poppysox

Hopefully, Quero, Montgomery, Schultz Smith, and Elder would all potentially make the 2025 roster. MLB thinks so.

I believe you can build for the future while entertaining in the present. Minor league teams mostly draw fans with no stars to draw the customers. This team can bring up two or more of their top-tier prospects. They can sign some affordable over-the-hill additions like Veeck did with the 1977 team. It's not me I'm worried about. It's the kids who will find something else to keep them busy. No fans...no game eventually.

If we don't see talent on the field very soon this board will be a ghost town. As I said in an earlier post...the Cubs survived being last place awful for years but they had stars like Banks, Williams, and Santo to keep young fans thinking a great team is just around the corner. Lots of hitting and homers. Today those types of players would be unattainable for this club wanting to run a 50 M payroll. Whatever method ownership wants to use going forward...it needs to put something entertaining on the field.

Correct... there is nothing guaranteed whichever plan people prefer. That's why I don't try to debate with people who disagree. I will get what the baseball professionals decide and try to see their reasoning.

Yes...a major disappointment. More or less why I stopped discussing him about two years ago.

He was graded by major league scouts as the most complete hitter in his year's draft class. Others claimed he was the player closest to major league-ready. Injuries and whatever have made it look like a bad pick that hasn't worked out. I think Moncada is a far bigger miss' All of this missing on draft picks is one of the reasons I would prefer our guys be major league-ready rather than 3 or 4 years away.

His lifetime batting average is .274...sounds pretty good from what I've been seeing.

I'm mostly tired of people who can't hit .220 with or without power.

I would build this deal on two really solid guys who are ready to play on opening day. Perhaps they are blocked because of the star players in front of them. We desperately need players who make the team watchable. Those big-name free agents get added when you are already good. Those future star guys won't put a single fanny in a seat.

Maybe...but he won't be one of Jerry's players.

Yeah...miracles will happen from time to time.

Jerry might sign a 30 mil per year player. I said might. He is not signing a 30 million dollar per year player for 10 years. Our best path is to spend the money on as many GOOD players as 200 million will allow. Sorry...I'm a realist.

We aren't going to pay for an established superstar. Our best chance is a potential superstar.

I want the team with the two best major league-ready position players. Two players who are currently great but blocked would be ideal. The Cubs seem to have that problem...who else?

Jerry-type organizations have both the wherewithal and the obligation to spend in the second tier of ownership. By that, I mean 200+ million. That payroll range all but eliminates "Soto-type deals" but puts a watchable team on the field.

Like Robert?

Finding an answer to the competitive imbalance of payrolls is imperative IMO. Very few teams have any realistic path to winning a WS.

I jerry-rigged a portable radio with its pull-out antenna to a string of coat hangers and aluminum foil to kind of hear a Sox radio broadcast. Good times.

I've heard that somewhere. Very catchy. However, I can't spend $1 when they give me a dime in entertainment value. Perplexing.

You are looking at the position players much like I do. If all your position players are in the top 15 at their respective positions... you will have an above-average team sans pitchers. When I look at pre-2024 rankings only Robert made the cut ranking 4th. Vaughn ranked 23rd, and Moncada ranked 22, and Fletcher 28th. Shortstop, 2nd base, left field, and catcher were unranked in the top 30. We can't be surprised that we played like a bottom-feeder. Jerry should have a 200+ payroll every year as a major market team. I believe that would put a respectable team on the field. Instead, we are wandering around talking about 50 million-dollar payrolls. 200 million goes a long way when the target is "above average" at all positions instead of one or two stars.

I haven't brought up Madrigal in months. However, I like scrappy little players who the pros pick to go at the top of the draft. The injury bug takes down guys like Moncada who is every bit the disappointment of Madrigal. Big strong men who hit .200 with 30 bombs just aren't my thing. Some posters get tiresome with their constant negative BS. As I have said many times. entertainment is what I want to see. Speed, defense, and timely hitting are more entertaining than a HR every 20 at-bats. Carry-on.

Let's take a vote...I think you must be the smartest fan ever.

Not me.

Yep...that Cub vs Sox thing is over. Jerry has waved the white flag.

I think the above...plus selling the team is the plan. Jerry is 88 years old and is not taking some build the team from the bottom up plan of action. Not long now would be my bet.