KingKongvs.Godzilla

You were making a point with that comment? I was saying something equally nonsensical, hence my tsss, which I really should stop doing but can't. The here today, gone tomorrow was the most serious part of that post. There's things I could pick at with your post...what is "bad at baseball" defined as here? Does every player decline equally? Are there exceptions?

Last year was a down year. Happens when you get old. Happened to Jeter just a I know players decline and etc etc, but Ichiro Suzuki is not a .272 hitter. Plus, it'd be 1-2 years just to leadoff and help win a WS. yeah, players definitely tend to get bad at baseball when they get old Yep. Here today, gone tomorrow. Ichiro HAS been trending down...350+ to .315 to .272...He probably is finished. I bet he doesn't have a good year next year, NOT. Tsss.

Yeah, I can agree. The easy route to go would be Pujols + CC/Wilson in FA. Sit back, wait for Kemp (trade or FA) and 2013 pitchers. It's a good idea. Pretty cut and dry, and the team would be awesome.

Last year was a down year. Happens when you get old. Happened to Jeter just a I know players decline and etc etc, but Ichiro Suzuki is not a .272 hitter. Plus, it'd be 1-2 years just to leadoff and help win a WS.

Homina-homina-homina-WHAAAAAAA?!??!? If he's the President of Business Operations or whatever the title is, then he probably did have a big say. Plus, I doubt Randy Bush was handling the negotiations. Ricketts put in work, but Kenney probably put in the paperwork and such. Theo was a business decision on it's own, just as much as it was a baseball decision.

Kenney's an ambitious mofo. I read a while back that he was the only guy inside the organization who got an interview for the GM job...or he asked for it...now I'm getting that wrong...99.8% sure he asked for an interview. Anyway, more power to him. I don't think he's an idiot or anything, and clearly Teh Ricketts likes him so...no problems here.

David Wright would be awesome.

Well for one thing Soriano comes off the very next year...for the other...you buy a RF. Considering that we have Pujols in this scenario, there's no NEED to get Kemp, it's mostly a want. Andre Ethier, Carlos Quentin, and even Ichiro will be FAs too, and won't cost 100+ million like Kemp will. There's also Josh Hamilton...Maybe they want a stop-gap and wait until THE Justin Upton is a FA in 2015. Hell, I'm still hoping the D'Backs suck next year and put Upton back on at least the internet trade rumor market....no, on the real life real trade market.

I'm not so worried about money. I think that's an overstated issue now, and I think under Ricketts we'll see this team have some relatively high payrolls (even compared to their relatively high payrolls before). I also think that Upton from 27-32 will be a significantly better player than Jackson from 22-28. I like Jackson, but I think his upside is basically what Upton has been with a little less power, a little less speed, and a little less defense. I mean we are talking about a guy (Jackson) who struck out 64 times in 215 PAs in the PCL (185 ABs), so it's not as if there isn't room open for him to actually just bust. Upton's tools are just all around better, and he's already done it as a MLer. I see every single one of those guys traded as replaceable pieces too, even Jackson (who has Szczur behind him). Too file into Dolis' place there's still Carpenter, Cabrera, Zych, Kurcz...Rhee will give way to guys like Wells, Reed, and Maples...Barney will be replaced by guys like LeMahieu (who is basically a younger, bigger, more projectable Barney anyway the way the Cubs are using Barney as a non-SS), Flaherty, Watkins, Cerda, and whoever else exists as MIF in the system. I also just don't see BJ Upton as someone who will break the bank, and I think whoever picks him up is getting a big game player in a key position. In addition to adding two big contracts I have the Cubs getting rid of the Z contract as well as saving money at 3B with that whole Dominguez thing anyway. I'm also a believer in them getting rid of the Soriano contract this offseason...I just have no clue how it's going to be done so I didn't touch it. The way Ricketts has attacked problems I just don't believe money is going to hold the Cubs back under him. I think he knows the best thing he could do early on for his product is spend money on it, because he'll make it back and then some if/when the franchise becomes the machine he wants it to become.

Theo is always in the process of getting something done. Those items are vital.

I'm very high on him but I can't get irrational about it yet because of where he did it. There was a catcher with the White Sox a few years ago...Hernandez or something...who posted outstanding numbers in the DSL or GCL one of the two...great K:BB that was walk heavy...right around Candelario's age...I was like holy [expletive] I'm getting in on the ground floor on this guy...out of baseball by 2008.

DOUG GLANVILLE PLEASE.

My "How to compete in 2012, the years after, and still not sacrifice the almighty, always a'comin future" Plan v.1 finished: What I would do if I was Ricketts/Theo and I wanted to win next year without messing around with "the future" too much...Keep mind that the Cubs have no shot at losing their top 15 pick, which to me is a huge advantage going forward into FA: Target #1: Albert Pujols Cost: 8 years $225 million (2nd round draft pick - Noooo!) Logic: I want the best player in the game. I have the resources to pay that best player in the game. I can make alot of money by getting the best player in the game on my team. Therefore, pay the man (note: I wrote 240 then knocked it down). Target #2: CJ Wilson Cost: 5 years $84 million Logic: Has held up and then thrived as a SP in the AL and Texas. Really, I'd love for CC Sabathia to be here (5 years 140), but Wilson is a solid choice after him. Anyway, I think he can be anywhere from a 4.5-5.5 WAR pitcher for the majority of the contract (assuming health), and then I think he'll settle into a 3.5-4.5 range in the last year or two. Tough if that means anything, and one of the most well conditioned pitchers in the league (also if that means anything). Trade: Brett Jackson, Darwin Barney, Dae-Eun Rhee, and Rafael Dolis to the Rays to CF BJ Upton and LHP Jake McGee Logic: Much like the Granderson for Austin Jackson trade, the Cubs trade a top prospect for a proven CF entering his prime. Upton had huge expectations as the #2 overall pick in 2002, lived up to it for one season and then the '08 postseason where he ripped, and since then got hurt, sucked, got healthy again, and has settled into being merely a 4 WAR CF the past two seasons. The Rays get cheaper in CF, get a positive WAR replacement for Brignac (Barney's a likeable player, but his limited upside and the fact that here he's an all glove 2B rather than all glove SS makes him a prime trade candidate), and Dolis offers another power pen arm that can help soon. McGee offers a power lefty pen arm that's been a little slow to come along for the Rays. Rhee's getting alot of love after what's mostly an OK season a couple years removed from TJ. Trade: Carlos Zambrano and <5 million cash to the Marlins for 3B prospect Matt Dominguez, C prospect Kyle Skipworth, and RHP Alan Oaks Logic: Marlins get a still fairly young former star pitcher who can jump right into the rotation, and some cash. The Cubs get two prospects that have lost their shine. Dominguez is an all glove 3B who's bat hasn't rounded into much, but he's also 21. Skipworth is the HS C they drafted a couple of years ago in the first that kind of just sucks now. Dominguez will get to try to win the 3B job out of ST because Ramirez leaves for Florida also, where he and Hanley Ramirez form the worst defensive left side of the IF in baseball. Byrd gives them a solid CF. Trade: LHP Sean Marshall, Jeff Baker, and RHP Jay Jackson to the Angels for RHP Tyler Chatwood, LHP Trevor Reckling, and RHP Kevin Jepsen Logic: With McGee, Gaub, Beliveau, and Russell the Cubs have potential lefty pen arms. Marshall can get something interesting, and Chatwood's arm is definitely interesting. He's short and he walks guys, but he's also healthy, athletic, and he threw well at times during his callup this year at 21. Jepsen throws hard too, but was hurt last year. Reckling is left handed and athletic, but is basically their Jay Jackson (by that I mean token black SP prospect). Cubs save a couple million, yay. Small FA signings: 3B Casey Blake Battles for the 3B spot Jon Broxton Bulldpen depth Scott Olsen/Kevin Millwood/Jeff Francis/Zack Duke AAA SP depth/in case [expletive] happens arms. Tell LeMahieu to get ready to try out at 2B in the spring. Field: C: Soto 1B: Pujols 2B: LeMahieu/Other (Aaron Hill? Ryan Flaherty?) SS: Castro 3B: Dominguez/Blake or LF: Soriano (I can't imagine a realistic way of getting rid of him...I don't want to do the Zito thing) CF: Upton RF: Colvin/Byrd Rotation: Wilson Garza Dempster Wells Chatwood Can't build Rome in a day but I think this team has room for growth and has some good upside. There's many other routes to go (for instance getting rid of Byrd/Colvin and going after one of Drew/Beltran/Sizemore/Cuddyer for RF), this is just one.

I'm not a casual fan and I think the farm system needs a little help right now. They've produced everything worth having on the ML roster (the bullpen arms, Castro, the Garza trade happened because of the farm, and Soto), and could use a little help from all that freed up money this big market team has coming off the books. Another way I look at it is that it's been much longer since the Cubs picked up an impact FA bat than it's been since the farm produced an impact player. Not a good thing for a big money, big city team....

DOOO players really refer to that as a "buggy whip" Tim McCarver? THIS fuckin guy...

I lol'd. I had the same feeling simply because the pitching staff was full of guys who'd been around. There was no super ace horse that anchored the rotation, but a bunch of guys who could do their jobs at average to above average but not great levels. The closest to truly elite pitcher on the staff was the crazy 27/28 year old Zambrano with over 1200 IP under his belt, and Z was never an economical or very well conditioned pitcher. The next was Rich Harden, who was on the last legs of his "man if I could just stay healthy I'd be a real ace" campaign. After that it was a bunch of early-mid 30's solid types. By that I mean there were 2 of them, then Jason Marquis. Sure you could hope for a 2005 White Sox, but it was not a rotation built for sustained success...maybe if Harden was healthy, but then no way they get him that cheap. I hate going to the Prior thing, but if that guy had just stayed healthy the Cubs might have been an elite team during the 2000's. Sucked, because that '08 team was really awesome.

1. He's better than Jackson, who is being assumed as good because he's a good prospect. 2. He's thrown up 20 WAR before 27. Outside of 2009 he's been between a 4-5 WAR player. We'd hoping Jackson gets there. 3. His power has been coming back since the shoulder injury, and he hit 23 with Tropicana as his home park in the 2011 run environment last year. His OPS on the road last year was almost .200 higher (a sweet .841). 4. He's one of the best defensive CFers in the league. He's also not a bad basestealer, and his baserunning in general is strong too. Thanks for the input. I actually like that Upton trade a whole lot, and wouldn't worry too much about what was given up. To me, it's cool to think/know that teams don't mind giving us their good players for our spares because everyone benefits anyway. Feel free to crap on the Yankee one I made that half heartedly...

Wow @ the Wash. I'm a Derek Holland fan. Hopefully this doesn't jinx him.

Every Packer does everything More than anyone else. We get it Packers fans. Woe is you.

I like Johnson too, and wouldn't mind him on a one year deal for the right price. Same for Aaron Hill actually, who I think offers a better glove than Johnson. Maybe even a little better overall as a player...

You know who sucks? Mark Sanchez.

That would be my choice... Followed by: Torey Lovullo http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7466 Two good names there. Mike Maddux would be really cool, but it'd be taking him out of his element. He's the best pitching coach in baseball IMO. That doesn't make you a manager candidate.

What I would do if I was Ricketts/Theo and I wanted to win next year without messing around with "the future" too much...Keep mind that the Cubs have no shot at losing their top 15 pick, which to me is a huge advantage going forward into FA: Target #1: Albert Pujols Cost: 8 years $225 million (2nd round draft pick - Noooo!) Logic: I want the best player in the game. I have the resources to pay that best player in the game. I can make alot of money by getting the best player in the game on my team. Therefore, pay the man (note: I wrote 240 then knocked it down). Target #2: CJ Wilson Cost: 5 years $84 million Logic: Has held up and then thrived as a SP in the AL and Texas. Really, I'd love for CC Sabathia to be here (5 years 140), but Wilson is a solid choice after him. Anyway, I think he can be anywhere from a 4.5-5.5 WAR pitcher for the majority of the contract (assuming health), and then I think he'll settle into a 3.5-4.5 range in the last year or two. Tough if that means anything, and one of the most well conditioned pitchers in the league (also if that means anything). Trade: Brett Jackson, Darwin Barney, Dae-Eun Rhee, and Rafael Dolis to the Rays to CF BJ Upton and LHP Jake McGee Logic: Much like the Granderson for Austin Jackson trade, the Cubs trade a top prospect for a proven CF entering his prime. Upton had huge expectations as the #2 overall pick in 2002, lived up to it for one season and then the '08 postseason where he ripped, and since then got hurt, sucked, got healthy again, and has settled into being merely a 4 WAR CF the past two seasons. The Rays get cheaper in CF, get a positive WAR replacement for Brignac (Barney's a likeable player, but his limited upside and the fact that here he's an all glove 2B rather than all glove SS makes him a prime trade candidate), and Dolis offers another power pen arm that can help soon. McGee offers a power lefty pen arm that's been a little slow to come along for the Rays. Rhee's getting alot of love after what's mostly an OK season a couple years removed from TJ. Trade: Carlos Zambrano and Sean Marshall to the Yankees for AJ Burnett, RHP Brett Marshall, 2B/3B Corban Joseph, and 2B prospect Angelo Gumbs Logic: Both pitchers have contracts that nobody likes and play for organizations that are probably a little sick of them. I think both of them have solid innings in them, and could use a change of scenery. Tell LeMahieu to get ready to try out at 2B in the spring. Iunno that's all I can think off...and even the Z trade I made up on the spot...Oh well...there's some of Sunday..there's still holes.

Wtf is a Crane Kenney? A new type of boid or sumthin?

What? You had multiple people here suggesting her as a viable and appealing option before the whole Theo thing blew up. Even better. If I was there for those threads/discussions I'd be one of those people.