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#Post#: 481019--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: CUBluejays Date: October 8, 2023, 11:23 am
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My disappointment has a lot factors that aren’t related to the
Cubs players.
One of the bigger issues I have is I don’t trust Hoyer/Ricketts
to do what it is going to take to compete with the Braves and
Dodgers. I’m starting to have trouble believing that they even
will do what it takes to overtake the Brewers.
I get why fans could be excited with this team, this year. I
just think it is going to be really hard for the Cubs to bust
out of this tier. Are you going to happy with this team being
this for next 5 years? Maybe Hoyer and Tom will surprise me,
but I haven’t seen anything to make me think they will.
#Post#: 481022--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: CurtOne Date: October 8, 2023, 12:26 pm
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For the most part, I, too, enjoyed this season. There were
streaks where the Cubs were definitely fun to watch. I like
Ross, but too rarely do his decision help the club to win, often
the opposite. Hoyer is okay, but he overhypes his good moves
and shuffles the bad ones under the rug.
I don't agree that this was a bridge year. If they don't get
players resigned and find some pitching, it was a bridge to
nowhere.
#Post#: 481027--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: Ron Date: October 8, 2023, 1:45 pm
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[quote author=CurtOne link=topic=628.msg481022#msg481022
date=1696786001]
For the most part, I, too, enjoyed this season. There were
streaks where the Cubs were definitely fun to watch. I like
Ross, but too rarely do his decision help the club to win, often
the opposite. Hoyer is okay, but he overhypes his good moves
and shuffles the bad ones under the rug.
I don't agree that this was a bridge year. If they don't get
players resigned and find some pitching, it was a bridge to
nowhere.
[/quote]
Curt - Glad you enjoyed the season. I did not have that
impression.
We'll see about next year. I admit that if they are unable to
sign Bellinger, it will be very difficult to improve on the
results from this year. Not sure what options there are to
replace him. Even if they do bring him back, it seems like they
will still need to bring in another middle of the order bat to
take a significant step forward. Hopefully that would be someone
to play 3B, but I don't have any idea who that would be. With
some youngsters (Assad and maybe Wicks and maybe even eventually
Horton) the starting rotation could be quite good, but the
bullpen obviously needs to be strengthened. Fingers crossed.
#Post#: 481029--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: ben Date: October 8, 2023, 2:15 pm
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To me, this season was a step in the right direction, both at
the MLB and MiLB levels! (and the top talent and depth in MiLB
will be a big deal).
Cade Horton is as good a starting pitching prospect as Cubs had
in a VERY long time! Luke Little might be really good in
upcoming years!
Though mostly at lower levels, we have a greater inventory of
plus arms than we've had in a long time.
If they stay healthy and aren't traded, guys like PCA, Caissie,
Alcantara and Shaw may all have all-star potential down the
road!
Young guys already up, like Morel, Amaya, Wick and Canario, if
they all stick, should keep improving and make major
contributions going forward.
We have some established core guys still in their 20s who play
at or near all-star level - Steele, Swanson, Hoerner, Happ,
Suzuki - and none will be a free agent soon.
All in all, I think we have a franchise that will, mostly, be
fun to follow again in '24, particularly if we get significantly
better relief pitching.
I'd love to see us re-sign Belli (unlikely), but I have zero
interest in seeing us fleeced by Stearns and Boras for Pete
Alonso.
I'd rather we put BIG money into pitching, pitching and more
pitching (e.g. Yamamoto would be a fabulous start) and I'd find
a way to give Morel/Canario etc. Alonso's ABs and hope they can
somewhat approximate his production. And not paying HUGE money
for Alonso would enable us to spend a LOT more where it's needed
most - pitching!
We're not going to become the Braves or Dodgers etc. overnight.
However, I believe, after the wait, we're making strides in the
right direction!
#Post#: 481035--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: Reb Date: October 8, 2023, 4:17 pm
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The outlier are Cubs fans who aren’t much interested in Cubs
games.
As I’ve said numerous times, folks can have interest or
disinterest in whatever manner they so chose. Truly, nobody
cares how somebody else roots or doesn’t bother about a team.
Who cares about that?
For me, it was a fun and intense and complex season with many,
many interesting developments.
One that ended badly. If you’re a fan of sports, you can take
disappointment because it happens a lot.
#Post#: 481038--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: davep Date: October 8, 2023, 6:50 pm
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[quote author=CurtOne link=topic=628.msg481005#msg481005
date=1696732913]
He ran over my dog.
[/quote]
I saw your dog. As they say in Texas, "he needed running over".
#Post#: 481039--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: davep Date: October 8, 2023, 6:59 pm
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[quote author=Playtwo link=topic=628.msg481017#msg481017
date=1696775456]
I seem to be an outlier. I really enjoyed watching the Cubs
play this season. Stretches of outstanding defense, stolen
bases, scoring a lot of runs, competitive ABs. Not enough
consistency, but the skeleton of a really strong team. I don't
really get the negativism and/or lack of interest.
[/quote]
I also enjoyed this season. They were competitive until the
last week of the season, something that almost no one expected.
Their farm system began what I hope to be a several years streak
of bringing up interesting prospects, not only hitting
prospects, but better than average pitching prospects.
Instead of trying to re-sign Bellinger, I would love to see them
do what it takes to sign Yamomota. I would prefer him than any
other free agent out there, taking into consideration cost and
length of contract.
#Post#: 481042--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: Playtwo Date: October 8, 2023, 7:22 pm
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Addition of one high-end starter (and of course a serious
upgrade of the pen) would do wonders for the 2024 Cubs. They
also can't let the offense backslide and it will take money (and
likely decent prospects) to accomplish all of these aims.
#Post#: 481043--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: Deeg Date: October 8, 2023, 7:32 pm
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On the SP front there are opportunities, which is why I hope
they don't tie their hands by committing a rotation spot and $16
million to Hendricks. But if they lose Bellinger the cupboard
looks pretty bare for impact hitters, especially from the left
side. Which unfortunately helps Bellinger's FA leverage.
The platoon issue is a real one for the Cubs. With Belli gone
it's basically Happ and Crow-Armstrong, and that's it as
currently structured (and no, Tauchman doesn't factor into it
for me). PCA will be playing mainly for his glove and
baserunning at the start of his career. They have Caissie but
he's so young it's hard to expect him to be an impact bat
anytime soon, if he's to become one at all. They probably gave
up too fast on Mervis but I never got the sense they believed in
him as a prospect.
#Post#: 481044--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: Playtwo Date: October 8, 2023, 7:34 pm
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Candelario?
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