The rebuild was destroyed when Moncada, Jimenez, Vaughn, and Robert weren't good enough/healthy enough to form the nucleus of a good team. If Bryce Harper were on this team it would still suck.

Who himself has also been hurt a lot

The rebuild was destroyed when Moncada, Jimenez, Vaughn, and Robert weren't good enough/healthy enough to form the nucleus of a good team. If Bryce Harper were on this team it would still suck.

You have to go with Moncada-Robert-Jimenez in the middle of the order and hope they can stay on the field and that at least two of them can have big years.

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I agree with that. First, the team obviously has a culture problem. I'm not in the clubhouse. I don't know who is to blame. But there are guys getting paid big salaries who can't seem to figure it out.

Another complete rebuild should be out of the question. You tanked to get these guys, now you have to live with them and hope for the best. You have to go with Moncada-Robert-Jimenez in the middle of the order and hope they can stay on the field and that at least two of them can have big years.

I don't understand the fascination with Vaughn. I'd be looking to improve at first base.

I would get rid of Anderson. Montgomery is probably not ready, but if you don't expect to contend anyway, why not just put him at short and hope for the best? It's a funny game. Maybe he'll be Rookie of the Year.

You need at least one quality starter who can consistently give you 6+ innings a game. I have no clue what to do with the bullpen, but I think handing out big salaries to relief pitchers should end. It hasn't worked. Just go with cheap live arms.

Getting back to the culture change, I have no beef with signing Perez to catch if you think he's the guy who can get your clubhouse in order. Just don't expect him to give you his best seasons. Those are probably over. If he gives you one, that's gravy.

Would you like to bet that if they do go with those three guys next year, they are collectively better than the Cubs' 3-4-5 hitters?

I'm pretty sure the Cubs can find a "Schwisdom" off the street to outpace Moncada's 1.6 fWAR the past two seasons

I'm pretty sure the Cubs can find a "Schwisdom" off the street to outpace Moncada's 1.6 fWAR the past two seasons

I agree with that. First, the team obviously has a culture problem. I'm not in the clubhouse. I don't know who is to blame. But there are guys getting paid big salaries who can't seem to figure it out.

Another complete rebuild should be out of the question. You tanked to get these guys, now you have to live with them and hope for the best. You have to go with Moncada-Robert-Jimenez in the middle of the order and hope they can stay on the field and that at least two of them can have big years.

I don't understand the fascination with Vaughn. I'd be looking to improve at first base.

I would get rid of Anderson. Montgomery is probably not ready, but if you don't expect to contend anyway, why not just put him at short and hope for the best? It's a funny game. Maybe he'll be Rookie of the Year.

You need at least one quality starter who can consistently give you 6+ innings a game. I have no clue what to do with the bullpen, but I think handing out big salaries to relief pitchers should end. It hasn't worked. Just go with cheap live arms.

Getting back to the culture change, I have no beef with signing Perez to catch if you think he's the guy who can get your clubhouse in order. Just don't expect him to give you his best seasons. Those are probably over. If he gives you one, that's gravy.

Outside of 2022, he's been pretty healthy

I agree with that. First, the team obviously has a culture problem. I'm not in the clubhouse. I don't know who is to blame.

Another complete rebuild should be out of the question. You tanked to get these guys, now you have to live with them and hope for the best. You have to go with Moncada-Robert-Jimenez in the middle of the order and hope they can stay on the field and that at least two of them can have big years.

I don't understand the fascination with Vaughn. I'd be looking to improve at first base.

I would get rid of Anderson.

Montgomery is probably not ready, but if you don't expect to contend anyway, why not just put him at short and hope for the best?

You need at least one quality starter who can consistently give you 6+ innings a game. I have no clue what to do with the bullpen, but I think handing out big salaries to relief pitchers should end. It hasn't worked. Just go with cheap live arms.

Getting back to the culture change, I have no beef with signing Perez to catch if you think he's the guy who can get your clubhouse in order. Just don't expect him to give you his best seasons. Those are probably over. If he gives you one, that's gravy.

I guess you want to make the bet then.

Props to Caller Bob, he won't make a bet that his weekly allowance can't afford to pay off.

I can't help but wonder what a Bochy/Mike Maddux would've done for this club.

the rebuild was dead when Moncada was allowed to come to the ballpark high or hungover every day and nobody said anything about it.

No, that was the effects of Covid

I agree with that. First, the team obviously has a culture problem. I'm not in the clubhouse. I don't know who is to blame. But there are guys getting paid big salaries who can't seem to figure it out.

Another complete rebuild should be out of the question. You tanked to get these guys, now you have to live with them and hope for the best. You have to go with Moncada-Robert-Jimenez in the middle of the order and hope they can stay on the field and that at least two of them can have big years.

I don't understand the fascination with Vaughn. I'd be looking to improve at first base.

I would get rid of Anderson. Montgomery is probably not ready, but if you don't expect to contend anyway, why not just put him at short and hope for the best? It's a funny game. Maybe he'll be Rookie of the Year.

You need at least one quality starter who can consistently give you 6+ innings a game. I have no clue what to do with the bullpen, but I think handing out big salaries to relief pitchers should end. It hasn't worked. Just go with cheap live arms.

Getting back to the culture change, I have no beef with signing Perez to catch if you think he's the guy who can get your clubhouse in order. Just don't expect him to give you his best seasons. Those are probably over. If he gives you one, that's gravy.

he is the first human being to have constant covid from 2017 - 2023.

When three of your long term heart of the order guys are bad to mediocre, there's not much you can do about that short of getting a new heart of the order.

the rebuild was destroyed in that off season. We struck out on two superstars. We were stuck with two bum brother in laws. Despite promises, the money was never spent.

I just don't think you can junk those guys after you tanked to get them. And I know Moncada is frustrating, but circumstances have to fall right. He'll quite likely end up with a better career than Javy Baez who is a Cub legend. You just need guys to play well at the right time and avoid injury. It's easier said than done.

I don't think it's absurd to believe that you can get 12 WAR from Moncada-Robert-Jimenez in the next year or two. If you get that you're probably going to have a decent team. If you put the right players around them, you could have a really good team. A lot of ifs, I know. But it's a funny game and there are no sure things. I remember when Kris Bryant was a guaranteed first ballot Hall of Famer. Now it looks like he's Kevin Youkilis.

My guess is they hold on to all of them and cross their fingers. I would like to see them trade Vaughn and Jimenez for somebody else's underperforming players and see if that shakes anything up. I think if they got a combined WAR of six out of Jimenez, Moncada, and Vaughn next year, they would be lucky.