Look on the bright side, folks:

[KatJ]

if this tailspin keeps going, at least Baker will be gone by the end of the season. That, or even Jim Hendry's head will not be safe from the wrath of fans. Speaking of Jim, maybe it's Billy Beane time? We could do worse... and have.

 

This season is quickly rotting a la 2002. :x

 

EDIT: I wonder if this belongs in Rants? I'll leave it for a mod to decide.

Edited July 8, 2005 by KatJ

[imb]

having billy beane here would be awesome.

 

Theo sort of showed him up last season, you'd think that Billy wouldnt mind tripling his payroll and giving it a shot, he cant be worse than hendry.

[ctcf]

This thread got "Always Look On The Bright Side of Life" from Life of Brian/Spamalot stuck in my head

[ltb]

except beane now has an ownership stake in the a's........

[KatJ]

except beane now has an ownership stake in the a's........

 

Granted (although I didn't know that, thanks), but there's hope that someone out there would have the guts to play the Moneyball philosophy with the Cubs. I think it would be a good match: the Trib is cheap (or, let's just say they want to squeeze all the ink they can out of a buck), and the philosophy has been proven to get a team to the playoffs practically perennially (see the AL West lately? The A's look poised for that second half surge).

 

The rest is dumb luck (all right, the Cubs run short on that) and three good starting pitchers (which I think our staff has, at least when you put them all together).

 

But why is DePo doing so poorly with LA? He was Beane's former number cruncher - thought he would do even better with a bigger payroll.

[BigbadB]

except beane now has an ownership stake in the a's........

 

Granted (although I didn't know that, thanks), but there's hope that someone out there would have the guts to play the Moneyball philosophy with the Cubs. I think it would be a good match: the Trib is cheap (or, let's just say they want to squeeze all the ink they can out of a buck), and the philosophy has been proven to get a team to the playoffs practically perennially (see the AL West lately? The A's look poised for that second half surge).

 

The rest is dumb luck (all right, the Cubs run short on that) and three good starting pitchers (which I think our staff has, at least when you put them all together).

 

But why is DePo doing so poorly with LA? He was Beane's former number cruncher - thought he would do even better with a bigger payroll.

 

It takes time to completely revamp a team. The difference between Epstein and Beane is that Epstein has money to bring in AND keep the key guys he wants. Beane has to give his away and hope he can replace them.

[Soul]

*turns on rant detector*

 

 

 

No rant detected. Just a fan voicing real concerns over an obviously listless ballclub.

[johnnyba99]

But why is DePo doing so poorly with LA? He was Beane's former number cruncher - thought he would do even better with a bigger payroll.

 

DePodesta inherited some bad contracts. Could take a couple fo years to clear those and get the players he wants in there.

[TB_11]

Granted (although I didn't know that, thanks), but there's hope that someone out there would have the guts to play the Moneyball philosophy with the Cubs. I think it would be a good match: the Trib is cheap (or, let's just say they want to squeeze all the ink they can out of a buck), and the philosophy has been proven to get a team to the playoffs practically perennially (see the AL West lately? The A's look poised for that second half surge).

 

Using the moneyball philosophy now, and assuming the 2005 off-season market is like 2004, we'd take advantage of how teams are overvaluing starting pitching and trade away our big guns. I don't know if that would be the smartest thing to do if the Cubs want to compete in 2006.

[brinoch]

But why is DePo doing so poorly with LA? He was Beane's former number cruncher - thought he would do even better with a bigger payroll.

 

DePodesta inherited some bad contracts. Could take a couple fo years to clear those and get the players he wants in there.

 

He's also been completely crushed with injuries this season. Drew breaking his arm is akin to the Hawpe liner that crushed us all for at least a week. That really hurt the team.

[KatJ]

Using the moneyball philosophy now, and assuming the 2005 off-season market is like 2004, we'd take advantage of how teams are overvaluing starting pitching and trade away our big guns. I don't know if that would be the smartest thing to do if the Cubs want to compete in 2006.

 

Devil's advocate here: given that (1) our top two have spent considerable time on the DL at the same time the past two seasons, and (2) our staff has a spotty offense to get them RUNS for a W, there could be worse options.

 

A few bats with decent D and far better OPS could make up for Wood and Maddux. If you have to keep only one, I'd say Z, because he actually helps himself out fairly well with the bat, and has been the only one who been consistently healthy. But that's JMO.