Any chance we'll be good THIS year?

[biittner77]

Last years Pirates were relevant until the deadline. This Cubs team can do that. I believe that they'll be better than expected early (within shouting distance of .500) and fall apart in August. In some respects, that's almost a worst case scenario.

[toonsterwu]

I think they will become more fun to watch as the season progresses. I don't think they can challenge the top of the division, but after the trade deadline and into September, it will be youth wherever possible trying to prove that they deserve to be part of the future of the organization.

 

This is exactly why I have a hard time seeing this team be anything more than a .500 club (a potential youth movement in the 2nd half of the season). Even if we overachieve, If they are too far away come trading deadline (and that could mean simply too many teams above them in the chase), I tend to think that the FO will likely spin some assets off for more long term pieces, if possible (maybe Garza, Dempster, Byrd, perhaps Soto, perhaps DeJesus, perhaps Marmol, maybe another starting pitcher if one is performing well, maybe LaHair if he's hitting well). I think they would need to be smack dab in the playoff chase, say within a few games and not many teams ahead of them, for the FO to consider buying, and well, for us to be in that position would probably require a lot, a lot of luck.

[Guest]

I think they will become more fun to watch as the season progresses. I don't think they can challenge the top of the division, but after the trade deadline and into September, it will be youth wherever possible trying to prove that they deserve to be part of the future of the organization.

 

This is exactly why I have a hard time seeing this team be anything more than a .500 club (a potential youth movement in the 2nd half of the season). Even if we overachieve, If they are too far away come trading deadline (and that could mean simply too many teams above them in the chase), I tend to think that the FO will likely spin some assets off for more long term pieces, if possible (maybe Garza, Dempster, Byrd, perhaps Soto, perhaps DeJesus, perhaps Marmol, maybe another starting pitcher if one is performing well, maybe LaHair if he's hitting well). I think they would need to be smack dab in the playoff chase, say within a few games and not many teams ahead of them, for the FO to consider buying, and well, for us to be in that position would probably require a lot, a lot of luck.

 

Yeah, Epstein's likely dream season this year is for all the veterans on the roster to provide enough value to get something of value in return at the deadline as he continues to flip this club, while also giving the youngsters valuable major league service time.

 

The writing was on the wall when they didn't go out and sign any big long term deals. They signed veterans with potential value and easily tradeable contracts like the Pittsburgh Pirates of old. Only difference is Epstein does have an open wallet to strike when it makes the most sense to do so. He didn't like his prospects for this year, whether it be that too much of Hendry's work still makes up most of this roster or the timing just wasn't right for the big name contracts.

 

It will be interesting to see what kind of pieces he can get out of Byrd, Soriano, Dempster, Maholm, Marmol, etc... if any or all get moved.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I think they will become more fun to watch as the season progresses. I don't think they can challenge the top of the division, but after the trade deadline and into September, it will be youth wherever possible trying to prove that they deserve to be part of the future of the organization.

 

This is exactly why I have a hard time seeing this team be anything more than a .500 club (a potential youth movement in the 2nd half of the season). Even if we overachieve, If they are too far away come trading deadline (and that could mean simply too many teams above them in the chase), I tend to think that the FO will likely spin some assets off for more long term pieces, if possible (maybe Garza, Dempster, Byrd, perhaps Soto, perhaps DeJesus, perhaps Marmol, maybe another starting pitcher if one is performing well, maybe LaHair if he's hitting well). I think they would need to be smack dab in the playoff chase, say within a few games and not many teams ahead of them, for the FO to consider buying, and well, for us to be in that position would probably require a lot, a lot of luck.

 

Yeah, Epstein's likely dream season this year is for all the veterans on the roster to provide enough value to get something of value in return at the deadline as he continues to flip this club, while also giving the youngsters valuable major league service time.

 

The writing was on the wall when they didn't go out and sign any big long term deals. They signed veterans with potential value and easily tradeable contracts like the Pittsburgh Pirates of old. Only difference is Epstein does have an open wallet to strike when it makes the most sense to do so. He didn't like his prospects for this year, whether it be that too much of Hendry's work still makes up most of this roster or the timing just wasn't right for the big name contracts.

 

It will be interesting to see what kind of pieces he can get out of Byrd, Soriano, Dempster, Maholm, Marmol, etc... if any or all get moved.

 

Agreed with the older veterans, but with some of the slightly younger guys gambles like Maholm, Volstad, Sonnenstine, Stewart, and Cardenas my thinking is that with the knowledge that in the next few years they'll start opening up the checkbook to some degree, the hope is that these guys are auditioning for a long term future, and for every roll of the dice that works out, that's one less hole they'll need to fill in the long run. While it may seem that we have a long way to go, we seemingly have SS, CF, and C filled for the future, and those are 3 of the hardest positions to fill. It would be huge if we could add a 3B and a few mid rotation starters and the we could spend the big money on extending Garza and another front end starter. We'd also need some corner outfielders, and I'd like to see us go after a few former top prospects like Michael Taylor or Travis Snider to fill those roles, assuming we get them for a reasonable price for the sake of hoping that one of them could pan out. Another possibility is Delmon Young, assuming his ship hasn't sailed to far away. His 2012 could be the difference between a fairly lucrative 3-4 year contract and a modest 1-2 year.

[Fro]

Sure, it can happen, but a lot of "ifs" have to line up.

[NewUserName]

I have decided to keep my personal happiness with the new regime by keeping my expectation levels real low this year. That is why I am predicting a 60 win season.

[dew1679666265]

Agreed with the older veterans, but with some of the slightly younger guys gambles like Maholm, Volstad, Sonnenstine, Stewart, and Cardenas my thinking is that with the knowledge that in the next few years they'll start opening up the checkbook to some degree, the hope is that these guys are auditioning for a long term future, and for every roll of the dice that works out, that's one less hole they'll need to fill in the long run.

 

Sonnanstine turns 29 and Maholm turns 30 this year. There's not much of a long term for those two.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://deadspin.com/5895213/folks-in-chicago-preparing-for-the-worst-baseball-season-since-the-carter-administration

 

Chicago Magazine makes the case that, new managers Dale Sveum and Robin Ventura notwithstanding, 2012 could be the worst year since 1980, when the Cubs and White Sox finished a combined 53 games out of first place.

[SouthSideRyan]

I have decided to keep my personal happiness with the new regime by keeping my expectation levels real low this year. That is why I am predicting a 60 win season.

 

Real low or real stupid?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Travis Wood isn't the Super Awesome No. 2 starter I envisioned, the case against Darwin Barney has finally convinced me, and Ian Stewart's wrist still hurts.

 

I'm lowering my expectations from high 70s to low 70s for wins.

[jersey cubs fan]

I have decided to keep my personal happiness with the new regime by keeping my expectation levels real low this year. That is why I am predicting a 60 win season.

 

Real low or real stupid?

 

Well if they win 72 and significantly outperform his expections presumably he would be very happy with the new regime and therefore I wouldn't call his plan real stupid at all.

[davell]

Garza is dealt right before AS break to Kansas City. Shark and Volstad post sub- 4 ERA's. Demp and Maholm do not. Wood, Rusin, and Jay Jackson all struggle in the 5th spot. Marmol is slightly better than last year. Bullpen is awful overall, with Beliveau being the only young guy that definitely looks like a keeper. Castro hits 22 homers, bats .303 for season. Soto is solid, nets us a solid return from Tampa in a deadline deal. Barney and Soriano have same season as last yeat. LaHair hits for power, but low avg/obp. Stewart misses second half, Vitters comes up and sucks. Brett and Rizzo both show quite a bit, when called up. Byrd traded for scraps in June to Atlanta. DeJesus has solid year. Final record is 69-93. Not sure what I said earlier, probably mid 70's.

[bleedingblue]

Depends on how they get out of the gate. First month and half are brutal.

 

Nationals, Brewers, Cardinals, Marlins, Reds, Cardinals, Phillies, Reds, Dodgers, Braves, Brewers, Cardinals, Phillies..

 

If they can keep it reasonable early, they got a shot.

[Cubbie Swagger]

Even if everything goes right, I really don't see how we're going to be better than .500 this year. I do like what Theo and Jed are doing with the team, though.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Short answer: Yes, with an if. Long answer: No, with a but.

[Soul]

Even if everything goes right, I really don't see how we're going to be better than .500 this year. I do like what Theo and Jed are doing with the team, though.

 

So your Cubbie Swagger is feeling a little less swaggerish these days.

[Derwood]

Short answer: Yes, with an if. Long answer: No, with a but.

 

Short answer: No

 

Long answer: Nnnnnnnnnnooooooooooooooo

[Guest]

I have decided to keep my personal happiness with the new regime by keeping my expectation levels real low this year. That is why I am predicting a 60 win season.

 

Real low or real stupid?

 

Well if they win 72 and significantly outperform his expections presumably he would be very happy with the new regime and therefore I wouldn't call his plan real stupid at all.

 

He didn't really call his plan stupid. He called his expectations stupid, seeing as how that's what was referred to as "real low" in the original post.

[jersey cubs fan]

I have decided to keep my personal happiness with the new regime by keeping my expectation levels real low this year. That is why I am predicting a 60 win season.

 

Real low or real stupid?

 

Well if they win 72 and significantly outperform his expections presumably he would be very happy with the new regime and therefore I wouldn't call his plan real stupid at all.

 

He didn't really call his plan stupid. He called his expectations stupid, seeing as how that's what was referred to as "real low" in the original post.

 

And his expectations were deliberately set really low so as to make it an easy go to hurdle. So if you say the expectations are stupid you are saying his plan to deliberately set those plans low is stupid.

[Bull]

I have decided to keep my personal happiness with the new regime by keeping my expectation levels real low this year. That is why I am predicting a 60 win season.

 

Real low or real stupid?

 

Well if they win 72 and significantly outperform his expections presumably he would be very happy with the new regime and therefore I wouldn't call his plan real stupid at all.

 

He didn't really call his plan stupid. He called his expectations stupid, seeing as how that's what was referred to as "real low" in the original post.

 

And his expectations were deliberately set really low so as to make it an easy go to hurdle. So if you say the expectations are stupid you are saying his plan to deliberately set those plans low is stupid.

 

really guys? you're better than this.

[wastra]

Honestly, I think a lot of "ifs" have to line up just to keep us from being very very bad.

 

I'm not at all excited about this season, but I'm excited about the potential future. It takes guts to do what needed to be done...that is blowing up the piece meal Hendry roster that tried to catch lightning in a bottle in favor of a organization built for sustained success. It will probably cause short-term heartaches which will eventually give way to long term happiness.

 

My real gripe isn't that they're doing it, it's that it took so many frustrating years and a change in ownership for them to even get started.

[jersey cubs fan]

It takes guts to do what needed to be done...

 

I don't think it takes a lot of guts. I think it's kind of a dick move on their part to throwaway 2012. It's more of a cop out than anything. They could have tried to build a contender in 2012 while simultaneously focusing on the future. Their revenues are more or less locked in for 2012, and there is a honeymoon period with the new regime. They can bomb this season and blame the previous regime for letting things get so bad that they were "forced" to take a dive. It's actually very easy to build a team that will be good in a few years if you don't care about what your team looks like today.

 

This didn't have to happen.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

With even a half-hearted effort, they could have found better position players in a few spots for 2012. They are tanking this season in the truest sense of the word.

 

There are positive aspects to the tanking, so I choose to focus on them, but that's still what this is.

[KingCubsFan]

With even a half-hearted effort, they could have found better position players in a few spots for 2012. They are tanking this season in the truest sense of the word.

 

There are positive aspects to the tanking, so I choose to focus on them, but that's still what this is.

Yeah, I didn't really have a problem with it. I've always advocated going after guys like Ian Stewart and Chris Volstad, so if they end up horrible I won't be too angry. To me, this path is better than repeating history and coming up with a patchwork of veterans to stretch to 85 wins, which realistically is all we could have done without severely hampering Epstein's long-term vision.

[jersey cubs fan]

With even a half-hearted effort, they could have found better position players in a few spots for 2012. They are tanking this season in the truest sense of the word.

 

There are positive aspects to the tanking, so I choose to focus on them, but that's still what this is.

Yeah, I didn't really have a problem with it. I've always advocated going after guys like Ian Stewart and Chris Volstad, so if they end up horrible I won't be too angry. To me, this path is better than repeating history and coming up with a patchwork of veterans to stretch to 85 wins, which realistically is all we could have done without severely hampering Epstein's long-term vision.

 

There is no repeating history. The recent history has been disapointing because their GM took a haphazard and archaic approaching to maintaining the system. There is no reason why they couldn't have done more in 2012 and still have accomplished plenty of long-term visioneering.

 

The media was all too willing to embrace the tanking of this season which just made it all that much more easy for the organization to choose that way.