just wanted to see how cub fans were feeling these days about the team

As an outside observer, it seems like the team is rotting from within with management squabbles, off field troubles and players getting coaches fired. They lost the division to an inferior team. They have bloated contracts preventing them from necessary moves.

It all feels like this will be the last run for the Cub, at least as presently structured.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Anything’s possible.

Yes it's over.

Next thread please.

_________________

I'm not so sure they did.

_________________

What sucks is the longevity of 2 awful contracts. I didn't want Heyward or Darvish, they are really handcuffing the team. I was wrong on Chatwood..assumed the guy would be a really good 4th or 5th starter.

_________________

All of last year, the team felt a little like the 87 Bears who lost to Washington in the first round. And I mean ALL of last year, starting with not being able to score a second run in the Eddie Butler game. I did not want Darvish even before he was signed, and that plus their offensive struggles kept me in an "eh, LA will kick their ass in a NLCS" mode all season.

I can't get excited about this season until they decide what to do with Schwarber, Happ, and Almora, and which free agent hitter they sign. And until they trade Carl Edwards to Seattle. When I can be convinced that they will not come anywhere close to leading the league in 0-1 run offensive efforts, I will pay attention.

That said, last week I booked a hotel room to see games 2 and 3 of the season in Arlington. So I am at least a little enthusiastic.

_________________
"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

They are but it doesn't matter the damage is done.

A little premature trolling but it's good to see dolphin in midseason form.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Yes. He's already off to a Brandon Morrow-like start.

Too soon.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Just add him to the "wasted signings" list.

They sure as hell haven't done much right for couple years now. Underachievement accepted.

2016.
I'm pretty happy.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

They won 95 last year

_________________

Despite injuries to Darvish and Morrow, as well as Bryant and Strop, the tremendously disappointing performance level of Chatwood and a down year from Contreras and Russell, they had the best record in the National League after 162 games. No, I don't believe it's the beginning of a downward slide. Instead, I think this team will see how the Cardinals and Brewers have put together teams that have to be taken seriously and they will play more to the level of their potential and have another glorious season. A division championship and perhaps another title. With Lester, Hendricks, Quintana, Hamels and Darvish (if everyone is healthy) the rotation can be absolutely dominant. I see this team reaching their potential finally, after a couple seasons where they fell woefully short, despite still winning 95 games.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

And did not win a title. Shitty performance by most everybody including Theo and Co. Fail.

Les always talks about Heyward, and says "What do you care about his contract? It's not your money". Now Theo says "We need to be imagnitive". Implying high priced
dead weight needs to be moved because the ugly word budget is popping up. Even if bums are miraculously moved, can Theo be trusted signing big contract free agents with his track record? I've got a feeling Harper is going be a bust looking at his last 3 years war combined ranking in 80s.

Murph asked a good question on yesterdays show.

HOW DO WE KNOW if Harper isnt going to be the next Heyward?

Ricketts may be asking that to Theo.

He’s off his game. He admitted the Cubs lost to an inferior team, meaning he believes the Cubs are better than the Brewers.

_________________
Hawaii (fuck) You

Murph also talked about how old Heyward plays at only 28. He was a holy terror with the Braves.

No, he was not a holy terror, but for 1 single season. Looks like Tarzan, hits like Jane. If he hadn't dropped off as much as he did, Atlanta would not have traded him to the Cardinals.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

_________________

The Reds are making their move. They are still going to suck, but not quite as badly. That'll cost the Cubs two previously easy wins, and probably make the WC inaccessible.

This is going to sound crazy, but I'd love to see Theo entertain offers for Bryant either now or at the ASB. Not dump him, but see what teams will realistically offer and take a deal that repositions the team for 2020-2022. I do think that he wants to play with Harper for at least a couple of years, and if the Cubs make no real effort to sign Harper that he's going to be pissed.

I've come to peace with the fact that there will be two platoons (Schwarber/Zobrist, Heyward/Almora), with Descalso as the other non-catcher reserve and Happ playing a sub-standard CF except in certain road stadiums where they want Almora in there for defense even against a RH starter. I really wanted McCutchen because I thought he'd benefit from the Zobrist plan of only playing 4-5 days a week, even if that meant more Happ at 2B/3B.

I do not particularly expect this team to win the division this year, I think it will be a three-team dog-fight and go down to the last week of the season again. But I think that whichever team emerges out of the NL Central will be sufficiently battle-tested to give the Dodgers, Rockies, Braves, and Phillies a tough NLDS and NLCS and have a solid chance of going to the WS and getting destroyed by the Astros or Yankees.

_________________
"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Sox would be the perfect team for Bryant.

Classy guys, that Bryzzo tandem. Sounds like they need to point the thumb instead of the finger.

https://sports.yahoo.com/report-theo-ep ... 12568.html

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/b ... story.html

_________________

I would bet money, this will be Theo's last season in Chicago.

You think Rizzo had a bad year ?

_________________
Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

The way you judge "class" has always been interesting to me.

If they didn't think he was good for the team and they vocalized it, that has nothing to do with class, Francis.

And Ill just point out, the last team to fire Chili immediately improved offensively and won the World Series.