He's Japanese. Another failure of a season from him and the only honorable thing to do is harakiri.
It's a joke, people.
*****Official Cubs 2019 thread*****
- Thread starter QChawks
- Start date
It's a joke, people.
meh. He's good in low leverage role. When Baltimore started using him to close or pitch in 8th inng his walk rate went up a ton.
I think he has pretty good upside for the contract he received. He'll be good bullpen depth.
He should eat inngs if nothing else. Instead of throwing AAAA junk.
$3 million is doable. $30 million for Harper is not. I’m not sure if this is it, or not for the Cubs. If they are holding onto Russell that’s $4 million there, and there is probably only room for another arm. The roster is pretty much set.
The reality is us Cubs fans are reading every tea leaf about rumors of KB’s swing returning to pre Chili Davis form, and Yu Darvish being healthy. We need guys to return to norms, especially all the hitters who regressed in the second half of 2018.
I'm guessing the holdup on Harper and Machado is length of contract. Still don't think either one gets over 8 years.
Theres a lot of players to be signed between 3 million and 30 million.
The Cubs appear to be unwilling to cross over into the second tier of the salary cap, or whatever they are calling it.
I don't anticipate a big splash. I think this is is. Theo and Tom Rickets have been very clear that there is enough talent on this team to win. I don't think they are wrong. Some guys were injured last year, some spent too much time beating women, and some regressed below their talent level. You cannot throw money at those kind of problems.
The rotation should be very solid. They have decent options in the bullpen, and for once they have guys pushing from inside the system who should be called up. The defense should be excellent. They just need some guys to focus on hitting fundamentals. Beyond that I anticipate the Cubs holding back about $10-12 million for mid-season pick ups.
The amazing story of Luke Hagerty. 16+ years after the Cubs drafted the lefty pitcher, he is back in the organization. Probably a miracle if he makes the majors, but it’s already a miracle that a team has signed him 10 years after injuries forced him to give up his career.
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/201...lefthander-luke-hagerty-minor-league-contract
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/201...lefthander-luke-hagerty-minor-league-contract
All Winter, Theo has preached the same sermon.
He believes that Kris Bryant will be born again into
the hitter he was before last season's injuries.
Theo believes that Darvish will be resurrected from
the dead and win at least 15 games for the Cubs.
Theo believes that Joe Maddon will push all the
right buttons for the Cubs in the last year of his
current contract.
He believes that Kris Bryant will be born again into
the hitter he was before last season's injuries.
Theo believes that Darvish will be resurrected from
the dead and win at least 15 games for the Cubs.
Theo believes that Joe Maddon will push all the
right buttons for the Cubs in the last year of his
current contract.
29. Chicago Cubs
2018 rank: 25
The Cubs' fall from farm system grace has been abrupt, sped by graduations and the trades of two elite prospects (Gleyber Torres and Eloy Jimenez) for pitching help, as well as worse results in the drafts since they began picking toward the end of the first round. There may not be a starting pitching prospect in the system who projects as more than a No. 5 starter, and without last year's draft class there's only one position player prospect who projects as a regular.
2018 rank: 25
The Cubs' fall from farm system grace has been abrupt, sped by graduations and the trades of two elite prospects (Gleyber Torres and Eloy Jimenez) for pitching help, as well as worse results in the drafts since they began picking toward the end of the first round. There may not be a starting pitching prospect in the system who projects as more than a No. 5 starter, and without last year's draft class there's only one position player prospect who projects as a regular.
That Quintana trade hurts. But the fall is also heavily impacted by Baez, Contreas, Schwarber, Happ, Almora, Russell making it in the show
Without a doubt, but they have been unable to reload the system. Some of the guys you have listed have been up for 4 yrs or so now. When they did have some guys, they took the win now approach and traded them for Quintana.
There's a problem brewing for the Cubs, as others have said. Bryant/Rizzo/Baez future contracts are obviously looming. When you factor in Lester's future... the Cubs look like they have 2-3 years, max, to return to glory.
We'll see if Theo is as good as Cub fans seem to think he is.
We'll see if Theo is as good as Cub fans seem to think he is.
Lol he hasnt proven that he is as good as we think he is?
Theo is really good at building a team but I have serious doubts about him being able to maintain a championship caliber team. The Red Sox really dodged a bullet when they were able to unload Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett on the Dodgers. Otherwise, they were in for a decline. He also signed guys like JD Drew and Renteria to bad contracts too. Plus, Theo had some really smart people around him in Boston like Dan Duquette who really built the base for all those championships and put together a whale of a farm system, and Bill James the sabermetric guy.
A few thoughts on the Keith Law rankings:
1. The Dodgers are #5. While they somehow have not won a WS title, they are the class of the National League. It's incredible that their farm is this good while they have been in "win now" mode.
2. The Astros are still top half, impressive given that they have been in "win now" mode.
3. Blaming the Cubs #29 ranking on solely promotions and "win now" moves is short-sighted. The Dodgers and Astros have made similar moves. LA traded prospects for Darvish in 2017 (much to their regret) and Machado in 2018 and are still top 5.
The Cubs are where they are because for all of their strengths, there is not a front office more incompetent with pitcher drafting/international signing/developing as the Cubs. It is almost a miracle that they have not stumbled into a starting pitcher by accident.
Anything short of a great 2019 big league season and ascent up the farm rankings should cost Jason McLeod his job. The guy has legit done nothing good in 2+ years.
1. The Dodgers are #5. While they somehow have not won a WS title, they are the class of the National League. It's incredible that their farm is this good while they have been in "win now" mode.
2. The Astros are still top half, impressive given that they have been in "win now" mode.
3. Blaming the Cubs #29 ranking on solely promotions and "win now" moves is short-sighted. The Dodgers and Astros have made similar moves. LA traded prospects for Darvish in 2017 (much to their regret) and Machado in 2018 and are still top 5.
The Cubs are where they are because for all of their strengths, there is not a front office more incompetent with pitcher drafting/international signing/developing as the Cubs. It is almost a miracle that they have not stumbled into a starting pitcher by accident.
Anything short of a great 2019 big league season and ascent up the farm rankings should cost Jason McLeod his job. The guy has legit done nothing good in 2+ years.
Trading for a player in a contract year is a lot different then trading for a player cost controlled for 5
How is Ben Zobrist supposed to do this year? I go to church with his sister and want to know if I should avoid the subject or not.
/namedrop
/namedrop
The larger point is that these teams keep developing, whereas the Cubs can't seem to develop anybody good that they didn't pick in the top half of the first round. Yes, I understand David Bote is a "utility" guy at this point.
Entering into the final year of a 4-year deal, and his contract has already paid for itself, not even counting for his 2016 postseason heroics. He has been a tremendous signing, only held back by a wrist injury that diminished his hitting in 2017.
Thanks. I've seen them recently in the 22-25 range (not that it changes any of the fundamental points here), so I was curious.
Holy crap. I agree with Hime.
Player development has to improve or they'll undo all the good they've done.
It isn't like Cubs system is devoid of any talent. It's just short on high end talent right now. I'm actually optimistic about some pitchers pushing through to the majors this season, and big steps up for some of the 2016 IFA signees.
