TIL: in 2010 Barret Loux was the 6th pick in the MLB draft.

[CSF77]

The whole thing was knee-jerk... like I said this has been discussed how many times here. We didn't get Sanchez and Theo gasped for air by getting Jackson. Do I like the signing? To much for what he is and we know what he is, but he was a need even though he was a complete knee-jerk.

He needs to drop a full earned run.

It was his worst year dating back to his first year starting in 2007. 5-15 5.76 ERA. He followed it up with 2 solid seasons then planed out at .500 til this season.

With him if he can get his ERA around 4.00 he should be close to a .500 pitcher again. posting up a 5.00 ERA 8-18 is understandable. This team doesn't generate enough runs to over come it.


I'm hoping he turns it around.

So they can trade him.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=chicagocubs&id=20500&city=chicago&src=desktop

Epstein wasn't done being "self-critical." A season-ticket holder asked him about pitcher Edwin Jackson's 8-18 season after signing a four-year, $52 million deal last winter.

"Given the situation, I think we could have been more patient," Epstein said. "We could have been more in line with the plan. That said, when there is no pitching you have to find pitching.

"I was being self-critical. Anytime you make an investment that doesn't immediately pay off, especially when you don't have tremendous freedom to make a variety of significant investments, you should be hard on yourself."

Epstein was quick to point out Jackson has three years left to prove himself a worthy addition.

"We believe there is a lot better ahead for Edwin Jackson," Epstein said.

Taking it with a grain of salt. The Cubs needed a starter that ate up innings, and they got one. Theo admitted so above^.

Though I think we all agree though that $52 million was too much for a third or fourth starter.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Its not vague you fucktard. Smart teams like the Cardinals draft and develop guys like Molina and Pujols, sign Chris Carpenter and half of their bullpen, and make the right trade at the right time for guys like Wainwright, Rolen, and Holliday.

But you're the dipshit saying 'spending money period is an argument that gets old.'

YOu're an absolute moron if you think this management 'sticking to the plan' will win on farm alone. You put Theo on this pedestal like he's an absolute genius doing something no team would ever consider doing, IE building the farm. I cant wait for these kids to fail, one or two of them make it--and the team still be a 100 lose catastrophe.

I've watched this game long enough to know that the prospect 'trend' Theo is going on is no guarantee of success, especially immediate success. 2015 will turn into 2016. 2016 will deviate further from contention, but idiots like you dont want to try to win, you're perfectly content having top 5 picks. Sooner or later Boy Blunder has to figure out what balance is. You haven't a clue.......but balance is what happens when you mix the right amount of farm products with signings and traded commodities with the right coaching to blend the right team.

Theo has exactly 1 more season to prove he's not a fraud. If the cubs lose another 100 he should be fired. Period.

No moron, I said the notion that "we should be spending money simply because we're Chicago and we could" is lazy and old.

Read after me, Pat - No one here thinks farm system alone will get the job done. I know how much it bothers you when people post their fantasy lineups for the 2017 Cubs. But that is simply how things stand TODAY. We have NO IDEA what the free agent or trade market will hold in 2015 or 2016.

You say Theo and company should be fired should the Cubs lose 100 again in 2014. Well why don't we just wait for the story to unfold first, shall we? We have a new manager now. You forget that late in July we were a respectable 48-55 coming off a sweep over the Giants in San Francisco. And don't say it was solely on the strength of Soriano and Garza. Garza missed the entire first month and Soriano was a non-factor for the first two.

Again, I think you are hoping this team fails so you'd have an excuse to continue to complain.

 

[patg006]

No moron, I said the notion that "we should be spending money simply because we're Chicago and we could" is lazy and old.

Read after me, Pat - No one here thinks farm system alone will get the job done. I know how much it bothers you when people post their fantasy lineups for the 2017 Cubs. But that is simply how things stand TODAY. We have NO IDEA what the free agent or trade market will hold in 2015 or 2016.

You say Theo and company should be fired should the Cubs lose 100 again in 2014. Well why don't we just wait for the story to unfold first, shall we? We have a new manager now. You forget that late in July we were a respectable 48-55 coming off a sweep over the Giants in San Francisco. And don't say it was solely on the strength of Soriano and Garza. Garza missed the entire first month and Soriano was a non-factor for the first two.

Again, I think you are hoping this team fails so you'd have an excuse to continue to complain.

DJ, you incompetent hack.

The team should be spending money because they can, need to fill holes, and are a dilapidated, punchless team. Good teams fill holes the draft cant through free agency. No before you get back up on your high horse, note how I point out that I don't believe the cubs should drop 100+ million on 32 year old hitters. But I easily feel a bunch of short term signs that don't affect draft status yet make them more competitive through the year. They won't block precious prospects, and here's the best part--when the trade deadline comes, you can flip them for more prospects. Explain how that's such a bad thing.

Why don't we let the story unfold? This team has done NOTHING to help the offensive pile of shit they were last year post-Soriano trade. Dave Ruggiano instead of Brian Bugosevich? Oh shit. They improved the bullpen. So instead of losing 7-1 we'll now lose 4-1. That should bother you that the cubs fail to score runs. The fact it doesn't scares me.

This team is set up to fail, so I don't have to hope they fail. No offense and a laundry list of contributing pitchers who will get flipped at the deadline for more prospects. A 5 year old can tell you there's something wrong here.

Late July we were a respectable 48-55. Okay. Then what happened. We traded our only productive offensive piece for a kid who sucks at class A, and we're covering 19 million of his 26 million remaining bill.

Soriano was a nonfactor? Holy shit, you're telling me 35 home runs, .260 average and 100+ RBIs in the middle of this line up wouldn't have helped? God you're an idiot. Every pitcher from aces like Kershaw to piles of shit like Edison Volquez in 2013 knew to throw something to Rizzo breaking and inside, because he cant hit it and hacks away at it.

But let's give Rizzo, the future golden poster boy from Theo a pass. Why hold a kid who got a big contract accountable. Its easier to blame Hendry for the state of the team, right?

Here's a question. Easy one, I promise, I don't want you to burst a blood vessel over this. Why did this offense suck last season? They were 28th in runs scored, OBP, and tied for 29th in total hits.

Here's another easy one. What should the cubs do to improve the MLB line up?

Here's the hard one: Why haven't they made changes to improve?

I don't want to lose. I'm sick of fucking losing. I'm even more sick of an inept, clueless front office living off the glory days of the luckiest team Theo Epstein could have taken over. I'm sick how he gets a free pass for everything.

I want to win. I want to be butting heads with the Cardinals and their fans, talking shit and laughing at them, not having them pity me for being a cubs fan. And pulling a 'focus only on the farm' is no guarantee to do that. I want my team to be smartly run, like the cards. Where they make the right moves and get the right guys. Right now The cubs can easily make a few moves, sacrifice a prized possession prospect to get a damn good hitter or pitcher. But they wont.

They're content with mediocrity. I'm not. Their mentality is 'be patient on these 10 guys' where my mentality would be 'damn the naysayers, win at any cost.'

This again must be the millionth time I've posted it.

And my rationale for firing the front office is easy. If any other GM/Manager combo loses 101, 97, then say 100 again; how is their job security? They would be looking for jobs.

 

[brett05]

Not winning a championship for 105+ years should really get a team contracted.

Sent from my SCH-I200 using Tapatalk

 

[chibears55]

And my rationale for firing the front office is easy. If any other GM/Manager combo loses 101, 97, then say 100 again; how is their job security? They would be looking for jobs.

they have job security because their doing and done exactly what the owner wants them to do.
reduce and keep payroll low..
build up the farm system so that the future core of team are highly cost controled players like castro and rizzo.

Im sure losing 90-100 games in the first 2-3 yrs of this process was anticipated by all parties..

 

[justaChifan]

Not winning a championship for 105+ years should really get a team contracted.

Sent from my SCH-I200 using Tapatalk

Not if the turnstiles keep spinning like they have since the mid to late 80"s like they have.

Championship teams in a particular city don't mean squat to the rest of the league. Just keep the money flowing.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

The team should be spending money because they can, need to fill holes, and are a dilapidated, punchless team. Good teams fill holes the draft cant through free agency. No before you get back up on your high horse, note how I point out that I don't believe the cubs should drop 100+ million on 32 year old hitters. But I easily feel a bunch of short term signs that don't affect draft status yet make them more competitive through the year. They won't block precious prospects, and here's the best part--when the trade deadline comes, you can flip them for more prospects. Explain how that's such a bad thing.

It's not. The problem is that a guy like Omar Infante was looking for four years in this asinine free agent market. I suppose we could have signed him, but that would have meant that we'd have to find a taker for Castro in the coming years with the likes of Baez, Bryant, Olt, and Alcantara on the way up. It would have come down to if you'd rather have Infante or Castro. I'd go with Castro simply because he has more upside to mine. But if you'd take Infante, more power to you.

Why don't we let the story unfold? This team has done NOTHING to help the offensive pile of shit they were last year post-Soriano trade. Dave Ruggiano instead of Brian Bugosevich? Oh shit. They improved the bullpen. So instead of losing 7-1 we'll now lose 4-1. That should bother you that the cubs fail to score runs. The fact it doesn't scares me.

Ruggiano is a right-handed power threat, something we were missing in the second half of last year. He may not play everyday, but he will provide better balance. And again, his name is B-O-G-U-S-E-V-I-C.

Late July we were a respectable 48-55. Okay. Then what happened. We traded our only productive offensive piece for a kid who sucks at class A, and we're covering 19 million of his 26 million remaining bill.

Soriano was a nonfactor? Holy shit, you're telling me 35 home runs, .260 average and 100+ RBIs in the middle of this line up wouldn't have helped? God you're an idiot. Every pitcher from aces like Kershaw to piles of shit like Edison Volquez in 2013 knew to throw something to Rizzo breaking and inside, because he cant hit it and hacks away at it.

Through June 25th last year, Soriano was hitting .245/.274/.392 with 7 HR's and 30 RBI in 278 at-bats. Yeah, definitely a guy I'd build my future around, especially in his age 38 season.

But let's give Rizzo, the future golden poster boy from Theo a pass. Why hold a kid who got a big contract accountable.

Hold him accountable by doing what exactly? What would you do with Rizzo right now?

Its easier to blame Hendry for the state of the team, right?

Why don't we ask your golden boy Soriano (and Hendry's most-prized signing) himself how inept the previous regime was at the player development phase. I don't have the source with me at the moment, but he said something along the lines that Hendry and co. treated him as if he was the worst thing that ever happened to them at a time when he had no experience playing the outfield.

Here's a question. Easy one, I promise, I don't want you to burst a blood vessel over this. Why did this offense suck last season? They were 28th in runs scored, OBP, and tied for 29th in total hits.

Think maybe the fact that we had a 37-year-old everyday player, who was looked upon as the "father figure" of the clubhouse, who "consistently" sported an OBP of around .280 throughout the first half of our season may have had something to do with that? Again, I by no means loathe Soriano and was happy to see him enjoy a resurgence following the trade. But, he was by no means going to be the future of this organization.

They're content with mediocrity. I'm not. Their mentality is 'be patient on these 10 guys' where my mentality would be 'damn the naysayers, win at any cost.'

This again must be the millionth time I've posted it.

And we indeed used that mentality in the late portion of the previous decade. It got us two playoff appearances, ZERO playoff wins, and back to mediocrity. I don't know about you, but I'd rather take the time to find a formula for sustained success.

And my rationale for firing the front office is easy. If any other GM/Manager combo loses 101, 97, then say 100 again; how is their job security? They would be looking for jobs.

Well for one, Houston has had a bigger losing spell the last three years than we've had, losing at least 106 games in each season. Yet, they don't seem to have any plans of firing their GM.

Here's another easy one. What should the cubs do to improve the MLB line up?

I would have made a greater effort to address our short-term infield situation.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Not winning a championship for 105+ years should really get a team contracted.

Sent from my SCH-I200 using Tapatalk

Ignorant. Lazy. Idiotic. Stupid. So many words could be used to describe this particular mindset. Cubs have a lifetime winning percentage of .511. Contrast that to your White Sox who have a .505 lifetime winning percentage and are consistently among the bottom third in the league in attendance despite operating in one of the league's largest markets.

Congratulations on your 2005 title, hashtag. You earned it. Too bad we're nine years passed that now, though. Nine.

 

[brett05]

Ignorant. Lazy. Idiotic. Stupid. So many words could be used to describe this particular mindset. Cubs have a lifetime winning percentage of .511. Contrast that to your White Sox who have a .505 lifetime winning percentage and are consistently among the bottom third in the league in attendance despite operating in one of the league's largest markets.

Congratulations on your 2005 title, hashtag. You earned it. Too bad we're nine years passed that now, though. Nine.

Is that their percentage from 1901???

Matters not. You've finally made a point. Its been nine years. And it feels awful.

Sent from my SCH-I200 using Tapatalk

 

[patg006]

The team should be spending money because they can, need to fill holes, and are a dilapidated, punchless team. Good teams fill holes the draft cant through free agency. No before you get back up on your high horse, note how I point out that I don't believe the cubs should drop 100+ million on 32 year old hitters. But I easily feel a bunch of short term signs that don't affect draft status yet make them more competitive through the year. They won't block precious prospects, and here's the best part--when the trade deadline comes, you can flip them for more prospects. Explain how that's such a bad thing.

It's not. The problem is that a guy like Omar Infante was looking for four years in this asinine free agent market. I suppose we could have signed him, but that would have meant that we'd have to find a taker for Castro in the coming years with the likes of Baez, Bryant, Olt, and Alcantara on the way up. It would have come down to if you'd rather have Infante or Castro. I'd go with Castro simply because he has more upside to mine. But if you'd take Infante, more power to you.

Why don't we let the story unfold? This team has done NOTHING to help the offensive pile of shit they were last year post-Soriano trade. Dave Ruggiano instead of Brian Bugosevich? Oh shit. They improved the bullpen. So instead of losing 7-1 we'll now lose 4-1. That should bother you that the cubs fail to score runs. The fact it doesn't scares me.

Ruggiano is a right-handed power threat, something we were missing in the second half of last year. He may not play everyday, but he will provide better balance. And again, his name is B-O-G-U-S-E-V-I-C.

Late July we were a respectable 48-55. Okay. Then what happened. We traded our only productive offensive piece for a kid who sucks at class A, and we're covering 19 million of his 26 million remaining bill.

Soriano was a nonfactor? Holy shit, you're telling me 35 home runs, .260 average and 100+ RBIs in the middle of this line up wouldn't have helped? God you're an idiot. Every pitcher from aces like Kershaw to piles of shit like Edison Volquez in 2013 knew to throw something to Rizzo breaking and inside, because he cant hit it and hacks away at it.

Through June 25th last year, Soriano was hitting .245/.274/.392 with 7 HR's and 30 RBI in 278 at-bats. Yeah, definitely a guy I'd build my future around, especially in his age 38 season.

But let's give Rizzo, the future golden poster boy from Theo a pass. Why hold a kid who got a big contract accountable.

Hold him accountable by doing what exactly? What would you do with Rizzo right now?

Its easier to blame Hendry for the state of the team, right?

Why don't we ask your golden boy Soriano (and Hendry's most-prized signing) himself how inept the previous regime was at the player development phase. I don't have the source with me at the moment, but he said something along the lines that Hendry and co. treated him as if he was the worst thing that ever happened to them at a time when he had no experience playing the outfield.

Here's a question. Easy one, I promise, I don't want you to burst a blood vessel over this. Why did this offense suck last season? They were 28th in runs scored, OBP, and tied for 29th in total hits.

Think maybe the fact that we had a 37-year-old everyday player, who was looked upon as the "father figure" of the clubhouse, who "consistently" sported an OBP of around .280 throughout the first half of our season may have had something to do with that? Again, I by no means loathe Soriano and was happy to see him enjoy a resurgence following the trade. But, he was by no means going to be the future of this organization.

They're content with mediocrity. I'm not. Their mentality is 'be patient on these 10 guys' where my mentality would be 'damn the naysayers, win at any cost.'

This again must be the millionth time I've posted it.

And we indeed used that mentality in the late portion of the previous decade. It got us two playoff appearances, ZERO playoff wins, and back to mediocrity. I don't know about you, but I'd rather take the time to find a formula for sustained success.

And my rationale for firing the front office is easy. If any other GM/Manager combo loses 101, 97, then say 100 again; how is their job security? They would be looking for jobs.

Well for one, Houston has had a bigger losing spell the last three years than we've had, losing at least 106 games in each season. Yet, they don't seem to have any plans of firing their GM.

Here's another easy one. What should the cubs do to improve the MLB line up?

I would have made a greater effort to address our short-term infield situation.

I find it funny you cut off Soriano's stats before he went on his tear. That's kind of cute, actually. I love it when you strawman.

I also love how you preach that players locked into big contracts wont produce when they get to 36-37 then come right back around and slam Soriano for not doing better when he's at 37. Sori was the best player on this team last year offensively. Period.

I would have benched Rizzo, batted him lower in the line up. He isn't a 3rd hitter in this line up, even after some of these prized prospects get their call ups, he's 6th or 7th in a legit line up. I also never would have traded for him in the first place.

You're going to nitpick the spelling of a perennial pile of dog shit's last name? Now you're really desperate.

Last time I checked, Houston isn't the #4 revenue team, a top money maker, and a large market team. Teams like Houston are supposed to struggle when it comes to paying players and forming winning teams.

The cubs have the resources to put a team >.500 team on the field tomorrow if they wanted to, they wont. Houston can't. That's the difference.

 

[JosMin]

Last time I checked, Houston isn't the #4 revenue team, a top money maker, and a large market team. Teams like Houston are supposed to struggle when it comes to paying players and forming winning teams.

The cubs have the resources to put a team >.500 team on the field tomorrow if they wanted to, they wont. Houston can't. That's the difference.

LOLOLOL -- Houston is the 4th biggest city in the United States.

 

[patg006]

LOLOLOL -- Houston is the 4th biggest city in the United States.

And are the 22nd highest revenue team in the MLB according to forbes.

Thanks for playing!

 

[CSF77]

And are the 22nd highest revenue team in the MLB according to forbes.

Thanks for playing!

I believe with the potential of the the 4th largest city that they could drive the fans into the seats.

To be honest that city is more real where they support winning product vs supporting a bad team.

Most teams revenue source is directly correlated to their wins except the Bulls and the Cubs. They sell out with crap.

That is on the fan.



On Rizzo: Sophomore year. We have seen plenty of good players struggle when the league gets scouting on them and they adjust. Too early to call him out.

On Sori: 1 year left. He did not make this team even .500. Does it really matter right now? If they are going to suck then really suck and get a top 2 pick and draft allotment. VS kinda sucking and getting a 12 pick and worse choices and less cash to spend.

I'm in the view of all or nothing. This whole shade of grey stuff where they add 1 player and they flip it is tiring. 1 player doesn't change a team.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

I find it funny you cut off Soriano's stats before he went on his tear. That's kind of cute, actually. I love it when you strawman.

I also love how you preach that players locked into big contracts wont produce when they get to 36-37 then come right back around and slam Soriano for not doing better when he's at 37. Sori was the best player on this team last year offensively. Period.

I would have benched Rizzo, batted him lower in the line up. He isn't a 3rd hitter in this line up, even after some of these prized prospects get their call ups, he's 6th or 7th in a legit line up. I also never would have traded for him in the first place.

You're going to nitpick the spelling of a perennial pile of dog shit's last name? Now you're really desperate.

Last time I checked, Houston isn't the #4 revenue team, a top money maker, and a large market team. Teams like Houston are supposed to struggle when it comes to paying players and forming winning teams.

The cubs have the resources to put a team >.500 team on the field tomorrow if they wanted to, they wont. Houston can't. That's the difference.

I'm not cutting off shit. I'm not slamming Soriano for anything. Just pointing out the facts.

He had one good month for us in 2013. The other three his production was below average for an everyday player.

 

[Boobaby1]

I'm not cutting off shit. I'm not slamming Soriano for anything. Just pointing out the facts.

He had one good month for us in 2013. The other three his production was below average for an everyday player.

The facts are that he is, always was, and always will be a streak hitter so pointing out any particular month with Soriano is a moot point. It is no different then when people hated on A-Ram for not hitting in April and early May, yet he still eclipsed 30 HR's and over 100 RBI's countless times. They call it an average for a reason.

Frankly, at this point, I see no difference with Rizzo. Of course, he gets a free pass because he is young. Not sure I get that.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

The facts are that he is, always was, and always will be a streak hitter so pointing out any particular month with Soriano is a moot point. It is no different then when people hated on A-Ram for not hitting in April and early May, yet he still eclipsed 30 HR's and over 100 RBI's countless times. They call it an average for a reason.

Frankly, at this point, I see no difference with Rizzo. Of course, he gets a free pass because he is young. Not sure I get that.

Rizzo draws walks. Soriano doesn't. It wasn't streakiness that did in Soriano for us in 2013. He was ineffective for three months (.245/7/30 with a .274 on-base through 278 at-bats. He was all but done. He then happened to get hot in July and we were able to find a taker for him.

 

[Boobaby1]

Rizzo draws walks. Soriano doesn't. It wasn't streakiness that did in Soriano for us in 2013. He was ineffective for three months (.245/7/30 with a .274 on-base through 278 at-bats. He was all but done. He then happened to get hot in July and we were able to find a taker for him.

And Rizzo's best month was May in which he batted .295 which coincidentally, had Soriano protecting him for the first 3 months. Ironically, after Soriano left the team, Rizzo batted .240, .190, and .210 in the last 3 months with no protection.

Big difference between having Soriano as protection versus Nate Schierholtz.

 

[CSF77]

And Rizzo's best month was May in which he batted .295 which coincidentally, had Soriano protecting him for the first 3 months. Ironically, after Soriano left the team, Rizzo batted .240, .190, and .210 in the last 3 months with no protection.

Big difference between having Soriano as protection versus Nate Schierholtz.

Most likely this will only be a problem for 3 months. I'm expecting Baez to be promoted in June. Up until then I'm seeing the RF platoon hitting #4 and the 3B platoon hitting #5. Most HR's last year combined production.

I'm not expecting much though.

On Baez I could see them pushing him to 3B or LF depending on Lake's production up to that point. Ideal would put at 3B and promote Vitters to LF and move the platoon to 2B. That would net the best potential production. (If Lake is a bust)

 

[Boobaby1]

Most likely this will only be a problem for 3 months. I'm expecting Baez to be promoted in June. Up until then I'm seeing the RF platoon hitting #4 and the 3B platoon hitting #5. Most HR's last year combined production.

I'm not expecting much though.

On Baez I could see them pushing him to 3B or LF depending on Lake's production up to that point. Ideal would put at 3B and promote Vitters to LF and move the platoon to 2B. That would net the best potential production. (If Lake is a bust)

If that's the line-up, they had better ink Tanaka because payroll will be no more than 80 million this year even if they extend Shark and Wood.