I almost wanted to leave that Padres recap up as a reminder that we ever thought this Cubs team might be good (dying laughing). With Anthony Rizzo being the first of the big ticket guys to be traded, I guess we should put up a new post.
The worst part of the Cubs window finally slamming shut is that I’m going to have to pretend to care about the minor leagues again (dying laughing).
So far, the Cubs have traded:
- Joc Pederson to the Barves for 23 yo high A 1B Bryce Ball (12th in Barves system)
- Andrew Chafin to the A’s for AAA OF Greg Deichmann (9th in A’s system) and A-ball P Daniel Palencia (12th in A’s system). Deichmann is a power hitter who is probably MLB ready. Palencia was an international signing from 2020.
- Ryan Tepera to the White Sox for A-ball pitcher Bailey Horn. Horn was a third round pick for the Sox last year. He’s not super high ranked due to command issues but has a solid background.
- Anthony Rizzo to the Yankees for A-ball OF Kevin Alcantara and A-ball SP Alexander Vizcaino, who are 7th and 11th respectively in a pretty good Yankees system. The Cubs are paying the rest of Rizzo’s salary for the year, which likely helped with the return on just a half season. Bonus to Rizzo, he can’t be given a qualifying offer this offseason.
I would be shocked if one of, if not both, of Craig Kimbrel and Kris Bryant aren’t moved by the deadline tomorrow…and I’ll update the post at some point if so.
It’s a bummer to see Rizzo to go, and I still wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up back with the Cubs next year. He’s been the public face of the franchise for some time and does a ton of community work. Here’s hopin’.
UPDATE
The Cubs kept busy right up to the trade deadline, and have now moved pretty much every position player or reliever of note.
- Craig Kimbrel went to the White Sox in exchange for 2B Nick Madrigal and RHP Codi Heuer. Both guys have big league experience, which is a change from some of the other returns. Madrigal is an extreme contact hitter, but is out for the rest of 2021 with a torn harmstring. Heuer looks like he might be a solid reliever, and has many years of team control. He was pretty good as a rookie in 2020.
- Kris Bryant went to the Giants in exchange for two kind of meh guys in OF Alexander Canario and P Caleb Kilian who are in the high-A to AA range. Looks like their ceiling might be league average player / back end starter, which isn’t nothing I guess.
- Javier Baez and Trevor Williams went to the Mets in exchange for the Mets first round pick last year, OF 19 yo Pete Crow-Armstrong. It sounds like he’s a solid defender who could be playing CF in the bigs right now if his bat didn’t have to catch up to his glove.
- Jake Marisnick went to the Padres in exchange for RHP Anderson Espinoza. Not a lot of details out there on the guy, but he has a weird 5 year gap on his B-ref page between A ball in 2016 and high-A ball in 2021.
Right now at best guess, the massively depleted Cubs starting roster probably looks like
- C Willson Contreras
- 1B Patrick Wisdom
- 2B David Bote
- SS Sergio Alcantara
- 3B Matt Duffy
- LF Ian Happ
- CF Rafael Ortega
- RF Jason Heyward
- SP Cyle Hendricks
- SP Zach Davies
- SP Adbert Alzolay
- SP Alec Mills
- SP The Shambling Remains of Jake Arrieta
- CL Rex Brothers?
Comments
I’d trade Baez too.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’m happy the Cubs seem to have gotten a good return, but it feels weird to see Rizzo traded. Even knowing the window had closed already, it makes it feel final and real in a way that it hadn’t before.
PerkinsQuote Reply
dmick89,
Man, I can’t take that. He’s too goddamn fun to watch. A lot of the time.
andcountingQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’d assume the acquisition of Madrigal indicates the Cubs don’t expect to retain Javy, but maybe they’d still try to and move Hoerner to another position.
And as I say that, it looks like Javy——>NYM
PerkinsQuote Reply
It will be kind of funny if the Cubs end up trading everyone *other* than Kris Bryant (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
See you bastards on the other side. (dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
They actually did a fire sale.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Did they get anyone that’s actually good? It seems more like there’s a few who might be good if everything goes well, but they probably won’t be.
dmick89Quote Reply
The worst part is they traded all these guys and didn’t even get someone I have to watch daily in the minors in return. In a few years I’ll be like, “oh, this is the backup outfielder they got for Kris Bryant.”
dmick89Quote Reply
seems like rizzo got the best return, which i definitely did not see coming on multiple levels…
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
dmick89,
It seems like they went for a mix of upside and MLB-ready. Madrigal and Heuer seem like a good return for Kimbrel, but I’m not sure about the rest.
The guy they got for Javy was the Mets’ top pick in last year’s draft, and is supposed to be good.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I didn’t expect the Cubs to trade both of Javy and Rizzo. I thought one would stick around as kind of the veteran presence for the offense. I’d have traded both, but it’s the kind of thing teams do for dumb reasons sometimes. Considering they dealt both Bryant and Baez, along with Kimbrel, I just don’t think the Cubs got back the kind of talent I was hoping to see. I’d trade everyone they got the last couple days for a legitimate top prospect in baseball. This was more about quantity than quality and maybe that will work. It’s a hell of a lot less exciting though.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Agreed, but think even more so than usual teams are super-wary of doing Torres-for-Chapman deals at midseason. Only reason Torres for Chapman happened to begin with was because of 108 years.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Post updated
berseliusQuote Reply
Hmm, looks like Espinoza (who they got in exchange for Marisnick) was a former top 20 prospect, who missed all that time due to multiple TJS’s.
berseliusQuote Reply
Only surprise left was that Jed didn’t manage to ship out Zach Davies as well (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
Lester ——> Urinals, who are 10 games out of first and 7.5 back of the Padres for a WC spot.
wut
berseliusQuote Reply
Ortega. Yay.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Arietta isn’t as bad at throwing to first as Jon Lester, but he’s quite bad.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m going to be very interested to hear all the things about the Cubs clubhouse this year that will inevitably leak out. I’m still kind of shell shocked and floored at how abruptly and unceremoniously this era ended.
The writing has been on the wall for close to a month, but I’m still really surprised that Baez and Rizzo were dealt. Even in a season that was plainly going to be a roll of the dice with the core on its last ride, I’d expected those two to remain to the end, and at least one of them to re-sign. It’s wild to think that just five weeks ago the Cubs were clearly buyers, and now a third of the active roster has been traded away.
We’ll always have 2016 (and 2015 was fun as hell too), but it’s hard to shake the feeling this group should have been so much more, and it’s sad to see their time together end with a whimper.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Rizzo ————> first Yankees home run
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
So what’s best case scenario here? Madrigal improving and the Cubs trading him next summer for a couple of high ranking prospects? I’m really failing to see the upside in all of this because Madrigal looks like peak Theriot to me at best. How many of those guys do you need on one roster? One wasn’t enough? Was Hoerner getting lonely?
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
They’re going to be chasing the ghost of Ben Zobrist for a while, I think.
berseliusQuote Reply
davies is like the third-best player on the team now
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
fuck…I was hoping I was the only one that was thinking that madrigal looks like theriot on a good day
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
I’m ok with good-day Theriot if we don’t have to worry about the one we’d see the other five or six days of the week.
andcountingQuote Reply
Madrigal has fairly extreme contact skills, and is likely to hit for a high average. He’s the type pf player I’d be more excited about if the Cubs still had Rizzo, Baez, and Bryant in that he’d balance out and complement their tendencies.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
this concept of “balance” intrigues me…I was thinking that the goal was to just stock the team with the same type of player, and then assume that their assets would be multiplicative and their deficiencies would all just cancel each other out somehow
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
I don’t disagree but what was the alternative? Just hang onto everyone for one last goodbye tour, and then everyone goes their separate ways with the cubs getting nothing in return?
selling off just a few pieces doesn’t make any sense and oit is blatantly obvious that the FO was not gonna spend the money to add the necessary pieces and/or re-sign the core. so even though the return was pretty disappointing, i’m not sure that there was a better outcome (other than getting an ownership group that would rather spend baseball profits on baseball instead of white supremacist politicians).
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Seems like part of the Cubs problem the last few years has been depth. There was the core and then…….. Ian Happ? I think a lot of that led to the TTO approach that became even more apparent in the last 2 yr.
On the field, I’m most sorry to see KB go. I know that with Boras they were never going to extend him. If Lindor can convince Baez to be 15% more selective with his swings, then the Mets will have something. I assume Javy was asking >$20M/yr and though I love his D and his elan, that’s too much. In 6 years, I think we are going to be happy we got Rizzo’s best and he left still above average and we didn’t have to watch a precipitous decline a la Pujols. (Or Sosa). Yankee stadium will be good for Rizzo’s swing. Extending either Baez or Rizzo for $15M/yr seems justified based on performance and aging curves, but clearly less than they wanted. Cubs did the core solid by trading them to contenders and letting them be FAs without draft pick losses weighing them down.
If CrowArmstrong turns into something good, and Brennan Davis does too, and Amaya comes up and transitions in, that’s a good start. Cubs will have about $150 million trillion to sign people. I know Ifs on prospects is kind of a fools errand, but you have to start somewhere.
The alternative–keeping these guys thru the season, would have netted three comp picks. I don’t see that being any more valuable than what we got, and also farther away from success. Keeping the core is the Rockies MO. What do they gain by holding Jon Gray and Trevor Story? Maybe 5 more wins in a losing season this year. Maybe.
This is Willson Contreras’s and Kyle Hendricks’s team now. I’m 100% behind that. Willson’s fire and Kyle’s balance seem pretty damn perfect to build around. And if Willson wants to stay a Cub, it’s time for him to extend.
BVSQuote Reply
Postscripts. I think Madrigal is a great get, assuming he returns from injury well. Would be nice to have a couple players (w Nico) that have an OBP>.300. You can’t score crooked numbers with no one on base.
Wow. Our bullpen really sucks now. If Brothers is the closer… Oh no! Maybe the 100mph guy they just called up.
BVSQuote Reply
Jordan Nwogu
Cubs’ve cornered the market on Nigerian/Canadian/BigTen prospects.
Seriously though. I think this kid is awesome.
BVSQuote Reply
yeah and the next few FA classes are supposed to be pretty amazing I think right? (too lazy to look it up…)
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Looking at the upcoming class, a lot of bigger names out there than usual, although quite a few of them are on the wrong side of 30.
But if the Cubs are serious about returning to contention sooner rather than later, then they should be in on guys like Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, Robbie Ray (assuming his breakout this year is for reals), Carlos Rodon, Kevin Gausman, maybe Jon Gray, and perhaps a Syndergaard reclamation.
If they’re really serious about a quick bounceback, then they should also probably entertain bringing in this Chris Brian fellow, who looks like a pretty good player from what I can tell.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
With a new union contract, DH, and payroll flexibility, Cubs have positioned themselves well. I think Hoyer is up to job. Not sure Ricketts are, but we’ll see.
BVSQuote Reply
Fixed
berseliusQuote Reply
I’m not making the argument the Cubs should have held onto these pieces. It probably came off that way. I’ve been expecting these guys were gone for awhile. I just think the Cubs should have pulled the trigger earlier and increased their return. I’d have traded all of these guys shortly after the 2019 season.
dmick89Quote Reply
Contreras kind of hinted at some shit awhile back when he went off on how some of the team was playing.
dmick89Quote Reply
I know this isn’t David Ross’ fault, but does anyone else think he’ll get fired after this season?
dmick89Quote Reply
I’m betting at least part of the underlying tension has been between the players who got vaccinated and the dipshits like Rizzo and Arrieta.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Yeah, that’s probably a good point. That likely highlighted larger issues between players. Speaking of Arrieta, what the hell is he still doing around? The Cubs would literally be better off with someone from AA pitching. Either the pitcher develops into something or he helps the Cubs lose a bunch of games, which would be a good thing. Arrieta’s worthless unvaccinated ass is just a waste of space in the dugouts and on flights.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
Wonder how much closer they are to 85% vax now. Iirc, they were 8 players away. What I saw was Rizzo, Heyward, Bote, Arrieta, Sogard and relievers not sure who. Bryant and Baez both said publicly they were vaxxed.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
Maybe they let him pitch 3 games to show if he has any effectiveness, then dfa him. If he shows something, another team can pick him up as depth.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
Hendricks and Contreras also publicly said they were vaxxed. Hendricks seems pretty low key, but I wouldn’t be surprised if vaccine sentiments contributed to that dust-up between Willson and Rizzo.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I’ll be surprised if more of that doesn’t happen in the near future. Vaccinated people are fucking pissed off at unvaccinated people right now and deservedly so. There’s no way that’s not going to have an impact and Rizzo being a dumbfuck about vaccinations isn’t going to help him on a new team either.
dmick89Quote Reply
I find it laughable that the Yankees enforce a facial hair ban, but apparently don’t care about players putting other players at medical risk.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’ve definitely reached the point where I’d root for the virus to run through and kill off a bunch of the dipshits choosing not to get vaccinated. The problem, as with biological warfare, is that it’s impossible to control the effects once someone is infected, so a bunch of kids under 12 (including my own) are at risk.
I understand why they can’t deny medical care, but it seems a shame hospitals are wasting beds on people who’ve been able to get vaccinated for months.
PerkinsQuote Reply
If Rizzo keeps hitting home runs that will make up for being a stupid motherfucker.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
I know what you mean.
dmick89Quote Reply
Baez bomb.
dmick89Quote Reply
I don’t think Rex Brothers is very good.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Doesn’t seem to be the closer…
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
Oh shit heyward and bote are both anti-vaxxers?? That’s a bummer….I guess I don’t really give a shit at this point but heyward seemed like a reasonably-put-together dude.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
big, if true
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Heyward gave a dumbass reason when asked, but I wonder if part of it has more to do with being black and from the south. Beyond the Tuskeegee experiments, black Americans have been given a lot of good reasons to distrust the healthcare system.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t offer that as a reason because a lot of Cubs fans are kinda racist and he’d be sure to deal with worse backlash than our calling him an idiot.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I don’t think so since this scenario is exactly what the front office wanted this season.
andcountingQuote Reply
KBoom.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
andcounting,
Yeah, but it might also be an opportunity to reevaluate. I don’t think any job is safe except for Hoyer. He’ll get this attempt to rebuild so he’s safe for a few years. Other than that, I wouldn’t be buying a house if I worked for the Cubs.
dmick89Quote Reply
Oh hey, glad you guys didn’t delete me haha. Been a stupid couple of years since I moved away from Chicago.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I obviously have not read every comment, but I assume everyone here is annoyed with the events of the past few days, not to mention since like 2017 after the NLCS.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
maybe i am the outlier but i was pretty happy with the events of the past few days. if you take it as a given that ownership fucking sucks, then the FO did the best they could with a shitty situation. i would have been much more pissed off if they didn’t sell every piece that could bring value.
to be very clear, i would rather have seen everyone get signed to reasonable extensions, but that did not seem to be an option. so i think the FO did the next best thing and i think that the returns were pretty good.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
BN brett says it better than me: “Obviously the balance for fans is questioning whether the total sell-off was the right move at all, but I certainly get myself to a place where I believe the Cubs did quite well in their returns in a world where a sell-off was definitely coming.”
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
OV didn’t delete me either and I’ve recently meandered back here too. Apparently B and dmick don’t purge users like Kobach does voters…
I’m disappointed about seeing these guys go without more success, especially because they all seem to be good guys and easy to root for.
However one of my 1st comments after wandering back was how tired I was watching Rizzo kill rallies GIDP to 2nd, and Javy K’ing on a ball 3 ft out of zone low and away. I’d rather they leave now while most of memories are good, than watch a precipitous decline and be annoyed at how overpriced they became.
5/74 seems quite fair for a 32 yr old 1b in decline. That Rizzo didn’t counter (acc to Hoyer) seems nuts to me.
BVSQuote Reply
That Hoyer is stooping to air ticky-tack contract crap out now after all is said and done seems far and away nuttier than any of his claims.
I know good PR and good player development don’t necessarily coincide, but unless there’s some sort of upside here I’m not seeing, Hoyer rolling the bus over three indispensable members of the team that killed 108 years doesn’t speak well for his ability to see this organization back to the top of the mountain.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
what is a Frank Schwindel
berseliusQuote Reply
It’s like your cable or cell phone contract. The company knows its giving you a bad deal,and so do you, but you sign up anyway.
Also like being a Cub fan.
BVSQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Agree. Simply saying “we made good offers that I can sleep with at night, but it didn’t work out” would have been fine/better.
Apparently he walked some of it back today, but I only read the headline.
BVSQuote Reply
I assume most feel that the Cubs should have supplemented this core instead of waiting for it all to fall apart.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Something like 20 or so other teams are basically subject to the same voluntary parameters as the Cubs with respect to budget, extensions, service time, and all that stuff. So my guess is that Hoyer knows he needs to be a McMillan Man if he wants to move on to his next gig, assuming this one wears thin.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
That’s certainly my opinion, though I’d add that the sowing took place a couple of years ago and we’ve just now witnessed the reaping.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Javy is still doing things.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
He also had a platinum sombrero last night, so that cuts both ways.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Like any marriage, you take the good with the bad…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
What the hell.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I see (dying laughing) still works
Rice CubeQuote Reply
It was a nice comeback while it lasted.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Anthony Rizzo——>Covid 19
This is my surprised face.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
How many people did he infect? I don’t have any sympathy for these people who refuse to get vaccinated, but it sucks for everyone around him that did their part only for dumbasses like him to fuck it all up for everyone else.
Whatever goodwill Anthony Rizzo had with me prior to last season for his tenure as a Cub is gone. Fuck him and everyone like him.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
That’s more or less my philosophy on everyone who’s voluntarily unvaccinated at this point. They’re holding the rest of us hostage to their selfishness and stupidity.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Lots of businesses are moving towards requiring vaccinations to remain employed, so at some point they’ll get it or feel it in their wallets instead of just their arms.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Not where I live (South Carolina). 🙁
BVSQuote Reply
cubs suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck
SKQuote Reply
Even if they’re planning a rapid retooling like the Yankees from 2016-17, it’s nice the Cubs have committed to a high draft pick in 2022.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
It will probably help assuming there are no Hayden Simpson types to pick.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
you’re only saying that because the players are super shitty and ownership is clearly not willing to spend money on a good product and the FO just showed itself to be a spineless tool of the aforementioned shitty ownership. so there’s not really much support for your statement.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
cubs may be down by 7 runs in the first inning but don’t forget that they’ve got greg “the secret weapon” deichmann in the lineup
no lead is safe from the secret weapon
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
I feel like this might be Arrieta’s final start.
PerkinsQuote Reply
You don’t believe the 6 man rotation statements?
(dying laughing)
BVSQuote Reply
He’s no Shawn Camp my frent.
berseliusQuote Reply
An outing like this was just what the FO was hoping for at this point.
berseliusQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
People can hear me perfectly fine with my mask on so I don’t know what his deal is.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Unless folks around here don’t care about the Cubs anymore, maybe it is time to get Josh out of hibernation and bring back the Hope Monster.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
All the transactions!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
It was apparently so hot out that someone had to bring water to Marcus Stroman on the mound. Global warming is a bitch.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Arrieta suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks
SKQuote Reply
SK,
It seems poor Kyle got the Arrieta bug too
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
I can’t argue with me today
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
It would be hilarious if they announced tomorrow that they’d met the 85% vax threshhold. They have to be pretty close now, I’d think, depending on the status of the nonames that populate the roster now.
BVSQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
I realize this is a “who cares” decision, but it seemed to me that Kyle Ryan was marginally better than Trevor Megill…
BVSQuote Reply
at least he went out on top
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
BVS,
I was talking about the other Kyle, but I suppose the argument is that Rex Brothers can suck just as well and at least Rex can throw 95+ (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
I’m starting to think this team might be bad.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Been a real trip down memory lane this week
berseliusQuote Reply
Whatthehellwasthat.gif
PerkinsQuote Reply
This team reminds me a lot of the 2013 Cubs now, when I got to give my daughter one of her early lessons about being a Cub fan.
4th game of year, in Atlanta at Turner. Top 3rd. Brent Lillibridge of wifebeater shirt fame bats. Kid says, “Daddy, is he any good?” “No honey.” He hit a long fly to the outfield. “But he hit it far.” “Yes, but hitting it far doesn’t matter when they catch it. He’s out.” Next batter, Alberto Gonzalez. “Is he any good, Daddy?” “No.” Hits a double. “But he got a hit!” “Even bad players surprise you sometimes, it won’t last.”
Lost 4-1 that night. Kimbrel got the save.
Lillibridge played 9 games for the Cubs. Gonzalez 11. Both picked up later by the Yanks at separate times and still sucked. Neither appeared in majors after ’13. Neither did 10-11 of their teammates. Aside from Rizzo, the only other players who are still in the bigs are Dolis, Raley, and Rosscup.
BVSQuote Reply
haha holy shit, is this true? kind of amazing.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
kyle ryan vs trevor megill is such a fantastically worthless argument. I love it. reminds me of when I witnessed two incredibly stoned friends have a sincere debate over leprechan 3 vs leprechan 4 for like a solid half hour.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
I think technically also Starlin Castro, but he’s on the restricted list at the moment.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Particularly since Rice Cube was referring to Hendricks getting bombed and I was referring to Ryan getting dfa. (dying laughing)
But this is the state of the Cubs team now. Soon we’ll be debating Mike Olt again.
(dying laughing)
Sob
(dying laughing)
BVSQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Perkins,
If you had Rafael Dolis is still playing MLB in 2021 on your 2013 betting sheet, I’m sure the bookie was
BVSQuote Reply
BVS:
EnricoPallazzo,
Perkins,
If you had Rafael Dolis is still playing MLB in 2021 on your 2013 betting sheet, I’m sure the bookie was
… (Insert appropriate gif here)
BVSQuote Reply
Jake Arrieta –> Padres
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing) x 17
Rice CubeQuote Reply
They could’ve gotten Zach Davies in a takey-backsies trade, at least Davies will wait until the 5th inning before giving up 7 runs
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Padres sign Arrieta.
Meanwhile in quieter but likely more effective transactions, the Brewers signed Colin Rea out of Japan (via whatever list you end up on when your baby is born early, but is apparently doing ok now).
AJ Preller… Smh.
BVSQuote Reply
Hard to imagine a team thinking Arrieta is an acceptable replacement for Darvish.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Apparently there’s a pandemic of that opinion in MLB. Except Jake doesn’t think it’s real.
BVSQuote Reply
Remember when the Cubs had just thrown a no-hitter, were in first place, and looked like contenders?
That was fun.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
It’s so funny, they had this amazing run where they simply wouldn’t lose if they were ahead by the 6th inning. Then they just . . . stopped ever being ahead at all.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
It’s been kind of mindboggling to me how systemic the failure of the Cubs is. It’s like the coaches didn’t know how to coach or the players refused to adjust as a unit rather than individually so the offensive issues were multiplied and nobody on the pitching staff wanted to throw strikes. Maybe that’s mostly anecdotal on my part, but it’s what I perceived.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
I just look at it like, the starting rotation is so bad. All you really need is a decent five-inning start and you probably win but they’re literally lucky to get that once a week.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
My thing was that even before the sell-off, the players that we knew should be talented were just doing all the bad stuff and that is a reflection of some systemic failure. They can’t suck THAT bad, right?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
I’m saying every other flaw on the team looked worse because the starting pitching is that bad. Cubs starters are averaging 4.9 innings per game, which is .2 below league average. They averaged 4.1 innings during the first double-digit losing streak. Their starters’ average game score is tied with the Pirates for worst in the NL. The starting rotation is absolute trash, and they had their worst stretch when the Cubs tanked. After gutting the bullpen there is just no hope. The offense did not have a colossal collapse, but the pitching staff did.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
The pitching staff was a direct result of the front office (probably due to ownership restrictions) not shoring up the starting rotation like they could have. So I absolutely blame the people in charge for being directly responsible for killing the team before its time.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Agreed. My point is that if ownership hadn’t cried poor (leading to shipping off Darvish) the team wouldn’t have been doomed by design. They made some moves that actually improved the team, but dealing Darvish was definitely not intended even to pretend to be one.
andcountingQuote Reply
It’s unlikely to happen, but it’ll be hilarious if Kyle Hendricks wins 20 games on a 100 loss team.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
He’ll top off at 17 or 18 because some scrub reliever is gonna blow a save.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The Cubs ate their Wheaties today.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
andcounting,
They didn’t just not shore up the staff. Trading Darvish was like pulling an outside block from the bottom row on the first move of a Jenga game.
uncle daveQuote Reply
uncle dave,
The tower fell on the next move, I guess
Rice CubeQuote Reply
It’s Jake Day at Coors…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
I got 13ER. Anyone want to take the over?
PerkinsQuote Reply
TWO-GAME WINNING STREAK, Y’ALL
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Perkins,
It’s 5-4 in bottom of the 4th…so I suppose the under would’ve been the true bet
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The Cubs will never lose again!
berseliusQuote Reply
Padres after Arrieta’s debut
berseliusQuote Reply
Fixed. Dolis just DFAed by the Jays. Rosscup had already been sent back to AAA from his stint as a Covid-relief reliever.
BVSQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Jake’s game last night (3.1 IP, 5ER, 1HR) was in the top half of all his performances since June 1 (11 starts). Padres are on to something.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
As an exercise in masochism, I looked at the White Sox 2013 roster from 2013. They had about the same record as the Cubs and finished last ~30 games behind too.
Still in bigs today:
Marcus Semien
Chris Sale
Avisail Garcia
Leury Garcia
Jose Quintana
And Hector Santiago (80 game suspended list from testosterone violation)
BVSQuote Reply
We always have the Frank Schwindel Era to look forward to as he careens into the Micah Hoffpauir Hall of Fame…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
BVS,
Fuckin’ Quintana, man.
uncle daveQuote Reply
(dying laughing) Cubs are going to get swept by the Royals at home. Good weekend for the reverse standings.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Larry Rothschild (SD) ————> unemployment
I haven’t been overly impressed with Tommy Hottovy, so I wonder if there’s any interest in a reunion.
PerkinsQuote Reply
As the owner of a pair of Larry’s game-worn pants, I support this suggestion. (dying laughing)
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
Wenningtons Gorilla Cock,
Perkins,
I recall one of the original ACB blogs (or it might have been OV by then) talked about how Rothschild was good at the FIP stats (i.e. reducing walks and HR, increasing Ks) but at the same time, even though the current Cubs pitchers are super frustrating in not throwing strikes consistently enough, Hottovy seems to be able to get the most out of them (which is a tallest midget thing at times), so maybe he doesn’t suck that much? I really don’t know as I’m not a pitching expert, just using my lying eyes.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Perkins,
Rice Cube,
Aside from Davies, who is way worse than the mediocre 4th starter I thought he would be, I think this pitching staff has performed at or above expectations all year. I mean, getting a decent 6 weeks out of Arrieta to start the season was a miracle. Trevor Williams was good enough to trade. Mills and Alzolay are pretty much where they were predicted to be. The bullpen is made of reclamation projects. At least Dillon Maples is still in Iowa, so that’s a plus.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
Ha, I thought they released Maples for some reason.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Apparently just on the IL –> https://www.mlb.com/cubs/roster/40-man
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
If only.
I think it’s a long term rehab in Iowa…
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
He’s out of options and this has to be nearing a non-tender situation.
Although I guess if he’s just an auto-renewal and they’re gonna suck next year (ugh), might as well see what they can do…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The Cubs have too many Romines. I’m confused.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I think that’s fair, and he probably should get some credit for Darvish and the mostly serviceable to good bullpen folks. I suppose it’s just that Cubs pitching hasn’t exactly wowed me since 2016.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
The Cubs haven’t really had anyone in the pipeline who was decent in a while, and Hottovy was in charge of the before the big league job fwiw.
berseliusQuote Reply
yes, they have two too many
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
I blame McLeod for the barren pipeline, whether that’s fair or not.
PerkinsQuote Reply
They were exaustin their other options andrew some names out of a hat.
BVSQuote Reply
is this what we’ve come to
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/1431339935513071616
Let’s just say I’ll be pleasantly surprised if the Cubs actually get to keep their weird trophy.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
My comments tend to reflect the quality of the Cubs play.
(Checks score… Sox 13 Cubs 6)
Guess we’ll see next season if there was any Wisdom in the Cubs trying to Schwindel other teams out of their AAAA hitters, or if they are just paying romine fees.
BVSQuote Reply
Whatever sound-ish logic behind the trade at the time, that for me was the turning point where the org began to lose its way to where it is now. To quote the distinguished gentleman above, “whether that’s fair or not.”
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
With the benefit of hindsight, it was a horrible trade since Quintana fell off so steeply after 2017, but I remember being stoked at the time. It does feel like a turning point, though, as they dealt the last of their impact prospects to go all in on avoiding the World Series hangover. I hadn’t really appreciated the malaise in the player development machine at that point.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I don’t recall what I said about it at the time, but I remember feeling pretty substantial misgivings about it (before shrugging it all off with an In Theo We Trust, a bad habit that didn’t end until my brutal death on Tyler Chatwood Hill). Seemed needlessly dangerous to deal two high-ceiling prospects for a high-floor SP whose strongest selling point was his cheap contract. Those are the sorts of deals when you win them, nobody really cares that much, but if you lose them… egads.
IIRC, the Quintana trade was all Theo; Jed didn’t want to do it. Which I guess bodes well if the Cubs can ever be bothered to develop elite prospects again.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Mills is pitching what has to be the best game of his life
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
If I could go back in time I’d do the Quintana trade again in a heartbeat. Sometimes things just don’t work out. He had incredible peripherals, at least by what we knew at the time. I hate all prospects though so YMMV.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Yeah, I loved Quintana back then. The deal felt like a steep price, but I think after a championship it was pretty difficult as a fan to gauge values and strategies. Aside from “um, try to win another one” the idea of best practices for dynasties was the stuff of fairy tales.
The one thing I hated and still hate was the emergence of the term “competitive window” and the thought process behind it. The Cubs had a ridiculously young championship roster, many of whom had their best years ahead of them. Not meaningfully building around that and instead going into short-term emergency acquisition mode was just fucking stupid, especially paired with the “we’re about to run out of money” mentality.
andcountingQuote Reply
Hardly the biggest of the Cubs’ problems, but I’m really missing Len & JD in the broadcasting booth.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I like Boog and JD. I liked Len too. Dempster is OK but Sutcliffe is terrible and Bruce Levine on radio commentary is awful.
Unrelated… Is Hendricks hurt? Or just distracted by a bunch of nonames playing behind him?
BVSQuote Reply
Based on the information available at the time, I probably would too. Quintana was a consistent 5+ fWAR pitcher at the time, and still only 28. It looked like he’d be a solid #2 starter for awhile.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I dunno, fellers. I’m not seeing the same Quintana you do. He was a nice player on a nice contract, but that’s not good enough for the cost of the team’s two remaining top prospects, imo. If using that sort of currency, I want a destroyer of worlds in return. Not a corner nibbler with a 20% K rate who doesn’t get enough groundballs, living and dying every year on his HR/FB.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
andcounting,
There was something very very stupid about the scouting and development after that initial glimpse of excellence, not just for Quintana, but for seemingly everyone on the roster. I just find it exasperating to see all that supposed talent just fizzle so disappointingly.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
andcounting,
Yep, agreed. If you’re gonna empty out the farm to contend for a title, I don’t have much of a problem with that even with the benefit of hindsight. But as it turned out, this was a trade that was more about projecting a veneer of competitiveness while keeping the checkbook closed. I’m sure the owners got what they wanted, but I can’t say that it did much for me.
uncle daveQuote Reply
I’m wrong as much or more often than I’m right, I wasn’t a big fan of this trade and I remember my dislike for it grew rapidly. This was my first take on the trade:
Looking back, I think the crappy farm system after this trade was a much, much bigger deal than I initially thought and a hell of a lot bigger than the average Cubs fan thought. I knew the system sucked after this deal, but it FUCKING SUCKED. They also were unwilling to spend. That was their only way out of the mess they created and they refused to do it.
dmick89Quote Reply
(dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
I loved the cheap Quintana contract, but was still under the delusion that they would invest those savings into the team (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
Litany of sad gifs
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Re: the Shambling Remains of Jake Arrieta, I believe he starts for the Padres again this weekend…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
berselius,
th’ fuck you think’s gonna pay for the new sportsbook?
uncle daveQuote Reply
if a team signs multiple players that rejected a QO, then that team only loses one draft pick in total right? or do they lose one draft pick per QO player that they sign?
and I realize that they also lose bonus pool $ etc but just wondering about the draft pick(s)
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
I had also assumed the Cubs understood emptying the farm meant they needed to spend money to stay competitive. For a little while, it looked as if they’d do that (like signing Yu Darvish), but after 2018 it seems like the owners pulled the plug.
I doubt it will ever come from Theo, or even from Hoyer while he’s still employed in an MLB organization, but I’d love to know what conversations happened among ownership and the FO in 18/19. The messaging all along was that they’d planned to be active in a class that included Harper and Machado, then they went radio silent after picking up the option on Cole Hamels.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
That’ll be the next 30 for 30…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
The next to last paragraph seems relevant to the Cubs –> https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-qualifying-offer-rules-explained-c259650658
• A team that neither exceeded the luxury tax in the preceding season nor receives revenue sharing will lose its second-highest selection in the following year’s Draft, as well as $500,000 from its international bonus pool for the upcoming signing period. If it signs two such players, it will also forfeit its third-highest remaining pick and an additional $500,000.
So they’ll lose multiple picks after the first round because at this point they should be below the tax threshold and they receive no revenue sharing, even though the Ricketts are broke or something.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
ah shit…I was hoping that it would be a “well if we sign one decent FA then we might as well sign a bunch” situation. alas.
thanks for finding that RC.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
It wouldn’t be that big a deal except for the whole slot money thing.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2021/09/01/mets-gm-reportedly-charged-with-drunk-driving/
Live look at the Mets rn
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Also
berseliusQuote Reply
I know these games don’t matter and I’m barely watching them at this point, but seeing the Pirates screw up in extras will never not be fun.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Do we call that “The Polanco”?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Johnny Bench has COVID, but also super-antibodies thanks to his vaccine:
https://twitter.com/JohnnyBench_5/status/1433851618252972032
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Ron is so bad at guessing how the replay reviews will go.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m… actually enjoying this series?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Sometimes it’s fun just to forget the season’s over and watch some random guys in Cubs uniforms win suspenseful games against some random guys in Pirates uniforms.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Sounds like it was better than the Wisconsin-Penn State rock fight that I watched instead. B1G football is back in all its glory! (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
Did the Cubs give up on Alzolay as a starter, or is this more about managing his workload?
PerkinsQuote Reply
I know the reverse standings matter and all, but this was a fun weekend of Cubs baseball.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Yup. This reminds me of the 2011 4-game sweep of the Pirates (who has a winning record going into the series). It’s why I hate “tanking” and reverse standings. Bad teams can have exciting and even memorable games and series.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Hey, they actually beat a decent team this time.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Only 10 games back in wild card
SKQuote Reply
So you’re saying there’s a chance?
PerkinsQuote Reply
Well, yes, but he retired about 100 years ago.
BVSQuote Reply
Perkins,
Yeah, it’s a workload thing.
Re: Reverse standings–>
1. Baltimore (.316) <– yikes
2. Arizona (.326)
3. Pirates (.355)
4. Texas (.358)
GAP
5. Miami
6. Nats (I think Nats were better last season?) both at (.416)
7. Twins (.438)
8. Royals (.453)
9. Rockies (.457)
10. Cubs (.460)
I forgot if the Cubs have to stay in the top 10, or make sure they have better than the 10th pick, to avoid losing a spot because of the Mets draft compensation situation.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Answered my own question –> http://www.tankathon.com/mlb
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Coomer just called play by play solo, and it was legitimately stellar. I was in shock.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Agree. He’s better than Zach, though Zach is slowly growing on me.
BVSQuote Reply
Yu is awesome –> https://twitter.com/annieheilbrunn/status/1435671533528051717
Rice CubeQuote Reply
BVS,
Yeah, even he has improved slightly with practice (though it still kinda drives me nuts when he’s calling the games).
andcountingQuote Reply
Good thing the Reds brought the infield in (dying laughing).
J-Hey!
berseliusQuote Reply
Heyward annihilated that pitch.
PerkinsQuote Reply
From an article in the Athletic about Bryant’s return, but not referring to KB.
Interesting comment. Apparently referring to a few players who are no longer with the team…
BVSQuote Reply
Trevor Bauer –> all but canceled
https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2021/09/10/trevor-bauers-season-is-over/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
BVS,
If they’re truly uncoachable, then the Cubs front office did some poor vetting.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Yeah, I don’t disagree with that.
I suspect part of this is the rift that developed between Joe and Theo, which I take to have been:
Theo: We need these guys to put the ball in play, and stop grounding to 2nd when they do.
Joe: They are big boys.^
Rizzo: Watch me GIDP to 2nd.
JHey: Hold my kambucha.*
Javy: See my magic bat?
Happ and Schwarber chanting: TTO. TTO. TTO.
*I imagine with his physique, he doesn’t drink beer.
Despite the track record on developing home-grown pitchers, I’ve had way more confidence in the Cubs’ more recent ability to find pitching over hitting. I think the org relied too long on the core being awesome (see ^) and put all their effort into pitching. Maybe some of our current AAAA guys become the next Justin Turner or Mike Yastrezmzmzki. That’d be a new thing for the Cubs.
(Too be fair, I remember reading a lot of stories about how Heyward was working hard to retool his swing. So I probably shouldn’t include him in the above, obviously well-sourced, direct quotation.)
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
I think it’s a little like the original NES Ice Hockey, where you had the skinny fast guys, the medium sized guys, and the strong slow fat guys. You need a mix of each to balance the team, and that was part of the Cubs problem was that they had too many of the same type of power hitter. But I always held the belief that they were too talented to just completely fall off a cliff, so I feel like a good portion of the blame still goes towards the coaching and scouting people. Something broke and I really don’t know what, but it did break and it made me sad.
KB did get on base today, but no hits, so obviously Cubs win the trade.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
If the Cubs are going to get destroyed like this, I’m glad it’s a former Cubs superstar doing the damage. I missed you, Tommy La Stella.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
3 AM!
berseliusQuote Reply
(dying laughing) @ Urban Meyer
berseliusQuote Reply
Packers defense is about as stiff as a wet paper towel
berseliusQuote Reply
Agree. Not sure if it was too many hitting coaches, or not enough consistency…
BVSQuote Reply
Cubs –> #8 pick for now
This coming week is gonna be awesome as they play against two teams still in contention.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
BVS,
It’s kind of like how I’ve noticed that Cubs pitchers are maddeningly bad at throwing quality strikes. I know pitching is hard, but come on!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
This is probably more so for the fringe/reclamation guys and not so much the guys you expect to be good, but even Hendricks has slipped a bit.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The worst part of this is when the Giants and Dodgers have to face each other in the NLDS while Milwaukee probably cruises to the NLCS over whichever NL East team decides they actually want to win the division.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
It’s a shame Javy is wasted on the Mets, but last night he had a bunt single, a homer, and three walks. Since the thumbs-down incident he’s hitting Joe DiMaggio/Ted Williams/Barry Bonds.
andcountingQuote Reply
Did Hendricks pull an Arrieta there? You’d think a 7 run lead would be secure.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Do the Cubs lead the majors in Arrietas this year? (Blown 7-run leads.)
BVSQuote Reply
andcounting,
I’m thinking the rest of the owners are wishing they’d listened Reinsdorph and voted against Cohen. Cohen makes Peter Angelos seem competent (though he may not be as bad as the owner of the Washington football team).
BVSQuote Reply
i’m starting to worry about the cubs’ playoff chances, you guys
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
#wearenotsogood
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
But the Dillon Maples era is over now.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
I can’t believe this until he is officially released or is seen wearing a completely different uniform next year. He’s like a bed bug, just kinda lingers…
If only he had some command, I’m sad that it never worked out for him.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
This MNF Manning-cast is WILD
berseliusQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
You’re right.
From mlbtr
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
Although somewhere I saw a quote from Ross that suggested Maples would be elsewhere next year
BVSQuote Reply
Just about the only good thing about the last couple months is that Frank Schwindel has proven to be a major upgrade over Anthony Rizzo. As we all expected.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
After 2 pretty terrible seasons, if the Dodgers non tender Cory Bellinger rather than pay him $17M in his penultimate arb year, does the team that signs him still have to go to arbitration?
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
I think his free agency clock doesn’t change, but at that point without a contract offer, the arbitration process is not initiated and the team that attempts to sign him can offer him anything they want. I think the max pay cut is something like 20% off the previous year’s salary, but that might be an arbitration thing…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
BVS,
I was only sort of right. Non-tender immediately makes the player a free agent, at which point teams can offer whatever contract they deem fit. I think that might also abolish the remainder of their arbitration clock as the club has essentially surrendered any remaining control, but I couldn’t find language to support that.
https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/non-tendered
Rice CubeQuote Reply
What a stupid team.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The should’ve-been-game-ending play yesterday was fantastic!
https://twitter.com/WSDreaming_Cubs/status/1442256149160415232
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I just realized the Mets gave up their top draft pick from 2020 for two months of Javy Baez and missing the playoffs anyway.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Javy was playing relatively well so it’s not all his fault!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
I know it’s irrational, but I kinda hope the Cubs are able to bring Javy back in free agency. Mostly it’s because, win or lose, he’s an extremely entertaining player to watch and they hadn’t really had anyone like that since Sammy Sosa. I think I’ve watched maybe three games since the trade deadline, and I guarantee that number would have been higher were he still on the team.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I cannot argue with you today.
I don’t think he will be re-signed at this time, despite what Jed suggests about the Cubs having money and spending intelligently. Makes it sound like they’ll spend, but also enough wiggle room in the language to do the “oh well we tried” when nothing happens.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Stupid Cardinals with their stupid winning streak and stupid playoff berth.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
At least LAD will probably make them a one-and-done.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I was just watching Mets highlights last night and was (dying laughing) at the game-winning run, Javy scoring from third on a ground ball to the pitcher.
The announcer was all, “Most guys don’t try to score on a grounder to the pitcher even if the contact play is on, but the rules don’t apply to Javy Báez. This guy does things you’ve never seen before.”
It was one of those days (a double header) with standard Javy tags and web gems scattered throughout. And that’s the thing with Javy you just can’t quantify: he just does things you don’t see anyone else do. The guy matter of factly told New York he was trolling them and just went on his merry way through a hot streak he’s still on even now.
I’m not arguing that he makes the team any better than a ho-hum 3-5 WAR player would, but it makes the product better. I still check every Mets recap for Javy highlights and it’s not enough. He’s just so damn fun to watch.
andcountingQuote Reply
Trent Giambrone –> cup of coffee
https://twitter.com/TommyBirch/status/1443253574998372360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1443253574998372360%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bleachernation.com%2Fcubs%2F2021%2F09%2F29%2Fcubs-to-call-up-utility-man-trent-giambrone-today%2F
Rice CubeQuote Reply
This is exactly it. It’s easy for me to say the Cubs should try to bring him back since it’s not my money, but his being on the team makes me much more likely to spend my money and time on Cubs-related things.
One of the coolest baseball memories I have from being at a game was seeing him steal home in the 16 NLCS. He has one of the highest baseball IQs of a player I’ve seen, and watching him play is an absolute joy.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Random concrete wall >>>>> Devin Williams’ hand
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
i’m a little uncomfortable with the amount of schadenfreude that i felt upon reading this news release…
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
It’s ok, I generally think that Brewers deserve all the misfortune, but protect Bob Uecker at all costs!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Apparently, on the eve of his retirement Mike Shannon casually dropped some rumors that the Cardinals are for sale.
berseliusQuote Reply
Mini-COVID outbreak for the Cubs, inching ever closer to the MLB record for players used by a single team in a single season.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
berselius,
I recommend the Ricketts family as owners of the Cardinals.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rice Cube,
Once they get better they’ll be >85% vax+immune.
BVSQuote Reply
I got 22 (dying laughing)
https://www.sporcle.com/games/tnoe000/the-2021-cubs
SKQuote Reply
SK,
You made the quiz and only got 22? In 15 minutes?
I’ll try now…
BVSQuote Reply
I got 49, including the least named player. (Not sure why I remembered his 2-3 inning appearance.)
BVSQuote Reply
Still my favorite.
BVSQuote Reply
SK,
who the fuck is tyler ladendorf
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
He was on the taxi squad and then I guess at some point they selected him but didn’t officially announce it and then, oh, poof, there he was!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
SK,
I got 52 and was proud of myself that I remembered all the catchers, even the random guy they selected off the taxi squad on the final day.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
My feeling was that they instituted the ghost runner too early in extras, and that it put undue stress on the home team because the visiting team got the early chance to cash in with just a couple groundouts. To the first point, do it like in soccer or hockey where you do regular extras and then switch to the gimmick in the 12th inning or something. To the second, if the home team can’t win in regulation, maybe they don’t deserve to win at all?
https://twitter.com/BizballMaury/status/1445053512048537614
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Schwarber!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m rooting for the Yankees, but it’s kind of cool that Schwarber has homered off Cole in two different WC games.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I definitely want one of the 2016 Cubs to get a second ring (preferably Rizzo or Bryant, but Schwarber would be nice, too).
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I wonder if the Cubs would try to bring back Schwarber next year, especially if the NL finally gets the DH. On some level, it feels more realistic than re-signing any of the guys they traded away, but I don’t have any fact-based reason to make that statement.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
There is a coalition of Cubs fans who think that Castellanos may be a better option for that OF/DH spot. I’m good with either.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Either sounds good to me, or both. They’re different enough hitters, and the Cubs seem to have indexed for contact bats at the TDL, that it’d be nice to see them back in the same lineup. I’d probably pay more for Castellanos than for Schwarber, though.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Go Dodgers boo Cardinals
berseliusQuote Reply
Smell ya later, Cardinals
berseliusQuote Reply
Die Cardinals, die.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Hmm, I don’t agree with the “Dodgers winning” policy, but I do approve of the “Cardinals losing” policy.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Or maybe Soler?
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
I’m cool with the Giants winning the World Series #biased
Rice CubeQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/TheOnion/status/1445463894986616844
(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
FOUR GAMES TODAY
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Bryant!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m kind of amazed that after being worth 2.2 fWAR with the Cubs this year, Kimbrel was replacement level with CWS.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I find it weird rooting for the White Sox, but I’ll pull for any team playing against the Astros.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
FOUR GAMES TODAY (I HOPE BECAUSE WEATHER)
Also, cookies!
https://twitter.com/WatchMarquee/status/1447615509348900864
Rice CubeQuote Reply
E-HOFer
https://twitter.com/ActionNetworkHQ/status/1447616475133513735?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1447616475133513735%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bleachernation.com%2Fbaseballisfun%2F2021%2F10%2F11%2Fchipper-jones-just-dropped-a-foul-ball-in-the-2021-mlb-playoffs%2F
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Joc!!!!
PerkinsQuote Reply
YeL-O-Lch
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rodon sitting 97-99, hope the arm holds up.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
White Sox –> not doing so well
Jorge Soler –> not doing so well if he isn’t vaccinated
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Freeman!
PerkinsQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Perkins,
2.5 words: Tony LaRussa
BVSQuote Reply
The Brewers, the.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
Cubs grabbing a new GM soon? From the team they beat in the World Series, even…
https://twitter.com/OutOfTheVines/status/1448404024999432200
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Mike Shildt –> fired
?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
So which remaining teams have former Cubs? ATL and BOS?
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Dusty manages the Astros, along with former Cubs legend Martin Maldonado…and Souza is on the Dodgers…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
One day later and still nobody knows why Shildt was fired, it must have been really bad…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Seems like maybe we need a new “Better Know a Cub GM” thread. Based on my quick and dirty Googling, Hawkins joins the Cubs from the Foo Fighters where he spent the last 25 years as their drummer.
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
Oh yeah, except fuck the Astros with pineapples. I don’t really want LAD to repeat, but part of me would be happy if they beat the Astros and spent the next year just shitting on that organization at every opportunity.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I think Dusty would be HOF-worthy anyway even if the Astros lost so I’m on board.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Also if you’re a believer in the Nightengale curse, then Red Sox vs. Dodgers is confirmed:
https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/1449071309871357954
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Y’all better fucking spend!
https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2021/10/15/tom-ricketts-says-the-cubs-have-the-resources-to-compete-in-2022-and-we-will-use-them/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The Red Sox are still on pace to hit 9 grand slams in this game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I think the Dodgers can obviously still come back and win the NLCS, but bullpen gaming their way through the series and having your best relievers get beat probably doesn’t help.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Shildt said things…the overall perception is that he was much classier than the ones who fired him. https://www.audacy.com/kmox/local-sports/st-louis-cardinals/watch-mike-shildt-makes-first-statement-since-cardinals-firing
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Schwarber!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Holy shit this NLCS
PerkinsQuote Reply
ATL & BOS –> Billy Madison you blew it dot gif
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I guess we do need a new post at *SOME* point. I need to find the “who the fuck are you” graphic that we once used for our “Better Know a Cub” series, which seems to be something that was lost with the move from ACB (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
I kind of want Dusty to win the World Series.
But I really don’t want to root for Houston.
BVSQuote Reply
At least I can keep up with content with the quarterly posting rate.
BVSQuote Reply
I can’t argue with you today. I don’t think they’re (blatantly) cheating anymore and obviously Dusty isn’t (directly or otherwise) responsible for that, but that entire organization just deserves misery. But they’re probably going to sweep Atlanta, and I’m going to be wrong about that because baseball.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I’d like to see a few guys on ATL get a ring (or another). HOU can suck rocks.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Guess who got a Silver Slugger finalist spot?
https://www.mlb.com/news/silver-slugger-award-finalists-2021
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Mark DeRosa?
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
i believe that mlb rule 318.2 subsection (g) states that derosa gets nominated for all awards in perpetuity
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Never a bad time to break out this old gem:
https://www.theonion.com/weird-child-pretends-to-be-utility-infielder-mark-deros-1819574009
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
holy shit that’s a good one. not sure how i am only just seeing that now.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
The weird quasi-3D bases graphic from the scorebox feel right out of 1999
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Budget cuts at Fox have them creating graphics in Word Perfect
BVSQuote Reply
So I have had the (mis?)fortune of not being able to watch the broadcasts live, but it seems they really went all in on doing racist stuff at the Suburb-of-Atlanta ball park.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Said the quiet part out loud and about to find out… https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2021/11/01/steve-cohens-tweeting-reportedly-cited-in-minor-league-class-action-lawsuit/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Behold, your next scapegoat! https://twitter.com/PJ_Mooney/status/1455259075579625474
Patrick Mooney
@PJ_Mooney
· 8m
The Cubs are planning to hire Greg Brown as their new hitting coach, sources told me and @sahadevsharma. Brown previously served as Tampa Bay’s minor-league hitting coordinator. As an area scout, Brown signed Kiké Hernández and J.D. Martinez as part of Houston’s 2009 draft class.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I’m happy for Jorge.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The Astros, the.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
It appears the fans in question basically admitted to criminal trespass, but I’m going to suggest that they will not be charged
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32538981/world-series-2021-story-where-jorge-soler-home-run-went-once-left-minute-maid-park
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I mean, he might suck, but also this seems like a good move…
https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1456694228088721414
Rice CubeQuote Reply
rays give head to marlins for cash
RynoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
I completely forgot who the Cy Young finalists were…so I looked it up.
Kind of interesting how other than Luis Garcia, none of the award finalists for this season even made it to the World Series, and a good chunk of them didn’t even make the playoffs. Value is weird and diluted in baseball.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Happy Thanksgiving, jabronis. May a potential lockout be short and fruitful for only the players because the owners are asses.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Yan Gomes, motherfuckers!
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Apparently the Cubs are in serious talks with Marcus Stroman. That would not suck.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
GDI Cubs, we might actually have to put up a new post at some point
berseliusQuote Reply
Happy lockout, jabronis!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I don’t think that’s allowed during a lockout.
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
So there’s a nonzero chance the Cubs actually punt their draft picks and sign Carlos Correa, so whenever this lockout ends, I’m grabbing my popcorn.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I think the Cots tracker needs a quick update but I also see at least $100MM of “cap” space to play with so methinks the Cubs can do something with that, yes?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I’d say sign Correa and one of Schwarber or Castellanos. Hell, that’s probably only like $55-60MM annually, so maybe try to bring back KB as well.
They really could use a LH power bat, unless people think Ian Happ is finally breaking out for real.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I love this plan! I’m excited to be a part of it! Let’s do it!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
There’s always new real estate to invest in around Wrigleyville
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
They’re going to have to build up…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Triangle shaped buildings are the new market inefficiency.
BVSQuote Reply
I mean, I’m sure there are flaws in it, but these days I don’t have a problem with spending the money of billionaires I don’t like to improve a team I do.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
That’s a good plan, it’s fewer millions they can give to a MAGA superPAC.
Also, the HOF does things right every now and then –> https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/baseball-hall-of-fame-buck-oneil-minnie-minoso-and-gil-hodges-among-six-voted-in-by-eras-committees/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
On the 15th day of lockout
MLB gave to me
A really bad case of boredom
Rice CubeQuote Reply
haha holy shit, sammy sosa’s weight on bref is listed as 165. that…might not have been totally accurate from about 1991 onwards.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
McLeod —–> Dbacks. 5 years too late?
berseliusQuote Reply
Happy Festivus, jabronis. I got a lot of problems with a lot of people, but not with you.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I got a lot of problems with a lot of people, but most of them are directed at me (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
Jon Lester———>retirement
Hell of a career.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Ryno, I hope you enjoy Deebo’s 250 all-purpose yards next week.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I’m sure I’ll enjoy it as much as you’ll enjoy Mason Crosby’s game-winning FG as time expires.
RynoQuote Reply
Oh my god
https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/ex-cubs-pitcher-sergio-mitre-convicted-murdering-infant?cid=sm_npd_rsn_chi_twt_mn
SKQuote Reply
SK,
Jesus
dmick89Quote Reply
If only we had some past evidence that the Packers special teams was a diaper bag dumpster fire
berseliusQuote Reply
Holy shit, this BUF-KC game. Gonna knock the packers out of the news cycle.
berseliusQuote Reply
I just missed the nicest post on this thread again, but I did get a new job and I’m also mad at MLB for being fucking asshats.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Congrats on the new jaerb!
berseliusQuote Reply
Looks like OV is locked out too (dying laughing)
uncle daveQuote Reply
I for one have not written any new posts because
I am super lazyhave nothing to talk aboutI am standing in solidarity with the MLBPA.berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I do have a lot of words about the final book of The Expanse series (dying laughing). I highly recommend checking out the books, or the incredible adaptation from SciFi* /Amazon Prime. Incredible performances on just about everyone, other than the main character, who is just OK. Wes Chatham and Cara Gee should get all the Emmys.
*I refuse to use the dumb new name, even if it isn’t that new anymore.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I haven’t read the books though I did just purchase the first one. Absolutely loved the tv series. The final season was a bit rushed, but I thought they nailed it with what they had to work with. Holden was the weakest part of the show, but I don’t remember ever once being disappointed by it. I thought it was kind of nice that it was a show whose main character, a white male, wasn’t really the one who was meant to outshine all the others. If the writers had written him that way the wheels would have come off because the actor just wasn’t good enough to do it, but they took advantage of what their skills were.
I didn’t watch this show until about a year ago and I was bored one night and had just read a glowing review of the previous seasons so I gave it a shot. It quickly became one of my all time favorites.
I read this article awhile back and bookmarked it. I hate comparisons (GOT was its own thing and succeeded and failed for its own reasons), but this article took one of Dany’s comments from GOT and applied it to The Expanse: https://www.theringer.com/tv/2022/1/14/22882751/the-expanse-series-finale-review-transport-union (massive spoilers of course)
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
It’s one of the rare cases where the show really complements the books without necessarily taking anything away from them. The acting performances of Naomi and Amos in particular really add a next level of nuance to their characters in the books, even if things depart a bit from the original material, in a way I never thought was possible for an adaptation to do. Too bad that Cas Anvar turned out to be a sleazy POS, not that they were likely to adapt book 6 onward.
I just deleted a bunch more comments since you haven’t read the books, but this article is right about how the series elicits sympathy for each faction. Even Marco Inaros and the rest of the hard-line belters are right in a way, even if a lot of them are kind of morons (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
Avasarala is also a champ – there’s a line from what was IIRC her first perspective chapter in the books that pretty much sums up her entire personality, which I think of all the time. But given that it’s Avasarala it’s not something I can repeat in polite company (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I saw on twitter that Shohreh Aghdashloo was possibly going to be on the next season on Wheel of Time. Nothing has been confirmed (she tweeted she was interested and the showrunner immediately directed her to his DMs), but adding her would greatly increase my interest in watching season two of that show.
dmick89Quote Reply
I saw that one half of the writing duo just released the first book in a trilogy: https://winteriscoming.net/2022/02/15/book-review-age-of-ash-by-daniel-abraham-the-expanse/
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I read his Dagger and Coin series – they were solid but didn’t hold a candle to The Expanse. Though that’s probably an unfair comparison (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Do you know if they plan to collaborate on any other novels?
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I haven’t heard anything. My wife actually works for their publisher now, and would definitely keep an eye out for any internal news on that front (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
One of the main POV characters in the series was annoying/frustrating to read at the immediate, plot-related level, but absolutely hilarious at a meta level. Subverted a lot of genre tropes by showing what a disaster a certain stock character type would be if he actually got his hands on a little political power.
berseliusQuote Reply
I don’t know what to make of the new Wheel of Time show. I’ve read the whole series, and did not have any interest in revisiting that universe. It was nicknamed Wheel of Tedium for a reason, and was always the cautionary tale people pointed to wrt GRRM’s books, and not just for the fact that the author died before the series ended. It had some S-tier plot bloat. There might be enough bones in the whole book series to make a TV show, but I’m not so sure that it can avoid the same issue.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Have you seen the show? I went in having only read the first book and I didn’t particularly care for that. Still, by the fourth episode I was really liking the show. It started slow, but I thought it was headed in the right direction. I thought it remained good up until the finale and let’s just say it needs some fixing.
I think there’s potentially a good show there and they were so close to it. I’m at least curious to see if they have any interest in fixing it or if they just move further down the road they’re on. My guess is that it just becomes even worse.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I haven’t watched it.
Cadsuane does seem like the perfect casting for Aghdashloo if that’s indeed who they have in mind, but I pretty much despised all of the old school Aes Sedai other than Moiraine. The gender politics of the series (and the Aes Sedai in particular) make a lot of sense given how magic works in that universe, but drive me absolutely nuts. I guess it’s a mark of gender equality that in a universe where women hold most of the power they can also constantly be squabbling over petty slights and/or the opposite sex at all times (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
I’d like to take this moment to say, “fuck the MLB owners.”
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
The past week or so almost had me riled up enough to write a new post (dying laughing). Almost.
berseliusQuote Reply
Perkins,
Part of me is really hoping the players end up just sitting out the year. Problem is, the lower paid guys get fucked so the higher paid ones would really have to step up to help out and I doubt that would happen. If they wanted to help, they would have already ensured a higher base salary.
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius,
I’m not sure any part of me at this point likes the Cubs or really anything about them. I tolerated the shitty people that the owners were, but I probably shouldn’t have done that and I’m unable to do it now. I’d really like to find another team to root for, but I’m guessing there are a lot of horrible owners in baseball so I haven’t looked.
dmick89Quote Reply
How much do the Padres owners suck? They seem like they’d be a fun team to watch.
dmick89Quote Reply
https://mobile.twitter.com/PurpleRow/status/1496604622206636033
berseliusQuote Reply
If you’re an annual renew-er for MLB.tv, don’t forget to cancel it.
Or don’t. I can’t tell you what to do.
berseliusQuote Reply
Hey, Passan went scorched earth! linky
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
He definitely had his fastball in that one. Great piece.
berseliusQuote Reply
Hard to believe MLB owners’ collective hatred of baseball and baseball players has somehow led us to no baseball games.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Bump
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Don’t tell me what to do
berseliusQuote Reply
Also, bummer that spam comment blockers now stop me from fake posting as marginal former players (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
Ken Tremendous
@KenTremendous
What’s more callous and un-American than canceling baseball opening day? Kicking a puppy wearing an Uncle Sam beard? Urinating on a 4th of July barbecue grill? I cannot fathom the stupidity and shortsightedness of baseball owners and their latest and most magnificent own-goal.
Ken Tremendous
@KenTremendous
·
43m
Baseball is no longer America’s National Pastime for many reasons. One of them is that the men who own the teams are utterly uninterested in baseball being America’s National Pastime.
berseliusQuote Reply
Yeah, I gave up on the Cubs a while back because they broke up the team and because the owners are fascists (probably in that order if I’m being completely honest). So I became an A’s fan full-time because I live in Oakland and why not? But then the A’s started in with the relocation theater, which I tolerated because I understand it, but when the city council pushed a plan to give them $1.5 billion that the city absolutely does not have and the club turned up their noses because they would have had to provide some trivial amount of affordable housing in the bargain I kind of decided I couldn’t support them, either.
I like baseball but I just can’t watch it anymore because of all of this stuff. (I guess the real reason I can’t watch it is because they’re not playing this year, but whatever.) I’d say it’s sad, but I just checked out thefucksstore.co.uk and it looks like fucks are back-ordered for several months so I will not be able to give any fucks at this time.
There’s a minor league soccer team that plays down the street now, so if I wind up going to a game this summer it’ll probably be there.
uncle daveQuote Reply
uncle dave,
It appears we are in closer proximity on many issues and in location than previously anticipated…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rickettses – you have to understand that we took on a lot of debt to buy this team, thank the maker that Ben Zobrist quasi retired so we could free up some payroll amid all our financial troubles.
Also Rickettses: what if we bought Chelsea FC, one of the dozen or so sports franchises on the planet that is actually worth more than the Cubs.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Won’t somebody please think of the billionaires?
PerkinsQuote Reply
Did we all enjoy the sudden emphasis on the international draft after the core economic issues were almost done?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Hi everyone, baseball is a go
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Universal DH in the new CBA
(I know it was expected but still a good feeling)
berseliusQuote Reply
Any chance the Cubs do anything in free agency that briefly makes me forget they’re run by fascists?
dmick89Quote Reply
Daniel Zamora ————–> Dodgers
andherewego.gif
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I know the real driver is money, but the new postseason structure is a solution in search of a problem and I hate it.
PerkinsQuote Reply
sounds like they might make a run at carlos correa, but that’s certainly not enough to make me think that they’re not run by fascists
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Am I still allowed to like the Cubs while hating the owners or nah
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
It’s obviously a personal decision. I could probably be bought. If they sign Correa I can probably enjoy the baseball enough and hate the owners with a passion. If they don’t sign some more elite talent, I don’t think I can enjoy the baseball itself enough to ignore it. Hasn’t worked the last couple years anyway.
dmick89Quote Reply
Sounds like the Bears are taking cues from this post’s header image.
berseliusQuote Reply
Perkins,
I don’t know, I like the potential drama of a pennant race to get a first-round bye. If it came down to it, a team could start its #1 starter on the last day of the season and still have him available for their first playoff game. A week of rest In October and avoiding a 3-game series is pretty meaningful and interesting in my eyes.
andcountingQuote Reply
I think it’s time for a new thread. It’s no longer a fire sale! Cubs signed Andytron Simons!
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
Not excited about bringing in more anti-vax players, at least ones who will have trouble justifying a starting spot.
PerkinsQuote Reply
andcounting,
That’s fair. From my perspective, I don’t like adding additional hurdles for better teams, and forcing a division winner to play an additional series will usually do that.
I thought the play in game was sufficiently high drama and other than scenarios like the 2015 NL and 2018 AL generally balanced rewarding better teams with creating excitement. I particularly liked the choice of burning the #1 starter or the entire bullpen as a handicap even before making the DS.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Yeah, that makes sense. Part of my hopefulness comes from assuming this signals a decline in divisional importance, especially with the news that they plan to have every team play each other in the regular season. It seems like that helps make the regular season records a bit more meaningful. I just like the idea of having the top two records really being a clear-cut tier above everyone else in the postseason. But who knows, it might wind up being boring or weird.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
You assume that the top two division winners are the top 2 teams in their league, then everyone else kind of falls into line most of the time. I guess you’ll always have those years (i.e. last year) where one division is just miles better, so the top team gets the bye while the second-best team gets screwed because they happened to be in the same division, but I’m not sure how they re-seed the system to not penalize that team for bad luck.
Also I’m post #420 which makes me happy because I think I missed #69
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Well, friends and jabronis, it seems that if the Cubs play things right, they might not do worse than third place this year because the Reds are going full Pirates.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
yeah i was kind of surprised that they signed him, given his anti-vax stance and the rumors about how vaccines were causing a rift in the (cubs) clubhouse last year. maybe it’s just borderline impossible to field a pro baseball team without a decent percentage being anti-vax.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Indeed, my address and social security number are:
uncle daveQuote Reply
One path to solving the rift is to bring in nothing but anti-vaxxers. Herd immunity (dying laughing)…
uncle daveQuote Reply
uncle dave,
They might all die but not sure if they’d be laughing
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I’m going out on a limb and saying that Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant probably regret not taking contract extension offers from the Cubs. Javy as well.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Nah, I’m not assuming that, I’m just too lazy to spell it out in that detail. Ideally, they’d just eliminate divisions altogether, but I don’t see them doing that. In this configuration, there’s significance to winning your division, a control limiting the reward for being the least-bad team in a division, and a control limiting the penalty for being a 2nd place team with 100+ wins (best of 3 wildcard series instead of 1-game elimination round).
If they ever switch to a 14-team playoff, I hope they try a round-robin tournament to open things up, but again I dont see them doing it. Didn’t seem like that style was even on the radar, which is kind of a shame. Each league could play a 6-game RR with the top 4 teams in each league advancing and using regular season record as the first tie breaker. Oh well.
andcountingQuote Reply
Go ahead and move that all-important Phil Rogers Offseason Value Metric to a +2, fellers.
Seiya Suzuki ——————-> Cubes
5/70 (+ posting fee)
Also:
Tony ————-> back to NYY
War Bear ——————> Phillies
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
i wonder about this. some of the more hard-core pitchers always seem to bitch when they get taken out of a very specific routine. and i know we’ve seen teams that sweep an LCS (while the other LCS victor wins in 7) and the team that swept then is “cold” for the next series.
i don’t give much credence to this. and obviously the position players will be well-served by a week off. but i would be curious to see some data on what happens if you get a week of rest before a big playoff series vs another team that is riding a bunch of momentum.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Yeah, that’s definitely a valid concern that will get talked about a ton if even a couple aces have rough starts after a bye. Who knows if they’ll stick with this format long enough to compile meaningful data on it. But I’m in full agreement it has the potential to go from blessing to curse.
andcountingQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I guess the Cubs saved $20 million/year by non-tendering Schwarber. (dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/billbarnwell/status/1504125117189824515
berseliusQuote Reply
No new shit eh? Glad we have so much to talk about…waiting on Correa hehe
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Well I, for one, would never have expected billionaire Trumpers to be completely full of shit.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Freddie Freeman ——————–> Dodgers
Chris Brian —————-> Rockies
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Maybe the Tigers. Mike Illitch bought them years ago with the money he piled up as the founder of Little Caesars. Oddly, he bought the Tigers from the owner of Dominoes (Tom Monaghan). Illitch seemed to be helpful on urban renewal in Detroit and built Comerica Park with a lot more of his own money than most parks. Of course, Detroit was bankrupt then, but he kept them (and the Red Wings) in the city when he could have played stadium drama like Oakland or moved to the burbs like Atlanta. Old Tiger stadium was a DUMP and had many many more obstucted view seats than Wrigley. It was unsavable, despite the sentimentality… Mike Illitch died a few years ago and his son runs the team now. You probably saw that Chris Illitch voted against the penultimate contract because of the higher CBT threshold, but I don’t see a world where the Tigers pay $270M in salary so to me it’s hard to fault him for wanting the Yankees and Dodgers to pay thru the nose if they are going to hoard all the stars. Unlike Monaghan (who funded Operation Rescue), from what I can tell the Illitchs seem to be pretty neutral or slightly left.
Plus you get to root for Javy, Chafin, Candelario, and Isaac Paredes, so it’s almost like rooting for the Cubs anyway.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
As a New Yorker, my AL team should be the Yankees, but I’ve liked the Tigers quite a bit since the Verlander/Scherzer teams of the late aughts/early tens. I’d be happy to see Javy get another ring there.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Gonna root for the Blue Jays because they’re gonna be on the power play at home all season long.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Cubs signing Jonathan Villar, so Correa is looking pretty unlikely barring a Hoerner or Madrigal trade.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I like the Villar signing. He can play 3rd when Wisdom’s K rate exceeds 50%. And he can sub for Madrigal at 2b when Hoerner is at SS.
A little surprised thr Cubs didn’t bring Jason Adam back. I wonder how many of their decisons like that are related to vax issues. I have no idea what his thoughts on vax were, but iirc most of the antivax were in the BP.
Bote appears to be the forgotten player in the IF. Is Simmons contract guaranteed? If not I bet one or both of these two are DFAd before opening day.
BVSQuote Reply
Hey, Adrian Sampson is back. WOOHOO!
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
At least it wasn’t Hayden Simpson
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Someday, the shit will flow. We’re administering laxatives to the server, but they don’t seem to be working.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Maybe you need some fiber
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Carlos Correa——->Twins
Gotta say I did not see that coming.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
It appeared his priority was the opt out, so that didn’t make sense for the Cubs IMO
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Yeah reading into it a bit more, I think his previous agent(s) stand to get a healthy percentage of the fee from this contract since he switched to Boras so late in the game.
He’s essentially on a one year contract, and next offseason he won’t be tied to draft pick compensation and Boras will get his full cut. Have to hope the Cubs will re-engage then.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Either they get Correa post opt out, or they go after Bogaerts, or someone in-house magically breaks out
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The newest of shites
http://www.obstructedview.net/new-cubs-who-dis/
berseliusQuote Reply