It is interesting to me as the Cubs appear to be reaching a crossroads that there was so much propaganda, marketing or flat out BS that was spread. The entire process was to build up great expectations that simply have to one degree or another not been met. Many are complicit in this but from my point of view I cannot see three more guilty entities in this then Theo/Jed, Len Kasper and WSCR (Bernsie mostly).

First of all I would like to congratulate all Cub fans on 2016 especially our fans. It was so long in coming and you all deserved that feeling of WS triumph. Even our long lost RPB will attest I was pulling for you all then. But now the Cubs are hanging onto the end of the bell curve of team building.

So in this thread I am interested to see what all you your favorite propaganda or flat out BS lie they fed the masses during this run. It is quite interesting how an eager hungry fan base can just eat it up.

Some favorites of mine were:
- We don't need to draft pitching we will just buy it later.
- There will be waves of talent once the taps are opened.
- The streams of revenue will be amazing that there will never be concern for about money.
- Related to the last one... Heyward's contract will not affect them going forward.
- The new CUB TV will solve everything.
- There will be so many bites at the apple.

You guys get the idea.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Also performance wise:
- Strike outs do not matter.
- There will be a Cub way both in good character and fundamental play.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Well said.

_________________
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!

Yeah they suck.

_________________

“This year is really a reckoning in a lot of ways.”

_________________

- We do not need a lead off hitter or someone to replace Dexter Fowler
- A lineup consisting of 3 outcome hitters can maintain a consistent offense for 162 games

Now that is the spirit of this. Great!

_________________
Elections have consequences.

- You don’t need to spend money on a bullpen because it’s so volatile year to year (Kimbrel was an emergency signing but years prior there wasn’t a real investment)

Just trade away your prospects for bullpen arms for 1 year!

Add Joe Sheahan to the list. That hump was a go to for wildly optimistic Cub thoughts on Bernstein's show even before they became the flagship: team of the 10s, multiple world series.

He'll explain it away as the randomness of the playoffs

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

White Sox fans seem to care about the 2019 Cubs more than actual Cubs fans do.

_________________

Bears season is over. What else am I supposed to do

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

I would also place some of the blame on the owner who wouldn't cough up a little more money to solidify the rotation. Be it Lester or Hamels or both, someone was going to falter due to age/miles. So what if a couple contracts didn't work out quite as well as they had hoped?! In the end, Q, Yu and the Professor have all been solid enough down the stretch. Spending on Kimbrel wasn't really the killer, it was not spending on another starter as insurance against old age.

_________________

That may be true. But the thing here is we were told what about how money would not be a problem?

_________________
Elections have consequences.

I'll be interested to see how they treat Maddon on the way out. If Boston is any indicator, there will be back channeled rumors about merlot addictions and other tawdry items.

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

Correct, kinda had the rug pulled out from under them. That's why this isn't all on Theo. Spend on another starter and we're not in this situation. Ricketts did the old "cut off your nose to spite your face" move.

_________________

Say what you will about Joe but if he is gone he will have a job two days after business is allowed to resume. That is unless he says I am old and done with shit and retires.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Yeah. Some viewed it as a punishment to Theo also though. Like, "my dad is pissed on the bad contracts and you need to chill".

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Philly

_________________

Philly

_________________

I also hear Angels due to history and even god forbid the White Sox.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Theo's kryptonite for close to two decades has been big FA moves. He's been saved from a few more clunkers by being outbid on guys like Anibel Sanchez.

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

The Guppy turned down Epstein for 90 million, another horrendous offer.

_________________

it doesnt help that one of the most popular sites is run by a cuck ex lawyer who never blames the cubs

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/krZKEK8RSBnGhs_Hc5KUhKy-jC8=/0x0:1536x2048/920x613/filters:focal(646x902:890x1146):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65264811/Bleacher_pic.0.jpg

This will be the "read my lips, no new taxes," type statement for Theo.

Theo says this, brings in another new hitting and pitching coach, then signs Daniel Descalso and...well, nobody else.

_________________

Not signing Verlander probably cost the Cub 2 WS appearances.

_________________

Theo has a contract through 2021 but if what you post comes to fruition this is gonna be a fun off season for guys like us Frank.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

What cost them more WS appearances was the lack of player development. First, they haven't had one starting pitcher come up and be effective at the big league level. The one that has, plays for the Sox.

Almora never developed, Brian Anderson part II. Ian Happ played in the minors until Sept 1st. Schwarber, while having some power and turning himself in an acceptable left fielder, has been nothing close to the "Babe fucking Ruth" the Cubs thought they drafted. David Bote has had a bad year, and on the Des Moines shuttle a few times. Addison Russell has regressed into an AAAA player at best. Even MVP Kris Bryant hasn't been quite as advertised. He's been good, don't get me wrong. A deserving All Star, but there was talk of him being a HOF'er. Which could still happen, but it would take quite a turnaround.

And of course part of it is Maddon. Most of this is on the players who didn't develop, and the coaches who didn't develop them.

_________________

Funny thing is I can see them view that as risky. Everyone but Yanks and Houston agreed. Taking Yu instead was just dumb. Theo reminds me at times of a poker player chasing bad hands after they are already done.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

...and in spite of all that...Not signing Verlander probably cost them 2 WS appearances. That move would have freed them up to fiddle with other shit or not. It was a history defining miss.

_________________

You could be right. I guess my point is that there is a LOT of things that the Cubs did and didn't do that have cost them dearly. Outside of Lester and half of 2019 Yu, almost all of Theo's free ajent signings with the Cubs have been dumpster fires.

_________________