- Chili Davis is gone. It appears that like offensive coordinators for the Bears or Defense Against the Dark Arts professors, nobody can last more than a year in this position. The Cubs fired John Mallee because Chili Davis was an “all-star coordinator,” and then fired him because he led the Cubs from the all-star talent level to the dumpster in half a season. Davis will be among the more quixotic hires in the Theo-Jed era. I never understood getting rid of Mallee and don’t actually buy the “couldn’t pass up Davis” company line. I remain convinced that Mallee was fired for other reasons. Irresponsible of me to speculate why.
- Anthony Iapoce is back. I think this is the absolute most responsible hire the Cubs could have made and am pleased they did so. He knows the team, the organization, and the philosophy that has been successful in the past. I’m curious if I should read anything into it as far as who is leaving the island and who isn’t (Ian Happ never worked with Iapoce), which means I definitely shouldn’t assume he’s gone but definitely will assume he is. Weeeee!
- Brandon Hyde is probably gone. Hyde was probably the next Cubs manager, and I assume he figured into the Joe Maddon staying or leaving calculus, but it appears that the Cubs won’t get that opportunity. Hyde has never managed at the major league level, but he’s been groomed to do so for several years. If/when Hyde leaves, seems like Will Venable will take over his responsibilities, though I also wonder if David Ross would be interested.
- Shiraz Rehman is leaving for the Rangers. I’m not going to pretend I know much about this guy – I’ve heard of him, but that’s about it. Good for him! The tendrils of the Theo Epstein Braintrust extend ever forward.
- Nico Hoerner is beating the absolute shit out of the AZL. Hoerner, the Cubs 1st round (24th overall) pick in the draft this year, was on fire before he was injured and put on the DL for the season. Good to see that he’s back and (presumably) as good as before. Hoerner is going to be a quick mover through the minors, probably culminating in a 2020 cup of coffee should everything go well with his development.
Comments
(dying laughing) at your irresponsible speculation.
andcountingQuote Reply
Not sure why the facepalm photo is ridiculously big, but behold.
mylesQuote Reply
Don’t tell me what to do.
berseliusQuote Reply
Isn’t David Ross interviewing for a managerial opening? I think I’d go after him if Hyde leaves, but it probably means waiting to see if he isn’t hired as a manager.
dmick89Quote Reply
The Dodgers offense is trying to be as awful as the Cubs.
dmick89Quote Reply
SKQuote Reply
You assumed correctly. That was exactly the way I wanted that game to go. SF looks good, but still gets the L and a better draft pick (let’s go, Nick Bosa).
RynoQuote Reply
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/10/17/17989090/cubs-manny-machado-stay-far-far-away
I’m sure the Cubs are deeply interested in Alvin’s hot takes on Manny Machado.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
i was indifferent as to whether the cubs got machado vs allocating those resources elsewhere but now i am 100% in the machado camp
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
I’d still prefer Harper because his OBP skills are something else. But I think both of them have a solid chance to make Alvin throw his bologna sandwich in anger.
PerkinsQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
LSA
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I’m looking forward to the Packers increasing Rodgers’s difficulty level by literally pulling fans out of the stands to play WR at some point this season.
berseliusQuote Reply
“In the 13th inning of Game 4 of the NLCS, Manny Machado singled with one out, took second base on a wild pitch and scored the winning run on Cody Bellinger’s single with a perfect slide into home plate.”
Sounds terrible, Alvin.
mylesQuote Reply
myles,
That was written in his article? It sure doesn’t seem to support his thesis.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
should’ve been a fanshot
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
He’s having a terrible series, only batting .353/.389/.588 with a dinger.
mylesQuote Reply
oh as long as alvin’s mad either way then yes i will also take harper
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
But he didn’t run out a ground ball one time, and he kicked Villar for standing on the middle of the base, so he’s the worst player every.
PerkinsQuote Reply
myles,
I really didn’t want to click the link so I will trust you.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
Rice in limbo,
Same here. I figure I could come close to writing exactly what Alvin wrote just by writing the dumbest shit I can think of.
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius,
As long as Rodgers can play, GB will move the ball. It makes sense for the team to invest in the defense rather than WRs. It’s a shame, though, that he’ll be underappreciated by at least 90% of people who follow football. I mean, he’s the best QB of this millennium and quite possible of all time. Pretty sure that’s not how he’s viewed by most and it’s a shame.
RynoQuote Reply
It’s a two horse race between Brady and Rodgers all-time. I lean Brady.
mylesQuote Reply
I’d like to make him the 2019 Cubs infielder/manager simply for kicking Aguilar, who was doing the same thing. Fat-ass blob should keep that sack full of worthless shit he calls a leg where it belongs: on top of a special bed courtesy of the local zoo that can hold a creature of his size and underneath a bowl of butter and beef fat ice cream with extra chicharrones.
RynoQuote Reply
myles,
Brady gets the nod from most because of the Super Bowls and the stats. Frankly, he has the Super Bowls because of one of the better defensive coaches of our era and the stats because the GM knows how to build an offense around him.
The reason I lean Rodgers (and Steve Young) is because of more scheme independence. Every QB needs to be the right “system,” but guys like Rodgers and Young could’ve been successful in more situations than Brady.
If Rodgers had been in Brady’s shoes, he’d have had more success, imo. If Brady had been in Rodgers, he’d have been murdered on the field several years ago.
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
I also think Steve Young would be considered among the greatest (where he belongs) if he and Montana had switched places. Montana didn’t have to face those DAL teams in the early 90s without Bill Walsh like Young did. And I think Young would’ve given SF more Super Bowls in the 80s than Montana did. He definitely would’ve given those NYG teams fits that Montana couldn’t.
One of the great tragedies in NFL history, BTW, is that Walsh’s 49ers never faced Jimmie Johnson’s Cowboys. Those battles would’ve been the best.
RynoQuote Reply
The BN guys did trick me into clicking a BCB link so I’m a bit displeased at the moment.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
Ryno,
I meant Aguilar. I don’t think he kicked Villar, though I guess I wouldn’t care if he kicked a few Brewers players. (dying laughing)
Might be a bush league play by Machado, but when a 1B stands on the bag, it’s just inviting a collision and injuries.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I don’t have a problem with the play. I think MLB has gone a little too far in protecting players even if I understand the need to do so.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I don’t really have a problem with it either, though it seems like a lot of people are salty about it.
PerkinsQuote Reply
WTF has gotten into Orlando Arcia lately?
andcountingQuote Reply
Perkins,
I can see why Brewers fans would be. I’ve seen Cubs fans (even ones here) lose their shit on similar questionable choices by the baserunner. Here, though, it really seems crazy that Machado would have intentionally do that. I suspect some of the anger is due to Machado’s reaction (he didn’t seem overly concerned or try to apologize) and his postgame comments (if it’s dirty, it’s dirty).
I’ll be honest. I don’t really care too much about base running plays at any other position than home and I hate the current rules. I think catchers needed to be protected more, but I think you could have done that without a rule change. All the umpires had to do was actually make those calls based on what the rules were. They never did and it resulted in the current rules. Maybe the only thing I’d care about other than that is going into a base with spikes up.
dmick89Quote Reply
The Dodgers offense is complete shit right now.
dmick89Quote Reply
Yeah, I’d probably rather have Harper as well, but it’s a lot closer than I thought. Either way the Cubs go, they’re either going to have to go after another outfielder or another infielder. It would probably be easier to just re-sign Murphy and sign Harper, but I don’t want to go into next season with Almora as a starting outfielder.
dmick89Quote Reply
Why did Miley leave early?
dmick89Quote Reply
Re: BCB
Long ago I was searching something about the Cubs and the Google result sent me to this blog called Another Cubs Blog. Whatever I was looking for, I found it there, plus some entertaining commentary. I had never read BCB. Shortly after I started reading ACB, the site announced it was merging with some other blogs. I thought, “Crap, here’s another site I just started to get into and it is going away.” Instead, it became the immensely discredited blog we all read today.
However long ago that was, I’ve probably only read 3-4 posts from BCB, and only because they were linked here. The criticism is entertaining enough that I don’t need to click through.
If I want another opinion, I read BN, despite Brett’s unnatural love of the 6 man rotation.
Anyway, I guess my point is that this has always been my one-stop cubs blog, and it is also responsible for 100% of the times I’ve visited BCB. Trade-offs, I guess.
Thanks guys.
BVSQuote Reply
I don’t know, why did Miley leave early?
#notwatching
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
Because Brewers believe starts go for 2 innings, perhaps.
BVSQuote Reply
One batter. He pitched to one batter. Apparently, it was all stratergy.
Anyway, it went great.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I think Machado goes to the Yankees and probably Harper goes to the Dodgers or, more likely, stays with the Nationals.
So what happens when the Cubs miss the Big 2? AJ Pollock in CF. Probably LaMahieu returns at 2b. Zo continues to float. We’ll need him in OF for the 30 games Pollock misses while injured.
BVSQuote Reply
The NLCS was a lot more fun when the Cubs were winning it.
PerkinsQuote Reply
BVS,
Though, come to think of it, Bote could be starting 2b and provide pretty good D and better O than Russell.
BVSQuote Reply
Wow, if Astros lose a close game, some fan is going to be Bartmanned.
BVSQuote Reply
If those first three things happen, I don’t think I will give a shit what Zo will be doing.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
He was a decoy. They used a lefty starter so the Dodgers would put out a right-handed lineup and then replaced him with a righty pitcher as soon as they could.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
1. Sounds like I’m on the Machado bandwagon, then.
2. It took me 9 seconds to casually search for the information Alvin “can’t recall.” It took me five seconds to type the parenthetical. That motherfucker would rather save four seconds than know what he’s talking about.
RynoQuote Reply
I’d be all over Pollock if I was convinced he could stay healthy for an entire year. Not sure that’ll happen so I want no part of the contract he’ll get.
mylesQuote Reply
I wouldn’t hate Adam Jones as a 4th OF depending on who is traded. Machado, Jones, and Jeurys Familia or something would constitute a pretty successful offseason for me.
mylesQuote Reply
Ryno,
You don’t seem to be giving Al credit for the time he spent running the B-R play index for instances of wet first bases on soaked fields in games that never should have been played.
andcountingQuote Reply
anything since https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2007/5/20/193649/841.
RynoQuote Reply
Holy shit. This is, perhaps, the, worst, piece of, gar,bag,e, e,,v,e,r,,,, p,os,,,t,e,,,d.
MylesQuote Reply
I don’t think so. The interviews seemed chill and nobody in the stands were doing an in-game crucifixion.
Rice in CAQuote Reply
Rice in CA,
I think with Bartman it was based on Alou’s reaction to the play. If he handles it like an adult, I don’t think Bartman is forced into witness security.
dmick89Quote Reply
Myles,
He’s always offended me as a writer, but that was the day he offended me as a man…and, frankly, as a human being.
RynoQuote Reply
Most SBNation site admins seem to grasp that the site is a hub for fans to read team-related content. Alvin seems to think BCB is like his diary or something. It’s really odd to me that SBNation puts up with that.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
(dying laughing). He’s so proud of being an idiot.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I can’t argue with you today. Shut you right up.
(Isn’t it amazing how conceding a point can end a discussion/debate?)
RynoQuote Reply
I think this is why you see so many teams in deep zone coverage and mixing pressures.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
How many bologna sandwich recipes today?
Rice in CAQuote Reply
Ryno,
Everyone: You’re a fucking asshole, Al.
Al (in a more perfect world, but not so perfect as to make him no longer an asshole, just perfect enough to shorten BCB arguments by 2000%): I can’t argue with you, ever.
andcountingQuote Reply
Joe West should probably get the blame, from what I’ve seen.
el Fucking maQuote Reply
Rice in CA,
I’m afraid to look.
RynoQuote Reply
If they survive…will we?
RynoQuote Reply
andcounting,
You need to create a BCB account and make that your signature.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
That or: It couldn’t happen…but it did.
Still trying to confirm.
RynoQuote Reply
That’s unacceptable. The number 1 movies these days are nothing but superhero movies so fuck that. Kids born these days will grow up thinking they can actually save the world, which is ridiculous considering the world sucks.
dmick89Quote Reply
By train, by car, by bus, they came to Hollywood . . . in search of a dream.
andcountingQuote Reply
My favorite clairvoyant
JKVQuote Reply
JKV,
He capitalized Hispanic, so, not racist.
(dying laughing)
That’s . . . wow.
andcountingQuote Reply
I wish announcers would learn the art of shutting the fuck up and letting the crowd do all the work.
dmick89Quote Reply
Ryno,
There were three men in her life. One to take her…one to love her — and one to kill her.
(Punctuation as on poster.)
BVSQuote Reply
andcounting,
et al.,
Ok. So you made me click over the BCB for the 4th or 5th time ever.
Good thing those scorecards were glossier in aught-seven. Go figure.
BVSQuote Reply
So hey. The Astros aren’t the Cubs, or something.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
False. You came here by searching for Pizza Hut MILF porn, just like the rest of us.
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
Which one are you?
RynoQuote Reply
JKV,
And he called it a diary…
So I guess that makes sense.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno, I think I told you, I’m a lover, not a fighter. She told me that I’m her forever lover.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
So you’re the one that’s going to kill her. Got it.
RynoQuote Reply
BTW, the Cubs apparently re-signed Danny Hultzen.
RynoQuote Reply
https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-nico-hoerner-making-up-reps-in-afl/c-297985672?tid=151437456
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I’m not telling anyone what to do, but if someone would help me understand this, I’d appreciate it. Is it unexpected for Hoerner to play in the AFL because he’s better than that or because he’s not that far along?
andcountingQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
andcounting,
Not that far along. AFL has typically been AA+.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Gracias. So it’s all the more impressive he’s doing so well?
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I wouldn’t say SO well. He’s had a few good games, but he’s still OPSing .562 with 9 Ks against 0 BBs.
I’d say that’s about what’s expected. He’s probably not seen pitching this advanced before, so his K/BB and power numbers will look bad. But he’s known for his “hit tool,” so he’ll likely keep the BA at a respectable level.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Ah, thank you. I’m glad he’s getting the experience anyway.
andcountingQuote Reply
uh hold on a second…DANNY FUCKING HULTZEN??????? and there’s not a 15,000 word OV post on it yet?? smh at this discredited site
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
He’s like the Deep Blue Something of the Cubs, how can he be ignored?????????
BVSQuote Reply
Ryno,
I’ll get to that next year.
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
Die, Brewers, die.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
So, go Dodgers.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I’m just pleased there’s no way the Brewers can win the World Series. They’d have been pretty insufferable if they had.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
The only NL Central team I would ever root for in the postseason is the Cubs. Fuck the rest of them. I never quite understood why so many Cubs fans rooted for the Pirates a few years ago.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I kind of get it for the Pirates. After 20 or so straight years of losing records, rooting for them is like rooting for the underdog fat kid to win.
But it was still pretty satisfying to watch the Cubs slam shut their window of contention.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I guess I did root for the 2006 Cardinals once they were in the postseason. My grandpa was in his 90s and his health was failing. He was a huge Cardinals fan and we always had fun giving each other shit so I figured it would be nice if his team won another one in his life.
dmick89Quote Reply
Tyler Chatwood: 3 yr/$38M, yr 1 sucked
Zack Cozart: 3 yr/$38M, yr 1 sucked (shoulder injury )
Trade?
BVSQuote Reply
Anyone who speaks German can’t be a bad man!
Berselius is too lazy to login on his phone.Quote Reply
BVS,
That’s creative.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
BVS,
Not a bad idea, but I doubt the Cubs give up on Chatwood yet. He’ll probably get about 17 starts at the beginning of the season to prove he doesn’t suck. He’ll end up sucking, but probably not as much as this season.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Agreed. But if starters are a strength for Cubs, which they would be if they keep Hamels, then they could fill an IF gap that they won’t fill when Machado signs with the Yankees.
IF something like this happened, I’d guess it would be after most big FAs signed.
BVSQuote Reply
Amari Cooper –> DAL
1st-round pick –> OAK
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
OAK has a chance to have three of the top 16 picks in the next draft. I wonder if Carr is next…
RynoQuote Reply
Remember when NE got Josh Gordon for a 5? (dying laughing)
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
They’ll waste it all.
dmick89Quote Reply
Damn you have to pay for the poscast drafts now? That’s kinda lame…
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
https://predictivefootball.com/late-and-trailing-by-14-points-always-go-for-2-after-a-touchdown/
Stuff like this is so interesting to me and it makes so much sense. It’ll also take a while for NFL coaches to adopt it because NFL coaches coach scared. Their in-game decisions are based on not losing more than winning. And they’d MUCH rather fail conventionally than unconventionally.
That’s what made last year’s Eagles so compelling.
RynoQuote Reply
Four first rounders?
RynoQuote Reply
Since my sobering analysis of Nico Hoerner’s AFL performance so far, the lad has gone 3-7 with a 2B (off Forrest Whitley), a 3B and a HR. He’s also added a walk.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
That’s a salient point. How are things with you?
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Pretty good. I’m alive, which is an amazing thing that many people take for granted.
How are you?
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Much better, thanks to that dose of perspective.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I love that. Shouldn’t teams pretty much always go for it on 4th down as well? That book Thinking Fast and Slow says a bit about it, something about a Richard Thaler study. #lazy
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I know there are some that say you should never punt, but I don’t think they take situation into account. College is one thing, but points are at a premium in the NFL (at least, they used to be).
For me, punting is like sac bunting in baseball. There are times when it makes sense to sacrifice a down for field position, but it’s way overused.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
RynoQuote Reply
Sorting the top 5 of the 2019 draft.
RynoQuote Reply
NO going for that all-Ohio State secondary.
RynoQuote Reply
Even if I felt like shelling out to their patreon, it’s useless to me since I listen to pods in the car whatever patreon gate I’d need to pass through would probably be useless.
berseliusQuote Reply
Ryno,
Has he been that bad?
MuckerQuote Reply
When you guys don’t participate, you make me go to BCB where I see stuff like this:
That’s the headline and subhead. For real.
Yeah, the culture did all that. eyeroll.gif
RynoQuote Reply
Mucker,
I honestly don’t know. I don’t watch many NYG games. I do know he was my top-rated CB in that draft (I rated Jalen Ramsey higher, but not as a pure CB).
RynoQuote Reply
All you need to do is pay for patreon, have someone else listen to it and transcribe the episode, and then sit shotgun while you drive and read the transcript to you. Pretty simple, really.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Weather here in boston is kinda nuts right now…shitload of thunder and lightning. Radar suggests it’ll clear at some point, but hypothetically speaking, what would happen if they couldnt play tonight or tomorrow? They’d go for a double-header on the off day? I can’t imagine any other scenario being feasible…
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Pretty sure that “Bye” is going to prove to be the best team in the end.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
And now NYG trades Snacks Harrison to DET for a 5.
I guess the experts are saying the best time to rebuild a roster is in the middle of the season after taking a RB with the No. 2 overall pick instead of Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen or Lamar Jackson.
RynoQuote Reply
BVS,
We’ll see on SF and OAK, but BYE definitely handled their offseason better than NYG.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
It’s crazy that the NYG are taking the title of more irrelevant team from the Redskins in that division. It’s going to be a long rebuild for NYG.
MuckerQuote Reply
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/what-the-hell-happened-to-darius-miles
Must read for the part about Shaq alone. Shaq is a national treasure.
RynoQuote Reply
Mucker,
That whole division is ridiculous. PHI looked like they might pull away for a while, but they’ve had some back luck this season. I think WAS is hanging around thanks to McCloughan’s influence. But between DAL wasting a rookie QB contract and NYG ignoring their shitty roster…
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Then maybe it won’t be a long rebuild for NYG. (dying laughing)
The Cowboys gave up a 1st round pick for a WR and could’ve got a better one for a 5th (Josh Gordon). Maybe they didn’t want another Dez Bryant situation, I don’t know, but that was a serious waste of draft capital.
MuckerQuote Reply
Mucker,
I’m making an effort to realize I overvalue draft picks, but that was too much for current Cooper. I think it’s just fine for 2016 Cooper and that’s what DAL is banking on. They were fooled into thinking Dak was the kind of QB that doesn’t need weapons around him. I guess they realize that now.
Rebuilds can be quick in the NFL, but you have to get a little lucky. NYG was lucky last year to have a top pick in a draft with multiple QB options. They blew that. They’ll have to hope to get lucky again.
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
https://www.sporcle.com/games/PenguinsMeercats/obscure-knowledge-mlb-teams
RynoQuote Reply
Updating the theme seems to have removed some CSS. It shouldn’t have.
dmick89Quote Reply
It looks like quite a few things are off. I’m going to assume they’ll release another version before I bother fixing any of this.
dmick89Quote Reply
Wow. They pushed that fix out as fas as possible.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
This is going to bring our new content to a screeching halt.
andcountingQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I saw that last night. That shot is ridiculous. He’s had to spend hours, if not days, working on that.
dmick89Quote Reply
SB Nation has an article titled “The Dodgers need to hit or this series is over.”
No shit.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
One day there will be an organization that focuses on little more than the abilities of fouling off pitches and knowing the strike zone. They’ll get no-hit almost every game but score an average of 11 runs. They’ll scoff at the idiots who say they need to hit.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
And their games will take 6 hours.
andcountingQuote Reply
dmick89,
How does he have time to perfect that shot AND every other possible shot?! The dude is an alien.
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
or…
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/10/25/18022084/cubs-should-trade-jose-quintana
RynoQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/BleedCubTweets
RynoQuote Reply
Hoerner: 2-3, BB
Steele: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4K, 1 BB, 6-1 GO-AO, 62-41 pitches-strikes
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
That’s among the dumbest things I’ve ever read. And that’s not to say trading Quintana is the dumbest idea I’ve ever come across, just that Al’s pathetic attempt at a reasoned argument is on a loftier level of dumb than just about any collection of characters ever assembled into intelligible order.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Wait, hear him out. Didn’t you see the part about how the Cubs have so much starting pitching, with Smyly and Chatwood and all?
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Oh yes. I also read the part about his salary being really low, yet wanting to free up that money, even though the Ricketts don’t need the money anyway. And exercise the option on Hamels then tear it up. Like, totally tear it up, y’all.
andcountingQuote Reply
I don’t know, but he makes it look so easy.
dmick89Quote Reply
Remember when the Cubs sucked and AC had to keep requesting that t-shirt companies stop using the facepalm logo without consent? That was fun.
JKVQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
That’s some funny shit right there. (dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
Whelp, Anthony Bass has elected free agency. Our pen is going to be sh… next year.
BVSQuote Reply
Safe
BVSQuote Reply
I guess the nightowls in LA finally got some decent live TV to watch.
BVSQuote Reply
Last night’s game was longer than the entire 1939 World Series.
PerkinsQuote Reply
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I assume the Cubs are perfectly fine with Morrow. I’m not sure I believe the second one about Bryant. I hope they pick up Hamels option.
dmick89Quote Reply
pretty sure I got tix to game 6 so I am desperately hoping that the dodgers win tonight.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Take the freaking touchback, dude
Berselius is too lazy to login on his phone.Quote Reply
Observation: Kershaw at 90 mph is not a great pitcher.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
They are about as good as my MegaMillions ticket from last Monday.
BVSQuote Reply
Berselius is too lazy to login on his phone.,
Don’t tell me what to do.
BVSQuote Reply
Berselius is too lazy to login on his phone.,
With as risk averse as NFL coaches are, I’m surprised no one reminded him that having the ball on the 25 with a timeout (and the two minute warning) is better than the spectrum of outcomes of trying to return a kick from the endzone. Even if he hadn’t fumbled, GB would have been at the 20 and < 2 minutes. I'd expect more from a Stanford man.
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I obviously don’t bet. Is +300 the same as 3-1?
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
Yes.
RynoQuote Reply
Which reminds me, I’d love to find that comment of Alvin completely misusing the over/under premise.
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
After watching SF lose to ARI yesterday, I’m convinced they’re somehow tanking this season.
1. There’s no way JimmyG makes THAT much of a difference over Beathard.
2. They’ve lost a few games under suspect circumstances since the JimmyG injury.
I’m on board with this plan, I just don’t want to hear some bullshit about how “we’re trying to win every game.”
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I don’t understand why more teams don’t tank. I’m not saying go out and throw games. But you can theoretically tank a season by playing rookies or 2nd strings that you might think have a future but aren’t quite ready yet. Gives them valuable playing time and when you are ready to compete, you have a solid foundation of a team to build on. Take your lumps early. What’s the difference between 1-15 or 7-9? About 15-20 draft spots. If you aren’t in a position to make the playoffs, lose the games.
MuckerQuote Reply
Mucker,
It’s probably a more delicate balance than it seems at face value. If a team is too terrible it could hurt said rookie’s development. For example, I don’t think the current Bills offensive roster is going to do Josh Allen any favors. Guys like David Carr or half a thousand Jags QBs also seem like candidates for guys whose development was not helped by a rebuilding team around them. We could see the same with Barkley with NYG, though maybe it doesn’t matter as much for non-QBs. This is one of the big reasons why the Browns waited so long to take a QB.
berseliusQuote Reply
There are a lot of different personality types that respond to losing differently, but I do think there’s something to a relatively apathetic (businesslike?) approach to the outcome of games when there’s not a “winning culture” in an organization.
I get the idea of tanking when there’s a generational talent in the draft, but (a)I’m not sure there is one this year (Bosa, maybe?) (b)I’d want my team to have more pride than to allow any tanking…other than the type Mucker mentioned.
RynoQuote Reply
Sounds like BYE had a great day in the NFL yesterday, both
Here:
and proactively with some kick returner in Green Bay.
BVSQuote Reply
But their confidence post-career has really been helped with the support groups run by Anthony Young, Mike Maroth, Chris Volstad, and Ruben Quevedo.
BVSQuote Reply
Ryno,
berselius,
Yeah I wouldn’t advocate for just trashing a season. And I’d be curious to know if players really believe they are a good football team (Bills? Raiders?) and believe they can compete. If we can see that a team is complete shit, don’t the players? If I was a QB of a young team with a roster of rookies and young players, I’d want to get in-game experience with them. I would absolutely be trying to win, but I would understand that might not happen often and that would be OK if I thought the future was bright. Maybe being a Bears fan for so long has warped my thinking but I know I’ve been pissed they won a game to go 6-10 rather than 5-11 that lowered their draft position. I’m more invested in seeing the Bears be good for 5-8 years instead of 1-2 years.
MuckerQuote Reply
Mucker,
I think it depends on the team. I’m sure SF’s players looked at last season like “We won 6 games and were a play or two away from winning a few more.” I would think a team like BUF is realistic and the players are just trying to play their position as well as possible. I’m sure OAK’s players see the writing on the wall as well.
RynoQuote Reply
Todd Haley follows Hue Jackson out the door in CLE. Williams should be next, but we’ll see.
RynoQuote Reply
I was just fired by the Browns.
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Congratulations
Berselius is too lazy to login on his phone.Quote Reply
(dying laughing) Yeah, I’m sure McVay is champing at the bit to get away from sunny SoCal and that ridiculously talented roster to be back in Ohio (with which he is familiar).
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
McVay +200 is only the second most ridiculous bet on that list. That Belicheck line would have to move to something like +2,000,000,000 to be close to the actual odds.
berseliusQuote Reply
I wouldn’t be surprised either since I don’t think the Cubs even seriously consider Harper or Machado unless they can get rid of a large chunk of Heyward’s contract.
dmick89Quote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I can’t wait for them to hire Jeff Fisher (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Greg Schiano or GTFO
BVSQuote Reply
Pretty sure the nadir of the sports calendar is the point at which baseball has ended and the potential replacements on the Browns coaching staff becomes the main topic of discussion.
andcountingQuote Reply
berselius,
I mean, 7-9 would be an improvement.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Don’t knock it. That’s a playoff team some years, and that’s what we can look forward to in baseball if we get 16-team playoffs.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
I’m okay with that because baseball’s format in the playoffs would make it more difficult for those averagi-ish teams to advance. The Red Sox had something like a 60% chance of winning the World Series and the Dodgers are a very good team.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Yeah. We’ll have to agree to disagree on that one. I’d sooner give byes to higher seeded teams than have them play .500 or worse teams. 10 or 12 teams max in playoffs.
BVSQuote Reply
No byes, 16 teams, every round is best of 9. Games lasting past dusk are suspended.
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
When is the deadline for exercising an option? I read it the Cubs declined Hamels option and then re-signed him the Rangers would be able to file grievance. So I don’t think that’s a viable option.
dmick89Quote Reply
Interesting. What’s this based on? What I’ve read thus far and seen/heard (which is admittedly far from comprehensive, and might have zero worth to begin with), has indicated the Cubs have been gearing up to make a serious run at Machado/Harper, and it won’t require moving unmovable contracts to do so.
This is not to say I expect the Cubs to sign one of them, as I always try to assume the field, but I have yet to hear anything about the Cubs pursuit of Machado/Harper having a roadblock like moving a Jason Heyward.
(Although, I hope you’re right, and the Cubs do move Heyward, and then sign Harper.)
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
A minute.
RynoQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
if the cubs want a big money signing, they will need to dump salary to avoid going over the top tier of the luxury threshold. i guess there are like two or three tiers. so IF they want to avoid the top tier, they will need to move someone. pretty sure it’s still tbd as to whether or not they want to avoid that top tier though.
not sure if this is what dm was talking about though.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
More of a hunch than anything, but also combined with the fact that their payroll is high and they’ve had some unusually shitty luck in free agent signings. I think it also makes sense to move Heyward if you’re going to get Harper. Heyward vs Almora/Happ is probably about even at this point. I don’t think the Cubs want to or should move Kyle Schwarber. It just feels like the Cubs need to move an outfielder and the obvious pick for that is Heyward due to his contract. Even if you could get out of half of the remaining deal you’re better off in my opinion and I think some team will take a chance on him at the reduced rate they’ll get him for.
I’m not saying it’s a situation in which the Cubs have to move Heyward before they bid on Harper or even sign him, but I think it’s one that they could sign him and then trade Heyward. I don’t think they start the season with both of them.
dmick89Quote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
I’m going to go down with the “Kyle Schwarber is an elite bat” ship. If someone will take some of Heyward’s contract, power to us.
MylesQuote Reply
Cubs pick up Quintana’s option.
dmick89Quote Reply
Myles,
You can wave to me as you pass the “Randy Wells is actually a good pitcher” hill that I died on several years back.
berseliusQuote Reply
RIP Willie McCovey
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
dmick89,
Wouldn’t it then seem like a plausible option would be to trade Zobrist? He has more value than Heyward, would probably be about the same salary savings, could net something useful, and clear up some OF logjam with Happ/Bote/laStella covering 2b. He’s gone after 2019, and at his age he may not reproduce 2018 anyway…though I wouldn’t bet against it.
Of course, you give up leadership and trade one on your best hitters from 2018. Does he have a no trade clause?
Not saying I’d do this…but if salary is an issue, you have to look at Zo, I think.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
Zobrist is still a really good player and he’s not making all that much money. Even if they saved a third of what Heyward has left they’d be in a much better position moving forward. I think they could save half, but they may have to wait out free agency to find out.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Zo 2019 Salary $12M + $0.5M portion of original signing bonus
JHey $20M + $2.5M.
If $$ is the only issue, and you can only save 1/3 of Heyward’s salary, then trading 100% of Zo’s salary saves more. Heyward has partial no trade clause. Zobrist can be traded anywhere.
Offered fwiw only. I’d rather trade Heyward too. But no one would take him w/o Cubs paying $15M, so why bother? For $7.5M you get a good defensive OF with nearly avg production at the plate last year.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
2019 is only a small part of the reason the Cubs should trade Heyward.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I know. And I totally agree. Sunk cost.
BVSQuote Reply
Surprise. Heyward let deadline pass to exercise his opt out.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
Pre-2016 me is happy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
Apparently the Cubs have to shed some salary before they even bring Cole Hamels back. Why even bother if that’s the situation this team is in?
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius,
They asked me to be part of that ruse a few years ago.I mean…that’s funny.
RynoQuote Reply
dmick89,
Unless they already consider Harper’s salary on the books.
RynoQuote Reply
Nick Mullens is the greatest QB in 49er history.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Only 9.5 more years until that Gruden contract runs out in OAK
Berselius is too lazy to login on his phone.Quote Reply
Berselius is too lazy to login on his phone.,
They might have accumulated 25 first round picks by then, though.
RynoQuote Reply
https://www.mlb.com/news/bold-predictions-for-2018-19-free-agent-class/c-300057542
Cub fans would be unhappy.
RynoQuote Reply
Other than Bote’s stats (which are public)?
RynoQuote Reply
I would not say that Bote’s stats indicated that he’s a quad-A player. He’s probably a bench guy, but a cost-controlled bench bat with some pop is still fairly valuable.
MylesQuote Reply
That would be horrible.
MylesQuote Reply
But, you can’t, measure clutch, though.
JKVQuote Reply
This offseason is going to suck.
dmick89Quote Reply
Myles,
I hope it’s not the Cardinals, but I doubt the Cubs even show the slightest interest in Harper, which really sucks.
dmick89Quote Reply
Myles,
I agree. He’s a quality bench guy who can play all the infield positions. That’s fairly valuable.
dmick89Quote Reply
Hamels’ option –> picked up
Smyly –> Rangers
RynoQuote Reply
Is there some reason the Cubs aren’t connected to Michael Brantley?
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
MylesQuote Reply
Ryno,
Smyly was scheduled to make $7 million, so maybe they really need all the cash flexibility they can get? IDK.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
I’ve seen them connected to Pollock, though, and isn’t he the same thing?
RynoQuote Reply
Myles,
I mean, Texas mas motivated to keep CHC from declining Hamels’ option, so I get Texas’ motivation. I guess we should wait to see the return.
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
It seems odd that they’d be that worried about next year’s payroll at this point, but things aren’t looking good.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
There have definitely been rumblings among the Cubs cognoscenti that the days of unlimited payroll are over. Ruh roh.
MylesQuote Reply
Where is all this coming from? It seems odd for a club in the middle of its competitive window and about to sign a (presumably) massive TV deal (likely for its own network) would suddenly pinch pennies.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Myles,
So all those “Cubs are readying a large offer for Harper” that I read this summer should have said the Cubs were readying an offer for a mid-level starter (if they can trade away a few contracts).
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
I have no idea why, but it’s at least what Buster Olney says. Who knows, he could obviously be wrong.
“Other teams’ read on the Cubs’ situation this winter: They have very little payroll flexibility, and will have to spend very carefully to affect upgrades for the 2019 season. The days of having a cheap core of young players are over for the front office.”
MylesQuote Reply
If they’re that worried about payroll, I wonder if they could offload Chatwood for literally nothing. There has to be a team out there willing to roll those dice.
PerkinsQuote Reply
in the absence of the cubs doing any blockbuster deals, i may just spend this off-season fondly recalling my favorite trade in history aka the time that dan cortese traded bobby bonilla for salt & pepa in the 5th (?) inning of the mtv rock n’ jock softball classic in like 1996.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Perkins,
If Thoyer signed Chatwood knowing this crunch was likely they should be fired.
dmick89Quote Reply
I think you’re overreacting a little bit. It was a tweet from Buster Olney, who heard from other teams that they won’t have much payroll flexibility.
a) You really think Theo lets other GMs know about the Cubs financial might (or lacktherof)
b) If Theo did do this highly uncharacteristic thing, you don’t think there’s a chance he’s doing this purposefully to make sure the top FA prizes don’t have their prices continue to be driven up?
I mean, haven’t we already seen this last offseason with Yu and 3 years ago with Heyward?
JKVQuote Reply
No. I said “if” they signed Chatwood knowing that and I stand by what I said. If they signed a terrible pitcher like Chatwood for way too much money when they don’t have money, of course they deserve to be fired. That should go without saying.
I went into this offseason thinking the Cubs weren’t going to go after Harper unless they figured out a way to move Heyward, so this isn’t all that surprising to me. That being said, I’ve just got a hunch about it and there’s a lot I don’t know. What does worry me though is that they had to clear space just to add Hamels.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Conversely though, I doubt they’d retain Hamels if there’s that much of a budget crunch.
I think we can expect Russell’s salary off the books as well. My assumption right now is that they’ll go after Harper or Machado, and shedding salary is more about reducing the amount over the luxury cap that they’ll be taxed on.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Kershaw ——-> Dodgers (3 year extension)
berseliusQuote Reply
I want theCubs to sign Machado and/or Harper, so it’s highly unlikely they don’t sign at least one of them.
I’m just going to take the Violet Beauregard approach.
andcountingQuote Reply
I’d expand that to include Darvish too.
You don’t give yet another 30+ yr old SP (and this one with an extensive injury history) all of the dollars when Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are a year away.
Especially in this day and age when you don’t even really need great starting pitching to be a force.
Here’s hoping Perkins is right and this about avoiding the top tier if possible. If the Cubs threw all their money at Chatwood and Darvish only to cry poor when Harper and Machado come around, then Theo checked out a long time ago.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Perkins,
Well, since KB’s wife has already told the FO what Harper’s wife says he will sign for, i assume Smyly and Russell’s salaries are just providing the cushion needed for the mid-season pick up of a middle infielder.
BVSQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Excellent points. You could also include Morrow though that’s much less money.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’ll just throw this out there: if you’re negotiating with Scott Boras, you don’t exactly try to send a plethora of signals that you’ve got an infinite supply of money.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Agreed. And recent reporting strongly contradicts reports from all season about going after Harper. Except Hamels, what has changed? Plus Hamels less Smyly less Russell is probably only +10M AAV.
There is a lot of $ coming off next year too. And maybe they can package Caratini and Kintzler for a veteran back up catcher to save another $4M on the margin. Or, in dreamland, they can package Caratini, Maples, and Chatwood for something marginally useful.
BVSQuote Reply
I think the Cubs should go after Robinson Chirinos to be their backup catcher. He’s a free agent after the Rangers declined his $4.5 million option. A left handed bat would be ideal, but Chirinos is also someone who could step in for Contreras if he got hurt and missed some time. My guess is they’ll just stick with Caratini since he’s cheap.
dmick89Quote Reply
I wonder if last offseason’s horribly slow pace and lower payouts, rather than holding powder for Machado and Harper, was actually a long game for the owners to depress the amount those two will get.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Point taken, but if the reporting prior to this last week had Harper to the Cubs all but inevitable, this past week has seen everything swing way over to the other extreme, and that’s an odd correction if the Cubs have every intention of pursuing him. If this is all about wanting to slow Boras’ roll a bit, there are plenty of other things to say that should get that impression across that don’t require lying about being broke. When I go to haggle for a specific new car, I don’t open negotiations by telling the salesman I don’t have any money to afford it. I only say that shit if I ain’t lying.
If this unfortunate turn in the rumor mill is true, then my best guess is Theo got a very unwelcome surprise from ownership the past couple of weeks. Or maybe he already knows the sort of contract Harper is going to get is going to go so far beyond what makes sense for any team regardless of payroll that it would be foolish to get involved.
Or maybe this is just horseshit speculation that the media is running with in lieu of anything concrete coming out of Cubs HQ at the moment.
I guess what I’m really trying to say is: maybe.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Since Thoyer took over there really hasn’t been that much information that has leaked. They’ve run a tight lipped department and I don’t expect this offseason to be any different. The Olney tweet wasn’t so much about having inside information as it was about what other teams were reading about the Cubs offseason plans. In years past we’ve known the Cubs were going after Lester. We knew they were going after Heyward. We knew they were going after Zobrist. We knew they wanted Darvish. Up until this past week we were pretty sure the Cubs really wanted Harper (or Machado). I think what SL said is probably right. Either it’s bullshit or ownership told the front office after the season that there wasn’t much money. I have a hard time believing that Theo or Jed would be so aggressive in targeting someone like Chatwood if they had any idea that there wasn’t much money after last year. Or maybe they were aggressive because they knew and it didn’t matter how much they spent last year.
I don’t know, but I don’t think we can easily dismiss this either. It would be nice if there was some reporter willing to debunk what Olney wrote, but to my knowledge that hasn’t happened.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Agreed. Not much has gotten out of Cubs HQ that they didn’t want out there.
Which is why I’m trying to be hopeful it’s all mistaken speculation and not something the Cubs have put out there in order to get in front of the disappointment early.
Otoh, maybe not signing Harper won’t be the worst thing in the world if MLBTR’s projection of a 14 year contract turns out to be accurate.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
It’s funny, that’s exactly how I open negotiations. Obviously not that I have no money whatsoever, but I make it clear their options are 1) get nothing from me, or 2) give me a great deal.
andcountingQuote Reply
When I buy a car I do all my research at home and then I go in with a final offer. It’s a price that I can live with and I can live with them telling me to fuck off too. I think this is more like the strategy this front office has taken. They made a huge offer to Yu Darvish last offseason and then waited a couple months for him to figure it out. I think the Cubs went in with a final offer. Maybe they were willing to talk about opt-outs and no trade clauses, but that’s probably about it. There’s not really a point getting into a bidding war for free agents. You can end up bidding against yourself like the Rangers did with A-Rod many years ago.
dmick89Quote Reply
I have a difficult time believing Harper is going to get a contract that long. As good as he is, he’s been rather inconsistent in his career and that’s going to come up in discussions. I’m sure a lot of teams will spot things they think they can fix, but it’s still a matter of record. The standard these days seems to be an opt-out after two or three years and I expect that will be the case with Harper. It’s probably safe to bet that he’ll be a free agent again by the time he’s 30. My guess is that he’ll be a free agent at the age of 29. The only way that contract is going 14 years is if there are some club options later in the deal (at least after the 10th season).
My guess is he’ll get a 10-year deal for $300 million. There will be an opt-out after the third and fifth year and incentives in the later years of the deal based on games played and where he finishes in the MVP voting. If I’m the Cubs, I come at Harper with something like $100 million over those first three seasons before the first opt-out. Then I’d pay him $28.6 million per season over the final seven years of the contract with incentives that could take the final five years up to a total of $32.5 million each season.
I’d give him ten days to take it or leave it. Then I’d move on to Machado. I’m not sure what kind of deal I’d offer, but it would be less than what I’d be willing to pay Harper.
dmick89Quote Reply
big if true.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
andcounting,
Well, I mean, if we’re going to be 100% honest here about car shopping, when I go to buy a car, I hang out by the free donuts and let the wife do all the talking. If she says we’re signing sign, I sign. If she says we’re leaving, I go with her.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
(dying laughing)
Undoubtedly this translates well to Harper’s decision process.
andcountingQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
free donuts? All I got last year was free coffee and I hate coffee. I would have bought two cars if they had free donuts.
dmick89Quote Reply
What is this no gold glove for Javy shit
GBtSQuote Reply
GBtS,
Did they announce those today? He played a lot of SS and 2B so I didn’t figure he’d get one. I also didn’t care. I didn’t even know they were announced. Who won the MVP awards?
dmick89Quote Reply
Fuck the Cubs.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Don’t tell me what to do.
North Side PatQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
He also said Nico Hoerner looked really good.
dmick89Quote Reply
Steele was part of the class that Thoyer went overslot to sign multiple high school arms. The other notable was Dylan Cease.
JKVQuote Reply
JKV,
That was fun. Steele just came back from TJS. I think he came back in time to make a few appearances in A or AA ball. I think he’s definitely someone to watch for next year. We could see him at the big league level if he stays healthy.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’ve got balls of…
Duke NukemQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
This is a strange thing to say for a team that has won 60% if its games over the last four seasons. There’s clearly some friction between Joe and the front office and maybe some of the players.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
It is strange, but then this has been a strange team for the last two of those four years. They managed all those wins in ’17 and ’18, but both of those teams were DOA once the playoffs started (I still don’t know how the Natinals managed to screw that series up; the Cubs were practically sleepwalking through most of it).
Maybe we just expect too much, but they’ve won gobs and gobs of games, two division titles (would be three except for the dumb way MLB handles tiebreakers), and a World Series, and yet it’s hard to shake the feeling that they could’ve done a lot more so far. I don’t know why that is, because they’ve been mostly great—these are the best days we’ll probably ever know as Cubs fans—but it’s been kinda meh for a while now.
I blame weak-ass groundballs.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Wasn’t there a mistake by an umpire that led to the Nationals losing that series? I thought it was the right call, but MLB said it wasn’t.
Both 2017 and 2018 have started slowly and I think that has affected how well we thought they played.
FWIW, I’m perfectly fine with the Cubs not extending Joe. He’d probably be due about $7-8 million per year and the Cubs could instead sign a first year manager and pay him next to nothing. I’d prefer that to be honest. What about Doug Glanville?
dmick89Quote Reply
I honestly don’t remember and I refuse to look it up. What I do remember was both teams didn’t look very good the entire series, and then game 5 was cray.
FWIW, I’m fine with Joe moving on after this year too. There’s probably something to making changes at all levels, even Theo’s, after enough years go by.
Also in the FWIW category, Theo said there are no artificial limits on spending this offseason, whatever that means.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Hopefully that’s true. Theo has generally been honest with the media so I suppose there’s no reason for me to doubt it.
I’m just ready for this offseason to get started and see some action in the free agent market. We should get an idea early on how active the Cubs are going to be. We knew from the start they were interested in Darvish (and the other top free agents they’ve signed in recent years). We’ll probably know by within two weeks whether the Cubs are serious about Harper or Machado.
dmick89Quote Reply
Well, this kind of sucks.
dmick89Quote Reply
So it’s starting to look as though the Cubs don’t have much financial flexibility.
dmick89Quote Reply
The whole trading Schwarber bit doesn’t make sense. I think he means Heyward.
dmick89Quote Reply
MLB said the day after that Javy should have been called out for tipping Wieters’ mask on the passed ball strike 3. Though then Wieters threw the ball into RF like an idiot. And the only reason Javy was batting in the first place was because Max Scherzer IBB’d Jason Heyward, i.e., the worst playoff hitter in the history of baseball. I certainly didn’t lose sleep over that non-call (dying laughing)
GBTSQuote Reply
GBTS,
I barely remember the play, but do recall thinking the umpire got it right to begin with. I refuse to change my opinion on that even though I have trouble remembering the play. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
I dunno. I tend to believe Theo over Joel Sherman. Granted, Theo’s comments don’t really say anything definitive one way or the other about whether they intend to pursue Machado or Harper, but if we are to take him at his word, then lack of funds don’t sound like an issue. If it were the problem, I think Theo would just come out and say it. There are plenty of ways to spin “we ain’t got no cash” without basically lying, which is what Theo’s doing if he’s saying “no artificial limits” when the truth is the Cubs are tapped.
The question I have is whether Theo and co. are looking first to improve in ways that don’t require 10+ years and a 350MM commitment. If we get to the end of the offseason with a clearly improved team, I’ll be fine with the Cubs not landing Harper. Harper/Machado just represent the simplest path to getting better that I can see right now, but that can change fast.
What I don’t want is to see a bunch of peripheral, upside-y, elite-spin-rate type BS moves, followed by Theo saying “Getting a healthy Kris Bryant back is just like adding a superstar!”
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I feel like they didn’t do much at all at the deadline this year, and we were told that we needed to eat sawdust to afford steak during the offseason. And here we are, with the media basically reporting that all we’re going to get out of the whole mess is Hamels’ option and a tender for Addison Russell.
So, yeah, it definitely feels kind of meh, and for good reason.
uncle daveQuote Reply
uncle dave,
I feel confident that Russell will eventually be traded this offseason. I really think it says a lot that the Cubs had to clear some salary before they retained Hamels. That felt like the kind of stupid thing the Cubs had to do under Tribune ownership.
dmick89Quote Reply
So there will be no Harbryzzo?
RynoQuote Reply
dmick89,
Is there any evidence other than timing that the Cubs dealing Smyly had anything to do with picking up Hamels’ extension, or is it possible they just didn’t think he was worth the money based on evaluating his current rehab trajectory?
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
The timing, money and teams involved suggest that the first part is more than just coincidence, imo. I think we’ll see about the second part once the PTBNLs are named.
RynoQuote Reply
andcounting,
GBTSQuote Reply
andcounting,
A journalist or two reported that before the Cubs could exercise his option they had to clear a bit from the payroll. That’s kind of where all of this began. It’s a very bizarre thing to have to do in the offseason unless ownership has placed significant spending limits on the team.
Is it accurate? I don’t know yet, but there has been several reporters now who have run with the same information. That could still be nothing, but I don’t think the Cubs gain anything by pretending to be penniless. It was after that first report about having to clear payroll that Olney wrote about how other teams believe the Cubs have nothing to spend this offseason. So there is some evidence, but it’s not conclusive. I think we’ll know for sure within the next 7 to 10 days. If we don’t hear the Cubs are going after Harper or Machado then it’s safe to assume that ownership has placed a limit on what the payroll can be next season in my opinion.
dmick89Quote Reply
According to Jesse Rogers:
Jim Hickey —————-> buh-bye
Shaping up to be quite the lame duck year for Maddon. Maybe just fire him too right now and get it over with.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
dmick89,
Although I hate siding with the Cubs dipshit beat reporters, I’ve pretty much written off Harper/Machado at this point. If I’m wrong, I’ll happily do those walkbacks and mea culpas when the time comes.
If the reports hadn’t come out the night before that the Cubs needed to move salary before picking up Hamels’ option, and then the Cubs dealt Smyly the very next day, I’d be more inclined to try for optimism. I’ve tried to take Theo’s comments about no artificial limits on payroll as hopefully as possible, but I haven’t been able to maintain it.
That said, it kinda rankles that the Cubs would pick up Hamels’ option if they’re having payroll issues. He’s not a sure thing at this point in his career, and there are plenty of ways the Cubs could find more pitching without the large hit to available free agent dollars.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I kind of agree with this, but it would have been much smarter to do this as soon as the season ended so you could have had a better pick of who was available.
dmick89Quote Reply
The Cubs look pretty stupid for firing their hitting and pitching coaches in back to back years.
dmick89Quote Reply
Ryno,
dmick89,
I hadn’t thought about the Rangers’ point of view in this. They had millions of reasons to motivate the Cubs to pick up Hamels’ option. So it might not have been so much about the Cubs needing to deal Smyly to clear payroll and more of the Cubs saying, what will you give us to avoid the buyout? I think beat reporters just printed the same thing that came to everyone’s mind: obviously the Cubs needed to free up money. But it does make me think the Cubs are asking more from the Rangers than I originally thought.
One thing I’m sure the Ricketts know is how much the World Series win was worth to them in purely fiscal terms. And I’m sure they have a number in mind about what the next World Series will be worth as well. (I picture the kids essentially asking their dad for approval on how much they can spend and needing numbers to convince him expensive baseball decisions are worth the investment). I don’t think Theo or his small-potatoes decisions like Hamels one-year option will broadcast what he’s really allowed to spend on free agents. The only thing that will tell us anything meaningful is what they offer Harper and/or Machado.
andcountingQuote Reply
dmick89,
Yeah, that’s a really bad look and a very bad omen for Joe. Did he have a say at all in the hiring and firing? If yes, he looks like an idiot. If no, he looks really nonessential.
andcountingQuote Reply
Jeff Sessions———>following Jim Hickey out the door.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I’m guessing he didn’t have much of a say. Several reports have made it sound as though there’s a lot of tension between Joe and Theo and considering Joe is a good friend to Jim Hickey I doubt Theo wanted his input. The curious thing is why they waited so long.
dmick89Quote Reply
andcounting,
I know I’m supposed to be all “the sky is falling” with this news, but Sessions is a racist piece of shit so fuck him.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I’m just (dying laughing) because he’s a racist piece of shit who wasn’t corrupt enough for Trump.
andcountingQuote Reply
My money would be on Hickey having a problem with Joe (and, presumably Hickey himself) formally not being offered an extension in the offseason.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
(dying laughing) I have no idea what happens with the Mueller investigation, but I’ve been saying it all along that he should be prepared to dump all the info he has online if he’s fired. Yeah, it’s easy for me to say because I’m not the one who would be arrested, but the public has a right to know and it is his job to make sure we that get that information. Other people have risked arrest to do the same thing so it’s something he should have been prepared to do from day one.
dmick89Quote Reply
andcounting,
From what I’ve read over the years, Joe and Jim are really good friends. I can see why Theo would want to make changes to the coaching staff, but it looks pretty bad when you did the same thing a year ago. At what point does Joe take the fall instead of the coaching staff beneath him?
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
The second the clubhouse gets discontent and grumbly, or when there’s a general question of effort, Joe will be gone. But as long as the guys are relatively having fun, staying happy and motivated, they’ll blame execution on the coaches.
andcountingQuote Reply
I keep reading from people who seem convinced that Mueller has banked some indictments in case something like this happened, but I don’t think government employees are all that competent. It’s also why I have little doubt the Democrats in the House will give in and work with Republicans to get stupid shit done that nobody wants. Take a page out of the Republicans playbook. Obstruct at every corner and then blame it on the Republicans. Run nasty attack ads in two years and burn that party to the fucking ground.
dmick89Quote Reply
andcounting,
That’s probably true. The players still love Joe so it’s probably worth keeping him around for now.
dmick89Quote Reply
I think you mentioned it a few days ago, but great starting pitching isn’t even something that you necessarily need anymore to be a great team considering how specialized the bullpen has become. The Cubs may have been better off picking up a couple relievers for what they’re paying Hamels.
FWIW, I still like the Cubs taking the option on Hamels. No, he’s not what he once was, but he still looks like an above average starter to me and in the Cubs rotation that may be good enough to be the best starter on the team. He’s also stayed healthy for the most part in his career and the Cubs have no idea what they’ll get from Darvish so I like the contract.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I think their best bet is to run infomercials on Fox News introducing hyper racist personalities who gradually start adopting slightly less racist views. As long as Republicans think they’re being attacked and their white privilege is at stake they’ll keep voting for the racist assholes. It’s going take massive deceit to get the Christians to vote for someone remotely good or honest. (dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
The Rangers’ motivation was something I briefly thought about when the Smyly trade went down then promptly forgot amidst all the shrieking reports about CUBES HAVE ZERO MUNNYS!!!!!!
It’s a good point. And maybe it’s as simple as the Cubs were thinking of not exercising the option and re-signing Hamels afterwards, with the Rangers preference being to get a little something for the buyout they were set to pay, rather than just lighting the money on fire. Cubs didn’t like what they were seeing out of Smyly, so they save a little bit, the Rangers get a little bit. Everybody’s happy.
Cubs weren’t going to re-sign Hamels at an AAV less than 15MM per anyway, so it makes sense to do this deal, especially if they weren’t planning on using Smyly in any meaningful capacity anyway.
I like comments that give me hope. Your comment did that. Thank you.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I don’t think the Cubs could have declined the option and then re-signed Hamels. The Rangers would have filed a grievance and won.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
andcounting,
Somewhere I saw and editorial that suggested the Dems in the house could actually attempt to do things and either get Trump to go along and expose the cretins in the Senate, or expose both of them. Such as: National Minimum wage increase, DACA, fix Voting Rights Act, fix issues with Obamacare marketplaces, enact equal pay and violence against women acts, propose some sensible gun regulations like closing gun show loophole, increasing background checks and wait periods, and regulating assault rifles, shift tax burdens back to rich, etc. (I added a few.) You know, stuff like governing for a change. Wonder if Pelosi could pull that off. Steny Hoyer cannot.
BVSQuote Reply
Rejoice, patient motherfuckers! A baseball sports transaction hath occurred!
Mike Zunino ——————> Rays
Mariners <———————- Mallex Smith
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
And the Dodgers may not have money for Harper/Machado either:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-payroll-20181105-story.html
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
MLB owners
GBTSQuote Reply
I doubt that’s what would happen. They’d spin it in 2020 with a bunch of lies and I suspect it would work. If the Democrats in the house are going to do anything they may as well go all in on popular progressive ideas like Medicare For All, free college tuition, prison reform, marijuana legalization and other things like that that have majority support. None will pass, but if the GOP is going to spread lies in 2020 about what you tried to pass then you can at least try to pass some things well to the left of the average Democratic congressman.
The other thing is they need to be ready to spread their own lies about the GOP because fuck this playing nice bullshit. You can’t expect to win elections on a regular basis if you’re tying one arm behind your back. If the Democrats aren’t going to force Donald Trump and the GOP to play defense in 2020 they’re going to lose. Just make wild shit up. Leak story after story. Doctor photos and videos.
dmick89Quote Reply
Those would be excellent additions to the list.
Except free college tuition–what does that mean? I’m at a university and we already see enough students who are not prepared to be in college and some that just aren’t capable of being in college at all. If K-12 was doing it’s job, then I might have a different view. But geez its prety aweful how theirs so many kids who can’t wright a good enough sennence nowadays.
Also, I can’t figure out how you have free tuition and then have enough faculty to teach the many more classes that would be needed to meet demand. If you’ve seen a good study on that, send it on. My objection is mainly logistical (except for prep argument above), which is not really a great foundation for an objection.
BVSQuote Reply
I’m pretty sure I read that this year’s increase to the defense department budget was enough to cover this year’s tuition costs and then some. Obviously some cuts are going to have to be made to something and defense is the obvious one in my opinion. We could cut the defense budget in half and still have the world’s largest defense budget. Increase taxes for the wealthy and that, combined with defense cuts and we can cover just about every basic service that every single person should have access to.
How many more college students do you think there would be if there was free tuition? There would be an increase, but I don’t think it would increase by as much as a lot of people think.
dmick89Quote Reply
BVS,
So is it your collegiate experience that forms your playoff views or vice versa?
andcountingQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
dmick89,
Yeah, undergraduate education funding and secondary education standards are distinct issues, both of which could be addressed with funding and reform. If anything, the high cost of tuition and the profit to be made from student debt hamstrings any incentives to better prepare students for college. Lenders make a ton of money and universities prolong their existence regardless of how ready incoming students are or how employable graduates are. Parents and students bear the financial responsibility but they are extremely poor/biased judges of scholastic aptitude. If the government/educators/lenders /taxpayers were footing the bill and undergraduate and secondary systems worked a little bit better together, the effectiveness might change a bit.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
How would his playoff views form his college experience?
RynoQuote Reply