That's unfortunately a good move by Texas and bad non move by Hoyer.

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That was my reaction as well. Dahl has been fragile, but he can hit for average and play solid defense. On days where Happ or Rizzo needs a breather or there is a DH, a starting OF of Dahl, Bradley/Kiermeier, Heyward would be solid defensively.

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

Cubs hire Willie Harris as 3B coach and an assistant hittin' coach.

WTF is an assistant hittin' coach?

Why isnt the hittin' coach enough? So many useless coaches these days.

https://sports.yahoo.com/cubs-ross-knew ... 07392.html

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When David Ross became the Chicago Cubs manager prior to last season, he knew he might not work with president of baseball operations Theo Epstein for too long.

So it wasn't a big surprise when Epstein stepped aside last month and general manger Jed Hoyer took over.

“It was definitely something that was on the radar,” Ross said Wednesday. “Both those guys were very open about the possibility of some change and what that might look like. Obviously, it's a little faster than was expected. And Theo's laid out his reasons for that. ... I have a ton of respect for Theo for, literally, making the decision a little earlier than I think he anticipated."

More big changes could be coming.

The Cubs won the NL Central in Ross's first season, only to get swept by Miami in the first round of the playoffs. They have not advanced in the postseason since 2017.

For now, Ross said he's assuming star slugger Kris Bryant will be with the team next season. He hopes starter Jon Lester will be, too.

Bryant is under team control through next season and was offered a contract for 2021. But with his free agency looming and the Cubs possibly looking to cut more payroll, the 2016 NL Most Valuable Player could be traded.

Chicago declined its option on Lester in late October, making the five-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion a free agent. He then spent more than $47,000, including gratuities, buying beers for Cubs fans at four bars in the city.

“I told him I was mad I wasn't in Chicago to drink another time on his tab,” Ross said. “I've had plenty on his bill, that's for sure. Yeah, I'm optimistic. I hold out hope. I'm a glass-half-full kind of guy.”

Ross isn't as hopeful about slugger Kyle Schwarber returning after the Cubs nontendered him two weeks ago. Schwarber batted .188 with 11 homers over 59 games in the pandemic-shortened season. But he set career highs with 38 homers, 92 RBIs and a .250 batting average in 155 games in 2019.

“We all love Kyle and what he's done for the Cubs,” Ross said. “We'd welcome him back with open arms. But I have a feeling there's gonna be a lot of teams picking up the phone to call his agent.”

The Cubs finalized their coaching staff on Wednesday and announced two new additions. They hired former major leaguers Willie Harris as third base coach and Chris Valaika as assistant hitting coach.

Most of the staff from last season returns, including bench coach Andy Green, pitching coach Tommy Hottovy and hitting coach Anthony Iapoce.

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Cubs sign Matt Duffy!

Matt Duffy aint horrible. Will he fill in when Bryant is hurt?

You mean most of the season?

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“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

He and Bote will fight to see who sucks more at 3B once Bryant is gifted to the Braves for a bunch of failed pitching prospects.

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

Bob was right.

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So when is Bryant ready to be shipped out? Or they going to wait it out til the end?

Trade Contreras ASAP while his value is high. Yankees may unload Gary Sanchez as he's complaining about being benched last year. You can get him in a separate deal for cheap.

The Cubs are not going to spend $5M on Gary Sanchez. They can get any number of AAAA catchers to be Contreras' backup for a fifth of that.

If they trade Contreras, I think it will be to a team like Toronto who has young catching they can send back.

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

Mad Dog Russo on High Heat right now defending the Cubs run 2015-2020.

Comparing them to the Yankees who have not won one WS in that time.

The 2011 through mid-season 2017 cannot really be argued as being failure, even the Heyward signing (the Cardinals wanted him back as well). Only trading DJLM was an unforced error, and it retrospect it was clear that he didn't fit the launch angle profile they wanted and they thought he'd have to move off of 2B - both mistakes. But the Arrieta/Strop fleecing more than makes up for that.

But, it all starts to go to hell with them not shaking up the team sufficiently after the 2017 ASB, because they overvalued the potential of their young hitters, and underestimated the ability of the analytics guys at other teams to exploit their flaws at the plate.

Getting maximum trade value out of Schwarber, Russell, and Almora would have totally changed the narrative of 2018-2020. Instead, they dealt Eloy for the wrong guy because he didn't have a defensive position on that roster.

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

crazy to think we were discussing with Atl about trading Baez for Miller in 2015

Darvish (15-14, 3.60), Quintana (33-23, 4.24), Chatwood (11-11, 4.70), Lester (77-44, 3.64) all gone. Lester is owed $2 million each next 5 years. Zero to show now for Gleyber, Eloy, Cease.

At least they got a ring to show for Gleyber



NL Central really going for it this year.

Cubs with the only positive WAR added!

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Hoyer set it on fire after he was done searching for Theo Epstein's notes on FA and developing a staring rotation.

Didn't want the rest of the NLC to steal Theo's secrets.

Looks like it was a little too late; seeing everyone who was added to the NLC.

A dumpster fire for sure. If any year was a good time to do it, this is that year. There is no clarity on the revenue streams with Covid, and the forthcoming CBA is going to change the rules. I am not happy about it, but I suspect they will be better positioned on the other side of this than teams with many long term contracts.

But alas, I wish they had a plan.....

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Hawaii (fuck) You

well, he may have got them to the WS in 16 but he was pretty terrible in it.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

They sold to Schwab. They don't own anything now besides the Cubs. They are the McCaskeys.

Joc Pederson coming to town.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Great...an even lower OPS than Schwarber.

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You're not wrong, although the solo homer proved to be pretty important by the end.

cubs re-sign pitcher andrew chafin

https://www.mlb.com/news/andrew-chafin-cubs-deal

If they actually learn how to hit again, their lineup should be pretty solid. The pitching is fucked though.

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The Cubs don't want Josh Phegley back as their backup catcher with Caratini gone, so he's taking his stuff and going home.

https://twitter.com/prostarmgmt/status/ ... 99974?s=21

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

that phegley guy fucking sucked last year. he should have retired before last season.

The Cubs just extended their radio deal with WSCR, which was originally set to go through 2022...I have to imagine WSCR was able to get better terms than last time.

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I’d definitely love to be a fly on the wall for those negotiations. Cubs are obviously in a transition phase but what real leverage does 670 have? Worst lineup ever for them. None of their hosts move the needle.

The Cubs and 670 are in somewhat parallel situations. Except the Cubs medium isn’t dying by the day quite like terrestrial radio.