***Official 2023 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[Clonefan32]

Fulmer finally starting to pitch like the guy the Cubs thought he could be when they signed him. Has not given up a run since 5/27 and now has had 10 scoreless appearances. Merryweather also no runs since 5/26, 12 scoreless appearances since then.

Reds are hot right now too winning 8 straight and in the NL Central lead.

This is going to present a really interesting question at the trade deadline. Playing better but still 4th in the division and a ways back from the final Wild Card spot. But if we are playing well and have a chance at the division there may be a fan mutiny if they sell off Stroman, Belly, Hendricks, etc.

 

[CYdTracked]

This is going to present a really interesting question at the trade deadline. Playing better but still 4th in the division and a ways back from the final Wild Card spot. But if we are playing well and have a chance at the division there may be a fan mutiny if they sell off Stroman, Belly, Hendricks, etc.

I sort of said it a few posts back, unless they are in a spot where it looks like they can sustain winning momentum to win the division maybe they are bargain buyers at the deadline. But IMO even with this hot streak I'm not convinced they can secure a playoff spot yet so either you have to commit and say you are going to try and extend Stroman and/or Bellinger or you do the smart thing for longer term benefits and that is to trade your best trade assets now and get some prospects back even if that means taking a small step back this season. This front office is at a crossroads with this roster, either you pony up to extend guys you have now or you sell off those pieces with the intent to spend big in the offseason and stockpile a few more prospects. As a fan would you rather just barely make make the playoffs (or even just miss them) only to have a quick exit then watch Stroman, Bellinger, and Hendricks walk in the offseason for nothing when you probably could get some decent returns on all 3 right now?

Next few weeks are crucial if there is any chance they don't have some calculated sell offs of their best trade assets that are not under contract next season. I'm torn as I would like to see the Cubs competitive again but I have not bought in that this team has what it takes to secure a playoff spot let along win at least 1 round so I am not against tradings some guys if the front office doesn't plan to bring them back next year.

 

[Clonefan32]

I sort of said it a few posts back, unless they are in a spot where it looks like they can sustain winning momentum to win the division maybe they are bargain buyers at the deadline. But IMO even with this hot streak I'm not convinced they can secure a playoff spot yet so either you have to commit and say you are going to try and extend Stroman and/or Bellinger or you do the smart thing for longer term benefits and that is to trade your best trade assets now and get some prospects back even if that means taking a small step back this season. This front office is at a crossroads with this roster, either you pony up to extend guys you have now or you sell off those pieces with the intent to spend big in the offseason and stockpile a few more prospects. As a fan would you rather just barely make make the playoffs (or even just miss them) only to have a quick exit then watch Stroman, Bellinger, and Hendricks walk in the offseason for nothing when you probably could get some decent returns on all 3 right now?

Next few weeks are crucial if there is any chance they don't have some calculated sell offs of their best trade assets that are not under contract next season. I'm torn as I would like to see the Cubs competitive again but I have not bought in that this team has what it takes to secure a playoff spot let along win at least 1 round so I am not against tradings some guys if the front office doesn't plan to bring them back next year.

The problem becomes they have to win the division. There's no backdooring your way to a Wild Card spot. You're only technically 5 GB from the last wildcard spot, but you have the Giants, Dodgers, Phillies and Padres (among others) ahead of you. They will likely find more sustained success over the next 3 months than we will.

 

[NoCreativity]

Fulmer finally starting to pitch like the guy the Cubs thought he could be when they signed him. Has not given up a run since 5/27 and now has had 10 scoreless appearances. Merryweather also no runs since 5/26, 12 scoreless appearances since then.

Reds are hot right now too winning 8 straight and in the NL Central lead.

Merryweather is looking extremely tough lately, he hit 100 last night.

 

[NoCreativity]

As a fan would you rather just barely make make the playoffs (or even just miss them) only to have a quick exit then watch Stroman, Bellinger, and Hendricks walk in the offseason for nothing when you probably could get some decent returns on all 3 right now?

Didn't the Cardinals win the World Series once as a wildcard with about 85 wins? This logic is just flawed. It's all about making the playoffs, after that anything can happen.

If this logic were true the Dodgers should have multiple championships yet they only have 1 the last few years.

So instead of making the playoffs, we'd rather not make them so we have a chance of making them another year? That makes absolutely no sense.

 

[CYdTracked]

Didn't the Cardinals win the World Series once as a wildcard with about 85 wins? This logic is just flawed. It's all about making the playoffs, after that anything can happen.

If this logic were true the Dodgers should have multiple championships yet they only have 1 the last few years.

So instead of making the playoffs, we'd rather not make them so we have a chance of making them another year? That makes absolutely no sense.

As this roster currently is constructed I think winning the division could still be a stretch and as @Clonefan32 mentioned they aren't going to get a wild card spot given the quality of teams that will likely secure those spots. If this team is not good enough to make the playoffs this year then what is the point of keeping guys that will not be here next year? Would you rather improve the system now with guys that could contribute multiple years or go all in now and trade off some pieces for a chance of making the playoffs then let them all walk with nothing to show for it and also trading off some pieces in the process too?

I get it, you want to win now, I would love to as well but I'm also a realist and have my sights on the long game and I think I'd be more frustrated sitting pat with the guys they have now and missing the playoffs than I would be aiming to put the roster in a position for 2024 to be much more competitive and part of that may be trading off guys that may not be here next season anyways. Front office has to decide before the deadline if Stroman and Bellinger are in their 2024 plans or not, if they are not and they are still in a questionable position of if the playoffs are attainable its in their best interests to be calculated sellers.

 

[cycart]

I’m a fan of the team, not the owner. I want them to try to win and compete. Why should I continue to support the team if the front office isn’t going to try to win. If they have a chance to make a splash and make the playoffs they should absolutely go for it

 

[CycloneErik]

In terms of Stroman, Bellinger, and Hendricks, they're all a different case.
Stroman is someone important for the staff in the next couple of years if we're going to be put together a winner.
Bellinger is here to prove himself, get traded, and cash in. That was the whole deal all along.
Hendricks is tricky due to his age. He's at that point where he might be very solid to very good for the next couple of years, but he's going to decline soon. For fans, a lot of it becomes sentimental value, but it could go either way with him in terms of building.

If we're not planning to be competitive as a major, major franchise, then blow it all up because nothing matters. Don't waste time pretending and get on with the losing.

 

[Clonefan32]

Didn't the Cardinals win the World Series once as a wildcard with about 85 wins? This logic is just flawed. It's all about making the playoffs, after that anything can happen.

If this logic were true the Dodgers should have multiple championships yet they only have 1 the last few years.

So instead of making the playoffs, we'd rather not make them so we have a chance of making them another year? That makes absolutely no sense.

I'm not opposed to going all in just to try and win the Wild Card. I'd agree many teams have had success out of the Wild Card. However, I think the issues becomes how much clarity do we gain in the next month. Winning the division is one thing, as the division is completely marginal. But to get a Wild Card spot as it currently stands, we'd have to jump 5 teams, including the Phillies, Dodges and Padres. I just don't see that as a realistic possibility.

Right now, FanGraphs has us at 16.2% to win the division and only 1.1% to get a wild card spot, for a total of 17.3% to make the playoffs.

 

[CYdTracked]

In terms of Stroman, Bellinger, and Hendricks, they're all a different case.
Stroman is someone important for the staff in the next couple of years if we're going to be put together a winner.
Bellinger is here to prove himself, get traded, and cash in. That was the whole deal all along.
Hendricks is tricky due to his age. He's at that point where he might be very solid to very good for the next couple of years, but he's going to decline soon. For fans, a lot of it becomes sentimental value, but it could go either way with him in terms of building.

If we're not planning to be competitive as a major, major franchise, then blow it all up because nothing matters. Don't waste time pretending and get on with the losing.

Stroman will surely opt out of the last year of his contract after this season. Cubs need to extend him now or at the very least show good faith they will try to sign him in the offseason otherwise the smart move right now is to trade him for a nice haul as he is the biggest trade asset right now. He's 32 right now so is in his prime years but how many more years at probably $25+ mil (could be 30+, I dunno what his market will be) would you commit to? I'd sign onto that at a 3 maybe 4 year deal with maybe some kind of vesting option for a 5th year but when you start getting into those late 30's with starting pitchers its hard to tell if its a wise investment.

Bellinger is probably getting paid well in the offseason too, don't see the Cubs committing long term money his way. I don't see them picking up Hendricks option year either and he's pitching well now but last 2 years have not been that good. For a guy that throws 88-89 mph on his fastball age will not help him so I guess I don't see him back next year either.

 

[CycloneErik]

Stroman will surely opt out of the last year of his contract after this season. Cubs need to extend him now or at the very least show good faith they will try to sign him in the offseason otherwise the smart move right now is to trade him for a nice haul as he is the biggest trade asset right now. He's 32 right now so is in his prime years but how many more years at probably $25+ mil (could be 30+, I dunno what his market will be) would you commit to? I'd sign onto that at a 3 maybe 4 year deal with maybe some kind of vesting option for a 5th year but when you start getting into those late 30's with starting pitchers its hard to tell if its a wise investment.

Bellinger is probably getting paid well in the offseason too, don't see the Cubs committing long term money his way. I don't see them picking up Hendricks option year either and he's pitching well now but last 2 years have not been that good. For a guy that throws 88-89 mph on his fastball age will not help him so I guess I don't see him back next year either.

And the Cubs aren't showing a lot of good faith with Stroman. That probably doesn't help keep him around.
This management team is a wreck. It really shouldn't be this difficult for them.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[cyfanatic13]

Good to lock in another series win tonight. Been playing some really good ball the last couple weeks.

On a bad note: Codi Heuer might have suffered a career altering injury in his Tommy John rehab appearance.

 

[CycloneErik]

Good to lock in another series win tonight. Been playing some really good ball the last couple weeks.

On a bad note: Codi Heuer might have suffered a career altering injury in his Tommy John rehab appearance.

Not quite reminiscent of Dave Dravecky, but not not remiscient of Dave Dravecky.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Good to lock in another series win tonight. Been playing some really good ball the last couple weeks.

On a bad note: Codi Heuer might have suffered a career altering injury in his Tommy John rehab appearance.

Pfft. Dusty would've gotten three more innings out of him...

In all seriousness, that's real bad and his career is probably over. The absolute worst part of sports.

 

[CYdTracked]

Good to lock in another series win tonight. Been playing some really good ball the last couple weeks.

On a bad note: Codi Heuer might have suffered a career altering injury in his Tommy John rehab appearance.

Will be surprised if that is not another serious elbow injury which at this point probably would mean the end of his baseball career. Sad deal, he was probably going to be called up soon too as he's been on rehab assignment since May 6th. He was probably thought of as the bigger piece of the Kimbrel trade with the White Sox that also brought Madrigal in. Cubs still probably won that trade but not by much as Madrigal hasn't quite lived up to his potential either. Kimbrel pitched 24 games with a 5.09 ERA and just 1 save with the Sox after that trade. For some reason La Russa decided to make him the setup man despite already having 24 saves and a 0.49 ERA and making the All Star team with the Cubs, they did have Hendriks who finished the year with 38 saves but why trade for a guy who was at the time the best closer on the trade block and then put him in a role that hasn't done for most of his career.

 

[Clonefan32]

And the Cubs aren't showing a lot of good faith with Stroman. That probably doesn't help keep him around.
This management team is a wreck. It really shouldn't be this difficult for them.

This is the kind of stuff that ****** me off with the front office. Stroman is a top 10 pitcher in the league right now and wants to stay. But they don't want to pay him so they're going to act like we need the space to make a run at Ohtani, which will inevitably not work.

A big market team that wants to spend like a medium market.

 

[ScottyP]

And the Cubs aren't showing a lot of good faith with Stroman. That probably doesn't help keep him around.
This management team is a wreck. It really shouldn't be this difficult for them.

Stroman has openly expressed interest in re-signing with the Cubs, but the front office hasn't reached out regarding any extension. They aren't even going to try and re-sign him.

 

[CycloneErik]

Stroman has openly expressed interest in re-signing with the Cubs, but the front office hasn't reached out regarding any extension. They aren't even going to try and re-sign him.

Sigh. I know. It's fantastic.

 

[CycloneErik]

This is the kind of stuff that ****** me off with the front office. Stroman is a top 10 pitcher in the league right now and wants to stay. But they don't want to pay him so they're going to act like we need the space to make a run at Ohtani, which will inevitably not work.

A big market team that wants to spend like a medium market.

We'll lowball Ohtani, too, just to complete the picture.