urban cowboy

Strike me as a .500 team. Pitching is good. But... how do they score? no power, no speed ... no plan.

It does seem like a 4-2 lead at this point is game over. Eek! Edit: slight hesitation with Abreau's single, but Story didn't disappoint.

Is it time to send Durbin down? Not like there's a lot of other great options, tho.

I dunno what to do with Yoshida. Absolutely a professional hitter, but a slow singles hitter at the top of the order offends me, haha! It seems to me that we'll need to manufacture runs ... need for speed.

Seems like a classic #3 hitter. I'd put him there and leave him. We don't seem to have a leadoff hitter ... maybe Duran? Might be worth giving him a chance to work it out there.

Whether intentional, or just thrifty, it seems they are getting the financial house in order. Long term, it's much better to invest in the farm system, be patient, and make selective "over-pays" for big names. I think we have an excellent foundation and should stick with the players we have been developing, e..g., I wouldn't give up on Casas or Campbell, or even Mayer for that matter. Don't spend for the sake of spending. Bregman, dodged a bullet. Saurez, yuck. Even Contreras ... meh. (granted he was not super expensive)

Phew, that is a horrific over-pay that the cubs will soon regret.

I'm sure it's buried in here somewhere...so pardon me ... Are we 100% convinced that Campbell can't play second? I didn't think he was that bad, but I also didn't watch him carefully. Does he even have a "natural" position?

Ya... it just feels a little panicky. Stay the course in my view.

They also said they weren't interested in Bregman to Raffy ... Be interesting to see what happens if they find themselves in a pickle at catcher.

Has anyone heard about Casas rehab progress ... will he be ready for Spring training? Way too early to give up on him, I think. If Contreras could catch 50 games, then the trade maybe makes sense. And we have Campbell hanging out to dry. We basically have position logjams and we're bringing in more .. .and trading away young pitching, which is where you want the logjam. Seems like there isn't a plan. I was excited to see the next generation ... not on-the-way-out Wilson Contreras and Sonny Gray.

Good point. I suppose I was making a more general point to hang on to him rather than trade him or sign someone else. Gotta really think through the long-term early signing strategy. How many do you do that for? We have Raffie, Campbell, and Anthony now, I think, and maybe still paying Rusney Castillo, too, ha.

Casas is worth a bit of a gamble in the sense of trying to lock him in for a few extra years while his value is low. I still believe in him, and when you look at what's out there in regarding other first basemen, it's a sound risk. I'm also with @TedYazPapiMookie that we shouldn't give up on Campbell either. If we're patient, we could be set for a long time!

The challenge with that is bregman is also "injury prone."

Accept this early christmas present. An over-priced player on the decline blocking younger players[ducking]. Mayer at third. I thought campbell was intended to be 2nd or 3rd. I can't imagine how you give someone an 8 year contract without a position ... surely they think he can play the infield, right? visual evidence at second notwithstanding?