If Shark is really criticizing the Cubs (like I believe Kyyle said?) toss in Garza's comments and Theo saying EJax's contract was a massive mistake (which it was) while he's still on the roster and it'll be really hard for them to attract big name pitchers at good prices if the Ricketts are as poor as they claim.

Unless the checks start bouncing, as long as the Cubs or Sox or any other team for that matter are willing to pay the most, they will have no problem attracting players.

 

I went to the games Saturday and Sunday. One guy to keep an eye on in the future is Cano. He appears disinterested half the game. Jogs to first. He has superior skill, but when that starts to go a little bit, if they don't do something with the team to perk his interest, those last 5 or 6 or 7 years of that contract are going to be painful for Seattle fans to watch.

Trading him doesn't make this process years longer whatsoever. If their realistic goal is 2016, this trade did nothing to push that backwards. He's a FA by then anyway.

 

Who cares about attendance? The Cubs are at rock bottom, haven't won in 100+ years. If I'm a Cubs fan, I'd rather have a plan in place and try to have some sort of direction rather than band-aid the whole thing to maybe sorta kinda stay in a race here and there. A few extra wins in these last few seasons or this year doesn't do a whole lot.

 

We haven't seen this scenario over and over again. Find me the farm systems that have been quite this stacked on the position player side. Are all of them going to succeed? Probably not. But they won't need them to.

 

They'll have all this cost-controlled talent hitting the team at or around the same time, and they are going to make 2-3 huge splashes in free agency to grab some pitching (because they'll have a TON of money to spend), and someone like a Stanton etc. to fill whatever other holes they have in the lineup.

 

As far as making that up overnight, that's where the Cubs fan base is different (and much larger) than the Sox. The instant they start winning and getting exciting (and it won't even take a playoff appearance to do it), they'll be selling out. They can absolutely make that up overnight. The Cubs fans aren't going anywhere, they just aren't buying tickets as often. The INSTANT this looks exciting, they'll all be back. Sox don't have that luxury.

 

Will this whole thing work? Who knows. But it's a pretty smart, well-thought out plan.

 

I think they've done a great job assembling talent, and that they will be very, very good soon. Bosio has been able to get a lot out of most of the pitchers they've brought in - Arrieta's development is huge for them. Not a Theo fan, but have to admit the future is super bright for them.

Edited July 7, 201411 yr by Stan Bahnsen

I am shocked Baez is still in their top ten. Apparently striking out in 32.2% of his PAs is of no concern to them. He'd probably strike out in 40% of his PAs in the MLB. I get that he's only 21 but what does this guy have to do to lose some of his shine? It's really apparent to me that he is being overrated at this point.

I'm not trying to hate on the Cubs system, because it's clearly one of the best in baseball, but it does get over-hyped to some extent. 2014 Baez is a perfect example and some of their secondary prospects get more kudos than they deserve. Again, it's a great system, but a lot of these prospects get extra hype for that very reason and would definitely be rated lower if they were in another organization.

Trade 2 proven major leaguers for 3 unproven prospects?

 

Color me unimpressed.

Trade 2 proven major leaguers for 3 unproven prospects?

 

Color me unimpressed.

 

Me after reading this -

 

My death is on you.

Me after reading this -

 

My death is on you.

 

Seriously. It's a good trade for the Cubs.

 

Seriously. It's a good trade for the Cubs.

 

 

Unless Russell goes all Jose Iglesias on them and never gets past his hamstring problems.

Unless Russell goes all Jose Iglesias on them and never gets past his hamstring problems.

They put themselves in a position where they have to take risks like that.

If you want to think the Cubs and Sox are in the same boat, fine, but IMO, the Cubs are one 85 win season away from being constantly sold out again.

 

And to answer your question, sadly not much less than Jose Abreu sold.

 

The Cubs aren't going to make up 10,000 seats a night, in one year. That is just absurd.

The Cubs aren't going to make up 10,000 seats a night, in one year. That is just absurd.

 

It's ALWAYS the year after...that lag effect.

 

Assuming they did something like our Dunn signing before 2011...signing David Price, for example, prior to the 2016 season.

Edited July 8, 201411 yr by caulfield12

The Cubs aren't going to make up 10,000 seats a night, in one year. That is just absurd.

Well, they could reach the world series. That'd do it.

Well, they could reach the world series. That'd do it.

 

 

They're lucky the Astros were moved to the AL West.

 

OTOH, they have the declining regional sports broadcast market going against them (just like the Sox), the ballpark renovations/rooftop owners issue and the fact that they're not exactly cash rich at the moment.

Well, they could reach the world series. That'd do it.

 

That would take two years. The first year would see a spike over the course of a season. The second would complete it.

 

Then again, we just based something on the Cubs making the World Series, so we all know what that is worth.

That would take two years. The first year would see a spike over the course of a season. The second would complete it.

 

Then again, we just based something on the Cubs making the World Series, so we all know what that is worth.

 

 

WGN-Radio wasn't willing to ride it out for that World Series pipe dream, that's for sure.

The Cubs aren't going to make up 10,000 seats a night, in one year. That is just absurd.

They wouldn't have to make up 10. As bad as they have been, there still is only 4 seasons in White Sox history that have drawn better than the Cubs this year.

They wouldn't have to make up 10. As bad as they have been, there still is only 4 seasons in White Sox history that have drawn better than the Cubs this year.

 

If they are going after $200 million pitchers, or even multiple ones if you believe the fluff in here, they are going have to be selling out basically every night again.

If they are going after $200 million pitchers, or even multiple ones if you believe the fluff in here, they are going have to be selling out basically every night again.

 

 

Arroyo's TJ is yet another warning shot across the bow for anyone giving out those deals.

 

If anything, it's a lot better to target a Justin Masterson and buy him on the down side if you think he can rebound and you can lock him in for 3-4 much more affordable years.

 

From a cost-benefit analysis, I'd rather take my chances with the equivalent of 3 Masterson's than 1 Scherzer megadeal.

If Soler turns out to be a legit power prospect, that makes the Cubs system even scarier. He's the forgotten prospect for them due to injuries.

Not surprisingly, the Cubs have been blown out 3 games in a row.

 

Have to feel sorry for the veterans still remaining on that team.

 

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2121860...rough-mlb-draft

The failures/injuries to Appel, Correa and Aiken show the dangers of building through the draft.

Edited July 8, 201411 yr by caulfield12

I'm not trying to hate on the Cubs system, because it's clearly one of the best in baseball, but it does get over-hyped to some extent. 2014 Baez is a perfect example and some of their secondary prospects get more kudos than they deserve. Again, it's a great system, but a lot of these prospects get extra hype for that very reason and would definitely be rated lower if they were in another organization.

 

This was one of Epstein's great strengths with the Red Sox: have some top-line legit prospects and then a handful of B+ prospects who were trumped-up and Gammons-fed into something much more than they were. Very helpful when it comes time for trades.

 

Javier Baez at this point is vastly, vastly overrated. Highly questionable whether he can play MLB infield, very questionable if he can make enough contact to be anything but a late career Alfonso Soriano. Complete s***head on top of that. BA needs to temper their enthusiasm. Being in the presence of Kris Bryant doesn't cover up a player's flaws

Almora, above and beyond him being rushed a level with less than a half-season to establish himself, has also been a pretty big disappointment in 2014.

 

Then you couple that with the injuries to Edwards and Soler and you have 4 of the top 6 struggling for one reason or another.

 

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2121375...cts-for-week-14

Cubs' report that "spins" every single player's accomplishments to make them seem like world beaters

 

 

 

This was one of Epstein's great strengths with the Red Sox: have some top-line legit prospects and then a handful of B+ prospects who were trumped-up and Gammons-fed into something much more than they were. Very helpful when it comes time for trades.

 

"WAS" being the operative word here. The rules have changed where he can no longer buy just about any prospect that he wanted.

Some of the Mets pitching prospects to the Cubs for a SS makes too much sense in my opinion. I agree with an earlier poster about the pitching staff. They have Arrieta and Wood. If they got Wheeler for one of their SS and signed Masterson or Lester, they'd have a pretty decent rotation. They have like a $30 million payroll. I'm pretty sure they will spend a little next year.

Some of the Mets pitching prospects to the Cubs for a SS makes too much sense in my opinion. I agree with an earlier poster about the pitching staff. They have Arrieta and Wood. If they got Wheeler for one of their SS and signed Masterson or Lester, they'd have a pretty decent rotation. They have like a $30 million payroll. I'm pretty sure they will spend a little next year.

 

 

You have to include Edwin Jackson in that rotation. He's just not going to up and disappear.

 

Lester has been good the last two seasons, but he was struggling there for a while 3-4 seasons ago before righting the ship. Masterson could just as easily be another Edwin Jackson.

 

There are no guarantees with pitching, that's true. I think there are a lot of Cubs' fans not entirely convinced that Arrieta's an ace, but they're billing him as one for now, so we'll see how long that holds up.

 

But I would tend to agree at least having all your pieces in place (Lester and Wheeler) makes a lot more sense than waiting and waiting and waiting for the right moment to strike and then it has already passed you by because half of your prospects have deteriorated in value or been exposed in the majors like Olt and Junior Lake.