Backtobanks

I would think that some of you are underestimating the coaches at lower levels. I would think that they are smart enough to emphasize the skills that a player has. In other words, a big, power hitter would probably be encouraged to be agressive while a small, fast MI would be encouraged to be more patient at the plate.

Breaking News - The Cubs will be signing Pudge any day now. :lol: :lol: :lol:

don't call the hall too inclusive and then set some horribly inclusive and arbitrary standard for entrance Sorry, too much NY's celebration. I meant to say that the HOF is too exclusive.

I agree that the HOF is too inclusive, but it's hard to say players are great but not HOF types. With all of the different eras (segregation era, dead-ball era, steroid era, etc.) it's hard to determine what truly is a "HOF type". Obviously you can't use comparative statistics from different era. Look at all of the discussion about the MVP award (does it mean most valuable player or best player). I think the voting should be that the top 3 vote getters get in each year. A case could be made for any of players like Raines, Larkin, Lee Smith, Jack Morris, Edgar Martinez, Trammell, Mattingly, Bagwell, or Larry Walker.

I can't believe you guys don't get sarcasm without highlighting it in green. I was making fun of all of the "breaking news" posts on exactly when and to whom the Garza trade was happening. How was anyone supposed to know your post was "sarcasm" as it was written? Maybe by the 5-6 posts (1 or 2 by me) preceding my post all making fun of the "Breaking News" posts about the "imminent" Garza trade.

He might lead the 2012 Cubs in HRs.

Source? Or just trolling? I thought Backtobanks was a decent poster. #-o I really don't see any combination of players that I would want from the Marlins. Maybe they will take Zambrano and Soriano with Garza. :lol: Before he just had the annoying 3-way trade proposals, but he is trending more and more toward annoying troll every day. I can't believe you guys don't get sarcasm without highlighting it in green. I was making fun of all of the "breaking news" posts on exactly when and to whom the Garza trade was happening.

Breaking news: The deal with the Marlins should be completed before midnight tonight. :clapping:

NO

Who can we count on in 2013? Assuming Garza, Byrd, and Marmol are traded at some point, we will have Castro, Dejesus, Soto (possibly), Shark, Cashner, Russell (possibly) and T. Wood. 1B - ?, 2B - Barney (adequate), SS- Castro, 3B - Stewart (?), OF - Soriano, Dejesus, Jackson (?), Sczur (?), Sappelt (?), C- Soto/Castillo/Clevenger, Rotation - Wood, Wells (possibly), McNutt (?), prospect from Garza trade (?), FA/Prospect (?), Bullpen- Russell (possibly), Shark, Cashner, and then a lot of prospects (????????). I'm not punting on 2013, but it sure looks like the FO is. Sure, if they didn't make any more trades or signings in the next year, then, yeah... They would have to trade many of the prospects that they just acquired or developed because there's nothing left on the roster that's going to get anything in return. As for signings FAs , they would need at least 4 top FAs next year (2 pitchers and 2 position players) to have a real shot. Both of those ideas seem to be the opposite of what Theo wants to do. What if there were only two FAs signed (a starter and a 1B), the kind that fit with ? What if the return on trading Garza, Byrd, Marmol and possibly Soto provided the Cubs with a decent BOR starting pitcher, a TOR prospect that was not too far away, a very good position player prospect (preferably C or 3B) and some good low A ball prospects? It is certainly possible that by 2013 Cashner will be stretched out to be in the rotation. So the Cubs would be looking at a rotation of the FA signing, the TOR prospect, Travis Wood, acquired BOR starter, and one of Cashner/Shark/McNutt/Wells. That rotation is not a championship rotation on paper but its not punting either? That's a rotation that is set to improve with age and compete now. The line-up would be: C - Castillo/acquired top prospect 1B - FA signing (Fielder) 2B - whoever it is will likely be league average or below SS - Castro 3B - Stewart/acquired top prospect LF - Soriano CF - Jackson RF - DeJesus That line-up could suck if Castillo/Stewart and Brett Jackson suck. If they're good, that line-up may not be championship caliber on paper, but it is far from punting. I think its certainly possible that Theo and Co. do wind up punting on 2013 as well. But that is yet to be seen. And, frankly, if they think that Fielder isn't the type of player they want to bet on and if they don't like any of the free agent pitcher's next season, which is unlikely, then I would want them to punt on 2013 and build this team the right way and not handcuff the Cubs with player's they'll regret having signed just so that they wouldn't look like they were giving up on winning for a couple of seasons. You had better be signing a real ace for the rotation because Wood/Wells/Shark are BOR starters and Jays prospect/McNutt/Cashner are all questions marks. As for the offense, you had better keep your fingers crossed with Jackson, Castillo, Stewart, and Soriano in the lineup.

He probably just read the Morosi article and figures he'll take a stab at prediction and if it turns out, try to make it seem like he has actual sources. Exactly. He said it would be done by Tuesday of last week. Then he said Thursday was the day. He's just guessing. Whenever Garza does get traded he's going to claime he "broke" the news. I can't imagine anything is going to happen over the holiday weekend. Theo & Jed will be out celebrating the juggernaut of a team they've assembled for 2012. :lol:

Who can we count on in 2013? Assuming Garza, Byrd, and Marmol are traded at some point, we will have Castro, Dejesus, Soto (possibly), Shark, Cashner, Russell (possibly) and T. Wood. 1B - ?, 2B - Barney (adequate), SS- Castro, 3B - Stewart (?), OF - Soriano, Dejesus, Jackson (?), Sczur (?), Sappelt (?), C- Soto/Castillo/Clevenger, Rotation - Wood, Wells (possibly), McNutt (?), prospect from Garza trade (?), FA/Prospect (?), Bullpen- Russell (possibly), Shark, Cashner, and then a lot of prospects (????????). I'm not punting on 2013, but it sure looks like the FO is. Sure, if they didn't make any more trades or signings in the next year, then, yeah... They would have to trade many of the prospects that they just acquired or developed because there's nothing left on the roster that's going to get anything in return. As for signings FAs , they would need at least 4 top FAs next year (2 pitchers and 2 position players) to have a real shot. Both of those ideas seem to be the opposite of what Theo wants to do.

Who can we count on in 2013? Assuming Garza, Byrd, and Marmol are traded at some point, we will have Castro, Dejesus, Soto (possibly), Shark, Cashner, Russell (possibly) and T. Wood. 1B - ?, 2B - Barney (adequate), SS- Castro, 3B - Stewart (?), OF - Soriano, Dejesus, Jackson (?), Sczur (?), Sappelt (?), C- Soto/Castillo/Clevenger, Rotation - Wood, Wells (possibly), McNutt (?), prospect from Garza trade (?), FA/Prospect (?), Bullpen- Russell (possibly), Shark, Cashner, and then a lot of prospects (????????). I'm not punting on 2013, but it sure looks like the FO is. Apparently your crystal ball sees further into the future than mine. Mine hasn't even made it to January yet. My crystal ball shows that there are a lot of unknowns (?) and holes for 2013 unless Theo & CO. reverse every move they've made since coming here. If yours doesn't show that, maybe you need a new crystal ball.

Because after looking at their descriptions, to label it inspiring would have been an outright lie. :lol:

I'd love to see some of this happen, but most of it is dreaming instead of what's going to happen.

Who can we count on in 2013? Assuming Garza, Byrd, and Marmol are traded at some point, we will have Castro, Dejesus, Soto (possibly), Shark, Cashner, Russell (possibly) and T. Wood. 1B - ?, 2B - Barney (adequate), SS- Castro, 3B - Stewart (?), OF - Soriano, Dejesus, Jackson (?), Sczur (?), Sappelt (?), C- Soto/Castillo/Clevenger, Rotation - Wood, Wells (possibly), McNutt (?), prospect from Garza trade (?), FA/Prospect (?), Bullpen- Russell (possibly), Shark, Cashner, and then a lot of prospects (????????). I'm not punting on 2013, but it sure looks like the FO is.

There's no reason it should take that long. It shouldn't take that long, but early indications are that it will. The Cubs look awful for 2012, have a ton of holes and question marks for 2013, and 2014 is a possibility assuming their prospects develop as hoped.

Hello? Its Dale's brother! Yeesh. It cracks me up that all of these "people in the know" predict when a trade is going to happen. Quite a few pages ago somebody who knew somebody claimed it was going down on Tuesday. Everybody knows the Cubs are shopping Garza and 3-4 teams are seriously interested, so saying a trade is going to happen soon isn't really going to far out on a limb.

I totally agree. My first expectations were for a "decent" team in 2012 and a contender in 2013, but I've accepted kissing off 2012. To me that should push back expectations 1 year, not 4-5 years like some posters are expecting. If Theo & CO. are going to take 5-6 years to build a serious contender, then in my book they have failed. Let's not forget that rebuilding the farm system is great, but there's no guarantee that these prospects will become solid ML players.

In the same article: •Center thinks the Padres "desperately" need to acquire a close-to-Major League-ready middle infield prospect. Which gets me back to the deal I mentioned earler: Rizzo + Hudson for Marmol + Barney + $2million (2012) + $4million (2013). Cubs get their 1B, Padres get their young MI, Padres get a good trade chip (Marmol) with a very trade-friendly contract to pick up more prospects.

I wonder if SD would do this deal: Rizzo + Hudson for Marmol + Barney + $2million (2012) + $4million (2013). Obviously SD would flip Marmol asap for prospects while getting younger and cheaper at 2B. Cubs would have a $5.5 million committment to Hudson in 2012 and a $2 million buyout in 2013.

I guess I should have emphasized getting hurt over struggling as a reason for not getting another big payday.

That's assuming he will get another big payday at 30. If he gets hurt or struggles before then he might only get $8-$10 million per year.

in fairness to hendry, it's hard to suggest he ever got a chance like epstein has here. who knows what he would have done if he'd been told he had five years to build a team from nothing (eat donuts and draft poorly, I suppose, but we're talking about offseason acquisitions). it's true that hendry was constantly trying to patch together a winner, but it also seems like those were the working orders (and, given the status of the team, the right move in a lot of those years). Hey, the rules are that you're not supposed to say anything good about Hendry even though it might be true.

I think you're overstating it. None of these people bought teams primarily to make money off them. I think you're overstating it. I can't believe you know that there isn't any sports franchise owner who bought a team for the profit potential. I would guess that the overwhelming majority of owners bought primarily for profit/tax write offs as opposed to ego/bucket list. You're mischaracterizing my post. I didn't say potential profit isn't a factor. I said profit isn't the primary factor. If they're great business people as you suggested, they'd find better investments if profit were the primary goal. And buying a team for the tax write-off directly contradicts your claim that these are profit making machines. Not when the tax write off maximizes your profits. One example is that a players' massive contracts can be depreciated over the "typical" length of a players' career.