squally1313

Counterpoint: Per the website of the golf tournament, the pro-am was on Thursday and the actual tournament wrapped up yesterday. Without any knowledge of other commitments, seems like they could have made it up to DC by noon today if they wanted to. It's not like they were in charge of the tournament or anything...even if they had some event scheduled for today, seems like meeting the President would have been a good enough excuse to bail. Ultimately, whatever...got to watch Rizzo, Theo, and Willson stand front row and be congratulated for winning the horsefeathering World Series by someone who isn't Donald Trump.

You also see how much influence Theo has in the organization too seeing as a majority of the owners are well known GOP backers and one of them is in Trump's administration. Realistically, this was probably due mostly to the fact that Obama was from Chicago and they wanted that connection, to the extent that it wouldn't totally surprise me if they made another trip when they visited the Nationals this year. I like your version better though.

Joe Maddon would make a fantastic Joe Biden to Epstein's Obama in 12 years or so.

this is dumb No, not really. It's time to get over it. I know this post is 2 pages ago by now, but this is what I think the main point is, not really the Trump vs. Clinton thing. But it's still wrong. The election wasn't some sports game where we all spent a ton of time hoping and cheering for a certain winner, and then once it was over there were no lasting consequences. The vast majority of us here wanted Clinton to win because, without knowing for sure, we feared what could happen under a Trump-led presidency, and so far he has lived up to all of those fears, and more. We don't have to 'get over' that. This is all happening as we speak and it all will most likely have very real consequences for the near and long term future. For us to still be angry about what is currently going on isn't some dumb sour grapes 'Hillary was robbed' crap. I don't want the Cubs, the highlight of 2016, to be associated with him, and I'm happy they aren't (at least for another year). Edit: The fact that they seemingly made it a point to break with the traditional timing of the visit (the Nationals trip next year) in order to avoid Trump and/or see Obama makes me even happier.

2016 will be the best season of your lifetime for historical significance alone. But without the pressure of finally getting to see a WS champ, and knowing we've got a great front office and a great core of young, fun players locked up for years to come, I'm super excited. Probably going back to spring training for the first time in a few years and going to find a way to see the Cubs on the west coast this season too. Let's get the season started already so we can kick some more ass. I know I referenced the historical significance, but in terms of 'best season' it goes beyond that a little bit. Take away all the 108 years and everything else, would anyone bet on a more 'enjoyable' season happening again? I'd bet we don't hit 103 wins again with this core, as good as they are, just because it's really horsefeathering hard to win that many games. And then the playoffs...obviously going into it you'd want them over in 11 games, but with the way it worked out, it's hard to imagine getting any more cathartic enjoyment than what we just saw. It was 7 months of almost uninterrupted bliss, save for a couple weeks in the middle of the year when we already have a bazillion game lead and then at the very end there. I don't like having these thoughts either, and I know how much I'll enjoy the dominant years, just from watching the hawks and having that superior 'just watch, they've got another gear' feeling. It's just going to take a second to shift into that. I think part of it (and obviously this is good) is tied to the fact that they're so young. I still haven't quite wrapped my head around 'we have the best player in the national league playing third base for us for at least the next 5 years'. But I'll get there. Sorry, this should probably go in the blasphemy thread, but had been bouncing around my head. Appreciate everyone reminding me how much there is to look forward to.

Your tune will change when the Cubs are 80-20 in July. Yeah I think it's just a mindset change. Up until and including last year, every time we were in contention, we were going for what would almost definitely be the greatest championship I will ever experience, given the history and everything else. But now we get to play the bully role, which isn't quite the same but is still pretty effing enjoyable.

This isn't even a hot take because it's really just a bad take, but is anyone else not really all that excited for next year? I'm looking forward to the highlight videos and everything else, but I keep coming back to the fact that it is incredibly likely I just saw the greatest Cubs season I'm ever going to see, and I just can't see how 2017 can possibly stack up. The less terrible side of me keeps saying I had a pretty great time watching the hawks in 2013 and 2015, but something about all the history the Cubs overcame makes this seem a bit different. I don't know...I'm sure this will last until the first walk off game (or really just watching the cardinals fans when we roll into town in April)

I never once even really considered why Michael Martinez was even in the game. Pretty wild that you could probably give Heyward a fair amount of credit there. What a horsefeathering game.

That was pretty good, and Costas only spoke at the very beginning for a few seconds. Yeah, some of it was a little hokey/over the top, and definitely something I'd make fun of if it was for any other team. But I was definitely smiling through most of it.

This feels like a weird deal to make in December. Davis has been great, though his general trend line and health aren't exactly promising. I guess I was just hoping we'd be putting all our eggs into the young cost controlled starter basket, although maybe I'm just overrating soler's actual value. Like others have said though, it does look like we aren't going to be quiet when the big names become available, which is exciting.

Need your guys help now that I just finished the World Series film and I'm feeling even more drunk and nostalgic than usual. I'm thinking it was after the NLCS, but there was a video where Baez was getting interviewed and someone, 99% sure it was Lester, interrupted the interview to give him a huge hug and say how proud they were of him. Please, if someone has that video, I can't find it anywhere.

On car forums, that's totally comon. horsefeathers up, but comon Two of the exact same typos always raises some questions...

The Schwarber/Baez projections are probably a bit optimistic, no? For Baez, yes he put up 2.7 in only 450 PAs, but it was by far his best output and he was used about as optimally as you can be...I can't see him adding a ton more value by factoring in another 100-150 PAs against RHPs at a .297 wOBA. Steamer has him at 1.9 for 540 PAs next year, though I think we all agree his defense will be worth more than they are projecting. For Schwarber, assuming this injury marked the end of his catching, we're looking at him as an outfield only guy (or for the White Sox, a DH, but obviously there are replacement value issues there too). In 2016, the following outfielders had a defensive rating less than -5 and put up at least 3 WAR: Nelson Cruz (-15.6 Def, .383 wOBA, 4.2 WAR) Cespedes (-9.2, .369, 3.2) Braun (-8.8, .378, 3.2) Blackmon (-8.4, .394, 3.9) Yelich (-5.3, .367, 4.4) I'm not sure what number you used to get to your surplus value calcs. I'm hoping Schwarber improves on his 2015, but to expect him to end up in the Cruz/Cespedes/Braun category from an offensive viewpoint is probably aiming a little too high.

I love Schwarber and Baez as much as anyone around here and have totally bought into investing on offense, but there is no way either of those guys brings back either Sale or Quintana without including another main piece. Sale and Quintana rank 5th and 8th in fWAR over the last three years (sandwiching Lester and Jake, for what it's worth), each making between 50% and 75% of what Mike Leake just got on the open market last year. While I do think we need to figure out another starter to slot in the rotation for multiple years, we may not line up well with them. If they trade them both off, they aren't going to hope to contend for at least a couple years, so getting players that already have their service clocks ticking might not be their ideal path. Let them raid Boston or LA's farm system and watch the attendance plummet.

Got to work around 12:00....started this thread around page 15. Between clicking on all the external links, watching all the videos, reading the articles, ordering the bobbleheads, I'm finally here. Incredible, unforgettable couple days/months/years. Look at that, 5:15, time to go home.

At redmonds. Internet is fucked. Love you all.

I'm sure 8 minutes will make all the difference. You'd think Fox would have loved the 19:08 narrative.

He's so fun to watch because (among obvious other things) you can follow along with where he's at in his approach so easily, just from his swings and how expressive he is. The last couple games he was taking those early pitches, hoping to get ahead, and you could see signs of frustration when he was passing up on middle in fastballs. And then he figured out the two strike approach on those curveballs, taking two back up the middle, so that's encouraging. His ability to just put contact on the ball and his speed is big. And then that last at-bat he got into a two strike count and they went shoulder high fastball, which was a great pitch given everything else, and he swung under it, but you could see him nodding to himself on the way back. I doubt we're getting all-star Javy back tonight, especially against the pitchers he's going to face, but I think the 0-4 with 4 Ks stretch is probably over.

If you want Ross in the game, why not start Hendricks (to keep him on routine) and Willson, then bring in Ross when Lester comes in for defense? Ross has crushed LHP this year as well. I guess just, if you're looking for some combo of Hendricks and Lester to get you 7 innings, if you start Hendricks and then bring in Lester/Ross after 5 or 6, then Contreras is done for the game. In a 9 inning game, it probably only means one more AB for Contreras over Ross, which, you're right, probably isn't worth screwing with the routine.

Please tell me why this is a dumb idea (and it can't just be 'because Ross is a better hitter than Contreras right now' because that's wrong): Start Lester, start Ross in the 9 hole. Pull them both either the first time Ross' spot comes up in the lineup for Contreras/Hendricks, or after 3, or whenever Lester puts a runner on after 2 or whatever. Like, I know conceptually this is dumb, but I'm having trouble putting it into words.

A preemptive horsefeathers off to Dave Cameron and all the other dumb ass writers (but especially Dave Cameron) writing about what a terrible 9-3 victory that was for the Cubs last night.

It's games 6-7 of the World Series. If there's ever a time for him to go back to back its now Yeah your arm better be dang near torn out of your body for you to not be available for freaking game 7 of the WS. At this point it's not a health issue, it's a 'do you want him doing something he hasn't done this year' issue.

I feel like for whatever reason, faking a bunt on the first pitch tends to lead to more 1-0 counts. Whether it distracts the pitcher, catcher, umpire, whatever, might not be a bad idea to get him ahead, especially if it ends up being something he can lay down the line.

I don't have a ton of faith in Jake tonight...there just isn't enough evidence over the last 3-4 months to make me think he can flip a switch. But he did have them very off balance in Game 2...if the Indians expand their zone trying to close this thing out, Jake should be alright. No guarantees though. However, whether by a dong attack or just smoking line drives all over the field, there is no reason we shouldn't tear into Tomlin early and often. If we have him on the ropes in the second or third, Francona will have to decide if he wants to go to Miller that early and leave Kluber on his own tomorrow, or serve up the soft part of the bullpen and let us continue to rake.

I know how much some of you guys dislike Cameron, but he just threw out another option I didn't see mentioned much....Lackey as reliever. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/joe-maddons-other-relief-option-tonight/ Thoughts? Really a sign of how thin our pen has gotten when this doesn't seem like a terrible idea.