Re: Jeff Samardzija is (or was) pretty awesome

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

hamels/Garza/Samardzija/Wood/Maholm in 2013.

 

that's potentially a fantastic rotation, right?

 

It would be, but getting Hamels is a huge longshot.

 

I HEARD HE'S FROM SOCAL

 

Who's going to stop the big bad Dodgers now?

[sneakypower]

hamels/Garza/Samardzija/Wood/Maholm in 2013.

 

that's potentially a fantastic rotation, right?

we're seeing that you can have Halladay, Hamels and Cliff Lee and go sub-.500 through 45 games if your offense is bad enough

 

if we blow all our money on Hamels this offseason, we're likely to be in that situation for next season

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

hamels/Garza/Samardzija/Wood/Maholm in 2013.

 

that's potentially a fantastic rotation, right?

we're seeing that you can have Halladay, Hamels and Cliff Lee and go sub-.500 through 45 games if your offense is bad enough

 

if we blow all our money on Hamels this offseason, we're likely to be in that situation for next season

 

How much is all?

[sneakypower]

i'd be pretty amazed if we had more than $180M in the budget available to spend in just one offseason

[SouthSideRyan]

i'd be pretty amazed if we had more than $180M in the budget available to spend in just one offseason

 

Is that his signing bonus?

[neely crenshaw]

how many years would we need to drop on Hamels to land him. (barring any crazy offers) Wouldn't someone be talking 5?

Although I want to be better next year because this is frustrating as heck to watch/sit through. Are we better served looking at a pitcher the following year? If Hamels is our top dog for 3 seasons (thinking some fall off in the last 1-2 of the deal) Next it seems hard to see serious contending unless everyone we hope (and some we pray) all work out or we spend for help in several spots besides starter.

Right now I just continue to hope that samardjiza and wood continue to produce. Is there any reason at all to push anyone very far this year? Other than making sure he can hold up, we (in theory, only) could shut him down after august and what difference would it make for our season?

unless of course that doomsday date is accurate, then I am going to be really pissed we didn't spend this year.

[sneakypower]

Is that his signing bonus?

you're still committing to spend that money

 

can we really pair that with any meaningful signings on the offensive side?

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Is that his signing bonus?

you're still committing to spend that money

 

can we really pair that with any meaningful signings on the offensive side?

 

Yes...or I should say, most likely, yes.

 

Upton or a trade for...someone.

[neely crenshaw]

Is that his signing bonus?

you're still committing to spend that money

 

can we really pair that with any meaningful signings on the offensive side?

 

Yes...or I should say, most likely, yes.

 

Upton or a trade for...someone.

 

a problem I see is that we need to upgrade catcher. that's a tough spot to add a ton of offense to and still have what you need defensively especially on a what could be a some what limited budget.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

 

a problem I see is that we need to upgrade catcher. that's a tough spot to add a ton of offense to and still have what you need defensively especially on a what could be a some what limited budget.

 

Castillo/Clevenger is fine with me if they trade Soto.

 

I'd prefer they upgrade the OF and rotation first, then probably 2B, which is where the Stephen Drew idea might work.

[neely crenshaw]

 

a problem I see is that we need to upgrade catcher. that's a tough spot to add a ton of offense to and still have what you need defensively especially on a what could be a some what limited budget.

 

Castillo/Clevenger is fine with me if they trade Soto.

 

I'd prefer they upgrade the OF and rotation first, then probably 2B, which is where the Stephen Drew idea might work.

 

not sure but brenly mentioned questions about defense. it was only 1 game but brenly talked of castillo's struggling with handling pitches and he did not receive well. lost several strikes with poor form and it was said that clevenger didn't throw well. hopefully we'll see a lot of both and at least know for sure with them. I'm sure someone who tracks the prospects a bit more would know the low down on them.

I just hope shark continues.We have to have as many of our 'possibles" work out.

 

I will throw out this. It may just be that is was due to happen but I am pleased that we had a pitcher with potential that has actually improved. It gives me hope that the new staff is teaching something. We had so many big time prospects that just failed there had to be an organizational problem. Samardjiza has been great and clearly wood fixed something from spring. Maybe someone down there can work it out with volstad.

[UMFan83]

We should totally just shut Shark down right now and do his Tommy John surgery now so he doesn't have to get it done in a year we actually need him.

[davell]

We should totally just shut Shark down right now and do his Tommy John surgery now so he doesn't have to get it done in a year we actually need him.

I started to laugh.......Then just shook my head, because you probably nailed it.

[17 Seconds]

kind of annoyed that they haven't skipped a start yet.

[Guest]

They did just give him 2 extra days between starts last week.

[UMFan83]

If the Cubs can't come back from a 6-1 deficit, then in Shark's last 7 starts he's 1-6 with a 6.18 ERA with a 1.61 WHIP

 

Edit: Wait, I was assuming the runner on 3rd with 0 outs would score. He'll only be 1-6 with a 5.94 ERA and 1.61 WHIP

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So it turns out you can't just make a TOR starter appear out of nowhere by converting an interesting reliever. :(

[davell]

Well, there's certainly a learning curve with Shark. Hopefully he gets back in a good groove soon. But it looks like he's making Theo's decision on what to do with Garza a little easier.

[gocubs2118]

Well, there's certainly a learning curve with Shark. Hopefully he gets back in a good groove soon. But it looks like he's making Theo's decision on what to do with Garza a little easier.

 

Meaning, trade him?

[davell]

Yeah. The talk early in the season was if Shark looked like he's a TOR guy, it could speed up the rebuild process, because we'd have two very solid starters. If this thing is going to take another 2-3 years, my guess is Theo trades Garza, instead of paying him 45 mill or so in seasons which we aren't contending, then paying him another 45 mill or so for his 32-34 year old seasons once we're contending.

[Sammy Sofa]

Or it makes holding on to him more of a necessity.

[UMFan83]

I didn't mean to imply that Shark is now garbage. Yes he's been bad the last month or so, but when he was on to start the season, people were praising the movement on his pitches and his control. Rick Sutcliffe picked Shark #26 in a 'who you would build your team around' draft. The guy obviously does have talent and his pitches are good..it wasn't a fluke that he started so well (back me up here FIP guys), but there's probably going to be a few bumps in the road. Maybe he'll just keep on sucking and we can call him a bust, but I think its just as likely that he gets it going again and becomes a reliable starter for the next few years

[Magnetic Curses]

shark isn't much younger than garza, though

[Guest]

7 of Shark's last 11 starts have had a FIP of 3.65 or better, and nearly 2/3 of his ER have come in 4 of his 14 starts.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

7 of Shark's last 11 starts have had a FIP of 3.65 or better...

 

Damnation by faint praise.