The Cubs do spend but look at teams like Houston. They built from within 10 years ago and they keep putting up winning seasons with a few WS wins. Milwaukee spends a hell of a lot less than we do and they are playoff contenders every year. We do not need to spend foolishly. Jed has us going in the right direction.
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Noone is advocating for spending foolishly. How about the Cubs build from within AND spend? That's what good, large market teams do. MLB tilts the playing field for small market teams in the draft and international market precisely because large market teams can spend more. If they don't spend, they are putting themselves at a disadvantage.
Yeah, those are the kind of arguments that drive me nuts. Wanting to spend more doesn’t necessarily equate to spending foolishly just as all current spending wasn’t done smart. Same kind of argument is used when it comes to trading prospects — we can’t gut the farm system. Trading some prospects — even a top one or two — isn’t gutting the farm system.
Someone mentioned the Astros as a team building from within, which is true. But I also seem to remember a pretty big trade deadline pickup that had a lot to do with their playoff/World Series success. It’s not like the Tigers completely gave Verlander to Astros. Cost Houston their #3, #9 and #11 prospects. Sound like a pretty big haul? Take a look at the careers of those 3 prospects so far.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
I'd do that trade 100% of the time, regardless of how the prospects turned out. And to your point, none of them had a major impact in MLB.
To be fair, I don’t think the Cubs had a chance at a trade like that this deadline, but the point still stands. Building from within doesn’t mean not trading what are considered to be very good to good prospects when you can improve your chances to make a run. A strong farm system is not just about replenishing your big league team but also having assets to trade. The hit rate on prospects isn’t close to 100%.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
That's exactly what the Astros did. I had a lengthy post about the Astros payroll the last 10 years. in 2016, they were last, 2017 when their postseason run started, they were 18th. After that, they have been as high as 3rd and as low as 11th and never below league average. Made the post season every time. It's interesting how well they kept their farm system stocked with the right guys to plug in (P, SS, CF) when needed.
The Astros are a good comp to the Cubs since Houston city is going to pass Chicago as the 3rd largest city in the US in the not-too-distant future.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
For sure, there wasn't the opportunity to make a similar trade this year. Maybe in the offseason, though...
We do not need a starter. I feel very confident in Shota, Taillon, Boyd and Horton as the 4 starting pitchers in the playoffs. I did not want to give up Wiggins, Caissie or Ballestros inj any trade unless it was a major piece and there were no major pieces that would have made us better. If Verlander in his heyday was in this trade, yes but no starter was at a level that would let us trade any of those pieces.
I have been comparing us to the Astros for the last 4 years in respect to rebuilding.
I would if there was a guy like Verlander in his prime available but there was really nothing that would improve us that much to move Wiggins, Caissie or Ballestros.
For the record, Minneapolis St. Paul combined is bigger than chi-town
As a Saint Paul resident, what?
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I disagree that we don’t need a starter, but I only mentioned Verlander because someone cited Houston as a team that Built from within. But the problems I have with your reasoning in your post is that, first, it’s not just about the playoffs. As it stands right now, the winner of the division gets a first round bye. So it’s just as much about regular season.
Second, as I’ve said several times before when you or others mention not wanting to trade those 3 guys, they are top 100 prospects. There were only 3 top 100 prospects traded at deadline in two trades. So that means we weren’t going to get Miller or Duran. But what about all the other guys who would have helped either in addition to the guys they brought up or instead of some of the guys they brought it. That Soroka was the best starter we could come up with (hopefully not serious injury) is not Jed doing a good job.
Was that two innings the Michael Soroka era for the Cubs? Maybe the 3 MPH velocity drop his last three Washington National games had an assignable cause.
Shockingly, the Cubs’ starting pitching strategy predicated on everything going perfectly blew up in the 4th game after the trade deadline.
I sheepishly stand corrected.As a Saint Paul resident, what?
List of United States cities by population - Wikipedia
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Frustrating to watch CB Bucknor call balls and strikes. I can't imagine how frustrating it is for the players.
3 hits tonight. Soroka leaves after 2 innings. Swanson misses 1st on a game tying play. Shota still looks lost. PCA 0-1 (0 for last 9 with 8 K's) and HBP which probably got him hurt......and Milwaukee wins again. 3 games out and counting. Just a pretty normal day. Except Tucker didn't bunt today.
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So glad that they didn't sell their souls for a starter. That offense is 100% broken and has been for weeks. Since June 1st, it's roughly 20th in the league.
Yeah, but Jed has an extension and the Cubs still have their top 12 prospects. What a joke.
Had not seen that. Evidently either had Jed.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
No chance. See KBLEE's post right after yours. EDIT: Just saw your post to KBLEE's post. It happens...
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
That's not even close. How can he come up that short? I have seen guys miss the bag going long but not short. Seems they need a reset.
Sorry, I meant Seiya.
I've watched (and played) a lot of baseball in my day and can't even fathom how that could happen. The only thing that could explain it is that he was sort of watching the throw (?)
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