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Also, I really wish we had a DH in the NL right now. You're right Theo ... you're almost always right. We desperately need a DH in the NL (at least during the WS).

Yeah, please don't compare Schwarber to Gronk -- that comparison is horrible. Schwarber has charisma and heart. Gronk is just a complete buffoon who reminds me of Rodman ...

So, I'm torn between wanting Melancon for probably fewer years and less money or K. Jansen at this point. K. Jansen is the best RP available this offseason, and will probably command the highest salary and longest contract among relief pitchers. I think we've all seen the flaws with A. Chapman now. His command abandons him, his slider is borderline awful and he can't throw it near the strike zone sometimes, and his attitude on the mound doesn't inspire a lot of confidence among us fans. I mean the 100+ fastball is incredible, but he needs to throw more strikes and a better breaking ball when hitters are sitting on the fastball. I mean at this point the majority of us probably don't want chapman back now right? I was angry at the front office for not negotiating a contract extension for Chapman at the time of the trade, but we're fortunate that didn't happen looking back. It sucks we gave up so much for a rental, but if he helps us win a WS then I guess it'll be worth it. I don't know if we can outbid the Dodgers for Jansen, but they did lose Greinke last year... Anyway, my preferences for Closer as of this moment: 1. RHP - K. Jansen 2. RHP - M. Melancon 3. LHP - A. Chapman (I hope we don't re-sign him)

I don't know when he'll be posted, but we need this guy. I don't care how we use him, but he is simply amazing to watch... Another good article on the incredible Shohei Otani: https://theringer.com/the-postseasons-true-revelation-is-a-two-way-mystery-man-3e2e8585e6ba#.9ykak7ta1

Hey Tim, I'm curious how much has traffic picked up since the playoffs have started? I'm hoping there is a lot more interest from inquisitive Cubs fans looking for a place to read up on the Cubs. The cynical side of me feels like a lot of these lurkers are just angry and upset Cardinals and White Sox fans waiting for a collapse that will never happen. Like you mentioned before -- they came for the non-existent misery porn lol.

Man, I'm not going to lie -- it really really sucks Ron Santo isn't alive to witness this. I miss hearing his voice on the radio and those groans and how genuinely upset he was when the Cubs were playing poorly. He would've loved this team and their hustle and their passion for the game. He really thought that 03' team was the team to break this drought. I think Kris Bryant may end up being the "Ron Santo" for this younger generation of Cubs fans. Ron Santo would adore KB, and how he plays the game. Ron Santo and Ernie Banks and all the great Cubs players who never got a chance to see this ... that really hurts. The good news is if the Cubs go all the way (I think they will) someone needs to make an excellent documentary about this Cubs team and the catharsis it (hopefully) provides to the living family/friends of Ron Santo and Ernie Banks and other Cubs fans who died before they got a chance to witness this glorious day. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/images/players/head_shot/121697.jpg RIP - Ron Santo (I never thought you were a terrible announcer -- you were great)

HEY guys, hey I said there was a chance too btw! I said there was like a 1% or slightly greater than 1% chance of Schwarber coming back this year. I was praying for this possiblity, but I never thought it would actually happen. TT wasn't wrong -- no one thought there was a realistic chance of him coming back this year. Man we need Schwarber from last year's postseason. I miss that guy: http://memecrunch.com/meme/9NEGB/kyle-schwarber/image.png

Yeah, I sometimes go to other fans' websites like GRB and that White Sox site, but I never ever post there. I won't register or make an account to defend the Cubs or tell them how stupid some of their users are. OH OH, Cards talk is fantastic -- true idiocy exists there. I was surprised to see our very own Transmogrified Tiger posts on GRB. Why? I have no idea lol... He is well regarded there I guess. I was thinking about making an account, but what's the point? It would be similar to talking to a Trump supporter about politics -- no thanks. I'll pass, but I will observe them from far away...

Yeah, I like PitchFX technology and it seems accurate enough. I agree about opposition from the umps. The problem is umps will still be needed obviously, and they know that. They know they wield real power and will oppose this like crazy. I wish Manfred could just explain to them (umpires union) that losing that responsibility won't diminish their significance and importance to the game. They can instead better focus on other parts of the game like if the batter checked his swing or went around, did the pitcher commit a balk, call catcher's interference, etc. It reminds me of how difficult it is to reform police tactics and the opposition from their union to body cams, and other means of holding cops accountable for their actions. There was a lot of opposition to body cams, but we now know they work and EVERY single damn cop needs to be wearing one. I mean it's astonishing how long it has taken to get that in place and holding police accountable is far more important than fixing the strike zone and making umps more accountable. Eh, I hope I didn't offend anyone who is a cop (majority of them are good!) here, but police brutality is a real problem in this country.

Yeah, Heyward needs to stop being used as a starter against everyone. Only use him as a pinch runner or defensive replacement. Fix his swing in the offseason [tweet] [/tweet]

I am hopeful they'll change a few things or issues, but I don't see an NL DH coming anytime soon (Honestly don't even care for it that much). Theo wants a DH in the NL, but I'm almost positive Maddon does not. It would help when we have a player like Schwarber or older vets who can't play in the field anymore. Manfred doesn't seem to care about it that much. His big pet peeve right now is pace-of-play and the increasing length of games. I agree it is kind of a problem. My solution is make relievers face more than one batter (min. 3 batters). Yeah, this will hurt LOOGYs and other situational RPs, but the way bullpens are being used now is too specialized and time-consuming. Also, a pitch clock needs to be enforced so we don't have situations like P. Baez who takes forever between pitches. My biggest issue is the need for an automated strike zone (whatever technology works best). Human umps are terrible at determining strikes/balls on the edges of the strike zone and we've already seen too many inconsistent amorphous strike zones during this postseason. It would honestly solve so many problems once it's instituted and the majority of players/pitchers* will be happy with this change. Managers will also approve of it. Only ones who will complain about it are old-school players like Lackey who like the "human element" of the game and the Umpires Union. Do I see an automated strike zone coming anytime soon ... HELL NO. Why is there so much opposition to an automated K-zone you ask? I have no bloody idea :dontknow: *Some pitchers will definitely not like an automated strike zone because their stuff isn't good enough to get hitters out in the strike zone, and/or get them to chase.

Yeah, I'm still concerned about Russell and have been the whole year to tell you the truth. I think Rizzo is starting to break out of his funk and I think he'll have a good game today. I think the Cubs win a close one today with Lester pitching okay, but he won't dominate the Dodgers. It's so weird, but I actually feel more comfortable right now with Baez at the plate than with like 3 or 4 other Cubs players. I still think Heyward needs to be benched with Contreras playing LF when he isn't catching. Heyward should come in as a defensive replacement later in the game. Anyway, Go Cubs Go! See you guys after the game, er, I'll read the thread after the game...

Yeah it probably will be announced during the offseason and not during the playoffs. I think they're still trying to figure out what the right punishment should be. Just speculation on my part, but I believe Manfred can't just take a draft pick away from the cardinals w/o getting approval from the player's union. Maybe with the new CBA they'll discuss new penalties for cheating and unethical conduct by MLB teams (cardinals, Padres) and after the new CBA is ratified they'll punish the cardinals. I imagine it will involve monetary fines and hopefully the loss of a draft pick. The ideal time for it to be announced isn't soon btw...it's announcing it right after the Cubs win the WS or maybe a day after the parade lol

I think this is a pretty easy choice right? It's the Mets -- the whole revenge angle, all their injured starters, facing a bunch of pitchers who won't intimidate us (save for Snydergaard) and we don't have to face Cueto and Bumgarner. Also, if the Giants get eliminated then it ends this silly "even year" narrative crap and we don't have to deal with questions about their experience and ringz. To me it seems like the best path to the WS is facing the Mets in the NLDS and the Nationals in the NLCS. I admit I don't want to face the Dodgers and I believe that will be a very tough matchup.

Well, that was pretty satisfying 8-) . I can't complain I guess. I mean if they were worse and had a truly crap season that means they'd get a higher draft pick as well. This way they get a draft pick in the back of the 1st round and miss the playoffs. Hopefully the first of many to come! I grew up downstate in Carbondale, which is pretty progressive compared to the rest of the area, so I was surrounded by cardinals fans and I take extra pleasure in them missing the playoffs. I could rant about st. louis and cardinals' fans for days non-stop, but there are some good fans in the group too. Enjoy not having an NFL team, and kinda (but not really) supporting the blues. PS -- Not to get political or anything, but there are going to be SO many cardinals fans that are going to be even more upset after Drumpf loses on Election Day. They are going to be very upset about both the cardinals missing the playoffs and their guy losing to H. Clinton. Those fans deserve their complete misery I say.

Extra pain? Hahaha, extra pain. Well I like where this thread is going, but sadly the Giants are already winning 2-0. I do like all the gritty little details Tim described in that scenario, but most likely the Giants win easily and probably the cardinals do too. Eh, you can't always get what you want...

I wonder what would be the best way for them to go out... Yeah, Wainwright getting shelled and knocked out early would be nice, but that would be too quick. It's not satisfying enough. You want them to really experience some pain. I definitely want some late dramatic comeback by the Giants along with some horrible collapse by one of the BP arms for the cardinals. I personally don't like the concept of schadenfreude and hold no grudges against anyone. However against evil corporations and the cardinals I'll make an exception I guess lol

Man I really thought the Pirates would relish the chance to eliminate the cardinals from the playoffs by beating them...seems like they just want the season to be over and done with. To be fair, a lot of them are banged up and playing through injuries (I know, I know -- everyone is a little banged up at this point in the season) and some of their best players aren't even playing. If the Giants hold on to win today then what would be the most agonizing way for the Cardinals to get eliminated tomorrow?

Again, read what I wrote earlier...I said if the money is close and the decisive factor is allowing him to play in the OF in-between starts -- then yeah, I'm okay with that if it means he'll sign with us over the Dodgers or Yankees or Rangers. We have a creative manager and like to move players around. Again, we highly value versatility. Of course, you run the danger that he hurts himself playing in the OF, but pitchers get hurt in all kinds of ways (M. Stroman, M. Rivera, A. Wainwright) and you can't protect them from getting hurt on the field. I would want to make sure he can properly play the OF and take good routes, avoid collisions, get good jumps, etc. He would only play occasionally as well (probably not after days he starts). This is all pure speculation btw. We have to see what he wants when he decides to come over. I would prefer signing him as a pitcher who hopefully hits extremely well and can be used as a PH occasionally.

Again, read what I wrote earlier...I said if the money is close and the decisive factor is allowing him to play in the OF in-between starts -- then yeah, I'm okay with that if it means he'll sign with us over the Dodgers or Yankees or Rangers. We have a creative manager and like to move players around. Again, we highly value versatility. Of course, you run the danger that he hurts himself playing in the OF, but pitchers get hurt in all kinds of ways (M. Stroman, M. Rivera, A. Wainwright) and you can't protect them from getting hurt on the field. I would want to make sure he can properly play the OF and take good routes, avoid collisions, get good jumps, etc. He would only play occasionally as well (probably not after days he starts). This is all pure speculation btw. We have to see what he wants when he decides to come over. I would prefer signing him as a pitcher who hopefully hits extremely well and can be used as a PH occasionally.

I get that some AL teams would be able to use him as a DH, but then again some AL teams have prominent DHs like D. Ortiz for Boston. You wouldn't want to guarantee ABs at DH for a pitcher (kinda insulting) when you have better, experienced hitters on your roster. Now, if he ends hitting really well then I'm sure everyone would be okay with playing him at DH. Another problem with allowing him to hit on days he pitches in the AL is that you lose the right to have a DH on those days. Same thing happened when B. Bochy allowed M. Bumgarner to hit for himself in an interleague game. That puts you at a disadvantage in the later innings (and maybe even in the early-mid innings) when you pull your starting pitcher. It'll be fascinating either way. I'm excited to see what he could do over here and hope he can be a successful two-way player unlike anything we've ever seen before...as a Cubs player of course :beg:

Of course Maddon will be allowed to use him in the outfield. Why wouldn't he be? He's used Travis Wood in the outfield (albeit in an extra inning game) and Maddon likes having versatile players. If the money is about the same and the decisive factor is seeing some time as position player in-between starts, well, I'm okay with letting Otani get some starts in LF/RF. Obviously, some PH opportunities as well. I don't know exactly how well his bat will translate at the MLB level, but he has some amazing bat speed. The hitting is all secondary though, like an added bonus. It's the ability to dominate as a SP that makes him special.

So there's a 3-way tie for the two WC slots right now. It seems obvious to me who I would be pulling for to come out of this scrum and win the WC game (Mets) and then face the Cubs. Is this how everyone else feels? I guess I could make a poll but I don't really care that much lol? I don't really want to face the Cardinals, but I don't fear them. The Cubs are the better team, but in these stupid short series anything can happen unfortunately as previously mentioned in this thread...

It's just a dumb name is all Eh, I don't know if I got all the quotations inside quotations right...anyway, I get that the name Muhammed is an unoriginal name, but to practitioners of Islam -- its kinda important and special. It's like Catholics in Latin American countries naming their kids "Jesus" or something. I wouldn't go around calling it "just a dumb name is all". A very boring name and a way to get your son "randomly selected" in airports in the future, but it's not a dumb name. That's kinda offensive...

Yeah, he's probably not coming back this year...that is what my brain is telling me. It's the smart and pragmatic thing to do. Still, I never completely rule anything out after Jordan said he was "99.9% certain" that he would not return after his 2nd retirement lol.