I'm jealous

[Ivy.n.Denver]

I live in Denver and I get to watch the Rockies on a regular basis. I actuallly like them quite a bit.

 

They have a really strong nucleus of players, many of them played in a WS in 2007.

 

My jealousy stems from all the cheap talent they have, their outfield is ridiculous with good players. They're either very good players like Brad Hawpe, have a really high ceiling like Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez or are very serviceable players in Seth Smith and Ryan Spillbourgs.

 

Not only that but they have Ian Steward, Clint Barmes, Troy Tulowitzski, and Chris Iannetta - all good young players.

 

They have pieces in their pitching staff that could be very good very soon in Jiminez and De La Rosa. Aaron Cook is decent and we saw what Francis was capable of down the stretch in 07.

 

When they finally shed Helton and Adkin's contracts they could become an exceptional team.

 

 

Is it impossible for the cubs to look like this? I mean with the payroll and expectations young guys that don't produce just don't play. I won't go into how handcuffed the cubs are saddled with a handful of bad contracts.

[Ivy.n.Denver]

I guess I'm wondering what you guys think about sucking for a few years to get to a point where the Rockies are (or the Rays)

 

If you had the rockies roster and the cubs budget just think about how good that team could be.

[javy knows my name]

I agree with you, and I'm sure they're a very fun team to watch. I remember being really jealous of the d-backs the last couple years, waiting for upton, young, reynolds and scherzer to mature/come up. Of course, their total inability to play defense (with the exception of young) has hurt their value quite a bit.

 

There is no doubt the Cubs are getting old, but these teams have had the opportunity to stock their farms because of several consecutive year of underachieving and stocking up draft picks. I don't think the Cubs will have an opportunity to do that for quite some time, and I'm not at all interested in watching them tank for 4 years in a row.

 

Also, in order to run out a group of young players such as the Rockies have, we would almost certainly have to have a change in the front office - doesn't seem like cheap, young talent is in Hendry's repertoire.

[Ivy.n.Denver]

I agree with you, and I'm sure they're a very fun team to watch. I remember being really jealous of the d-backs the last couple years, waiting for upton, young, reynolds and scherzer to mature/come up. Of course, their total inability to play defense (with the exception of young) has hurt their value quite a bit.

 

There is no doubt the Cubs are getting old, but these teams have had the opportunity to stock their farms because of several consecutive year of underachieving and stocking up draft picks. I don't think the Cubs will have an opportunity to do that for quite some time, and I'm not at all interested in watching them tank for 4 years in a row.

 

Also, in order to run out a group of young players such as the Rockies have, we would almost certainly have to have a change in the front office - doesn't seem like cheap, young talent is in Hendry's repertoire.

 

I think you're right. There is no way someone is going to pay 900 million for a team to suck for 3-4 years in row. Unfortunately I think we're seeing what the worst case scenario can be for a team with big contracts. No relief in sight either.

[SouthSideRyan]

There's no reason the Cubs should have to suck for 3 years in order to have a team with young, good players combined with high salaried FA-Trade acquisitions.

[davearm2]

There's no reason the Cubs should have to suck for 3 years in order to have a team with young, good players combined with high salaried FA-Trade acquisitions.

Exactly. The Red Sox are the model here. Homegrown guys like Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lester, Papelbon, etc coupled with marquee vets like Beckett, Ortiz, Drew, Bay, Lowell, etc. That's the recipe for a club like the Cubs.

[17 Seconds]

Too bad we have Tim Wilken

 

*posts about how well respected and hghly regarded Wilken is by his peers*

[JeffH]

Horrible amateur scouting + Horrible player development system = Horrible farm system = Cubs

 

But it's OK, guys - Hendry's on the case.

[fivepercent]

I'm hoping that Ricketts ownership ushers in a new group of folks in the front office following the Red Sox lead. Theres no doubt in my mind that the Cubs can be a much, much smarter organization.

[JeffH]

I'm hoping that Ricketts ownership ushers in a new group of folks in the front office following the Red Sox lead. Theres no doubt in my mind that the Cubs can be a much, much smarter organization.

 

This is like saying that Camden, New Jersey can be a much, much safer city.