Cubs have already started hedging when they lose out b/c Ricketts doesn't want to pay fair market value by whispering to the media he might be too expensive. Yes, these whispers were delivered deliberately and professionally through the proper backchannels.

Not really. They don't have to spend $300mil on Scherzerzerrrr, but they can make due enough to put a real MLB pitching rotation out there.

Nas, the honeymoon is over. The Cubs must contend in 2015. They have the players at (or ready for) MLB level, they have the manager, they have some coaches. Its time. No more tank wins. No excuses for them not to compete in 2015.

They certainly can. Why else get Maddon?

Not really. They don't have to spend $300mil on Scherzerzerrrr, but they can make due enough to put a real MLB pitching rotation out there.

Nas, the honeymoon is over. The Cubs must contend in 2015. They have the players at (or ready for) MLB level, they have the manager, they have some coaches, they have their mascot...Its time. No more tank wins. No excuses for them not to compete in 2015.

because his hiring gives Theo coverage to ask for an extension in 2015 even though the team will not have had a single winning season under his direction.

Ricketts didn't want a winning season(s). Theo's job was to sell a tank job. He'll get a sizeable raise.

Does everyone not understand that the starting pitching was excellent last year while the team was losing 89 games?

I don't know about a raise but he will get that extension before the 4th of July.

RPB,
That stat shocks me. I have thought over the past 6-7 years,the Cubs had decent to excellent starting pitching.

Hey,wait a minute,where do they rank if you minus Jackson?

Without Edwin Jackson they would have been 4th.

No joke. Taking out his stats they'd be 16th

And remember, they're dumping their best starters about halfway through the season every year.

[
Does everyone not understand that the starting pitching was excellent last year while the team was losing 89 games?

Hard to say before free agency

Mighty slippery of you when you know full well the hole in that analysis.

disagree. They have to play the kids. Unless they give up on that. For that reason alone you can expect a middle of the pack team. Too good of a division.

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

Carmen & Jurko will be talking with Dave Wills, Tampa's radio guy, at 11am

Carmen & Jurko will be talking with Dave Wills, Tampa's radio guy, at 11am

he was on the Game yesterday and on the Score Saturday.

Honestly dont know what you're talking about

Jackson slanted it but it wasnt excellent


21st in Quality Starts
21st in ERA+


They were 5th in FIP if that does it for ya.

That's the guy that hated the Cubs so much he would say "Come on, (insert team Cubs were playing)" after reading the Cub score.

They traded away two of their three top starters half way through the season. If you tell me their ranking on the day of the Shark/Hammel trade, you would have a valid argument.

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

Many of the 89 losses after the trades? Some Cubs fan told me the Cubs were over .500 after the AS break because of Ricky!