It's amazing that considering how bad they've been that they haven't been swept in a 3 game series all year.
Chicago Cubs 2024
The Ricketts set a budget (too low, but still $60-70 million higher than anyone else in the division), hire a President of Baseball Ops, and then get out of the way.
They kept Hendry on for a year as a lame duck largely due to the timing of the sale.
They were aggressive in getting Epstein and his first 5 year contract went about as well as it possibly could have. They got better every year and ended it by winning the WS.
They extended him 5 years and everybody was happy about that. The Cubs stagnated a bit, but still in the first 4 years of the contact they had 4 winning seasons, 3 playoff appearances and 2 division titles.
Epstein walked away with a year left on his contract and they promoted Hoyer from within. So, the question is, how much rope should the owners give Hoyer?
In year 1, they had a nice start to the season but collapsed right before the trade deadline. The thought was that the old guys were old and that Hoyer should be allowed to bring his own guys in.
In year 2, they started bad, but had a winning second half and the general thought was that there was improvement and the farm system looked more promising.
In year 3, they started bad, but rallied to a winning season, just missing the playoffs, and the general thought was, “Here we go.”
And now this dud of a season.
I think the Ricketts can always be criticized for not spending enough on the roster. But in terms of hiring/firing the President, they haven’t had much of a chance to show how they respond to an abject failure like this. If they rubber stamp this and bring back Hoyer (or God forbid, extend him!) then they wear this, too. But until then I’m reserving judgment.
I wasn’t as high on PCA as the experts were — often they overproject for toolsy players. That said, he can be a very productive player for Cubs, especially when factoring in defense. With less than 200 MLB ABs and only 250 at AAA, much too early to downgrade him. Would certainly like to see him show more frequent flashes in second half of season though.
I know there’s an Almora comp that some people might want to do with PCA. They were hyped similarly coming up. But PCA has already proven to be SO much better a fielder than AA ever was. Far faster. Far more athletic.
Almora had great hands. But he was slow. Both running and reacting. PCA makes AA’s spectacular plays look routine because he gets to the ball so quickly.
Completely agree. It is his defense and speed that make him playable right now. Concern I’ve always had with him is his hit tool. Right now despite the terrible BA, his numbers prorated over 500+ ABs are 9 HRs and 50+ SBs. If he can get his average up at least to .250, we’re talking likely at least 15+ HRs. He’s only 22, so certainly very possible he gets to where we need him to be.
Are you talking about Schwarber (not traded; Cubs let him go FA) and Rizzo? If so, talk about living in the past. Rizzo was 3 years ago and I think Schwarbs was 5. I had no problem with Rizzo trade. Cubs were going no where. Didn’t exactly get a great return, but hopefully Alcantara pans out.
Correction. Just looked it up and Schwarbs was 4 years ago. Remember being surprised by them letting him go for nothing. If the universal DH was starting that year rather than the next, wonder if they would have let him go. But he batted under .200 last year with Cubs and couldn’t hide him at 1B with Rizzo still there. But would be nice to have him. Rizzo not so much. Had a good year and a half for Yanks, but last two have been injury plagued and not great.
Watching the Cubs game tonight and they are AWFUL.
I think it is their manager-- he's not inspiring them to do anything. Pitching hendricks? He's lucky to get anyone out ! and their hitting is TERRIBLE, Swanson waving at strike three in the dirt. Is he just guessing against a mediocre pitcher?? The pitch had no chance to be a strike,
Very demoralizing...
I think it is their manager-- he's not inspiring them to do anything. Pitching hendricks? He's lucky to get anyone out ! and their hitting is TERRIBLE, Swanson waving at strike three in the dirt. Is he just guessing against a mediocre pitcher?? The pitch had no chance to be a strike,
Very demoralizing...
9 runs in 7 games since the ASB. Pathetic.
I don't know if the cubs manager is dumb, stubborn or is just trying to sabotage the cubs. In the fifth inning he leaves Hendricks in to retire NO ONE and proceed to give up SIX runs, the entirety of the scoring, before replacing him. six batters, six runs.
And the cubs offense? 3 singles and a double...
Could it be any more pathetic?
And the cubs offense? 3 singles and a double...
Could it be any more pathetic?
Actually 8 earned runs. One was an extra inning courtesy runner.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Another day, another shut out loss.
Hendricks got the first two batters of the inning out before imploding
Make it 7. One run against Milwaukee was unearned also. 7 ER in 7 games. I guarantee a AA team could do better than that.
If Suzuki could play defense, Hendricks gets out of that inning without giving up a run.
Not that it matters if the offense is never going to score.
Saw tweet that Cubs are reportedly acquiring RP Nate Pearson from Toronto.
Former first round pick and top 100 prospect. Hits triple digits, but has trouble with command and doesn’t really have a secondary pitch.
2 more years of control after this year. Traded a non-prospect who’d be subject to Rule 5 Draft this year. So didn’t give anything of note up.
Cubs basically have half a year to put this guy in the pitch lab and see if they can harness his velocity into something productive.
Yep, began his career as a starter. Dealt with some injuries early in career, but don’t think any arm injuries except for a broken arm in minors.
true! The box score had it wrong... Two outs nobody on and he was left in for SIX straight hits, the last a three run homer. Why wasnt he replaced after two hits?
Very poor managing-- he was being roped before that with some lucky breaks keeping him in the game.
I love Kyle as a Cub, but he should never start another game for them. He's been toast all year...
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
He’ll fit right in with this crew…
So the 2017 trade deadline dump of Candelario and Paredes is officially undone.