Bleacher Bums Forum

I think this off season is going to be really interesting. 

The Cubs need to unload Kintzler and Chatwood.
Do they bring back Hamels by picking up his option or hope to sign him for less than $20 million or let him walk?
Is Montgomery a starter what do you do with Smyly?
With the bullpen do you bring back Wilson?  Sign a closer to cover for a possible Marrow injury?
Do you get in on Harper/Machado, if so which one?
What the heck do you do with Russell?

Doesn't mean the off season still won't be interesting......

Will be interesting to see what the 3 days off does to Milwaukee and their hot streak. Maybe nothing, maybe cools them off a bit.

Who the heck knows and I could well imagine Cubs having lots of trouble with Rox terrific young LH starter tomorrow night, but I think the Cubs can do some real damage IF they can find a way to eke out a win in the WC game.

Certainly, the Cubs are tough and resilient and unlikely to beat themselves.  This year's Cubs are battle tested - both in an incredible stretch without a break this year AND previous years...the kind of team that often finds a way to get through multiple series' and, dare I say it, go deep into October.

Of course, our season might well end tomorrow night, but if it doesn't, I like our chances against the Brewers and, if we get on a roll, anyone else...even with all the injuries and adversity...sometimes, that adversity can make a TEAM even stronger this time of year.

Fivethirtyeight has the Cubs at 54% to make the NLDS; Fangraphs has them at 53%. So they're a very slight favorite based on data.

Subjectively, they're not nearly that strong.

I think the front office needs to go into the offseason with the idea that they have maybe 10-12 players who will definitely play for the 2019 Cubs, and 4-5 of those are just because of contracts. In the end, they'll bring back more than just those 10-12 players...but outside of star hitters (Rizzo, Bryant, Baez, maybe Contreras), big contract starters (Lester, Darvish), and 3 semi-expensive but good relievers (Strop, Morrow, Cishek), they should have really open minds on the makeup of the 2019 roster.

This team needs significant retooling. They have to add two hitters (either Harper or Machado, and a good OBP guy for the top of the lineup). A revamped bullpen and a backup catcher who Joe will actually play sometimes in the first half are necessary too.

You are going to be really disappointed this offseason if that is what you are expecting.

You are going to be really disappointed this offseason if that is what you are expecting.

Don't get me wrong, I expect to be disappointed. I'm just saying what I think they should do. I have no confidence that they'd be willing to admit that maybe Schwarber and Almora aren't the future stars they think they are.

Ultimately, they'll add someone like Brian Dozier to replace Russell and then sign a couple Cishek-level relievers. They'll go into a third season with this mix of hitters and expect different results again.

Christopher Kamka @ckamka
Most games this season with 1 or 0 runs scored:
40  Orioles
39  Cubs
37  Marlins
36  Giants
35  Mets

More than the expansion-like Marlins and nearly as many as the historically bad Orioles.

Look at the rosters of all those teams and tell me that makes any sense.