Front Office Concerned About Spending Big $ on One Player

[MrCub14]

From Buster Olney's Twitter.

 

@Buster_ESPN:

 

Just mentioned: In some important corners of the Cubs' front office, there is concern about investing huge $ in one player this winter.

[J.R.]

Good.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Yeah, Carlos Zambrano had another tantrum, so they should just spread the wealth amongst a bunch of guys like Jorge Cantu, Wilson Betemit, Edwin Jackson, and Jason Frasor.

[TruffleShuffle]

no, not good.

[Sammy Sofa]

I will [expletive] murder someone.

[MrCub14]

I will [expletive] murder someone.

 

+1

 

Do Cubs fans still think Mark Cuban would have been a bad thing for this franchise? At least he is passionate and does everything he can do to make his team a contender. The Ricketts are cheap, clueless, and worst of all...content of Jim Hendry. This team makes me sick to my stomach.

[Guest]

Well then spend big money to bring in two players like we've all been saying.

[seanhopper]

The Cubs better call off the convention this year. It's going to be ugly.

[Sammy Sofa]

Do Cubs fans still think Mark Cuban would have been a bad thing for this franchise?

 

Did they ever think that? It seemed like most fans, here or in general, wanted Cuban to buy the team. I know I did.

[toonsterwu]

I don't have a big problem with the comment, provided that it is done in the context of making the best decision possible for the franchise, and not over-reacting to mistakes in recent years. It's a thin line to draw.

 

That said, fundamentally, I still find it hard for the team to be more than .500-ish team in 2012 that depends on some luck happening for a good season. There's a need for at least 2 middle of the order bats this offseason. We're likely breaking in a new CF. I still believe we need a better bat in the top two spots of the lineup to pair with Castro. I mean, legitimately, there's concerns with probably 5 spots in the everyday lineup, which doesn't included the yo-yoing production of Geovany Soto's major league career so far (I mean, there's arguably concerns in RF/LF/1st/3rd and arguably 2nd). The rotation needs a 2/3 type starter to go with Dempster to slot behind Garza, AND with Zambrano likely gone, will likely need an innings eater on the back end, and that's to allow, say, Wells/Coleman and other system options to battle for a spot.

 

If they are concerned that committing too much to Prince Fielder in one offseason, when the club might not be ready to compete for a year or two, isn't in the best interest of the organization, perhaps due to concerns on Fielder's physique, then okay, I don't have a problem with that.

[E.J.]

The Cubs better call off the convention this year. It's going to be ugly.

 

I think most Cubs fans have already gone past the anger stage well into the apathy stage.

[Sammy Sofa]

I sure as [expletive] have a problem with that.

 

Prince is young and is going to be productive for years even if the fat catches up to him down the line. And next season doesn't have to be over .500 for it to be a huge step in the right direction. Passing on Fielder or Pujols because they're not likely to win more than 85 games next year is beyond stupid.

[MrCub14]

Do Cubs fans still think Mark Cuban would have been a bad thing for this franchise?

 

Did they ever think that? It seemed like most fans, here or in general, wanted Cuban to buy the team. I know I did.

 

Maybe I just remember the haters (I hate that term, but can't think of a better one). I remember lots of bad-mouthing. Saying he was a punk, etc.. I was very disappointed about him missing out on the team. However, I was very optimistic about the Ricketts. I'm no longer optimistic. They are very clueless. There is nothing more detrimental to a professional franchise than bad owners. And we could be in for a long wait at this pace. But I guess that's what us Cubs fans do best.

[Sammy Sofa]

Do Cubs fans still think Mark Cuban would have been a bad thing for this franchise?

 

Did they ever think that? It seemed like most fans, here or in general, wanted Cuban to buy the team. I know I did.

 

Maybe I just remember the haters (I hate that term, but can't think of a better one). I remember lots of bad-mouthing. Saying he was a punk, etc.. I was very disappointed about him missing out on the team. However, I was very optimistic about the Ricketts. I'm no longer optimistic. They are very clueless. There is nothing more detrimental to a professional franchise than bad owners. And we could be in for a long wait at this pace. But I guess that's what us Cubs fans do best.

 

I really don't remember much anti-Cuban sentiment around here at all.

 

And for me the jury is still out on the Ricketts. As frustrating as "reports" like this are, they're mostly bull [expletive]. This year has sucked and Hendry should have been fired after last year, but this year's draft has gone a LONG way to living up (as much as one can in the short run) to what they were talking about when it came to building internally, as well as their investment in international player development. This offseason is going to be a big test, no doubt, but I'm not willing to write them off yet.

[TruffleShuffle]

they need to get out of this mentality that spending big money is automatically a disaster. yes it is, if you spend it on a good-not-great player like soriano and give him a ton of years, or give it to zambrano who's a headcase and not a true front of the rotation pitcher. albert pujols has been one of the best hitters in baseball for 10 years; he's not a marginal star.

[erik316wttn]

Yup, no Pujols or Fielder.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I sure as [expletive] have a problem with that.

 

Prince is young and is going to be productive for years even if the fat catches up to him down the line. And next season doesn't have to be over .500 for it to be a huge step in the right direction. Passing on Fielder or Pujols because they're not likely to win more than 85 games next year is beyond stupid.

 

I don't think a lot of people have noticed that this team is now on pace to win 70 games this year, and I think 75 seems within reach. So it's not like we're asking for a 20-game turnaround or anything. They're not *that* far from getting to 85 wins.

 

NL 1b:

.268 .347 .445 .793

Cubs 1b:

.220 .332 .435 .767

 

NL No. 3 hitters:

.279 .351 .447 .798

Cubs No. 3 hitters (warning, this one is sickening):

.249 .284 .394 .678

 

I'll admit to being a bit skeptical on the big signing earlier in the year, but I was wrong. It couldn't be more obvious. This team needs a PR boost, they need a 1b for next year, they need a middle-of-the-order bat. They have a lot of money to spend. Two of the biggest names in the game, who happen to be middle-of-the-order bats who play 1b, are going to be available this offseason, and signing one would weaken (cripple?) a key divisional rival. It might be the most obvious move in the history of the franchise.

[javy knows my name]

Maybe they're really concerned about signing Pujols to big years and money, but they're cool with Prince at fewer years/money.

 

I hate my life.

[Sammy Sofa]

they need to get out of this mentality that spending big money is automatically a disaster. yes it is, if you spend it on a good-not-great player like soriano and give him a ton of years, or give it to zambrano who's a headcase and not a true front of the rotation pitcher. albert pujols has been one of the best hitters in baseball for 10 years; he's not a marginal star.

 

Right. You see people here bringing up Soriano in these discussions, as if a big contract is automatically a bad thing. It's just so shortsighted and no way to run a big market team. The key is giving out the RIGHT mega contracts more often than not.

 

Basically this just doesn't make any sense. The Cubs have to spend big to have a shot of not being awful next year. There's top shelf FA available. I'm sorry, but the Ricketts aren't that dumb. This Tweet reeks of sensationalist nonsense.

[Sammy Sofa]

I sure as [expletive] have a problem with that.

 

Prince is young and is going to be productive for years even if the fat catches up to him down the line. And next season doesn't have to be over .500 for it to be a huge step in the right direction. Passing on Fielder or Pujols because they're not likely to win more than 85 games next year is beyond stupid.

 

I don't think a lot of people have noticed that this team is now on pace to win 70 games this year, and I think 75 seems within reach. So it's not like we're asking for a 20-game turnaround or anything. They're not *that* far from getting to 85 wins.

 

NL 1b:

.268 .347 .445 .793

Cubs 1b:

.220 .332 .435 .767

 

NL No. 3 hitters:

.279 .351 .447 .798

Cubs No. 3 hitters (warning, this one is sickening):

.249 .284 .394 .678

 

I'll admit to being a bit skeptical on the big signing earlier in the year, but I was wrong. It couldn't be more obvious. This team needs a PR boost, they need a 1b for next year, they need a middle-of-the-order bat. They have a lot of money to spend. Two of the biggest names in the game, who happen to be middle-of-the-order bats who play 1b, are going to be available this offseason, and signing one would weaken (cripple?) a key divisional rival. It might be the most obvious move in the history of the franchise.

 

Exactly, which is why this rumor is most likely horse [expletive]. I'm sorry, but the Ricketts aren't that stupid. At the very least it's just glaringly obvious good business sense.

 

And the Cubs' #3 hitter stats are skewed by Quade stupidly not having it manned only by Pena or Aramis.

[WrigleyField 22]

I too would have a concern in the context of too many years, but not overall yearly value.

 

And of course there's really only a few guys worth the real big money.

[Sammy Sofa]

I too would have a concern in the context of too many years, but not overall yearly value.

 

And of course there's really only a few guys worth the real big money.

 

And there's two of them available after this season.

[TruffleShuffle]

And for me the jury is still out on the Ricketts. As frustrating as "reports" like this are, they're mostly bull [expletive]. This year has sucked and Hendry should have been fired after last year, but this year's draft has gone a LONG way to living up (as much as one can in the short run) to what they were talking about when it came to building internally, as well as their investment in international player development. This offseason is going to be a big test, no doubt, but I'm not willing to write them off yet.

 

yeah, weren't people bitching after last year's draft and every time we didn't sign an expensive international free agent that ricketts' talk about investing in the farm system was just lip service? well, the cubs are going to be one of the top spenders in the draft this year and signed a bunch of cubans (who don't appear to be any good, mind you) and i believe spent 7 figures on a pair of players from the dominican and venezuela. so maybe we shouldn't flip out and start whining every time someone who may not know anything sends out a tweet.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I will [expletive] murder someone.

 

+1

 

And at the same time...meh. I'll believe it when they actually pass on one of the 1B.

 

All this bad press doesn't have me as worried as I thought it might make me. I'm firmly in the "any press is good press" arena on this stuff. The way people are writing about the Cubs this year you'd swear they're the Pirates and haven't had a winning season since they lost the best player in baseball ~20 years ago. I just don't see that, even if 3 years is kinda sorta close to 20.

[MrCub14]

And for me the jury is still out on the Ricketts. As frustrating as "reports" like this are, they're mostly bull [expletive]. This year has sucked and Hendry should have been fired after last year, but this year's draft has gone a LONG way to living up (as much as one can in the short run) to what they were talking about when it came to building internally, as well as their investment in international player development. This offseason is going to be a big test, no doubt, but I'm not willing to write them off yet.

 

yeah, weren't people bitching after last year's draft and every time we didn't sign an expensive international free agent that ricketts' talk about investing in the farm system was just lip service? well, the cubs are going to be one of the top spenders in the draft this year and signed a bunch of cubans (who don't appear to be any good, mind you) and i believe spent 7 figures on a pair of players from the dominican and venezuela. so maybe we shouldn't flip out and start whining every time someone who may not know anything sends out a tweet.

 

LOL? Buster Olney doesn't know anything? Really? That's like saying Adam Schefter doesn't have any NFL credibility. C'mon man. I know it's Twitter. But that doesn't change the fact that Buster Olney is arguably the most knowledgeable baseball source out there.