2011 Cubs

[Dan Michler]

I agree to a certain extent. There are a couple of factors and I think the Cubs deserve all they get in terms of boos right now.


#1--We got a taste of what it should be like here. We should be winning games. We have the money to do so.   Definitely agree.  Expectations went up after '98 and peaked after '03.  Things looked incredibly promising with the pitching we had.  Before '98 expectations and booing were not as common.  Also, the attendance was much lower.

#2--How long are they going to allow Hendry to fail this organization?  When you sign guys like Pena & Bradley i'm going to boo like crazy when they don't perform. You can go down the list. Garciaparra, Jones,  Burnitz, Ward, Floyd, etc...     No kidding!  What does a guy have to do to get fired around here!  Its like that episode of Seinfeld where George tries unsuccessfully to get fired from the Yankees by busting out Body Suit Man and dragging the WS trophy through the parking lot.

#3--There are only a few people on this team that I like. It's hard to root for guys like Z, Soriano, Fukudome, Pena, etc...   Disagree.  If the Cubs were winning you'd love them.  They are losing so you hate them.  BTW Soriano leads the league in HR and his defense in LF has improved.  I'm not sure why anybody would hate Fukudome or Pena if they didn't suck at baseball, which proves my point.

#4--If you are going to raise ticket prices i'm going to demand more on the field.  A backlash may be coming for the high ticket prices and low # of wins in the form of more and more empty seats.

#5--This season is worthless due to all these horrible contracts on the book. We were limited in who we could sign. It's sad because the central division is absolutely terrible. It's frustrating as hell.

Once again it's wait until next year.   Good chance you are right, but its still May 2 and I'm not giving up.  Long way to go.  Giving up is no fun.

[Bruce Brakel]

I would think steroids had a big part of why the productivity went up for a number of the players that were mentioned.

Mmmmmm.  Steroids.  I should make an appointment for some...   

[CEValkyrie]

How many times are they going to throw Russell out on the mound? What a joke.

[Dan Michler]

How many times are they going to throw Russell out on the mound? What a joke.

You don't like his 8.15 ERA?  Looking at it from the Cubs' perspective, who do you start instead?  Samardiza?  You could take Marshall out of the bullpen, but then you've got no reliable lefty in the pen.  We have a couple guys in the minors that we are grooming for the future, but as you said, this season is probably a lost cause so why would you hinder their development just to spot start until Wells and Cashner come off the DL?  So, I can see why the Cubs keep running him out there despite the fact that he is clearly overmatched.

If I were Quade, I think I'd start Marshall next time around and let him go about 70-80 pitches.  Wells and Cashner should both be back within a few weeks.

[Mike Clark]

How many times are they going to throw Russell out on the mound? What a joke.

It was a joke the first time they started him. Why didn't they bring up a starter from the minors instead of trying to us this guy. That is what most teams would have done. Not the Cubs. Lets start a guy during a double header that can only throw 50 pitches. Makes sense to me. Hey it goes along with the theme this year cause this team is a joke.

How about that Carlos Pena signing? Where do we play Tyler Colvin? Nice use of $10mil. They can't be hurting to bad for cash if they can waste it like that.

What happened to Byrd? He decide to stop juicing before he got caught? 0hr, lol. Nice

[Dan Michler]

What happened to Byrd? He decide to stop juicing before he got caught? 0hr, lol. Nice

Byrd's HR totals from his last 4 seasons:  10, 10, 20, 12.  A 0 HR month isn't that shocking.  Pitching has dominated early this year around the league.  The Cubs have played in some brutal conditions.  Don't hate Marlon Byrd because Jim Hendry decided to overpay him.  Hate Jim Hendry.  Hate Tom Ricketts for not firing Jim Hendry.  Byrd is the same player he's always been.  Same with Carlos Pena.  Same with Fukudome.  I have no problem with these players.  They didn't show anything historically to make me believe they'd be better than they are.  They aren't blaming teammates and fans (like Milton Bradley).  They are just victims of being hired by Jim Hendry.  Focus your attacks on the right people.

[CEValkyrie]

This is a throw away year and should be an interesting offseason. Hopefully we'll start next year with a big stick first baseman.  We should be going thru every pitcher in the minor leagues to find us a starter going into next season. We also need an outfielder that can run. 2nd to last in SB's right now. What a phucking joke.  Sam Fuld has nearly doubled us up with 10.

[pdga#7648]

I could see Prince Fielder in a Cubs uniform. keep your fingers crossed Brett!

[Dan Michler]

We should be going thru every pitcher in the minor leagues to find us a starter going into next season.

That is what the minor leagues is for.

[Mike Clark]

I have been hating on Hendry for a couple years now. He has no idea how to run a team . The contracts he has locked the Cubs into are crippling.

For reference or a good laugh: http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/chicago-cubs_112114177768677294.html

I was just throwing a jab at Bradley for having that trainer who is inked to PEDs and stuck with him. I think he his dirty and hasn't been caught yet. That is all.

Fielder would look good in a Cubs uniform. Just not sure he is worth the money he is going to get. The Cubs are freeing up a ton of money this off season so lets hope they spend it wisely.

[CEValkyrie]

We should be going thru every pitcher in the minor leagues to find us a starter going into next season.

That is what the minor leagues is for.

There has to be some talent that looks big league ready down there. Let's find a guy this year that can compete at that level. Instead we'll do the same bullcrap and bring a guy up next year having no clue if he can get outs at the big league level. This is a great year to test those waters.

[CEValkyrie]

I could see Prince Fielder in a Cubs uniform. keep your fingers crossed Brett!

I would love Prince but AP is the #1 target for any team with money.

Your butt should be puckered up so tight that you cannot get a greased bb up it. It has to just eat your gut that your DeadBirds are possibly not going to resign the BEST ever to play the game. They way the season has started for AP I can see STL trying to justify their low balling home team discount.

[pdga#7648]

deadbirds? they are in 1st place, with Holliday and Berkman hitting over .400, Theriot hitting .307, Rasmus, .340, Freese .356, and Molina .301   it is Ap's .230 that has kept them from being 21-8
and running away with that weak ass division!

and again, not worried a bit. he will remain a Cardinal, and his piss poor season will keep him there easily. he will have to see everyone's point that he will eventually fall off his 1st 10 year output!  he will get more than AROD's 27 mil a year, but it will only be about 6-8 year deal.  30 mil at 7 years is my guess. makes him the highest paid per year. that's what all you clowns think he wants.

IF, and yes, it's a HUGE IF, he leaves, I'd bet my bank account he doesn't sign with the Cubs! Yankees or Dodgers, maybe the Angels are the 3 teams that might pay the money. the Cubs never give a huge contract. maybe they are fools and pay players salaries from other teams, but they never sign a big long term deal!   so keep dreaming. I know the Cubs season has put you to sleep, but dream of disc golf or something, not your fantasy of getting the best baseball player of all time. yes a Cardinal 4ever!

[Mike Clark]

Ithe Cubs never give a huge contract. maybe they are fools and pay players salaries from other teams, but they never sign a big long term deal!  

Unless your name is Alfonso Soriano 8 years/$136M (2007-14). With a full not trade clause.

They are not shy about overpaying guys for 5 years either.
Carlos Zambrano rhp
5 years/$91.5M (2008-12)

Aramis Ramirez 3b
5 years/$75M

Careful when you use the word never

[Dan Michler]

I'm sure the Cubs have more long-term deals than anybody in the division.  Thats our problem.  We've had a top 5 payroll in baseball for the last 10 years.  What are you talking about Doug?

[Dan Michler]

They also signed Kerry Wood to a big 5 year deal about 8 years ago.  They signed Milton Bradley as a free agent to a big 3 year deal.  Fukudome and Dempster both got huge 4 year deals.  The Cubs are practically giving away money!  The Cubs are certainly on a short list of teams willing to massively overpay a free agent.

I still think Fielder is the most realistic target for the Cubs next year.

[pdga#7648]

3-5 yrs is not long term in my eyes. 6-10 would be.  OVERPAY people?  yes the Cubs are in a class of their own when it comes time to that. picking up a contract that pays Soriano whatever he gets paid, is not picking him up from free agency, like Pujols and Fielder will be.  guess I should have been more specific with you guys. again, sorry.

[pdga#7648]

I still think Fielder is the most realistic target for the Cubs next year.

over the last 4 years, I think this marks a 1st. something we both agreed on?  holy crap!

[Mike Clark]

3-5 yrs is not long term in my eyes. 6-10 would be.  OVERPAY people?  yes the Cubs are in a class of their own when it comes time to that. picking up a contract that pays Soriano whatever he gets paid, is not picking him up from free agency, like Pujols and Fielder will be.  guess I should have been more specific with you guys. again, sorry.

Soriano was a free agent signing in 2006. Not an existing contract or a trade. He was the hottest free agent, supposedly, that year and the Cubs overpaid him from the start. No one else even bid against the Cubs that year cause they overpaid so much. At the time it was the second largest contract in MLB for an outfielder. #1 was Manny Ramirez ($160 million for eight years). 5th largest MLB contract ever.

A 5 year contract is too long for a MLB contract imo. It is even worse when you give them no trade clauses like Hendry likes to do. Mainly because they are guaranteed contracts. 3 years is about right.

No need to be sorry. Rip on the Cubs all you want. I have been a fan for over 40 years now. I will be the first one to admit they suck and are run stupidly. Just be accurate. The Cubs problems are not about spending money. It is how they spend it.

[pdga#7648]

I thought Sorianos deal was from a trade.

and accurate? it's hard to be when some think a long term deal is 3, 4 or 5 years.


Holliday just got a long term deal, and AP is seeking one. some say AP wants 10 years. do you guys consider that a lifetime if 3-5 years is long term? help me understand your Chicago way of thinking. 

and I don't mean to rip the Cubs year after year after year, but it is just soooo freaking easy!  they have to be the worst franchise at handling their money.