2014 Offseason Thread

[Ogden]

Telling Fred to chillax is like telling your wife to calm down, or trying to herd cats.

 

 

I heard a couple cats going at it in a snow drift yesterday. It was not pleasant.

 

 

 

Oh ... herd ... never mind.

[a700hitter]

I've read some his posts about visiting Ft. Myers every spring. I'm guessing it's a much nicer place than it was back in the 90s.

 

You have more snow coming Sunday through Tuesday, I believe. I'm a little farther south than you now, so not much snow, but regardless, I'm sick of the freezing temps. I do not miss the NE winters, that's for sure.

 

The old ballpark was in the poorer part of town. The new complex is closer to the airport and it is just fine. I stay on Fort Myers Beach and it is very nice down there. The traffic can be horrendous getting off the island on game days. I would advise staying down on the southern part of the island. It is a quicker exit off the island thru Bonita Springs and a faster ride to the ball park. Another option is to stay in Naples. The restaurants and beach are great over there.

[a700hitter]

I wouldn't laugh too loud. Theo is building a contender in Chicago just like he did in Boston with the difference being he started with a lot less in Chicago. Their farm system was awful and the major league roster had only a few decent players. Now they have one of the top rated minor league systems and bonafide threats at most positions on the roster. They may not be ready this year, but next year they should be as competitive as anybody in that league.

 

He has come in last place twice and the other season they lost 100 games. There are no excuses after 3 horseshit seasons not to play .500 ball this season. Wtf is he building Mt. Rushmore? He has a huge budget and an extremely loyal fan base. Its time to cut the BS excuses for this guy if this team doesn't play .500 this season.

[Kimmi]

The old ballpark was in the poorer part of town. The new complex is closer to the airport and it is just fine. I stay on Fort Myers Beach and it is very nice down there. The traffic can be horrendous getting off the island on game days. I would advise staying down on the southern part of the island. It is a quicker exit off the island thru Bonita Springs and a faster ride to the ball park. Another option is to stay in Naples. The restaurants and beach are great over there.

 

 

This is something I would love to do. Unfortunately, it is just too difficult for me to get away for a week, or even a few days, in March. It sounds like a great time though. I'm envious. Hopefully, one of these days I'll get down there.

[Kimmi]

He has come in last place twice and the other season they lost 100 games. There are no excuses after 3 horseshit seasons not to play .500 ball this season. Wtf is he building Mt. Rushmore? He has a huge budget and an extremely loyal fan base. Its time to cut the BS excuses for this guy if this team doesn't play .500 this season.

 

 

What is he building? He is building a winning franchise the way it should be built, starting with the farm system. Doing this takes time. Success is not going to happen overnight. The team is now at a place where it should be competitive for years to come. You can't expect him to just go out and throw money at every top free agent that becomes available. I think the Cubs fans are smart enough to know this.

[wyo-sox]

What is he building? He is building a winning franchise the way it should be built, starting with the farm system. Doing this takes time. Success is not going to happen overnight. The team is now at a place where it should be competitive for years to come. You can't expect him to just go out and throw money at every top free agent that becomes available. I think the Cubs fans are smart enough to know this.

 

If someone has cheered for that awful organization and it's continuing poor management for all these years... I'm not going to assume they are too smart, lol.

[Behindenemylines]

The Cardinals are indeed a very well run organization. The Cubbies are a much improved team this year. I don't think they're quite where they need to be this year, but they should be a strong WS contender in a couple of years. They might even be a surprise this year. I know nothing is guaranteed in this game, but the Cubs have to feel good about where they are and where they are headed.

 

The Cards are one of the model franchises in the sport and are competitive year after year. The Cubs enter the season with a lot of youth which means a lot of things have to go right for them to be in contention come September. The Sox learned last year when you expect big things out of your younger players it doesn't always happen. Cubs with be an improved team this year, but will fall short of making the playoffs.

[Palodios]

If the Cubs sign Shields today at a bargain price, they'll be the ones laughing.

 

Adding Lester, Shields, and Dexter Fowler to the likes of Rizzo, Soler, Castro, and the best farm system in baseball will push them into contention far faster than anyone expected.

[Spudboy]

The old ballpark was in the poorer part of town. The new complex is closer to the airport and it is just fine. I stay on Fort Myers Beach and it is very nice down there. The traffic can be horrendous getting off the island on game days. I would advise staying down on the southern part of the island. It is a quicker exit off the island thru Bonita Springs and a faster ride to the ball park. Another option is to stay in Naples. The restaurants and beach are great over there.

 

Yeah I went inside the old ball park and it was an oasis in that area of town. Ft Myers beach was much nicer as I recall.

[sk7326]

Kudos to Topps. The nerdy stats are becoming more and more mainstream everyday, as they should be.

 

I think it's good to know them - because it's what front offices use, or at least the starting point therein (clearly when all the franchises employ analytics departments, they are doing stuff which will not make the public domain). If you (like the BBWAA old guys) focus on RBIs and pitcher wins, the sport has left you in the dust. Now it does not repudiate the value of scouting (which I think got the Ricciardi Blue Jays in trouble) - but makes the scouts smarter about what to look for.

[Kimmi]

The Cards are one of the model franchises in the sport and are competitive year after year. The Cubs enter the season with a lot of youth which means a lot of things have to go right for them to be in contention come September. The Sox learned last year when you expect big things out of your younger players it doesn't always happen. Cubs with be an improved team this year, but will fall short of making the playoffs.

 

 

I agree, I don't think they are quite there yet, but I think they will surprise some people. They are not that far away.

[Kimmi]

If the Cubs sign Shields today at a bargain price, they'll be the ones laughing.

 

Adding Lester, Shields, and Dexter Fowler to the likes of Rizzo, Soler, Castro, and the best farm system in baseball will push them into contention far faster than anyone expected.

 

 

I've read reports now saying 4 years, $72-75 mil range. If that is true, the Sox should be all over that.

[Kimmi]

I think it's good to know them - because it's what front offices use, or at least the starting point therein (clearly when all the franchises employ analytics departments, they are doing stuff which will not make the public domain). If you (like the BBWAA old guys) focus on RBIs and pitcher wins, the sport has left you in the dust. Now it does not repudiate the value of scouting (which I think got the Ricciardi Blue Jays in trouble) - but makes the scouts smarter about what to look for.

 

 

I couldn't agree more. Like it or not, teams are relying more and more analytics departments to enhance the value of scouting. Even Rawlings has acknowledged the value of analytics with their Gold Glove Awards (Finally and thank goodness!). They are still not where they need to be, but they are much better than they were.

[iortiz]

At this point, I think it is not about the money... they feel comfortable as the rotation is.

[Spudboy]

At this point, I think it is not about the money... they feel comfortable as the rotation is.

 

Maybe Ortiz. I suspect that money is still in the equation.

[a700hitter]

This is something I would love to do. Unfortunately, it is just too difficult for me to get away for a week, or even a few days, in March. It sounds like a great time though. I'm envious. Hopefully, one of these days I'll get down there.

 

Yes. It is great fun. If you get the chance to make the trip some day, you should take it.

[a700hitter]

I've read reports now saying 4 years, $72-75 mil range. If that is true, the Sox should be all over that.

 

I agree completely.

[Bellhorn04]

The Red Sox don't seem to have any interest in Shields, dropping price or not.

[Dojji]

Miley, Porcello, Buchholz, Kelly, Masterson. WHether you like these guys or not there's not a lot of room for another starter, and when (not if) Buchholz falters, we've got Owens in the wings.

[cp176]

Miley, Porcello, Buchholz, Kelly, Masterson. WHether you like these guys or not there's not a lot of room for another starter, and when (not if) Buchholz falters, we've got Owens in the wings.

 

 

Hope you're right but projecting Owens to that level right now is risky.

[Ogden]

He has come in last place twice and the other season they lost 100 games. There are no excuses after 3 horseshit seasons not to play .500 ball this season. Wtf is he building Mt. Rushmore? He has a huge budget and an extremely loyal fan base. Its time to cut the BS excuses for this guy if this team doesn't play .500 this season.

 

 

Sounds like you bear a grudge or have issues with Theo rather than examining what's in process in Chicago.

[a700hitter]

Sounds like you bear a grudge or have issues with Theo rather than examining what's in process in Chicago.

I love when a poster makes the post about another poster rather than the topic at hand.

 

I have no grudge against Theo. We won two championships on his watch, but I never thought that he was a great GM. He has been in Chicago for 3 full seasons finishing last twice and losing 101 games the other season. With the Cubs resources, IMO they should have given the fans a .500 team while rebuilding. I am a big believer in accountability. If they don't finish .500 with all of his hot young players and Lester, I think he is out of excuses after 4 seasons at the helm. I think that is plenty fair.

[sk7326]

At this point, I think it is not about the money... they feel comfortable as the rotation is.

 

I think it is more that they feel like they can start the season this way. Given the population of impact starting pitching this is not unreasonable. I do think if Shields can be had for a short hitch they might call an audible. But I don't mind them balking at Shield's 34-37 years for premium dinero.

[cp176]

And down goes Shields! No wait that was Frazier.

[mvp 78]

@BattingStanceG: Looks like winner of the James Shields for Wil Myers trade was the Padres.

[a700hitter]

His contract is very reasonable IMO.

[mvp 78]

Sox should have offered 4-80.

 

I see a lot of fans saying worst to first to worst to first. I don't see that happening.

 

They really need their young arms to actually pan out. That hasn't happened since 07-08.

[a700hitter]

Sox should have offered 4-80.

 

I see a lot of fans saying worst to first to worst to first. I don't see that happening.

 

They really need their young arms to actually pan out. That hasn't happened since 07-08.

 

The division is fairly week, so I think it could happen, but I am not expecting it.

[mvp 78]

I think they'll be in contention in September. Think they'll fall short though.

[sk7326]

Very canny move by Shields. Took his talents (again) to a place which offers a potentially optimal pitching environment. Now, on paper the Padres outfield looks ghastly compared to the really really good defenses Shields has played with in the past. At the same time Petco is where homeruns go to die - so that offsets quite a bit of that.

 

I think that the industry clearly was skeptical about Shields' ability to play in a hitter friendly situation, and his inability to score a $20M AAV deal (despite his numbers and durability being quite justified) I think reflects that. (along with his age too of course, although the age might influence the years more than the AAV)