Season Ticketholder Phone Conference w/ Theo & Jed

[Sammys Boombox]

Ask if they are going to draft the best player available or if they are going to address organizational needs (pitching) in next years draft.

 

OK. I'll think I'll ask it like this.

 

How do you determine if a draft pick, international free agent or potential trade target will buy into "The Cubs Way"? Also, will you draft the best player available or address our pitching needs with your first picks in the draft?

 

Dang. Nevermind. Just said I can't ask another question.

[Sammys Boombox]

Main goal right now is developing pitching. Vizcaino is going to work on a third pitch this spring.

 

He doesn't have one? Seems odd for a guy who was looked at as a starter outside of his durability concerns...

 

Apparently he has one, but it sucks.

[Sammys Boombox]

Castillo could be every day catcher long term.

[Guest]

sammy's boombox, have they talked about a cubs network at all? wrigley renovations?

[Sammys Boombox]

Matt Garza in long term plans?

 

Biggest focus getting him healthy. Can't answer until he gets healthy. Medical staff is optimistic he will be a big part of the 2013 Cubs.

[Sammys Boombox]

sammy's boombox, have they talked about a cubs network at all? wrigley renovations?

 

Answering renovations now.

 

Make experience better than it is now. Can't sacrifice history or anything that reminds us the park has been here for 100 years.

 

Talking about Fenway renovations and fans really like it.

 

Must always add features that look like it fits the park.

 

Must improve facilities for players.

 

Renovate the park the "right way" to add revenue that will be dumped directly into the team on the field.

[Sammys Boombox]

Working on making the analytics department better than the Red Sox. It's not there yet. The ideas are still in their mind, but it took them years to get it where it was and now they have to redevelop it back to where it was.

 

Question about "clutch."

 

There is a psychological element to being clutch, but it's hard to quantify because "clutch" spots are usually a small sample size.

 

They find "clutch" hitters are "well-rounded" and can hit multiple types of pitchers because the opposing manager doesn't have a pitcher that can go to the obvious hole in the batters swing/approach to get him out.

[Sammys Boombox]

Sveum may have a "hitting in certain situations" tournament as opposed to a bunting tournament this spring.

[Sammys Boombox]

They are saying "The Cubs Way" will develop players that can deal with difficult situations before they make it to the majors so they will know how to handle them once they get there.

 

The call is now over.

[ctcf]

Thanks a ton for posting all that

[Sammys Boombox]

I really feel like all of the answers pointed to 2015 as the first contending year. He said he wants to have the pitching ready in the farm system before we try to compete. I think he really hates the idea of trading prospect at the deadline the first year we contend. He wants to go into the first contending season knowing we're going to contend.

[tgkimmel]

They are saying "The Cubs Way" will develop players that can deal with difficult situations before they make it to the majors so they will know how to handle them once they get there.

 

The call is now over.

 

Thanks for posting all that. I'd never have the access otherwise.

[Guest]

Thanks Sammy's boombox for posting all that. If anyone is interested, Brett apparently has a whole transcript at his site

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The answer to my question and others' is basically we will see at least a few impact FA signings in the same offseason we are expecting an "impact wave" from the minor leagues. He expects we'll go from really bad to division winners in one offseason. Not this offseason.

 

That's like pre-2015 at the earliest.

 

:banghead:

[Sammys Boombox]

Thanks Sammy's boombox for posting all that. If anyone is interested, Brett apparently has a whole transcript at his site

 

What site is that?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Thanks Sammy's boombox for posting all that. If anyone is interested, Brett apparently has a whole transcript at his site

 

What site is that?

 

bleachernation.com

[Sammys Boombox]

Forgot to mention and it's not in the transcript. Jed specifically mentioned a wave of talent coming in that was full of "26 or 27 year olds".

[SouthSideRyan]

Forgot to mention and it's not in the transcript. Jed specifically mentioned a wave of talent coming in that was full of "26 or 27 year olds".

 

I have no idea what that means, but [expletive] this [expletive] is depressing.

[treebird]

Forgot to mention and it's not in the transcript. Jed specifically mentioned a wave of talent coming in that was full of "26 or 27 year olds".

 

I have no idea what that means, but [expletive] this [expletive] is depressing.

 

are there any other sports you've ever wanted to try to pick up? this is the best time for it ever. there's absolutely no reason to pay attention to the cubs next year. even the "young guys" who will be around won't be the young guys who are interesting when we're good again. the only reasons to watch are to confirm that brett jackson can't be a real major league hitter and to make sure starlin castro and anthony rizzo don't get hit in the face by a line drive and die.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

are there any other sports you've ever wanted to try to pick up? this is the best time for it ever. there's absolutely no reason to pay attention to the cubs next year. even the "young guys" who will be around won't be the young guys who are interesting when we're good again. the only reasons to watch are to confirm that brett jackson can't be a real major league hitter and to make sure starlin castro and anthony rizzo don't get hit in the face by a line drive and die.

 

The Ashes runs from July 10 to August 25. Can't wait.

[sneakypower]

Forgot to mention and it's not in the transcript. Jed specifically mentioned a wave of talent coming in that was full of "26 or 27 year olds".

 

I have no idea what that means, but [expletive] this [expletive] is depressing.

 

are there any other sports you've ever wanted to try to pick up? this is the best time for it ever. there's absolutely no reason to pay attention to the cubs next year. even the "young guys" who will be around won't be the young guys who are interesting when we're good again. the only reasons to watch are to confirm that brett jackson can't be a real major league hitter and to make sure starlin castro and anthony rizzo don't get hit in the face by a line drive and die.

i don't really understand why you're assuming we won't make any noteworthy acquisitions

[mul21]

i don't really understand why you're assuming we won't make any noteworthy acquisitions

 

Um, probably because Theo and Jed said as much during the call that just was transcribed. That whole "no major FA signings until the year we plan to win the division" part (paraphrased, of course).

[Andy]

Forgot to mention and it's not in the transcript. Jed specifically mentioned a wave of talent coming in that was full of "26 or 27 year olds".

 

I have no idea what that means, but [expletive] this [expletive] is depressing.

 

are there any other sports you've ever wanted to try to pick up? this is the best time for it ever. there's absolutely no reason to pay attention to the cubs next year. even the "young guys" who will be around won't be the young guys who are interesting when we're good again. the only reasons to watch are to confirm that brett jackson can't be a real major league hitter and to make sure starlin castro and anthony rizzo don't get hit in the face by a line drive and die.

i don't really understand why you're assuming we won't make any noteworthy acquisitions

Other than Theo and Jed are basically telling us that we won't?

[Guest]

uhhh, you can make noteworthy additions without going after the top tier guys

 

you people don't deserve a good front office

[sneakypower]

Theo: We will make plenty of moves.