In today's game, spending huge money has become a crapshoot. If the MLBPA wants a good contract after 2021, veteran players need to play better baseball.

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Wattabout Kodak Black?

1. Jason Hayward definitely dropped with the big contract, but they still win. He's not the reason they missed the playoffs.
2. Jon Lester you knew was going to age, but I think they got their money's worth there
3. Yu Darvish - He appeared to be an obvious gamble. That risk could have been avoided.
4. Chatwood - His resume did not screm "Please sign me. I'll be worth the money".
5. Kimbrel - He screamed risky signing. This was a move of desperation and hope. Guess it didn't work.

Neither Machado or Harper have been busts. They've not been Mike Trout, but they've been good players and would have helped the Cubs tremendously.

Theo's problems are way more tied to Trades than it has been to free agency.

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This is obviously terrible trolling.

Although it was shocking that I listened to the Mets radio broadcast last night and you would have thought that team was in the thick of the WC race. They were talking about pitching matchups for a tie-breaker and the WC game, etc. It was stunning really how much the announce team was talking about the Mets and the WC race.

Could be, unless he really doesn't know how close the Cubs are to being eliminated.

Their E numbers is three. Which means that if the Cubs go 5-1 and the Brewers go 2-4 over their last six games, Cubs are GONE!

And given that the Brewers play 3 @Reds then 3 @Rockies, they are probably going to go 3-3 at worst.

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They have a top 10 offense.

Their bullpen sucks. Time and time again, a Cubs starter would bring them a lead into the 7th inning, bullpen comes in and gives up multiple runs. Offense can't come back.



1. Find a new manager
2. Re-sign Castellanos
3. Overhaul the bullpen

I think they have to see if they can move some of those shit contracts by eating some of the money.

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

So Theo is with the team through St Louis and him and Maddon are talking. Maddon's been linked to the Angels, Padres and Phils so clearly he'll get another gig immediately if let go.

Are the odds increasing of Maddon returning or is Theo just assessing the players and staff, etc firsthand??

The intrigue builds...

Theo will announce the last morning that Joe will not be coming back. The bigger question is how many coaches he will fire.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Why not all of them?

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He may keep Loretta if he's going to interview him. Butterfield didn't do much wrong. Hottovy is his guy. And fucking Lester Strode isn't going anywhere.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Lester Strode is another guy on the illustrious "name is a subject and a predicate" list, alongside longtime football coach Dean Pees and morning-drive country DJ Bobby Bones.

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Please send Tim Buss packing already. He has been around forever and his speedo wearing schtick is pathetic and embarrassing at this point. The cubs have had way too many muscle pulls the last few years under his strength and conditioning program. Rizzo loves him but tough fucking shit man.

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

Theo during his press conference right now pretty much admitted that Kris Bryant will look to be traded if they cannot come to an agreement on an extension.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Orly?

Can you supply a direct quote? Because I heard the whole thing and heard nothing of the sort

Probably the biggest trade return since at least Sale, and I think it could be bigger than that.

If I watch it again, I'll provide the timestamp. It was when Theo was asked about approaching players with extensions. He said that they will look to lock up young talent and players that don't get extended would be considered in trades. He did not mention Bryant by name. But you also don't need to read between the lines. No contract extension = you get dangled.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

38:30 to 39:00 or so into the livestream video that is still up on the Cubs' Facebook

He says they will approach certain players with contracts as they do each offseason and the result of that could influence trades.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Saw the Theo year end 80 minute presser. In rereading his remarks in Paul Sullivan's column about "not looking backwards" I think is an indication that those saying Ross is definitely "the guy" is overblown. He'll get an interview but hiring him is to much 2016 rehash and I think Theo knows that.

He also knows his reputation is on the line and this team needs to win another championship to restore his standing in the industry.

Heard Girardi on Jon Heyman's podcast today and still would like to see him get the gig. These guys need discipline given their shit defense, shit base running and lack of performing when the chips were down the last 2 years. I think Girardi would run a tight ship and be much more business like and produce results.

Joe's shtick got it done for awhile but as others have said, that ship had sailed.

As to his comments about Bryant/Baez that's a pretty strong indication if they don't sign long term deals, one or both will be gone. And I also don't think Baez goes anywhere. I see him signing a lucrative deal this offseason.

And I still see Bryant traded for a package of high end prospects and controllable young pitching. Let's just hope if that happens, they don't screw it up and that is far from a sure thing...

Which is not the same thing as; So yes, they will try to lock guys up and if not, may move them. They are not going to trade Bryant just to trade Bryant. They will get the best value they can for him, and if the best value they can get for him is having him play 125 games in a Cubs uniform the next two seasons, then that is what they will do.

It could be Baez, or Rizzo, or any number of guys that get traded.

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Not the first or last time you had trouble understanding meaning.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Not the first time and FAR from the last time that you have had trouble posting accurate baseball happenings.

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Well summarized. I've heard Mac & Parkins and Mully & Haugh slurping Theo's ass and defending him from callers rightfully questioning Theo's "accountability". Theo gets the credit for 2016, but he carries almost all of the blame for 2018 and 2019. No excuses. Bad trades and bad signings.

Girardi doesn't fit with Theo. There'd be value there, but I think they'll go cheaper and get a number cruncher type manager...younger and cheaper. Great point on Ross....he'll get a courtesy interview, but I don't see it happening.

Bryant gets the team a haul....they'd be wise to take it...that haul has to include pitching.
Schwarber.....Theo should have sold high after 2016. His value sill nowhere near what it was then. I'd move him.
Contreras....let him be some other team's problem. I don't think he's your best option to handle the pitching staff. He'll get you v.alue in return....I'd move him.

Baez....he stays.
Rizzo....stays.

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Baez is a big part of the Cubs baserunning issues .

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

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

I thought I heard that Willllllson lead the team in outs on the bases?

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Also a big part of what they do well on the basepaths.

His success rate is good. It can be great with a little better decision making and a few less chances. Some tweaks. No big overhaul required.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

You misunderstand . I’m thinking that because of the way Baez runs the bases ( and gets away with the ridiculousness he does more often than not ) that he’s influencing consciously or unconsciously everyone else into thinking they can do the same thing .

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

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

That would be my take. Other young guys sau Baez does it I will do it. Also, weren't both Baez and Bryant's biggest injuries do to base running?

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Elections have consequences.

Ah. That makes sense.

Also maybe partly the reason Joe was let go because he let all that shit slide, pun intended. Maybe he needed to get into somebody's face and yell, "Hey, Javy can do that kind of stuff because he's great at it. You aren't. So knock that shit off!"

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Example...

Theo: Stop this head first sliding shit.

Maddon: Stop this head first sliding shit.

Bryant and Baez head first slide to injuries.

Maddon: I told them what can I do? I am the flamingo guy.

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Elections have consequences.