Tarver

The thinking for me behind going after a top of the rotation guy is that our system is full of 3-5 type starters who should be ready within the next couple or three years. Much like the reasoning for going after a premiere bat, a top of the rotation pitcher is something the system simply won't produce for the next few years (maybe Ben Wells is our next best shot). It almost seems like a waste of money/prospects to pursue a non-TOR guy since we've got so many of them nearly ready in the minors. If we're going to spend big money, it should be on something we won't have anytime soon - a legit TOR guy. And the benefit to Wilson specifically is that going by the mileage on his arm, it's like signing a guy in his mid-20s. He's only been starting for 2 seasons now. Exactly. He's an elite talent and he'll only cost us money.

Well I'm not giving the [expletive] Cardinals my money. We get Fielder and some decent pitching this offseason I'll be more than happy to overpay. But... But at least we'd have some premier entertainment. Castro going 2-3 with 2 singles just doesn't inspire to swipe my Amex.

Well I'm not giving the [expletive] Cardinals my money. We get Fielder and some decent pitching this offseason I'll be more than happy to overpay.

They're dropping the prices bleacher seats. Likely not going to drop the other prices any time soon (if ever) until the expanded revenue from renovations/triangle building and related plans/TV network/expanded advertising comes in. And yes, there's plenty of "if's" for next season, hence why people are saying they COULD be contenders and not that they're a lock to do so. It's the same for them not contending, too. As long as I don't have to pay $200 to watch stiffs like Pena and Lopez have their asses handed to them by the Sox next year I'll be happy.

No, the link where Ricketts says Z will be traded. I still think this is the best Cubs board around. It was better when Meph was active and before the political BS of '08 sent some of the more conservative members packing, but it's better than listening to the sound of thousands of lips on Al Yellon's ass.

Yeah, some people keep forgetting how atrocious the defense has been. And this team still would have sucked. Nothing wrong with being positive, but thinking this team is only a couple of pieces away from contention isn't at all realistic. Actually, it is. Not "ideally" competitive, but it's certainly realistic they could be competitive next season in a division this weak. Even assuming they grab Fielder, Wilson, and re-sign Ramirez, (which is assuming a hell of a lot) that does nothing to address the defense or mediocre OF production. That team would also need to stay completely healthy as the farm isn't likely to provide us much help in the short term. Too many ifs. Yeah, might as well give up already. Yeah, I'm advocating them punting the season. Should we address the ticket price situation again? Like I told you in April, they better not expect fools like me to pay thousands of dollars to watch the [expletive] I did this year. I don't care how many [expletive] times the Red Sox are in town.

He's been towing the Cub's party line all summer.

Should the Cubs have the mentality that we should immediately settle because we might get outbid? Assuming we don't decrease payroll (which all of this is based on anyway), we'll have as much as or more than anyone else to spend this offseason. It's certainly no sure thing that we'll get 2 of the top 3 free agents on the market, but I don't think we should throw in the towel without an effort either. Settle? Aramis is the best 3rd baseman in the league and you want to let him walk hoping that some platoon can almost produce at his level and the Cubs can sign 2 of the 3 best FA. Keep Aramis and get Fielder. Have the new GM kiss and make up with Z so they don't have to pay him to play somewhere else and use some minor league chips to get a fifth starter. Ricketts already stated Z will be dealt.

I'll be shocked if Beltran gets more than two years.

Yeah, some people keep forgetting how atrocious the defense has been. And this team still would have sucked. Nothing wrong with being positive, but thinking this team is only a couple of pieces away from contention isn't at all realistic. Actually, it is. Not "ideally" competitive, but it's certainly realistic they could be competitive next season in a division this weak. Even assuming they grab Fielder, Wilson, and re-sign Ramirez, (which is assuming a hell of a lot) that does nothing to address the defense or mediocre OF production. That team would also need to stay completely healthy as the farm isn't likely to provide us much help in the short term. Too many ifs.

Yeah, some people keep forgetting how atrocious the defense has been. And this team still would have sucked. Nothing wrong with being positive, but thinking this team is only a couple of pieces away from contention isn't at all realistic.

This would've happened were they 20 games up in the division. There have been rumblings for years about the murky underbelly of Wrigley. The renovations can't happen soon enough.

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dish/201109/black-slime-takes-cubs-fans-stomachs So just stick to the booze.

Too bad it wasn't the [expletive] Red Wings

If we don't get Fielder, just save the money for Votto. Dump Pena unless he'll sign another one year deal for <$ 7 million.

Disagree on both accounts...45 isn't old and he's one of thE few FO talents this franchise has. Disagree all you want but you're wrong. He's been around for a very long time and is right behind Jim Hendry is terms of crappy baseball execs who screwed up the Cubs this past decade. He's also not young, so there's no point in pretending otherwise. Again, I disagree. The Cubs were screwed up all of last decade now? Revisionist history much? 45 is young. Weren't you the guy who was advocating retaining Hendry too? Do you work for the Cubs? Serious question.

I can understand that sentiment, but one of the major problems I have with this move is that it signals an unwillingness to change the organizational philosophy. I'll give Fleita credit where credit is due; the Cubs have done a really good job of developing pitchers during his tenure and he has overseen a Cubs farm system that has undergone a resurgence during his tenure. There is something to be said for those successes. However, when I read things like this: I worry. Perhaps this is a result of budgetary restrictions, but considering the gloves came off in the draft this year, I have some doubts. Recent advances in technology have given coaches and players so many more tools to help their development that it would be incredibly foolish to ignore them. If the Cubs are taking video of pitchers to help determine weaknesses in their mechanics, I don't want that video taken with a freaking cell phone camera. There's also the matter of the Cubs having a knack of developing players who seem allergic to taking walks. Perhaps it's been a result of the Cubs targeting those players as it relates to drafting/amateur scouting (that's another post for another time), but we have seen so many players come through the minors who swing at awful pitches and who couldn't take a walk if their lives depended on it. If that's an organizational philosophy problem, then why keep Fleita on board when he's been the one responsible for implementing it for so long? Doesn't that signal an unwillingness to change? That's just disgusting. The new GM had better have carte blanche to eliminate/replace as many people as he sees fit. That's just staggeringly incompetent.

Pretty terrible and reactionary decision. Doesn't bode well.

explain Looks like everyone did it for me. But seriously, talk to a cop. Distasteful as some may find it, there are apparently certain high-stress situations where a well-dropped N bomb will get the other guy to take notice and take you a little more seriously. Just being honest. Way to throw the cops under the bus. Ok, so maybe it was too general. Ask a CPD officer who's spent a few years on the west side.

More like a Bavassi-Millen amalgam of incompetence.

explain Looks like everyone did it for me. But seriously, talk to a cop. Distasteful as some may find it, there are apparently certain high-stress situations where a well-dropped N bomb will get the other guy to take notice and take you a little more seriously. Just being honest.

ok, so because a white player has been booed, that means the slurs shouted at black and latino players is the same thing? the booing of a white player is in no way shape or form proof that racism doesn't exist. And the fact that racists shout slurs at black and latino players doesn't mean all people yelling at them are motivated by racial reasons. The main reason anybody yells at an athlete is the irrational fanaticism they have about the team they support, and the responsibility they place on those athletes to deliver results. And racial epithets are ready-made labels conveniently called upon in the heat of the moment. There are no equivalents WRT Caucasians, IMO. This is in no way meant to excuse the use of slurs. And if it matters, I'm not white. anyone who throws a racial slur out "in the heat of the moment" for sure uses said slurs when not "in the heat of the moment". they're only convenient because they are a part of their vocabulary, which they shouldn't be. the temporary insanity defense doesn't work. There are times and situations where a racial epithet may be necessary. Yelling them at people you are paying to entertain you isn't one of them.

Sure, but they're both gone now. It was a dark age, but there was some levity.

I guess most of these wounds have healed for me. The guy's an abject moron who operates without a filter. What isn't amusing?