A New Era

So you don't mind overpaying Fielder so you can be sarcastic about him a few years from now too? My main fear of Feilder is that he could completely fall off due to his weight. I'm not completly against him either, I just has some major fears of his weight.

Wait, what? If that's "unfair" then it's "unfair" for him or any of us to talk about any hypothetical FA signing. You're asking him to look up possible FA's over the next 4 or 5 years and list specifically guys who he wants to target, while all you have to say is "Let's add fielder or Pojuls". You are asking him to do a bunch of research just to disagree with you when you do not. Yes it's unfair. Why don't you research a list of 5 years of free agents then tell HIM why Fielder is better than all of the names you come up with?

I'm not wanting to wait for guys like Baez Vogelbach etc. What I'd like to see is a few big trades for guys that are on the right side of 30, but about to get too expensive for their current team (or available for some other reason, like the Logan Morrison, Colby Rasmus situations). I mentioned someplace earlier, the Cubs added Ramirez and DLee in two trades within about 6 or 8 months of each other. Let's get a few of our impact guys that way. Or sign someone like Fielder and not give up anyone. I'm not Dave so I won't speak for him. But asking to name specific guys is kind of unfair since he's not the one that has to make these moves. I would be ok with Fielder depending on the years. I think though the idea guy would be someone who is 28'ish and doesn't have any major question marks. Pojuls major question marks are his age and enormous "overpaying" contract. Fielder's question mark is his weight. If a guy somewhat LIKE Tex or Gonzo comes around, I would be more comfortable going after that guy, because of the fact they have less questions marks as guys like Fielder or Pojuls. I do agree that the #1 thing they should be trying to do now is talk to teams who have low payrolls and inquire about some of the guys who are close to FA who they might not beable to afford. Get a couple guys like that added to Castro and Garza and start to build around them.

Maybe he smokes pot in odd numbered years, and goes sober in even numbered years.

Hopefully he accepts. I am a big fan of Pena. I wouldn't mind him being here a couple more years while we focus more on SP, 3B, and OF needs.

I'll probably get this off itunes. Would be something fun to listen to while driving in the car. Wish it was longer though. You could probably make 20 hours worth of decent stuff Cubs fans would love. I would have liked a section of just Ron's shouts and cheers during big plays.

I like it if true. Good young talent. That's something I can get behind. In the possibility of Pojuls vs. Fielder if they DID go hard after one of them. Does this hint that Pojuls is not even a target?

The most prolific corpse-producing team in the majors. I'm a little disheartened that Albert would only be of use to the Cubs in 2012, though. He must have a "use by" date stamped on him somewhere. No, but he starts getting moldy in 2016.

Hypothetically. (I don't think Theo is going to throw away 2012). I mean there are a whole bunch of shades of grey between "throwaway" and Hendry's style of trading young for ML players "Go for it at all costs". If Theo's building this offseason edges a little bit closer to the "throwaway" camp. Meaning no really huge signings, but still getting some young guys with upside and potential, making some trades for ML ready guys that aren't stellar now, but could improve. Then in that situation you MIGHT see LaHair at 1B. The way I feel, if you are going that route, why not play him at 1B, hope he has a pretty good year, then try to sucker someone into giving you some good talent via trade after or during the 2012 season?

Will Z being hit on the mouth by a liner be sort of like his baptism to a new, better Z? Yeah probably not.

How the [expletive] are you coming to that conclusion? Just because he wisely doesn't want the Cubs to hold off spending until they start developing better players internally like davearm2 wants them to do doesn't mean he only wants the quick fix. Everyone with a functioning brain wants them to improve the farm system AND utilize their tremendous financial resources, so I have no idea why you're acting like that's only "your side of the argument." Because I am more focused on the long term moves that make us stronger in 2014 and beyond as opposed to more competitive in 2012, and still stronger in 2013-2014. But maybe not as strong in 2012, with a bit more long term focus in mind.

That's for sure. The Cubs are a crapload of young talent short of being the Rays. I'd trade our money for their roster in a nanosecond. Hopefully in a few years we will have both the money and the young talent. Talk about a pointless post having nothing to do with what I'm talking about. Ofcourse not. But you seem to be failing to understand our side of the arguement on this. I want to be the Rays + large payroll. The way you do that is be willing to let guys go at the height of their value, if you are getting even more value in return. Having said that, once we have improved our number of trading chips. We use those chips in a different way, because we will have multiple options at each position. But for THIS year. I am entertaining strengthening our "assets" by giving up a player that helps us immediately if those assets are much stronger than what we give up. Because we are going to be in a more ideal situation in a few years time. You seem to want the quick fix, sign some big market guys, continue to spend big money on international free signings. Yes that would work. But being willing to look a 2-3 years down the road, helps us to more quickly to become "The Rays + large payroll" sooner.

Too late Mr. Maddux. I've photoshopped your stache onto Sveum, I am so over you.

And let me say, I want Garza here long term. I like his enthusiasm, but most importantly, I love his potential. The only way I would ever want him traded is if you get an offer from a desperate team where you are getting back 3 times Garza's value in sure fire talent. Because that makes your team even stronger later than it does simply making it competitive next year.

We are nowhere near 3 years away from fielding a strong team. Do you realize how much money is freed up this offseason and next? We're a big market team. We're not the [expletive] Rays. My opinion on this often gets misunderstood by people here. So let me elaborate. Signing some big names like Fielder who have flaws (defense, weight), makes you better and = a competitive team. Going the next few years adding just the right pieces, maybe having 2-3 more young guys make it to the big leagues who are ready to contribute in a big way = a "strong team". A strong team is more my "ideal team". One which has guys like Garza, Castro, Jackson, and a handful of other guys in their mid-late 20's who have more upside than they do downside. And it's gonna take a couple years to build that ideal team.

It is an interesting situation if you ask about it. Right NOW, his value is at the highest. However we are 2-3 years from fielding a really strong team. So in a way each of the next couple years his value is somewhat wasted. But I want him around when we finally do have a really strong team. What I would do is offer him an extension through 2017 or something. Show him you want him to be a part of the team long term, and maybe you can get a good team friendly deal. Don't wait til he can become a free agent. Either show him now you want him long term, or trade him for a king's ransom.

There is nothing wrong with setting a culture of the "Cubs Way" as "We expect you to play each game as if it's the 7th game of the World Series". I honestly don't want to read this whole thread because I feel it's probably full of people talking about stats and hating on Sveum for even talking about stuff like playing hard and so on. And posts about how they know exactly how clubhouses work even though they've never set a foot in one. I just wanted to say, there is nothing wrong with the people at the top expecting full effort every day from their players, and being outspoken about it. However effective it is you can spend countless hours debating it with eachother for all I care. But you set the culture by actually saying what you expect that culture to be.

Holy Bobby Howry, would you people just Bobby Howrying say what you Bobby Howrying mean? You Bobby Howryers.

Maddux was my first choice, but Sveum is alright. I'm willing to give him a chance and welcome him with open arms. But check it. <---- Now he looks like Maddux. hehe.

So anyone know of some really good pitching coaches who might be realistically available?

I think Theo has decided to communicate with the Chicago sports media strictly in the language of baseball analogies. Or specifically just simple outs and innings references to the final out. 6th inning, 27th out, etc. .

It's becoming an NSBB meme. I don't love it, but its better than other recent memes I find it to be pretty hot. Unless it wasn't.

Might end up looking like a family reunion tshirt for my family. Can't quite fit everyone on it.

Leadoff is not a position, harumphharumph.

In the Francona vs. Maddux case. I honestly don't know much about either. Only that Maddux is a great pitching coach, and Maddux had a great sense of humor. A Manager in some ways becomes the face of the orginazations. Because he's the one that appears in video clips every almost every single game. I favor Maddux over Francona in that regard too because I'd kinda like some new blood to be that face of the Cubs. If Francona came over it would just be too much of a Red Sox overload. I think just based on his media appearance so far, Maddux would be a great new face for the Cubs. He's pitching coach record is just another interesting bonus. Too many reasons to like Maddux. He's been my #1 choice ever since hearing his name, seeing his funny side just strengthens my broner for him.