Look at the brightside! (realistic optimism inside)

[Jazz]

The past week, has been hellish for us, and probably will go down as the one stretch that will start the massive overhaul of the cubs (hopefully). When you look at the team, and what needs to be done, even an idiot (yes Hendry) can see that the team that was put together this season is a terrible disaster in terms of how much money was used to no avail. To me, the following are very likely to happen from here on out:

 

-Hendry will be fired

-Some contracts that expire at the end of the season will be trade (hopefully many)

-Many young players will start seeing time they desperately need for their development

 

I think the 2nd half of the season will be alot more enjoyable than some people may think. After we jettison some players we have gotten sick of seeing (Eyre, Zambrano, Howry, Jones), you'll see fresh faces that will make you want to watch this team.

 

Also, with the draft coming up, and Wilken at the helm, no doubt we'll have a decent showing with that high pick. Not to mention NEXT year, we will definately have a high pick again (especially if this team stinks it up to the max this coming month).

 

Some things that I'm not holding my breath for, but we can be hopeful are that the new owner is someone that has what it takes to make this a winning team (I think cuban is out right?, maybe a steve stone headed ownership?). Also, hopefully we make the right hire for GM. My dream is that we throw a bunch of money at billy beane, but since that won't happen, someone who has a solid track record from OUTSIDE the organization would do.

 

This team can be rebuilt, just like any other team. It's going to take some time, and the right set of moves, but I will have fun watching it happen (and it seems like its getting closer and closer to that point).

[Keener98]

Damn man you are really drunk really early :D Edited June 2, 2007 by Keener98

[tkenm356]

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Hendry should have been fired last year, we won't get much in the trades (except for more toolsy prospects) and the young players we have aren't that good.

[rynefan]

There's a mighty fine line between drunkeness and optimism. I personally prefer drunken optimism.

[E.J.]

Hendry should have been fired last year, we won't get much in the trades (except for more toolsy prospects) and the young players we have aren't that good.

 

This is a very important factor. We can get rid of the crap (Eyre, Jones, Howry, Floyd, Ohman, etc), but we don't really have that much in the minors to replace them with. We're pretty much screwed all around. We need new ownership to bring in people who actually know how to run a team.

[Derwood]

what's the difference between losing with Eyre/Howry/Jones/Zambrano and losing with Rapada/Cherry/Pie/Marmol?

[Outshined_One]

what's the difference between losing with Eyre/Howry/Jones/Zambrano and losing with Rapada/Cherry/Pie/Marmol?

 

Significantly cheaper?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Damn man you are really drunk really early :D

 

4:46 on a Saturday is early?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

what's the difference between losing with Eyre/Howry/Jones/Zambrano and losing with Rapada/Cherry/Pie/Marmol?

 

Significantly cheaper?

 

The chance to dream that mediocre prospects (with the exception of Pie) will miraculously get better just because they are young and suddenly become very good?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

what's the difference between losing with Eyre/Howry/Jones/Zambrano and losing with Rapada/Cherry/Pie/Marmol?

 

Significantly cheaper?

 

The chance to dream that mediocre prospects (with the exception of Pie) will miraculously get better just because they are young and suddenly become very good?

 

Marmol isn't mediocre, and the others are replacing middle relief, it's the definition of their future role.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

 

Marmol isn't mediocre, and the others are replacing middle relief, it's the definition of their future role.

 

Marmol walks .75 batters per IP at the age of 24. That's never good.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

Marmol isn't mediocre, and the others are replacing middle relief, it's the definition of their future role.

 

Marmol walks .75 batters per IP at the age of 24. That's never good.

 

He's a converted catcher, which means his progression may not be picture perfect. He walked only 2.63 per 9 innings in Iowa this year.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

 

Marmol isn't mediocre, and the others are replacing middle relief, it's the definition of their future role.

 

Marmol walks .75 batters per IP at the age of 24. That's never good.

 

He's a converted catcher, which means his progression may not be picture perfect. He walked only 2.63 per 9 innings in Iowa this year.

 

If he can keep that up, then great. But you've got a prospect who wasn't thought of as a pitcher at first, has a spotty record and is getting old for prospect status. That screams mediocre to me.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

Marmol isn't mediocre, and the others are replacing middle relief, it's the definition of their future role.

 

Marmol walks .75 batters per IP at the age of 24. That's never good.

 

He's a converted catcher, which means his progression may not be picture perfect. He walked only 2.63 per 9 innings in Iowa this year.

 

If he can keep that up, then great. But you've got a prospect who wasn't thought of as a pitcher at first, has a spotty record and is getting old for prospect status. That screams mediocre to me.

 

24 really isn't that old for a pitching prospect, especially one who was a converted position player. Also, Marmol's walk rate has improved nearly every year in addition to him being promoted through the system.

 

2003: 5.34 BB/9 at Rookie Ball

2004: 3.08 at Low A

2005: 4.60 at High A

2005: 4.43 at AA

2006: 3.88 at AA

2007: 2.63 at AAA

[TruffleShuffle]

 

Marmol isn't mediocre, and the others are replacing middle relief, it's the definition of their future role.

 

Marmol walks .75 batters per IP at the age of 24. That's never good.

 

He's a converted catcher, which means his progression may not be picture perfect. He walked only 2.63 per 9 innings in Iowa this year.

 

If he can keep that up, then great. But you've got a prospect who wasn't thought of as a pitcher at first, has a spotty record and is getting old for prospect status. That screams mediocre to me.

 

Just because he wasn't thought of as a pitchers first doesn't mean that he didn't have the talent to pitch. He was a young guy and the Cubs thought he had a good bat, and it didn't work out. Trevor Hoffman played shortstop his first two years in the minors. Being old for prospect status doesn't really apply here, because his failed attempt at being a position player set his development back a couple of years. Plus, he's more than two years younger than Rich Hill, who didn't become a major league regular until the second half of 2006, and happens to be the Cubs best pitcher now.

 

As for a spotty record, that's not really true. He had solid K-rates and has always been tough to hit in the minors. The control has always been spotty, but Baseball America has always mentioned him as a prospect for closer. The Cubs kept him as a starter, partly to get him innings, but with a live arm and two good pitches there's no reason for him not to get an extended shot at pitching for the big club as a reliever.

[hardcorecubfan]

Optimism is not firing guys, I wish the best of luck and the guys on the field prove him right.

 

optimism is that we are not 13 games back but only 7.5 with a series in Mil. we can be in this race that consists of mediocre central division, which won the world series last year.