Can the starting pitching be fixed for 2012?

[d_money]

In case there were any doubts about the Cubs spending some money. Jimbo thinks we can compete next year.

 

‘‘A couple of new acquisitions, and for the first time in a few years, there’s significant dollars coming off the books,’’ Hendry said. ‘‘All’s you need is your young people to keep getting better, and you make the right moves with the money that now will be available, and why couldn’t you be right back in it?

 

And he also had this to say.

 

‘‘You always need some kind of rebuilding when you’re in fifth place, absolutely,’’ Hendry said. ‘‘But you certainly don’t look at it like, ‘We’re not going to compete for a few years.’ When somebody says, ‘Blow the place up and start over and do it right,’ well, OK, does that mean we should get rid of the people who are very young and very good?’’

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/6782205-417/gm-jim-hendry-doesnt-believe-cubs-need-to-go-boom-to-improve.html

 

In any other division - 5th place is last. Jimbo benefits from the fact that we technically aren't in last place. So yeah, there better be a rebuilding effort.

[Illini Iceman]

In case there were any doubts about the Cubs spending some money. Jimbo thinks we can compete next year.

 

‘‘A couple of new acquisitions, and for the first time in a few years, there’s significant dollars coming off the books,’’ Hendry said. ‘‘All’s you need is your young people to keep getting better, and you make the right moves with the money that now will be available, and why couldn’t you be right back in it?

 

And he also had this to say.

 

‘‘You always need some kind of rebuilding when you’re in fifth place, absolutely,’’ Hendry said. ‘‘But you certainly don’t look at it like, ‘We’re not going to compete for a few years.’ When somebody says, ‘Blow the place up and start over and do it right,’ well, OK, does that mean we should get rid of the people who are very young and very good?’’

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/6782205-417/gm-jim-hendry-doesnt-believe-cubs-need-to-go-boom-to-improve.html

 

In any other division - 5th place is last. Jimbo benefits from the fact that we technically aren't in last place. So yeah, there better be a rebuilding effort.

 

Semantics. If they were in a 5 team division with Houston they would be 4th so it really doesn't matter. Don't think Hendry is going to get any kudos because he finished 5th instead of last and I don't think he is implying in that quote that he has earned any.

[USSoccer]

It's telling when Hendry says something that makes a lot of sense and people still piss and moan about it.

[Tarver]

It's telling when Hendry says something that makes a lot of sense and people still piss and moan about it.

 

The guy's fucked up so many times that even when he's telling the truth is sounds like BS. Can't blame fans for being disgusted.

[SouthSideRyan]

In case there were any doubts about the Cubs spending some money. Jimbo thinks we can compete next year.

 

‘‘A couple of new acquisitions, and for the first time in a few years, there’s significant dollars coming off the books,’’ Hendry said. ‘‘All’s you need is your young people to keep getting better, and you make the right moves with the money that now will be available, and why couldn’t you be right back in it?

 

And he also had this to say.

 

‘‘You always need some kind of rebuilding when you’re in fifth place, absolutely,’’ Hendry said. ‘‘But you certainly don’t look at it like, ‘We’re not going to compete for a few years.’ When somebody says, ‘Blow the place up and start over and do it right,’ well, OK, does that mean we should get rid of the people who are very young and very good?’’

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/6782205-417/gm-jim-hendry-doesnt-believe-cubs-need-to-go-boom-to-improve.html

 

In any other division - 5th place is last. Jimbo benefits from the fact that we technically aren't in last place. So yeah, there better be a rebuilding effort.

 

WHAT THE [expletive] ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT

[javy knows my name]

In case there were any doubts about the Cubs spending some money. Jimbo thinks we can compete next year.

 

‘‘A couple of new acquisitions, and for the first time in a few years, there’s significant dollars coming off the books,’’ Hendry said. ‘‘All’s you need is your young people to keep getting better, and you make the right moves with the money that now will be available, and why couldn’t you be right back in it?

 

And he also had this to say.

 

‘‘You always need some kind of rebuilding when you’re in fifth place, absolutely,’’ Hendry said. ‘‘But you certainly don’t look at it like, ‘We’re not going to compete for a few years.’ When somebody says, ‘Blow the place up and start over and do it right,’ well, OK, does that mean we should get rid of the people who are very young and very good?’’

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/6782205-417/gm-jim-hendry-doesnt-believe-cubs-need-to-go-boom-to-improve.html

 

In any other division - 5th place is last. Jimbo benefits from the fact that we technically aren't in last place. So yeah, there better be a rebuilding effort.

 

WHAT THE [expletive] ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT

 

Haha, there you are

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

It's telling when Hendry says something that makes a lot of sense and people still piss and moan about it.

 

There does seem to be a general feeling that his head must roll or the franchise won't be able to move on.

[CyHawk_Cub]

It's telling when Hendry says something that makes a lot of sense and people still piss and moan about it.

 

There does seem to be a general feeling that his head must roll or the franchise won't be able to move on.

 

The results speak volumes. To me, it's simple as that. He hasn't gotten it done, for whatever reasons. And he's been given more than enough time to do so. Time to move on.

[Fro]

Considering Fielder + CJ Wilson seem to be only worth 8 wins combined over Pena/replacement player from the stats I'm looking at, I don't think that's enough to make the playoffs unless we get a bunch of dumb luck.

 

Probably looking at a .500 team next year.

[SouthSideRyan]

I have to imagine the Cubs 5th starters have been sub-replacement level.

[Sammy Sofa]

Considering Fielder + CJ Wilson seem to be only worth 8 wins combined over Pena/replacement player from the stats I'm looking at, I don't think that's enough to make the playoffs unless we get a bunch of dumb luck.

 

Probably looking at a .500 team next year.

 

So what?

 

There's this underlying tone of "playoffs or bust" when talking about 2012. The key is showing significant improvement from this year. If they end up only being .500, great. They'll have money to build with for 2013, too. It's not like the 2012 team will be some kind of explicit barometer as to how the team will play for the next few years.

[Guest]

Considering Fielder + CJ Wilson seem to be only worth 8 wins combined over Pena/replacement player from the stats I'm looking at, I don't think that's enough to make the playoffs unless we get a bunch of dumb luck.

 

Probably looking at a .500 team next year.

 

Adding/subtracting WAR to this year's performance is a faulty premise to begin with.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Considering Fielder + CJ Wilson seem to be only worth 8 wins combined over Pena/replacement player from the stats I'm looking at, I don't think that's enough to make the playoffs unless we get a bunch of dumb luck.

 

Probably looking at a .500 team next year.

 

So what?

 

There's this underlying tone of "playoffs or bust" when talking about 2012. The key is showing significant improvement from this year. If they end up only being .500, great. They'll have money to build with for 2013, too. It's not like the 2012 team will be some kind of explicit barometer as to how the team will play for the next few years.

 

This. While it can happen, its not often that a team goes from being as awful as the Cubs are now straight to a deep playoff run, but keep in mind, Fielder and Wilson would be signing deals past 2012. With them in the mix, the '12 team would be at least .500, and likely contenders. In the next 2 years, between Dempster, Z, and Soriano, a LOT of money comes off the books to keep building. With Fielder, Castro, Garza, Wilson, Soto, Cashner, and hopefully some of our current prospects, as well as whatever we use the Sori/Z/Demp money for, say Kemp or Ethier and another solid SP, we'd definitely have the building blocks for a team that contend long term.

[javy knows my name]

Don't forget that .500 may be enough to win our woeful division next year

[CyHawk_Cub]

Don't forget that .500 may be enough to win our woeful division next year

 

I don't get how peeps forget that. It seems to get brought up in every Cubs-specific thread here.

[Soul]

Don't forget that .500 may be enough to win our woeful division next year

 

I don't get how peeps forget that. It seems to get brought up in every Cubs-specific thread here.

 

I guess we're down to that. Hoping for .500, and hoping it will be good enough to get lucky.

[Sammy Sofa]

Oh, look, there it is again.

[Soul]

When I hit "submit," I said to myself, "N&G will be all over this"

[Sammy Sofa]

Between this and the politics thread you're on a roll tonight.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

It's telling when Hendry says something that makes a lot of sense and people still piss and moan about it.

 

There does seem to be a general feeling that his head must roll or the franchise won't be able to move on.

 

The results speak volumes. To me, it's simple as that. He hasn't gotten it done, for whatever reasons. And he's been given more than enough time to do so. Time to move on.

 

See I'd completely buy that, but then Brian Sabean went and won a WS without Barry Bonds.

[Soul]

This was my pre-emptive strike against .500 - ism.

 

I thought you wanted me to reach for the skies?

[Sammy Sofa]

The Cubs can have a hugely successful season next year even if it means they "only" get back to .500 and don't make the playoffs

[Little Slide Rooter]

This was my pre-emptive strike against .500 - ism.

 

I thought you wanted me to reach for the skies?

 

What it comes down to is that were going to have to look beyond 2012, and I know that can be hard. You can say we've been patient for 103 years, but in reality, non of us have been patient longer than Indians, Brewers, Astros, or Mariners fans. We'd all be thrilled if they could somehow turn this mess into a 95 win team, but thats not very likely. I think we can actually be above .500, but were probably going to have to give them a few years to build a champion, and like I said before, this team has a ton of money coming off the books between 2012-2014, as well as some solid talent on the farm.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

.500ism is probably the best we can hope for in 2012, but there's nothing wrong with that. This isn't the NBA where being a good team but not the best leaves you screwed. They can still develop prospects, sign draft picks and make smart long-term decisions while trying to cheap-o a bad division next year.

[Soul]

.500ism is probably the best we can hope for in 2012, but there's nothing wrong with that. This isn't the NBA where being a good team but not the best leaves you screwed. They can still develop prospects, sign draft picks and make smart long-term decisions while trying to cheap-o a bad division next year.

 

Wait. This is what I essentially argued a couple weeks ago and was told to seek psychological help.