Cubs Fans, Worried Yet?

[muwarrior69]

3 (NLDS) + 4 (NLCS) + 4 (World Series) = 11

3 (ALDS) + 4 (ALCS) + 4 (World Series) = 28, if my Yankees go all the way; though I'm not holding my breath as they are the "cinderella team", if you can believe that, this go around.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

3 more in a row then 4 out of 7.  We've got this.

[4everwarriors]

Fat broad gonna belt it out, ai na?

[wadesworld]

Fat broad gonna belt it out, ai na?

Amen.

[tower912]

She is doing her breathing exercises and practicing her scales.

[mu_hilltopper]

Our long, regional nightmare is over.

[TallTitan34]

Not worried one damn bit.

Happ 22
Russell 23
Almora 23
Baez 24
Schwarber 24
Bryant 25
Contreras 25
Rizzo 27

[Lennys Tap]

Not worried one damn bit.

Happ 22
Russell 23
Almora 23
Baez 24
Schwarber 24
Bryant 25
Contreras 25
Rizzo 27

The Cubs are loaded with very good (and young/controllable) position players. They'll be a force for the foreseeable future. They'll need pitching, but have boatloads of $ and/or assets to spend to acquire it.

[DegenerateDish]

The problem for the Cubs this offseason is who would they spend money on for pitching? The best starter on the market is someone they will most likely let walk (Arrieta), the other options aren't great (Cobb, Lynn, maybe Tanaka, maybe Cuteo). The best reliever is someone they will most likely let walk (Davis), and the rest of the relief market this winter is bad.

They'll probably have to trade some combo of Happ/Baez/Almora to pick up pitching.

My other concern for the Cubs is Lester's going to be 34 going into next year. I don't think he'll be bad, but he does have a lot of innings on his arm.

I'll be interested to see how they approach this offseason. Obviously next year's free agent class is loaded and easier to address needs next year. They'll have some arb eligible guys coming up in the next couple of years. Curious if they conserve on spending this offseason, roll the dice on their core, pick up a pitcher, and focus more on 2019 than 2018 for the future of their team.

[TallTitan34]

I doubt he'd go for it but I would try talking Shohei Otani into coming to the Cubs.  He can play with similarly aged players for the next 4-5 years.

Unfortunately hes perfect for the AL.  He can DH on days he's not pitching.

[TallTitan34]

The problem for the Cubs this offseason is who would they spend money on for pitching? The best starter on the market is someone they will most likely let walk (Arrieta), the other options aren't great (Cobb, Lynn, maybe Tanaka, maybe Cuteo). The best reliever is someone they will most likely let walk (Davis), and the rest of the relief market this winter is bad.

Darvish is out there as well.

[MerrittsMustache]

The problem for the Cubs this offseason is who would they spend money on for pitching? The best starter on the market is someone they will most likely let walk (Arrieta), the other options aren't great (Cobb, Lynn, maybe Tanaka, maybe Cuteo). The best reliever is someone they will most likely let walk (Davis), and the rest of the relief market this winter is bad.

They'll probably have to trade some combo of Happ/Baez/Almora to pick up pitching.

My other concern for the Cubs is Lester's going to be 34 going into next year. I don't think he'll be bad, but he does have a lot of innings on his arm.

I'll be interested to see how they approach this offseason. Obviously next year's free agent class is loaded and easier to address needs next year. They'll have some arb eligible guys coming up in the next couple of years. Curious if they conserve on spending this offseason, roll the dice on their core, pick up a pitcher, and focus more on 2019 than 2018 for the future of their team.

The Cubs have their 1-2-3 starters in Hendricks, Lester and Quintana so I don't think they'd be looking at a high-priced, long-term guy. Arrieta is gone unless there's no huge payday out there for him and the Cubs can bring him back on a reasonable 2-3-year deal. I'd put my money on Cobb joining the Cubs. I also tend to think that the ineptitude of the Cubs' bullpen this postseason may have made bringing back Davis a top priority. Davis was believed to be a stop-gap for this season with Edwards taking over next season, but Edwards' control issues and inconsistency likely cost him that opportunity. There's also Justin Wilson out there who was excellent for 3.5 years before being awful for a couple months with the Cubs (though his FIP was good). He was another potential closer who crashed and burned down the stretch.

Another guy who I wouldn't be surprised to see dealt for pitching is Addison Russell. Baez can handle SS and Happ can be an everyday 2B who occasionally plays in the OF, a la Zobrist. Happ also probably has the most potential to be a solid lead-off hitter.

There are obviously some upgrades needed but they should still be one of the favorites in the NL.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

The Cubs have their 1-2-3 starters in Hendricks, Lester and Quintana so I don't think they'd be looking at a high-priced, long-term guy. Arrieta is gone unless there's no huge payday out there for him and the Cubs can bring him back on a reasonable 2-3-year deal. I'd put my money on Cobb joining the Cubs. I also tend to think that the ineptitude of the Cubs' bullpen this postseason may have made bringing back Davis a top priority. Davis was believed to be a stop-gap for this season with Edwards taking over next season, but Edwards' control issues and inconsistency likely cost him that opportunity. There's also Justin Wilson out there who was excellent for 3.5 years before being awful for a couple months with the Cubs (though his FIP was good). He was another potential closer who crashed and burned down the stretch.

Another guy who I wouldn't be surprised to see dealt for pitching is Addison Russell. Baez can handle SS and Happ can be an everyday 2B who occasionally plays in the OF, a la Zobrist. Happ also probably has the most potential to be a solid lead-off hitter.

There are obviously some upgrades needed but they should still be one of the favorites in the NL.

I don't think Davis is back.  There are legit concerns in terms of his health and he had the highest walk rate of his career this season, which is a problem in this bullpen.  I think he gets the QO and walks.  One reliever I'd like to see them look into is Addison Reed.  Won't be as expensive, is younger, and throws strikes. 

I'd also be stunned if Russel goes anywhere.  Moving him or Baez really weakens you up the middle and I think there is still untapped potential in that bat.  He's only going to be 24 next season.

If anyone on the current team is moved I think the likeliest possibilities are Happ, Schwarber, and Almora, in no particular order. 

[DegenerateDish]

Darvish is out there as well.

I didn't include him because I can't see the Cubs going after him. If you go after Darvish, you might as well just re-sign Arrieta.

[drewm88]

There's also Justin Wilson out there who was excellent for 3.5 years before being awful for a couple months with the Cubs (though his FIP was good). He was another potential closer who crashed and burned down the stretch.

Not sure if you're implying Wilson as a FA, but I believe they still have him next year. Last year of arbitration.

[MU82]

I'm not close to the Cubbies' situation so I have no idea about Schwarber's contribution to team chemistry, but if I could get a very good pitcher for him I'd move him to an AL team in a heartbeat.

He hits a HR every 9-10 games, has a career .630 OPS with RISP, strikes out a ton or hits grounders into the shift, and plays LF as if he had consumed mass quantities of beer 5 minutes before every game.

But yes, the cleverly nicknamed "Schwarbs" did have a couple of huge hits in the 2016 postseason.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

He hits a HR every 9-10 games,

He hits a HR every 4.3 games.

[🏀]

Bosio just needs to get Justin Wilson on his steroid cycling regime.

[MU82]

He hits a HR every 4.3 games.

Oh, don't go dazzling me with facts, Mr. Show-off!

[GB Warrior]

He hits a HR every 4.3 games.

But MU82s assessment of his fielding is spot on. It's like watching a newborn giraffe out there.

[#UnleashSean]

But MU82s assessment of his fielding is spot on. It's like watching a newborn giraffe out there.

He plays the outfield like a catcher in a slow pitch softball league.

[Tugg Speedman]

But MU82s assessment of his fielding is spot on. It's like watching a newborn giraffe out there.

He plays the outfield like a catcher in a slow pitch softball league.

He is an average fielder.  He has a decent arm. 

Yes he dropped one badly against the dodgers but you’re wrong to use that as the incident to define his worth to humanity.

That’s what hack fans on message boards do.  Glad no one around here is like that

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

He is an average fielder.  He has a decent arm. 

Yes he dropped one badly against the dodgers but you’re wrong to use that as the incident to define his worth to humanity.

That’s what hack fans on message boards do.  Glad no one around here is like that

Can you point out where someone tried to define Schwarbs' humanity?

[Tugg Speedman]

Can you point out where someone tried to define Schwarbs' humanity?

You mean other than calling up a newborn giraffe?

[GB Warrior]

You mean other than calling up a newborn giraffe?

Do the cubs have that in their farm system? Could be an improvement - they grow fast!

*edit - I checked, and they traded their giraffe to the White Sox in the Quintana trade.