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#Post#: 10050--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in 2013
By: StrikeZone Date: July 19, 2013, 11:18 pm
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The Major League team was horrible when the Theocracy took over.
As bad as it was, the minor league system was way worse. The
decision was made to punt 2012 & 2013 in order to re-stock the
system with as many quality prospects as possible. The only way
to do that was to take the fair-to-good players the Major League
team had and trade them for prospects.
They did that last year with Ryan Dempster, Reed Johnson, Paul
Maholm and Geovany Soto. They tried to do it with Matt Garza
but he got injured before they could complete a trade.
They're going to do it again this year, as we've seen with the
trades of Scott Feldman and Scott Hairston. We'll probably see
other trades after Matt Garza leaves.
In the offseason, they'll sign more cheap free agents like they
have done with David DeJesus, Carlos Villanueva and Scott
Feldman and repeat the cycle. It's paying off in restocking the
system at the expense of the record of the big league club.
The system us currently ranked among the top five in the Majors
and that will probably be higher once the next round of trades
are completed.
In addition to the trades, they are throwing money at
international free agents like a drunken Irishman hurls darts in
a pub on a Wednesday. That has also helped to elevate the
system.
Now, they need those prospects to turn into good Major League
players. What they really need is a handful of them to turn
into star Major League players.
Secondarily, once they have a well-stocked system, they can use
some of those prospects to make trades for established Major
League players at positions of need.
The major "prospect gurus" and publications recently released
their mid-season prospect rankings lists and just about every
one had five Cubs in their top 50 - 75 prospects. That's very
impressive for a system that just a year and a half ago was
ranked 25th or worse by those same gurus and publications.
So, long story short, yes, they do need to trade all those guys
and yes, it is going to get better but it's gonna take probably
two more years at least.
#Post#: 10051--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in 2013
By: DWing17 Date: July 20, 2013, 11:07 am
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Thank you, Strike. That all makes sense. I'm sure I read
something about their plan when Theo took over, but didn't
absorb it.
I have another question. Starlin Castro...does he figure into
the future plans? Or maybe I should say, when this all started
DID he figure into the future plans? Did the Cub's staff break
him by telling him do it this way & then do it that way? Is he
just not as good as we thought he was when he hit the major
leagues? Do pitchers just know how to pitch to him now & he
hasn't adjusted to them? Yeah, I know that's more than one
question.
How about Rizzo? Is he our 1st baseman of the future? I guess
these guys puzzle me a little. They do well in the minors, they
arrive at the ML level with lots of hype & then they don't seem
to live up to it, at least not consistently. Do we have a
better coaching staff in the minors? Do we need a better
coaching staff at the major league level?
#Post#: 10052--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in 2013
By: StrikeZone Date: July 20, 2013, 3:12 pm
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Both Castro and Rizzo are in the long-term plans.
Castro has struggled this season but has done much better since
his "day off." When he came up, he was a free swinger that
never walked. That led to lots of singles and a high average
with limited power. That was pretty much all he was ever going
to be. The Theocracy wanted him to become something more -- a
more patient hitter with better power and a higher on-base
percentage.
They're trying to re-train him and he's struggled with it. He's
just now starting to combine his new approach with his natural
talent. It's gotta be confusing having all the different things
going on in his head.
I believe he'll figure it out but this year is a lost cause. At
this point, his end of year numbers are gonna look ugly, no
matter how well his last 65 games go.
Rizzo is the opposite of Castro -- a patient, power hitter that
makes less contact but takes walks. Many fans see his average
and think he's not doing well. The Theocracy loves Rizzo but
realize that he's still a very young hitter that is still
learning at the Major League level. To me, Rizzo is a bit slow
in making adjustments when it comes to how the league is
pitching him.
The Cubs front office believes in both of these guys so much
they signed both of them to lucrative extensions, so they're
both going to be around for a long time.
As far as the coaching staff at the Major League level, I think
the current guys have done a fair job with the talent they have.
The minor league staff is probably more important at this time.
Once the important minor league players graduate to the Majors,
I believe there will be a new Major League coaching staff in
place. Hopefully, one that is headed by a manager that knows
how to handle a pitching staff.
#Post#: 10054--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in 2013
By: DWing17 Date: July 20, 2013, 7:42 pm
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That's explains why Castro looks confused at times. Also, I
wonder how well he's handling the whole lifestyle that comes
with being a major leaguer. Like the assault allegations last
year. Probably just a matter of needing to mature a little more
& get his head straight.
#Post#: 10090--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in 2013
By: StrikeZone Date: July 26, 2013, 7:37 am
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Fonz to the Yankees for a prospect and salary relief.
#Post#: 10092--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in 2013
By: DWing17 Date: July 26, 2013, 9:23 am
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<waving to the Fonz>
#Post#: 10103--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in 2013
By: Cubette Tx Date: July 28, 2013, 7:18 pm
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WOOHOO!!!
Did you all watch the program after the game about Ronnie/HOF?
I cried again....
#Post#: 10104--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in 2013
By: DWing17 Date: July 28, 2013, 9:26 pm
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I recorded it. Will watch it in a while.
#Post#: 10105--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in 2013
By: StrikeZone Date: July 28, 2013, 10:49 pm
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HTML http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q86/strikezone3n2/1cubs_sweep.gif
#Post#: 10106--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in 2013
By: DWing17 Date: July 29, 2013, 12:11 am
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There he is! I came in here earlier looking for the broom. lol
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