urban cowboy

Alvarez has been hurt a lot. Might be someone who won't last or hits an early decline. As bad as this year has been so far, I wouldn't panic and give away young pitching. Maybe take our lumps for now and hope that things start to click in the second half -- which isn't that crazy.

yep! but always difficult to "sell high" -- maybe they have turned the corner and this is real?

The only one I really have a gripe with is Campbell. He doesn't even have a position. That's insane.

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.