Samardzija trade rumors

[Backtobanks]

Why do I feel like I've read these conversations for two years running?

 

It's getting well past the time for them to try to make this team better. It's like Theo has hypnotized the media and most Cub fans. Short of that, they (the ownership) can at least be straight with the fans and not talk in platitudes and parables.

 

As far as sports go the Cubs are about all I have. I'm luke warm toward football and not interested in hockey or basketball and I'm too old to start rooting for another team. This is [expletive] killing me.

 

It's the Koolaide.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Why do I feel like I've read these conversations for two years running?

 

It's getting well past the time for them to try to make this team better. It's like Theo has hypnotized the media and most Cub fans. Short of that, they (the ownership) can at least be straight with the fans and not talk in platitudes and parables.

 

As far as sports go the Cubs are about all I have. I'm luke warm toward football and not interested in hockey or basketball and I'm too old to start rooting for another team. This is [expletive] killing me.

 

It's the Koolaide.

 

http://www.lardlad.com/assets/quotes/season4/9F10.shtml

 

In all seriousness, I am still on board with what the Epstein plan represents. This being said, professional sports is above all else a form of entertainment. I don't know how many TV shows would survive if they told their audience "hey, I know we're unwatchable now, but we're developing some new writers and have our eye on some young, up and coming actors; but for now, please enjoy Tone Loc and Dustin Diamond."

 

I also have to wonder what's next if when the Epstein Era comes to an end, leaving behind a strong farm but a well below .500 big league club and progressively dwindling ticket sales. Does ownership hit the panic switch and hire a guy to bandage together a Hendry-esque monster? Do they sell to the highest bidder?

[Backtobanks]

Why do I feel like I've read these conversations for two years running?

 

It's getting well past the time for them to try to make this team better. It's like Theo has hypnotized the media and most Cub fans. Short of that, they (the ownership) can at least be straight with the fans and not talk in platitudes and parables.

 

As far as sports go the Cubs are about all I have. I'm luke warm toward football and not interested in hockey or basketball and I'm too old to start rooting for another team. This is [expletive] killing me.

 

It's the Koolaide.

 

http://www.lardlad.com/assets/quotes/season4/9F10.shtml

 

 

 

I also have to wonder what's next if when the Epstein Era comes to an end, leaving behind a strong farm but a well below .500 big league club and progressively dwindling ticket sales. Does ownership hit the panic switch and hire a guy to bandage together a Hendry-esque monster? Do they sell to the highest bidder?

 

We're about halfway there (the end of the Epstein Era) and the farm is stronger, the ML team is well below .500, and ticket sales are dwindling, so we might find out what ownership does in a few years.

[Sammy Sofa]

"A Hendry-esque monster" is a [expletive] myth. He put together some flawed teams, but they weren't these bizarrely crippling monstrosities that people love to pretend they must have been.

[Guest]

what the [expletive] is wrong with tone loc?

[CubInOK]

Why do I feel like I've read these conversations for two years running?

 

It's getting well past the time for them to try to make this team better. It's like Theo has hypnotized the media and most Cub fans. Short of that, they (the ownership) can at least be straight with the fans and not talk in platitudes and parables.

 

As far as sports go the Cubs are about all I have. I'm luke warm toward football and not interested in hockey or basketball and I'm too old to start rooting for another team. This is [expletive] killing me.

 

It's the Koolaide.

 

http://www.lardlad.com/assets/quotes/season4/9F10.shtml

 

In all seriousness, I am still on board with what the Epstein plan represents. This being said, professional sports is above all else a form of entertainment. I don't know how many TV shows would survive if they told their audience "hey, I know we're unwatchable now, but we're developing some new writers and have our eye on some young, up and coming actors; but for now, please enjoy Tone Loc and Dustin Diamond."

 

I also have to wonder what's next if when the Epstein Era comes to an end, leaving behind a strong farm but a well below .500 big league club and progressively dwindling ticket sales. Does ownership hit the panic switch and hire a guy to bandage together a Hendry-esque monster? Do they sell to the highest bidder?

The Simpsons is still on air.

[d_money]

what the [expletive] is wrong with tone loc?

It's the 80's and I'm down with the ladies

[Little Slide Rooter]

"A Hendry-esque monster" is a [expletive] myth. He put together some flawed teams, but they weren't these bizarrely crippling monstrosities that people love to pretend they must have been.

 

I wouldn't use the term "crippling," but he did leave a mess behind. A lot of what he did wasn't so much harmful as wasteful. Aaron Miles and John Grabow are some examples of spending money for no other reason then because it was there. And those NTCs hurt toward the end. The farm system was in complete disarray when he left. I'm still not quite sure why he allowed Hayden Simpson to happen on his watch.

[Sammy Sofa]

Are you kidding me? Signing players like Aaron Miles and John Grabow are indicative of a huge mess? [expletive], nobody better tell Theo and co. about that.

 

Hendry had a typically mediocre team construction in his final years.

[KingCubsFan]

Are you kidding me? Signing players like Aaron Miles and John Grabow are indicative of a huge mess? [expletive], nobody better tell Theo and co. about that.

 

Hendry had a typically mediocre team construction in his final years.

His teams were highly flawed because he had no interest in finding players that could get on base. The one truly good team he built (2008) was built on a bunch of career years. The good teams he built on paper (2004 specifically) were ruined by his hand-picked manager. He wasn't very good (although certainly not the worst, as some made him out to be at the time). Although it seems many on this board are suddenly pining for an 80-win juggernaut with a huge payroll. Hendry was pretty good at those.

[Sammy Sofa]

Are you kidding me? Signing players like Aaron Miles and John Grabow are indicative of a huge mess? [expletive], nobody better tell Theo and co. about that.

 

Hendry had a typically mediocre team construction in his final years.

His teams were highly flawed because he had no interest in finding players that could get on base.

 

That seemingly hasn't changed.

 

The one truly good team he built (2008) was built on a bunch of career years. The good teams he built on paper (2004 specifically) were ruined by his hand-picked manager. He wasn't very good (although certainly not the worst, as some made him out to be at the time). Although it seems many on this board are suddenly pining for an 80-win juggernaut with a huge payroll. Hendry was pretty good at those.

 

Yes, that's the point; the teams he put together weren't the financially crippled, catastrophic messes that some need to make them out as to seemingly justify what's been going on under the current regime when it comes to the big league team. It's a tired excuse.

[Neuby]

Trade Shark/Hammel/Barney/Schierholtz/Russell/

 

Deadline haul/ #4 pick in June/ Likely Top 5 pick in 15 system should be set.

 

Sign Max Scherzer

Sign Lester/Shields/Masterson

[SouthSideRyan]

"A Hendry-esque monster" is a [expletive] myth. He put together some flawed teams, but they weren't these bizarrely crippling monstrosities that people love to pretend they must have been.

 

I wouldn't use the term "crippling," but he did leave a mess behind. A lot of what he did wasn't so much harmful as wasteful. Aaron Miles and John Grabow are some examples of spending money for no other reason then because it was there. And those NTCs hurt toward the end. The farm system was in complete disarray when he left. I'm still not quite sure why he allowed Hayden Simpson to happen on his watch.

 

Oh did those NTCs hurt toward the end? Which of them do you think hurt the most? The one that didn't matter since Soriano had 10-5 or the one that didn't matter since Dempster had 10-5. I can never quite decide.

[Backtobanks]

"A Hendry-esque monster" is a [expletive] myth. He put together some flawed teams, but they weren't these bizarrely crippling monstrosities that people love to pretend they must have been.

 

Let's not forget the "crippling monstrosity" left in Boston. 69 win team with $175 million payroll.

[SouthSideRyan]

Are you kidding me? Signing players like Aaron Miles and John Grabow are indicative of a huge mess? [expletive], nobody better tell Theo and co. about that.

 

Hendry had a typically mediocre team construction in his final years.

His teams were highly flawed because he had no interest in finding players that could get on base. The one truly good team he built (2008) was built on a bunch of career years. The good teams he built on paper (2004 specifically) were ruined by his hand-picked manager. He wasn't very good (although certainly not the worst, as some made him out to be at the time). Although it seems many on this board are suddenly pining for an 80-win juggernaut with a huge payroll. Hendry was pretty good at those.

 

Those "bunch of career years" being the middle IF and Dempster?

[Guest]

Are you kidding me? Signing players like Aaron Miles and John Grabow are indicative of a huge mess? [expletive], nobody better tell Theo and co. about that.

 

Hendry had a typically mediocre team construction in his final years.

His teams were highly flawed because he had no interest in finding players that could get on base. The one truly good team he built (2008) was built on a bunch of career years. The good teams he built on paper (2004 specifically) were ruined by his hand-picked manager. He wasn't very good (although certainly not the worst, as some made him out to be at the time). Although it seems many on this board are suddenly pining for an 80-win juggernaut with a huge payroll. Hendry was pretty good at those.

 

Those "bunch of career years" being the middle IF and Dempster?

 

While not technically a career year, getting what we got out of Edmonds was obscenely lucky, FWIW. I'm still not sure what the hell that was.

 

Also, while not really career years, we did manage to get good-for-them seasons out of pretty much everyone.

[SouthSideRyan]

Are you kidding me? Signing players like Aaron Miles and John Grabow are indicative of a huge mess? [expletive], nobody better tell Theo and co. about that.

 

Hendry had a typically mediocre team construction in his final years.

His teams were highly flawed because he had no interest in finding players that could get on base. The one truly good team he built (2008) was built on a bunch of career years. The good teams he built on paper (2004 specifically) were ruined by his hand-picked manager. He wasn't very good (although certainly not the worst, as some made him out to be at the time). Although it seems many on this board are suddenly pining for an 80-win juggernaut with a huge payroll. Hendry was pretty good at those.

 

Those "bunch of career years" being the middle IF and Dempster?

 

While not technically a career year, getting what we got out of Edmonds was obscenely lucky, FWIW. I'm still not sure what the hell that was.

 

Also, while not really career years, we did manage to get good-for-them seasons out of pretty much everyone.

 

Ok, but those guys were in their prime putting up the types of seasons you'd expect. It's not like they were an out of nowhere '89 Cubs team. They were a great team on paper.

[KingCubsFan]

Are you kidding me? Signing players like Aaron Miles and John Grabow are indicative of a huge mess? [expletive], nobody better tell Theo and co. about that.

 

Hendry had a typically mediocre team construction in his final years.

His teams were highly flawed because he had no interest in finding players that could get on base. The one truly good team he built (2008) was built on a bunch of career years. The good teams he built on paper (2004 specifically) were ruined by his hand-picked manager. He wasn't very good (although certainly not the worst, as some made him out to be at the time). Although it seems many on this board are suddenly pining for an 80-win juggernaut with a huge payroll. Hendry was pretty good at those.

 

Those "bunch of career years" being the middle IF and Dempster?

Soto as well (you'll probably want bring up 2010, but he played in 35 more games in 2008 and hasn't been as healthy since). And when you say the "infield," you should probably be referring to three players: DeRosa, Theriot and Fontenot. And as David mentioned, the Edmonds pickup was lucky as hell. That's a lot of at bats.

[Sammy Sofa]

Are you kidding me? Signing players like Aaron Miles and John Grabow are indicative of a huge mess? [expletive], nobody better tell Theo and co. about that.

 

Hendry had a typically mediocre team construction in his final years.

His teams were highly flawed because he had no interest in finding players that could get on base. The one truly good team he built (2008) was built on a bunch of career years. The good teams he built on paper (2004 specifically) were ruined by his hand-picked manager. He wasn't very good (although certainly not the worst, as some made him out to be at the time). Although it seems many on this board are suddenly pining for an 80-win juggernaut with a huge payroll. Hendry was pretty good at those.

 

Those "bunch of career years" being the middle IF and Dempster?

 

While not technically a career year, getting what we got out of Edmonds was obscenely lucky, FWIW. I'm still not sure what the hell that was.

 

Also, while not really career years, we did manage to get good-for-them seasons out of pretty much everyone.

 

[expletive], DeRosa, there's another example that could go in the "diamond in the rough discussion" (Yes, I know he had his best year the year before the Cubs signed him).

 

Aramis was Aramis, Soriano actually had a lesser year compared to the previous few, and Lee ultimately had 3 better seasons as a Cub. How did those four have "good for them seasons?" Soto definitely kicked ass, but Fukudome was just doing what everyone had hoped/expected and was actually kind of a disappointment with the way he tapered off. Edmonds and Theriot were the only one that really blew expectations out of the water (and even Theriot just built a bit on what he had inexplicably done the year before), unless you're talking guys like Fontenot and Hoffpauir.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

A team that led the league in wins had a good season from a lot of its players? the hell you say.

[KingCubsFan]

Are you kidding me? Signing players like Aaron Miles and John Grabow are indicative of a huge mess? [expletive], nobody better tell Theo and co. about that.

 

Hendry had a typically mediocre team construction in his final years.

His teams were highly flawed because he had no interest in finding players that could get on base. The one truly good team he built (2008) was built on a bunch of career years. The good teams he built on paper (2004 specifically) were ruined by his hand-picked manager. He wasn't very good (although certainly not the worst, as some made him out to be at the time). Although it seems many on this board are suddenly pining for an 80-win juggernaut with a huge payroll. Hendry was pretty good at those.

 

Those "bunch of career years" being the middle IF and Dempster?

 

While not technically a career year, getting what we got out of Edmonds was obscenely lucky, FWIW. I'm still not sure what the hell that was.

 

Also, while not really career years, we did manage to get good-for-them seasons out of pretty much everyone.

 

Ok, but those guys were in their prime putting up the types of seasons you'd expect. It's not like they were an out of nowhere '89 Cubs team. They were a great team on paper.

 

That team had two starters under 30: Theriot and Soto. Most were 31-33. Unless you subscribe to the Dusty Baker theory of player performance, most of those guys were theoretically past their prime.

[SouthSideRyan]

And the previous year's game 3 starter fell off the face of the Earth before the first month was over.

 

It's not enough that Hendry oversaw the worst run of 1st round picks this Earth has ever seen, now we need to tear down the best Cubs team of the last 80 years so we can excuse the flaming ball of garbage the organization is today.

[SouthSideRyan]

A team that led the league in wins had a good season from a lot of its players? the hell you say.

 

Hey, if guys always having career years turned into success why didn't Bryan LaHair and Dempster lead the '12 Cubs to success?

[SouthSideRyan]

That team had two starters under 30: Theriot and Soto. Most were 31-33. Unless you subscribe to the Dusty Baker theory of player performance, most of those guys were theoretically past their prime.

 

And yet none of them really got any worse the following season. Amazing.

[SouthSideRyan]

A team that led the league in wins had a good season from a lot of its players? the hell you say.

 

Hey, if guys always having career years turned into success why didn't Bryan LaHair and Dempster lead the '12 Cubs to success?

 

Errr, that is to say the 2012 team was fated to be a 40 win disaster until Justin Germano and Ian Stewart arrived