Rcal10

Yep, 100% he is saying he did what he could within the guidelines ownership allowed. The fact they basically pocketed Bellinger’s money saved is ridiculous. If they weren’t going to spend it they should have traded him for someone of equal value with a similar contract. Or ate his entire contract to get a quality arm back.

Maybe, but did anyone play night games today or yesterday? Aren’t all teams basically playing day games? I honestly do not know if the Dbacks played at night this week. I would think most teams would want to play a day game today to give themselves time to go wherever they needed to do to start the season. I realize the Cubs don’t have to go anywhere, nor do the Dbacks. But whoever they played did have to travel somewhere.

Agreed. He probably has a better chance at failing than he does becoming this star so many already have him to be. For fun, I looked at the top 20 prospects at the start of the 2019 season. Keep in mind, Smith isn’t even at that level. Anyway, some of the bats were Taylor Trammell, Robles, Senzel, Eloy, Kirilloff, Adell, Brendon Rodgers and Huira, Would anyone be upset if Smith turns into a guy like those guys? People are assuming he will be a star AND Tucker is only here for one year. 2 things that haven’t been decided yet. Personally think Smith is going to struggle. He has a lot of swing and miss in his game, only played about 25 games above A ball and is playing a new position. Astros are setting him up to fail, IMO. He may still hit some homers. It is Houston and the Crawford boxes. But he is going to have a hard time making consistent contact. Maybe he does turn into a solid everyday player. 🤷 But worrying about him being a star and criticizing the trade before all results are in is foolish. Especially because those who are criticizing it now will later praise it if Tucker does sign an extension or even leads the Cubs to the WS and Smith struggles. Houston wasn’t going to give Tucker away. There had to be a good prospect traded. They also got Paredes, who will do well in Houston. It was. and still is, a fair deal. It is the price you have to pay if you don’t grow your own star or spend on top FA, period.!

I think just pulled because his spring training was done. He didn’t look hurt.

I don’t really worry about getting the best out of Cease. He has pitched all spring. Players get traded mid year and pitch well for the team they get traded to. I don’t think being traded right before the start of the season should hurt his production. But I do agree with you about not being sure it makes sense for the Cubs anyway. That would be another guy on the last year of his deal and it would cost more prospects. So in ‘26 there would be a real possibility if not having Tucker and/or Cease as well as being several prospects down.

True. But I am not sure you realize what a cash cow Wrigley is. And not just because Cubs fans go. I have often talked to people cheering for the opponent and asked if they ever watched their team in Sox park. Most of the time the answer is no, they just want to come to Wrigley. In many cases that fan pays a Stubhub price to sit in a decent seat at Wrigley that cost them 4 times as much as a similar seat would cost at sox park. But they don’t care. They want to be at Wrigley. That is why I feel if I didn’t go someone else would. And I am fortunate enough to be able to go to 20-30 games a year so why would I deprive myself of what I enjoy. Trust me, I understand your point. And I have many friends who think like you. You’re not wrong. Just not what I do.

It is actually 31 games and all except 3 against the A’s are against quality opponents. Not just a few very good teams. I would be fine with 14-17 after April.

April is going to be a long month with many posters here. There will be numerous hot takes about how the Cubs suck. It is happening this spring. Can’t imagine how bad it will once all of baseball starts.

Keller?

Agreed. They have to start hitting on some international talent. Hopefully they will soon. But even if they did get one last season we might not see him for 4 more years. Maybe more. I do agree they didn’t do so well 5 to 7 years ago because we should be seeing some of that talent, and we are not.

I agree with you that ownership takes advantage of the fans loyalty. I just don’t agree that me not going or spending money on the team would matter. If I didn’t go the next person up would go. And actually if attendance started dropping that would give him another excuse to not spend money. So I am going to do what I enjoy doing and go to games and watch games. As I said, I agree the ownership is hard to like. And I understand your theory. I just don’t think it works here, or even if it did it would takes years to chance. I don’t feel like boycotting for 5 to 7 years HOPING lowering revenues would make atom realize he needs to spend money and win to get and back. And even if it rid work I would be years older and not wanting to go to games as much anymore.

You do you Stratos. If it makes you feel good not to go to the games and not pay attention to the team or give the team any of your money, that is good for you. But I am a fan of the Cubs. I don’t like the ownership. I don’t like them not spending like they should. However I enjoy the team and the sport. I also love going to ball games. So I am going to continue to go and also watch them. Bottom line is if I didn’t go someone else would. Why should I deprive myself of something I enjoy because I don’t like the ownership. He’ll, I wouldn’t do much of anything it I allowed myself to follow that criteria in all aspects of life. I would never use Amazon. I wouldn’t go to several restaurants I like if I ever dug into their owners beliefs. Wouldn’t follow any sports, etc….

Armstrong is hitting .500 and Amaya .542. So maybe spring really doesn’t mean much. I think Chiurio is going to be a star for a long time. But if he was hitting .100 right now, I would still feel that way.!

I think you are making a case to the wrong person, or at the very least arguing something I am not arguing against. As I said, I don’t really care that this game isn’t televised. Fine, give them a break. But last year they televised way more games. They cut back this year to save cost. I believe they even said something to that point. Why do you think they televised less games this year, even before the trip to Japan? Was it the union refusing to work, or the Cubs cutting cost? I say it was the Cubs cutting cost.

I don’t have much of an issue with the games not televised today. But I don’t think it is because they wanted the staff to rest. I think the Cubs decided to televise less games this year because they were saving money. Or, as I described them in my survey, they were cheap, mismanaged and frustrating.

What? Don’t understand this response.

Exactly. Kind of funny that I got a survey from the Cubs. In the survey they asked for 3 words to describe the organization. . I used cheap, mismanaged and frustrating. And said I was a huge fan. What is wrong with me…..🤷

I agree that Smith is a legitimate prospect. Of course he is. Or the Cubs couldn’t get Tucker for him. But most people, not you, are overreacting to a good spring. A lot of guys have good springs and end up not carrying to the regular season or even have any kind of major league career. As Bertz said, nothing Smjth did this spring should suddenly have him any higher than the tier Cassie is in. As you correctly stated, what he did this spring should not give him a spot on the ML roster just yet. He is ranked somewhere around 70th in baseball by most publications. Similar to Cassie, Ballasteros, Alcantara. Maybe he moves up and becomes that star everyone is so afraid he will become. But maybe he ends up taking a different trajectory, much like many prospects who never do make it to the majors. The minor leagues are filled with guys who at one time were top 20 prospects in the game. People are getting, seriously, way ahead of themselves with Smith.

You know who else has a great spring? Workman. I don’t see him as a starting option. Does anyhow e expect him to be a star? In the end, Smith might be good. He might have a good career. But he also can very possibly be a bust.

So does the last pitching spot come down to Brown or Miller? If Brown makes it they have to dfa Miller. So I agree Brown will start at AAA.

Yes, I did. Had they added 2 games (depending on what tier the games were) my ticket prices would have been up between 4% and 6% from the previous year. Pretty standard increase year over year.

Maybe not exactly how I described it, but there was some subtle difference that allowed Ricketts to pocket more money then he would have had the games been played at Wrigley. See Matthew Trueblood story on 2/27.

I paid for 79 games.

WOW, that is my bad. Worse than you think too. I was at game 1 in that series and could have sworn the Cubs were the home team. I think the reason I though this was because they sang go cubs fo after the win, and I think Clark came out with the W flag. Either way, you are correct. My bad.

Each team was the home team one game in London. Each team lost 1 game from their home schedule.