Other Disappointments

[Backtobanks]

We all know how bad and disappointing the Cubs have been this year, but there are certainly some other major disappointments this year in baseball. Starting in the NL Central, Milwaukee might be the biggest disappointment. There were a lot of writers who picked the Brewers to win the Central and they certainly were the pick for the up and coming team in baseball. In the AL Central, the Indians would certainly have to be the biggest disappointment after coming close to the White Sox last year. Obviously, the Red Sox are a disappointment, but they're still playing .532 ball in a "down" year. As for teams like the Blue Jays, Orioles, Angels, Astros, and Phillies, I don't think the expectations were as high as some of the other teams I named.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Don't kid yourself -- the Cubs are the biggest disappointment by far. I think a lot of people were prematurely on the Brewers bandwagon and expecting them to do way too much, but I still agree that they didn't live up to their expectations.

 

I also agree that the AL's biggest bust has to be Cleveland. I think Toronto is about where they should be, and well within striking distance after a good offseason in which their payroll is increasing again.

[Dirt Dog Sparly]

Actually count me in with those who thought the Brewers were going to be the team in the Central this year. At the least fighting with the Cards and Cubs for the Division title. So in that reguard they are a bit of a disapointment. No where near the Cubs, but a let down for them. They are still an exciting young team however with a good base to build on.

 

On a seperate tact however are the Marlins. I dont think you could find anyone who thought that 100 losses were avoidable. To me, in the long view the real story of this year hasnt been the disapointments but the Marlins.

 

Now for the Cubs as a team on the other hand...

[NorthsideAvenger]

Before the season I knew the Brewers weren't going to be the "it" team for 2006. I don't pat myself on the back too much, but this time (sounds trumphet "Fanfare"). So I'm not surprise the Brewers are abit of a disappointment.

 

Now, the AL, Cleveland definately.

[rynefan]

Usually I have high hopes at the start of every Cubs season. This year I did not, largely because of the outfiled being new and the question marks with Wood and Prior. I will say it is worse that I thought it would be, but for the first time, I never fooled myself.

[Backtobanks]

Don't kid yourself -- the Cubs are the biggest disappointment by far. I think a lot of people were prematurely on the Brewers bandwagon and expecting them to do way too much, but I still agree that they didn't live up to their expectations.

 

I also agree that the AL's biggest bust has to be Cleveland. I think Toronto is about where they should be, and well within striking distance after a good offseason in which their payroll is increasing again.

 

I agree that the Cubs are one of the biggest disappointments, but I don't think much was expected outside of the Chicago media and fans. I think the national media were probably expecting a 4th or 5th place finish in the weak NL Central. Most "experts" certainly picked the Cards, Brewers, and Astros (if Clemens returned) ahead of the Cubs, with the Reds and Cubs fighting for 4th place.

[cjbucks]

The Cubs have a 95 million dollar payroll. To be the second worst team in baseball with that payroll easily makes them the biggest bust in baseball.

[TB_11]

Cubs aside, the Indians have to be the biggest disappointment. After their end-of-year run they had in 2005 they were expected to go head-to-head with the White Sox for the AL Central crown.

 

The Red Sox should also get some recognition for being a big disappointment.

[cheapseats]

I don't really see the Cubs as a disappointment; I'm not sure how many people outside of the Cubs front office thought this team even had a chance for a .500 record.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I predicted in February this Cubs bunch would win 75 games. I was clearly overexuberant. :evil:

[Abe Frohman]

The Cubs have a 95 million dollar payroll. To be the second worst team in baseball with that payroll easily makes them the biggest bust in baseball.

 

Amen.

[Drew Doughty]

I think I remember a lot of people -- including me -- that thought this wouldn't be a bad team because it had to be better than last year's team (upgrades at center, better OF than Holly/CPatt/Beer Nutz, etc).

[CuseCubFan69]

I thought the Brewers were going to have a better season than they did and the way the teams in the Central haved played they should have seized that opportunity. The Cubs didn't improve themselves last off season in my eyes so I didn't expect much. Baker needs All-Stars out there to win and the Cubs were a team far away from that.

[LemmeHearYa]

The Cubs have a 95 million dollar payroll. To be the second worst team in baseball with that payroll easily makes them the biggest bust in baseball.

 

Amen.

 

Amen, Amen.

 

It's unbelievable that the mangager and general manager are still employed by the team. It truly is.

[Jake]

The Cubs have a 95 million dollar payroll. To be the second worst team in baseball with that payroll easily makes them the biggest bust in baseball.

 

Amen.

 

Spending money does not gaurantee a winning club.

[soccer10k]

The Cubs have a 95 million dollar payroll. To be the second worst team in baseball with that payroll easily makes them the biggest bust in baseball.

 

Amen.

 

Spending money does not gaurantee a winning club.

 

True. But spending money should not produce a team that is competing for the #1 draft pick.

[Jake]

I didn't think the Brewers would compete this year, but I thought they'd be a bit better than they were.

 

I thought the same about the Pirates. Really. The big surprises for us have been how poorly Duke and Maholm did this year. Look at the numbers Duke put up last year. No one expected a 1.8ish ERA, but no one certainly expected a 5.00+ ERA either. Same with Maholom, although not to the same extent. I never expected much from Burnitz or Randa, and got even less.

 

The Cubs never had the pitching. (Relying on Wood & Prior is the same as investing your 401k in the lottery.) Couple that with Lee's injury and Aram's slow start, you guys were doomed.

 

Cleveland was a big disappointment. They're a season or so beyond the where The Brewers are now in terms of development. This should have been the year.

 

I could go on...

[Jake]

The Cubs have a 95 million dollar payroll. To be the second worst team in baseball with that payroll easily makes them the biggest bust in baseball.

 

Amen.

 

Spending money does not gaurantee a winning club.

 

True. But spending money should not produce a team that is competing for the #1 draft pick.

 

Very True. And, I'm sorry you guys beat us out for it!

[JGalt73]

The Indians have scored 81 more runs than they've allowed (776/695). They "should" be a better team. When adjusted for strength of schedule and predicted runs, they would be the wild card leader in the AL. They are currently more than 11 wins worse than their play would suggest they would be. The disappointment may have more to do with luck than performance. It's a problem I wish the Cubs had.

[soccer10k]

The Indians have scored 81 more runs than they've allowed (776/695). They "should" be a better team. When adjusted for strength of schedule and predicted runs, they would be the wild card leader in the AL. They are currently more than 11 wins worse than their play would suggest they would be. The disappointment may have more to do with luck than performance. It's a problem I wish the Cubs had.

 

Wow. That's amazing.

[chuckywang]

The Red Sox having a LOSING RECORD against AL teams certainly is quite disappointing.

[chuckywang]

The Cubs have a 95 million dollar payroll. To be the second worst team in baseball with that payroll easily makes them the biggest bust in baseball.

 

Amen.

 

Spending money does not gaurantee a winning club.

 

True. But spending money should not produce a team that is competing for the #1 draft pick.

 

Anybody know the highest ranked payroll to finish dead last in the majors?

[SouthSideRyan]

The Indians have scored 81 more runs than they've allowed (776/695). They "should" be a better team. When adjusted for strength of schedule and predicted runs, they would be the wild card leader in the AL. They are currently more than 11 wins worse than their play would suggest they would be. The disappointment may have more to do with luck than performance. It's a problem I wish the Cubs had.

 

We already had that problem in '04. It wasn't fun.