*****Official Cubs 2019 thread*****
- Thread starter QChawks
- Start date
These things can happen pretty easily. When you're ripe with prospects, you start making decisions on which ones to keep and which ones to use as trade bait. Cubs made some good moves to secure a ring and then later made some moves out of desperation, all the while some guys didn't develop as expected. Almora stalled out, Russell regressed and became a dumpster fire off the field, Schwarber hasn't developed the way they thought he would. They traded the farm for Quintana who has been ok, but that's a hell of a lot to pay for ok.
All the while, they haven't grown pitching. By this point, the farm should at least be producing up a half dozen or more potential bullpen arms, but there's just not much there. That's forced their hand to deal for Wade Davis and sign Brandon Morrow....and the lack of any young, cheap starters means they're paying $20M for Cole Hamels.
I do point back to @Hime_Peterson post earlier about committed ownership. There's a lot here that's pretty similar to Theo's time in Boston. Amazing job of building up to get the championship and break the drought....stay solid for a while, but never really reach peak again. I agree with those who have said the development game has changed in the last 2-3 years and while Theo was absolutely on top of it when he first joined the Cubs, they're succeeding less and less now. There will be some changes and Theo will probably move on after 2021, but I don't expect the Cubs to have a major fall-off. They won't be the Astros or Dodgers in the near-term, but they'll continue to spend money and they still have talent on this team. I expect that they'll continue to be a playoff team and may even find a way to another ring (see 2005-2011 Boston), but if ownership ultimately replaces Theo with someone good, they'll still have the infrastructure in place to win.
It is a lot easier to build up talent when you are drafting in the top ten. The Cubs are finding out how difficult it is to maintain that farm system when you are drafting late in rounds. That is something that is impressive with St Louis. Their farm system has been pretty decent through the years, especially with pitching and they haven't had a top 10 draft spot since 1997. Although, with the most recent call-ups and some questionable moves the last couple of years, the Cardinals farm system is getting a little depleted in the upper rungs.
I gotta admit, whomever is scouting pitchers for their drafts/intl with the Cubs stinks at it.
Currently, there's 2 out of 13 pitchers that are home grown. None are starters. If I am researching things correct, they've pitched a grand total of 4 games this year.
That's almost impossible to truly believe.
Currently, there's 2 out of 13 pitchers that are home grown. None are starters. If I am researching things correct, they've pitched a grand total of 4 games this year.
That's almost impossible to truly believe.
There's been a brain talent drain. Luhnow obviously - but others have been poached as well. I believe Oakland grabbed a guy that apparently will wind up being a GM soon (who knows, maybe back in StL if Mo/Girsch get riffed).
And the hacking repercussions/Fowler signing to the 2017 draft have turned that draft into a darn near total swing and miss at the moment. Add in the trades made...this year is when the talent drain in players came home to bite StL, and why they stood pat at the deadline.
Someone mentioned earlier - Cincinnati really has an opportunity here in the division's future, because StL/Milw/Cubs have all sort of handcuffed themselves (in different ways) via decisions to try to win now. They sort of remind me of the Cubs in 2014...talent is coming, and they got a good head start already built. They're at the pesky stage currently, but aren't all that far away from making a move because they have the payroll flexibility to do so.
Cubs aren’t even trying anymore.
Players look pathetic.
They’ve given up.
They all deserve a solid ass kicking.
Players look pathetic.
They’ve given up.
They all deserve a solid ass kicking.
It must suck to be a starting pitcher on this team right now. You have to be perfect, and even if you are, the bullpen will find a way to blow it.
When they IBB'd the winning run on, all I could think about was DOOM.
I gotta admit thought, I'd have done it too.
I gotta admit thought, I'd have done it too.
Ben Zobrist should leave the AAA Iowa Cubs and
go home. His time would be better spent with his
children. They need a full-time father.
go home. His time would be better spent with his
children. They need a full-time father.
I don’t know. If the Cubs don’t care, why should I bother. But, I’ve been saying that since Beckert was at 2nd base.
At this point, maybe they should throw Rizzo in the ninth.
Ben Zobrist could not fully
satisfy his wife. His kids
deserve to have an actual man
for a father.
I'm not even going to fix my double post because it deserves to be said twice.
F that, I'll say it again. F this. F this sorry sh!t!!!!!
F that, I'll say it again. F this. F this sorry sh!t!!!!!
You never, I repeat never, put the winning run on base with an intentional walk. Regardless of how Kintzler pitched, this one is on Maddon.
Blow it up right now and start over. Baez is the only untouchable.
Blow it up right now and start over. Baez is the only untouchable.
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