Cubs add Chapman for Torres, et al. imb wishes we paid more

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Look, the man said he was sorry, ok? So he got a bit frustrated, and took it out on his girlfriend's garage with an assault rifle, but I mean who here hasn't done that about a zillion times?

just stop. forever.

[UMFan83]

I'm a big NFL fan, I loved Sammy Sosa for a long time even though I'm pretty sure he did some crappy things, I rooted for Brandon Marshall, etc. I've come to terms, I guess, with the fact that I can compartmentalize my feelings about terrible dudes (and that there are probably a lot more that I don't even know a thing about) in sports. Hell, there are probably guys on this team who I would have huge differences with if I really knew them. This is obviously on the extreme end of that, but I guess I broke bad on this type of thing long ago. It sucks to have to compromise myself and my views this way but ultimately I root for my teams and the players are (slightly) secondary.

 

All else equal, I'd rather win with all good dudes who I like, but for the most part, especially when it comes to high end talent, I just do my best to look past it (and probably suppress any associated guilt).

 

Well put, thanks for putting into words my overall feelings.

[Elrhino]

This is probably the ESPN Article people are talking about ....

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10397127/cincinnati-reds-closer-aroldis-chapman-pines-life-left-cuba-espn-magazine

[UMFan83]

I guess I appreciate the Cubs being proactive and addressing the elephant in the room right away. It won't really appease anyone who hates the fact that the Cubs traded for this man, but at least they aren't just trying to ignore that part of the story.

[Banedon]

I'm a big NFL fan, I loved Sammy Sosa for a long time even though I'm pretty sure he did some crappy things, I rooted for Brandon Marshall, etc. I've come to terms, I guess, with the fact that I can compartmentalize my feelings about terrible dudes (and that there are probably a lot more that I don't even know a thing about) in sports. Hell, there are probably guys on this team who I would have huge differences with if I really knew them. This is obviously on the extreme end of that, but I guess I broke bad on this type of thing long ago. It sucks to have to compromise myself and my views this way but ultimately I root for my teams and the players are (slightly) secondary.

 

All else equal, I'd rather win with all good dudes who I like, but for the most part, especially when it comes to high end talent, I just do my best to look past it (and probably suppress any associated guilt).

 

I've also compartmentalized in the past, in mostly the same instances you have, but I'm extremely tired of doing so. And for right now, I'm angry at the Cubs for putting me in the position where I have to do it again.

[Thusly Boned]

I suppose one fringe benefit from this deal is that it will drive the cost for quality relievers up pretty significantly, and the Cards are in the market for one (or two).

[Bryants Disco Ball]

I guess I appreciate the Cubs being proactive and addressing the elephant in the room right away. It won't really appease anyone who hates the fact that the Cubs traded for this man, but at least they aren't just trying to ignore that part of the story.

 

This is probably what held up the trade. Getting their horsefeathers in order.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That doesn't do anything for me. Aroldis did not take responsibility for his actions.

 

http://deadspin.com/aroldis-chapman-still-says-he-did-nothing-wrong-1775469754

 

“I didn’t do anything,” he said. “People are thinking that it’s something serious; I have not put my hands on anyone, didn’t put anyone in danger. Since I didn’t do anything like that, I’m not thinking about it. If I didn’t do anything, why should I think about it? That is in the past. Now, I’m thinking about more important things: my family, kids, my career.”

 

I mean, he literally says "I regret that I did not exercise better judgment and for that I am truly sorry". It's just words on a page so it doesn't undo anything that he did, but a small part of the irritation with Chapman was his lack of remorse. A professional hobby of mine is giving and evaluating apologies, and that's a pretty good one. It doesn't hide behind passive wording like apologize, or separate himself from the behaviors by saying he's sorry for the effects of his behavior. He's directly saying he's sorry for his (admittedly ambiguous) actions, and like Brett just pointed out on Twitter, he didn't have to do this as a guy who was traded (there's no extra motivation like a contract for him). Again, it doesn't undo anything that happened and people are still right to not be happy, but this is what handling the acquisition properly looks like given the realities of the situation.

[Elrhino]

I forgot how dominating Rondon's righty splits are this year (.379 OPS against). Strop's aren't too bad either (.445 OPS against). Being able to use those two strategically against righties will be lethal.

[Brian]

That doesn't do anything for me. Aroldis did not take responsibility for his actions.

 

http://deadspin.com/aroldis-chapman-still-says-he-did-nothing-wrong-1775469754

 

“I didn’t do anything,” he said. “People are thinking that it’s something serious; I have not put my hands on anyone, didn’t put anyone in danger. Since I didn’t do anything like that, I’m not thinking about it. If I didn’t do anything, why should I think about it? That is in the past. Now, I’m thinking about more important things: my family, kids, my career.”

 

I mean, he literally says "I regret that I did not exercise better judgment and for that I am truly sorry". It's just words on a page so it doesn't undo anything that he did, but a small part of the irritation with Chapman was his lack of remorse. A professional hobby of mine is giving and evaluating apologies, and that's a pretty good one. It doesn't hide behind passive wording like apologize, or separate himself from the behaviors by saying he's sorry for the effects of his behavior. He's directly saying he's sorry for his (admittedly ambiguous) actions, and like Brett just pointed out on Twitter, he didn't have to do this as a guy who was traded (there's no extra motivation like a contract for him). Again, it doesn't undo anything that happened and people are still right to not be happy, but this is what handling the acquisition properly looks like given the realities of the situation.

 

I was going to say this, but less eloquently. Taking out the fact that somebody in his agents office probably wrote it, there's not much else he can do at this point.

[Banedon]

That doesn't do anything for me. Aroldis did not take responsibility for his actions.

 

http://deadspin.com/aroldis-chapman-still-says-he-did-nothing-wrong-1775469754

 

“I didn’t do anything,” he said. “People are thinking that it’s something serious; I have not put my hands on anyone, didn’t put anyone in danger. Since I didn’t do anything like that, I’m not thinking about it. If I didn’t do anything, why should I think about it? That is in the past. Now, I’m thinking about more important things: my family, kids, my career.”

 

I mean, he literally says "I regret that I did not exercise better judgment and for that I am truly sorry". It's just words on a page so it doesn't undo anything that he did, but a small part of the irritation with Chapman was his lack of remorse. A professional hobby of mine is giving and evaluating apologies, and that's a pretty good one. It doesn't hide behind passive wording like apologize, or separate himself from the behaviors by saying he's sorry for the effects of his behavior. He's directly saying he's sorry for his (admittedly ambiguous) actions, and like Brett just pointed out on Twitter, he didn't have to do this as a guy who was traded (there's no extra motivation like a contract for him). Again, it doesn't undo anything that happened and people are still right to not be happy, but this is what handling the acquisition properly looks like given the realities of the situation.

 

Cool, he's sorry. He didn't say what he did. He didn't say he'd done anything or taken any action to prevent further issues in the future. Maybe some anger management counseling...

 

Handling the acquisition properly would've been to have not made it.

[David]

Heyward...Chapman....Zobrist....Sucks I missed on Hamels with all this credibility I've gained.

 

This team is so [expletive] loaded and there's STILL room to trade for a SP.

 

Maybe it'll be Tyler Beede.

[Gmoney08]

So, I understand most Cubs fans are not freaks that sit on the computer on forums talking about the Cubs all day like we do.

 

But, to some more casual Cubs fans I've brought up that i would have been much more pissed had they traded Eloy in this deal. Their response has been well Torres is ranked higher. I understand Torres was pretty much the defacto preseason number 1.

 

So, anyways... Am I right that Eloy is pretty much the consensus number 1 in our org at this point of the season? Even if Gleyber was still around?

[Tracer Bullet]

I've said my piece and I'm truly sorry if its outraged anyone. I don't condone violence against women, or anyone really. I only suggest people actually look at the facts before coming to a judgement and saying someone "beats women" as if this is a trend and he just can't help himself. And also that I believe in second chances, as does Theo (whom everyone here trusts explicitly). Thats all. He wouldn't get a 3rd chance from me.

 

your inability or refusal to distinguish between having someone on your favorite team and wanting them cut into tiny pieces and shot into space is maybe as infuriating as your willingness to post pictures of a woman as justification for "IT WASN'T THAT BAD OF A CHOKING."

 

Seriously, your post should horsefeathers off.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

So, I understand most Cubs fans are not freaks that sit on the computer on forums talking about the Cubs all day like we do.

 

But, to some more casual Cubs fans I've brought up that i would have been much more pissed had they traded Eloy in this deal. Their response has been well Torres is ranked higher. I understand Torres was pretty much the defacto preseason number 1.

 

So, anyways... Am I right that Eloy is pretty much the consensus number 1 in our org at this point of the season? Even if Gleyber was still around?

I have Eloy #1 in all of baseball

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Cool, he's sorry. He didn't say what he did. He didn't say he'd done anything or taken any action to prevent further issues in the future. Maybe some anger management counseling...

 

Handling the acquisition properly would've been to have not made it.

 

If you want to be upset at acquiring Chapman, feel free. I've said more than once that's more than justified. But at least acknowledge that there's not going to be a response that makes it right for you. The statement talks about working with his girlfriend to improve their relationship and raise their son together. That's just talk, but you can fake your way through anger management too. There was never going to be a meaningful sentiment behind a statement like this, but for what it is it hits the right notes.

[KrisBryantisaBeast]

Do we now have the best bullpen in baseball with Chapman, Rondon, Strop and the rest of the pen?

[Sammy Sofa]

If I can still watch Annie Hall or Chinatown and enjoy them as great films while realizing that the filmmakers are complete scumbags, I sure as hell can watch Chapman be used as a pitching machine by my baseball team while thinking he sucks as a human being.

[David]

If I can still watch Annie Hall or Chinatown and enjoy them as great films while realizing that the filmmakers are complete scumbags, I sure as hell can watch Chapman be used as a pitching machine by my baseball team while thinking he sucks as a human being.

 

I like that comparison a lot, actually.

[David]

Do we now have the best bullpen in baseball with Chapman, Rondon, Strop and the rest of the pen?

 

i mean the yankees still ridiculously have miller and betances, but we're up there

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Do we now have the best bullpen in baseball with Chapman, Rondon, Strop and the rest of the pen?

 

i mean the yankees still ridiculously have miller and betances, but we're up there

 

It's tough to have a 7-8-9 as good as Strop/Rondon/Chapman, especially if you toss in Edwards's emergence I think it's a fair argument to make. There's a handful of teams with really good pairings that could make an argument, the Orioles, Dodgers, inexplicably the Marlins, etc.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Do we now have the best bullpen in baseball with Chapman, Rondon, Strop and the rest of the pen?

 

Statistically speaking, you'd probably have to ask T. Tiger or something. But Wood/Nathan/Grimm/Montgomery/Edwards/Strop/Rondon/Chapman sure looks pretty on paper.

[David]

Do we now have the best bullpen in baseball with Chapman, Rondon, Strop and the rest of the pen?

 

i mean the yankees still ridiculously have miller and betances, but we're up there

 

It's tough to have a 7-8-9 as good as Strop/Rondon/Chapman, especially if you toss in Edwards's emergence I think it's a fair argument to make. There's a handful of teams with really good pairings that could make an argument, the Orioles, Dodgers, inexplicably the Marlins, etc.

 

yeah, it's pretty damn solid. aside from that ridiculously good top 3, you've got edwards, grimm, and montgomery...and then wood and cahill are basically long relief

 

and oh, yeah, nathan

Edited July 25, 2016 by David

[Tracer Bullet]

That doesn't do anything for me. Aroldis did not take responsibility for his actions.

 

http://deadspin.com/aroldis-chapman-still-says-he-did-nothing-wrong-1775469754

 

“I didn’t do anything,” he said. “People are thinking that it’s something serious; I have not put my hands on anyone, didn’t put anyone in danger. Since I didn’t do anything like that, I’m not thinking about it. If I didn’t do anything, why should I think about it? That is in the past. Now, I’m thinking about more important things: my family, kids, my career.”

 

I mean, he literally says "I regret that I did not exercise better judgment and for that I am truly sorry". It's just words on a page so it doesn't undo anything that he did, but a small part of the irritation with Chapman was his lack of remorse. A professional hobby of mine is giving and evaluating apologies, and that's a pretty good one. It doesn't hide behind passive wording like apologize, or separate himself from the behaviors by saying he's sorry for the effects of his behavior. He's directly saying he's sorry for his (admittedly ambiguous) actions, and like Brett just pointed out on Twitter, he didn't have to do this as a guy who was traded (there's no extra motivation like a contract for him). Again, it doesn't undo anything that happened and people are still right to not be happy, but this is what handling the acquisition properly looks like given the realities of the situation.

 

oh I'm about 99% certain he had to do this as part of the terms of the trade. I bet the Cubs insisted upon a jointly-approved, jointly-issued statement.

 

And that's a [expletive] apology. I apologize for my actions on this date. Are you apologizing for choking your gf, who you claimed you didn't touch? Are you apologizing for shooting your gun off in your garage in frustration, which you claimed "didn't put anyone in danger." Or are you apologizing because you didn't lift the seat that morning?

 

Knowing that some athletes are assholes b/c some percentage of all people in the world are assholes, and some of your friends and co-workers you may hate if you knew them better, etc, isn't the same as knowing and specifically setting out to acquire a guy who 7 months ago choked his gf. My favorite team today acquired a guy that I hate who hasn't really been punished (30 games off for a multi-millionaire for choking a girl and shooting a gun wildly in your garage? horsefeathers off) and wasn't remorseful at the time and hasn't clearly indicated that he owns those actions in his statement for the team. I want the Cubs to win a WS, but I'd be so much happier if it wasn't by having to do something like this. My primary frustration is I don't think adding Chapman was necessary to win the WS. And if he gets the last outs in the WS, his face will be everywhere associated with the Cubs first title in a million years and that'll suck.

[Little Slide Rooter]

FWIW, MLB.com wasted no time slotting Torres and McKinney as the Yankees' new 1 and 4 prospects.