Author Topic: Cubs in '20  (Read 49135 times)

Ron

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #45 on: September 30, 2019, 11:57:14 pm »
Sahadev Sharma has chimed in on Theo's press conference.

Here are some excerpts. There are lots of quotes from Theo mixed into the article as well. It is a good summary/analysis, well worth a read.

This is a group that’s notorious for chasing breaking balls out of the zone and failing to make contact with high fastballs. So along with pitching – both starters and bullpen – the Cubs will be looking for contact-oriented hitters who know how to control the zone and handle those troublesome high fastballs. They need to upgrade at both center field and second base. Their production from the leadoff spot — the .294 OBP from the top of the lineup was worst in baseball — was atrocious.
...
While Anthony Rizzo or Javier Báez being traded would come as quite a surprise, there are other valuable players who could be made available. Happ and Schwarber are easy to point to, but it’s certainly not out of the question that one of Bryant or Contreras is traded.
...
While Epstein was effusive in his praise of Contreras, his description of him also almost sounded like a sales pitch to teams who may be interested. And as good as Bryant is when healthy, he has two years remaining on his contract, meaning now may be the best time to maximize his value on the trade market.
...
The Cubs have engaged Bryant and Báez in extension talks in previous offseasons. There will be discussions again this offseason. The smart money is on Báez being more amenable to an extension. He seemed open to the idea prior to Sunday’s season finale, saying he’d like to stay with the Cubs his whole career.
...
The Cubs aren’t tearing it down. There won’t be another run like 2012-14 now or in the near future. But would taking a step back for 2020 be something that’s necessary to avoid a total teardown a year or two later?
...
The short answer seems to be that while contending is preferred for 2020, ignoring the seasons beyond is not a route they’ll take. There are those who will say it’s foolish to move key pieces when this team has proven it can win. But Epstein seems over being stuck in the past. He admits that perhaps they misevaluated just how good this group would be and clung too long to certain players.
...
An 11-16 September and 2-9 stretch to end the season pushed the Cubs to this point. There can be no more masking of the failures. No more pointing to high win totals or deceiving statistics that don’t truly expose the flaws of the roster. Change is essential, at all levels.

So, is the reckoning finally here?


https://theathletic.com/1256530/2019/09/30/whenever-you-dont-make-it-its-horrible-around-here-a-winter-of-change-awaits-the-cubs/
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