Ah, to have good team problems again.

 

Cubs: "What if our franchise player gets bored?"

 

White Sox: "Which has been or never will be is going to play second base?"

As a fan, I don't disagree that it's nice to have a wealth of talent. However, players are ultimately selfish. If Schwarber is embarrassing himself in LF again this season, he's not going to want to play there. He'll want to play catcher.

 

Those little types of things may add up. That's all I'm saying. I'm not ready to annoint the Cubs 2016 champs.

 

Personally, I'd like to see the Sox have Abreu spend some time at DH and play LaRoche in the field. I think that would help the Sox in the field, and it might help LaRoche at the plate. But, Abreu doesn't want to do that. To me, that's selfish.

 

It's not inconceivable to me that Bryant may eventually resist playing in the OF. Same with Schwarber. Not every guy wants to be Zobrist. Not every guy feels they have to.

 

 

 

:lol:

 

I'm sure these problems are what managers are there for...

 

Lol, they'll be fine.

Lol, they'll be fine.

Yep, it always plays out on the field like it does on paper.

 

I remember following a team that won 99 games and lost in the playoffs. A World Series trophy was all but assured the following season.

 

They had a lead off man coming off a 77 steal season. Power hitting ROY playing next to him in LF. A 25 year old in RF who was one of the best young players in the league. 25 year old power hitting prospect taking over 1B. One of the best power hitters in baseball at DH. Speedy 2B. Future HOF at catcher.

 

Top pitcher coming off a Cy Young season. Two 25 year olds who combined for 32 wins the season before, plus a 29 yr old who was a 16 game winner. Add a 39 yr old future HOF pitcher to the rotation (and have him win 15 games).

 

Oh, and the coaching staff was led by a HOF manager, one of the best pitching coaches in baseball, and a 3B coach who would become one of the best managers in baseball.

 

What could possibly go wrong?

 

I'm still celebrating the 1984 White Sox World Series win today.

You are creating hypothetical scenarios based not on reality. Don't think anyone in here is saying that the Cubs are a virtual lock to win the World Series, but they have set themselves up extremely well.

 

You were stating that the players likely will have problems with playing time or playing at different positions. This screams jealousy. This is a completely made up scenario that can/should easily be handled by the NL manager of the year, Joe Maddon.

 

They are one of the best (if not the very best) teams to currently to start the season (on paper of course).

 

Still 162 games to be played, but have to give them that.

Edited February 28, 201610 yr by iWin4Ron

Of all the "I don't want to play this position" samples, Schwarber may be the worst one. He must know he's not an everyday major league catcher. That happens to catchers all the time.

 

And as far as regression goes, the Cubs are stacked to the point where one bad season isn't going to derail the plans for the future.

Of all the "I don't want to play this position" samples, Schwarber may be the worst one. He must know he's not an everyday major league catcher. That happens to catchers all the time.

 

And as far as regression goes, the Cubs are stacked to the point where one bad season isn't going to derail the plans for the future.

They aren't really stacked when it comes to pitching though. And while I think the Cubs are all but a lock for a playoff spot, I could see their rotation go from a strength to a weakness fairly quickly. Increasing Arrieta's IPs by 90 last year was a risky move and one that could really bite them in 2016.

They aren't really stacked when it comes to pitching though. And while I think the Cubs are all but a lock for a playoff spot, I could see their rotation go from a strength to a weakness fairly quickly. Increasing Arrieta's IPs by 90 last year was a risky move and one that could really bite them in 2016.

The rotation is obviously a concern going forward. While the offense is a "built for the future" affair, the pitching staff is a "Hopefully we can win now" deal. I also do not believe in Arrieta. I'm not enamored with any one Cubs pitcher. In fact, pitching is one of the places I don't envy the Cubs at all. The White Sox continue to impress me with their eye for strong pitching prospects.

Here we go. Cub fan at work is comparing Leonardo DiCaprio winning a Oscar = cubs win world series.

The Cubs invited a bunch of clowns to spring training.

 

Literally...

The Cubs invited a bunch of clowns to spring training.

 

Literally...

Nothing like a Cubs story to remind me it's still only February and these games don't count.

 

So stupid. The circus this year is going to be insane.

We may not have a legendary lineup like the Cubs but we have better blogs etc: https://twitter.com/DEvanAltman/status/705059075088900097

We may not have a legendary lineup like the Cubs but we have better blogs etc: https://twitter.com/DEvanAltman/status/705059075088900097

I chuckled. That's just typical.

Arrieta is looking for a 7 year extension.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/03/cubs...eal-length.html

Arrieta is looking for a 7 year extension.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/03/cubs...eal-length.html

He's crazy. I get the feeling this year might break him.

Arrieta is looking for a 7 year extension.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/03/cubs...eal-length.html

 

The inning increase last year plus contract extension on his mind really makes me think he's due for a big regression. Everyone saw how easily rattled he got in the playoffs.

 

I hope Arrieta gets everything he asks for, and more.

Could it be he really wants to test FA and just threw out an obviously ridiculous number? His stock will never be higher than right now after the year he just had, so if you're going to shoot for the moon, why not.

I hope Arrieta gets everything he asks for, and more.

Me too.

 

It's funny to hear Bruce Levine talk about Arrieta's demands. Levine basically says that Arrieta's should be happy with a 4/$80M deal because that's a lot of money for anyone. Of course, Levine is a Cubs fan, and that protects the Cubs in the event that last year was an aberration. I don't disagree with Levine, but his reports are always slanted in favor of his Cubbie-dom.

Me too.

 

It's funny to hear Bruce Levine talk about Arrieta's demands. Levine basically says that Arrieta's should be happy with a 4/$80M deal because that's a lot of money for anyone. Of course, Levine is a Cubs fan, and that protects the Cubs in the event that last year was an aberration. I don't disagree with Levine, but his reports are always slanted in favor of his Cubbie-dom.

 

The Cubs shouldn't even dream of offering him less than Lester. That should be their starting point. Arrieta should be looking at Price's deal for his baseline.

The Cubs shouldn't even dream of offering him less than Lester. That should be their starting point. Arrieta should be looking at Price's deal for his baseline.

And realistically, the Cubs shouldn't offer him that deal until he does it for another year.

And realistically, the Cubs shouldn't offer him that deal until he does it for another year.

 

If he does it for another year without a long term deal, Arrieta has one foot out the door looking at a deal in the $35 million annually range.

If he does it for another year without a long term deal, Arrieta has one foot out the door looking at a deal in the $35 million annually range.

For sure. The Cubs front office clearly doesn't believe in him and it could definitely cost them.

For sure. The Cubs front office clearly doesn't believe in him and it could definitely cost them.

Not sure how refusing to give a pitcher a 7-year extension that will carry him through his age 38 season means the front office doesn't believe in him. It's generally not a good idea to give any pitcher a long-term deal in his mid-30s, especially one where you are paying him $30-35 million a year. Even if Arrieta puts up the same exact season as 2015 this year, he still wouldn't be worth that deal. Pitchers are just too risky.

Edited March 14, 201610 yr by OmarComing25

Not sure how refusing to give a pitcher a 7-year extension that will carry him through his age 38 season means the front office doesn't believe in him. It's generally not a good idea to give any pitcher a long-term deal in his mid-30s, especially one where you are paying him $30-35 million a year. Even if Arrieta puts up the same exact season as 2015 this year, he still wouldn't be worth that deal. Pitchers are just too risky.

 

I agree, by all accounts the Cubs front office loves him and has no questions about how legit is. But they also know they have him for two more years no matter what and there are questions about how long he will hold up. In 2018 he will be 32. They gave Lester his deal at age 31, which wasn't the best long-term idea, but he had a long history of proven to be durable.

Not sure how refusing to give a pitcher a 7-year extension that will carry him through his age 38 season means the front office doesn't believe in him. It's generally not a good idea to give any pitcher a long-term deal in his mid-30s, especially one where you are paying him $30-35 million a year. Even if Arrieta puts up the same exact season as 2015 this year, he still wouldn't be worth that deal. Pitchers are just too risky.

They don't know what they are committing to, anyway. I just don't think Arrieta is going to be second half 2015 ever again. If he were that good and you have the Cubs budget, you sign the Ace pitcher and deal with the bad years. The Cubs are at least skeptical he can repeat his success in 2016.