CSB a couple of my buddies were in a bar across from Wrigley after the last game of a season 10ish years ago and Tom came in and chatted with them. Very attentive and open to them even though they were loaded. Pretty sure that bar got ripped down to be the hotel.
They are constructed to win a weak Central, and maybe make a playoff run. Not a WS team, though.
I’ve actually never heard a bad story about a personal, face-to-face interaction with Tom. I’m sure there’s been something at some point and people have plenty of beef with politics and how he runs the team, but never a bad word on a personal interaction.
Well, I’m a dodger fan obviously, when Frank McCourt was our owner, my family owned season tickets. He was a terrible owner and didn’t invest in the team and used it as his personal ATM machine.We sold our season tickets and didn’t support the team until he sold them. The Dodgers attendance during that era went from one of the top every year to middle of the pack under his ownership. Every year, your team makes the playoffs. You get more money for each round your advance and get percentages of the TV money. It’s in the team‘s best interest financially to be competitive you’re in your own you’ll make more money. The Cubs nationally are a very popular team and they are in a weak division. They should be winning that division year in and year out and give themselves an opportunity to advance through the playoff rounds. They could be very profitable if the ownership invested in, they’re on the field product.
Correct, but why risk spending another 50 million. When you know revenues will be about the same.
The ole' boycott. Sounds familiar. Many fans think that's the answer to Hawkeye football, too. If fans stop showing up, I'm sure the Cubs will build up a $300M payroll, too.
It worked in LA. Since Frank McCourt sold the team in 2012, the Dodgers have made the post season every year and won their division 11 times. They take that post season bonus revenue and re-invest it in their team year in and year out. That how owners are supposed to run things.
Yes a salary cap like in the NFL, that way we can have post season parity like in the NFL……..
At least give a team such as Milwaukee a chance to hold onto studs past their Arby cut off.
Pohlad family made lots of $$$ from the elite MLB hierarchy.
Now I’m not a fan of Bregman the person (he was on the 2017 Trashstros), but objectively he’s the best available 3B option. He’s relatively young (30) and has some decent pop in his bat. He’s solid defensively and there’s familiarity with Kyle Tucker. He’s an upgrade over your current options at the hot corner and really lengthens that starting lineup IMHO.
Reportedly, the ask on Cease is really high - like Shaw plus more for a 1-year rental. Obviously, that’s not going to happen. Will be interesting to see if a deal for Cease or King gets done. Both would be rentals.
They locked up Chourio just like the Royals locked up Witt Jr.
Like Alonzo, appears he overplayed his hand.
Attansio purchased the Brewers for $223 million. The team is currently worth 1.6 billion dollars. Don’t let these owners cry poor. They are cheap asses that don’t care about winning. A cap/floor won’t change that. The Brewers understand how to develop talent. They’ve been a playoff team plenty of times, but they refuse to ever go all in. Their window appears to be closing with the loss of Burnes and recently Adames. Cubs should take over that division.
Touche’. Both can probably be had at a discount. Neither are going to want to go into spring training without a job.
I will never understand the Cub's approach.
Wish it was longer. But the brewers shouldn’t have to be force a trade with Devin this offseason.
Cubs still out spend Milwaukee 2 to 1 every year. So it’s not everything. Unless you also have the Dodgers scouting to go with it. The Cubs have been bad at developing talent.
Especially with the Cardinals being so bad with no end in sight. How fun was 2016 and 2017 with the Dodgers and Cubs battling it out in the NLCS in back to back years? Fans everywhere want to see that, it’s good for baseball.
Sometimes it’s a little opportunistic luck. The Michael Busch trade appeared 1 sided towards the Cubs initially, but with Shohei and Freddie there wasn’t anywhere for him to play. (OF and 3B didn’t work out). Busch fits perfect at 1B for the Cubs. Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope are now top 40 mlb prospects and both in the Dodgers top 5. They were both scouted and developed by the Cubs, and could be big contributors in the majors by 2026. We loved Michael Busch, but he’s simply a better fit for the Cubs with their current rosters.
Padres always start high. Bottom line they have to move one of the pitchers. Arreaz is owed 14 million and can really only play 1st or DH. Not much power. So they’d most likely have to take a 6 million or so contract back with hm. Best case you move 8 million and don’t get much of a prospect in return. Because no one will extend him or give a qualifying offer.
Lots of these teams spread the risk as well. Have multiple stakes in partnerships. Easier to justify spending when you are only responsible for part of the risk.
Agree brewers got lucky grabbing Contreras too. But I’m saying since the Ship for the Cubs. Overall they haven’t been good at it. Hence why the brewers have been getting in there every other year.
Ask and you shall receive
sports.yahoo.com
I think Brett Taylor had a good package of the Padres getting 1 pitcher from the Wicks/Assad/Brown bucket, and either Cassie or Alcantara. If the Cubs balk on the position player it would have to go to more prospects going to the Padres.
I think Arraez is the least valuable batting champ ever. He’s so limited defensively. With the Cubs Busch is a better 1st basemen, so that leaves you with a singles hitting DH (lots of bloop singles and slow hit ground balls) Arraez’s exit velo is well below average. He was good with the Padres because he had Tatis and Machado hitting behind him and they didn’t have an established 1B (they had been using Cronenworth there, then moved him back to 2nd). Michael King is a stud (better than Cease IMHO). If you can get him for prospects, do it. He’s not going to command a record deal in 2026. Trade for him and sign him to an extension. He’d be a great fit in that rotation.
He’s slow as well. As you said you need absolute mashers hitting behind him. Doubles aren’t going to get him home.
I'd hate to lose Alcantara - I don't think Cassie will make enough contact. He has improved a lot overall in a couple years so he might but I think Alcantara's floor is a lot higher and ceilings are similar. Don't want brown to go either. I'd be OK with Assad or Wicks and Cassie for King or Cease.
That’s what I’ve seen discussed more for King than Caissie…but if that same package would get Cease, I’d be good with that.
