13 minutes ago, fathom said:

Pretty much guarantee the Cubs get either Manny or Harper this offseason in a Durant-style move

Don’t think there’s a chance in hell the Cubs can win the Harper or Machado sweepstakes with the amount of dead money they’ll have on their books and with all their young players hitting arbitration in the next two years.

6 minutes ago, fathom said:

Wow good for Ricky. That was absolutely pathetic by Castillo.

No kidding. That's one area where I respect about him over say.. Ozzie. Not afraid to bench a veteran player. 

Hey, Ozzie benched Alex Rios.  Once.  It nearly set off a firestorm.

5 minutes ago, fathom said:

Something is wrong with a team when you have to keep benching them for lack of hustle

It’s because it’s a losing culture. At any level of baseball losing breeds a who gives  a s... attitude.

Moncada first pitch hunting tonight...change in his usual approach of being super patient.  (Yes, I realize he does have a walk as well, but that's the second time tonight, the first was lineout to 3B in the bottom of the first.)

Edited May 22, 20187 yr by caulfield12

Just now, caulfield12 said:

Moncada first pitch hunting tonight...change in his usual approach of being super patient.

I love it, hunt the fastball. Why wait for something you struggle to hit 

3 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Don’t think there’s a chance in hell the Cubs can win the Harper or Machado sweepstakes with the amount of dead money they’ll have on their books and with all their young players hitting arbitration in the next two years.

I'd love to see them commit that much money to yet another outside free agent so that they have no money to resign their core when that bill comes due. I just don't think Theo is dumb enough to do it.

Just now, Dam8610 said:

I'd love to see them commit that much money to yet another outside free agent so that they have no money to resign their core when that bill comes due. I just don't think Theo is dumb enough to do it.

If they get their own network, money won't be much of a detriment.

Well, yeah...Moncada hitting first or second pitch fastballs will even out (to his advantage) over time in terms of BABIP.

1 minute ago, Dam8610 said:

I'd love to see them commit that much money to yet another outside free agent so that they have no money to resign their core when that bill comes due. I just don't think Theo is dumb enough to do it.

I want to see them trade Happ, Russell or some combination of their young talent base at the deadline, lose in the first round of the playoffs and see Machado walk in free agency.

1 minute ago, fathom said:

If they get their own network, money won't be much of a detriment.

As it stands already, the YES Network struggles to come up with additional content for one of the most storied franchises in sports.

Sure, you've got Santo, Harry Carry, the Billy Goat, Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins, Lee Smith, Maddux and Sandberg...but that's nothing compared to what the Yankees can work with.

I also think that "winning fatigue" (see ATL Braves) will slowly set in as well.  

1 minute ago, Replacement Level Poster said:

I want to see them trade Happ, Russell or some combination of their young talent base at the deadline, lose in the first round of the playoffs and see Machado walk in free agency.

And then they would sign Harper. Theo isn't that dumb.

Wonder how impressed Manny is by the 11k in the stands?  Season ticket sales must have been way down this year.

3 minutes ago, Replacement Level Poster said:

I want to see them trade Happ, Russell or some combination of their young talent base at the deadline, lose in the first round of the playoffs and see Machado walk in free agency.

They've (first) got to choose between Almora, Schwarber and Happ.  They seemingly can't keep all 3, Baez, Contreras, Russell, Bryant and Rizzo.  That's too much money, even for the Cubs.

2 minutes ago, fathom said:

If they get their own network, money won't be much of a detriment.

I think if they do their own network, they're going to be very disappointed in the results.

Steve Stone takes another shot at Michael Kopech. 

4 minutes ago, fathom said:

And then they would sign Harper. Theo isn't that dumb.

You act like there won’t be another half dozen teams willing to offer these guys $350M to $400M contracts.  These guys aren’t going to automatically pick the Cubs because Theo is their GM, that idea is ludicrous.

4 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Steve Stone takes another shot at Michael Kopech. 

I missed it. What did he say?

5 minutes ago, fathom said:

Wonder how impressed Manny is by the 11k in the stands?  Season ticket sales must have been way down this year.

Good god man, you can’t ever think of a positive thought can you.

Just now, Chicago White Sox said:

You act like there won’t be another half dozen teams willing to offer these guys $350M to $400M contracts.  These guys aren’t going to automatically pick the Cubs because Theo is their GM, that idea is ludicrous.

Harper will probably get over $400 million, maybe even $500 million. Machado will likely get $350-$400 million.

5 minutes ago, Dam8610 said:

I think if they do their own network, they're going to be very disappointed in the results.

I’m good friends with an intelligent, die-hard Cubs fan and he already acknowledged their next TV deal will be nothing like the crazy ones we’ve seen in recent years.

Rondon bringing the heat, 99.1 MPH for the K on Machado...

3 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

They've (first) got to choose between Almora, Schwarber and Happ.  They seemingly can't keep all 3, Baez, Contreras, Russell, Bryant and Rizzo.  That's too much money, even for the Cubs.

I would think you have to keep an all,star c Contreras, and Bryant, and probably either one of Russell or Baez. I think Rizzo and Schwarber are expendable from a pure baseball non p.r. perspective.

2 minutes ago, soxfan49 said:

I missed it. What did he say?

Need to know what he said as well, Stone has been going extra hard on Sox young pitchers this season.

Anderson with the terrible throw.