Theo and Cubs Reach an Agreement, But Do Not Expect Miracles

[nwfisch]

And that is the point nwfisch. Yes clearly the best strategy is to build the best possible team, but to do so doesn't mean you have to torch your chances in the meantime when you have the resources that the Cubs do have. The idea that the Cubs have no shoot at winning next season because they won't be able to make a roster as good as Philly and Boston by the start of next season ignores the obvouis fact that you don't have to be that good to win the World Series.

I think it's crazy for the Cubs become a World Series favorite for next season, but if Fielder and or Pujols leave the Central/come to the Cubs, that may be enough for the Cubs to sneak into the divisional race. Barring the Cubs improve their pitching.

I think what you're saying though, is that being a playoff team is good enough to be a World Series team .

 

[Mr. Cub]

And that is the point nwfisch. Yes clearly the best strategy is to build the best possible team, but to do so doesn't mean you have to torch your chances in the meantime when you have the resources that the Cubs do have. The idea that the Cubs have no shoot at winning next season because they won't be able to make a roster as good as Philly and Boston by the start of next season ignores the obvouis fact that you don't have to be that good to win the World Series.

Pretty much just get in to the playoffs, then get hot and win it. How many wild card teams have won it? The 03 Marlins... Giants last year I think. and others I can't think of right now.

 

[Anno Catuli]

It might turn out to be true. I just find it fun when people guarantee things like that without any real proof to back it up. And in all honesty we probably ought to be rooting for St. Louis to sign Pujols to a ridiculous deal because in four or five years that its going to be a pretty sorry 50 million they have to spend on a declining Holliday/Pujols.

I see what you are saying, but didn't really guarantee it, just made a bold statement and prediction

might have been better if I added the word likely to the mix

 

[dabynsky]

I think it's crazy for the Cubs become a World Series favorite for next season, but if Fielder and or Pujols leave the Central/come to the Cubs, that may be enough for the Cubs to sneak into the divisional race. Barring the Cubs improve their pitching.

I think what you're saying though, is that being a playoff team is good enough to be a World Series team .

You got it. That is exactly the point and it isn't impossible that the Cubs could sneak into the playoffs next year. And once you are in you have the same chance as any team there. We don't need to be writing off years, and I hope that the new leadership of this organization isn't planning on doing that.

That said making moves with an eye to the future is key for continued success which is the route that is most likely to result in not having to hear about 1908 anymore.

 

[dabynsky]

Pretty much just get in to the playoffs, then get hot and win it. How many wild card teams have won it? The 03 Marlins... Giants last year I think. and others I can't think of right now.

The Angels and Marlins did it back to back as wildcard teams. I am not sure beyond that off the top of my head, but quite a few wildcard teams have won.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Get some pitching before you even consider yourselves 'contenders' for anything.

 

[Anno Catuli]

Since the Wild Card was created, four Wild Card teams have won the World Series

97-Marlins
02-Angels
03-Marlins
04-Red Sox

Five Wild card teams made the World Series and lost
00-Mets
02-Giants
05-Astros
06-Tigers
07-Rockies

 

[Mr. Cub]

Both Marlins teams (97-03) , 02 Angels and 04 Red Sox won the Series as a wild card team.
Wikipedia!

 

[dabynsky]

Get some pitching before you even consider yourselves 'contenders' for anything.

Worry about your own team that hasn't made the playoffs in three years...

 

[Rice Cube]

I'd like to see the Cubs contend in 2012 but that would take a lot of lightning in a bunch of bottles, methinks. Not unpossible!

 

[dabynsky]

I'd like to see the Cubs contend in 2012 but that would take a lot of lightning in a bunch of bottles, methinks. Not unpossible!

There are a lot of things that would have to break right for the Cubs to win enough games to make the postseason. Some are more likely than others to happen, but the point is that at this point it is difficult to say one way or the other with how much change can and will most likely happen in this organization in the next several months. The only point I've been trying to get across is that it will take time for the roster to be turned over to the point where this is a team we can consistently expect to compete, but we don't have to get to the point to win the World Series. That should be our goal eventually, but this idea that we should sit on our hands and wait 3-5 years for something good to happen is crazy.

 

[Rice Cube]

I'm cool with the 3-5 year plan. Wouldn't complain if they got lucky in 2012 though.

 

[Mr. Cub]

A Cubs championship before the world ends? I'd take it!

 

[FirstTimer]

Since the Wild Card was created, four Wild Card teams have won the World Series

97-Marlins
02-Angels
03-Marlins
04-Red Sox

Five Wild card teams made the World Series and lost
00-Mets
02-Giants
05-Astros
06-Tigers
07-Rockies

Haven't looked into it but in most of those season I think the WC team had a better record than another division winner. I'll look into it.

 

[FirstTimer]

97-Marlins--Yep. Better than both the NLC and NLW winners(92)
02-Angels--Yep. Better than the ALC winner(99)
03-Marlins--Yep. Better than the NLC winner(91)
04-Red Sox--Yep. Better than the ALC and the ALW winners.(98)


00-Mets--Nope.(94)
02-Giants--Nope.(95)
05-Astros--Yep. Better than the NLW winner(89)
06-Tigers--Yep. Better than the ALW winner(95)
07-Rockies--Yep. Better than the NLC and NLE winner.(90)

I agree in one sense that just getting into the playoffs to give yourself a chance is important; but let's not confuse it with giving yourself a real shot. If you just kind of sneak in as the WC that's not really what the above teams did. The seasons where the WC has performed well in the playoffs and gotten to the WS it wasn't exactly a surprise because they did really well in the regular season anyways.

Look at how many 90 win teams there are in that group...(in parenthesis). 8 of the 9 teams. Not saying that The Cubs can't pull something out of their ass but does anyone really see this team jumping up to 90+ wins next season? I can't really name one of those teams that "snuck" into the playoffs.

 

[Rice Cube]

97-Marlins--Yep. Better than both the NLC and NLW winners
02-Angels--Yep. Better than the ALC winner
03-Marlins--Yep. Better than the NLC winner
04-Red Sox--Yep. Better than the ALC and the ALW winners.


00-Mets--Nope.
02-Giants--Nope
05-Astros--Yep. Better than the NLW winner
06-Tigers--Yep. Better than the ALW winner
07-Rockies--Yep. Better than the NLC and NLE winner.

I agree in one sense that just getting into the playoffs to give yourself a chance is important but let's not confuse it with giving yourself a real shot if you just kind of sneak in as the WC because in the seasons where the WC has performed well it wasn't exactly a surprise because they did really well in the regular season anyways.

The converse is when a really bad division winner wins the World Series. Wanna look that up? 2006 Cards come to mind.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

97-Marlins--Yep. Better than both the NLC and NLW winners
02-Angels--Yep. Better than the ALC winner
03-Marlins--Yep. Better than the NLC winner
04-Red Sox--Yep. Better than the ALC and the ALW winners.


00-Mets--Nope.
02-Giants--Nope
05-Astros--Yep. Better than the NLW winner
06-Tigers--Yep. Better than the ALW winner
07-Rockies--Yep. Better than the NLC and NLE winner.

I agree in one sense that just getting into the playoffs to give yourself a chance is important but let's not confuse it with giving yourself a real shot if you just kind of sneak in as the WC because in the seasons where the WC has performed well it wasn't exactly a surprise because they did really well in the regular season anyways.

i think the most interesting trend is no wild card team has won the world series or made the world series in 4 years..but i think that may change after this year

 

[FirstTimer]

The converse is when a really bad division winner wins the World Series. Wanna look that up? 2006 Cards come to mind.

That's pretty rare. Especially in the WC era. Let's not forget that the 2006 Cardinals too were still made up of the core players of the 2004, 2005 seasons that won 105 and 100 games. The Cardinals being that bad in the regular season was the surprising part. They got hot pitching in the playoffs and their hitters hit. Not really the same situation with what the Cubs would be facing.

 

[Rice Cube]

That's pretty rare. Especially in the WC era. Let's not forget that the 2006 Cardinals too were still made up of the core players of the 2004, 2005 seasons that won 100 and 105 games. The Cardinals being that bad in the regular season was the surprising part. They got hot pitching in the playoffs and their hitters hit. Not really the same situation with what the Cubs would be facing.

That's definitely true. There's only so far luck can take you, but at the same time, the chances are there. I'd much rather they dominate than sneak in though.

 

[FirstTimer]

That's definitely true. There's only so far luck can take you, but at the same time, the chances are there. I'd much rather they dominate than sneak in though.

Can we name the last WC that really "snuck" into the playoffs and was bad? Most of the bad teams that got in have been the division winners and those teams rarely win the WS(2006 Cardinals..and...?). IMO if you "sneak" into the playoffs you won't be around long...and you'll get exposed at some point.