Bull

Read it again. I don't think there's any chance he is there by opening day, but with the injury history of this bullpen you have to have so many options that on paper you open spring training with Edwards off the 25 man. To put it another way, I don't think theres any way that all four of Rondon, Strop, Davis and Duensing are on the opening day roster.

But Duensing is nothing to hang your hat on and that 2nd LHP is a big question. So I see 5 solid spots, three of them being injury concerns that may need the occasional preventive 10 day DL stint, plus these guys are not afraid of an 8 man pen. I think you want to go into spring training with Edwards and Zastryzny slotted for Iowa, fully expecting one or both to be on the ML roster (25 or 26?) by April 1. Too much potential for injury there. I think adding either another starter or another lefty 'pen arm is a must.

those neon lights scream vegas stip club for bryce.

If Contreras is in LF, that means Montero is behind the plate vs a tough lefty? No thanks. I don't think it will be a straight platoon. Among lefties you might sit against a tough lefty, (i.e., sans rizzo) you have Schwarber, Jay, Heyward and Montero. To replace them you have one of Javy/Zobrist, Almora, Szczur, and Contreras. I'm guessing that 2 of Schwarber, Jay and Heyward stay in the lineup vs. lefties. Soler will be missed. Assuming they don't carry a 3rd catcher. I think Schwarber is your emergency third catcher.

I'm not really sure I want to see the Cubs use Schwarber as a straight platoon. I'd like to see him become an everyday player. Given that he will likely sit a lot versus lefties, I'd probably still rather see Contreras or Zobrist out there ahead of Soler. The Cubs can time their behind the plate rest days for Contreras for an upcoming lefty matchup where he can play LF. If Contreras is in LF, that means Montero is behind the plate vs a tough lefty? No thanks. I don't think it will be a straight platoon. Among lefties you might sit against a tough lefty, (i.e., sans rizzo) you have Schwarber, Jay, Heyward and Montero. To replace them you have one of Javy/Zobrist, Almora, Szczur, and Contreras. I'm guessing that 2 of Schwarber, Jay and Heyward stay in the lineup vs. lefties. Soler will be missed.

The system is not very good at the moment. I'm more than fine with keeping Javy and getting a different pitcher, but if you want someone of Quintana's caliber there's very likely only one way to get there, and that's by trading Baez. And now is the time to trade him. Jay's value has never been higher, thanks to the attention he received during the playoffs. I also doubt it goes up from here.

I predict down years for all involved. After all, it's bad luck to change your sox in baseball. :hello:

What organization currently has 4 "can't miss" prospects based on JR's definition of one? Not sure it was a definition, as much as a valid point followed by hyperbole.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/war-and-relievers/ does anyone know if the information in the link above has changed? Is each at bat in a save situation 80% more important than average? If 1 war is worth $8MM, and Kenley Jansen is 3.2 WIN pitcher, is Jansen worth as much as a 6.4 win player? If a 1 war is worth 8MM is a 1 win pitcher worth 8MM and 6 war player worth $48MM AAV? As a players WAR increase does value/war decrease? Shouldn't it be the other way around, since you're getting more out of each position?

#herefortheopium

I don't want to bump the TV thread and get people all excited, but can someone point me to a synopsis of several things affecting payroll: 1. Where does the TV deal/starting their own network thing stand? Do we still expect that to significantly affect payroll? 2. Where does the video board revenue stand? Is it estimated that they have paid for themselves yet? Are they financing the renovations? How long until we expect that revenue to influence payroll? 3. What's the latest estimation on the cost of the renovations? I've lost track of some of this stuff over the last few months. Distracted by a freaking world series win.

It could also mean that we intend on going with Javy as primary 2B, Zobrist in RF, Heyward in CF, Schwarbs in LF with Almora and Soler as bench. Or the return of the Javy in center experiment. Also, meh.

This sounds ridiculous, but I think its true.

Same way we got Warren for Castro. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Superfluous asset (v-bach is a fatter Schwarber, Castro an uglier Baez) for pitching potential. In his dreams. Cool. My point was that he was expendable. I think you made it for me.

Very slick under the radar move. It will ease the blow a bit when Gleyber becomes a star. Same way we got Warren for Castro. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Superfluous asset (v-bach is a fatter Schwarber, Castro an uglier Baez) for pitching potential.

[expletive], I forgot he bizarrely tried to flip it and say people were making fun of him for being Baha'i instead of an idiot who doesn't understand cable, money, landlords, roommates, dressing himself and freezing food. I had never read this. (I don't venture outside of the Baseball forums much) wow. Never free the Bum. Never.

^^^^ Was peeing during game 7 HR

I have to echo the sentiments of another poster who noted a sense of loss. I wouldn't say mine is a sense of loss as much as a sense of completion, or closure. I've been a fan sense age 6 in 1982. Became a big fan in '84. As a latchkey kid in the late '80, I was the kid playing ball alone in the Nike commercial and Harry and Steve kept me company. I collected baseball cards and knew every Cubs stat. This board and the Cubs.com board before it introduced me to advanced statistics and I learned to predict and project. There was more understanding to my hope. I followed sammy in 1998 while in college. I had my heart broken as an expecting father in 2003. I caught my big break professionally in 2008 and the Cubs were there. Always hoping and dreaming that "someday" or "next year". When Theo came, the countdown to the end of all things began. and I followed these kids (I'm grandpa Rossy's age) through the minors, and knew this day was no longer a dream, but an inevitability. I have digested this message board daily for 13 years. And now it seems so "done". Like the last chapter of a good book. Turn the page and sad that its over, already missing the characters, wanting to return to the setting. But its not really sad, its more Satisfying. a sense of completion and accomplishment.You can read it again, but its not the same. I've read LOTR a dozen times, and every time there's something new, but its never quite as magical, as spiritual, as the first reading. And I'll read it again, and whatever sequels come out as a quaint homage to the original. But the main story will be kept with me forever as I close the book. Its the story of a lifetime. and I'll miss it. I'm 40, but this ends my childhood. In the best way ever. I'm not sad. I'm satisfied. I'll never stop being a Cubs fan, but from now on it will be something I did, not who I am. Longest binge watch ever. I hope that makes sense.

I am posting in the Cubs World Series Championship game 7 thread, for anyone who was wondering! So happy, but sad this amazing season is over.

Do better next time. And Shortstops. Why can't they make the whole team out of catchers and shortstops? Didn't hendry do that once?

Pretty sure that's photoshopped. That's what ramblingrimace does. Don't even care. I needed to see it to believe. I was violently sick last night. Picture me vomiting so profusely that I burst a blood vessel in my nose. Now I'm puking bleeding into the toilet exhausted from this stomach bug but cheering for the Cubs while my wife screams updates through the house. Worth it.

This is noteworthy. Its felt like they've struggled, but they've actually been just as good as the regular season. Thanks for this.

Welcome back! This is a lot different team than you and I saw in 2008 in Washington. I think this team has it. The one time I actually met people from this board in real life. I met up with you one game and Brionch the other. You are both certainly missed around here.

When you mix up 2008 and 2015 in your mind. Mets, whatever. Just as painful. I knew it was one of those stupid New York teams.