Chicago Cubs 2021 season

#752      
I’ll check back in five years to see how the rebuild is going…

Why do you think it will take 5 years?

Is this just traditional Cubs pessimism, or is there some other reason why a team with a top 10 farm system, top 10 pick in the upcoming draft, $100+Million to spend under the luxury tax, in a division with a bunch of light spending small market teams, none of whom are particularly good now, nor who have a better farm system than the Cubs have can’t be competitive relatively quickly?
 
#755      
Why do you think it will take 5 years?

Is this just traditional Cubs pessimism, or is there some other reason why a team with a top 10 farm system, top 10 pick in the upcoming draft, $100+Million to spend under the luxury tax, in a division with a bunch of light spending small market teams, none of whom are particularly good now, nor who have a better farm system than the Cubs have can’t be competitive relatively quickly?
I think 2023 should be a realistic opportunity to get back to the playoffs. The starting pitching is what scares me. You can’t build a rotation from free agency alone. They need some young controllable starting pitchers to make the jump. Need to get some results from Thompson, Steele and Marquez. Obviously there are other names in the system who can surprise but that looks like the big question mark to me. Not sure where I am on Alzolay at this point.
 
#757      
Need to get some results from Thompson, Steele and Marquez. Obviously there are other names in the system who can surprise but that looks like the big question mark to me. Not sure where I am on Alzolay at this point.

They’re not building a starting staff via free agency.

Alec Mills has quietly become pretty reliable as a starter. 3.82 ERA over 29 starts and 150 innings in his career. 3.43 ERA over 12 starts and 53 innings this year. You’d like to see some more length there, but some of that is a factor of him getting tossed back and forth from the bullpen.

Alzolay and Steele are in the starting rotation now. Thompson will be in the starting rotation before the end of the year. This has obviously been a lost year for Marquez, but he’ll be in the starting rotation as soon as they can possibly put him there.

Caleb Kilian (from the Bryant trade) is at AA and will be making his MLB debut some time next year.

Jordan Wicks (this year’s first round draft pick) is on a similar time frame.

Between Hendricks, Mills, Alzolay, Steele, Thompson, Marquez, Killian, Wicks, and likely two free agent signings - an expensive premier one and a cheaper reclamation project - they’ll have plenty of bodies to throw at the starting pitching staff with the hope that by the end of 2022, they’ll have a great idea of what they have going forward.
 
#758      

KBLEE

Montgomery, IL
Jordan Wicks (this year’s first round draft pick) is on a similar time frame.

Between Hendricks, Mills, Alzolay, Steele, Thompson, Marquez, Killian, Wicks, and likely two free agent signings - an expensive premier one and a cheaper reclamation project - they’ll have plenty of bodies to throw at the starting pitching staff with the hope that by the end of 2022, they’ll have a great idea of what they have going forward.

Wicks hasn't even thrown one pitch in the minors. There's very little chance he sees the majors next season.
 
#760      

bdutts

Houston, Texas
Why do you think it will take 5 years?

Is this just traditional Cubs pessimism, or is there some other reason why a team with a top 10 farm system, top 10 pick in the upcoming draft, $100+Million to spend under the luxury tax, in a division with a bunch of light spending small market teams, none of whom are particularly good now, nor who have a better farm system than the Cubs have can’t be competitive relatively quickly?
Top 10? I haven't seen that high. Mid teens. But it doesn't matter anyway since they don't have anyone who's ready at AAA that already isn't up. Deichmann is their #20 prospect from lists that I have seen. All of their talent is at rookie or A ball. Those players won't be ready for 3-5 years, hence my comment, especially since the minors lost a year due to COVID.

Hope they spend that money wisely...
 
#761      

bdutts

Houston, Texas
likely two free agent signings - an expensive premier one and a cheaper reclamation project - they’ll have plenty of bodies to throw at the starting pitching staff with the hope that by the end of 2022
Who do you think those two will be? Or who are the candidates for those two types of starting pitchers. I'm honestly asking for your opinion.
 
#762      
Who do you think those two will be? Or who are the candidates for those two types of starting pitchers. I'm honestly asking for your opinion.
There will be plenty of BIG names in the starting pitching market, but most of them beyond their prime (Kershaw, Verlander, Kluber, Cueto, Greinke) A great pitcher who is at what is likely the end of his prime (Scherzer) Another great pitcher in his prime that I wouldn't touch. (Bauer) Some guys who are good, but have a lot of Injuries (Rodon, Syndergaard) Then a few solid but perhaps uninspiring choices. (Gausman, Stroman, E.Rodriguez, Ray) Heck they might run it back with Zach Davies? I'm not seeing a sure-fire premier SP signing. I bet they approach the pitching staff the same way they did this off-season. Jed and Co. actually did a fantastic job of cobbling together a staff this season. Pitching was not the problem most days. They just plain old didn't hit enough.

I'm interested to see what the Dodgers decide to do at SS. Do they let Seager walk, now that they have Turner? I'd be all over whomever they don't see as their SS of the future.
 
#763      
There will be plenty of BIG names in the starting pitching market, but most of them beyond their prime (Kershaw, Verlander, Kluber, Cueto, Greinke) A great pitcher who is at what is likely the end of his prime (Scherzer) Another great pitcher in his prime that I wouldn't touch. (Bauer) Some guys who are good, but have a lot of Injuries (Rodon, Syndergaard) Then a few solid but perhaps uninspiring choices. (Gausman, Stroman, E.Rodriguez, Ray) Heck they might run it back with Zach Davies? I'm not seeing a sure-fire premier SP signing. I bet they approach the pitching staff the same way they did this off-season. Jed and Co. actually did a fantastic job of cobbling together a staff this season. Pitching was not the problem most days. They just plain old didn't hit enough.

I'm interested to see what the Dodgers decide to do at SS. Do they let Seager walk, now that they have Turner? I'd be all over whomever they don't see as their SS of the future.
I like both Seager and Turner, but the Cubs are loaded with SS talent in the minors. That being said, I've always thought if you can play SS you can play anywhere, so if either of those guys wants to come here and sign 6+ year deals you probably take your shot. Hopefully by year 2-3 we are back to competing.
 
#764      

bdutts

Houston, Texas
There will be plenty of BIG names in the starting pitching market, but most of them beyond their prime (Kershaw, Verlander, Kluber, Cueto, Greinke) A great pitcher who is at what is likely the end of his prime (Scherzer) Another great pitcher in his prime that I wouldn't touch. (Bauer) Some guys who are good, but have a lot of Injuries (Rodon, Syndergaard) Then a few solid but perhaps uninspiring choices. (Gausman, Stroman, E.Rodriguez, Ray) Heck they might run it back with Zach Davies? I'm not seeing a sure-fire premier SP signing. I bet they approach the pitching staff the same way they did this off-season. Jed and Co. actually did a fantastic job of cobbling together a staff this season. Pitching was not the problem most days. They just plain old didn't hit enough.

I'm interested to see what the Dodgers decide to do at SS. Do they let Seager walk, now that they have Turner? I'd be all over whomever they don't see as their SS of the future.
Seems like the Cubs MO these days is to take fliers on the injured guys.
 
#765      

illini80

Forgottonia
"The Cubs are hitting .199 during the home losing streak with a 7.34 ERA and have been outscored 99-33"

For a franchise that is known for losing, it's remarkable what they've been able to achieve.
 
#767      
It is amazing what can be achieved with a minor league roster playing major league teams. That is why it they call it the minors.
 
#771      
Read up on the Competitive Balance Tax and you will understand why the Cubs were hell bent on getting under the tax this season, especially when the team wasn't championship caliber.

https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/competitive-balance-tax

They aren't just re-setting the roster, they are re-setting the tax penalties for exceeding the "cap" for several consecutive years. Even the Yankees are doing it this year. I don't think anyone would accuse Steinbrenner of "crying poor". Failing to do it would simply be bad business.
Also getting flexible for new CBA. Once the new CBA is developed, then a strategy can be put in place
 
#772      

Neale Stoner Fan Club

Tailgreat
Chiraq
walked around Rosemont Southeast on Saturday before the game. wife had free tickets so she dragged me there. sad what a soulless place Wrigleyville has become. Go White Sox.