Chicago Cubs 2021 season
The National League playoff race is going to be brutal this year.
Since they expanded the playoffs in 2012, no NL team with at least 89 wins has missed the playoffs. It’s quite possible that a team with 92 or 93 wins will be shut out this year because of how bad the East and the bottom of the West are versus how good the top of the West is.
Basically, the NL race is looking a lot like the AL has recently with the NL West playing the role of the AL East.
Since they expanded the playoffs in 2012, no NL team with at least 89 wins has missed the playoffs. It’s quite possible that a team with 92 or 93 wins will be shut out this year because of how bad the East and the bottom of the West are versus how good the top of the West is.
Basically, the NL race is looking a lot like the AL has recently with the NL West playing the role of the AL East.
And anyone waiting for the Brewers to start losing, I have bad news for you…
They have a 3-game series against the Reds who’ve been playing really well lately. Then they have 10 straight against the putrid Rockies and D-Backs.
They have a 3-game series against the Reds who’ve been playing really well lately. Then they have 10 straight against the putrid Rockies and D-Backs.
We get through June and the schedule starts getting much easier for us and tougher for the Brewers. Unless we totally collapse in the second half of this month, it is going to be extremely difficult for us to be sellers at the trade deadline. Whether that's good or bad in the big picture remains to be seen.
I liked the pitching matchups against the Cards. I hated the pitching matchups against the Mets. Hopefully the Cubs can steal one.
FWIW, Taijuan Walker signed a $2 year 20 Million contract with a cheap third year player option. There’s no reason why he couldn’t have been a Cub and the Cubs still would have a payroll ~$40 MM south of the luxury tax.
FWIW, Taijuan Walker signed a $2 year 20 Million contract with a cheap third year player option. There’s no reason why he couldn’t have been a Cub and the Cubs still would have a payroll ~$40 MM south of the luxury tax.
That call by the third base coach to run home in the 9th inning was infuriating. Likely would've at least tied the game if not for that.
Who knows? He probably looked at the on deck circle and saw J-Hey and his imposing .160 batting average and Alcantara who turned his hat trick to a golden sombrero later in the inning.
I agree
the coach never sends him if a decent batter was coming up - at the time I was surprised he was sent, but in retrospect it was not a terrible decision
Last month we talked about best free agent signings. What about the worst?
In terms of wasted money and length of contract, it's got to be Heyward. When the high point of your contributions is a rah rah speech, you know there is a problem.
In terms of wasted money and length of contract, it's got to be Heyward. When the high point of your contributions is a rah rah speech, you know there is a problem.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
It feels like he signed a 16-year contract instead of an 8-year. Stuck with him through 2023.
Milton Bradley always wins this award.
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
If you contributed on the team that won a world series for the first time in 108 years then you can't be the worst free agent signing of all time.
I understand what you're saying but in 2016 he was their everyday right fielder with almost 600 AB's. He hit .230 with 7 HR's. (And that was before the poly-grip era that we are in). Great fielder but we're not talking about a guy with a 3 year deal for $5 million per year. This was a big time contract. 8 year deal. They didn't win in 2016 because of him. They won despite him.
Then again.... maybe I'm just frustrated by his reversion into crappiness again this year. He has to go on a tear to hit the Mendoza line. He's making close to $24,000,000 this year.
I'm sorry I suck...
He played almost the entirety of 2016 with a wrist injury because Schwarber was already out for the year with a knee injury and Soler was in and out of the lineup with various injuries, too. It turned his offensive stat line into a disaster.
He has been a good, but overpaid player ever year since then and was arguably the best position player on last year’s division-winning team. He’s a team leader, respected in the clubhouse, with absolutely no off-field issues.
He’s been awful this year.
All that said, he still might be the worst free agent signing in Cubs history. I’ll have to think about it.
Im not going to go back and reread what was written about the best free agent signing, but it has to be a close call with Lester and Dawson correct ?
Dawson for value and excitement - tells Dallas Green in 1985 or 1986 he'll basically play for free for a year. I think he got 500,000 which was not chump change then but was a TREMENDOUS deal for the Cubs
Lester for what he did to help bring a WS Banner to Wrigley
I have a hard time thinking of any others in those two guys league with the Cubs the last 40 years
Dawson for value and excitement - tells Dallas Green in 1985 or 1986 he'll basically play for free for a year. I think he got 500,000 which was not chump change then but was a TREMENDOUS deal for the Cubs
Lester for what he did to help bring a WS Banner to Wrigley
I have a hard time thinking of any others in those two guys league with the Cubs the last 40 years
Daniel Descalso?
I’ve argued that Ryan Dempster should be up there with those two, while others disagree. Anyway, whether you rank Dempster with Dawson and Lester or below them, I think those are definitely your top three, with Ted Lilly a very solid #4 and a pretty big distance between him and whomever you call your #5, maybe Moises Alou.
As for the worst of all time, Milton Bradley, Todd Hundley, Dave Smith, Danny Jackson, Candy Maldonado, Aaron Miles…. There have been some real stinkers.
I think for value it's got to be Dawson. Remember that he signed a contract, left the $ amount blank and told the Cubs to fill it in? Can you see that happening today?
I love Sut
theres a story about his falling out with LaSorda and his subsequent trade to Cleveland. Tommy left him off the playoff roster and he went ballistic in LaSordas office, tearing it apart and threatening him . he was off the team that off season
[ W ] #39
KBLEE
- Montgomery, IL
This is just wrong. He won a Gold Glove in 2016 and his leadership in the locker room (see rain delay speech) has been noted by many as being instrumental to them closing out the Cleveland series.