Backtobanks

It certainly doesn't seem to bother Theo & Co. that the Cubs are headed for a historically bad season. When it's all said and done, managers and front office staff are judged by their record. With the Cubs headed for 100 losses this season, even a 15 game improvement (not likely) for next year puts them at 85 losses. It's going to take quite a few great seasons to balance out these 2 years.

I'm amazed that there are still posters that support what Theo has done this year. I understand those of you that think he will eventually build a contender, but he has made the 2012 Cubs into a laughing stock. There's no excuse for a large market team in a weak division to be this awful. This team is years away from being decent and as Garza, Dempster, and LaHair come back to "normal", we will have very little to trade for 2013 and beyond.

Yeah, it's not like he had the ability to try and improve the team or anything. Poor, poor Theo. The only relevance that this season has to Theo's ultimate plan is the fact that Marmol, Soto, and Byrd were supposed to be useful trade chips, and their suckage threw a wrench in those plans. other than that, pretty much everyone that can be considered a part of the future has done as expected, with the exception of Volstad. Keep suckling. So far, all Theo's done is refused to let himself get sucked into insane bidding wars for Pujols and Fielder. My main problem with sitting out on them despite the supposed available funds is the fact that he didn't use some of it for an all in bid on Darvish and maybe Cespedes, two guys who seemed to epitomize the type of players he was looking for. As for this debacle of a team, he can't be blamed for awful relievers inability to throw strikes and the hitters refusal to bat each other in. I know I sound like one of those religious nuts I've spent my life ridiculing, but we may have to suffer through some [expletive] we don't quite understand, but while I may bitch and moan anout it, I have a ton of faith that these guys are leading us in the right direction. My complaint has always been that these guys might turn it around, but I think it's going to take 4 years when he has the resources to do it in 2 years. For all of the discussion about Pujols, Cespedes, etc., right now the worst signing has been Theo & CO.

No, and most things can be attributed to Ricketts. He's cutting payroll! He's letting the Dodgers be the mid-tier but big market team to make the rise to the top (with Ned Colletti)! He's the reason I've watched three seasons of three different shows this week. That's got to total 24 hours, easy. You do realize that Ricketts offered Epstein a virtually open checkbook and he was the one to chose this direction, right? And complete autonomy, so don't blame anyone but the boy genius.

There's quite a difference between "Theo doesn't want to go past 5 years" and "he won't ever go past 5 years". The next question is whether Theo is ready to spend that much money next year on what could be a mediocre team or is he going "all in" (Upton, Hamels, etc.) to contend next year.

Everything I've read sounded like Theo doesn't want to go past 5 years for a pitcher. With Hamels seeking 7 and plenty of willing teams, I can't see how he ends up a Cub unless one of them changes their stance.

All of this talk about Cespedes' contract that we wouldn't give him and you think the Cubs are going to give Hamels the 7 year/$150 million contract he's seeking.

Either that or our GM ought to be fired.

Who's not fooling themselves? Go back and look at the posters' predictions for this team - most of them had them picked at better than last year's team. This is a bad team and it's going to take a lot of luck, work, and transactions to make them more than mediocre next year.

Bob Brenley would be better. :yahoo:

Hope Castro stays healthy or else we might sign Neifi Perez.

From MLBTR: Detroit could use pitching help or could consider trading for a second baseman or left fielder. The Cubs could solve any or all of their problems.

That lineup looks kind of shabby to me. Barney, Stewart, Brett Jackson, and Castillo are all question marks and that's assuming Rizzo hits right away. As you posted, there should be lots of money to upgrade.

Just wait until he crashes into the brick wall at Wrigley.

That and his aversion to bricks and ivy.

Freddie Freeman seems to be doing okay: .281/.308/.512/.820

This seems to be the discussion for the 2012 Cubs. If you get enough for _________ (fill in the blank with Garza, Dempster, or Lahair) then trade him, if not retain/extend/keep him.

I think Lahair is great, but I can't believe any team is going to make the kind of offer that some of you are talking about.

Agreed. It's also why for some reason... I have a gut feeling that Theo/Hoyer will shock everyone and trade for an impact player (could be like Justin Upton or King Felix for example) since there's only 2 that could be a FA this offseason. Although I'm not sure how they will get a guy like through a trade, but it's just a funny feeling I got. I don't see the pieces we currently have being nearly enough to get something like that done yet honestly. Especially since I really think we're counting on Brett moving forward and certainly Rizzo. I'm not sure they even know for sure which direction they're taking yet with Garza. If he's dealt, then the people saying we're 2014 or later before we're contending are right, in all likelihood. It looks like a lot of the missing pieces will have to come via trade. We have to hope that Brett and Rizzo both play up to their potential so that we can afford to trade other prospects in a blockbuster deal. Brett, Rizzo, a solid FA, and one blockbuster deal could make the Cubs solid contenders.

Nice analysis. The problem is that outside of Hamels and Upton, I don't see anyone standing out as an impact player. Some would make a nice addition to the team, but not really making them into an instant contender.

It all depends on the offer. It seems to me as though if it was a serious option, LaHair would have seen more time in the OF by now. Again, we really don't have any big power bats aside from Rizzo, so I'd really like to see LaHair and Rizzo in the lineup together at some point. Of course for the right offer, you take it. I'd certainly expect to see the Dodgers and Brewers come sniffing around if they're contending when the time comes. Maybe the Angels if their 1st baseman doesn't work out. Maybe an even exchange if they pick up 75% of his contract 8-) Why would we want Pujols at a deep discount when we called up Rizzo?

All we need to contend next year is: 1. Extend Garza 2. Sign Hamels 3. Sign Dempster to team friendly contract 4. Bring up Rizzo and Jackson and hope they both produce like Lahair has done this season so far 5. Put Lahair in LF and hope he keeps producing at a HOF pace I suppose all of those could happen next year, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.

Thank God their offensive power numbers can counteract the bullpen numbers. :lol: Anyone who expected this Cubs team to be an offensive juggernaut is foolish. Those numbers are not a disappointment/surprise. The bullpen has been worse than expected, IMO. It was never considered great, but I didn't think it would've been this bad. Nobody expected an "offensive juggernaut", but 9 HRs in April is a joke. As for the bullpen, how could anybody be surprised when the 3 best relievers were traded, in the rotation, and on the DL. Marmol is what he is - unhittable one outing and horrible the next.

You said it best, we're trading our top starter for the possibility of getting a starter that projects as a future #1 or #2. With all of the teams extending their players and a bunch of big market teams looking to spend money, I'm not sure how you figure we could be favorites next year.

I agree. Trading Garza pushes back our chances for contending by another 2 years and I'm tired of waiting.