So he signed a 150 million plus contract that has produced a whopping 4 wins (against 7 losses) in half a baseball season. Probably one of the worst ROIs so far this year. What were your expectations of his performance this year?

_________________
Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

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

So this thing in the other thread. I call BS on any fan that thought he was not to be the #1 after that signing.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

3 games under .500 for a team that's 9 over. Can't out pitch 2 journeymen on his own staff. Don't think that's asking a lot of a 20 million dollar.

_________________
Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

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

[quote="badrogue17"]So he signed a 150 million plus contract that has produced a whopping 4 wins (against 7 losses) in half a baseball season. Probably one of the worst ROIs so far this year. What were your expectations of his performance this year?[/quote]



I don't really care about wins ... I didn't really like the the signing ..I wanted Scherzer , and thought Cueto or Price was a given at end of season at the latest.

I expect 200 plus innings @ 2.75 era or lower ..its doable ..but NOT looking good .

_________________

I thought he'd be OUR ace for a season but not an ACE ..he's a good #2..@lways saw him as a 2

_________________

Cueto coming in the off season. No need to pay now. Plenty to come. Stay tuned.

The reason they went for Lester rather than Scherzer is that Theo didn't want to miss out on the great Donnie Dewaan

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

He's played a 1/2 season so far.

_________________

The Chicago Cubs are 9-8 when Jon Lester starts a game.

/thread

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

So before the season started and after the Brinks truck backed up to Lester's house, you would have been perfectly fine for the Cubs record to have been 9-8 over the games Lester had started so far, PLEASE!!!

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

If a team wins 9 out of every 17 games, you'll finish with 86 wins.

If you'd have told me the Cubs would win 86 games before the season started, I'd take it. Because I had guessed this team would win 85 games this year. A team is 25 guys. I'm not JORR. I don't think the day's starter is the end all be all. I thought the offense would be better. I thought the pitching would be worse. But the end result is actually better than I thought before the season started.

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Well I can tell you if I were a Cubs fan and they were paying him all of that money, I would not be very happy at all. Also realizing he can't control all wins, but I would expect more from the guy I signed to be my Ace.

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Arrieta is the ace. Always was going to be. Unless you get swept up in what front office people execs say to the media. Everyone in that clubhouse knows it, including Lester. Lester is a good piece, and he will have a good second half, which will shut most of you up.

Also, you can be a Cubs fan. The choice is yours.

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

No he was not

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Did you think Lester was going to have a 2.80 ERA AND a WHIP and K/BB that would have been lower than his career bests?

You'd be the only one.

Maybe you're like the rest of the nation and don't respect how good Arrieta is. I think only Cubs fans and White Sox fans appreciate Arrieta.

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I am just saying that going into the season Lester was paid to be the #1 starter, and as a #1 starter I would not be very happy if my pitcher was 9-8 in his starts for a team that is very much in contention. I guess the good news is they are still very much in contention and hopefully those numbers get better.

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

how can he not have a good second half if you already think his 4-7 first half showing was good. This will be great when you're defending a 10-13 season as good for a guy making 20 million.

_________________
Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

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

I think most of us Cub fans expected more, though I'm not ready to run the guy out of town. I was all for the signing and still believe it'll go down as a good signing. Yes he's been bad in some games, but he's also been really really good in others. Let's let him get through the league once and then see where were at.

We need to score some more runs on a regular basis. That's of much bigger concern for me.

I expect Lester to have a better second half. But throw his personal W-L record aside for a second.

His team is over .500 when he pitches, he has a respectable 3.48 ERA, his FIP is 3.31, he projects to throw 200+ innings, his WHIP is right at his career average....

He certainly isn't a flat out disappointment unless expectations were set a bit too high. And while his walk rate is slightly higher than the past, the metrics hint at his record being better as the season goes on.

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

This is a very reasonable response in my opinion.

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Epic *sigh*

Why would I be defending (or discussing at all) his W-L record at the end of the season. I thought I've made it abundantly clear that I give zero shits for a starter's W-L. When I discuss how good Arrieta is, do you see me mentioning his W-L? Certainly not.

Maybe simpleton Cubs fans only look at W-L. In that case, you may be right.

I put myself a bit above the Kirkwood and his Bleacher Bums though.

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I would be more concerned with the number of innings Arrieta is throwing, he has never thrown more than 156 and is set to go way past that.

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

I think it was reasonable to expect his move to the NL to shave about half a run off the ERA.

_________________

I know you fancy yourself a "smart" fan, and maybe you are, but it's not unreasonable for any Cub supporter to be somewhat disappointed in Lester's performance so far. Of course some go overboard in their criticism of any player, but one can also be guilty of going overboard in their unconditional support of a player, front office, transaction etc..

His career ERA in the AL was 3.58

His ERA this year is 3.48. And according to some of you, he has been terrible / 'sucks.'

So, by the time he is back to normal (maybe by end of season), it is reasonable to think his ERA could be down to 3.08.

2014 was a career year for Lester. Not his normal. Get over it. Some of you are pretending he was a 2.46 ERA pitcher for 10 years before 2015. (If you remove 2014, his career ERA was 3.76)

Lester isn't at fault. Your ridiculous expectations are.

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I may be mistaken about this, but I think I read that this is the first time since the DH was implemented that the NL is scoring more than the AL.

_________________
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

The Cubs aren't doing their part.

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Yeah, I was talking with a friend about this the other day, and really, the main difference between the Sox offense and the Cubs offense is the Sox don't have Bryant.

_________________
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 am guessing if you look at every multi year deal for starting pitchers over 30, the majority would not be good long term.

Hasn't been a disaster but certainly not worth the money so far. Hopefully he turns it around.

_________________

If it makes you feel better, it has been far more worthwhile than Sabathia or Verlander.

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.