New GM/Cubs Future News Articles

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Speaking of Epstein, that Carl Crawford contract is looking worse than Soriano's.

 

Isn't it WAY too soon to be declaring that?

 

Yes, but it was a pretty questionable signing at the time too. Fenway pretty much negates one of his greatest abilities, defensive range as a LF, and he won't be in CF there anytime soon for multiple reasons (including he doesn't want to be there).

 

He's still probably going to have a few really good seasons there. He's too talented not to hit at least a ton of doubles of there one year. At least a ton.

[dfnowak]

What's so bad ably Fleita? The position player prospects right now are the best theyve had in forever, and remain the strength of the system. He's someone you look to keep.

 

Fleita is part of the middle ages thinking that's permeated this system over the past decade.

 

This I assume is based on walks in the system? I can't really say I agree, particularly when the bat prospects in the system are a strength rather than a weakness. I'd say our scouting and farm system are also the organizations main strength right now. Theres no real need to weaken that.

 

No only the approach at the plate, but I think the way they are teaching fundamentals could also use a boost. Maybe the newer prospects are doing ok in this department, but the old ones seems to be sorely lacking in this department IMO. You can not say this has been a fundamentally sound organization.

[Castro13]

For all the talk from Kyle about Castros terrible D hes failed to ignore that Castros D has been much much better in the 2nd half of this year. I know errors dont tell it all but the fact Castro has only made 3 since the All Star break shows improvement already.

[Magnetic Curses]

What's so bad ably Fleita? The position player prospects right now are the best theyve had in forever, and remain the strength of the system. He's someone you look to keep.

 

Fleita is part of the middle ages thinking that's permeated this system over the past decade.

 

This I assume is based on walks in the system? I can't really say I agree, particularly when the bat prospects in the system are a strength rather than a weakness. I'd say our scouting and farm system are also the organizations main strength right now. Theres no real need to weaken that.

 

No only the approach at the plate, but I think the way they are teaching fundamentals could also use a boost. Maybe the newer prospects are doing ok in this department, but the old ones seems to be sorely lacking in this department IMO. You can not say this has been a fundamentally sound organization.

 

shouldn't you already know the "fundamentals" when you're 12? seems like the cubs' problem is that they haven't produced any power-hitting prospects ever.

[Guest]

considering a lot of the international players don't even start playing till they're around that age or older (and when they do play younger than that a lot of the times they're just pickup games on the local dirt field), probably not.

[SpongeWorthy]

Imagine youre Theo and you know you'll have the time and resources to build a winner in Chicago. Being the guy that built the teams to end the droughts in Boston AND Chicago...could any GM in anyy sport ever touch that?

[Magnetic Curses]

considering a lot of the international players don't even start playing till they're around that age or older (and when they do play younger than that a lot of the times they're just pickup games on the local dirt field), probably not.

 

ok, then we should focus on fundamentals then and get really good at them.

[Sammy Sofa]

Hopefully Theo can point out to the Ricketts the importance of spending a lot of money. Part of me is still worried is he's going to try and do this on the (relative) cheap and try and keep the payroll below $120 million.

[Guest]

considering a lot of the international players don't even start playing till they're around that age or older (and when they do play younger than that a lot of the times they're just pickup games on the local dirt field), probably not.

 

ok, then we should focus on fundamentals then and get really good at them.

 

in the low minor leagues with a bunch of teenagers?

 

why the hell not?

[MrCub14]

Hopefully Theo can point out to the Ricketts the importance of spending a lot of money. Part of me is still worried is he's going to try and do this on the (relative) cheap and try and keep the payroll below $120 million.

 

:sick:

 

How is that even an option? This is not the time to get cute. We aren't the Oakland A's for christ sakes. We will lose half the fan-base if he pulls those shenanigans. Would a big name GM even look at this job if he thought that Ricketts didn't want to spend money?

[Magnetic Curses]

considering a lot of the international players don't even start playing till they're around that age or older (and when they do play younger than that a lot of the times they're just pickup games on the local dirt field), probably not.

 

ok, then we should focus on fundamentals then and get really good at them.

 

in the low minor leagues with a bunch of teenagers?

 

why the hell not?

 

i've heard this before, cubs players don't learn fundamentals, yadda yadda yadda......cubs should hire ditka, etc.

 

more power, please.

[dfnowak]

considering a lot of the international players don't even start playing till they're around that age or older (and when they do play younger than that a lot of the times they're just pickup games on the local dirt field), probably not.

 

ok, then we should focus on fundamentals then and get really good at them.

 

in the low minor leagues with a bunch of teenagers?

 

why the hell not?

 

i've heard this before, cubs players don't learn fundamentals, yadda yadda yadda......cubs should hire ditka, etc.

 

more power, please.

 

Then what is the point of minor league instructors?

[Magnetic Curses]

are you saying that the only job minor league instructors should be tasked with is teaching fundamentals?

[dfnowak]

are you saying that the only job minor league instructors should be tasked with is teaching fundamentals?

 

No, but isn't that part of their job description? Making sure the players know how to do things like run downs, backing up throws, bunting, where to throw the ball from the oufield, etc.

[Guest]

To be fair, the main fundamental I want them taught is that, most of the time, they should only swing at pitches they can crush, and that working a deep count is better than not doing so.

 

That other stuff is nice, too, though.

[dfnowak]

To be fair, the main fundamental I want them taught is that, most of the time, they should only swing at pitches they can crush, and that working a deep count is better than not doing so.

 

That other stuff is nice, too, though.

 

Agreed, if I had to pick one, that would be it.

[RammyFanny]

Here's a nice little article on Beane.

Since the 2002 season depicted in the book, every team that has wanted a new stadium has gotten or is getting one, except the Athletics and the Tampa Bay Rays. The A’s are blocked from moving to San Jose because of the San Francisco Giants’ territorial rights; the planned Cisco Field in Fremont, Calif., fell through; and there seems to be no viable option for staying in Oakland.

 

It makes one wonder if Beane, signed through 2014, would be intrigued by another general manager’s job, like the one now open with the Chicago Cubs.

“You’re never going to have equilibrium in terms of revenues everywhere,” Beane said. “But, listen, we’re all competitive, so it certainly gets frustrating. Just being able to carve out a future for the franchise has been most frustrating. Because of the venue situation, it’s hard to put together a business plan beyond the next fiscal year.”

“There are a lot of smart guys running teams now, and a lot of the guys who are smart also have a lot of money,” Beane said. “That’s a pretty tough combination to go against. We’ve all started valuing the same things.

 

“Clubs like us and Minnesota used to place really high value on young, inexperienced players. Now teams at the top of the food chain are doing the same thing, and it’s really hard to find trade partners. So it usually comes down to money. The gap between the haves and the have-nots is actually greater today. The window for small-market clubs is shorter and shorter.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/sports/baseball/as-await-film-but-without-the-ending-they-wanted.html?_r=2&ref=sports

[SouthSideRyan]

Can we afford his 50M buyout?

[javy knows my name]

Can we afford his 50M buyout?

 

haha

[Magnetic Curses]

wow, olney really seems convinced we're going to get a huge name.

[Clem Fandango]

Buster Olney has reported that Ricketts is in talk with a local necromancer to bring back the lifeless corpse of Branch Rickey to lead this team to the promised land

[Guest]

Pass on Rickey. Too old school.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Pass on Rickey. Too old school.

 

But he's really into the farm system.

[SouthSideRyan]

Pass on Rickey. Too old school.

 

But he's really into the farm system.

 

More the dirt system.

[WilcoFan]

I vaguely remember stories about how Billy Beane has become a bit disenfranchised with baseball (now that everyone has adopted his ideas) and has somewhat moved on (mentally, at least) to soccer. Its probably total speculation and I can't even remember how old the article was, so its probably bunk. Just something that had occurred to me during this process...