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Rcal10

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Everything posted by Rcal10

  1. Rcal10
    Most likely you are absolutely correct. I just don’t understand why the lock out plays a part in any Cubs plans. It isn’t like the new deal will hurt them for spending too much money. We all know that isn’t going to happen. The new deal isn’t going to increase penalties for spending at a lower spending amount. And besides that, next year they have so many guys potentially leaving, they can get to whatever number they need, regardless if they sign 2 guys to high priced high year contracts this off season. And we all know that isn’t happening even without a looming lock out. This lock out scare is 100% an excuse to not spend big this off season. And it honestly has no merit at all.
  2. Rcal10
    Not worth discussing this. Just going to agree to disagree.
  3. Rcal10
    Two things can be true. Your Ricketts statement is true. They won’t spend that money. But it is also true those two players were at all times going to the Dodgers. Ohtani agreeing to that large deferral allowed the Dodgers to add whatever they wanted. He was ALWAYS only going to the Dodgers. Same with Yamamoto. Unless the Dodgers didn’t want him, that was where he was going.
  4. Rcal10
    Why does signing King not come with losing a pick? And Cubs have given up a pick before. When they signed Swanson, I believe they lost a pick. But they got one back from Contreras. Which they will do when Tucker gets signed. I don’t think THIS YEAR losing a pick will matter.
  5. Rcal10
    I agree. Just don’t see even a narrow path they can walk to make it work. Players would need earlier free agency, more money early in a contract and the ceiling and floor would have to not be so far apart that small market teams wouldn’t spend. Of course, if that happens the small market teams won’t go for that deal. Really it is two sets of negotiations going on. Owners with owners (and then if that does actually happen, which I highly doubt) owners with players. Don’t see it happening. TBH I don’t see owners even agreeing to it. As soon as the small market owners put a ceiling in I am sure the higher spending teams will put a floor in. That is where the idea will stop.
  6. Rcal10
    I saw that. Happy to be wrong. 😬
  7. Rcal10
    I think the scenerio that will play out here is Cuzi’s. I don’t see a salary cap coming. And I also agree that if it did come the teams over would be grandfathered in. I doubt they have to get to that number. Maybe they can’t add anyone until they get under, or maybe they lose draft picks too. But they won’t be forced to get rid of guys to get under, even if it did happen(which I doubt it does). Players will hate it. So what do they get to agree to it? Free agency after 4 years? And even if that is the case, who is spending if the cap is too low. With a cap has to be a floor. Which means some owners won’t like it for the cap and some for the floor. Just see way too many obstacles for a cap. Personally I think Ricketts knows there won’t be a cap. He is just using this as a reason not to spend money or sign long term contracts.
  8. Rcal10
    Lamar is going to play.
  9. Rcal10
    Again, I think you are overstating what the Phillies would want for Bohm. He just isn’t that good to get much. And IMO they know that. But, if you are right and they do expect a solid return, I agree with you that the Cubs won’t give it to them. But I will also go one step farther. They won’t trade him. He just won’t bring much back.
  10. Rcal10
    Bohm isn’t getting Brown on his own, let alone having to take Castellanos, let alone adding another prospect. Come on! I think you are grossly overvaluing Bohm. He has one year left on his contract too. Think about this from the Cubs POV. Do they want Bohm and Castellanos plus their salaries and losing Brown and a prospect, or would they be better off with something like Andujar and Hays as free agents for less salary and not lose any players. I wouldn’t even do Bohm for Brown straight up. Again, rather have Andujar and keep Brown. If Bohm is cheap, fine. If not, hard pass.
  11. Rcal10
    Makes sense, but really hard to get too excited about Bohm. Have to be a trade where the Cubs basically trade a guy they have no intention of even having on their major league roster. Bohm is just not very good. I know threading the needle it could work with Bohm. Just had/have higher hopes.
  12. Rcal10
    If Alonso would agree to DH, mainly, and we can get him for 4 years, he would be the most appealing to me of the big bat signings. But I generally agree with you that there isn’t much. Maybe they just go with a right handed bat who hits lefties well to platoon with whichever prospect they bring up for the every day line up (Cassie or Ballasteros). There are a good number of right handed bats that hit lefties. (NOT TOMMY PHAM). Laureano, Hays and Andujar to name a few.
  13. Rcal10
    I think Shaw will be a fine hitter and solid 3rd baseman. But he wouldn’t stop me from wanting Bregman or Bichette to play 3rd next year if Shaw (+) can be used in a deal for a TOR or at least very solid MOR controlled young”ish” pitcher. If not, I am perfectly fine with him at 3rd next year and do expect a + bat from him. I could see a 20/20 guy out of him.
  14. Rcal10
    If he is a bench bat I doubt the Cubs are interested in him. My guess is he will get too much money to be a bench bat on the Cubs.
  15. Rcal10
    Does he? Or is it the other 3rd baseman being posted? I just looked up his numbers. In 314 PA he struck out 36 times and walked 34 times. His K rate is not alarming. He still might not be what they want, but not because he strikes out too much.
  16. Rcal10
    Ranking the outfield is kind of difficult. Is the ranking based on them versus other outfielders or is it based on what is expected of them. I mean Happ, Suzuki and Tucker are all better than the average starting outfielders in baseball. So they should all be better than a C, which is considered average. Now if you are ranking them based on what you expected of them, I would agree with a C for all of them. Their numbers, when healthy, were pretty much in line with what was expected. As for PCA, if you take his entire season and his season WAR I don’t see how he doesn’t get an A. For that matter, even if you based his season on what was expected of him, he should still get an A. I mean, did anyone expect 30/30? Did anyone expect. WAR over 5? Yes, he fell off, but the grade is on the total end of year numbers. That has to be an A.!
  17. Rcal10
    I used to love the tops baseball cards. I just bought the latest season for my grandson. It was actually funny when his birthday came and I had to tell him I had a gift I was giving him but I couldn’t get it yet. His birthday is in July. The entire set of the season came out in August. Anyway, I told him I was giving him something I loved getting when I was a kid. He looked at me strange as if to say “is there anything back when I was a kid that a kid today would love”. He didn’t say that but I am sure he thought it. And in a sense I understand that mentality from a 9 year old. However I will be happy to tell you he loved the gift and now has a giant book of cards with all the players. Nie his younger brother wants a set too. Topps cards are a timeless gift across all generations.
  18. Rcal10
    Oh, I am sure Wilson will be second guessed and blamed. It is what happens to managers when the make a move that didn’t work. And the announcers were also speculating on why he didn’t go to Munez at that time. It was only the 7th but it was a high pressure situation. They suggested you put your best pitcher in there. If they were suggesting it I am sure fans will be blaming Wilson for not doing it.
  19. Rcal10
    But the point is Pham is a terrible example. He is 38 and had a terrible year against left handed pitching. Him or anyone like him (a right handed bat that can’t hit lefties) would be a terrible signing.
  20. Rcal10
    Any of those would be fine. But can any play 1st base? I do think Busch should get more AB against lefties next year, but still good to have someone for maybe a few tough lefties. Andujar makes a little sense as a bench bat too. He can play 3rd, first or the outfield as well as DH. Guess I missed that Cassie vibe. But if that is true he will probably be traded anyway. Maybe him + for a young pitcher.
  21. Rcal10
    Come on chibear, they aren’t signing Tommy fricken Pham. He sucks, is going to be 38 and is a miserable human being. He was awful against left handed pitching last year. I assume you suggest signing him to platoon. But maybe look at his numbers before repeatedly suggesting him. Him or anyone comparable to him sucks and is wasted money. All the fans that complained regularly about Justin Turner getting AB against left handed pitching, should lose their minds over the idea of signing Tommy Fricken Pham. At least Turner was a great person and teammate and actually hit lefties ok last year. I also highly doubt they trade Suzuki at the deadline. I believe they will be good again next year so he isn’t going to be traded. Besides that there is that NTC that you fail to acknowledge every time you suggest he will be traded. In the post above, I am referring to, you said you expect 90 wins. So why even discuss trading Seiya?
  22. Rcal10
    Basically this says it all. And, tbh, this goes for most organizations in all sports.
  23. Rcal10
    Your trade idea sounds like Mitch Keller to me. I can see that and maybe Bieber, Woodruff or a Japanese pitcher added. Let Imanaga walk and trade Tailon. That would leave a large chuck of money for the pen and a bat. Maybe a right handed bat who can play 1st base off the bench. Someone who hits lefties well. Maybe Andujar? So if there is a big FA spend it would be in the pen.
  24. Rcal10
    What happened the end of the season for you to suggest you don’t feel the cubs plan on either Cassie, Alcantara or Ballesteros taken over a spot in the every day line up. I mean, they may not, but I didn’t see anything to suggest that. Alcantara was actually injured and is having surgery this off season, Cassie had a concussion and when Tucker was out Ballesteros was in the middle of the line up. To me, nothing points to them not trusting those guys to take the spot. To me, the the bigger question is “would putting them there be the right move”? I am not sure it is But I do not feel the Cubs did anything to suggest one way or the other, where they were going. And, if anything, I feel Ballesteros in the middle of the line up was a sign they do believe in his bat.
  25. Rcal10
    His slugging was pretty much stable with a batting average down about 40 points from his previous years. As Jason pointed out he hit the ball much harder this year. I don’t get your line of thinking that he won’t hit 30 homers again. If he gets his average back up to the .280 mark his slugging would probably be .500 and he would most likely hit over 30 homers. Why would it surprise you if he didn’t? Do you think knee will only hit .240 again?
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