Psst, "spendthrift" means the opposite of what it looks like it means.

_________________

The Cubs are fine. The minor leagues are well stocked and it's just a matter of time (which is not that far off now) till the players that are so highly thought of, take their place at the major league level. I LIKE the way they are doing things. I don't like the idea of them just over-spending for free agents to compete. I like the idea that they draft and develop their own players and cultivate a system that allows the organization to contend year in and year out. It has been a difficult and frustrating run, waiting for the team to aquire and develop young talent, rather than just spending to aquire talent good enough to be mediore. But the way they are doing it is the right way. It's not a mess. It's just a process that takes some time.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

Theo is a space voyager who wanted to use the gravity of a black hole as fuel to go whipping through the cosmos but miscalculated the event horizon

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

His approach bought him time from a proper evaluation either way regarding this point...he's got two more years for his grade to be reported

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

While I think it is a great call by the dodgers and I dont think they are bluffing, why not get a few out of the game.

The dodgers are going to make the highest offer, of course Jerry will need a private meeting first with Tanakas people. lol

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

This would have been the worst year for them to enter into long term contracts (Tanaka is a different case). However, as I said, they could have entered into those contracts two years ago, have won at the major league level, and now have minor league talent percolating as those veteran contracts expire.

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

You don't get the opportunity to draft Almora and Bryant if you are choosing your first round pick from #15 or 20. They will have another top pick this year, as a result of having the 4th worst record last season (after Houston, Miami and the White Sox. ). Having top 5 picks in multiple years (this will be the 3rd such year, gives them the opportunity to draft TOP amateur talent, rather than 2nd tier guys. It's easier to identify guys who are can't-miss type's in the top 5 picks, than late in the round. It doesn't make it fool proof by any means, but it's more likely to get a top talent in the first 5 picks.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

The Cubs should be the worst team in the league for the next 10 years. Imagine how many high draft picks they'd have!

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

How long had the KC Royals plan and before past season the Pirates been working a plan? I am not jagging you Cub fans simply saying that in baseball even the best plans sometimes do not work out.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Yeah,I said this about 4 years ago,but I'm just a babbling old guy.

_________________
favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Almora certainly isn't some talent that you tank a season in order to acquire.

However, Theo is your star. He should be trusted to find talent throughout the draft. He certainly did in Boston (with plenty of caveats).

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

I've read the Cubs won't be outbid. Tanaka is going to get infinity dollars and play for both teams, I guess.


In all seriousness, Tanaka also wants a good place to play. Hey may want to play in LA/Chi, and he may not. May not be highest absolute bidder.

Dylan Hernandez ‏@dylanohernandez 7h
The Yankees, Dodgers and Angels are finalists to sign Masahiro Tanaka, according to Sports Hochi.

The Sports Hochi story lists the Yankees as the favorites to land Tanaka.

_________________

I have a question. The Cubs had to pay 20 million just to talk to him or is that only if they sign him they pay 20 mil?

_________________
favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Only the team he signs with pays the 20 million to his Japanese team the Rakuten Eagles.

_________________

Isn't Ichiro still on the Yankee payroll? I would imagine that makes them hugely attractive in addition to all the other things that make the Yankees hugely attractive.

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

But that's why this strategy blows. If and when they become good, then the high draft pick streak ends and they will be just like everyone else. In the meantime, the MLB product is an embarrassment. In my opinion, Selig should not allow teams to do what the Cubs are doing (intentionally tanking seasons), but it's hard to enforce.

Ricketts is poor (relatively speaking) and under him, the Cubs will never spend what they should based on their market and revenue.

_________________

The idea tat they're tanking seasons is a little exaggerated. Its not like they're three games out of first when they start trading people

I know the whole idea that 78 wins is no better than 68 makes everyone uncomfortable but its true

Yes Ichiro is still a Yankee as is Hiroki Kuroda.

Casey Close who is Tanaka's agent was drafted and played in the Yankee system and has been Derek Jeter's only agent during Jeter's entire career. Close also represents Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke thus the Dodger connection.

_________________

Thats foolish to say. When they renegotiate the TV/Radio deals after next season, their revenue will increase dramatically. Add to that extra revenue from signage, including the new scoreboard. By the time the team is contending, there will be streams of revenue they don't have now. They will spend when it's time to spend, the team is in contention and they identify a player/players that can put them over the top.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

When when, if if, I've been dealing with that shit for damn near forty years. I like some things that have been done the last few seasons, but I'm dubious of Little Lord Fauntleroy Tommy. The finances haven't worked out the way he thought. He seems to be in over his head thus far.

_________________
We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

I was listening to the flagship yesterday. Bruce Miles was interviewed and said that this team is likely going to be the worst of the three during Theo's tenure. Memelo said that he got complaints from fans a couple of years ago when he had their timeframe for success as 2014 but it is realistically 2016 now. This was on WGN.

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

No, the finances are probably not what he had hoped for. I think he foolishly had thought that the city of Chicago/State of Illinois would chip in to pay for the renovations to the ballpark. Plus, his father lost a bunch of money as a result of the downturn in the economy. So he doesn't have the money he might like to have, to do all the renovations as quickly as would be ideal. He will build the scoreboard first, because it will then begin to bring in new revenue faster. He will get a new TV/Radio deal after 2014 also. Then the renovations to the ballpark will begin. The new spring training site is done now as is the Baseball academy in the Dominican. That money will not need to be spent again, so that spending is out of the way. Once the ballpark renovations are complete, imagine all the new revenue, without the need for any of the additional spending they have incurred/are incurring ....there will be plenty of money for free agents. By then, the team will have built a contending team and whatever pieces are missing, they can fill in with free agents.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

I'm with you on Ricketts, Reason. Very disappointed in the new ownership.

What is more likely is that they slowly bump up payroll but still pay at or below what you would expect for a team in Chicago.

To think that the Cubs are laying the groundwork here to spend like the Yankees, Red Sox, or Dodgers is not supportable with any evidence yet. Ricketts is clearly a guy who is more concerned about making money and less concerned with winning. To think one day he'll flip the switch and say "Let's spend like the Yankees" is wishful thinking.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Agreed, the Cubs will have to be making crazy money, like the late 90's and then maybe he'll spend


But spending is not an automatic recipe for success, either

The value will be in keeping your own players if they meet the lofty expectations they have.

While the Cubs may be pretending they are the Royals or Rays right now they don't have to do that at the time that Brett Jackson is getting a $150 million dollar offer from the Yankees.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Hopefully they do what the Phillies did after their prospects came up and performed

I don't believe they will spend along the lines of the Dodgers, Yankees and Red Sox. They will continue to build and then maintain their minor league teams and that will provide the bulk of the talent. They will use free agency only to fill in the gaps. To add guys that can put them over the top. Not to use as a main source of talent. Think Tampa Bay Rays, with a little bit more willingness to spend on a free agent when needed.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

Except the Rays have never been over the top. They've been close, but have won as many World Series since 1909 as the Cubs have.

_________________