New GM/Cubs Future News Articles

October 11, 2011

Its hard to see how Pujols or Fielder could turn the mess we had on the field this year into a playoff team. Maybe your right. Id also add, its not just the offense thats weak. The starting rotation needs 2 or 3 more arms as well.

Again, the offense was already average and you'd be replacing an average 1B with a 1B who is a hell of a lot better. You also don't have to get rid of Ramirez.

The offense isn't weak. It wasn't strong, but it could be if you replaced Pena with Pujols. The pitching staff was a problem. Some of it was health and when it comes to health it is very difficult to know what you are going to get. I'm not thinking they have much of a chance to turn into a potential #1 seed next year, but they should be able to field a contender. And there is no good reason to hope for another bad season when you can realistically hope to be at least decent for 6 months.

You don't have to, but you most likely are and TT has convinced me that it's probably a good decision.

His declining defense also mitigates a lot of his offense.

Vinestal · October 11, 2011

Its hard to see how Pujols or Fielder could turn the mess we had on the field this year into a playoff team. Maybe your right. Id also add, its not just the offense thats weak. The starting rotation needs 2 or 3 more arms as well.

Again, the offense was already average and you'd be replacing an average 1B with a 1B who is a hell of a lot better. You also don't have to get rid of Ramirez.

The offense isn't weak. It wasn't strong, but it could be if you replaced Pena with Pujols. The pitching staff was a problem. Some of it was health and when it comes to health it is very difficult to know what you are going to get. I'm not thinking they have much of a chance to turn into a potential #1 seed next year, but they should be able to field a contender. And there is no good reason to hope for another bad season when you can realistically hope to be at least decent for 6 months.

I think if you could find a way to improve the defense, the pitching staff would suddenly look a lot better.

Fielder certainly doesn't upgrade the defense.

UMFan83 · October 11, 2011

Updated article from the Globe. Doesn't give us any new news regarding Theos decision but it does make some good points about what's going on right now and what sort of time table were looking at.

Plus it makes fun of sullys article.

http://t.co/xEWxb8sE

Hairyducked Idiot · October 11, 2011

I think if you could find a way to improve the defense, the pitching staff would suddenly look a lot better.

Fielder certainly doesn't upgrade the defense.

Brett Jackson, another year older for Starlin Castro, and possibly a new 3b will.

Hairyducked Idiot · October 11, 2011

In the process of looking at the Cubs' defense numbers on the fangraphs team page, I see that they are crediting with Darwin Barney as +5 runs baserunning last year, and Campana as +10 runs defensively over average. Small ball!

CP_414 · October 11, 2011

And like Vin, you're thinking in terms if having to immediately going from what we are now to a 90 win team with nothing in between. While it's not impossible, it's not a realistic expectation. It's more realistic to hope for at least 1 80 some win team in between.

Or it's more realistic to think that this year's record has little to do with next year's record and they start 0-0.

With neutral health this probably wasn't a 90 loss team this year.

Exactly. You can't just take last year's record and factor in new players. The returning players will not perform at exactly the same level as last year, and the injuries will not be at the same level. How many games better were the 11 D'backs from the 10 D'Backs? Was Adrian Gonzalez worth 20 wins to the 2010/2011 Padres? Who did the Reds lose that cost them so many wins in 2011 from 2010?

If the Cubs add Pujols or Fielder and a solid starting pitcher like a Shields, Danks, CJ Wilson, etc; while the Cards lose Pujols and the Brewers lose Fielder the Cubs could easily be in the divisional race...not to mention set up very well for the following year when they have additional money to spend. With the money the Cubs have to spend there is no reason to punt 2012.

Fred Hornkohl · October 11, 2011

Just one, really...

Garza, Dempster, Wells, New Guy, Cashner/someone else
We lost 91 games last year. Adding Fielder and 1 pitcher is not going to result in a 18-20 game swing, particularly when you account for the fact that Ramirez is likely gone, Soriano will continue to decline, etc.

Do you realize how many games were started by absolute garbage starting pitchers for us this year?

Well...... since you asked...........

Team record by starting pitcher

CUBS are 18-16 when Dempster starts
CUBS are 13-11 when Zambrano starts
CUBS are 16-15 when Garza starts
CUBS are 11-12 when Wells starts
CUBS are 1-0 when Cashner starts
CUBS are 4-13 when Coleman starts
CUBS are 0-5 when Russell starts
CUBS are 1-8 when Davis starts
CUBS are 7-9 when Lopez starts
CUBS are 0-2 when Ortiz starts

October 11, 2011

Thank God for those scrubs, or we would be going into this offseason with Jim still at the controls.

CP_414 · October 11, 2011

Just one, really...

Garza, Dempster, Wells, New Guy, Cashner/someone else
We lost 91 games last year. Adding Fielder and 1 pitcher is not going to result in a 18-20 game swing, particularly when you account for the fact that Ramirez is likely gone, Soriano will continue to decline, etc.

Do you realize how many games were started by absolute garbage starting pitchers for us this year?

Well...... since you asked...........
Team record by starting pitcher

CUBS are 18-16 when Dempster starts
CUBS are 13-11 when Zambrano starts
CUBS are 16-15 when Garza starts
CUBS are 11-12 when Wells starts
CUBS are 1-0 when Cashner starts
CUBS are 4-13 when Coleman starts
CUBS are 0-5 when Russell starts
CUBS are 1-8 when Davis starts
CUBS are 7-9 when Lopez starts
CUBS are 0-2 when Ortiz starts

Great stats. Injuries will happen in 2012, too...but after this September, I think Theo (I hope!) will make rotation depth a top priority when he can.

CubColtPacer · October 11, 2011

In the process of looking at the Cubs' defense numbers on the fangraphs team page, I see that they are crediting with Darwin Barney as +5 runs baserunning last year, and Campana as +10 runs defensively over average. Small ball!

Campana's numbers are fascinating. They have him worth 1.5 WAR in part-time play. If he had been up the entire season he could have been a 2.5-3 win bench player. That's why I would be happy to see him on the bench next season. He's a guy who can generate lots of positive value because it's so obvious when to use him, and he's really amazing at the things he does well. I think they might be overrating him a tad (I could buy his range is the best in the league but his defensive numbers seem to be too absurdly good) but he is still one of the only guys in the league who can overcome his awful bat with defense/baserunning.

squally1313 · October 11, 2011

Just one, really...

Garza, Dempster, Wells, New Guy, Cashner/someone else
We lost 91 games last year. Adding Fielder and 1 pitcher is not going to result in a 18-20 game swing, particularly when you account for the fact that Ramirez is likely gone, Soriano will continue to decline, etc.

Do you realize how many games were started by absolute garbage starting pitchers for us this year?

Well...... since you asked...........
Team record by starting pitcher

CUBS are 18-16 when Dempster starts
CUBS are 13-11 when Zambrano starts
CUBS are 16-15 when Garza starts
CUBS are 11-12 when Wells starts
CUBS are 1-0 when Cashner starts
CUBS are 4-13 when Coleman starts
CUBS are 0-5 when Russell starts
CUBS are 1-8 when Davis starts
CUBS are 7-9 when Lopez starts
CUBS are 0-2 when Ortiz starts

Roughly .500 when a top 4 pitcher throws (58-54), 13-37 the rest of the time. Since it's not realistic to expect a fifth start to win much more than 50% of his games (and usually less), plus factoring in a relatively healthy year for the offense, we were probably a 76-80 win team, talent wise. Signing a middle of a rotation guy (or Wilson, best case scenario) bumps us up a few wins, replacing Pena with a premium first baseman gives us a few more. So, conservatively, 85 or so wins next year? Probably won't win the division, but keeps us in contention. Some financial flexibility (Soriano), a good GM, and young players emerging keeps that number going up, and we'll be in great shape in a couple years.

El Duderino · October 11, 2011

CUBS are 4-13 when Coleman starts
CUBS are 0-5 when Russell starts
CUBS are 1-8 when Davis starts

Jesus

UMFan83 · October 11, 2011

So we would have finished 85-77 if our starting rotation was Dempster, Zambrano, Garza, Wells and Cashner all year.

Or we could have finished 40-122 if our rotation was Coleman, Russell, Davis, Lopez, and Ortiz.

Bull · October 11, 2011

CUBS are 4-13 when Coleman starts
CUBS are 0-5 when Russell starts
CUBS are 1-8 when Davis starts

Jesus

Not to further derail this thread, but how much difference would Carlos Silva have made over that list of "scrubs"?

haubrich91 · October 11, 2011

I can't believe this!

E.J. · October 11, 2011

You can continue discussing crappy pitchers here if you'd like. A new thread has been made with a new article about Epstein. Please post about Theo there.

PrimeTime · October 11, 2011

Its on Roto as well..Ohhhh boy

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein is "on the cusp" of leaving Boston to take a job with the Cubs, reports the Boston Herald.

Per writer Steve Buckley, two sources have confirmed that Chicago's offer "is believed to include powers greater than he has in Boston, with an announcement expected to be made 'within the next 24 to 48 hours." Compensation will have to be worked out between the organizations first, with the Red Sox expected to ask for legitimate value, be it money, players, or both. Epstein, 38, has been Boston's GM for nine years. His teams won two World Series titles and made the playoffs in six of nine seasons. A 7-20 September collapse cost Terry Francona his managerial job and Boston may soon be seeking a replacement at general manager as well.

XZero771679666304 · October 11, 2011

My fear has been that Theo could be using the Cubs to leverage a promotion/extension from the Sox. However, it seems Epstein and Lucchino have been at odds, and Henry and Lucchino seem close, so I'm not sure how likely that is.

Either way, we're either on the brink of something awesome, or being set up for a doozy of a gut punch.

Banedon · October 11, 2011

Sportscenter just mentioned it as breaking news, per the Boston Herald.

PrimeTime · October 11, 2011

lol at the comments from the Red sox fans on the report.

who gives a bleep, they suck with or without him

Posted 39 mins ago Reply Link Abusive

NODEABLA

Good riddance to this guy...he knifed Francona in the back!!

Posted 39 mins ago Reply Link Abusive

SportsVet

Hey Theo, you won't need the gorilla suit this time.

Posted 36 mins ago Reply Link Abusive

sailor21