.260 was his career average going into this season, so that is reasonable, if not desirable. But he has only had one good year with regards to HR's and 17 is probably not going to happen. My fondest hope is that he opts out of his contract early, but there is little chance of that.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I don't care what your fondest hopes are.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I agree he will likely return to his career averages next year

He doesn't strike me as someone who wants to get the shit booed out of him for the rest of his contract regardless of the money. I think he will bail regardless. I can see him taking less but still getting paid well in a smaller market where he can fly under the radar more easily.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

He should change his name to Jason Groundout.

In the playoffs,he should be a defensive replacement for Soler in RF.

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

He doesn't strike me as someone who would opt out of a powerhouse team and take a 50% salary cut..no matter how many boos he hears.

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If he did he would be not only bad but dumb.

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Elections have consequences.

Exactly...he's due 28 million in 17 and 18 and then can opt out in 2019 when he's due to make 21 million per...nobody would opt out of 21 million to make 10 million on a worse team..we are stuck with him for the whole deal.

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The sad part is,he seems like a good guy and he has performed well in the past.

Like I said when they signed him,how much better is he than Coghlin?

Answer in 2016: not at all offensively.I'll take my chances with Cogs in a clutch situation.

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

Everyone was bitching and moaning about Lester last season and he rebounded and got back to his norm in his second season. I expect the same from Heyward, he didn't just get bad at hitting.

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Counterpoint: His swing. He was really bad for most of the year last year in St. Louis before turning it on at the end. I don't see it equivalent to the Lester situation really because besides the yips and a few bad games Lester pitched pretty solid for the Cubs last year. I hope Heyward turns it around, but I am not optimistic that it is going to happen.

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I know he has had a shitty season (batting), but I like the dude. I love his defense...and I still think he has a bit of a "presence" in the batters box. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders.....So it'd be nice if he could start to hit / drive the ball. I'll wait and see his performance next year before I "turn on him" completely.

Go Cubs!

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Proud to be UNVERIFIED.

Is it within the Cubs' power to force him not to wear the face/helmet shield? I wonder how much leeway teams have with stuff like that. I know guys in the NBA have worn masks (mainly temporarily) while recovering, but if it could be proven that a mask or shield had even a slight detrimental effect, would it be within the team's rights to prevent a player from using? What if Cutler wanted to wear extra padding to cushion the blows when he gets sacked, but it restricted his movement? Does the player have a right to protect his body regardless of the potential impact on performance?

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Passan from Yahoo sports said you cannot start him in the playoffs. I like it.

No, he did not just get bad at hitting.......he's been fairly bad at it most of his career. That is what I said when it was rumored the Cubs wanted him. That is why I said I did not want him. Yes, he's a superior defender and a good base runner. but not only is he a poor hitter, he hits worst when there are runners on base. thus the awful RBI totals year in and year out. he's batted 5th and 6th mostly for half the season now and has fewer RBI than Baez who has over 100 fewer at bats. Baez has more than twice as many HR's too. He should not be on the playoff roster at all, but if he is, he should be a defensive replacement only.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Yeah that is the reason....

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Will Maddon have 100% control over the playoff roster? Is there a chance he wants Heyward on it but Theo or Jed say no? (Or vice versa.)

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The manager controls the roster. I'm sure they all discuss it together, but I'm also sure that each person respects the others at their specific jobs.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

You sure about that? As you said there should be cooperation but I would think the GM/President has control of what players he gives the manager.

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Elections have consequences.

I'm sure about that. Theo Epstein said so to Waddle and Silvy a week ago or so. Maddon controls the playoff roster...the front office gives him the pieces that Maddon used to put it together. They discuss things as a team...but ultimately, the manager is the manager. He knows the moves he will need to make from game to game...and the lineups required based on the opposing team.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Good the way it should be.

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Elections have consequences.

Theo gets the players.
Maddon picks the players.
Jed gets them breakfast sandwiches and coffee.

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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!

More efficient than this model

Hahn wants to get rid of crap players
Kenny says nah bruh
Ventura catches a nap

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Bad Cubs fans always bringing up the Sox.

Can't even enjoy his own team.

The pressure might be exceeding the pleasure for one Phil McCracken.

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I don't know why they get so defensive about Theo's secretary.

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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!

Jason F word because of the reaction he causes (probably another word for a certain subset of fandom)

by the way, fans, if you put him on the market or through waivers, I would think someone (stupid Kenny as an example) would take on his contract. It was a bad contract from the beginning. All rational people understood it but you were looking for complimentary and kind of unique skills

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

Fuck this guy.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

He sucks. Hope he bounces back next year

Heyward will have several big hits this postseason.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.