Sammy Sofa

Honestly I wish Lester gave up his David Ross blankie and we could do without another extreme hole in the lineup with him I'd have agreed with this more before Lester went beast mode his last start. Lester can still have Montero; I highly doubt Ross made any kind of real difference if you're comparing him and Miguel.

I'm really not trying to pick on this so much, but you say "considered one of the best in the NL" like it's a thing in the future when they have the 5th best record in the NL right now. If a top 5 team isn't one of the best, then what is? That's fair. This is a horrible answer and you deserve better, but it's like porn. I don't know how to truly define what the Cubs being one of the best means, but I will know it when I see it. We all will. And it will even better than watching porn. I mean, I assume it would be. I don't watch porn. I'll watch enough for the both of us.

There are, coincidentally, only 7 teams with a better record than the Cubs right now. Odds are there's always going to be better teams out there.

They should all have glowing eyes.

I'm really not trying to pick on this so much, but you say "considered one of the best in the NL" like it's a thing in the future when they have the 5th best record in the NL right now. If a top 5 team isn't one of the best, then what is?

I keep seeing this mentioned like it's a bad thing, when in fact it's a very smart thing and by design. I like it, but I can see a failure condition. I sometimes wonder if the Cubs aren't focused on the kinds of hitters that would thrive in the 00s, but might not translate well to the 2010s pitching environment. To me it seems like the kind of the thing that can run really hot and cold to extremes.

I keep seeing this mentioned like it's a bad thing, when in fact it's a very smart thing and by design. I agree, but I think many are expecting too much. It's not a bad thing at all, but I don't think it's too likely they end up with some kind of nu-Murderer's Row that's just taking advantage of everyone. Pitching is still going to dominate.

The way some people talk I'm kinda convinced they'd just assume the Cubs would fail in the playoffs if they face any team that technically has a better regular season record.

All the more reason to bolster a team eyeing the playoffs. Established players like Rizzo, Fowler, Castro and Montero have had extended horrendous stretches this year, so it's not as though not being a rookie means that that won't happen. Like stupid babies, teams that are right there fighting to get in are the ones that need the most help. If you're assuming they're going to go out there and regularly dominate, you're likely going to be disappointed. They're tied up in a ton of ways financially for years to come, they've focused on creating an offense-first team in a very offensively depressed environment, and they're in a division that is likely to remain competitive for the foreseeable future. I think it's very likely that they're going to be very good, but I don't think they're going to be coasting very often. Besides, if the Cubs actually did end up being THAT good, why would they need to make key deadline moves more than teams who are fighting? The Cubs bets young players were pretty much untouchable going into the deadline, so this fear that they would have in any way gutted what they've tried to build up over the last few years is ridiculous. The assets they have left in the farm at this point are, quite frankly, pretty average with a few exceptions. Most of them will go on to do bupkis and their primary avenues of impact are, quite honestly, as trade bait. Plus isn't one of the main things that is appealing about our FO is that they'll continually be able to draft and sign talent to replenish the farm system?

That letting Castro go on August waivers would be a defensible opinion. You don't even have to agree with it, you just have to not think it's utterly crazybuckets. But it would be an overreaction at this point; he has a decent chance of rebounding and at least being serviceable next season. He's not making a ton of money next season and there's really not a better option they need to seek out, especially if they keep him in a backup role. Like I said, technically anything that frees up money for the relatively budget-strapped Cubs is defensible; that doesn't actually mean it's automatically the best decision.

I don't think anyone here is really that upset given what's come out about what teams were asking for. Basically it seems to come down to the Cubs not being willing to move Baez, and that just is what it is. A lot of people just take issue with those that are crowing about how they're simply happy the Cubs didn't "sell the farm."

The Cubs are so not a legit contender this season. So you add a Tyson Ross and Craig Kimbrel, and you're better but still not a big-time contender. I'm not talking a contender for the second wild card, I'm talking a contender for a championship. And the Cubs would't be like some wild card teams from the past that had success. When you get to the postseason, yes, I will acknowledge that you give yourself a chance to win it all. Of course you do. But the chances the Cubs, with half their starting lineup 23 or younger and two more who are 25, going through, let's say, the Pirates, Cardinals, Dodgers and Royals is absurd. Oh, and that's also trying to take over the Giants just to get to the playoffs. Oh, hell no. And by the way, I'd have been fine with Ross and Kimbrel because it helped us for the future. [expletive] literally every rental we could have gotten that would have cost a lot. So what ages do they have to be for their chances to be better? What record do they need to have? You just gave us a bunch of nebulous criteria for when the Cubs would be "really" competitive. There's likely always going to be better teams they'll have to face.

Put it this way: If Castro were a free agent today, would you be willing to pay $38m for him? What point do you think this is making?

Yeah, backup catcher. Blast Ross out of a cannon. Ross can be with Lester. Montero/Schwarbs can split the other 4. Schwarber playing LF some too Ross can go step on a landmine; he's completely redundant. Let Montero have the backup/mentor role and don't bounce Schwarber between defensive roles. What's Lester going to do, refuse to pitch? Besides, Montero's bat had been steadily declining before he got hurt, so it's not like he's a hitter they've got to make room for.

There's a difference between DFAing him and letting someone have him if he's waiver claimed. It's not time for the first one, but I think you could make a case for the second one. With PTR you can technically justify any move that cuts cost. Personally I'd like to see him become their primary MI backup next year and see if regains anything in that role. He'd get a decent amount of playing time covering 3B/SS/2B and then they also increase the chances of being able to make him part of a trade for something decent.

How are the Cubs not a good team that could have added a few pieces to solidify their chances? They're 55-47 on August 1st.

Obviously, but that moron was saying to do it now. That's a last resort move.

So now our window of opportunity starts in 2019? That's not what he said; that's the year talked about that the Ricketts-owned Cubs will pretty much be free of many of the nebulous financial restrictions hanging over them now. He didn't say anything about them not being able to field competitive teams in the meantime.

And now they're both bums destined to ride the bench. Circle of life, man.

Yes, by OPSing under .600 this season, he's definitely done that. Yes, everyone knows he's had a terrible season. Talking about DFAing or releasing him at this point is dumb. Some dingleberry on the score (Rosenbloom maybe) asked if the Cubs should let someone claim Castro on waivers and give him away, a la Alex Rios with the Rangers/Sox a few years back. Unbelievable http://www.gifwave.com/media/28876_arrested-development-annoyed-lucille-bluth-staring.gif

Yeah, backup catcher. Blast Ross out of a cannon.

Yeah, it's ridiculous; people keep tying themselves into knows bemoaning what's to be done with Castro, when all they have to do is simply bench him if they want to bring Baez up. No subterfuge needed.

That's coward talk; I'M hoping they sweep them all.

Which just reiterates how anyone who thinks the Cubs' chances of doing anything in the playoffs are nil should be catapulted into the sun.

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