Bryants Disco Ball

Has Rizzo been moved to leadoff yet?

This has been my experience and one I anticipated happening if the time ever arrived that the Cubs somehow won a World Series. For me, I knew that my passion would wane a bit because it was the one thing I wanted to experience, and one thing that seemed like it couldn't actually happen. It's like beating Tyson for the first time on Punchout. What I didn't expect is that I would be this passionless before the contracts of the core were even up. I've found this team to be horribly boring the last couple years and then ownership was the cherry on top. I also am pissed at myself that I've actually started to not like any of these players that won the only championship I cared about because of the train wreck this has become by the end. I'm really happy now that Dexter left, because I only have fond memories.

I like to repeat this every so often even if it can never be proven true, but I still believe the core winning the biggest World Series in MLB history at such a young age probably did some damage to the future seasons. They were still good and all, but I'm convinced many of them probably lost some hyper focus after accomplishing what they did and their games just slowly got stale.

Rex Brothers only has pitched against the Pirates this season. Will be interesting to see just how effective he is when pitching against a non-college team. Hopefully better than the Cubs overall have been against said team.

For discussion sake, let's say Kimbrel is awesome this season. He provides even more intriguing value to the Cubs or a team at the deadline considering he also can be retained via club option next season for $16 million, which is actually more like $15 million considering there is a $1 million buyout. If he is really good and they don't get any legit offers, just keep him as your closer for next season. I wouldn't just give him away in that scenario.

That's what I have thought the last three years, too. Long stretches of complete boredom for a team that just can't hit very well. I'm sure I will miss it at some point this season, but it feels OK to not have the MLB package for the first time in 15 years. I do give the front office credit for running a version of this same offense back each season even though they describe it as broken every October.

3-1 in 2020 4-9 in 2019 11-8 in 2018 7-3 in 2017 25-21 total. Or a .543 winning percentage. With a total winning percentage of .557 in that stretch. But yes, good call. Not to use you as our ESPN Stats and Information, but would you be able to debunk our theory that the Cubs mostly only score their runs via the home run the past few years and that when they lose a series to the Brewers the Cubs often win the first game before stumbling. Those have been my two things that I often say but don't even know if either are true.

What happened with Austin Romine? Is he out to start the season or getting DFA?

Do the Cubs still sell the majority of their tickets when they suck like they did for decades, or is that a thing of the past? I ask because if it's still a thing, I don't think they care that much about whether people come to watch Rizzo play if those people are still going to come any way.

From a personal standpoint I'm really worried about the level of my fandom. Zero chance that in the last 20 years I'd have read about a player making the Opening Day roster for my team and not even know who that person is. I've literally never heard of P.J. Higgins until reading that tweet. I also realized that I recognize the last names of some of the bullpen candidates but had zero clue what their first name is. That Magill guy, for example. I'd say it's Miguel but zero chance I'd bet money on it. Any way, thanks for listening.

Should know this but don't: Why are the Cubs able to still control Shelby Miller and send him to minors camp? Can he opt out right now if he wants?

I haven't been paying enough attention but if they are doing this for service time that seems weird and stupid. Who cares about having Nico under control another season like five years from now? The dude probably will end up sucking or being average, and if he doesn't, he won't be so good that you can't just sign him to an extension early in his tenure. '

.....until they still trade a couple stars in the next week.

I agree with the posts of being irrationally happy and also good nostalgia during a season that we likely will need it. From a pure contract standpoint, I'm actually surprised he got that much. It doesn't matter, of course. It's only one year. But I thought he'd have to accept more in the $3 million range from a team.

Plus there is a chance this new guy might be able to beat out a slow roller to third instead of not even being on your screen yet.

Who did we trade Mills to?

The first time didn't end well because the Astros cheated, but if I'm the Dodgers I much rather would have given up a few really far away prospects for three years of Yu at a total of like $59 million than two years of Trevor at $85 million.

Don't have any stats to back this up, but it seemed like all of Schwarbs outs were grounding into the shift every time. Does Joc do that all the time, too?

I understand your point from just a 'look at him' perspective, but outside of a pretty freak accident where he then proceeded to exceed everyone's expectations in terms of recovery, I can't really remember a single injury he's had, and he's shown an ability(?) to alter his body to try to fit his approach. Pederson seems to have been incredibly healthy in his career, so he probably still wins the comparison, but not as worried about Schwarber's health as I used to be. I'm not really talking about injury, I'm talking about the guy who had to work his tail off in LF to just not suck at it, vs the guy who is actually good out there. Schwarber's lack of athleticism and lack of not being 23 anymore is a bigger red flag than Pederson's declining foot speed, imo. Both are on one year deals, so neither fan base needs to be too concerned about which body breaks down quicker.

Exactly. Any player whose market is "heating up" is not a player the Cubs are signing. It's going to be players who randomly sign (Austin Romine) because they are mostly just looking to find a team at this point and their already low contract expectations have little to no chance of going up by waiting. I mean, 24 hours ago you would have said the same about the Indians. They looked like they were competing with the Pirates for lowest payroll in baseball, and then they signed Cesar Hernandez and Heyman indicated that they're in on several other FA's in that tier. Whether because of positive vaccine news or just strategy, purse strings around the league have generally loosened over the last month. Payroll's currently down ~25% from last year. So while it's clear the Cubs are cutting payroll, if for instance the mandate was "only" 15% that leaves $20M to reinvest. That's enough for a solid starter like Wong and a couple of complimentary guys. There's also the KB factor, if he goes to the Mets or something, that's a similar $20M opened up. The smart money is always to be disappointed by PTR, but a mid level FA or two wouldn't be that much of a surprise IMO. If we are talking about one-year, $5 million contracts, sure. I think that's the type the Cubs are going to do. Maybe I haven't been paying attention enough, but I just assumed Wong will get more than that. Can't see them signing anybody for multiple years or get close to $10 million per. In other words, the Cubs aren't in the market to sign a guy for 2 years and $20 million. Which is pathetic. Prove me wrong, Cubs.

Does anybody really think PTR is going to pony up the money to pay Wong, especially with other teams interested? Exactly. Any player whose market is "heating up" is not a player the Cubs are signing. It's going to be players who randomly sign (Austin Romine) because they are mostly just looking to find a team at this point and their already low contract expectations have little to no chance of going up by waiting.

Unless they actually sign Didi Gregorius to a two-year contract that pays him $10 to $15 million per season, I am of the belief that the Cubs have shown zero indication or interest in signing anybody for $10 to $15 million per season as they pretend they don't have any money to sign free agents for that. There is zero reason to think the Cubs are going to stop pretending all so that they can get Didi Gregorius.

Not to mention his organization is equally as bad or worse when it comes to sexual harassment.

Ryan Sweeney finally got a three year contract?

I expect a haul here too. The prospect names haven’t come out yet. But Q was only 27/28 vs Yu being 34 (turns 35 during the year), Q was controlled as long but for 1/3 the price, and had cleaner injury history/more consistent (Q was in the middle of 4 straight 4+ WAR seasons, Yu hasn’t been over 4 since 2013, even though last year he was well on pace). Yeah, I often believe the contract really helps set the price. And Q was supposed to be a front line pitcher for a great price.......so great that it allowed us to sign Yu.