As someone who travels to all the games, any insight into why the Cubs had 2nd best home record in the league and 3rd worst road record?

Gotta be the road pussy and partying.

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Len,

Thanks for popping in again. Do you think Theo will cite run differential and the resulting lower-than-expected W-L record as the primary reason for why Maddon is responsible for the disappointing season? (Assuming he is not re-signed.) The problem is that maybe Theo is convinced they really are a better team and will therefore not make many changes, as if to prove the roster wasn't the issue.

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If Maddon isn't brought back, what young potential managers do you like?

Why haven't Cubs prospects been able to have success at the major league level?

Why has the minor leagues failed to produce a pitcher?

How important is a lead off hitter?

Who is the best player on the team?

Does Baez have the type of game that will age well?

Is there an untouchable player on the team?

Which player or signing has been the most disappointing since you've been with the Cubs?

What did the Astros and Dodgers get right that the Cubs failed at?

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Are the Cubs worn out like they were last year? Was Kimbrel exhausted from hitting bats square? Will PECOTA hit the win number right on the head? Will Theo know what month it is next March? Can the Cubs catch the Mets?

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Wattabout Kodak Black?

Are the Cubs going to be in the bidding for Gerrit Cole?

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"Now comes good sailing. Moose. Indian."

I do not know the answer. However, I have called probably an average of 30 spring games over the past 7-8 years on TV/radio/webcasts so whatever happens, I'm in.

It was wild. All the Cardinal games were so close that you only felt that deflation right at the end of each game. But yeah, very tough stretch to say the least.

Best answer is they were just an inconsistent team. The best teams win everywhere.

I don't know how to answer this other than to say I do expect some big changes & Theo has already said as much.

Cubs prospects HAVE, just not all of them. Bryant has, Schwarber had his best year, Baez is a superstar. Hoerner looks like a keeper. Many others haven't progressed as well. The pitching part was somewhat by design at the top of the draft but there is no doubt it's been hugely disappointing to not have more system guys have any sort of impact in the big leagues.

Gotta think it's possible. Not sure how likely it is they would get him. So much happening until we get to Nov/Dec it's hard to make any predictions on free agents.

Thanks Len. Is there a specific time you first felt the Cubs weren't going to make the playoffs, other than obviously during the Cards series, some stretch where you were like, "yeah, this team doesn't have it?"

Hey Len, what's DJ Riz been bumping in the clubhouse lately? I haven't heard MANY, or well, ANY stories about the continued exploits of DJ Riz and the disco ball in the clubhouse pumping out those good times.

More than anything, I suppose I'm asking if DJ Riz is still alive out there bumping the hits like Randy Moss' Mercedes encountering a sassy traffic lady?

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Oh yeah and hey Len, if you had only one word to describe Zach Zaidman what would it be (and why? =)

merci beaucoup, as the French in France would say.

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Thanks for hopping on Len!


How important is a lead off hitter?

Who is the best player on the team?

Does Baez have the type of game that will age well?

Is there an untouchable player on the team?

Which player or signing has been the most disappointing since you've been with the Cubs?

What did the Astros and Dodgers get right that the Cubs failed at?

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Why did you only let half your kids each ask a question?

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

The other kids were in school.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Thanks for coming back, Len.

Len,

Ive been payin' attention and I still cant seem to sniff out when or how JD is being subtly critical about things. Can you give an example of his subtle criticisms?

Also, have you ever worked with any old-time broadcasters? Guys like Uecker, M. Brennaman, Jack Buck, Harwell, etc? Even if just for a short time? Or have any personal stories with any of these guys?

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Len, I saw a PBS special featuring celebrity chef, Lidia Bastianich, hosting a dinner party for a few close friends.

Surprisingly, one of Lidia's guests turned out to be the famous actor, Christopher Walken, a friend of hers since childhood.

Pardon the puns - but who would be a friend of yours that would throw us a curve ball or be out of left field for us to hear about?

Thank you for returning and wish you were working a few more weeks.

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"This is Chicago, my friend. Anything can happen."

That's such a Cubbie fan statement it should be encased in plexiglass and displayed for public veneration.

Superstar is an ambiguous category, different for every speaker so I'd like to see who you consider the other superstars of the league are for comparison's sake.

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

No fandom overvalues it's players quite like Cub fans. The sad thing is that Theo and company apparently have also developed a possibly terminal case of cubbieitis over the past few years themselves. There is much work to be done to break up the country club atmosphere that currently surrounds the Cubs organization, but with the primary selling point being the Wrigleyville experience I'm not sure if they need to do anything else than fire Joe to appease the casual fan base.

To put Baez in the same tier as Trout and Yelich is completely insane.

Fuck Yelich.

Trout is on another level completely.

Just because other players are playing during Trout's career, that doesn't preclude them from being superstars. The HOF is filled with a tremendous range of talent. You want there to be like 10 guys in there?

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I agree. Trout is Mantle.

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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 Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

Hopefully the Angels firing Ausmus is a sign they're going all-in on trying for post-season success over the next few years. Baseball's missing out hugely not having Trout and Ohtani in the post-season. If that means bringing in Dombrowski to sign Cole and other top-tier free agents, trading away all their prospects and crippling their franchise for a decade after Dombrowski leaves--it'd be worth it if it gets Trout/Ohtani deep into the post-season.

Very close

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I dont think anyone east of the Mississippi even know what Trout looks like, or has ever even seen him bat.

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May have been true in the days when you had to watch TWIB for national baseball coverage, but baseball content is pretty easy to find these days.