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[quote name='1060Ivy' timestamp='1354658295' post='199923']
[quote name='Butcher' timestamp='1354656726' post='199922']
Why do I feel like all of the recent changes to the draft rules and all that shit were put in place solely to fuck over the Cubs?
[/quote]
Probably because Reinsdorf was supposedly the leader of the faction of owners that wanted the spending caps on drafting in the new CBA coupled with increases in luxury tax. One of the effects of the CBA is freezing the amount of talent an organization accumulates outside of free agent acquisitions - which the Cubs aren't doing because their minor league system was in such a shambles in 2010 so the CBA specifically screws a team like the Cubs.
Now, you wouldn't think that a guy like Reinsdorf or Bud Selig who's family interest compete directly against the Cubs would consider their competitive position via other MLB teams when drafting and lobbying for changes in the CBA? Was it the primary rationale for lobbying for these changes? Probably not but it was most likely considered.
My guess is that the changes to CBA increased the amount of time required for the Cubs being competitive by 1 to 2 years. Why? Theo knew how to work within the prior system and Cubs were already makng significant changes in drafts - big increase to international budget - prior to changes to CBA without this avenue available, Cubs - along with all the other teams - will have to work along with others to acquire talent via traditional means and discover new methods to work within the CBA to acquire talent but these will take additional time.
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The traditional means has always been via the draft, not free agency, and our FO has a clear strength there, whether it be with a small or large market team. Can we agree that there seems to be less young talent hitting free agency after the rule changes? The above theory doesn't explain why older, less impactful, free agents are banking, while the difference-makers seem to be signing longer-term, team-friendly deals. Call me a contrarian, but I think recent trends actually help our master plan, maybe not in the short-run, but longer-term. I think we will be better positioned to be competitive on a consistent basis for an extended period of time. The process just needs to play out a bit more.
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Keppinger agrees to deal with White Sox, 3 years, $12 MM.
Guess that is Valbuena and maybe Stewart for thirdbase platoon. It's difficult to imagine the Cubs not being in last place in the NL Central for 2013. Not that Keppinger would have changed that much but it's apparent that the season is an afterthought.
[url="http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/8714655/jeff-keppinger-agrees-deal-chicago-white-sox-source-says"]http://espn.go.com/c...sox-source-says[/url]
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Now I can go back to hating Keppinger on a daily basis.
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[quote name='rok' timestamp='1354736314' post='199960']
Now I can go back to hating Keppinger on a daily basis.
[/quote]
Whom?
Seriously, the person who sees the signing of Keppinger to a 3-year, $12 million contract as a forward move is more lost that the Cubs 2013 season.
One dick can poke an eye out. A hundred dicks can move mountains.
--Veryzer
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[quote name='1060Ivy' timestamp='1354735965' post='199957']
Keppinger agrees to deal with White Sox, 3 years, $12 MM.
Guess that is Valbuena and maybe Stewart for thirdbase platoon. It's difficult to imagine the Cubs not being in last place in the NL Central for 2013. Not that Keppinger would have changed that much but it's apparent that the season is an afterthought.
[url="http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/8714655/jeff-keppinger-agrees-deal-chicago-white-sox-source-says"]http://espn.go.com/c...sox-source-says[/url]
[/quote]
Remind me why you renewed your season tickets? It was apparent the next season is an afterthought 5 minutes after Theo was hired. I'm not sure why you're surprised and complain about every signing that's not made by the Cubs. In the long run you'll be happy that the Cubs aren't overpaying for a utility guy like Keppinger. Keppinger is turning 32 and has played more than 121 games once in his 8 year MLB career. He's basically a 5 years older version Luis Valbuena with no power and little better avg.
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[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/andrew-cashner-stabbed-thumb-during-hunting-related-accident-011833740--mlb.html"]Cashner stabbed in thumb during hunting-related accident, out three months.[/url]
Quote:@UTPadres Stabbed by friend who slipped while dressing Meat
Boy, am I glad he isn't our problem anymore.
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[quote name='rok' timestamp='1354766639' post='199998']
[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/andrew-cashner-stabbed-thumb-during-hunting-related-accident-011833740--mlb.html"]Cashner stabbed in thumb during hunting-related accident, out three months.[/url]
Quote:@UTPadres Stabbed by friend who slipped while dressing Meat
[/quote]
The character from Porky's?
One dick can poke an eye out. A hundred dicks can move mountains.
--Veryzer
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[quote name='Coldneck' timestamp='1354740563' post='199963']
[quote name='1060Ivy' timestamp='1354735965' post='199957']
Keppinger agrees to deal with White Sox, 3 years, $12 MM.
Guess that is Valbuena and maybe Stewart for thirdbase platoon. It's difficult to imagine the Cubs not being in last place in the NL Central for 2013. Not that Keppinger would have changed that much but it's apparent that the season is an afterthought.
[url="http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/8714655/jeff-keppinger-agrees-deal-chicago-white-sox-source-says"]http://espn.go.com/c...sox-source-says[/url]
[/quote]
Remind me why you renewed your season tickets? It was apparent the next season is an afterthought 5 minutes after Theo was hired. I'm not sure why you're surprised and complain about every signing that's not made by the Cubs. In the long run you'll be happy that the Cubs aren't overpaying for a utility guy like Keppinger. Keppinger is turning 32 and has played more than 121 games once in his 8 year MLB career. He's basically a 5 years older version Luis Valbuena with no power and little better avg.
[/quote]
You were aware back in October 2011 that the Cubs were planning to cut payroll from $130 - $144 MM range to less than half of that figure and would be OK with losing more than 100 games a year for consecutive seasons? Not certain if you've looked at the Cubs salary obligations for 2013 or the trends in team compensation but what the Cubs are doing appears to be historic.
I mentioned that Keppinger wasn't going to save the season or reverse the trend but this is getting beyond ridiculous.
Current Cubs salary obligations are around $60 MM with Marmol and Soriano representing almost half of that figure. Both of which are on the trading block but with Cubs expecting to take a significant portion of salaries. My initial guess was that with pick up of free agent retreads and arbitration, Cubs will most likely spend $70 - $85 MM on salaries but if they are able to find takers for Marmol and Soriano and decide not to plug holes in the roster, the Cubs could field a team for less than $44 MM for 2013.
Has a team in the MLB ever cut $100 MM from payroll in less than a few years and been competitive within a decade of doing so? The only team that may be comparable would be the Marlins who cut $45 MM from 2005 to 2006 but they were coming off World Series victory; were a small market team and had a solid minor league system in place with a proven track record of success. None of these situations apply to the Cubs. (Note: Just realized that the Marlins could cut around $68 MM for 2013 but again that's a special circumstance as Loria lied to fans, city and players and deserves his own corner of hell.)
The Cubs needed to retrench but are a top 5 team in terms of revenues so why not throw an additional $15 MM to selective free agents every year in the chance that one of these players can become a foundational player; shows the rooks how the hell the game should be played; or, at least assists in keeping the Cubs winning percentage above 38%
The Cubs are a special team and Wrigley can be an amazing place but the Cubs are in the process of doing irreputable damage to the team's future revenue opportunities. Considering that Wrigley renovations will be coming due; and that TV contracts have exploded and Cubs will be renegotiating deals in the near future, the Cubs are being short sided in their decision not to shore up obvious issues with the roster.
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Everything that the organization has done is the complete opposite of shortsighted. If their goal is to just win 70-80 games by signing mediocre high price FAs then that's a different story, and harkens back to the. 1980-1990s Cubs.
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[quote name='rok' timestamp='1354801833' post='200005']
Everything that the organization has done is the complete opposite of shortsighted. If their goal is to just win 70-80 games by signing mediocre high price FAs then that's a different story, and Harkeys back to the 1980-1990s Cubs.
[/quote]
![[Image: harkey+front.jpg]](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DHrxxZaOUdc/S2JcnGIlDjI/AAAAAAAADbE/OuWwIsJ1W7U/s400/harkey+front.jpg) ed that for you.
One dick can poke an eye out. A hundred dicks can move mountains.
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Twins send Revere to Philadelphia for Worley + another former top SP prospect. Couldn't we have sent them Soriano + a truckload of cash for the same return? Am I nuts?
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[quote name='rok' timestamp='1354815703' post='200020']
Twins send Revere to Philadelphia for Worley + another former top SP prospect. Couldn't we have sent them Soriano + a truckload of cash for the same return? Am I nuts?
[/quote]
No, the Phillies are.
One dick can poke an eye out. A hundred dicks can move mountains.
--Veryzer
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[quote name='rok' timestamp='1354815703' post='200020']
Twins send Revere to Philadelphia for Worley + another former top SP prospect. Couldn't we have sent them Soriano + a truckload of cash for the same return? Am I nuts?
[/quote]
Thought Revere was a young, speedy, primarily CF with no pop so I don't believe a aging, power bat, LF would work for Philly.
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Actually, they are still in the market for a power bat.
One dick can poke an eye out. A hundred dicks can move mountains.
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[quote name='rok' timestamp='1354801833' post='200005']
Everything that the organization has done is the complete opposite of shortsighted. If their goal is to just win 70-80 games by signing mediocre high price FAs then that's a different story, and harkens back to the. 1980-1990s Cubs.
[/quote]
The shortsighted comment is in regards to TV revenue opportunity which is seen as the most significant revenue stream in sports.
Cubs are putting together one of the least talented teams on the field, tanking seasons, just as TV revenues are expected to explode. Without the full shackles of the Tribune media umbrella directing Cubs to undervalue TV contract, Cubs may miss the boat as ratings will suffer due to 100 loss season(s) and value of contract decreases. Other teams will gain or enhance their revenue advantage over the Cubs making it even more difficult for the Cubs to attract free agents or retain existing talent.
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