Who many years are we going to suck?

[C.C.]

how long do you think this rebuilding be? 2-3 more years?

[jersey cubs fan]

they've sucked for three years, i can only hope we're well past the mid-point

[neely crenshaw]

I think we have one more year of being awful then I can see us moving back toward .500 in 2014, if things/people progress more quickly possibly contending that year. (also depends on FA signings and such)

I expect that by 2015 national media is will be at least mentioning us as a serious contender.

[Derwood]

Whenever Hoyer wants to go shopping in free agency.

[rawaction]

Who many? Seriously?

[C.C.]

Who many? Seriously?

 

Seriously.

[SouthSideRyan]

The Cubs stopped being awful the day Anthony Rizzo was called up.

[BeerHere]

My best guess:

2013 - continued purge of the aging and expensive roster while drafting and acquiring good young talent. No veteran FA's signed.

2014 - some of the young talent is on the verge of contributing. .500 is an achievable goal by the end of the season.

2015 - team is in contention, some FA's are signed and the budget increases.

[jersey cubs fan]

My best guess:

2013 - continued purge of the aging and expensive roster while drafting and acquiring good young talent. No veteran FA's signed.

2014 - some of the young talent is on the verge of contributing. .500 is an achievable goal by the end of the season.

2015 - team is in contention, some FA's are signed and the budget increases.

 

The roster is neither aging or expensive. It's getting younger on a daily basis.

 

A fair amount of the young talent already is contributing.

[BeerHere]

My best guess:

2013 - continued purge of the aging and expensive roster while drafting and acquiring good young talent. No veteran FA's signed.

2014 - some of the young talent is on the verge of contributing. .500 is an achievable goal by the end of the season.

2015 - team is in contention, some FA's are signed and the budget increases.

 

The roster is neither aging or expensive. It's getting younger on a daily basis.

 

A fair amount of the young talent already is contributing.

There are certainly portions of the roster that are aging and expensive. I would say that Soriano (36@19M), Stewart (27@2.2M), DeJesus (32@4.2M), Marmol (29@7M) are candidates to be traded during 2013. I don't disagree that some of the young talent is already there.

 

Are you saying that you think the team will compete earlier than 2015? If so, I hope you're right but I don't see it.

[toonsterwu]

Whether or not we suck is one thing, but if the question is how long do I expect them to have "full rebuild" years (years where they basically give a half-hearted focus to being competitive at the big league level, with Maholm/DeJesus types), then my answer would be only one more.

 

Their intent was, seemingly, to clear the deck and rebuild the upper levels of the farm system, thus, when they are able to be competitive, they'll have the farm system to augment the big league squad, whether it is through trades or through internal help. The upper levels of the farm system won't have much talent until 2014 (if all goes well). I mean, the bulk of the talent is still below A ball, with Baez leading the charge in A ball. Now, if for some reason, the farm system runs into big problems, by 2014, the deck will also largely be cleared of contracts, and they will have had 2 drafts to restock the lower levels with their type of talent, so I would still expect a more serious effort (to compete) by then.

[jersey cubs fan]

My best guess:

2013 - continued purge of the aging and expensive roster while drafting and acquiring good young talent. No veteran FA's signed.

2014 - some of the young talent is on the verge of contributing. .500 is an achievable goal by the end of the season.

2015 - team is in contention, some FA's are signed and the budget increases.

 

The roster is neither aging or expensive. It's getting younger on a daily basis.

 

A fair amount of the young talent already is contributing.

There are certainly portions of the roster that are aging and expensive. I would say that Soriano (36@19M), Stewart (27@2.2M), DeJesus (32@4.2M), Marmol (29@7M) are candidates to be traded during 2013. I don't disagree that some of the young talent is already there.

 

Are you saying that you think the team will compete earlier than 2015? If so, I hope you're right but I don't see it.

 

I'm just saying I disagree with your characterization of the roster and who is doing what now. The problem is more about not having enough positions filled by guys you can count on to give quality production, not that it's aging and expensive. Soriano is the only expensive guy, and he's been good. You need good players to win. The Cubs don't have many of them and they just gave a couple of them away via trade.

[bigkid66]

The Cubs stopped being awful the day Anthony Rizzo was called up.

 

I think with the current rotation they're back to be being awful

 

My best guess:

2013 - continued purge of the aging and expensive roster while drafting and acquiring good young talent. No veteran FA's signed.

2014 - some of the young talent is on the verge of contributing. .500 is an achievable goal by the end of the season.

2015 - team is in contention, some FA's are signed and the budget increases.

 

The roster is neither aging or expensive. It's getting younger on a daily basis.

 

A fair amount of the young talent already is contributing.

 

The only aging/expensive players I can think of are Soriano and Marmol. I think it's obvious he's referring to young talent currently in the Minors contributing in 2014.

 

I can't wrap my head around how how a roster gets younger on a daily basis. I would think the vast majority of the time the roster gets older on a daily basis.

[jersey cubs fan]

I can't wrap my head around how how a roster gets younger on a daily basis. I would think the vast majority of the time the roster gets older on a daily basis.

 

except on the days when you keep calling up younger players.

[Backtobanks]

2013 - Horrible (prospect tryouts and dumpster diving)

2014 - showing signs of being decent (hopefully a few prospects show they belong in the ML and possibly 1 trade/signing of a young "star")

2015 - should be a contender with the FO finally spending some money. (prospects mature after 1-2 years in ML and FO buys/trades to fill in the remaining holes)

[bigkid66]

You need good players to win. The Cubs don't have many of them and they just gave a couple of them away via trade.

 

I don't think they "gave" them away. I think they got back some young players that hopefully turn into assets around the time the team is competitive again (I'm hoping 2014).

[UMFan83]

2 more sucky years.

 

2015:

 

C - Wellington Castillo, 28

1B - Anthony Rizzo, 25

2B - Javier Baez, 22

SS - Starlin Castro, 25

3B - Josh Vitters, 25

CF - Brett Jackson, 26

LF - Albert Almora, 21

RF - Jorge Soler, 23

 

Matt Garza, 31 (that's right, extension)

Jeff Samardzija, 30

Arodys Vizcaino, 24

Pierce Johnson, 24

Travis Wood, 28

 

 

I know these things never happen like that.

[C.C.]

Yeah, I highly doubt every single MLB player in the lineup will be a player from our system.

[jersey cubs fan]

who many do you think is realistic?

[C.C.]

Not sure.

 

It's hard to say. Castro and Rizzo for sure the rest is a crap shoot.

 

I'd say two more if we are lucky.

Edited August 1, 2012 by C.C.

[Theo]

I don't see there is any reason we can't put a team together by 2014 that can challenge for a WC at least(82-85 win) without jeopardizing any long term goals.

[Theo]

And "Who Many" seriously, edit that.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

We're going to try to stop sucking by 2014, but that doesn't mean we will. Pirates-like streak of futility coming.

[neely crenshaw]

there is a difference between contributing and being good.

 

I would also say the old part may be less true, but you could say veteran filler players will be moved out rather than old. We've all said most of these guys aren't going to be here. So basically the purge will continue for more useful players regardless of age.

you have to admit there are a whole bunch of pitchers and quite a few players who will not be here by 2015.

I am guessing shark may be the only starter, and there may be no one from the bullpen.

 

I would say one more year of full out rebuilding and then the upward move begins.

Edited August 1, 2012 by neely crenshaw

[Theo]

We're going to try to stop sucking by 2014, but that doesn't mean we will. Pirates-like streak of futility coming.

 

God I hope not.