Re: New GM/Cubs Future News Articles

[Guest]

I'm glad that Theo's a Dunkin' coffee guy.

 

Boston is the city of Dunkin Donuts, there are something like 120 DD's in Boston city limits alone. DD is the best coffee.

 

Seriously. They are all over New England. When I lived in New Hampshire, the town I lived in (population 5,000) had exactly 6 things other than houses. A gas station, a police station, a high school, tiny office building, and 2 Dunkin Donuts.

 

When I moved back to Chicago, I couldn't believe that if I wanted Dunkin, I couldn't just drive down there street wherever I was and find a Dunkin.

 

At least Chicago has Dunkin Donuts. :(

[Sammy Sofa]

I could see it being fairly quiet if Hoy-stein just wants to keep financial flexibility. All the contracts coming off the books, they may be hoping for ideal trade targets in the next few years rather than free agents.

 

I could see it, but I think it would be a mistake. The Cubs remain starved for 1B in the system and there are two great ones available who are on division rivals. This type of player doesn't become available every year, and most of the time when they do, the two biggest spenders, Boston and NYY are much more likely to get those players. An improved system should also lessen the negative impact of a decline by either player 5-6 years from now.

 

I don't think it would be a mistake at all. I don't think either Pujols or Fielder are good choices to give huge long contracts to. That's a Jim Hendry move.

 

No and no.

[Banedon]

I got the feeling Ramirez will go and Z will stay, anyone else get that feeling? Either that or Theo was hinting at the Cubs needing him to keep what trade value he has up. Too soon to tell but I think the Cubs will take some offensive chances and throw a lot of money at pitching.

 

Someone please shoot Phil Rogers for riding the Bryan LaHair bandwagon, I am fine with him on the bench but getting significant starting time is silly for a large market team.

No. I don't see any scenario where Z pitches for us again.

 

Theo wasn't as sure about that on ctl as you are. He said starting pitching is something the cubs need and thzZ does have talent. But said he needed to do a lot of listening.

[XZero771679666304]

I could see it being fairly quiet if Hoy-stein just wants to keep financial flexibility. All the contracts coming off the books, they may be hoping for ideal trade targets in the next few years rather than free agents.

 

I think it will be busy with regard to personnel, coaches and organizational infrastructure regardless of player movement. Add in whatever player movement does take place and it will make for a fascinating offseason.

[Vinestal]

I could see it being fairly quiet if Hoy-stein just wants to keep financial flexibility. All the contracts coming off the books, they may be hoping for ideal trade targets in the next few years rather than free agents.

 

I could see it, but I think it would be a mistake. The Cubs remain starved for 1B in the system and there are two great ones available who are on division rivals. This type of player doesn't become available every year, and most of the time when they do, the two biggest spenders, Boston and NYY are much more likely to get those players. An improved system should also lessen the negative impact of a decline by either player 5-6 years from now.

 

I don't think it would be a mistake at all. I don't think either Pujols or Fielder are good choices to give huge long contracts to. That's a Jim Hendry move.

 

No and no.

yes and yes, throwing a heap of money at this team is not going to make it a contender, especially when the money is thrown at the wrong people. It has to many holes. Fielder is not the type of player you want to try to build a team around. Pujols is aging. My opinion, we'll see. I trust whatever Theo decides to do, but I think a lot of the people on this board just want to see them make a big splash and spend a lot of money because they can.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't think it would be a mistake at all. I don't think either Pujols or Fielder are good choices to give huge long contracts to. That's a Jim Hendry move. That's a flashy move.

 

That is ridiculous. Jim Hendry never acquired such a player.

[mookie]

Zambrano will be fine once he has read his copy of "The Cubs Way".

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The 2014 Cubs will need a first baseman and a middle-of-the-order bat, too. To the anti-Pujols/Fielder people, how do you plan on filling those holes?

 

I can't wait until we have something to talk about besides the 10 millionth variation of "Should we or shouldn't we give a big contract to an elite 1bman?" in every thread.

[JockJones]

I could see it being fairly quiet if Hoy-stein just wants to keep financial flexibility. All the contracts coming off the books, they may be hoping for ideal trade targets in the next few years rather than free agents.

 

I could see it, but I think it would be a mistake. The Cubs remain starved for 1B in the system and there are two great ones available who are on division rivals. This type of player doesn't become available every year, and most of the time when they do, the two biggest spenders, Boston and NYY are much more likely to get those players. An improved system should also lessen the negative impact of a decline by either player 5-6 years from now.

 

I don't think it would be a mistake at all. I don't think either Pujols or Fielder are good choices to give huge long contracts to. That's a Jim Hendry move.

 

No and no.

 

To meatballs, Soriano = Pujols. Don't spend money on the best player in baseball because our idiot previous GM overpaid for an above average (at the time) player. If you can sign one of those guys, it is worth it.

[jersey cubs fan]

yes and yes, throwing a heap of money at this team is not going to make it a contender, especially when the money is thrown at the wrong people. It has to many holes. Fielder is not the type of player you want to try to build a team around. Pujols is aging. My opinion, we'll see. I trust whatever Theo decides to do, but I think a lot of the people on this board just want to see them make a big splash and spend a lot of money because they can.

 

What is this nonsense? Why isn't Fielder the type of player you want to build around? He's a tremendous first basemen and he's not old. Pujols is aging, and he's still a tremendous player. The Cubs have nothing in the system that even resembles a first basemen. They need one, and they have a rare chance to acquire one this very offseason. And they have the financial flexiblity to get it done and thrive as a result now and in the longterm.

[Sammy Sofa]

I could see it being fairly quiet if Hoy-stein just wants to keep financial flexibility. All the contracts coming off the books, they may be hoping for ideal trade targets in the next few years rather than free agents.

 

I could see it, but I think it would be a mistake. The Cubs remain starved for 1B in the system and there are two great ones available who are on division rivals. This type of player doesn't become available every year, and most of the time when they do, the two biggest spenders, Boston and NYY are much more likely to get those players. An improved system should also lessen the negative impact of a decline by either player 5-6 years from now.

 

I don't think it would be a mistake at all. I don't think either Pujols or Fielder are good choices to give huge long contracts to. That's a Jim Hendry move.

 

No and no.

yes and yes, throwing a heap of money at this team is not going to make it a contender, especially when the money is thrown at the wrong people. It has to many holes. Fielder is not the type of player you want to try to build a team around. Pujols is aging. My opinion, we'll see. I trust whatever Theo decides to do, but I think a lot of the people on this board just want to see them make a big splash and spend a lot of money because they can.

 

This team can throw a heap of money around, and should. Spending big money isn't automatically a bad thing. Not spending money isn't automatically a good thing. Spreading around your money to make middling improvements in several areas isn't worth it if you're avoiding an obvious slam dunk. The Cubs have a gaping whole both in the middle of the lineup and at 1B and they have two excellent candidates available in Fielder and perhaps The Greatest Hitter of All Time. They'd be stupid to not try and pursue one of them, since both will almost certainly give you at least 5 years of excellent play and ARE guys you can build a team around. Personally, I'd prefer Pujols because his unearthly level of play ideally puts him in a position where despite his age his decline will still have him hitting while above most (or atleast around the top of the pack) past his mid-30's.

[Sammy Sofa]

To meatballs, Soriano = Pujols. Don't spend money on the best player in baseball because our idiot previous GM overpaid for an above average (at the time) player. If you can sign one of those guys, it is worth it.

 

Yeah, it's really ridiculous. How someone can think signing those guys would be a "Hendry movie" is beyond me. If that's a Hendry move than Hendry is still the GM today and the Cubs probably have at least 1 WS in the last 8 years.

[PrimeTime]

I have this feeling that they're going to re-sign Pena with everyone saying how he's the tremendous guy and leader in the clubhouse, Theo's type of guy, his passion for wanting to stay here.Etc.. Ugh ,I hope I'm wrong.

[mookie]

I have this feeling that they're going to re-sign Pena with everyone saying how he's the tremendous guy and leader in the clubhouse, Theo's type of guy, his passion for wanting to stay here.Etc.. Ugh ,I hope I'm wrong.

 

Don't worry, deep breathes. You are wrong.

[jersey cubs fan]

I have this feeling that they're going to re-sign Pena with everyone saying how he's the tremendous guy and leader in the clubhouse, Theo's type of guy, his passion for wanting to stay here.Etc.. Ugh ,I hope I'm wrong.

 

I will absolutely be pissed that they pissed away an opportunity to significantly improve the 2012 team and damage a division rival. I won't blame Theo though. It's probably Crane's fault.

[Backtobanks]

I got the feeling Ramirez will go and Z will stay, anyone else get that feeling? Either that or Theo was hinting at the Cubs needing him to keep what trade value he has up. Too soon to tell but I think the Cubs will take some offensive chances and throw a lot of money at pitching.

 

Someone please shoot Phil Rogers for riding the Bryan LaHair bandwagon, I am fine with him on the bench but getting significant starting time is silly for a large market team.

No. I don't see any scenario where Z pitches for us again.

 

Theo wasn't as sure about that on ctl as you are. He said starting pitching is something the cubs need and thzZ does have talent. But said he needed to do a lot of listening.

 

I kept hearing him talk about "buying into the program", "everybody on the same page", "everybody accepting responsibility", "players supporting their team mates", etc. None of that sounds like Carlos Zambrano.

[JockJones]

I have this feeling that they're going to re-sign Pena with everyone saying how he's the tremendous guy and leader in the clubhouse, Theo's type of guy, his passion for wanting to stay here.Etc.. Ugh ,I hope I'm wrong.

 

Sign him and Pujols. Lefty/righty platoon, amiright?!

[Sammy Sofa]

I have this feeling that they're going to re-sign Pena with everyone saying how he's the tremendous guy and leader in the clubhouse, Theo's type of guy, his passion for wanting to stay here.Etc.. Ugh ,I hope I'm wrong.

 

I really don't. I think it's more likely that Fielder or Pujols is their big splash and not much else in terms of big FA moves (like signing Wilson) before next season. Re-signing Pena is just...dumb. The Cubs desperately need a middle of the order bat and a 1B and Pena is neither a long-term solution, nor do they have anyone in the system to play 1B, nor is the 1B market looking like much at all for a couple years.

 

Theo was reportedly "wowed" by Ricketts' plans for this team, and I can't imagine for a guy like Theo (and the guys he's bringing in) that he would be so swayed by something that included "uh, yeah, you know how badly we need a #3 hitter and 1B? And how Fielder and Pujols are out there? Sorry, your choice is Pena or worse."

[inari]

I don't think it would be a mistake at all. I don't think either Pujols or Fielder are good choices to give huge long contracts to. That's a Jim Hendry move. That's a flashy move.

 

That is ridiculous. Jim Hendry never acquired such a player.

 

But Alfonso Soriano was really expensive and so are they!!!!!!

[USSoccer]

I didn't see CTL, so what was alluded to that makes people think Aramis is gone?

[Guest]

He hinted at 2012 being a rebuilding year in CTL.

 

 

I didn't really get that impression. He said their highest priority is 2012 right now. He reiterated that every year is an opportunity to win and every opportunity to win is sacred and that he would never go into an offseason without the intent to win. He also reiterated the parallel planes w/regard to the farm and major league team and that they are separate.

 

He went on to mention how you have to figure out which risks are worth taking and talked finding good values in free agency.

 

 

 

He also seemed to hint that Z might be sticking around. One of the reporters mentioned that the Cubs need starting pitching and only really had two starters in Garza and Dempster...Rogers (IIRC) later asked specifically about Zambrano, and Theo started out by saying, "Well, like you said, we are in need of pitching," and talked about how you never want to give up value if a player can give it to you. Talked about how Zambrano has talent and that he needs to talk to people about what went down before he figures out what he'll do there. He did go on to say that there are times you need to cut ties and that a good organization recognizes that....but I did not get the impression at all that he was set on dumping Z.

Edited October 26, 2011 by David

[Guest]

I got the feeling Ramirez will go and Z will stay, anyone else get that feeling? Either that or Theo was hinting at the Cubs needing him to keep what trade value he has up. Too soon to tell but I think the Cubs will take some offensive chances and throw a lot of money at pitching.

 

Someone please shoot Phil Rogers for riding the Bryan LaHair bandwagon, I am fine with him on the bench but getting significant starting time is silly for a large market team.

No. I don't see any scenario where Z pitches for us again.

 

Theo wasn't as sure about that on ctl as you are. He said starting pitching is something the cubs need and thzZ does have talent. But said he needed to do a lot of listening.

 

I kept hearing him talk about "buying into the program", "everybody on the same page", "everybody accepting responsibility", "players supporting their team mates", etc. None of that sounds like Carlos Zambrano.

 

He also talked about dealing with each individual in a certain way to maximize their production and value.

[Guest]

I didn't see CTL, so what was alluded to that makes people think Aramis is gone?

 

I didn't get that impression. He said it's something they have to deal with very soon and that he has his own opinion from afar (which is probably that he's a very good player - because he's Theo Epstein and he's really smart) and that he'd have to do a lot of listening before he would make a decision on it.

 

 

I get the feeling that a lot of the people who are misreading the things he's saying don't really know what Theo Epstein is about.

[jersey cubs fan]

I got the feeling Ramirez will go and Z will stay, anyone else get that feeling? Either that or Theo was hinting at the Cubs needing him to keep what trade value he has up. Too soon to tell but I think the Cubs will take some offensive chances and throw a lot of money at pitching.

 

Someone please shoot Phil Rogers for riding the Bryan LaHair bandwagon, I am fine with him on the bench but getting significant starting time is silly for a large market team.

No. I don't see any scenario where Z pitches for us again.

 

Theo wasn't as sure about that on ctl as you are. He said starting pitching is something the cubs need and thzZ does have talent. But said he needed to do a lot of listening.

 

I kept hearing him talk about "buying into the program", "everybody on the same page", "everybody accepting responsibility", "players supporting their team mates", etc. None of that sounds like Carlos Zambrano.

 

Zambrano's issues have always been tied more into how poorly he handles losing. It's not like he's some stats obsessed fried chicken in the clubhouse eating jerk. He's the first guy to celebrate with his teammates.

[Guest]

 

I really don't. I think it's more likely that Fielder or Pujols is their big splash and not much else in terms of big FA moves (like signing Wilson) before next season. Re-signing Pena is just...dumb. The Cubs desperately need a middle of the order bat and a 1B and Pena is neither a long-term solution, nor do they have anyone in the system to play 1B, nor is the 1B market looking like much at all for a couple years.

 

Theo was reportedly "wowed" by Ricketts' plans for this team, and I can't imagine for a guy like Theo (and the guys he's bringing in) that he would be so swayed by something that included "uh, yeah, you know how badly we need a #3 hitter and 1B? And how Fielder and Pujols are out there? Sorry, your choice is Pena or worse."

 

 

I could see him being a bit gun shy/risk averse on a massive deal like that for a guy who isn't 26 or 27 years old (or, in Fielder's case, gives you reason for pause long term, plus isn't as good) after what has happened in Boston (not that I think he is)... it also could just be that he doesn't think it's worth spending almost 20% of payroll on a position where the ability to hit well isn't as rare.

 

I'm not saying he does...just playing devil's advocate.