Thusly Boned

Some team is getting f'ed up out there. Schildt might be able to tell us which one it is.

Hawk and Javy probably are the most beloved Cubs since I’ve started watching and old enough to pay attention to things like that. My favorite Cub growing up was Sandberg, though he wasn't exactly Captain Charisma. I don't really have a strong sense of how the fanbase felt about him (I was young), but he otherwise fits the bill - perennial all-star, long tenured, HOF (legitimately). Though I don't think he was hated by the opposition - too bland. Both Sandberg and Yadi are dbags i their own ways. The irritating thing about Molina is that he is regarded braodly as a consummate professional, but is often demonstrably a gigantic snowflake diaper baby. I don't recall many players in my life that have been regarded by their fans with the sort of fawning reverence most Cards fans seem to regard Yadi, though. Yanks fans and Jeter, for sure. Both were/are very good (great, in Jeter's case, at least offensively) players who have been mythologized as something greater than what they were/are, as if they are paragons of the sport. I can't think of any Cubs player in my lifetime who I can say I feel that way about.

I know what he meant, I suppose I meant to ask who you guys think he was referring to in particular, or if the issue is more systemic. I think it is an issue that can be fixed (I feel like Schwarber seemed to be prone to a particular approach early in the season and far less so later), but I wonder if they have identified players who they would simply rather move than fix.

I almost expect him to be moved this offseason, especially if the FO feels like he is reticent to sign an extension. Theo said something during the presser on Monday that caught my attention - he seemed to imply that there were players they may have liked to trade last offseason who they didn't because of their relatively poor performance in 2018, but who also enjoyed rebounds in 2019, and how that changes the dynamic this offseason. That brings Contreras, Schwarber, and KB to mind. And if KB really intends to fully explore free agency, now might really be the time. Now I feel like the FO is savvy enough not to "aggressively shop" one of their top young players, but I would not be at all surprised if they intend to make substantive changes and have some expectancy that they will use KB to those ends. Now you could say "if the right deal comes along..." about anyone on the roster, but I would put KB in my top 3 high profile trade candidates on the team. A lot of "gut feeling" for me there, but it isn't as unthinkable to me as it would have been a year or two ago. Trading him now would maximize his remaining trade value. One other thing that Theo talked about was Cubs hitters who were too easy for opponents to game plan for. Not necessarily KB related, and a couple of guys immediately come to my mind, but what does everyone make of that?

It doesn't make much sense, but I have had a growing feeling that KB is going to be traded. I don't buy that he is being aggressively shopped, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they are very open to moving him.

They'll have to the money to resign KB. But he is going to sign in Philly to play with Bryce, and we'll sign Kyle Seager instead. My optimistic take from all of this is that part of the BS "no money" line is that future extensions are being allocated for in some way.

Are you high? DISCLAIMER: I am not defending the Rickettses and their "we are out of money" BS. Nope, just don't see Harper as the transformative player some others do. This is a player who averaged less than 4 fWAR over the past 3 seasons. He's young and good for sure, and he'll get a bump not playing in DC, but he's not Mike Trout. If we were going to have made big moves this offseason, I would have prioritized pitching over Harper, without question. Now that we know that the FO is operating under bizarre BS artificial budgetary constraint, and may be operating in a scenario where signing him may have prevented us from retaining Bryant/Baez/etc. down the road...well, I am not sure what to think. But I do feel like we needed other things more than Harper. Of course, we got essentially nothing for BS reasons, so w/e. All I was trying to say was that I the reason for not signing Harper was that resources were being allocated to more pressing needs, I would have been fine with that.

I am not particularly bothered the Cubs didn't sign Harper. I didn't feel like he was a necessity, and I actually have quite a bit of confidence that our existing players will rebound/develop nicely. The why is really vexing, though. Especially since that alleged lack of financial flexibility has kept the FO from addressing more pressing needs.

me too. but to be fair he gave us no choice I never hated LaTroy. He was for the Cubs what he had always been, which was a great set-up man who failed spectacularly as a closer. I hated Dusty for repeatedly putting him in a position he had been proven unable to handle.

Dammit, my feed is behind and you ninnies made me think the Rockies scored there

I feel like this needs to happen now, or things won't end well.

They did add Mike Moustakas.

horsefeathers yes, I think I just woke the neighborhood

And so they did. I'm sure pitching at GABP will cure what ails him.

But also horsefeathers Luke Farrell in his horsefeathering goat ass

Such as watching the Cubs win another division title?

That sucks, so be it. I'm sure the memory of this series will provide warm solace in the hearts of Cardinals fans in late August when they're 10+ games back.

You definitely got your wish there

Normally I'd agree, but with as many ground balls as Heyward hits, I can understand it.

Robot umping can't get here fast enough.

Same

No way was that only 433 ft.

I really hate cold weather [expletive] baseball. I'd have been cool if the Cubs just stayed on the road in warm weather until May or so.

Well this has been tedious

iirc, the way the article described it is that he turns the water on briefly to get wet, then turns it off while he scrubs up. Then he rinses off. So it running water for 90 seconds, but the "shower" takes five minutes or so. fwiw That makes more sense. Bottom line, if you're leaving soap on any part of your skin for less than 15-20 seconds it's not doing horsefeathers, and shampoo and whatnot really should be in your hair a good 2 minutes for it to actually do anything besides just making it smell better. I've taken lots of sub-2:00 showers and gotten clean. But that was back when I was in the military. The key was not really having any hair. Even then, 90 seconds or less would really be pushing it.