2012 Chicago Cubs

[stpitner]

I'm glad that a team is moving to the AL.  It was stupid to have a 4-team race in the AL west just it was stupid to have 6 teams in the NL Central.  That needed to be done a long time ago.  The thing that is going to be more interesting is if they do decide in a couple of years to get rid of the playing within your own division heavily and instead play against ALL of the teams equally.  Then it turns into hockey where pretty much how you stand in your conference is just about all that matters (close to it at least).

[Dan Michler]

Then it turns into hockey where pretty much how you stand in your conference is just about all that matters (close to it at least).

Thats how it should be.  Its luck of the draw who ends up in your division.  The NFL proved how dumb this is by having a 7-9 team get a home playoff game against an 11-5 team last year.

[stpitner]

well if you want to get rid of dumb ideas I no longer support the winner of the All-Star game getting home field advantage.  I don't like the idea of what it used to be before either with it switching back and forth between leagues.  It should be best record, period.  Perhaps a 3rd level tie-break could be winner of the All Star Game or something like that.

[Chainmeister]

well if you want to get rid of dumb ideas I no longer support the winner of the All-Star game getting home field advantage.  I don't like the idea of what it used to be before either with it switching back and forth between leagues.  It should be best record, period.  Perhaps a 3rd level tie-break could be winner of the All Star Game or something like that.

I think the team with the better record should get home field advantage in all situations including situations where a wild card team has a better record that an division champ. Dan alluded to that problem in the NFL last year.

The baseball playoffs are interesting because it has been  shown that anybody can win if you get into the post season tournament. However, if the early series' have reduced games (5 or even 3) you will see flukes and inferior teams coming out of these series.  Do we really want to see a 100 win team losing to an 85 win team on a regular basis in the first round so we can enjoy two cinderelllas giving us a poorly played world series?  I want to see the best teams play. 

Other than being a casual fan of the Bears I have never been a huge pro footbal fan. (although I admit to watching more games this year than is most recent years)  Yet, I always enjoy the playoffs because they almost always show the best teams playing at a very high level.  The occassional cinderella is dramatic and fun.  Regularly occuring cinderellas make for inferior play at the most important time.  Baseball will be encouraging more cinderellas and hurting the good teams.  I think any proposal that makes a 100+ win team have to play a short series against a mediocre team is a mistake.

[Dan Michler]

I agree, Dave, that the regularly occuring cinderellas makes the whole process seem fluky.  I think the NBA is by far the best at regularly producing a champion that is actually the best team in the league.

All professional sports are aware of all these points.  I think they ideally would like to preserve the integrity of the championship trophy, but the #1 objective is to have every single team be "in it" for as long as possible.  This keeps more fans interested.

[pdga#7648]

Do we really want to see a 100 win team losing to an 85 win team on a regular basis in the first round so we can enjoy two cinderelllas giving us a poorly played world series?  I want to see the best teams play.  

Baseball will be encouraging more cinderellas and hurting the good teams.  I think any proposal that makes a 100+ win team have to play a short series against a mediocre team is a mistake.

so, then what your saying is just withdraw the playoffs all together and the best 2 records would play for the World Series??

why is it a mistake? that 100+ win team should be able to beat a mediocre team 3 games without a problem, if they a truely a better team.    There would never be any upsets if wildcard teams didn't get a chance.

[pdga#7648]

wow, sorry guys.  I really messed that one up.

[pdga#7648]

but, the best teams know how to when in October, and not just the HOT Summer months!

[CEValkyrie]

Cubs sign David DeJesus. Don't really like this signing but he did bat .270 after the all star break. Hopefully he's a clubhouse guy that leads by example.

[stpitner]

I liked these comments that they had about him: good defense, doesn't strike out a lot.  I didn't look to see how many walks he takes or if he makes contact that just turns into double plays, but those 2 elements are key fundamental baseball things that can go a super long way.  I'm still haunted by the top 3 of the 2003 marlins lineup - Juan Pierre, Luis Castillo, Pudge Rodriguez.  They were ALL contact hitters, very tough to strike out.  They were always scratching out runs and irritating the Cubs during that entire playoff series.  This is a good lefty bat that will probably lead off.  I'll take it.

[Dan Michler]

Winter meetings start on Monday.  Expect to see some free agent action next week.

I don't really care about DeJesus.  He's another Marlon Byrd.  He is solid but not spectacular.  Basically, we need a warm body to play right field the next couple years while we rebuild, and DeJesus is it.

The only noteworthy thing about DeJesus is that his wife is smoking hot http://hbwhof.blogspot.com/2011/09/little-late-but-worth-wait.html?m=1

[pdga#7648]

The only noteworthy thing about DeJesus is that his wife is smoking hot http://hbwhof.blogspot.com/2011/09/little-late-but-worth-wait.html?m=1

after a hellish week of work, needed something to make my day, and this was it. Thanks Dan!   F'in hilarious! 

[stpitner]

upgrade from tyler colvin, I'll take it.

[CEValkyrie]

Ian Stewart?

[Dan Michler]

Ian Stewart was a super-prospect for the Rockies 5 years ago.  I used to always draft him as a sleeper on my fantasy teams.  He was expected to have monstrous power once he fully developed.  Obviously that never panned out.  He's battled injuries and some major confidence issues.  He strikes out just about every time up, just like Tyler Colvin!!  The Cubs are making a small gamble they can turn him around.  He's still just 26 years old, so if he's healthy he has more potential than Tyler Colvin and he plays 3B, which obviously fills a hole for the Cubs in the short-term.

My bet is he ends up platooning at 3B unless he suddenly finds the consistency at the plate that has eluded him for the last 5 years.

[stpitner]

I'm happy with this move as they no longer needed Colvin after picking up DeJesus.  Stewart bats left handed and they say that he is really good defensively.  You win with defense and pitching, so solid defense is doing just as much to take runs OFF the board from your opponent to hopefully keep you in the game.  Stewart had a wrist injury last year though, and we saw how long it was before Derrek Lee truly returned from his wrist injury.  That's the only part that worries.  He's probably a #7 hitter.  we don't want a bunch of #7 hitters!

So the lineup kinda would look like this now, maybe?
1 L - DeJesus
2 R - Barney
3 R - Castro
4 R - Byrd??
5 L - LaHair??
6 R- Soriano
7 L - Stewart
8 R - Soto??

VERY ugly middle of the lineup.  I would be all for Prince Fielder coming in and hitting 3 or 4 in combination with Castro.  Prince is also leftie, so you could almost have left/right all the way through the lineup.  They definitely need a better first baseman and pitching.  Still a long way to go to get this team over the top!

[CESAROE]

Sorry to say it guys but the cubs might be competitive again in 2036. Have fun with that pathetic roster. GO CARDS!

[pdga#7648]

Sorry to say it guys but the cubs might be competitive again in 2036. Have fun with that pathetic roster. GO CARDS!

2036?  your giving them WAY too much credit!   

[CESAROE]

I'm still a little delirious from losing LaRussa and Pujols. In the mourning stage with a little denial mixed in.

[pdga#7648]

Cardinal Nation will be just fine.   I mean cmon, in the 2 WS the Cardinals won...

in 06 AP had 1 HR batted .200.
this year, he had 1 good game and hit .240

Freese, LaRussa and our pitching won it this year!   you have to admit, to pay him 25.4 over 10 years, we might of competed for 3-4, but then his declining legs will be gone, and so goes his power, then it's downhill from there. DH or not.

Remember, it's the St. Louis Cardinals, never was the Albert Pujols Cardinals!