MLB: ***Official 2016 WORLD SERIES CHAMPION Chicago Cubs Season Thread***

GrindingAway

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The pirates base runner had one of those oven mit looking sliding gloves on.

Made me think are there rules for the size of those. It looked noticeably longer than the guys hand. Could you get one that's like 20" longer so you-reach the base quicker?
 

theantiAIRBHG

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May 25, 2011
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The pirates base runner had one of those oven mit looking sliding gloves on.

Made me think are there rules for the size of those. It looked noticeably longer than the guys hand. Could you get one that's like 20" longer so you-reach the base quicker?

I'd just slide in groin first. Accomplish the same thing.
 

ISUCubswin

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For what it's worth, $11 million would make Markakis the 5th highest paid player on this years roster (Lester, Heyward, Lackey, Montero) and 6th on the current payroll (Edwin Jackson)

Ryan Raburn of the Rockies is one guy I could see the Cubs going after, along with Josh Reddick of the Athletics or Seth Smith of the Mariners, all of whom would cost less than $5 million and we'd have them until the end of the year.

Schwarber will come back healthy, that is not an if. Almora will also be in the major leagues (with the Cubs or not, who knows) at the beginning of next year. That, also, is not an if. The only if is Dexter Fowler, and Markakis, nor any of the men I just named, are center fielders anyways.
 

ISUCubswin

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I'm changing my mind. Dexter Fowler WILL BE a Cub next year.

It is a mutual agreement for next year. Whether he wants to go or not, he has no choice if the Cubs choose to keep him. If the Cubs keep him, they owe him $9 million. If they agree to part ways, the Cubs owe him $5 million. So they are pretty much paying him $4 million to play with them or not play with them next year.

Hence, going after big contract corner outfielder who will be here for more than 6 months (Markakis) is a bad, Hendry idea.
 

Clark

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I'm changing my mind. Dexter Fowler WILL BE a Cub next year.

It is a mutual agreement for next year. Whether he wants to go or not, he has no choice if the Cubs choose to keep him. If the Cubs keep him, they owe him $9 million. If they agree to part ways, the Cubs owe him $5 million. So they are pretty much paying him $4 million to play with them or not play with them next year.

Hence, going after big contract corner outfielder who will be here for more than 6 months (Markakis) is a bad, Hendry idea.

I don't think that's how mutual agreements work, I'm pretty sure it just means either side can opt out if they wish. It takes both sides agreeing to opt in for the opt-in to be valid, although I assume if he opts out the Cubs don't owe him the 5 million.

but yes, i think they'll want to bring him back.

I think Almora will fill the Szczer role next year. And I think two of the Baez/Soler/Schwarber trio will be traded in the offseason.
 

cyhiphopp

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I don't think that's how mutual agreements work, I'm pretty sure it just means either side can opt out if they wish. It takes both sides agreeing to opt in for the opt-in to be valid, although I assume if he opts out the Cubs don't owe him the 5 million.

but yes, i think they'll want to bring him back.

I think Almora will fill the Szczer role next year. And I think two of the Baez/Soler/Schwarber trio will be traded in the offseason.

I don't like this at all. With Bryant playing more LF, I would love for Baez to be the starting 3B.

Schwarber may eventually be a premium DH, but I'd love to take advantage of his power potential for at least a little while.

Soler has a lot of untapped potential still.

I know we can't keep everyone, but I still want to. Hell, I miss Starlin this year too.
 

Clark

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I don't like this at all. With Bryant playing more LF, I would love for Baez to be the starting 3B.

Schwarber may eventually be a premium DH, but I'd love to take advantage of his power potential for at least a little while.

Soler has a lot of untapped potential still.

I know we can't keep everyone, but I still want to. Hell, I miss Starlin this year too.

this is the issue. They are hurting Soler by benching him and not allowing him to get consistent at-bats, and that's with Schwarber out of the lineup.

I think they keep Baez and move the other two. They have shift Zobrist to left, which is probably better for him as he ages anyway and play Baez at second for the next couple of years, then once Zobrist leaves and Torres is ready, just move Baez to third, Bryant to left, and Torres to second.

obviously the Cubs aren't going to just give any of them away and nor should they. Just like with this past offseason, if they don't see any offers they like, they'll just hang on to everyone and roll with the guys they have. The problem comes with Arrieta's potential departure, they need to use those valuable pieces to find a replacement while those trade chips still have value.
 

cycloneworld

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I don't like this at all. With Bryant playing more LF, I would love for Baez to be the starting 3B.

Schwarber may eventually be a premium DH, but I'd love to take advantage of his power potential for at least a little while.

Soler has a lot of untapped potential still.

I know we can't keep everyone, but I still want to. Hell, I miss Starlin this year too.

Dave Kaplan has been touting Baez as the next Zobrist where he can play all over the diamond. A guy like that would be very valuable.

I think the window closes ever so slightly after 2017 unless the Cubs can find starting pitching. Lester will be older and Arrieta might be gone. Trading some of the bats for younger starting pitching is pretty intriguing.
 
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1UNI2ISU

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They're going to end up paying Arrieta, I just don't think you'll let him walk even though you fully realize he's going to get 7 years of Ace money for 3 or 4 years of performance.

I'm of the opinion that you hold on to the young bats until either your hand is forced or somebody overwhelms you with what they're willing to give up...
 

CyJack13

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I don't think that's how mutual agreements work, I'm pretty sure it just means either side can opt out if they wish. It takes both sides agreeing to opt in for the opt-in to be valid, although I assume if he opts out the Cubs don't owe him the 5 million.

but yes, i think they'll want to bring him back.

I think Almora will fill the Szczer role next year. And I think two of the Baez/Soler/Schwarber trio will be traded in the offseason.

The Cubs do owe him the money if he opts out, it's basically a one year $13 M deal that he will certainly opt out of.
 

VeloClone

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Jan 19, 2010
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I think it is awesome that the team's performance is such that we are all now a little disappointed that the Cubs just won a series (by an 18-8 run diff.) but didn't get the sweep.

Keep grinding, guys.
 

Clark

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CyJack13

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Dave Kaplan has been touting Baez as the next Zobrist where he can play all over the diamond. A guy like that would be very valuable.

I think the window closes ever so slightly after 2017 unless the Cubs can find starting pitching. Lester will be older and Arrieta might be gone. Trading some of the bats for younger starting pitching is pretty intriguing.

It would be really nice to see one, or more, of the Cubs young pitchers take a big step forward before 2017. Right now their pitching prospects above low A ball consist of only one guy, Underwood, who has the potential to be anything more than a back of the rotation guy at this point. They have some interesting arms in the low minors but they're basically just lottery tickets when they're that far away.
 

Brentwood

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he's kinda owned the Cubs hitters (and many other teams' hitters, he's pretty good) so not sure it would do any good. The problem for the Pirates is Arietta owns them more (and that they'll need to throw Cole in the Wildcard game)

He pitched well Sunday but the first time he faced them he only lasted 4.2 innings and gave up 6 runs.
 

CloneinWDSM

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Cubs signed Joe Nathan today. Placed him on 60 day DL. It'll be interesting to see how he comes back.
 

Clark

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He pitched well Sunday but the first time he faced them he only lasted 4.2 innings and gave up 6 runs.

he's faced the Cubs more than twice



anyway, the Cubs signed Joe Nathan. This would have been better news 5 years ago, but I guess we'll see if the guy has anything left in that arm.
 

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