***Chicago Cubs***

this is the classic white Sox move. Say you went hard after a FA just couldn’t get it done

 

I'm more concerned about how our lawsuit is going against the rooftops

Really care more about that than winning. Tom and Crane are the best.

 

the more that comes out the more I hate ownership

 

You’re not actually bitching that we decided not to overpay Scott and Bregman, are you?

 

Dude, he bitches about literally everything the Cubs do. Even the few times they do something smart, he still bitches.

 

We should continue to be pissed off by ricketts antics and that they’ll have a lower payroll than last year, but that bregman contract is absurd and it’s fine they didn’t get him. Sign Justin Turner or preferably (for me at least) Mark Canha and call it an offseason.

 

You’re right I’m sure they’ll lower the price of tickets with the money they saved. Can’t expect a billionaire to try and win. I’m much happier ricketts can buy more real estate instead of adding a player to help them win this year

 

I get off on savvy business moves, not winning games

 

I saw a tweet about the Cubs being one major piece away, a RHB or Elite starter or elite Pen guy. And then showed how we just missed on three guys that would’ve filled that role.

Curious if we dip into the trade market at some point this year to get that last piece to really compete.

As is this this team should win the division without question.

 

I’d be fine not signing anyone if we were going to give Tucker a huge contract and lock him up for the rest of his career

 

We are only one piece away from being among the elite teams, but I would disagree that it’s any of the three things. We needed an elite starter that’s it. If we could get Cease without giving up a kings ransom I would do that in a heartbeat. Cease, Steele, Imanaga is about as good of 1-2-3 as there is in baseball.

 

lol this was a .500 team in the worst division in baseball. They could add an elite starter, bat and pen arm and still only be about the 4th best roster in the NL

 

That's not a realistic expectation. No chance his agent would be open to signing before hitting the market. The only reason we were able to trade for him is because of this fact.

 

This is an insane post when nearly every projection has us closer to a 90 win team... But go on...

 

which is high but still only the 5th most in the NL. I hope PECOTA is right but I just don’t see it even despite the rest of the division remaining largely unimproved

 

Hang the fiscal responsibility banner

 

How would you feel about Pablo Lopez? Maybe a step down from elite, but I think Minnesota will be much more rational trading partners than San Diego. I’ve pretty much given up on the cubs trading with San Diego for Preller reasons. Lopez or one of the younger Seattle pitchers (non Castillo essentially) seems far more likely to me.

 

I pretty much said this yesterday but we can both be upset at Rickett’s philosophy and understand it’s fine we missed on bregman at that price point. Also, I think they had a good offseason, so it cushions the blow of missing on bregman.

Honestly though, I don’t think their most important thing right now is acquiring any player. They’re going to have to be really really good at identifying which 8 pitchers they want in the pen to start the season. They collected a number of solid arms that are out of options to compete for spots, and most of them won’t clear waivers. They can’t afford to miss on these decisions. They can’t fuck around with the pen for the first 3 months of the season like the last two years. I hope this doesn’t happen, but it wouldn’t shock me if they stash anyone they can in the minors including Eli Morgan

 

Really going for it

 

Exciting times! A 40tr old that’s super cool and gets pine tar on the back of his jersey is the splash I’ve been hoping for.

 

We gotta sign Jameis

 

That Ted Cruz ass face

 

Looks like most projections have us between 85 and 94 wins.

It’s been a great offseason. Really close to amazing if a couple of deals got over the finish line.

If we’re in it at the deadline you hope they are active in the trade market. Team could use another arm in the pen.

Let’s see how these young kids play at the plate.

I’m excited about the season.

 

Olney doesn’t hold back here.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id...hicago-cubs-alex-bregman-spending-free-agency


I’m excited for the year too. Realistically we should’ve finished closer to 90 wins last year. We took that team and improved it with Tucker and a better bullpen. If any of the younger guys can make a jump and Suzuki stays healthy for a full season, we could definitely run away with the NL central and it not even be close.

However, it’s frustrating that we’re fourth in revenue in the league and we’re 16th in free agent spend this offseason. While at the same time acting like we’re going for it with the trade for Tucker. If you’re going to dump prospects then at least go all in.

 

Cubs ownership should continue to get clowned, but I’m not sure where it’s coming from that the rays outspent the cubs this offseason because that didn’t happen

Edit: they’re not the most impactful signings, but he just didn’t include Carson Kelly or Jon berti or thielbar

 

Well this will stink

 

I feel like this is every year just with a different provider. Didn't they do this with DirecTV last year or the year before?

 

If they halved the amount it costs for marquee I might pay it

 

I know “blah blah blah spring training”, but I really think Busch is poised for a massive season. He gained so much muscle in the offseason

 

The young dudes look good

 

I'm officially in on this team... How do I know? Because I'm watching spring baseball.

PCA is a terror on the base pads please god let him learn how to hit a baseball.

 

See we bring back Sammy and the vibes are the highest they’ve been in years. I’ve loved seeing him in the dugout there at spring training.

 

Just to watch 60% of games on mute

 

I hate fucking with the first time this thread has had good vibes in years but alas:



I know I was bitching about gage workman but he has looked really solid at third defensively so I expect both him and brujan break camp with the team (I think hoerner will be on the IL too)

 

Early reports where Shaws injury was minor and he would be ready. Now he’s not making it to Japan. Big yikes for a team who didn’t open the wallet for Bergman.

 

Workman going to surprise

 

A Rule 5 kid working out would be amazing…

 

Brad Keller seems to have some buzz out the pen.

 

Getting irrationally excited about PCA this year. RBI single, advances to second on the cutoff and they try to throw him out. Ball goes into outfield and he scores easily. As long as he can keep that OPS around .700 he’s easily going to be a 4 WAR guy with a shot at being a 5+ WAR player.

 

Defensive wins in the outfield are overrated at wrigley. He needs to hit/OBP at a higher level than would draw a .700 OPS.

 

Do we think PCA and Amaya look like the hitters last August/September or May/June/July... Because if its the guys we got in the 2nd half this lineup could be really dynamic.

 

This was his 2nd half numbers.... I would take this as his floor in a heartbeat.

BB% -5.5%
K% - 22.5%
BB/K - 0.25
AVG - 262
OBP - .310
SLG - .425
OPS - .736
ISO - .164
BABIP - .314
wRC - 28
wRAA - 0.9
wOBA - .315
wRC+ - 104

 

Yes and no. I don’t think it’s necessary to deal in extremes all the time.

So “no” I wouldn’t accept that “in a heartbeat”
But I wouldn’t be ringing alarm bells if that’s what it is.

 

If Shaw can go to Japan, today’s lineup appears to be their opening day lineup. I know it was against the padres C lineup but seeing them put up that many crooked numbers was fun to see.

Also doesn’t matter, but Tucker being 0/17 in spring training is so funny

 

He always sucks in the spring, too