Chicago Cubs 2026

#934      
It’s sad that the SouthSiders are developing players and we are not.
That’s a little simplistic. Sox have been trading MLB players for prospects for a couple/few years now, while Cubs have been trading prospects for MLB players. Throw in the fact that Sox have also been drafting higher, and not surprising their farm system is more productive at the moment. On top of all that the Mune signing has been huge. All that said, yes, Cubs have to do better.
 
#935      
as a 55 year fan, we have been in the bottom 1/2 or bottom 1/3 for developing talent for most of that time , regardless of owner or general manager
 
#936      
That’s a little simplistic. Sox have been trading MLB players for prospects for a couple/few years now, while Cubs have been trading prospects for MLB players. Throw in the fact that Sox have also been drafting higher, and not surprising their farm system is more productive at the moment. On top of all that the Mune signing has been huge. All that said, yes, Cubs have to do better.
This. There are just more spots for youngsters to play for the CWS.
In the past year and a half, we’ve brought up Shaw, Horton, and Ballestros. Palencia is home grown, as are Brown, Porter Hodge, Assad, Robertson, PCA, and Amaya.
Obviously, Nico, Justin Steele, and Ian have been around for a while, but they were drafted here.
We also developed Cassie and Cam Smith who became immediate regulars once traded out of Chicago, where they were blocked.
We’ve been fine at developing position players. There just isn’t much opportunity to crack the lineup.
Starting pitching development has been an issue forever… Steele & Horton are exceptions, but health has been an obvious issue for both.
 
#937      
as a 55 year fan, we have been in the bottom 1/2 or bottom 1/3 for developing talent for most of that time , regardless of owner or general manager
PK Wrigley and The Tribune Co ownership were absolutely awful owners.

PK didn’t really care about baseball. Kept the team because his dad loved them so much. He tried hard for a while to keep them competitive, after William’s sudden death, but ultimately lost interest in the team. They just didn’t try very hard for about 30 years.

The Tribune only cared about profitability, not competition, especially as their financial issues began in the 1990s.

Tom Ricketts is the most interested owner the Cubs have had in 80 years, but that bar is about as low as it gets in baseball.
 
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