit 5 out of 10 balls and sometimes he is going to go 0 for 10. Some of that is his ability level as a hitter, some of it the pitcher his facing, and some of it is luck where the ball lands. What is so difficult about that concept fisch?

Rice Cube · Nov 9, 2011

nwfisch said:
:yep:

What would you attribute it to?

The Astros pitchers being better than the Phillies pitchers?

Even idiot broadcasters like Bob Brenly realize that sometimes the ball bounces your way, and sometimes it doesn't. That's baseball.

nwfisch · Nov 9, 2011

dabynsky said:
I guess I don't know what you mean by intangibles then. If it means anything that can't be directly measured I suppose I can agree with that,

Thank you.

dabynsky · Nov 9, 2011

nwfisch said:
Thank you.

Okay where does guys attitudes or their quality of teammate affect what I just said?

And by the way, I love how you cherry pick that statement, and have yet to respond to any of the other arguments put forward by either myself or rice.

nwfisch · Nov 10, 2011

What do you want to discuss Dabs?

I disagree with the notion of Bob Brenly being an idiot.

I think the new GM's will do the right things to
a) Compete for a long time
b) Build the best team possible.

Captain Obvious · Nov 10, 2011

nwfisch said:
What do you want to discuss Dabs?

I disagree with the notion of Bob Brenly being an idiot.

I think the new GM's will do the right things to
a) Compete for a long time
b) Build the best team possible.

I disagree with you that Bob Brenly isn't an idiot. That man is dumb.

nwfisch · Nov 10, 2011

Captain Obvious said:
I disagree with you that Bob Brenly isn't an idiot. That man is dumb.

He has a lot more baseball success than anyone on this board. I'll value his baseball opinion moreso than others on this board.

It doesn't mean Brenly is always right.

Captain Obvious · Nov 10, 2011

nwfisch said:
He has a lot more baseball success than anyone on this board. I'll value his baseball opinion moreso than others on this board.

It doesn't mean Brenly is always right.

Joe Morgan has had more success than anyone on this board too. Baseball success doesn't = baseball knowledge. Anyone could win when you had Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling on the same team.

Rice Cube · Nov 10, 2011

Joe Morgan has sac bunted something like 50 times in his career. I think even though he always talked about playing the game the right way, at some point he probably was telling the manager to go **** himself even as he laid it down :lol:

Random thought du jour.

nwfisch · Nov 10, 2011

MLB notes: Sveum and Fielder on Cubs' radar? | Baseball | Sports | Toronto Sun

:fap: :fap: :fap:

waldo7239117 · Nov 10, 2011

More Rumors that could Gain Steam in a few more weeks

The Cubs have yet to name their manager, but that could come to an end in the upcoming weeks. The Cubs just finished interviewing Dale Sveum on Monday and Mike Maddux on Wednesday. The next interview will be Indians’ bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. and that will come in the next few days. It seems that Mike Maddux will become the next Cubs manager. That’s the feeling around the majors right now.

Here’s the latest on rumors that the Cubs could be linked to in the upcoming weeks leading up to the GM meetings and the Winter Meetings:

*Bruce Levine states the Cubs main focus this Winter will be pitching and could zero on Rangers’ CJ Wilson and White Sox Mark Buerhle. Both of whom are free agents for those teams. This is pretty interesting because the Cubs were said not to be interested in Wilson. I believe one to say that was Levine. When the off-season began to start, it was believed that Wilson will earn a 100 million contract. However, that might not be the case anymore as no teams want to throw that much money at a pitcher who hasn’t been a starter for too long. I don’t think the Cubs will sign Buerhle as he’s more of an aging pitcher and Epstein wants younger players. The Cubs have been linked to Buerhle once. So, if the Cubs do pursue/sign Buerhle it wouldn’t come as much as a surprise.

*One of the top players to come over to the MLB is Cuba’ CF Yoenis Cepedes. The Cubs have not been linked to Cepedes too much. I only saw one report and Phil Rogers mentioned it yesterday. I think it’s more of speculation on his part and thinks the Cubs should pursue him. I expect the Cubs to pursue players from overseas, but in the pitching format. For instance, Yu Darvish. Also, the Cubs did not have one scout at his workout a few days ago. That’s a good indication the Cubs won’t pursue him. Bruce Levine does not know if the Cubs will pursue Cepedes or not.

*Levine says the Cubs should trade catcher Geovany Soto only if they get a heck of a pitcher in return. So…we can put this to rest and Soto will be a Cub next year. I doubt the Cubs will get a good pitcher in return. I would be surprise if the Cubs did and the team would have to be desperate for catching.

*More teams will have interest in Zambrano later this Winter, according the Bruce Levine. I’m not surprise because Zambrano does have potential to be an excellent pitcher. He’s not too old and if a team can keep his head in check, they will be happy with his performance. We heard of the Royals interest a few days ago.

*Levine thinks the Cubs should not pursue Mets’ 3B David Wright if he’s made available this Winter. According to reports, Wright will be made available this Winter if he’s not already. I disagree…if Wright is available and the price is right, I say go for it.

*Bruce Levine says Prince Fielder’s agent Scott Boras will market him to the Cubs, but Tim Dierkes (owner of MLBTR) doesn’t see Prince Fielder as the big first move by President Theo Epstein. Dierkes says he doesn’t see a Fielder/Cubs signing because how far their away from competing. I think if the Cubs did sign Fielder and revamp their pitching, they’ll be closer than most people think and a sleeper for the 2012 season. There have been sleepers that no one thought would contend over the years. Most notable, the Tampa Bay Rays.

*In Tim Dierkes weekly chat on MLBTR, he thinks the Cubs will get creative at 3B. He mentions Padres’ 3B Chase Headley as a possibility. Headley is said to be available this Winter. A report out of San Diego, has the Cubs acquiring Headley this off-season. So…Headley to the Cubs could become a real possibility. He plays great defense, but the offense is average and does not have much home run power. We would see a difference in production if the Cubs did have Headley at 3B next year over Aramis Ramirez. Dierkes says the Cubs will have to trade pitchers in the line of Trey McNutt or Chris Carpetner. Headley is still young and is still on contract for 3 more years.

*Dierkes mentions most teams view Darwin Barney as a utility player and not a starter. So…don’t look for the Cubs trading Darwin Barney for Braves’ pitcher Jair Jurrjens. Well that’s kind of obvious and no surprise whatssover. I also view Barney as a back-up/utility player over a starter.

Other notes:

*I don’t get this one, but ESPN’s Jim Bowden thinks Carl Crawford will be traded to the Cubs on or by the July 31st trade deadline. Yes, the trade deadline that’s a not even close. Another reason I don’t get it because the Cubs could make a move this off-season and there will be no need on the 31st for Crawford. Also, I don’t see Epstein bringing over his own mistake from the Boston Red Sox. Crawford had a fantastic season a year before his new contract and struggled big time in his first year with the Red Sox. Crawford signed a 7 year, 142 million contract before the 2011 season. I just can’t see Epstein bringing Crawford to the North side. Definitely if he Cubs still have Alfonso Soriano on their team and playing LF.

*It seems the Cubs next manager will be former Rangers and Brewers pitching coach Mike Maddux. That’s the feeling around the majors.

*Also, the feeling is Greg Madduz, brother of Mike Maddux and former Cub, will be the Cubs next pitching coach. That would be awesome, but we don’t know exactly right now. Mike Maddux will have to be the next manager for Greg to become the pitching coach.

Side Note: The Chicago White Sox sign ex Cub Donnie Veal to a minor league contract today.

That’s the latest…

Thanks to Bleacher Nation for this post.