Ricketts' List of GM Candidates (Chicago Tribune)

[imb]

Im putting all my eggs in the Friedman basket.

[mookie]

I am starting to hope we go with a newbie.

[Pushfrog98]

Not necessarily. Maybe these guys want a position of being able to hire their own GM, instead of being the GM?

I can see your point, but I want to hire a GM, not someone who is going to hire a GM.

[CUBZ99]

It most certainly is flawed. He said that the Cubs are tight with money, and they most definitely are not. Just because they don't spend as much as the Red Sox doesn't make them tight.

 

The Cubs are in and have been in a position to spend more money on payroll and player development than they have spent in the past. Nothing that the new ownership group has done so far has shown a willingness to increase payroll. The only notable change so far, has been an increase in spending on the draft, with a concurrent drop in payroll spending.

 

Why would the GM of a team that spends $50MM more a year in payroll and has consistently spent money on the draft and international signings, go to a team that is cutting back on payroll and has a middle to the back of the pack minor league system?

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

The Cubs are in and have been in a position to spend more money on payroll and player development than they have spent in the past. Nothing that the new ownership group has done so far has shown a willingness to increase payroll. The only notable change so far, has been an increase in spending on the draft, with a concurrent drop in payroll spending.

 

Why would the GM of a team that spends $50MM more a year in payroll and has consistently spent money on the draft and international signings, go to a team that is cutting back on payroll and has a middle to the back of the pack minor league system?

 

No, they will be, this coming offseason.

 

Have you bothered to consider that the Cubs are cutting back on payroll because that team fell apart and it's time to wait out those contracts (all coming off this year and within the next 2 years after)? Or that the Ricketts family hasn't even officially owned the Cubs for two years yet (IIRC, I might be a little off)?

[CUBZ99]

The Cubs are in and have been in a position to spend more money on payroll and player development than they have spent in the past. Nothing that the new ownership group has done so far has shown a willingness to increase payroll. The only notable change so far, has been an increase in spending on the draft, with a concurrent drop in payroll spending.

 

Why would the GM of a team that spends $50MM more a year in payroll and has consistently spent money on the draft and international signings, go to a team that is cutting back on payroll and has a middle to the back of the pack minor league system?

 

No, they will be, this coming offseason.

 

Have you bothered to consider that the Cubs are cutting back on payroll because that team fell apart and it's time to wait out those contracts (all coming off this year and within the next 2 years after)? Or that the Ricketts family hasn't even officially owned the Cubs for two years yet (IIRC, I might be a little off)?

 

The payroll 1 year after the Ricketts bought the Cubs went down from approx $145MM+ to $125MM. Prior to the season Ricketts went cheap on starting pitching with Garza (expensive on minor league talent), cheap on 1B in Pena, and basically failed to address the teams major issues. Now there are rumors that payroll may go down again next year, and that Ricketts is going to shy away from any big contracts. Not exactly confidence inspiring stuff.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

The Cubs are in and have been in a position to spend more money on payroll and player development than they have spent in the past. Nothing that the new ownership group has done so far has shown a willingness to increase payroll. The only notable change so far, has been an increase in spending on the draft, with a concurrent drop in payroll spending.

 

Why would the GM of a team that spends $50MM more a year in payroll and has consistently spent money on the draft and international signings, go to a team that is cutting back on payroll and has a middle to the back of the pack minor league system?

 

No, they will be, this coming offseason.

 

Have you bothered to consider that the Cubs are cutting back on payroll because that team fell apart and it's time to wait out those contracts (all coming off this year and within the next 2 years after)? Or that the Ricketts family hasn't even officially owned the Cubs for two years yet (IIRC, I might be a little off)?

 

The payroll 1 year after the Ricketts bought the Cubs went down from approx $145MM+ to $125MM. Prior to the season Ricketts went cheap on starting pitching with Garza (expensive on minor league talent), cheap on 1B in Pena, and basically failed to address the teams major issues. Now there are rumors that payroll may go down again next year, and that Ricketts is going to shy away from any big contracts. Not exactly confidence inspiring stuff.

 

For good reason as spending more money on that team, a team he had no real part in putting together anyway, would have been futile and obviously so.

 

How should he have addressed the major team issues he ignored (I'm guessing SP and solid veteran 1B on one year deal don't count) fully last offseason?

[davell]

I don't care what the major league payroll is right now. We're not one or probably even 2 guys away from being legit contenders. Ricketts spent a TON in the draft and has spent large on IFA this year as well and has indicated this won't be the only time this will be done. I think it's the correct decision to build thru the system and enhance thru FA. Doesn't mean we'll never spend big on FA. But if they don't this year, while I'd love Pujols or Prince, I'm fine with spending that cash elsewhere and wait til what they may think is a better opportunity down the road. Hell, I commend him for not using the bandaid approach. A couple more true starters coming thru the ranks that are very cost effective means it's much easier to spend big money on one or two pieces than it is right now.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

It most certainly is flawed. He said that the Cubs are tight with money, and they most definitely are not. Just because they don't spend as much as the Red Sox doesn't make them tight.

 

The Cubs are in and have been in a position to spend more money on payroll and player development than they have spent in the past. Nothing that the new ownership group has done so far has shown a willingness to increase payroll. The only notable change so far, has been an increase in spending on the draft, with a concurrent drop in payroll spending.

 

Why would the GM of a team that spends $50MM more a year in payroll and has consistently spent money on the draft and international signings, go to a team that is cutting back on payroll and has a middle to the back of the pack minor league system?

 

Because I'm not sure there aren't four organizations in the AL East that wouldn't easily be the best in the NL Central? (I may have too many negatives in there, it's late).

[davell]

Our system is averagish right now. Maybe even slightly below average. But it won't be for long. The money spent this year won't show dividends for at least one season and probably two. But I have little doubt our system is well on it's way to becoming a perennial top 5 system.

[CUBZ99]

The Cubs are in and have been in a position to spend more money on payroll and player development than they have spent in the past. Nothing that the new ownership group has done so far has shown a willingness to increase payroll. The only notable change so far, has been an increase in spending on the draft, with a concurrent drop in payroll spending.

 

Why would the GM of a team that spends $50MM more a year in payroll and has consistently spent money on the draft and international signings, go to a team that is cutting back on payroll and has a middle to the back of the pack minor league system?

 

No, they will be, this coming offseason.

 

Have you bothered to consider that the Cubs are cutting back on payroll because that team fell apart and it's time to wait out those contracts (all coming off this year and within the next 2 years after)? Or that the Ricketts family hasn't even officially owned the Cubs for two years yet (IIRC, I might be a little off)?

 

The payroll 1 year after the Ricketts bought the Cubs went down from approx $145MM+ to $125MM. Prior to the season Ricketts went cheap on starting pitching with Garza (expensive on minor league talent), cheap on 1B in Pena, and basically failed to address the teams major issues. Now there are rumors that payroll may go down again next year, and that Ricketts is going to shy away from any big contracts. Not exactly confidence inspiring stuff.

 

For good reason as spending more money on that team, a team he had no real part in putting together anyway, would have been futile and obviously so.

 

How should he have addressed the major team issues he ignored (I'm guessing SP and solid veteran 1B on one year deal don't count) fully last offseason?

 

We will never know if not cutting payroll would have made a difference. But it definitely did not help.

[CUBZ99]

I don't care what the major league payroll is right now. We're not one or probably even 2 guys away from being legit contenders. Ricketts spent a TON in the draft and has spent large on IFA this year as well and has indicated this won't be the only time this will be done. I think it's the correct decision to build thru the system and enhance thru FA. Doesn't mean we'll never spend big on FA. But if they don't this year, while I'd love Pujols or Prince, I'm fine with spending that cash elsewhere and wait til what they may think is a better opportunity down the road. Hell, I commend him for not using the bandaid approach. A couple more true starters coming thru the ranks that are very cost effective means it's much easier to spend big money on one or two pieces than it is right now.

 

That is a loser mentality. There is no reason at all that they can't do both.

[TruffleShuffle]

Our system is averagish right now. Maybe even slightly below average. But it won't be for long. The money spent this year won't show dividends for at least one season and probably two. But I have little doubt our system is well on it's way to becoming a perennial top 5 system.

 

spending the money isn't the only thing that matters, they also have to identify the right talent and then develop it properly. the complete lack of patience that is rampant throughout the cubs' entire organization shows that something has been done wrong the last few years - either they're drafting the wrong players or not developing the players properly. or probably some of both.

[dew1679666265]

The payroll 1 year after the Ricketts bought the Cubs went down from approx $145MM+ to $125MM. Prior to the season Ricketts went cheap on starting pitching with Garza (expensive on minor league talent), cheap on 1B in Pena, and basically failed to address the teams major issues. Now there are rumors that payroll may go down again next year, and that Ricketts is going to shy away from any big contracts. Not exactly confidence inspiring stuff.

 

Was there a better SP option out there last offseason than Garza? I wasn't crazy about the trade at the time because I thought we gave up too much, but Garza was still one of the best SP options on the market.

 

Likewise, after Adam Dunn was there a better 1B option on the market than Pena? The Cubs passed on Dunn, according to reports, not because of his pricetag but because Hendry wanted better defense at first base than he felt Dunn would provide. I didn't then and I don't now have a problem with passing on Dunn in favor of Pena. Adrian Gonzalez was also out there but that would have taken a ton of value in both money and prospects to get him - the Red Sox outbidding us doesn't surprise nor disappoint me.

 

Last offseason there simply weren't very many good FA or trade options out there so the Cubs not spending a glut of money makes sense and was a good decision. I'll be the first to complain if the Cubs pass on Pujols/Fielder this offseason, but cutting spending this past offseason could easily simply be a result of a poor FA/trade class and not Ricketts being cheap.

[SouthSideRyan]

What are the better opportunities than spending on two of the best hitters in baseball who play a position we have a glaring hole at in our system?

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Our system is averagish right now. Maybe even slightly below average. But it won't be for long. The money spent this year won't show dividends for at least one season and probably two. But I have little doubt our system is well on it's way to becoming a perennial top 5 system.

 

spending the money isn't the only thing that matters, they also have to identify the right talent and then develop it properly. the complete lack of patience that is rampant throughout the cubs' entire organization shows that something has been done wrong the last few years - either they're drafting the wrong players or not developing the players properly. or probably some of both.

 

Patience is not the only aspect they should be worried about, and it's not the only prerequisite to have.

 

1/3 of the starting players the Cubs have developed themselves on the ML roster (Soto, Barney, Castro) knows how to take a walk. Another is one of the best offensive SSs in baseball despite not ideal patience.

 

You'll also note that the best of the Cubs hitters and prospects have a tendency to not K...and if they do K they usually walk...except for Soriano...Otherwise Ramirez, Lee, Soto, Castro, Vitters, Barney, Jackson, DeVoss, LeMahieu, Flaherty, and from scouting reports Baez and Vogelbach...etc....All guys who are really good at making contact and if they're not great at that then they take walks (Lee, Soto, Jackson, Flaherty, whoever I'm forgetting). If they sign a Pujols/Fielder, then they're signing guys who walk a whole lot and don't really K a ton.

 

I think the whole walks thing is overblown nowadays. It was a much larger problem under old ownership, but I'm less worried about it under Ricketts. He's shown a respect for the saber side of the game (first hire was Kaplan IIRC), and the system has far more interesting position prospects than they've had in a long time. So while we're not the foremost authority on producing ideally patient players, the Cubs have taken steps towards improving their position/hitter development if you're looking to see the steps. I assume most aren't and will only catch on once the ML team starts winning (which is the core of the many issues anyway).

 

I like the contact aggressive approach to hitting the Cubs seem to be taking on...It's one every team wants anyway, and the only reason patience got so specifically emphasized in the first place is that for a while teams undervalued the crap out of it. Now everyone knows patience can be a very valuable aspect to a hitter's game. It's time to expand that idea, and alot of the best teams have already done that.

[Magnetic Curses]

most great hitters aren't necessarily super-patient, it's just that they get pitched around so much.

 

draft hitters that can hit the ball out of the park and you'll get walks.

[mookie]

most great hitters aren't necessarily super-patient, it's just that they get pitched around so much.

 

draft hitters that can hit the ball out of the park and you'll get walks.

 

NO MORE FLEAS!!!!!!

[Vinestal]

Apparently Ricketts has just signed Fleita to a 4 year deal as VP of minor league operations. Wow if that's true that's a terrible sign that things are headed in a bad direction. Why sign player development people before you hire a new GM? Fleita is terrible. Ugh.

[KingCubsFan]

most great hitters aren't necessarily super-patient, it's just that they get pitched around so much.

 

draft hitters that can hit the ball out of the park and you'll get walks.

Unfortunately we already tried that.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=harvey002rya

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=dopira001bri

[Magnetic Curses]

most great hitters aren't necessarily super-patient, it's just that they get pitched around so much.

 

draft hitters that can hit the ball out of the park and you'll get walks.

Unfortunately we already tried that.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=harvey002rya

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=dopira001bri

 

a whole 2 high school players, wow.

[UMFan83]

most great hitters aren't necessarily super-patient, it's just that they get pitched around so much.

 

draft hitters that can hit the ball out of the park and you'll get walks.

 

It worked for Sammy Sosa.

 

Career OBP pre-1998: .308

Career OBP post-1998: .372

 

The problem is, a lot of agressive hitters seem to get exploited in the minors for their free swinging ways and never make it in the bigs long enough to get that kind of treatment from pitchers. I am not exactly asking for super patient prospects, I'd be ok with average patience from them.

[KingCubsFan]

most great hitters aren't necessarily super-patient, it's just that they get pitched around so much.

 

draft hitters that can hit the ball out of the park and you'll get walks.

Unfortunately we already tried that.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=harvey002rya

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=dopira001bri

 

a whole 2 high school players, wow.

2 high school players we invested millions of dollars in and had 80 raw power. Easily the best power prospects we've had in the past 10-15 years (along with Vogelbach). There's plenty of other examples, but those two are the best.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

most great hitters aren't necessarily super-patient, it's just that they get pitched around so much.

 

draft hitters that can hit the ball out of the park and you'll get walks.

Unfortunately we already tried that.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=harvey002rya

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=dopira001bri

 

a whole 2 high school players, wow.

2 high school players we invested millions of dollars in and had 80 raw power. Easily the best power prospects we've had in the past 10-15 years (along with Vogelbach). There's plenty of other examples, but those two are the best.

 

Neither could hit a breaking ball to save their life, and generally had a ton of trouble making contact. They're probably part of the reason the Cubs went after Jaramillo and his contact based/aggressive approach (that hates walks).

[KingCubsFan]

most great hitters aren't necessarily super-patient, it's just that they get pitched around so much.

 

draft hitters that can hit the ball out of the park and you'll get walks.

Unfortunately we already tried that.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=harvey002rya

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=dopira001bri

 

a whole 2 high school players, wow.

2 high school players we invested millions of dollars in and had 80 raw power. Easily the best power prospects we've had in the past 10-15 years (along with Vogelbach). There's plenty of other examples, but those two are the best.

 

Neither could hit a breaking ball to save their life, and generally had a ton of trouble making contact. They're probably part of the reason the Cubs went after Jaramillo and his contact based/aggressive approach (that hates walks).

That was my point. Having power won't translate to walks if you can't make contact in the first place. Power is nice, and we need more of it in the system, but what we really need is guys with good pitch recognition and an idea of what they're doing at the plate. The Cubs have generally lacked those players throughout their history.