Tim

Not to mention Monty, Maples, Alzolay, etc.

lol - I forgot all about Smyly. The playoff bullpen is going to have Morrow, Cishek, Edwards, Strop, Smyly & Chatwood.

Oh hell yes. Love Yu Theo!

He was a reliever here, too. Plus it would feel cool to have him and Rizzo. But I think he's still looking for an old-school team that will look at the shiny ERA from last year and will sign him as a starter. Most teams, though, will look at the fact that he was dead last in K-BB% last year amongst qualified pitchers and stay well away.

Let me guess: he was ahead in the case but gave up the lead on a gopher ball.

I don't think they have Zips built into the comparisons yet, but we rank 6th behind Yankees, Dodgers, Brewers, Astros & Indians http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=RP Link actually has the Cubs 5th, ahead of Cleveland. Weird. It must have updated

I don't think they have Zips built into the comparisons yet, but we rank 6th behind Yankees, Dodgers, Brewers, Astros & Indians http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=RP

Yeah, like I said not worth losing sleep over, we already are going to have a top ~5 bullpen in MLB. But Oh was really dominant in 2016 and his velo was the same 2016 vs 17 so the pure stuff seems to still be there, maybe with some Hickey tweaking he could regain that. It's also probably a little meatbally but I like that he had closer experience to give us another option there as well. He also only signed for 1 year vs 2 for Duensing who I worry last year was an outlier plus he lost the pitching coach that helped him get there (I know Hickey > Bosio but Bosio still helped turn Duensing in to what he was last year). I don't think we really need lefties or righties (Monty/Wilson is enough plus we have reverse split guys or guys who are just as good lefty vs righty), we just need good options at this point and I think Oh was a better option. Oh vs lefties in 2016 was .173/.234/.221, when he's right he's elite. Looking in to Oh's numbers last year he gave up a lot more fly balls (at expense of ground balls, nearly a 20% swing from 16 vs 17) and his HR rate spiked, but his hard and medium contact rates went way down and his soft contact went way up, he could have been a casualty of the juiced balls. Plus he doesn't really walk anyone (29th overall in BB/9 for qualified RPs last year). Again, whatever but I kinda wish we got him for that pittance of a contract (basically could've signed him for what we'll be paying Grimm and just could've non-tendered Grimm) since there's some bounce back potential and a high ceiling if it's met (he was 5th in RP fWAR in 2016). I've posted this before, but Sergio Romo was pretty great in the second half after working with Hickey. If he could be had on a short, cheap deal, I'd love to bring him in. Particularly if he could be had on an NRI.

What a game by an UDFA rookie in the superbowl. Also, so much for them turtling up.

A drunk Cards player at a tittie bar? http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/inconceivable_princess_bride.gif

By 2021, all of this season's offseason will be forgotten by most. I'll bet that you'll see teams spend in advance of the next negotiation. A stoppage could easily occur before 2021; most analysis right now has been pointing out how the relationship between the union and owners is horrendous, and has been for a while (this offeseason is really more of capper), so the general consensus is that there are going to have to be some pretty significant changes between now and 2021. Simple spending more for a couple offseasons isn't going to get the union to roll over. I guess we'll see. I don't think we'll see a stoppage mid-contract. The union would take hell for that.

When are they due for a new contract? I think you overestimate single offseason impacts. The current agreement goes through 2021. And I think you're underestimating the players realizing how much they've given up over the last decade+, and the corner they've boxed themselves into. They're not going to just shrug their shoulders and figure that's that because Bryce Harper made more money than god. By 2021, all of this season's offseason will be forgotten by most. I'll bet that you'll see teams spend in advance of the next negotiation.

When are they due for a new contract? I think you overestimate single offseason impacts.

Dude - semicolons are your friend.

These two things are very, very closely related. Obviously, but there's still going to be a ton of discontent next offseason. Yeah, the big names will be signed sooner and for more money, but that's not going to fix the situation, especially in regards to stuff like the decreasing players' share becoming more and more of a thing everyone is aware of, or how badly players are getting screwed by rookie deals and FA being put off for so long. This is gonna get ugly. Too many people don't understand the difference between mean and median. Those huge contracts will make a difference in the narrative.

When Bryce Harper signs a $400M contract next offseason, it's going to undercut a lot of these arguments.

Would it be wrong of me to say that I was wondering why it was "Tim for the death penalty" when I've had nothing to do with Michigan State? I misread that at first.

Are they taking Heyward back?

and even if we're alive, trump won't be president so i'll be good with whatever Oh boy your in for a real disappointment. I love how the moderators always keep these threads politics free. The forum isn't exactly overwhelmed with content at the moment during this slow offseason. I'll allow it. I'll also allow your snark -- you're welcome!

If we have our pick of the Juco guys again, can we take the 100mph throwing righty?

A heck of a lot of pitchers are a tweak of the mechanics, or a new pitch, or an increase in control, or some small adjustment away. Unless a guy maxes out at 85 mph, any of them could take a leap. Heck it could be just staying healthy for a guy like De la Cruz. It's much harder for hitters.

"we're getting the band back together." Sounds like more fun than discussing the Brewers. yeah, sure, I'm in.

Once you regress his babip, how is Santana more valuable than Happ? Happ has more years of control, is a better defender, younger and within easy range of Santana in performance, if not equal. (again, that's after regressing Santana's babip) If we could have had Salazar for Happ straight up, it would have happened.

I think we're devoting way too much time talking about a group of fans who are clearly too insecure in their opinions to accept my invitation.

Brewers fans...There's free registration here. If you guys are civil here, we'll be nice in return. Please explain to us why we should see you as a threat when this is your projected team: http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=ALL&teamid=23 The WAR of your highest projected player would place 12th on the Cubs (without Darvish). I understand projections aren't science. But there's a whole lot of room for error in that analysis with the Cubs still coming out comfortably ahead. I'd like to understand the mental gymnastics it takes for you to think you can beat us in 2018. Or 2019 when all 12 of those guys will still be under contract. Or 2020 when all 12 of those guys will still be under contract. Even going out to 2021 the team still has Bryant, Rizzo, Russell, Contreras, Baez, Scwharber, Happ, Montgomery and Almora under team control. https://www.rosterresource.com/mlb-chicago-cubs-info/