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       #Post#: 165725--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '14
   DIR By: Deeg
       Date: January 26, 2014, 10:08 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Arguello is really in self parody mode at this point.
       #Post#: 165727--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '14
   DIR By: brjones
       Date: January 26, 2014, 10:10 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       So is Arguello on the Cubs' payroll?  He has to be to try to
       spin this offseason into something other than awful.  There is
       no way to spin it as anything but terrible.  And I say that as
       someone who thought last year's opening day roster was a 78 win
       team.
       Really, they're going into spring training with Nate Schierholtz
       as their best outfielder by a wide margin.  How can anyone say
       with a straight face that this offseason has been anything other
       than a disaster?
       #Post#: 165734--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '14
   DIR By: brjones
       Date: January 27, 2014, 9:56 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       We are to the point in the offseason where sabermetricians start
       sharing their projected standings.  Clay Davenport released his
       yesterday, and the Cubs are projected to be the worst team in
       baseball at 67-95.  The Astros are next at 70-92.  Despite the
       terrible projection, he still gives the Cubs about a 2% chance
       of catching enough luck/positive variance to make the playoffs.
       For comparison, the 77 win projected Brewers are given about an
       18% chance to make the playoffs.
  HTML http://claydavenport.com/?p=207
       Also, the ZiPS projections are out for the Cubs.  They're
       actually reasonably optimistic about the outfield (sad that
       we're at the point where projecting 4 WAR for those three
       positions can be considered optimistic).  They also are really
       optimistic about Alcantara (projected for .255/.307/.405 in the
       majors this year) and Baez (projected .246/.295/.486 in the
       majors this year).  They are also projected to be third and
       fifth on the team in WAR (Castro-Rizzo-Alcantara-Castillo-Baez).
       So at least there is something good about these projections.
       A total of ~30 WAR from the primary players would likely have
       them with a low-mid 70s win projection.
  HTML http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2014-zips-projections-chicago-cubs/
       #Post#: 165747--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '14
   DIR By: DelMarFan
       Date: January 27, 2014, 12:57 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote ---
       > I don't see anything in the interview that would suggest
       Samardzija is a malcontent.
       --- End Quote ---
       I think we know who the malcontents are.
       #Post#: 165749--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '14
   DIR By: Ron
       Date: January 27, 2014, 1:02 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Zing!
       #Post#: 165751--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '14
   DIR By: AZSteve
       Date: January 27, 2014, 1:08 pm
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       rimshot
       #Post#: 165821--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '14
   DIR By: Ron
       Date: January 27, 2014, 9:38 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       It's always dangerous to make predictions about any lawsuit,
       even for lawyers, much less former lawyers.  But the following
       provision of the contract (provided by David Kaplan) certainly
       looks to me like it provides the Cubs with a substantial
       argument for case against the rooftop owners (I've added the
       bold for emphasis), assuming that the sign and the Jumbotron can
       be considered expansion or part of an expansion.
       6.6 The Cubs shall not erect windscreens or other barriers to
       obstruct the views of the Rooftops, provided however that
       temporary items such as banners, flags and decorations for
       special occasions, shall not be considered as having been
       erected to obstruct views of the Rooftops. Any expansion of
       Wrigley Field approved by governmental authorities shall not be
       a violation of this agreement, including this section.
  HTML http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/exclusive-look-inside-cubs-rooftop-contract
       #Post#: 165825--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '14
   DIR By: StrikeZone
       Date: January 27, 2014, 9:49 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Jeff Samardzija has been b!tching in the press about the
       "rebuilding" job the front office has been doing for the past
       two years and complaining every time one of his buddies gets
       shipped out of town.
       He was just quoted at the Cubs Convention as saying that if the
       Cubs signed Tanaka, that they had to do away with the "R-word"
       (rebuilding) because that meant that they were going to start
       spending money on free agents.
       Samardzija has been hostile towards the front office in the
       press and had a confrontation with his former manager in the
       dugout last season.
       M-A-L-C-O-N-T-E-N-T
       #Post#: 165826--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '14
   DIR By: Ron
       Date: January 27, 2014, 9:51 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Kaplan also cited a provision adopted by the City Council, the
       language of which, I'd think, supports the notion that the
       Jumbotron and RF sign should be considered part of an
       "expansion."  Again the bold is mine for emphasis.
       Finally, in doing significant research on this dispute, I was
       able to read the following public document which is the result
       of a City Council of Chicago meeting and subsequent vote on July
       24, 2013 which passed 49-0 by the Chicago City Council:
       "Specifically, but without limitation, Applicant shall have the
       right to expand the Wrigley Field bleachers to install (i) a new
       video board in left field, which may include an LED sign, a neon
       illuminated sign above it and two light towers to assist in
       outfield lighting; and (ii) a neon sign in right field, which
       signage has been approved by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks
       and,  in addition to being part of the bleacher expansion, and
       along with all other signage contemplated by this Planned
       Development, is integral to the expansion and renovation of
       Wrigley Field  and the development and redevelopment of the
       Property as contemplated herein.”
       Thus, the argument can be made that the City of Chicago has
       granted the Cubs a permit to expand the bleachers, to add
       signage, lights, etc. and they have called it an expansion.
       Further, the economic protection period of eight years has
       lapsed.
       The Cubs' position in the rooftop agreement appears to be as
       follows: The Rooftops pay the Cubs 17 percent for 20 years with
       no guarantees their views won’t change. The Cubs feel they
       offered economic protection for the first eight years, which
       lapsed Jan. 27, 2012. The Rooftops depended on the City never
       approving a change to the landmark ordinance or approval of a
       subsequent bleacher expansion. Both of those approvals came in
       July 2013.
       #Post#: 165831--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '14
   DIR By: CUBluejays
       Date: January 27, 2014, 10:43 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: StrikeZone link ---
       >
       > Jeff Samardzija has been b!tching in the press about the
       "rebuilding" job the front office has been doing for the past
       two years and complaining every time one of his buddies gets
       shipped out of town.
       >
       > He was just quoted at the Cubs Convention as saying that if
       the Cubs signed Tanaka, that they had to do away with the
       "R-word" (rebuilding) because that meant that they were going to
       start spending money on free agents.
       >
       > Samardzija has been hostile towards the front office in the
       press and had a confrontation with his former manager in the
       dugout last season.
       >
       > M-A-L-C-O-N-T-E-N-T
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Heaven forbid the Cubs have players that don't like losing 100
       games a year.
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