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Jason Ross

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Everything posted by Jason Ross

  1. Jason Ross
    I think you've got a blind spot here, Tool. Let's not forget, the Cubs went through this same process in the same way (less public because Seiya Suzuki was less of a prize) with Suzuki. Literally zero connections, not even mentioned. Then...boom...Cubs signed him. 3 weeks ago no one even knew the Cubs met with Counsell. They waited it out, snuck in, offered him a literal record deal, and got him. Ohtani's recruitment was always going to be smoke and mirrors. If the goal was "no leaks" than frankly, any report that suggested the Cubs weren't doing much could have been seen as a good thing; it meant they were being secretive. I really want Ohtani here. I get it. I want him bad. But I think we're letting our perceptions and our frustrations of the Cubs in the past creep in with a smoke and mirrors to make us think the Cubs aren't earnest here. In part, the Cubs deserve this to a bit because I think there are times they haven't been. With that said, I do think the Cubs were earnest here. I don't think they went in and lowballed him for the press. They don't get brownie points for that, but I won't hate on them if they lose this one. The Dodgers were always the perceived favorites. I'll be mad about an offseason at the end of the day if they fart around, too. Don't worry about that.
  2. Jason Ross
    I think we should clarify here: 1. Bob Nightengale said the Cubs were out on Ohtani because they balked at $500m. This has yet to be supported by another claim. Sharma and Mooney said nothing of the sort in their article. The did use the word "pivot" but more in a "this is the contingency plan" kind of way, and not that the Cubs were actively doing that. 2. It does, however, seem the Cubs will pass on the Yamamoto market. It's looking like $300m+ That's from Mooney and Sharma, and those guys are close to the Cubs and very reliable.
  3. Jason Ross
    This feels like a leap to support a perceived notion that the Cubs are not earnestly involved in the Ohtani sweeps. You're welcome to your views, Tool. I also know you're an intelligent person and deep down, you know just how often Bob Nightengale is just blatantly, and obviously wrong. He's on an island right now that is being supported by no one. I remain skeptical the Cubs will sign Ohtani. I even got a little pessimistic earlier today, started, by Nightengale, myself. But I think logic should dictate that when Nightengale is on an island, we go into those reports with heavy skepticism until someone else reliable supports it. To date, we have Nightengale saying one things, and Sharma, Mooney, Rogers, Heyman, and Levine saying another. At least as of right now. And sure, maybe this time Bob Nightengale has the scoop! But it's far more likely that the 5, far more reliable reporters aren't in the dark here.
  4. Jason Ross
    He did. Word for word "I wouldn't completely discount Soto. I put him back in the mix...if the Cubs strike out on Ohtani". That's not a "they're out on Ohtani" that's an if. Meaning...they're in at some level. I think Jed is mad because he doesn't want people to think the Cubs are out on Ohtani. Look at the horsefeathers show reactions we have gotten here simply because Bob (on an island) said the Cubs wouldn't go to $500m. The Cubs were already a long shot here, and we knew that. But it's one thing to put a market equivalent contract on the table and lose to the favored Dodgers and it's another to make it seem like the Cubs were so ridiculous they were wasting everyone's time with a contract $50m below what everyone else offered. If the Cubs have been involved in the way, for example, Sharma suggested 2 days ago (he suggested they wouldn't be outbid) and people threw hissy fits thinking they cheaped out...I'd be pissed too, if I were Jed. I don't think the Ohtani camp is really upset at speculation of who's "in". I do think they want their meetings kept quiet (why they might be more upset at things like Roberts).
  5. Jason Ross
    Where did they say they're out on Ohtani? I just read their article. It does say they're likely not going to go into Yamamoto. I promise you, there's not a word in that article suggesting they're out on Ohtani.
  6. Jason Ross
    Well, I love you Dfan, but this is also why you don't need to read into articles if you can't read them in full. The entire article is basically this line: "Though the Cubs are always kicking around ideas and thinking through contingency plans, here are some names to consider, based on information from league sources:" It's an article that doesn't say anything about the Cubs and where they stand with Ohtani. It just is looking at other players the Cubs may or may not pursuit.
  7. Jason Ross
    I don't think Nightengale deserves the benefit of the doubt here. Bruce Levine, Jesse Rogers, and Jon Heyman have all said the Cubs remain involved in Shohei Ohtani currently. Sharma and others have suggested the Cubs would put together very large packages for Ohtani. Nightengale has a rampant history of being wrong and seems to be on an island here. Either, Nightengale suddenly has a reliable, high ranking Cub source, or, it's another case in a long line of "being wrong". It's easy to fall into the "I don't like this reporter because he's providing information I don't want to hear" thing, but this is Bob Nightengale.
  8. Jason Ross
    This is impressive even for Nightengale.
  9. Jason Ross
    Might. They were rumored to want to get 2 OF'ers. So likely just one of Bellinger or Soto, but I think that's kind of always what they were shooting for.
  10. Jason Ross
    Weird.
  11. Jason Ross
  12. Jason Ross
    Fedde to White Sox 2/$15m That contract sucks ass. His KBO numbers look awesome but Lance Brozowski pointed out how his pitch shape and spin seemed exactly the same as we last saw it. And he was bad.
  13. Jason Ross
    Jed was mad at Bob. Could be that the Cubs weren't balking at the price which made them seem cheap (i.e see fan reaction). Could be the Cubs are still in...they've said everything that you'd say if you were not divulging information like Ohtani asked, for example. Still a long shot, I'm sure. But maybe their involvement being done has been overblown.
  14. Jason Ross
    Starting to get a tad bit hope back.
  15. Jason Ross
    Why does it have to be a "26th man"? You're creating false limitations. It's a roster spot. What the Cubs do with that spot is up to them. It doesn't have to be a bum. You do you, Stratos. I'm going to just leave if at "I couldn't disagree more"
  16. Jason Ross
    I cannot disagree with this post harder. Who's the other roster spot? It could be anyone. The value of a roster spot is massive. Massive. It's like if Stroman and Bellinger was one spot last year. Who could the other spot be? A leverage RP making your BP that much deeper. Another hitter. Who knows? It doesn't have to be equal money. That's silly. And a platoon bat could be worth 1-1.5 wins. And yeah, it probably does go back to Ricketts. But it's also more likely the team is willing to pay for the LT with it because that goes back to Tom. TJS is no guarantee now, but it's pretty likely. TJS has come a long, long way. And it's not even been reported if it's a full TJS. There's speculation it wasn't a full tear, too. The end result, the TJS just isn't a very big deal right now.
  17. Jason Ross
    Maybe Jed is mad and is just going to mount up and win this horsefeathers.
  18. Jason Ross
    If you want some copium/hopium....maybe what Counsell said gives you some.
  19. Jason Ross
    Eh, a bunch of the Cubs crew online (Huss, Zumach, Altman...etc) has mentioned him today post-Hawkins comments last night. But most of it in the vein of "it can't be handed to him"
  20. Jason Ross
    I'd love to know why they're out, then, if they are.
  21. Jason Ross
    I'll say this...that feels a bit awkward. The entire world kind of knew half a billion was where this thing was headed. I'm not sure how much I buy the Cubs being that blind. Or making it this far into the process being...that blind. There have been some conflicting reports on how high the Cubs were willing to go, as well.
  22. Jason Ross
    Similar logic, yes. The Cubs had opportunities to play both last year and, for whatever reason, didn't. We can speculate on why, but it seems logical to me that a team who had opportunities to play players they believed in, would have done that.
  23. Jason Ross
    Bob, so take it how you please.
  24. Jason Ross
    The way the Cubs did and didn't use Mervis last year speaks here. For whatever reason, even at the end of the year, they went with Jared Young over Mervis. The same Young they DFA'd. Perhaps that's a Ross thing. At the same time, I think we can't ignore that. They also made sure to block him with Hosmer and Mancini last off season. For whatever reason, there appears to be mounting evidence that the Cubs just don't love Mervis, right or wrong.
  25. Jason Ross
    Except that's three roster spots versus one. It's not just Ohtani vs those 3. It's Ohtani + the roster spot + the roster spot, as well. Secondly, there's the revenue he brings in which clearly offsets it. Ohtani also represents a TORP in 2025. It's like another free agent. Missing on Ohtani is a massive deal. That doesn't mean I'm blaming the Cubs necessarily here. But let's not undersell just how impressively good this man is.
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