Random Cubs Musings

[Banedon]

http://www.bleachernation.com/2013/10/17/wgn-looking-to-renegotiate-radio-deal-with-the-chicago-cubs/

 

WGN Radio exercises option to reopen contract with Cubs, presumably because they think they can get it back for less than the $10m/year they spend now.

 

viewtopic.php?p=2998746#p2998746

[Guest]

SSR was right all along

 

As much as it pains me to say it I wouldn't count on it....Everything I keep hearing is Ricketts is essentially panhandling for food to make ends meet.

 

In response to a post about how many big FA the Cubs have been linked to.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

That's heroinlious. I mean hilarious.

[Sammy Sofa]

Holy [expletive].

 

The Cubs have terrible owners, you guys.

[Sammy Sofa]

Seriously, the Cubs Convention should end up like the storming of the Bastille.

[Guest]

Holy [expletive].

 

The Cubs have terrible owners, you guys.

 

The cash strappedness right now sucks, but given the overall direction of the organization and all of the improvements being made throughout (except on the MLB field, obviously) both in terms of infrastructure and in terms of quality personnel, I refuse to call the ownership terrible.

 

Not that it justifies anything or in itself disqualifies the current ownership from being awful, but the majority of the Tribune era was MUCH MUCH MUCH worse (and the only time you could even argue it to be better was when Zell came in and wanted to inflate the value for the sale). As was, obviously, the Wrigley era...but that isn't even worth bringing up because that was inexcusably bad.

[Sammy Sofa]

A different kind of bad is still bad.

 

Still pretty sure that Theo bolts after 5 years unless [expletive] works out damn near perfectly, because this money nonsense looks fuuuuuuuuucked for a while.

[Guest]

A different kind of bad is still bad.

 

Still pretty sure that Theo bolts after 5 years unless [expletive] works out damn near perfectly, because this money nonsense looks fuuuuuuuuucked for a while.

 

Seems like a lot depends on the renovations. And the prospects.

 

But the whole thing was always going to depend on the prospects, given the state of free agency nowadays, and they're getting close. In fact, the two biggest impact guys could very easily, if not should, be up next year.

 

It would help a lot to be able to land an impact piece or two this year, though.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If we really are that broke, and Castro and Rizzo don't become 5-win players like *really* soon, then it's going to take us a loooong time to get to that direction we're working toward.

[Guest]

If we really are that broke, and Castro and Rizzo don't become 5-win players like *really* soon, then it's going to take us a loooong time to get to that direction we're working toward.

 

Not if Bryant and/or Baez are already 2-4 win players in a year. Not overly likely but not something I consider even close to impossible (especially for just one of them) either.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If we really are that broke, and Castro and Rizzo don't become 5-win players like *really* soon, then it's going to take us a loooong time to get to that direction we're working toward.

 

Not if Bryant and/or Baez are already 2-4 win players in a year. Not overly likely but not something I consider even close to impossible (especially for just one of them) either.

 

Even if then. Even if Bryant and Baez are above average immediately in 2014/15, without big acquisitions or big steps forward, we aren't likely to be a good team.

[Guest]

If we really are that broke, and Castro and Rizzo don't become 5-win players like *really* soon, then it's going to take us a loooong time to get to that direction we're working toward.

 

Not if Bryant and/or Baez are already 2-4 win players in a year. Not overly likely but not something I consider even close to impossible (especially for just one of them) either.

 

Even if then. Even if Bryant and Baez are above average immediately in 2014/15, without big acquisitions or big steps forward, we aren't likely to be a good team.

 

Well, I expect Rizzo to be above average, regardless. Castro, fingers crossed...I'm hopeful.

 

I don't think the scenario where all 4 of those guys are 2+ win players (and really young ones) a year from now is super unlikely. And some of them will be better than that.

 

Things just can't go that poorly (or even close to it) for Castro and Rizzo again. I refuse to believe it.

[Sammy Sofa]

A different kind of bad is still bad.

 

Still pretty sure that Theo bolts after 5 years unless [expletive] works out damn near perfectly, because this money nonsense looks fuuuuuuuuucked for a while.

 

Seems like a lot depends on the renovations. And the prospects.

 

Right, and it's kinda freaky that I'm more confident in the latter playing out successfully before the former.

 

Basically I think the Ricketts sold Theo on this job with a combo of rebuilding the farm system and the Cubs overhauling their finances and the stadium much as the Sox were able to do while Theo was there. I think it was presented as something that would be well underway at this point.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I don't think it's super unlikely that they'll give us 16 wins combined in 2015 or something. But 16 wins from the four best players on your roster, and that's what they'd be if we're this broke, is kinda meh.

[Guest]

I don't think it's super unlikely that they'll give us 16 wins combined in 2015 or something. But 16 wins from the four best players on your roster, and that's what they'd be if we're this broke, is kinda meh.

 

When they're all in their early 20's (well, Rizzo more mid), I think it's pretty good.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I don't think it's super unlikely that they'll give us 16 wins combined in 2015 or something. But 16 wins from the four best players on your roster, and that's what they'd be if we're this broke, is kinda meh.

 

When they're all in their early 20's (well, Rizzo more mid), I think it's pretty good.

 

Which brings us back to what I said: It's gonna take a loooong time to get there if we can't have major outside acquisitions and Rizzo/Castro don't become awesome. Because we're still talking about *hoping* that those four can be "pretty good for their 20's" but not really all that great as our team cornerstones in 2015.

[Guest]

I don't think it's super unlikely that they'll give us 16 wins combined in 2015 or something. But 16 wins from the four best players on your roster, and that's what they'd be if we're this broke, is kinda meh.

 

When they're all in their early 20's (well, Rizzo more mid), I think it's pretty good.

 

Which brings us back to what I said: It's gonna take a loooong time to get there if we can't have major outside acquisitions and Rizzo/Castro don't become awesome. Because we're still talking about *hoping* that those four can be "pretty good for their 20's" but not really all that great as our team cornerstones in 2015.

 

Maybe I'm crazy, but I think one of Bryant or Baez becomes that awesome one first...and it might not take that long.

 

Especially Bryant.

[davell]

If we're this strapped, I agree with Kyle. Those 4 need to account for 20ish WAR and we ALSO need to get lucky in finding a 4 WAR SP as well as hope Shark/Wood/E-Jax combine for 8-10 WAR consistently as well.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Perhaps, but you're asking to hit on a lot of things at the same time, and the end result isn't even that great in the short and medium term.

 

There's some chance that Castro won't bounce back and become a full-on star again, there's some chance that Rizzo stagnates, there's some chance that Baez or Bryant won't make it. The odds are pretty good that at least one of those some chances happens.

 

If this team is going to be really good before like 2017 or 2018, we have to have major outside talent infusions or have basically everyone on the 40-man with any talent at all go nuts.

[SouthSideRyan]

SSR was right all along

 

As much as it pains me to say it I wouldn't count on it....Everything I keep hearing is Ricketts is essentially panhandling for food to make ends meet.

 

In response to a post about how many big FA the Cubs have been linked to.

 

Fuuuuuuuuck you

[treebird]

i wonder how broke we really are. should we start expecting samardzija to get traded this offseason?

[SouthSideRyan]

On the bright side, my PoorTomRicketts twitter handle should really start to take off.

[davell]

i wonder how broke we really are. should we start expecting samardzija to get traded this offseason?

According to Marlin, he says both Shark and Castro are likely on the block this offseason. I've thought Shark had a decent chance of getting dealt if he won't sign longterm. Castro? You make an argument it makes sense, I guess. Assuming you're counting on Javy and Alcantara.(not the greatest argument obviously) That said, after the down year, I seriously doubt the offers are remotely close to get the FO to move him.

[SouthSideRyan]

i wonder how broke we really are. should we start expecting samardzija to get traded this offseason?

According to Marlin, he says both Shark and Castro are likely on the block this offseason. I've thought Shark had a decent chance of getting dealt if he won't sign longterm. Castro? You make an argument it makes sense, I guess. Assuming you're counting on Javy and Alcantara.(not the greatest argument obviously) That said, after the down year, I seriously doubt the offers are remotely close to get the FO to move him.

 

They just want to dump the salary.

[Guest]

SSR was right all along

 

As much as it pains me to say it I wouldn't count on it....Everything I keep hearing is Ricketts is essentially panhandling for food to make ends meet.

 

In response to a post about how many big FA the Cubs have been linked to.

 

[expletive].