Why the Cubs Have Done so Badly in 2010.

**CYdTracked** · 07-27-2010, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Cyclone1985

Agree. Need to build this team around the Three C's; Colvin, Castro, Cashner. Trade Lee and he is easily replaced by Micah(minus the fielding, Lee is pretty good at snagging one hoppers), Colvin has already replaced Kosuke, and Fontenot's spot has already been filled by Castro.

Micah isn't exactly tearin up AAA this year... .249 BA although he does have 15 HR 70 RBI but 59 K's in 337 AB.

Guys right now worth a look but the problem is they are OF too or would need to transistion to 1B or something:

Bryan LaHair OF (may play some 1B too?): .309 .379 OBP 14 HR 50 RBI
Brad Snyder OF: .305 .377 OBP 15 HR 69 RBI
Wellington Castillo C: nothing too impressive about his hitting but Sandberg says he has the best arm he's ever seen for a catcher EVER. That's saying a lot, could take Koyie Hill's spot next year?

Jay Jackson P 6-6 3.70 ERA 77 K in 107 IP
Thomas Diamond P 5-4 3.28 ERA 102 K in 104.1 IP
Jeff Samardzija (I think he is almost out of options too): 7-1 2.64 ERA 65 K in 64.2 IP (started in 7 of 27 appearances)

There is plenty of pitching in the system right now and you have guys like Cashner and Marshall who have expirience starting so I think you can fill Lilly's spot with a young inexpensive guy and be fine. Vitters is still in Daytona and supposedly is the 3B of the future along with CF Brett Jackson.

**Bobber** · 07-27-2010, 10:04 AM

They've been playing better lately... Some of the defensive mistakes the last few nights have been just silly.

**clonefreek** · 07-27-2010, 10:12 AM

Saying that Iowa State will never win a national championship in football just isnt fair. In college there is recruiting you cant just throw a ton of money at someone and get them to come play for you. So to choose iowa state over Florida, Texas, Alabama, USC, or Oklahoma isnt going to happen. In professional sports teams can throw tons of money at the players they want to convince them to come play for them. Every MLB team has the same chance to land any player, college football is not the same so dont even compare the two.

And fairweather fans? I have been a whitesox fan since i was 4 years old. The difference between white sox fans and cubs fans is the same is iowa vs iowa state. Cubs (iowa) think they will be good and win it all no matter what facts you throw at them they still think they are going to win. White sox (iowa state) know when they are going to be bad and will admit the facts when you lay the facts out. They dont come into ever season thinking this is the year we win it all. Some sort of fact or proof needs to be laid down infront of them before they legit think they have a chance.

**chuckd4735** · 07-27-2010, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by Cyclone1985

Agree. Need to build this team around the Three C's; Colvin, Castro, Cashner. Trade Lee and he is easily replaced by Micah(minus the fielding, Lee is pretty good at snagging one hoppers), Colvin has already replaced Kosuke, and Fontenot's spot has already been filled by Castro.

Micah Hoffpauir is not the answer to the Cubs future. It would be nice if the Angels were in a better spot to contend right now, because if the Cubs could trade Lee for Kendry Morales (who is out for the season), I would be extremely excited. I would honestly throw Lilly in as well if it meant the Cubs would get Morales. However, I have seen a few rumors that have been saying Lee is not willing to waive his no-trade clause.

**gocubs2118** · 07-27-2010, 11:24 AM

Crap, I thought I was done hearing the name Micah Hoffpauir forever. People need to let that idea go, its not happening.

**Bobber** · 07-27-2010, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by clonefreek

And fairweather fans? I have been a whitesox fan since i was 4 years old. The difference between white sox fans and cubs fans is the same is iowa vs iowa state. Cubs (iowa) think they will be good and win it all no matter what facts you throw at them they still think they are going to win. White sox (iowa state) know when they are going to be bad and will admit the facts when you lay the facts out. They dont come into ever season thinking this is the year we win it all. Some sort of fact or proof needs to be laid down infront of them before they legit think they have a chance.

Glad you and all White Sox fans have the facts straight.

**thatguy** · 07-27-2010, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by chuckd4735

Micah Hoffpauir is not the answer to the Cubs future. It would be nice if the Angels were in a better spot to contend right now, because if the Cubs could trade Lee for Kendry Morales (who is out for the season), I would be extremely excited. I would honestly throw Lilly in as well if it meant the Cubs would get Morales. However, I have seen a few rumors that have been saying Lee is not willing to waive his no-trade clause.

one you can't trade a guy on the DL
two the Angels are looking for a rental player at 1B so they don't have to get rid of Morales
three the Angels would have to get allot more than Derrik Lee and Ted Lilly for Morales
four i state again that the Angels will not get rid of Morales and are only looking for a rental player to fill 1B till Kendry gets back

**cycloneworld** · 07-27-2010, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by clonefreek

And fairweather fans? I have been a whitesox fan since i was 4 years old. The difference between white sox fans and cubs fans is the same is iowa vs iowa state. Cubs (iowa) think they will be good and win it all no matter what facts you throw at them they still think they are going to win. White sox (iowa state) know when they are going to be bad and will admit the facts when you lay the facts out. They dont come into ever season thinking this is the year we win it all. Some sort of fact or proof needs to be laid down infront of them before they legit think they have a chance.

Show me where the majority of Cubs fans thought they were going to win the division this year.

**wonkadog** · 07-27-2010, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by cycloneworld

Show me where the majority of Cubs fans thought they were going to win the division this year.

He won't be able to...I don't understand why non-Cubs fans get so giddy about constantly ripping the Cubs. The team hasn't won in 100+ years, why do they feel so threatened?

**tyrelrobert** · 07-27-2010, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by clonefreek

Saying that Iowa State will never win a national championship in football just isnt fair. In college there is recruiting you cant just throw a ton of money at someone and get them to come play for you. So to choose iowa state over Florida, Texas, Alabama, USC, or Oklahoma isnt going to happen. In professional sports teams can throw tons of money at the players they want to convince them to come play for them. Every MLB team has the same chance to land any player, college football is not the same so dont even compare the two.

And fairweather fans? I have been a whitesox fan since i was 4 years old. The difference between white sox fans and cubs fans is the same is iowa vs iowa state. Cubs (iowa) think they will be good and win it all no matter what facts you throw at them they still think they are going to win. White sox (iowa state) know when they are going to be bad and will admit the facts when you lay the facts out. They dont come into ever season thinking this is the year we win it all. Some sort of fact or proof needs to be laid down infront of them before they legit think they have a chance.

We aren't high on our horse today are we??

**hurdleisu24** · 07-27-2010, 05:58 PM

The Cubs have made it clear to other teams that Carlos Zambrano is available, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter). If you thought Roy Oswalt and Dan Haren had a lot remaining on their contracts, take a look at what the Cubs owe Big Z: he'll earn $6.8MM this year, $17.9MM next year, $18MM in 2012 and, possibly, a $19.25MM vesting option in 2013.

**hurdleisu24** · 07-27-2010, 05:59 PM

The issue with trading Lee is that he has 10-5 rights which he can veto a trade and he has mentioned that he may not approve a trade as he likes Chicago.

**CycloneErik** · 07-27-2010, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by CyJack13

Hendry's not near as bad a GM as a lot of people make him out to be. He had a terrible offseason before the 2009 season, where he overreacted to a three game sample size and basically every move he made did not work out. He also was in a tough position with the sale of the team not finalized and thus not being able to add payroll. But he did put together the 2008 team, which was by far the most complete and deep Cubs team of my lifetime. The Cubs are in a position along with very few other teams, where they can make a mistake on a contract and not have it cripple them for years, they have the financial means to cut a player loose and just take the monetary hit. Hopefully, the Ricketts look at some of these contracts as sunk costs and just move on.

Good post. He needs to have credit for the good, too, even though the bad has left us with this year's team.
I also am really hoping that the Ricketts look at this as an opportunity to remake the team. We have some real holes in the lineup that we can't really gloss over anymore. This is easy to say, since it isn't my money, but they likely will have to take a big financial hit to remake this thing.

**hurdleisu24** · 07-27-2010, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by CycloneErik

Good post. He needs to have credit for the good, too, even though the bad has left us with this year's team.
I also am really hoping that the Ricketts look at this as an opportunity to remake the team. We have some real holes in the lineup that we can't really gloss over anymore. This is easy to say, since it isn't my money, but they likely will have to take a big financial hit to remake this thing.

If Aramis picks up his option which sounds like he will 6 of the 8 positions will be filled. Only 2nd depending on riot and 1b are the positions they can try and help that team for next year.