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Rcal10

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Everything posted by Rcal10

  1. Rcal10
    I agree that they should spend on one more and maybe even 2 more solid pen arms. But I don’t think it is just luck, what they do. And as for a pen taking time to gel, the issues with the pen last year were not guys they signed in the off season. They were guys they depended on because they were pretty good the year before. Same thing with the ‘24 season. If I remember correctly Alzolay blew 5 games early. He was someone they depended on. In ‘25 the worst pen guys early were Pressley, who they traded for, Merryweather, Pearson and Hodge. Might as well add Morgan too. The cheap FA pickups were fine. That said, sure they miss on some. And sometimes it does take a little time to gel. But that happens with “proven” arms too. Last year Williams and Scott were supposed to be great pen arms. The year before Hader was terrible the fist month of the season. Bednar sucked in ‘24 as well. It happens to good relievers too. I am fine with Jed and the FO evaluating cheap pen talent. However , this year since they aren’t spending much elsewhere they should look to the pen to spend on a few. And then find cheap talent. We all know they have a lot is spots to fill.
  2. Rcal10
    Padres are a perfect example. They had a great pen and still traded a top 5 prospect in the game to get Miller. You are right, all teams look to pen help, no matter what they have in the pen.
  3. Rcal10
    Going one step further, fans will remember and comment forever when the pen comes in the 6th inning with the cubs having a one run lead and they end up blowing it, then they will about a pen who goes 2 weeks without allowing a run. The pen is just something all fans love to complain about. I guarantee that no matter where the Cubs pen ends up this year, it will be complained about all year. It was last year.
  4. Rcal10
    Right. So last year they went into the season with guys like Pressley, Merryweather, Hodges, and Pearson. All of them sucked. The ‘24 team also had Tyson Miller and Jorge Lopez, who were very good for them in ‘24. Yet, all those guys sucked last year. And they still put together a very good pen. The best starting in May. Which is why I don’t consider what the Cubs do in the pen and dumpster dive. I think they seek out specific qualities in guys and that is who they bring in. And they are pretty good at it. That said, they do need to find a proven guy or two this off season. They can fill in the pen how they have previous. But they need someone (maybe 2 guys) who has experience in high leverage situations. And spending on that guy(s) would be fine.
  5. Rcal10
    When does it shift from a dumpster dive to a FO who is good at finding value by evaluating talent? They did an amazing job last year and actually did well the year before. Does the FO ever get credit for finding guys who are more valuable than other FO think they are? I do want a proven guy, but I don’t think the FO should be criticized for finding cheap valuable talent.
  6. Rcal10
    Yep, hard to argue with that analysis. Take all your facts and toss them aside. Brown is just ass.
  7. Rcal10
    Like to see one of Keller, Fairbanks or Williams. Not saying they are all equal, but all decent options. And depending on who they get for the rotation, maybe they can get two of those guys.
  8. Rcal10
    He did. But I would rather not count on that. I would like to get a good one and pay some money for him instead of dumpster diving and hoping. Don’t get me wrong, he does a pretty good job of that. But I would like at least one higher end reliever. Then dive on a few if he sees a value guy.
  9. Rcal10
    Agree with you on the second and 1 call by the bears.. i also thought about the Bears going for 2 when they went up 16-9. I believe the Packers did that to the Bears last year. I get your logic and thought if it too. But I am on the fence on that one. It basically comes down to what the coach is more confident in. If he thinks he has a better chance of getting a 2 pt conversion then stopping the other teams 2 pt conversion, he should go for 2. The issue is, if he goes for 2 a d doesn’t get it, he gives the Eagles a chance to score and possibly go for 2 and win the game. Teams don’t do that often, but the Eagles might have.
  10. Rcal10
    It was not a bad call. Not even close to a bad call. It made perfect sense. Defense expecting a run because, as you said, they were running right through them. More often then not teams will try to go downfield in that exact situation. It is being called a terrible play because it didn’t work. I am sure that had Kmet not caught a TD pass on the throw from Caleb, people would have been calling that a terrible call too. I get your point of “just run”. It was working. And there is definitely an argument to be made there. But suggesting this was one of the worst calls this season is definitely a result of what happened on the play. Had the throw just been incomplete that play wouldn’t have even made the discussion.
  11. Rcal10
    I agree. It is a concern.
  12. Rcal10
    To be fair, the wind is a factor. Hurts is 5/10 for 57 yards and has missed guys too. Caleb definitely needs to be more accurate. It is a problem for him. But these game conditions do affect his accuracy.
  13. Rcal10
    But from a spending POV, they can trade for Cabrera or Ryan, then sign Fairbanks and still have enough for Bregman, even if they want to stay under the LT. Figure the pitcher they trade for and Fairbanks cost them $15M, total. Bregman another $25M. That puts them at $40M and under the LT. Fill in other spots with system guys and maybe find a cheap lefty pen arm or two. Maybe Bregman takes more to sign so do so with deferrals. Get the salary down for LT purposes to that $25M. Sadly, this sort of thing would shock me as well. If all the pitchers are healthy and pitching well at the TDL, they can even consider trading Taillon to add what they might need then. All if this is supporting your claim that they won’t make a serious run at Tucker. Sadly, I agree with you about that.
  14. Rcal10
    As Jason said, we really don’t know, there are a lot of ways they can go. But based on previous years with this FO and ownership, I agree with you. And between signing King or a trade, I would rather a trade for one of the cheaper controlled pitchers. Actually my preference would be Cabrera. First, he has 3 years left. Next he is the cheapest. A Cabrera trade might even allow them to bring back Keller and still have enough to shop in the star bat section. Maybe get Bregman or Bichette 🤷 Assuming that isn’t possible, they would still be able to build a really good pen and add a decent right handed platoon bat who can DH and play 1st. The sad part of all of this is Tucker isn’t even a consideration. Seems they are just letting that one go. And we all seem to be in agreement that he is done and now looking at other options. Just not a good look for a large market team.
  15. Rcal10
    Love to get Imai. But I think the starting pitcher is going to be via a trade. Then they can spend more on pen arms as free agents. Maybe even a decent right handed bat. If they sign Imai, or even King, I am not sure how much money they will have to sink into the pen. I would also like to see PCA extended. I don’t doubt Jed will put a solid team on the field. I just wish they opened up the pocket book line a major market. And have serious doubts they will.
  16. Rcal10
    TBH, I would rather the Cubs put a package together with one of Wicks, Assad or Brown, one of Alcantara or Cassie and then depending on who they are going after add, whatever is needed from the system, who is not a top 8 prospect in the system. Present those names to the Marlins for Cabrera or Alcantara, to the Nationals for Gore or to the Twins for Ryan or Lopez. Then spend more money on the pen and maybe even a better right handed bat who can DH, be a bench bat and play 1st. I think they get more value that way then they do signing Valdez or any other pitcher looking for 5 or more years and $25M or more annually. Of all the pitchers I mentioned, Cabrera would be my preference. He comes with an extra year and is still cheap. They can then ship in the D. Williams, Hensley aisle as well as the Fairbanks, Keller.
  17. Rcal10
    (Assad, Wicks or Brown)and (Cassie or Alcantara)? I would do that from the cubs perspective.
  18. Rcal10
    I’m just going with what Levine said often. The Cubs were interested and were going to be in on Cease. I am not panicking because they didn’t get him. Honestly he did worry me a little. Throws too many pitches to try getting thru 6 innings. That said, had they gotten him I would have been happy, mainly because I trust the Cubs FO to evaluate the talent more than I could. if they lined him and got him, that is good enough for me. But I agree with you that I can be happy with several other options. The point that does bother me a little is if Levine was right and the Cubs were all in on him, that contract shouldn’t have stopped them from getting him. They should know it would cost that. And if they don’t that concerns me on how they view others as well. Are they interested in King, but only for 3 years and $50M? Imai but only 6/$120M Bregman, but only 5/$120M. Or anyone else who they may like but with an unrealistic offer. That is my concern. If Levine is to be believed the Cubs really liked Cease. That deal should not have been a deal breaker for the Cubs if they really liked him. That is what concerns me more than just not getting Cease.
  19. Rcal10
    Agreed. It is a perfectly reasonable contract for him. With the deferrals in the contract it puts the LT number at about $26M a year. If the Cubs didn’t think he would get that when they suggested they would be in on him that is a problem in the FO in evaluating a market. Now, I am. It sure he was the guy I wanted anyway, but the issue is supposedly the Cubs did. Yet they didn’t beat an offer that was in line what should have been expected. Which is a problem. And if they don’t get with the times on costs of players they are going to walk away from this off season with minimal gains via FA. Nice to say you are interested in someone, but if you are not realistic with the offer, it doesn’t matter.
  20. Rcal10
    This is what frustrates me. I am not comparing Ricketts money to the money of the e Jay owners. I am just saying it is annoying that the Cubs don’t act big market when they are big market. And when other teams do spend without fear of the LT or fear of the next CBA it reminds me of how ridiculous our ownership philosophy is.
  21. Rcal10
    I forgot about Imai. If it is a FA pitcher I would say either King, Gallen or Imai. But I think the high end pitcher is going to come via a trade, TBH.
  22. Rcal10
    Ricketts has plenty of money. It is more about willingness to go over the LT.
  23. Rcal10
    I don’t see fringe depth starters added via FA. They have plenty of them. I agree they probably will not be in Valdez or Suarez. Maybe not King or Gallen either, but they would be the high end get, IMO. Assuming they do t get any of those in FA, I would expect a trade over just getting fringe FA pitchers . I think they would just sign pen arms over #4/5 starters.
  24. Rcal10
    I don’t see Valdez or Suarez either. Maybe King or Gallen. That is about the most I would expect via FA. But I don’t see fringe #4 starters like Bassitt and Kelly either. If they don’t get King or Gallen I would expect them to get that MOR/TOR starter in a trade.
  25. Rcal10
    Frustrates me that the Blue Jays can have Springer, Vlad, Gausman, Cease and probably Bichette on the roster and the Cubs can’t have anyone other than Dansby on a long term high priced contract. And, who knows, maybe the Jays get Tucker too.
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