If a World Series MVP is included (Glaus) they'd be ok.

Glaus hit 300 homers. Not too shabby.

I mean I hope Bryant becomes Albert Pujols like every other Cub fan, but Glaus would be fine.

Coach of the Year.

That division is up for grabs, wouldn't surprise me if the White Sox took a run at the crown.

That's just me, but I feel it.

Pretty clear they are setting themselves up for a run of sustained success starting next year. We are ahead of schedule!

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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!

Justin Verlander has already claimed the 2014 Division title for the Tigers.

Verlander is just jealous of 2005.

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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!

I'm not sure a Pujols really exists outside the steroid era. He was a great player, but there was a time there when there were several guys like him. It makes it hard to recognize how rare a guy like that is in a "normal" baseball environment.

To me, the biggest argument for Frank Thomas not being a steroid guy is the fact that he was really a singles hitter. He was just so damn big that those singles turned into doubles and homers. Anyway, I think any "juicing" of the players was ancillary and the thing that really pumped up the offense was actually a juiced ball.

Troy Glaus isn't a Hall of Famer, but if Bryant puts up Glaus numbers at third he certainly will be.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "WE?"

Sox Subdivision!

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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!

Growing up it all seems so one-sided
Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided
Detached and subdivided
In the mass production zone
Nowhere is the dreamer or the misfit so alone

It's like it was written for us.

Castro is your multiple All Star.

Do you really think you are going to win a World Series with a roster full of David Dejesuseseses? I suppose its possible if you have a rotation like the A's or Tigers do, but the Cubs do not have much in the way of pitching prospects.

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Im sorry his expectations are too realistic for you.

And you can add players thru free agency and trades.

I like his enthusiasm and optimism.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

That's only of the "Top 7" prospects. Hopefully less heralded names can develop into solid David Murphy types. They must as that's what Theo/Jed and Tommy Boy are selling.

Realistic? The big league club is going to lose 300 games in 3 season at the expense of supposedly stockpiling the minors with talent. All you want out of that is a few DeJesus type players? I would think that after all of that losing (on purpose), you guys would expect at least one MVP type hitter and several All Star appearances overall.

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I think Kirkwood tempered expectations to avoid the merciless persecution that has been on display here the past week whenever anyone shows a bit of hope.

Bryant is hopefully the MVP caliber player.

Baez, Russell, and Alcantara will hopefully split several All-Star appearances between them during their careers. I somewhat expect it for Baez and Russell. Alcantara is the one guy who could be great or terrible. He is the one that can prove nothing more at AAA, and it is time to find out if he can translate his game to the majors. I have no idea if he can or not. Again...I could see Baez being a slightly better BA Pedro Alvarez, and Russell as very similar to Brandon Phillips.

Castro has three AS selections already, and Rizzo will end up with one or two appearances I'd imagine, though his position is stacked with offensive powerhouses.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

But if Cubs fans expect that, and communicate such, they are then labeled as arrogant!

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Proud to be UNVERIFIED.

but Epstien and company have been pretty bad at anything but scrap heap FA signings for the better part of 5 years

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

Yes, realistic. Seems you are not familiar with prospect success rates

Ok, the parameters have been set by Sox subdivision. We can't expect many multiple all-star players and we can't demand a 1 multiple all-star player and David DeJesus.


Well, the subdivision has pointed out analysts, media and fans have been optimistic. Their criticisms are definitely valid. Now every fanbase is overly giddly with prospects but that's a separate topic. Given the struggles of Baez, Almora and Soler (to stay healthy) I've adjusted my expectations.

I'm with you on Bryant. That's the kid who I feel comfortable notching multiple all-star selections.

Yeah, getting Travis Wood for one year of Sean Marshall and Anthony Rizzo for a guy who's made a season's worth of starts in three years is just horrible.

Unbiased analysts seem to think Epstein has been making great trades.

Calm down. It's just baseball. You've got another disappointing Packers season to look forward to.

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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!

You're right that that is a separate topic. Young guys coming up have always been interesting, but with the Internet and all the information now available, prospect watching has become a hobby unto itself. That's relatively new.

By the very nature of the franchise and its lack of success over the past 75 years, Cub fans tend to be more giddy than others over their prospects. It's understandable given the circumstances. You can root for Nate Schierholtz or hope for Kris Bryant.

Inevitably, a Cub fan will mention Scott Ruffcorn. And yes, we all know he was supposed to be all that. But I don't think anyone was shocked or dismayed when he failed (outside the organization itself). He was just another in a long line of bustouts. I could name many. Bugs Moran, Bart Johnson, Bee-Bee Richard. Phenoms are rare. That's why they're phenoms.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

I typically enjoy these exchanges but dolphin has let his stubborn nature render his opinions laughable.


Until dolphin can admit Rizzo has been worlds better than Cashner since the trade, we cant really have even semi serious discussions.

What Free Ajent signing has Theo made in the last 5 years that would be considered a good to great deal?

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feldmans, hammels were great signings

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Hammel. Feldman. Maholm. Bogusevic. All good for both their contributions to the Cubs and what the Cubs received for them via trade.

Valbuena and Rondon were good waiver claims.

No "great" signings unless you consider the Hammel contributions and return as great.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Hammel
Feldman
Maholm
Garza (resign)

All scrap heap guys. Garza was already a Coob.

That (i believe) is what dolphin was saying. Theo's FA signing over the last 4-5 years have been bad. He has gotten talent for trades, no doubt. It remains to be seen if they will work out in his/the Cubs favor or not.

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You don't understand what I mean by that? He doesn't have the profile of a power hitter. He didn't strike out. And his walks seemed to be due to his batting eye, not necessarily because guys were working around him.

Anyway, I'm certainly not saying he is beyond suspicion. He played football in the SEC for God's sake. But the Sox had never had a hitter like him and likely never will again. When he came up he seemed like a special, freakish guy. But suddenly there were many like him and some even better.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don