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I'm starting to think there isn't going to be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for the Cubs. Kind of like how the Bulls and Jerry Krause were in the perpetual "rebuilding" mode post MJ. Thoughts:
*I didn't buy into the Epstein model from the start...when its so easy just to sign good players in the MLB, why would a top-money team like the Cubs undergo a total transformation? Use the farm system as a means to develop trade bait, sign established veterans, win games. Even Hendry could follow that plan. The big issue facing Epstein was clearing the bad long-term contracts that Hendry signed, not the establishment of a better farm system, IMO.
*Here is my quick thought on the Moneyball system...get some decent players who aren't great athletes but who can hit...give them PEDs so they can perform at a superstar level...win games. Happened in Oakland. Happened in Boston with Epstein. I guess I don't think the approach is entirely revolutionary if its somewhat dependent on PEDs.
*Don't know if its Epstein, but there is a lot of "misdirection" with the Cubs now. So much being made about revenue sources, events being held at Wrigley, etc. Instead of talking about the shoddy on-field product, we are bombarded with stories about the financial situation. The strange thing is that some in the sports media are actually buying into this...idiotic sports radio hosts are saying that this is "great progress" and that he's impressed with Cubs organization for hosting college baseball games at Wrigley and the like. Huh? What does that have to do with baseball? If anything, it should be a warning sign that the Ricketts are either a) too poor to actually be running an MLB team, or b) are mostly interested in the profit margin.
*Too many odd or, more often, insignificant roster moves being explained in a 3-year timeline...as in "we didn't see him contributing to the team 3 years from now, when we will be contending". I find this type of thinking to be self-defeating. People think Epstein was a big departure from the "loser" Cubs atmospheres of the past, yet he's created a situation where losing is most acceptable.
*Pitching addition through subtraction...Cubs starting rotation was terrible last year. Will it be any better this year? Doubtful. Too much is expected from Jeff Samardzija.
*Team still has way too many holes. The few good young players appear to be above-average, but not elite. I don't see anyone this team can build around. Starlin Castro is nice to have at SS, but is he really a great player? Not really. Can Samardzija be a good #1 starter? No. Is Anthony Rizzo an elite player? Jury is still out, IMO.
*I didn't buy into the Epstein model from the start...when its so easy just to sign good players in the MLB, why would a top-money team like the Cubs undergo a total transformation? Use the farm system as a means to develop trade bait, sign established veterans, win games. Even Hendry could follow that plan. The big issue facing Epstein was clearing the bad long-term contracts that Hendry signed, not the establishment of a better farm system, IMO.
*Here is my quick thought on the Moneyball system...get some decent players who aren't great athletes but who can hit...give them PEDs so they can perform at a superstar level...win games. Happened in Oakland. Happened in Boston with Epstein. I guess I don't think the approach is entirely revolutionary if its somewhat dependent on PEDs.
*Don't know if its Epstein, but there is a lot of "misdirection" with the Cubs now. So much being made about revenue sources, events being held at Wrigley, etc. Instead of talking about the shoddy on-field product, we are bombarded with stories about the financial situation. The strange thing is that some in the sports media are actually buying into this...idiotic sports radio hosts are saying that this is "great progress" and that he's impressed with Cubs organization for hosting college baseball games at Wrigley and the like. Huh? What does that have to do with baseball? If anything, it should be a warning sign that the Ricketts are either a) too poor to actually be running an MLB team, or b) are mostly interested in the profit margin.
*Too many odd or, more often, insignificant roster moves being explained in a 3-year timeline...as in "we didn't see him contributing to the team 3 years from now, when we will be contending". I find this type of thinking to be self-defeating. People think Epstein was a big departure from the "loser" Cubs atmospheres of the past, yet he's created a situation where losing is most acceptable.
*Pitching addition through subtraction...Cubs starting rotation was terrible last year. Will it be any better this year? Doubtful. Too much is expected from Jeff Samardzija.
*Team still has way too many holes. The few good young players appear to be above-average, but not elite. I don't see anyone this team can build around. Starlin Castro is nice to have at SS, but is he really a great player? Not really. Can Samardzija be a good #1 starter? No. Is Anthony Rizzo an elite player? Jury is still out, IMO.
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