Wrigley Renovation Thread

[KingCubsFan]

It seems like lately there's been a run of problems that make me really wonder if they're going to be able to maximize the results once they decide they're done stockpiling assets. You can't have things like "oops, we broke Starlin Castro" or "Don't see anything we like this offseason, pass" when you are trying to compete.

 

Well, they have the opportunity to fix Castro. Which they need to do. I'm not sure they would have passed on this offseason, if Tanaka had been posted much earlier. That said, the fact they're saying they saved money this offseason DOES create the expectation it will be spent soon. Next year at the latest, in my mind.

 

I imagine there's a good chance it will be needed next year to make up for the 300k loss in attendance they are projecting.

I really hope our front office isn't making decisions based on how it will affect attendance.

[Guest]

~85 wins depending on a shark trade?

 

as a projection, 85 wins is pretty good though.

 

Well yeah but that "projection" includes a lot of unlikely events

Each of those events is reasonably likely. It's just the combination of all of them going right that is almost impossible.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

 

I imagine there's a good chance it will be needed next year to make up for the 300k loss in attendance they are projecting.

I really hope our front office isn't making decisions based on how it will affect attendance.

 

No one said they were, but considering how much of an impact revenue has on baseball operations, they probably should consider it at least a factor.

[Guest]

If we don't have a pair of major signings next offseason, I'll be shocked. It's likely we can do it AND keep our payroll around where it is right now.

 

I honestly think this exact sentence could have been posted in 2011, 2012 and 2013 as well.

 

It doesn't matter if they have the money, they just don't want to do it.

 

It'll certainly be a test of can't v. won't. In previous offseasons they didn't have the financial wherewithal(assuming a ~100 million budget like has been spoken to by the FO) to make multiple impact signings even if they did want to, unless it meant intentionally throwing out replacement level dreck in multiple other places. That's not the case this year, as there's a wave of potentially impact hitters trying to break into MLB(minimizing the replacement level dreck problem) and the financial resources to make multiple large commitments to players if they want to. I don't particularly think that it means they're likely to go out and sign multiple impact FAs, but it could very easily still mean signing one of Masterson/Scherzer/Lester, trading for Cargo/Ethier/Stanton, and still have some flexibility to do things like extend Samardzija, give Baez a Longoria contact, etc, depending on the exact details.

 

Swinging and missing on this offseason means that it's going to take some unlikely circumstances for the team to be projected as a playoff team heading into 2015. That's not the same as saying they pushed a year back on the rebuild though, as it doesn't really take a lot of imagination at all to get to a team that's expected to win more than they lose, and therefore is only some slight variance(in player projection, pythag luck, etc) from playing in October.

[Guest]

It seems like lately there's been a run of problems that make me really wonder if they're going to be able to maximize the results once they decide they're done stockpiling assets. You can't have things like "oops, we broke Starlin Castro" or "Don't see anything we like this offseason, pass" when you are trying to compete.

 

Well, they have the opportunity to fix Castro. Which they need to do. I'm not sure they would have passed on this offseason, if Tanaka had been posted much earlier. That said, the fact they're saying they saved money this offseason DOES create the expectation it will be spent soon. Next year at the latest, in my mind.

 

I imagine there's a good chance it will be needed next year to make up for the 300k loss in attendance they are projecting.

I really hope our front office isn't making decisions based on how it will affect attendance.

 

I hope they are, because sabotaging attendance means sabotaging revenue which means sabotaging baseball operations, especially for a team that, as Theo has stated, depends more than most on gate revenues.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I think we already saw can't vs. won't tested this offseason, and won't won.

 

They are interested in two types of major free agents:

1) The unicorns like Tanaka or Darvish that are just entering their prime

2) The absolute last piece of an already-contention-level team, like Peralta for the Cardinals this year.

 

Otherwise, they will pass and pass and pass some more. Unless we somehow win 81+ games this year on the backs of incredible internal development, then the most I'd expect next year is a single Edwin Jackson-level signing.

 

Then, like TT said, you've probably got a team that has a .500ish projection, so you'll probably miss the playoffs but have enough of a shot that you can't be accused of punting either.

[Guest]

I think we already saw can't vs. won't tested this offseason, and won't won.

 

They are interested in two types of major free agents:

1) The unicorns like Tanaka or Darvish that are just entering their prime

2) The absolute last piece of an already-contention-level team, like Peralta for the Cardinals this year.

 

Otherwise, they will pass and pass and pass some more. Unless we somehow win 81+ games this year on the backs of incredible internal development, then the most I'd expect next year is a single Edwin Jackson-level signing.

 

Then, like TT said, you've probably got a team that has a .500ish projection, so you'll probably miss the playoffs but have enough of a shot that you can't be accused of punting either.

 

I think you're making a lot of assumptions that you don't have near enough information to be making.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Most of it comes straight from Epstein's interviews, and the rest comes from his actions.

[Pushfrog98]

Can someone let me know if any Wrigley discussion happened in the last 4 pages? The "Tom Ricketts" thread spilled into this one.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Can someone let me know if any Wrigley discussion happened in the last 4 pages? The "Tom Ricketts" thread spilled into this one.

 

Nothing new.

[Guest]

Most of it comes straight from Epstein's interviews, and the rest comes from his actions.

 

This offseason is the first time they haven't spent everything available to them. Tanaka complicated things. It is slightly disconcerting that they haven't made an effort on some of the SP's out there, but who really knows what they've offered.

 

Where do you see the 2015 payroll being, if you had to put money on it?

[Guest]

Can someone let me know if any Wrigley discussion happened in the last 4 pages? The "Tom Ricketts" thread spilled into this one.

 

Nothing since what Bernstein said about city hall putting pressure on the rooftops.

[SouthSideRyan]

Most of it comes straight from Epstein's interviews, and the rest comes from his actions.

 

This offseason is the first time they haven't spent everything available to them. Tanaka complicated things. It is slightly disconcerting that they haven't made an effort on some of the SP's out there, but who really knows what they've offered.

 

Where do you see the 2015 payroll being, if you had to put money on it?

 

The fact that there isn't so much as a whisper connecting the cubs to the other starting pitchers left after tanaka I find very concerning. It's one thing to use your "budget" on a Japanese star who you can make some money back on through non ticket means, it's another to actually spend it to solely improve the mlb team.

 

I expect the mlb payroll to be at 80-90m next year which is a continued disgrace

[KingCubsFan]

It seems like lately there's been a run of problems that make me really wonder if they're going to be able to maximize the results once they decide they're done stockpiling assets. You can't have things like "oops, we broke Starlin Castro" or "Don't see anything we like this offseason, pass" when you are trying to compete.

 

Well, they have the opportunity to fix Castro. Which they need to do. I'm not sure they would have passed on this offseason, if Tanaka had been posted much earlier. That said, the fact they're saying they saved money this offseason DOES create the expectation it will be spent soon. Next year at the latest, in my mind.

 

I imagine there's a good chance it will be needed next year to make up for the 300k loss in attendance they are projecting.

I really hope our front office isn't making decisions based on how it will affect attendance.

 

I hope they are, because sabotaging attendance means sabotaging revenue which means sabotaging baseball operations, especially for a team that, as Theo has stated, depends more than most on gate revenues.

When the team wins, attendance rises. Plain and simple. It's that way for every team in every sport. Unless it's basketball, attendance will not rise long-term due to one player. Focus on creating a long-term winning product, and higher attendance will be a byproduct.

[davell]

I can see a Homer Bailey signing next offseason, along with a 40-50 mill expenditure on an IFA that's unknown at this point. Something along those lines. But it IS dependent on how Castro bounces back and how Javy and KB look.

 

I find it completely laughable though, that anyone thinks we're sitting on gobs of money and just not spending it. They can't even live up to their Arizona complex and build around it, as they were supposed to, after getting the entire project funded by others.

[Guest]

When the team wins, attendance rises. Plain and simple. It's that way for every team in every sport. Unless it's basketball, attendance will not rise long-term due to one player. Focus on creating a long-term winning product, and higher attendance will be a byproduct.

 

And they will almost certainly have to spend money on free agents to become a winning team, even with this historically awesome collection of young talent.

[Guest]

I can see a Homer Bailey signing next offseason, along with a 40-50 mill expenditure on an IFA that's unknown at this point. Something along those lines. But it IS dependent on how Castro bounces back and how Javy and KB look.

 

I find it completely laughable though, that anyone thinks we're sitting on gobs of money and just not spending it. They can't even live up to their Arizona complex and build around it, as they were supposed to, after getting the entire project funded by others.

 

I really don't think that Arizona thing is a money issue.

[davell]

Most of it comes straight from Epstein's interviews, and the rest comes from his actions.

 

This offseason is the first time they haven't spent everything available to them. Tanaka complicated things. It is slightly disconcerting that they haven't made an effort on some of the SP's out there, but who really knows what they've offered.

 

Where do you see the 2015 payroll being, if you had to put money on it?

 

The fact that there isn't so much as a whisper connecting the cubs to the other starting pitchers left after tanaka I find very concerning. It's one thing to use your "budget" on a Japanese star who you can make some money back on through non ticket means, it's another to actually spend it to solely improve the mlb team.

 

I expect the mlb payroll to be at 80-90m next year which is a continued disgrace

 

I don't even disagree with the payroll amount or that it's a disgrace obviously. But with what's on our payroll currently, it allows for a couple of major signings even within that.

[SouthSideRyan]

When the team wins, attendance rises. Plain and simple. It's that way for every team in every sport. Unless it's basketball, attendance will not rise long-term due to one player. Focus on creating a long-term winning product, and higher attendance will be a byproduct.

 

And they will almost certainly have to spend money on free agents to become a winning team, even with this historically awesome collection of young talent.

 

Sarcasm?

[SouthSideRyan]

I can see a Homer Bailey signing next offseason, along with a 40-50 mill expenditure on an IFA that's unknown at this point. Something along those lines. But it IS dependent on how Castro bounces back and how Javy and KB look.

 

I find it completely laughable though, that anyone thinks we're sitting on gobs of money and just not spending it. They can't even live up to their Arizona complex and build around it, as they were supposed to, after getting the entire project funded by others.

 

I really don't think that Arizona thing is a money issue.

 

Then what? They negotiated in bad faith and never planned on building anything?

[SouthSideRyan]

Most of it comes straight from Epstein's interviews, and the rest comes from his actions.

 

This offseason is the first time they haven't spent everything available to them. Tanaka complicated things. It is slightly disconcerting that they haven't made an effort on some of the SP's out there, but who really knows what they've offered.

 

Where do you see the 2015 payroll being, if you had to put money on it?

 

The fact that there isn't so much as a whisper connecting the cubs to the other starting pitchers left after tanaka I find very concerning. It's one thing to use your "budget" on a Japanese star who you can make some money back on through non ticket means, it's another to actually spend it to solely improve the mlb team.

 

I expect the mlb payroll to be at 80-90m next year which is a continued disgrace

 

I don't even disagree with the payroll amount or that it's a disgrace obviously. But with what's on our payroll currently, it allows for a couple of major signings even within that.

 

Like I said up thread, until we trade shark, we can't even afford one major signing at that payroll level.

[Guest]

When the team wins, attendance rises. Plain and simple. It's that way for every team in every sport. Unless it's basketball, attendance will not rise long-term due to one player. Focus on creating a long-term winning product, and higher attendance will be a byproduct.

 

And they will almost certainly have to spend money on free agents to become a winning team, even with this historically awesome collection of young talent.

 

Sarcasm?

 

Only slight exaggeration. Hitting wise, especially given how rare power has become in today's game, this is pretty special.

[Guest]

I can see a Homer Bailey signing next offseason, along with a 40-50 mill expenditure on an IFA that's unknown at this point. Something along those lines. But it IS dependent on how Castro bounces back and how Javy and KB look.

 

I find it completely laughable though, that anyone thinks we're sitting on gobs of money and just not spending it. They can't even live up to their Arizona complex and build around it, as they were supposed to, after getting the entire project funded by others.

 

I really don't think that Arizona thing is a money issue.

 

Then what? They negotiated in bad faith and never planned on building anything?

 

I have no idea what the hold up is nor will I try to take a guess when I don't have any information about anything aside from one or two reports that came out.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Most of it comes straight from Epstein's interviews, and the rest comes from his actions.

 

This offseason is the first time they haven't spent everything available to them. Tanaka complicated things. It is slightly disconcerting that they haven't made an effort on some of the SP's out there, but who really knows what they've offered.

 

Where do you see the 2015 payroll being, if you had to put money on it?

 

In past offseasons, they've chosen to spend the money anywhere else but big-name FAs.

 

I'm guessing $80m-$85m for 2015.

[Guest]

Most of it comes straight from Epstein's interviews, and the rest comes from his actions.

 

This offseason is the first time they haven't spent everything available to them. Tanaka complicated things. It is slightly disconcerting that they haven't made an effort on some of the SP's out there, but who really knows what they've offered.

 

Where do you see the 2015 payroll being, if you had to put money on it?

 

The fact that there isn't so much as a whisper connecting the cubs to the other starting pitchers left after tanaka I find very concerning.

They need to sign Ubaldo.