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I don't know if this would've been allowed but I kinda wish Rizzo had gone with "Tony! Toni! Toné! Tonee?" for the nickname lol. That's a reference to the movie Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Underrated comedy IMO.

Man, I can't remember a trade for what I thought at the time was a good reliever that has disappointed me this much this quickly. I mean I hated A. Alfonseca and he was terrible, but at least we got M. Clement in that trade as well. Is A. Avila the "M. Clement" in this trade?

I'm not going to cry or anything but he's been the most likeable cardinal for the past decade or so. Wainwright has been the most "likeable" cardinals player of the past decade??? Okay, I guess relatively speaking that might be true, but that's like saying J. Kushner is the most "likeable" person in the White House right now lol.

Man so many good posts on robot umps in this thread lol! That pic is awesome. I've been a HUGE proponent of an automated strike zone or some technology that can accurately call balls/strikes and takes away that part of the game from stupid, subjective error-prone human Umps. I really hate ... I'm just going to say it -- there are a lot of crackers in MLB (coaches and players and FO executives) that are just resistant to change and anything progressive. Like I'm not so sure Bosio or someone of his ilk wouldn't say something idiotic about integration back in the day, and how letting minorities play baseball will change the game dynamic and fan/player interaction or something stupid like that... I've lost a TON of respect for Bosio this year, and he needs to stop making stupid comments and focus only on discussing pitching/pitcher mechanics. Does anyone know how Theo and/or Jed feel about an automated strike zone? Obviously, Maddon and Zobrist are open to the idea (which is awesome).

I gotta say Baez is not my favorite Cubs player, but he is BY FAR the most entertaining Cubs player. Even when he makes a mistake it's exciting and he somehow pulls it off...

Its weird to me that people say this when MMA and boxing exist, not to mention wrestling. Eh, I'm not a fan of those sports either. You're not wrong -- those sports are also terrible for the health of its participants, but everyone knows that. The thing is the public didn't realize just how detrimental playing in the NFL was for the long-term health of its players until recently.

Well, Otani won't cost that much relatively speaking -- our amount to spend on Int. FAs + $20 mil posting fee. B. Harper will cost a lot, but he might be willing to take a slight discount to come here and play for J. Maddon. I don't know what that amount will be, or even what teams will be pursuing him. I hope we're one of the teams that makes a serious effort to sign him. Lastly, man ... thinking about Heyward and his contract is just depressing as hell. I doubt he opts out unless he feels really bad about underperforming his contract. I said he still looks messed up at the plate after Game 1, and that his early season performance (when he was hitting) wouldn't last -- I don't think I was wrong. I guess we could try dumping him on some team by offering to eat a large portion of his contract after next season when we can trade him. Hopefully, the Cubs can accomplish all these things with increasing revenue streams + broadcasting rights/new deal. I think we have a good shot at S. Otani if he decides to come next offseason and not this offseason.

He's pretty much a non-prospect as a hitter. If we get him he's 100% a pitcher Come on bro, I wouldn't call him a "non-prospect" as a hitter. There are plenty of scouts and executives that think he could be decent in terms of hitting at the MLB level. They just all agree he's a better pitching prospect, and that focusing on hitting (and playing in the field) might detract from his ability to dominate as a pitcher. Same argument people made with H. Greene and B. McKay during and after the 17' MLB draft. I believe S. Otani is legit as a prospect in both areas (hitting and pitching). He's just a MUCH better pitching prospect.

Yeah, same here. I used to be a big Bears fan like 10 years ago when they were still good and the defense was amazing. I just feel like a hypocrite watching it since I would never let my nephews play it (I don't have any kids) or recommend it that any of my friend's kids play the sport either. I certainly wouldn't play it if I had the size and skill after reading all the terrible brain trauma/CTE articles and research papers, unless I were like a punter or crappy third-string QB lol. The NFL has a serious problem on its hands and they know it and don't care, and maybe that's being too generous. They've probably known about this for a long time, and also know there is no solution to the inherent violence and long-term danger to the player's health at large. The NFL has a looming crisis, and I predict a weird transition happening in the future: kids in cold-water states and Northern states start focusing on other sports more while kids in Texas (where HS Football and Football in general is like a religion) and other southern states continue to play Football even as more and more Doctors and researchers recommend avoiding full-contact sports like Football. I don't know who said it or where I read it, but watching the NFL is like the modern equivalent of watching gladiators fight each other to death in the Colosseum...

Well, this is GREAT news. I was worried he was going to still try coming over this winter. I don't know what his preference is, but I think we should definitely sign Yu Darvish now. I wanted to sign him this offseason anyway, and now it won't cost a draft pick to sign him. S. Otani is apparently good friends with Darvish and trains with him during the offseason. Plus, we can offer to let him PH and play in the OF occasionally if he really wants to try doing both (pitching and hitting). Hopefully, he decides to wait one more year!

Yeah, I think he definitely deserves something. I'm fine with him getting a WS ring and it's not even in the same class of WS rings as the player's WS rings (most valuable) for obvious reasons. He had to put up with a lot of crap, and from all accounts is a good dude, introverted and is an extremely loyal Cubs fan. He's had to endure a lot of abuse on sports talk radio/ESPN, and from fans of other teams. The media keeps bringing him up when all he wants is privacy. I forgave him a long time ago, and honestly there were so many fans around him reaching for the ball as well. Like the old saying goes "wrong place at the wrong time". The Cubs did so many things wrong in that series in 2003. Why don't fans or people in the media bring up A. Gonzalez and how he messed up? Dusty Baker and his poor managing/decision-making? I don't even know if M. Alou catches that ball honestly. S. Bartman had to put up with so much crap over the years, and I'm happy for him. I'm glad the Cubs did something like this. I hope he can go to a game and fans will leave him alone, if they actually recognize him. This was a classy move by the Cubs. Now, I just hope idiot fans and the sports media at large stop bringing up his name and move on. No one mentions B. Buckner in association with the Red Sox anymore. Same thing should happen for S. Bartman. Let the man be a regular fan again.

I think people forget just how good a defensive 3B he was. He had some excellent seasons offensively, but he always was a very good defensive player before we had good metrics for measuring defense. I'm still angry the Phillies traded him to the Cardinals...

Nice dig there lol. So, for people who don't know Elisabeth Moss is a Scientologist. Yeah, I can already see posters cringing after learning that... She's also a Cubs fan, but also a freakin' Scientologist.

My first thought too. I think this was a smart trade for Was, and not a great return for Oak also. Why didn't they wait till closer to the trade deadline? Were they that worried that Doolittle would get hurt again? S. Doolittle, when healthy, is very good. Obviously, his injury concerns/history are big worries for any team acquiring him. Still, I like this trade for Was. Hopefully, their bullpen continues to suck because if they fix that problem -- they're pretty damn scary and formidable (manager notwithstanding).

Man, we lose even when the Cubs have the day off...

Even tho Javy has made good strides I think Russell has as good a ceiling and much more easily attainable I think or used to think Russell had a super high ceiling that he was capable of reaching someday, but I don't feel that way anymore. I don't think A. Russell is our B. Larkin v2.0, but instead is our version of B. Crawford w/o the long, flowing majestic hair. I think Baez has the much higher ceiling, but I also doubt he'll ever reach it. Both are still valuable -- just not as valuable as Lindor, Seager or Correa.

I'm calling it now. I don't think the Cubs are going to be moving him this month, but I do believe the Cubs are definitely going to be shopping him aggressively this offseason. His approach at the plate is terrible, and his ability to recognize and hit breaking pitches/offspeed pitches has always been poor. Throw in all the off-field problems and I think (sadly) A. Russell is going to be our version of W. Myers. I think Theo and the Cubs FO are very disappointed in Russell. Hopefully, we'll get a nice return like Was somehow got (J. Ross and T. Turner) in that 3-team trade, and we'll move J. Baez to SS and play a combination of I. Happ/B. Zobrist at 2B next year.

So I didn't follow the late signings -- was kinda busy this past week. Huh, our 5th-rounder (N. Velazquez) got more than I thought he would initially. I believe the Twins signed Puerto Rican HS SS Ricardo De la Torre for $550K, and he was much more highly rated than Velazquez. Anyway, so something came up during the physical for RHP - A. Lange, but does anyone know what it is specifically? I wonder if it's just a bone spur or very slight wear-and-tear. If the concern has anything to do with the AC joint or Rotator Cuff or just the shoulder in general I wish the Cubs just moved on and recoup the pick for next year. Trying to find out what it was, but I can't find anything...

Welington Castillo was always a catcher, never was converted. You might be thinking of Robinson Chirinos, who converted from middle infielder. Okay thanks. Yeah, for some reason I thought W. Castillo converted from 3B to C, but I couldn't find anything. The Cubs seem to be pretty good at identifying prospects that can move from other positions to catcher. We didn't draft or move V. Caratini to catcher (Atlanta did), but we obviously liked him and traded for him. His defense is coming along. That would be another successful conversion to catcher.

I really want the Cubs to target K. Gausman. Like I really want the Cubs to target him, and I think Bosio can fix whatever is wrong with him. Might take an offseason to get him fully fixed and whatnot. Full disclosure: I wanted the Cubs to take Gausman if he were available at #6 in the 2012 MLB Draft over Almora. I had C. Correa at #1 and then Buxton. I think then I had K. Gausman. I hated M. Appel and wanted the Cubs to avoid taking him so I'm glad I was right on that at least. If Appel signed with Pittsburgh in 2012, K. Bryant might have been gone #1 to Houston in 2013. We got lucky (plus Houston is dumb).

I'm all for only send Wade. And it might be beneficial to just chill at home and re-group. But Bryant not making the All-Star Game will look really stupid by the end of the year. Agreed. Kris Bryant is one of the best players in the game, NL MVP and one of the most popular players in all of baseball. There is NO way he doesn't get into the All-Star Game, unless H. Harrelson is choosing a Third Baseman because then we all know he'd choose T. horsefeathering Frazier lol.

I was thinking about W. Contreras and how awesome it is we have a young, athletic catcher. I also liked W. Castillo too, and it sucks his pitch framing was so poor. So the thing they have in common is both converted to C from other positions. I'm pretty sure the Cubs converted Castillo to C, but I can't find a source... Anyway, I was looking at Isaac Paredes and E. Longenhagen mentioned how many scouts would like to see the Cubs try him at C. There is no way he is sticking at SS, but he does possess a strong arm. He's still really young, and there will be less pressure on the bat if he moves to C. Potential problems to this move is that he doesn't want to try it and would rather move to 3B. Also, I don't know if he knows English or can speak it. I'm sure he's picked up some of the language. I think it's an intriguing move and maybe the Cubs should try it or broach the subject during instructs. As is, I don't believe Paredes' bat is good enough to get to the big leagues at 3B. Maybe not even if he moves to catcher full-time.

Seattle traded him to Oakland for D. Valencia straight up. I was surprised how little Oakland got for Valencia, but hey Blackburn is making his debut today so he has some value.

I'm kinda thinking that the plan once everyone is back would be Schwarber-Happ-Heyward. Almora and Jay cycle in against good matchups. Yeah, I think I'd rather have Heyward in CF than Happ, but Happ has proven to be reliable and solid-average in his short time in CF. We'll see how it all shakes out once everyone is healthy and Schwarber returns. J. Jay is a great weapon to bring off the bench as a PH. I didn't think much of it when we signed him, but that was a great pickup.

Uhhhh ya think I know C. Kershaw has been bad in the playoffs, but it doesn't feel right to call him a playoff choker... How can one be so dominant during the regular season and be garbage in the postseason? I think eventually C. Kershaw will dominate during the postseason, but he seems to be slipping and giving up way more HRs this year so maybe he never will.