Rcal10
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Everything posted by Rcal10
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The last sentence was spot on. It doesn’t matter.
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Agreed. I definitely do not see 2 starters added. I can see one who would be counted on to be better than Taillon and push Taillon to 4th starter. To start the season I can see Assad as the 5. But they will also have other options if/when healthy. Wicks, Horton, Brown, Wesneski, etc….. Maybe is Bellinger stays they will focus mainly on the pitching. Get a solid starter and add 2 “dependable” pen arms. Add someone to share time with Amaya or swing bigger for A’s or Angels catcher. Stengthen the bench, and go with the line up they used since Parades came around. I know fans don’t want to hear this, but since Paredes came around the offense was too 8 in baseball, even with playing half their games in Wrigley. I would think that very well could be the case next year with PCA having 400 AB under him now, Busch a full year in the majors, Amaya getting more acclimated to the majors and a full year of Parades.
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This has to be one of the least consequential discussion we have had in a long time. And that says a lot. It went from “who cares” (where it should have stayed) into some conspiracy by the Cubs to get publicity or to make an excuse for not winning this year. Absolutely ridiculous. Changes are being made because Counsel, as the manager of the Cubs, wants to make some changes. He might be more comfortable working with someone else. Again, kind of a nothing burger. I think what is happening within the organization should have been expected. Hell, Chibear said it during the last week of the season. I, and a few other posters, agreed this would be the first thing they would do. Again NBD..
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Yep, he was never coming here. Or anywhere beside LA for that matter. I have no issues with Jed from last year. I just think this year he needs to be aggressive. Minor league talent will never be valued higher than now. And they might have $89M to spend. I think Belli opts out.
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To your point, yes, moving forward they are in a good spot financially as well as in the minors. Even if Bellinger stays, his contract isn’t so bad it should hinder the team. The issue is figuring out where to add a bat and/or who to move. I just hope Jed is more aggressive this year than any year he has been in charge up until now. Being in good shape financially and with assets in the minors should allow him to be more aggressive this year. I am just worried he won’t be.
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This is kind of my point of view as well. I am not bashing Jed and generally do not blame him for everything, like some people do. But I am also it a Jed apologist. So I listened very open minded. And I came away with the same thoughts you have.
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That would be fine with me. It also leave several Mariner pitchers as options as well. But, that sort of trade will cost more than trading for Tucker or Valdez.
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He never said anything about now being the time to leverage strengths to build a playoff team. He did say there were in a good position. But to me he leaning more into improvement from within. I know he isn’t going to play his hand. But there was just a lot of the same stuff as every year. Same narrative of building sustained success. The problem is they first need success in order to sustain it. I know it is just a press conference in October. I get it. But I also think Jed said exactly what he plans on doing. Not making a bold more, but rather make moves based on “intelligent spending”.
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I doubt that happens. My guess is his vision is the same as Tom’s.
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Padres had Profar totally outperform anything he ever did before, too. But the real issue isn’t whether it does work or not. That isn’t how the Cubs should build a team. Even if it works occasionally, there is no reason they shouldn’t put a team on the field Expected to win the division.
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After listening to Jed’s press conference I absolutely expect more of the same. Build a team projected to win 85 and hope for a few career years to get the ram ro 90+.
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I do as well. I am just not sure the cubs have enough resources to get a catcher via trade and then either a big bat or front end starting pitcher via trade. How much if the farm do you want to use?
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Amaya? I believe is is not rested very favorably.
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I highly doubt they are going to trade any of the guys you mentioned. Maybe Nico, but no way the others will be traded. I can see a couple of high end prospects traded for either a high end starting pitcher or a high end bat. Whichever they get they can get the other piece via free agency. If Bellinger doesn’t opt out they just play 9 guys in 8 positions. If he does opt out they have to think BIG. Has to be all in on Soto. For me, he would be the guy regardless of Bellinger , but we know that isn’t happening. In truth, even without Bellinger it is doubtful they go Soto. But he would be the guy. If not him you look to Vlad or Tucker. Maybe Rooker. There are several avenues they can go with a pitcher. Too many to lists. Those two moves, plus pick up a catcher to share time with Amaya and add a pen arm or two and you have a 90+ win team.
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I tend to agree. Especially when Flaherty and Snell(if he opts out) don’t have a QO attached. I am not certain Jed Dio’s into these waters with a SP, but I doubt it will be Fried. IMO if they did go big and were willing to sign a guy with a QO attached it would be Burnes. And that is doubtful as well.
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It’s not earth shattering. But very predictable and very understood. I am sure Counsell wants his guys. Probably won’t matter in the grand scheme of things. But it should not be a surprise Counsell wants to pick his own staff.
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I know some will say WAR is WAR and it doesn’t matter how you get there, But I agree they need a guy whose bat drives his WAR. That is why I questioned going after Bailey for catcher. His value is due to defense and pitch framing. And who knows how long pitch framing remains a thing.
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True. But when did Amaya start performing better? Around the deadline? He could change his mind if they believe what they saw from Amaya is real. Personally I would like to see, at the very least, a solid guy to split time with him.
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I would expect that to be the pen. Truth is that is most pens in baseball. The middle relief market is basically a crap shoot with different pitchers being good different years. Look at Cleveland’s pen. They were middle of the pack in 23’ and top in 24. Similar personal.
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I disagree. If you have a starting line up of all guys who end up 3.4WAR or better you have a top 5 line up in baseball. With a solid rotation and a decent pen you are winning 90+ games. Sure, a star player helps to improve the line up even more. But you win a lot of games with 3.4WAR players through the entire line up.
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With the Cubs needing offense I am not sure I would want too many resources going to the giants for a bat similar to Amaya. I like him and appreciate good defense, but as you said, pitch framing may become a thing of the past. If they can get him relatively cheap, which I doubt, he would be a good pick up. But needing more offense, he just doesn’t do that.
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Is Bailey an improvement offensively to Amaya? Seems pretty similar. I get wanting to get a better offensive catcher than Amaya . Just not sure Bailey is better. I would rather aim higher for a better bat.
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This Cubs season was a D-minus time for me
Rcal10 replied to Javy Is Still A Cub's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
The team played exactly to their expectations. If an expectation of a typical 3rd grader is to do a certain thing and they do exactly that, to an exact average level they are expected to do it at they are a C student. That is how I view this team. As I said the team as it was constructed played to their average. But if I am grading the entire 2024 season for the Cai, it does get a D-. They should have done enough to be a playoff team. The overall performance was less than average. And again, the previous years should not have any bearing on the grade of the 2024 season. If they win the WS in 2025 are you going to give that team a C because the years before they shocked? I doubt it. -
This Cubs season was a D-minus time for me
Rcal10 replied to Javy Is Still A Cub's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
My grade is for the play of the team, not the front office. The team was projected to win 83 games. They won 83 games. So they were average. Which is a C. Now if you add the FO and the off season that produced an 83 win team, that grade goes down to D-. Also, the grade is for one year. So what they did before this year has nothing to do with this grade. -
Reds (Greene) vs Cubs (Kilian): 9/29/24, 2:20pm
Rcal10 replied to Brock Beauchamp's topic in Fred Hornkohl Game Thread Forum
Correction. 3 runs
