Bryants Disco Ball

Holy [expletive], you are correct. Awful.

I'm starting to think Sontensei did indeed mean [expletive] you. Just want everyone to get along. But, yeah, pretty sure he meant [expletive] you.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/01/bobby-bonillas-isnt-the-only-deferred-money-deal-in-the-game-and-isnt-even-the-worst/comment-page-1/ Backloaded contracts and deferred payments are not the same thing, you lummox Someone mentioned deferred contracts oh it was Tim. I guess i shoulda quoted him. fcku Then why did you respond to me (who said nothing of deferred contracts) instead of him? Also, isn't trying to get around the swear filter a bannable offense, mods? Anyone? I think Sontensei has said a few times that English is his second language. Not trying to defend him, but is there a chance [expletive] you is not what he really meant?

I'm not sure, but it sounds like we have given up the lead at this point.

Hahaha. I hate these [expletive] when I can't watch and read the game thread instead of game cast. They give me panic attacks.

What on earth does any of this mean? I just said I'd take the one with the longest odds. That means the ones the odds consider to be least likely to win because they'd pay out the best. In reality, the odds of any playoff team would be very very close to 1 in 8, so if I'm getting better value in return than 1 in 8 would imply, that's the team I'm betting on. I think this is what I mean. Pretend you don't get any odds. You just pick the team you think is going to win it all. When you make your pick, would you just go, "This is pointless, all teams have a 1 in 8 chance, so I'll just pick one at random." Or would you study up and pick the team you think is best set up to win it all? If you made the list based on studying up rather than just picking one at random, would the Cubs be No. 1 on your best chance to win it all? No. 2? No. 8?

people aren't insanely optimistic because we've got a .500 pythag i guess you can sort of point to the '06 Cardinals, but they had Mark Mulder's half-season of 7+ ERA and Marquis's full season of 6+ ERA they could happly ignore in the postseason and 3 HOF players in the prime of their careers (all with DL stints, i believe?) meanwhile our 2nd-best player/hitter is a guy who strikes out 30% of the time and is sub-.800 OPS Please, I'm the last guy who anyone can accuse of being overly optimistic about the Cubs. I'm just tired of the talk like it's even a longshot for them to just make the playoffs at this point, or that they're all but a lock to be annihilated even if they did make it. I'm not willing to concede that I believe they could win the World Series, as I don't believe all wild card teams are created equal. But I am willing to concede that if we make the playoffs, I hope I'm wrong and get blasted again. I've actually tired myself out. Great conversation by all. I will now be leaving the board and going to watch porn for the first time. Don't judge me.

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. Hahaha. Niiiiice.

David, it's not about picking the one with the best odds. In this game, every single team has the same chance to win it all. Right? Odds, I think I'm being told, go out the window once you're in the playoffs. Which team would you pick?

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 be even better than watching porn. I mean, I assume it would be. I don't watch porn.

Could not be more unequivocally wrong. The right time is when you need to make a move to increase your chances of getting in the playoffs. Doing it when you're solidly in makes far less sense. The moves are a lot about getting into the playoffs, not very much what you do once you're there. Damn it, David. I don't care about the "just get to the playoffs and anything can happen" card. Not with this current Cubs team. Playoffs or not, the chances of us winning it all this year are so damn remote. I'm not willing to give up a lot of stuff for that unrealistic dream. And, we disagree. I thought it was the perfect time for the Royals to go all-in. Then you don't care about reality. That's what the playoffs are. Other than the obvious disadvantage to the wild cards before the play in game, the teams all have more or less equal odds of getting through. That's just what it is. And if you do believe there's such a thing as being built for the playoffs, you can't ask much more than having 2015 Jake arrieta, Jon Lester, and Jason Hammel all on your team. So, go with me on this. Pretend the Cubs make the playoffs this season and someone gives you $1,000 to bet on which team you think will win the Series. When you're looking at the list of eight teams, how many would you pick before the Cubs? I'd probably have seven, which to me, means I don't like the odds despite having a chance.

When Sofa and David post back to back to back to back, it's really difficult to figure out which one you're reading. Hahaha.

[expletive], I couldn't split the quotes like you, Sofa. But I was saying that I do think the Cubs are going to be pretty damn awesome sooner than later, and while certainly not just winning divisions easy, will be considered one of the best in the NL. I have a tremendous amount of faith in our young guys, and anticipate the team signing a billion dollar TV contract in a few years and being much like the Dodgers to an extent. Which also is the team I'd respond to your question about regarding which legit contenders make key deadline deals.

[expletive], I couldn't split the quotes like you, Sofa. But I was saying that I do think the Cubs are going to be pretty damn awesome sooner than later, and while certainly not just winning divisions easy, will be considered one of the best in the NL. I have a tremendous amount of faith in our young guys, and anticipate the team signing a billion dollar TV contract in a few years and being much like the Dodgers to an extent. Which also is the team I'd respond to your question about regarding which legit contenders make key deadline deals.

Could not be more unequivocally wrong. The right time is when you need to make a move to increase your chances of getting in the playoffs. Doing it when you're solidly in makes far less sense. The moves are a lot about getting into the playoffs, not very much what you do once you're there. Damn it, David. I don't care about the "just get to the playoffs and anything can happen" card. Not with this current Cubs team. Playoffs or not, the chances of us winning it all this year are so damn remote. I'm not willing to give up a lot of stuff for that unrealistic dream. And, we disagree. I thought it was the perfect time for the Royals to go all-in.

Meh. The 2016 Cubs right now don't seem that much better to me than the 2015 Cubs. The older and overperforming pitching staff should be projected to give back anything the young and underperforming offense gives you. The main reason to think 2016 might be better is "holy crap, the Cardinals can't win 110 games every year," I guess. Oh, hell no, Idiot. First, they will sign another quality pitcher to go with our other top pitchers, none of whom I expect to regress much at all. And, you will see an improvement from a lot of these very, very talented young guys. I don't anticipate them all hitting their stride next season, but I do think the slumps will be less exaggerated. It's OK to realize the future is bright and not be scared about it.

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." I might be reading wrong, but I feel like a lot of people are upset. And that's why you are getting those who are crowing about not selling the farm. ETA: I'll sell the farm. [expletive] yes, I'd love to. Just not this year.

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. 1. Whatever age makes more than half of them not rookies, all of whom have struggled big-time for stretches this season (Schwarbs is too new, so not him), as should be expected. 2. Actually, I think there might not be better teams on paper in a few years. And if there are, we will still be No. 2. 3. You all are smart. I know you realize the Cubs would need so much to break right to win it all this year even with the additions we talked about. It's OK not to go and make a bunch of trades just so you might be able to squeak in the playoffs. That is a way to run your team into the ground rather quickly. No team goes all-in every year. None. Why the hell would we pick this year to do it? (And I mean, now that the team is respectable).

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.

As bad as Castro was in 2013, at least he still had 34 doubles and 10 home runs. There was at least something of value. But, damn, he'd have to double his home run output and almost quadruple his doubles output to finish with those numbers this season. Which maybe means we've seen the worst he will ever be and that it's only up from here. I hope.

I'm also an idiot. It's convenient that way. I don't think you are.

http://www.havefunteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/particpation-boy-certificate.jpg Shut up and stop bitching, Idiot. (I'm not implying you're an idiot, by the way. Just referencing you by name).

What is wrong with some of you people? From all indications, the Cubs tried quite hard to trade for controllable impact talent, which is exactly what we should have hoped they attempted to do. They came up empty, but for the 100th time, how can you be so irritated when you don't even know what was being asked for a guy like Ross? I swear if some of you people were the GMs, you'd run the team right into the ground within two years. And for the love of God, can people stop acting like it's so bad the Cubs might have been looking more toward the future than the present, even in their trade targets? This is not the right time to go all in. The right time is when you're the Royals and you have a really good team and you can add a few pieces to solidify your chance at winning a championship. Or when you can make a trade to get to be as good as the Royals were before they made their trades, thus putting yourself in the convo to win a title. There is not a team built like the Cubs right now. I can't imagine a team built on 21, 22 and 23 year olds winning the whole thing, which is all I care about. Save me the "you have to give yourself a chance" stuff. Even had we gotten Ross, we would still need a miracle to win it all. You have to realistically look at your chances and tune out the "What if everything just hits perfect" thoughts. Also, totally random, but Carlos Gomez is not that good. You bitches.

Of similar note, the Phillies won. I can't blame them for hanging onto Utley and going for it.

Wild card update: The Padres won.