05/26 Cubs (Maholm) @ Pirates (Correia) 06:15 FOX

[Tryptamine]

Tell me, what is Dolis's appeal? He was never particulary good in the minors, he doesn't strike out anyone despite a high 90's fastball, he walks an absurd number of people despite striking out no one. Why this team even entertained the idea of using him as a high leverage/closer type is absolutely baffling. Can anyone think of a worse pitcher who a team has tried to use as their closer?

[Hawk4Hall]

Theo's plan better be a good one, because I don't even know who's going to command anything in a trade outside Dempster.

 

This team is beyond bad and it's going to take while to get it better considering Theo's vision. I like him and all, but this team might be worse than ever imagined.

 

This is 1997 bad and only the starting pitching is keeping them from being worse.

[Hawk4Hall]

Tell me, what is Dolis's appeal? He was never particulary good in the minors, he doesn't strike out anyone despite a high 90's fastball, he walks an absurd number of people despite striking out no one. Why this team even entertained the idea of using him as a high leverage/closer type is absolutely baffling. Can anyone think of a worse pitcher who a team has tried to use as their closer?

Career set-up guy at best. I don't see him as a legit closer either.

[Guest]

Basically, LaHair got figured out, so our lineup is back in worst case scenario mode.

[UMFan83]

Tell me, what is Dolis's appeal? He was never particulary good in the minors, he doesn't strike out anyone despite a high 90's fastball, he walks an absurd number of people despite striking out no one. Why this team even entertained the idea of using him as a high leverage/closer type is absolutely baffling. Can anyone think of a worse pitcher who a team has tried to use as their closer?

 

I don't know....who would you suggest? I think James Russell is our only reliever that's not terrible.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Tell me, what is Dolis's appeal? He was never particulary good in the minors, he doesn't strike out anyone despite a high 90's fastball, he walks an absurd number of people despite striking out no one. Why this team even entertained the idea of using him as a high leverage/closer type is absolutely baffling. Can anyone think of a worse pitcher who a team has tried to use as their closer?

 

You answered your own questions.

[UMFan83]

Paul Sullivan ‏@PWSullivan

At this rate, Trib may move all my #Cubs articles to the obits page.

 

Ehh...5.7

[Tryptamine]

Tell me, what is Dolis's appeal? He was never particulary good in the minors, he doesn't strike out anyone despite a high 90's fastball, he walks an absurd number of people despite striking out no one. Why this team even entertained the idea of using him as a high leverage/closer type is absolutely baffling. Can anyone think of a worse pitcher who a team has tried to use as their closer?

 

I don't know....who would you suggest? I think James Russell is our only reliever that's not terrible.

 

How about Camp? His splits have been even against R/L, he's struck out 21 in 25IP and he seems to be able to throw the ball over the plate.

Edited May 27, 2012 by Tryptamine

[erik316wttn]

11! =D> =D> =D> =D>

[Fred Hornkohl]

CUBS are on a pace to finish 53-109.

 

 

Go CUBS !!

[El Duderino]

Mike MacDougal got the save for Iowa tonight. He'd fit right in with this bullpen.

[erik316wttn]

Theo may have bitten off a little more than he could chew.

[Sammy Sofa]

Theo may have bitten off a little more than he could chew.

 

Yeah, it's not like he had the ability to try and improve the team or anything. Poor, poor Theo.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Theo may have bitten off a little more than he could chew.

 

Yeah, it's not like he had the ability to try and improve the team or anything. Poor, poor Theo.

 

The only relevance that this season has to Theo's ultimate plan is the fact that Marmol, Soto, and Byrd were supposed to be useful trade chips, and their suckage threw a wrench in those plans. other than that, pretty much everyone that can be considered a part of the future has done as expected, with the exception of Volstad.

[Sosa21MVP]

CUBS are on a pace to finish 53-109.

 

 

Go CUBS !!

 

That would NOT be a record. I expect more, c'mon Cubs! Make history.

 

Or something like that. :?

[Fred Hornkohl]

CUBS are on a pace to finish 53-109.

 

 

Go CUBS !!

 

That would NOT be a record. I expect more, c'mon Cubs! Make history.

 

Or something like that. :?

 

It surely would be a franchise record.

[Sammy Sofa]

Theo may have bitten off a little more than he could chew.

 

Yeah, it's not like he had the ability to try and improve the team or anything. Poor, poor Theo.

 

The only relevance that this season has to Theo's ultimate plan is the fact that Marmol, Soto, and Byrd were supposed to be useful trade chips, and their suckage threw a wrench in those plans. other than that, pretty much everyone that can be considered a part of the future has done as expected, with the exception of Volstad.

 

Keep suckling.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Theo may have bitten off a little more than he could chew.

 

Yeah, it's not like he had the ability to try and improve the team or anything. Poor, poor Theo.

 

The only relevance that this season has to Theo's ultimate plan is the fact that Marmol, Soto, and Byrd were supposed to be useful trade chips, and their suckage threw a wrench in those plans. other than that, pretty much everyone that can be considered a part of the future has done as expected, with the exception of Volstad.

 

Keep suckling.

 

So far, all Theo's done is refused to let himself get sucked into insane bidding wars for Pujols and Fielder. My main problem with sitting out on them despite the supposed available funds is the fact that he didn't use some of it for an all in bid on Darvish and maybe Cespedes, two guys who seemed to epitomize the type of players he was looking for. As for this debacle of a team, he can't be blamed for awful relievers inability to throw strikes and the hitters refusal to bat each other in. I know I sound like one of those religious nuts I've spent my life ridiculing, but we may have to suffer through some [expletive] we don't quite understand, but while I may bitch and moan anout it, I have a ton of faith that these guys are leading us in the right direction.

[UMFan83]

Im guessing at a certain point this offseason Theo decided that it was pointless and harmful to do anything but try for the #1 pick. I remember reading something a couple of months after he came here that he was supposedly surprised at how the organization was in even worse shape than it appeared from the outside. I do think he made an honest run at Cespedes as was reported but at the end of the day, he decided it wasn't in the Cubs best interest to match Oaklands 4 year contract and have 2-3 years of that deal come during seasons that the Cubs will be terrible with or without Cespedes.

 

Bottom line, I don't really think the organization is in worse shape than it was 2 months ago. It's become obvious that Theo built this team to bottom out this year and while they may be worse than even he anticipated, as long as they come out of the season with the number 1 pick, the season will be a success as it relates to his long term plan. I would probably expect an offseason similar to last year and a season similar to this one next year. Until the players the Cubs assemble through trades and the farm show significant improvement Theo wont go crazy with FA and acquiring high priced talent.

 

This would seem to fit with the thought that the Cubs are bottoming out while the Cubs attempt to get funding to rebuild Wrigley. I could be wrong but I think Rickets ideally wants to renevate in 2013 and play in a renovated Wrigley starting in 2014. This would theoretically coincide with the Cubs rebuilding the farm system into a strength and the Cubs will be able to afford a much higher baseball budget with all the new revenue streams a new Wrigley will provide. I'm not sure if they are holding the payroll down just because the team is bottoming out or if the whispers about Rickets financial situation after buying the Cubs are true, but it seems to me that the Cubs plans to operate as a big market club again are tied into a renovated Wrigley and the additional money it will provide.

[Sammy Sofa]

It's become obvious that Theo built this team to bottom out this year and while they may be worse than even he anticipated, as long as they come out of the season with the number 1 pick, the season will be a success as it relates to his long term plan. I would probably expect an offseason similar to last year and a season similar to this one next year.

 

Christ, then he's a [expletive] moron and I'm sorry they ever got him. "Built this team to bottom out?" Shooting for the #1 pick like this is basketball or football? What the [expletive]? This is how we've come to rationalize things? This is baseball; if you've got good scouting/a good front office/good talent evaluation you can easily make later draft picks work and then some. Of course I didn't expect them to be world beaters, but to try and justify like they want/tolerate/tried/whatever to be the worst team in baseball is ridiculous.

[Guest]

This would seem to fit with the thought that the Cubs are bottoming out while the Cubs attempt to get funding to rebuild Wrigley. I could be wrong but I think Rickets ideally wants to renevate in 2013 and play in a renovated Wrigley starting in 2014. This would theoretically coincide with the Cubs rebuilding the farm system into a strength and the Cubs will be able to afford a much higher baseball budget with all the new revenue streams a new Wrigley will provide. I'm not sure if they are holding the payroll down just because the team is bottoming out or if the whispers about Rickets financial situation after buying the Cubs are true, but it seems to me that the Cubs plans to operate as a big market club again are tied into a renovated Wrigley and the additional money it will provide.

 

 

The Cubs are pushing for a spring vote to avoid losing another whole year of construction on a project that would be phased in over “three or four” off-seasons to allow the Cubs to keep playing at Wrigley, just as the Boston Red Sox did while Fenway Park was being renovated.

 

The project would begin with “infrastructure-type stuff,” including the “power plant, electrical work and footings” of the 98-year-old stadium, Ricketts said.

 

“We’d like to be in the ground on the project the day the season ends,” he said. “You can only use off-seasons. Each year is pretty important. If you miss a couple months, you’re a whole season behind.”

 

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/12623151-418/cubs-boss-tom-ricketts-works-to-douse-obama-political-firestorm.html

[UMFan83]

It's become obvious that Theo built this team to bottom out this year and while they may be worse than even he anticipated, as long as they come out of the season with the number 1 pick, the season will be a success as it relates to his long term plan. I would probably expect an offseason similar to last year and a season similar to this one next year.

 

Christ, then he's a [expletive] moron and I'm sorry they ever got him. "Built this team to bottom out?" Shooting for the #1 pick like this is basketball or football? What the [expletive]? This is how we've come to rationalize things? This is baseball; if you've got good scouting/a good front office/good talent evaluation you can easily make later draft picks work and then some. Of course I didn't expect them to be world beaters, but to try and justify like they want/tolerate/tried/whatever to be the worst team in baseball is ridiculous.

 

I guess my post did specifically say he was trying for the number 1 pick, but I didn't really mean it in a sense that he was sabotaging the team in order to ensure it was terrible. But at the same time he was not doing much to prevent it. He replaced the 2 best power hitters on the team with Ian Stewart and LaHair and traded his best bullpen arm away. That's not to say that Theo wanted them to fail. If Stewart played up to the potential that Theo saw in him then its a win for the Cubs. But I highly doubt that Theo replaces Ramirez with Stewart if the team was expected to contend.

 

Also bottoming out doesn't mean worst team in the league. Bottoming out with regards to the Cubs rebuilding project. Dumping contracts and/or waiting for big contracts to expire, replacing his most productive hitters with big question marks with upside, trading a solid bullpen arm because he's about to get expensive and his value as an asset has probably peaked, etc. If that results in the worst record in baseball and the #1 pick, then its a success for his long term plan.

Edited May 27, 2012 by UMFan83

[UMFan83]

This would seem to fit with the thought that the Cubs are bottoming out while the Cubs attempt to get funding to rebuild Wrigley. I could be wrong but I think Rickets ideally wants to renevate in 2013 and play in a renovated Wrigley starting in 2014. This would theoretically coincide with the Cubs rebuilding the farm system into a strength and the Cubs will be able to afford a much higher baseball budget with all the new revenue streams a new Wrigley will provide. I'm not sure if they are holding the payroll down just because the team is bottoming out or if the whispers about Rickets financial situation after buying the Cubs are true, but it seems to me that the Cubs plans to operate as a big market club again are tied into a renovated Wrigley and the additional money it will provide.

 

 

The Cubs are pushing for a spring vote to avoid losing another whole year of construction on a project that would be phased in over “three or four” off-seasons to allow the Cubs to keep playing at Wrigley, just as the Boston Red Sox did while Fenway Park was being renovated.

 

The project would begin with “infrastructure-type stuff,” including the “power plant, electrical work and footings” of the 98-year-old stadium, Ricketts said.

 

“We’d like to be in the ground on the project the day the season ends,” he said. “You can only use off-seasons. Each year is pretty important. If you miss a couple months, you’re a whole season behind.”

 

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/12623151-418/cubs-boss-tom-ricketts-works-to-douse-obama-political-firestorm.html

 

Gotcha, I stand corrected on that point then. I thought the plan was still to do it all over the course of a calendar year and play at the Cell during that season.

[Rizzo Smash]

I've thought about the Ricketts have financial problems but there's no way Theo Epstein comes here unless he knows the financial situation is good.

[Backtobanks]

Theo may have bitten off a little more than he could chew.

 

Yeah, it's not like he had the ability to try and improve the team or anything. Poor, poor Theo.

 

The only relevance that this season has to Theo's ultimate plan is the fact that Marmol, Soto, and Byrd were supposed to be useful trade chips, and their suckage threw a wrench in those plans. other than that, pretty much everyone that can be considered a part of the future has done as expected, with the exception of Volstad.

 

Keep suckling.

 

So far, all Theo's done is refused to let himself get sucked into insane bidding wars for Pujols and Fielder. My main problem with sitting out on them despite the supposed available funds is the fact that he didn't use some of it for an all in bid on Darvish and maybe Cespedes, two guys who seemed to epitomize the type of players he was looking for. As for this debacle of a team, he can't be blamed for awful relievers inability to throw strikes and the hitters refusal to bat each other in. I know I sound like one of those religious nuts I've spent my life ridiculing, but we may have to suffer through some [expletive] we don't quite understand, but while I may bitch and moan anout it, I have a ton of faith that these guys are leading us in the right direction.

 

My complaint has always been that these guys might turn it around, but I think it's going to take 4 years when he has the resources to do it in 2 years. For all of the discussion about Pujols, Cespedes, etc., right now the worst signing has been Theo & CO.