Re: New GM/Cubs Future News Articles

[Banedon]

Spate of interesting tweets from Buster Olney -- looks like Theo had some sort of buyout arrangement with the Red Sox that the Cubs will be taking on.

 

Buster_ESPN Buster Olney

BOS fully prepared for Epstein's departure. One member of BOS's ownership group telling friends he feels betrayed,but is resigned to change.

 

The Cubs have had a list of GM candidates, and Epstein's name was at the top of that list. Sources say he has met with CHC twice.

 

For Epstein, his salary wouldn't change much in shifting from Red Sox to Cubs, which speaks to his desire for the next job opportunity.

 

Epstein had negotiation conclusion bonus with BOS; Cubs assume that contractual obligation.

 

Cubs' final compensation to Epstein in duration of his contract closer to $20 million than $15 million, because of $3.5m conclusion bonus.

 

Sources: MLB has closely monitored Cubs' negotations with Epstein, given its concern over how his financial package would impact GM market.

 

https://twitter.com/#!/Buster_ESPN

 

Good stuff, thanks Laura.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I think the "average" player puts up something like a 2 WAR.

 

ok, the last 2 years he's been 4.4

 

What about the last three years?

 

how about 4?

 

That'd just be silly.

[Old Style]

The ESPN text was based on Olney's reports.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm a little confused about the buyout language, are the Cubs picking up Theo's tab for buying out of his own contract or is Boston buying out the rest of his contract and the Cubs reimbursing them? If it's the latter that would seem to end any talk of other compensation, and obviously confirm they wanted him out.

[CUBZ99]

How are the Cubs above average at only 2 or 3 spots? Garza, Dempster, Zambrano and Wells are all above average pitchers (don't start with the #1, #2 nonsense, a pitcher is a pitcher, an ace isn't a position). Ramirez and Castro are above average. Soto, Barney, Pena and Soriano are probably all a tick above average.

 

Marshall and Marmol are above average, Samardzija is above average.

 

Based on 2011, the only average/above average starting pitcher the Cubs have is Garza. Based on WHIP/ERA Wells, Z and Dempster were all in the bottom third of NL pitchers with over 100 IP. Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but I don't see Z turning it around at this point, and although Dempster did turn it around toward the end of the year, he is not getting younger.

 

In regard to position players, offensively, Soto and Barney are well below avg. Soto ranks 10th in NL in OPS for C with over 200 ABs and Barney ranked 17th.

[Magnetic Curses]

of course the red sox are getting most of the attention on espn

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Based on 2011, the only average/above average starting pitcher the Cubs have is Garza. Based on WHIP/ERA Wells, Z and Dempster were all in the bottom third of NL pitchers with over 100 IP. Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but I don't see Z turning it around at this point, and although Dempster did turn it around toward the end of the year, he is not getting younger.

 

In regard to position players, offensively, Soto and Barney are well below avg. Soto ranks 10th in NL in OPS for C with over 200 ABs and Barney ranked 17th.

 

Barney makes up a bit with his defense. WHIP/ERA is heavily influenced by the Cubs' abysmal defense.

[Banedon]

I'm a little confused about the buyout language, are the Cubs picking up Theo's tab for buying out of his own contract or is Boston buying out the rest of his contract and the Cubs reimbursing them? If it's the latter that would seem to end any talk of other compensation, and obviously confirm they wanted him out.

 

My guess (cuz it is unclear from what Olney said) is that Theo would've been due $3.5mil bonus at the end of his contract. Leaving early, he wouldn't get that, and as part of the deal, the Cubs agreed to pay that bonus.

[jersey cubs fan]

How are the Cubs above average at only 2 or 3 spots? Garza, Dempster, Zambrano and Wells are all above average pitchers (don't start with the #1, #2 nonsense, a pitcher is a pitcher, an ace isn't a position). Ramirez and Castro are above average. Soto, Barney, Pena and Soriano are probably all a tick above average.

 

Marshall and Marmol are above average, Samardzija is above average.

 

Based on 2011, the only average/above average starting pitcher the Cubs have is Garza. Based on WHIP/ERA Wells, Z and Dempster were all in the bottom third of NL pitchers with over 100 IP. Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but I don't see Z turning it around at this point, and although Dempster did turn it around toward the end of the year, he is not getting younger.

 

In regard to position players, offensively, Soto and Barney are well below avg. Soto ranks 10th in NL in OPS for C with over 200 ABs and Barney ranked 17th.

 

Soto is an above average catcher. And Barney's defense supposedly ranks pretty damn high. He's probably a tick above average.

[Magnetic Curses]

i can live with barney hitting 8th.

[BeerHere]

Based on 2011, the only average/above average starting pitcher the Cubs have is Garza. Based on WHIP/ERA Wells, Z and Dempster were all in the bottom third of NL pitchers with over 100 IP. Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but I don't see Z turning it around at this point, and although Dempster did turn it around toward the end of the year, he is not getting younger.

 

In regard to position players, offensively, Soto and Barney are well below avg. Soto ranks 10th in NL in OPS for C with over 200 ABs and Barney ranked 17th.

 

Barney makes up a bit with his defense. WHIP/ERA is heavily influenced by the Cubs' abysmal defense.

I'm not following your logic. Walks, hits and ERA are not impacted by errors. Am I being overly simplistic?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Based on 2011, the only average/above average starting pitcher the Cubs have is Garza. Based on WHIP/ERA Wells, Z and Dempster were all in the bottom third of NL pitchers with over 100 IP. Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but I don't see Z turning it around at this point, and although Dempster did turn it around toward the end of the year, he is not getting younger.

 

In regard to position players, offensively, Soto and Barney are well below avg. Soto ranks 10th in NL in OPS for C with over 200 ABs and Barney ranked 17th.

 

Barney makes up a bit with his defense. WHIP/ERA is heavily influenced by the Cubs' abysmal defense.

I'm not following your logic. Walks, hits and ERA are not impacted by errors. Am I being overly simplistic?

 

Yes.

[Little Slide Rooter]

i can live with barney hitting 8th.

 

Me too, but if we have a better option, I'd prefer it.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Based on 2011, the only average/above average starting pitcher the Cubs have is Garza. Based on WHIP/ERA Wells, Z and Dempster were all in the bottom third of NL pitchers with over 100 IP. Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but I don't see Z turning it around at this point, and although Dempster did turn it around toward the end of the year, he is not getting younger.

 

In regard to position players, offensively, Soto and Barney are well below avg. Soto ranks 10th in NL in OPS for C with over 200 ABs and Barney ranked 17th.

 

Barney makes up a bit with his defense. WHIP/ERA is heavily influenced by the Cubs' abysmal defense.

I'm not following your logic. Walks, hits and ERA are not impacted by errors. Am I being overly simplistic?

Hits and ERA are impacted by poor defenders who cannot get to balls they should get to.

[bukie]

Based on 2011, the only average/above average starting pitcher the Cubs have is Garza. Based on WHIP/ERA Wells, Z and Dempster were all in the bottom third of NL pitchers with over 100 IP. Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but I don't see Z turning it around at this point, and although Dempster did turn it around toward the end of the year, he is not getting younger.

 

In regard to position players, offensively, Soto and Barney are well below avg. Soto ranks 10th in NL in OPS for C with over 200 ABs and Barney ranked 17th.

 

Barney makes up a bit with his defense. WHIP/ERA is heavily influenced by the Cubs' abysmal defense.

I'm not following your logic. Walks, hits and ERA are not impacted by errors. Am I being overly simplistic?

If a defender gets to a ball and boots it/airmails it, it's an error.

 

If a defender has bad range and can't get to a ball, it's a hit.

 

Both are affected by the defender.

[Elrhino]

If you bitched about the safari, you should have been ashamed of yourself the moment that bitching left your mind and hit the keyboard. If you bitched about the 2010 draft, there's really not much to be ashamed of. If you had doubts about Ricketts prior to the day the Hendry firing was announced (that's me) there's really nothing to be ashamed of.

 

Yep. I was lukewarm on the Ricketts from the moment they didn't fire Hendry and shifted to completely happy with ownership when he did. Prior to that, they were saying the right things, and I liked the money being put in to Wrigley and the other facilities, but I couldn't get past the Hendry thing to all out happiness.

 

yup. i've begun to believe that perhaps Ricketts had a plan along these lines the whole time, but, as an astute businessman (which he is, afterall), upon entering a business field he knew little more than outsider fodder about, allowed himself the time to learn the mechanics of the inside world of baseball team ownership, while being ok with taking the heat for the time being, knowing that eventually he would come out victorious (i use that term relatively, understand), also that, truly being an astute businessman one absolutely can not crumble to the constant outside pleas for change, but, on the other hand, can not ignore them altogether either, as that too is folly. the line of progression Ricketts has made/continues to make, if it is kept up, perhaps leads me to think he was a better option than the Mavericks owner whose name is honestly escaping me right now.

 

I was a big Cuban proponent, but I had a pretty good feeling about Ricketts. I guess they're generally all good businessmen given they have enough capital to buy a team, but I like owners that come from the money market and high-tech sectors as they seem to be a little more analytical and data based in thinking. I generally get a little quesy about owners who made money in real estate (Sam Zell)

[Sammy Sofa]

[NCCf]With all these ticks someone is going to get Lyme disease.[/NCCf]

[minnesotacubsfan]

it will still fall through.

 

(using the Sulley reverse jinx psychology method here)

[Guest]

[NCCf]With all these ticks someone is going to get Lyme disease.[/NCCf]

hahahahahahahahahahaha

[Cubs Fan Dan]

i can live with barney hitting 8th.

 

Me too, but if we have a better option, I'd prefer it.

 

 

I would still rather platoon DeWitt/Baker and use Barney in a utlility/late inning defensive sub role. I am intrigued with DJ. My feeling is the Cubs will let ARam go, replace him with Cuddyer/Encarnacion possibly a trade(Headley, Michael Young etc..) and go all out for Fielder/Wilson. I also just have a feeling Soriano may be dumped and the Cubs will go after a RF trade target. "Experts" keep stating the Cubs cannot compete next year but there are several scenerios in which they could definitely compete.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think the "average" player puts up something like a 2 WAR.

 

ok, the last 2 years he's been 4.4

 

What about the last three years?

 

how about 4?

 

That'd just be silly.

 

5 it is.

[SouthSideRyan]

How much fun is this offseason going to be??

[Laura]

this is Kaplan, but he seems to be repeating what he's been told:

 

Sources tell us that Ricketts laid out his plan to Epstein and offered him near total authority on baseball decisions with no one to answer to other than the Ricketts family themselves. Epstein has no interest in running the business side of the organization and Ricketts organizational structure is set up to separate both the baseball and the business sides leaving Epstein to concentrate on fixing an organization that needs a new philosophy and must change the culture in the major league clubhouse.

 

Ricketts outlined his plan to build through the farm system while also spending wisely on the acquisition of veteran stars who can make an immediate impact on the Cubs. In fact, sources tell us that Ricketts is not opposed to spending big money on a star player, but for him to sign a mega contract the player must fit long-term with the organization. The acquisition of Adrian Gonzalez by the Red Sox is the type of player and commitment that Ricketts is willing to take on with the Cubs. He looks at Gonzalez as a star player, in the prime of his career and a player who is solid both offensively and defensively in addition to being a person of impeccable character. When opportunities like that come along he wants his Cubs to be in a position to make a move for a superstar. It was that willingness to spend when it makes sense in addition to the increased power and salary that will come with his contract that sold Epstein on Ricketts vision for the organization.

 

In addition, Tom Ricketts stressed to Epstein that the family was committed to the Cubs long term and that it wanted to build the franchise the right way. Not trying to quick-fix the major league roster to improve the record. Instead, he showed Epstein his plans for a new spring training complex, a new state of the art academy in the talent rich Dominican Republic, a long term plan for renovating Wrigley Field and thus increasing revenue streams that will impact the major league payroll. Additionally, Ricketts told Epstein of his family's willingness to spend heavily in the draft and on international signings which should translate to a rapidly improving farm system.

 

Add it all up and sources tell me that Epstein was "blown away" by Ricketts level of commitment], research, and willingness to spend on the developmental side of the game. Add in the long term contract that he will receive along with more power than he has ever had in Boston and the move was a no-brainer from a professional standpoint.

 

=D>

 

http://www.csnchicago.com/baseball-chicago-cubs/news/Kaplan-Epstein-blown-away-by-Ricketts-lo?blockID=576086&feedID=661

[minnesotacubsfan]

 

Add it all up and sources tell me that Epstein was "blown away" by Ricketts level of commitment], research, and willingness to spend on the developmental side of the game. Add in the long term contract that he will receive along with more power than he has ever had in Boston and the move was a no-brainer from a professional standpoint.

 

I am really really beginning to like Ricketts

[Brian]

TOM FN RICKETTS