Cubs 2022 Season
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ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
The one thing we know for sure is that the advent of the 12-team playoff lowered that number.
And to import my hobby horse from other threads, I don't think you can look at the Ricketts austerity without taking note of how much less of a financial boon the creation of the Marquee Network has been than would have been expected when the idea was conceived in 2015ish. The Cubs just got to the trough a couple years too late. (To be clear, that absolutely does NOT justify what they've done, but the internal spreadsheets didn't meet expectations, that's reality)
All of that said, there have been a lot of statements both about the team having money to spend and maybe a determination to spend it this offseason. Here's hoping. If you squint this lineup might actually be only a signing or two away from being pretty darned good.
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They keep leaking that to the press, but there’s no reason why they couldn’t have spent more this year, particularly when comparing this year’s free agent class which was one of the deepest of all time versus next year’s.
We’re watching a team this year that has managed to put up an average offense despite having a couple glaring holes in the lineup that could have been taken care of in free agency for about $25 million.
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[ W ] #38.
Sweep!
Sweep!
Most professional teams go on a spending spree the first year or two after starting their own network to promote the product. We do the opposite.
[ W ] #40.
Six straight. This team is weird.
Six straight. This team is weird.
The streak basically coincides with Stroman and Smyly coming off the IL.
Hendricks, Stroman, Miley and Smyly have only started 44 of 97 games this year. Thompson and Steele have both performed admirably in their 31 starts, making the short term future of the staff look a little less bleak, but that’s still 22 starts by bullpen guys and whodats.
Any team, besides maybe the Dodgers, is going to struggle under those conditions.
(None of which is to excuse Hoyers’s plan to go into the season with Jason Heyward in CF and Shrug Emoji as DH.)
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
Maybe they can trade Shrug Emoji before next Tuesday…
The Cubs were 12-28 in their 40 games leading into the trade deadline last year. With Javy, Bryant and Rizzo.
They’re 17-19 with the 4 last games pending agains the Giants this year.
Not sure that I have a broader point other than breaking up this team feels different than last year because they’re playing quite a bit better. Contreras and Happ are having their best seasons heading into likely being traded. Can’t say the same for Rizzo, Bryant and Baez. This team at least seems like it fought to stay together, while last year’s seemed resigned to the breakup.
This team reminds me a bit of the 2014 team in that the overall record disguises how the team went through significant stretches of being quite competitive.
They’re 17-19 with the 4 last games pending agains the Giants this year.
Not sure that I have a broader point other than breaking up this team feels different than last year because they’re playing quite a bit better. Contreras and Happ are having their best seasons heading into likely being traded. Can’t say the same for Rizzo, Bryant and Baez. This team at least seems like it fought to stay together, while last year’s seemed resigned to the breakup.
This team reminds me a bit of the 2014 team in that the overall record disguises how the team went through significant stretches of being quite competitive.
Though without the hype of a rebuild going into 2023 like they had going into 2015.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Didn't see this one coming.
Surprise trade. Basically giving up 5 years of reliever Effross for 6 years of starter Wesneski. 28 years old versus 24.
Wesneski is Rule 5 eligible, which means the Cubs must have plans to have him in the Majors no later than next year. I’ll be surprised if it takes that long. More likely, he’ll be up very soon.
Wesneski is Rule 5 eligible, which means the Cubs must have plans to have him in the Majors no later than next year. I’ll be surprised if it takes that long. More likely, he’ll be up very soon.
I like that both trades so far have been for guys who are MLB ready. Very possible they’ve picked up next year’s #4/5 starting pitcher and utility infielder.
It’s quite the stretch to call Contreras a future Hall of Famer, but point taken. The best scenario for the Cubs would certainly be announcing that Contreras had signed a 4 year extension for $80 million. The Cubs don’t seem to be interested in even entertaining that as a possibility.
In the decade since extending Rizzo and Castro leading into the 2013 season, the Cubs have agreed to one extension of a core player - Kyle Hendricks. For whatever reason, they apparently don’t think it’s worth it.
Dear Josh Hader,
Good riddance.
Sincerely,
The rest of the NL Central.
Good riddance.
Sincerely,
The rest of the NL Central.
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
If only the cubs had done trades like this, we might not be in the middle of a rebuild now.
My patience of rostering Devin Williams in a holds/saves fantasy baseball league has paid off.
They tried to extend Rizzo. (offered 5 years, 70 million; signed 2 years 32 million) They tried to extend Bryant. (reportedly over 200 million in 2018; signed7 years 182 million) They tried to extend Baez. (reportedly offered 180 million in 2019; signed 6 years 140 million) All three turned down contracts that would have exceeded what they ended up getting as free agents.
It's not surprising to see them take a wait and see approach with Contreras. If his market makes sense, there is no reason they can't pursue him this offseason.
You don't want to outbid yourself, and miss the opportunity to pick up some prospects.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
and I loved Bryant and Baez
but neither would have been a good investment.
for various reasons, its starting to look like their best years are behind them. Bryant cant stay healthy and Baez cant stop swinging at balls nor accept a walk
Pre-season.
#7 on Baseball America’s mid-season list based on this season where he’s k’ing 12+/9 over 73 innings. Just got called up to AA at age 22.
6’6” hard throwing lefty. Could be fun.
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