The SS is revisionist history. I think it goes way back. Like trading Gleyber, but not locking up Aroldis. Which forced them to trade Soler for Davis, which led to Theo's disaster signing of Morrow & Kimbrel. Pointlessly trading Cease for Q. Just non-tendering Schwarber who, OF ALL THE CORE, was the one to keep and they just gave him away for nothing, effectively cutting him. Not re-signing Castellanos who was a solid contributor for the Reds, and although initially struggled w/ the Phils has turned it around mostly. And the big one -- NOT SIGNING BRYCE HARPER! That signing was IMPERATIVE to the Cubs long-term future and they flaked. Not re-signing Contreras when you had VERY LITTLE catching depth offensively. They could've easily signed Willson with the idea he'd eventually be moved to DH to accommodate Ballesteros. Stuff like that. Those decisions then are why we are where we are now.
Both Yankee prospects Rule 5 Eligible. Closer has had 2.80 era between 2A and 3A this year so expect him to get a shot this year. Otherwise you risk having to protect him or losing him for nothing
The Paredes trade stinks. The pitchers the Cubs gave up are quality prospects with very bright futures. Easier to find good bats than quality arms. This one could very well come back to haunt the Cubs.
Yea and Jack Neely isn’t a young flame throwing reliever with a killer slider? I don’t think a lot of others understand how high NY thought of Neely. They also were high on Cowles also. I’d have moved Nico. They have 3 Nico’s in the minors. Nico is a GG no doubt but his offense won’t get any better than it is. He’s certainly needs more power. If they really wanted to shake it up, I’d have moved Nico, bring up Matt Shaw for 2nd base. Now, Busch is also capable of 2nd. I believe that might’ve been his natural spot correct? I’d go hard after Alonso in free agency and use him/Busch at 1st/DH or move Busch to 2nd and play both Shaw and Busch as Shaw is still young. I think that would work. They need a legit thumping 1st base and DH. Busch is a fine player but Cubs need 30+ HR power at first base.
I understand that the Cubs farm system is ranked top 5-ish in MLB, but I don't see which of the prospects is considered as highly as the prospects 10 years ago. It seems to me they have a bunch of average to (possibly) above average MLB players in their system yet none of them are MVP types (or even top-5/top-10 MVP vote getters like Bryant, Rizzo, Schwarber, Baez, Russell were projected to be at one time). Cub fans better get used to what they are seeing; because they will be seeing mediocre to bad clubs for a looooong time. I'm certain to never see another WS victory in my lifetime (even though I honestly never thought I would ever see one)... You might consider me very pessimistic. But I believe I'm being a realistic Cubs fan. Sorry, but that's how I see it.
I disagree about relievers not having value. The issue was what the Cubs wanted in return. A contender wants pitching to help down the stretch to win it all. They don't want to trade guys like Paredes. For the Cubs to get a good player for 2025 and beyond, not a prospect they would have had to cobble together a multi team trade. Cubs trade pitching to a contender who wants to part with prospects, not good players helping them win now. Then they would package prospects with a third team like the Rays, a small market team with cost constraints who has a Paredes to trade and is willing to take good prospects in return. A couple of the Cub relievers had challenging contracts which would impact a trade - and that's on Jed. I suspect Jed will be gone at the end of the season...
Morel and Rossy were the team's heart and soul. Every player is better with those guys. hoyer is an honorless person and the worst executive in all of sports
Trey Turner's contract is going to be horrible in the end, just like Pujols. Except Pujols was one ofthe best hitters of all-time! Age gets you in the end.
Jed absolutely failed with this team. If you’re going to rebuild, you have to eventually replace the players that have left. Since the last time they were competitive, they never replaced Chapman/Wade Davis. They never got a third baseman to replace Bryant. And the never got a catcher to replace Contreras. That’s fine if they didn’t want to sign those guys long term. But they needed to replace their production. Aside from them going in a spending spree this offseason, I don’t us being as competitive as the braves or dodgers for at least 5 years when they trade all of their current assets to get younger and hopefully higher ceiling guys.
Unless they changed the codes so hoyer couldn't get in the building and replaced the Brewers Manager with our Manager, yes, they should have done more.
Ricketts should be embarrassed by the product his organization has put on the field. Fired Hoyer and Hawkins Now, Tom. They don’t know what they are doing.
The Dansby Swanson albatross is going to haunt the Cubs through 2029. I would be wary of trading away Nico, he should be starting at Short and Shaw should be coming up to play second. Dansby should have his sorry bad bat sat down on the bench for the rest of the season. They can then use him in the role once occupied by Nick Madrigal / Miles Mastrobuoni.
Gordon you say the Achilles heal is the bullpen but when the Cubs score 4 runs they have an incredible record...this offense is trash...or has been to this point.
The Chicago Cubs are a cash machine. As long as the park is filled, the booking joint is humming and the merch is flying, the Ricketts are going to continue to own the worst team in the Central.
If you put Soto on today's team they wouldn't be any closer for a playoff spot that's how terrible this team is. If we had today's pitching staff and even with the inconsistent relief to last year's team we probably would of finished first in the division. Timing is everything we missed our window.
Why would you trade away the good relievers if you're going to compete next season? To hear kap complain about how bad the bullpen is? I absolutely believe Morel never said that to Kap, because he's always said he's a third baseman and more comfortable there.
So glad Morel is gone , a .200 hitter that looks like he fields his position with boxing gloves. He is not a young kid just coming up. So he needs to be developed until he is 30. Great guy but good riddance. His position is allegedly 2nd base. We have 3 of them already. Hunter might be good but BP guys are fickle. If someone told me we would get an Allstar 3rd baseman with Morel as the core piece. I would have packed his bags
100% the Cubs should had done more. I give Jed Hoyer a C grade but I am being kind. Let's just get this pathetic season over. I know it won't happen but the Cubs have to move on from Jed Hoyer. We are screwed as Cubs fans
No, DUB, Morel is NOT going to be “a three-time All Star,” and will be chopping pineapples in the Dominican Republic very soon. You guys in Chicago get all amped up over certain players and cannot let it go when the numbers are obviously not improving and tell a different story….Morel was a .199 hitter when he left the Cubs, and he’s a .199 hitter on his best and luckiest day on the Rays, another sub .500 team. Why are you guys still talking about this stiff? Three guys in the dugout fist-bumped him on his way out. See ya, Chris. Why is Beli still there? Taillon? Hendricks? Steele? He got lit up today because teams have charted him and are sitting on his high fastball. C’mon, he’s won two games since last year. He’s Marcus Stroman of 2024 and will have no value after this season. Jed should have traded him. There are so many things wrong with this team it is beyond comprehension.
Gordon is such a tool. He always had bad takes on the Cubs. Stating the obvious. Do you really think Morel is going to be a 3x all-star? Do you really think the Cubs havent spent? Lately, they just havent spent wisely.
Everybody keeps knocking Gordon for being negative… Claiming he’s having bad takes… Where is he wrong? This dude used to get under my skin with this negativity too, but he is 100% right. Like it or not. They don’t spend money intellectually and spread it out on broken projects. They don’t go aggressively enough $230 million for a sub .500 team is a complete joke. for $230 million you’re gonna tell me you have no superstar? Maybe 1 All-Star? The last time they had a payroll like this they had 6+ All-Stars and multiple MVP candidates... We were going to the playoffs back to back and World Series in 2016. There are so many pieces they should’ve unloaded at the half if they wanted to be competitive next year or this… They don’t. They filled the stands every time because cub fans like me go no matter what. They know that they are a wallet drain don’t have to try that hard. Chi has always been like that… look at the 90s. Picking up Peredes is awesome… And also feels like a come and see the new guy while we lose because we were asleep at the wheel AGAIN at the trade DL…
The SS is revisionist history. I think it goes way back. Like trading Gleyber, but not locking up Aroldis. Which forced them to trade Soler for Davis, which led to Theo's disaster signing of Morrow & Kimbrel. Pointlessly trading Cease for Q. Just non-tendering Schwarber who, OF ALL THE CORE, was the one to keep and they just gave him away for nothing, effectively cutting him. Not re-signing Castellanos who was a solid contributor for the Reds, and although initially struggled w/ the Phils has turned it around mostly. And the big one -- NOT SIGNING BRYCE HARPER! That signing was IMPERATIVE to the Cubs long-term future and they flaked. Not re-signing Contreras when you had VERY LITTLE catching depth offensively. They could've easily signed Willson with the idea he'd eventually be moved to DH to accommodate Ballesteros. Stuff like that. Those decisions then are why we are where we are now.
Thanks for the show guys! LET'S GO CUBS!!! ⚾️✌️💙🐻
Both Yankee prospects Rule 5 Eligible. Closer has had 2.80 era between 2A and 3A this year so expect him to get a shot this year. Otherwise you risk having to protect him or losing him for nothing
Love these guys. Way to keep it real.
Very good podcast. Much better when there's actually analysis not crying.
The Cubs absolutely should have done more.
Need to clean house in the front office
Never you sick individual
Some great points here. Don’t know how you could sign Harper with 4 more dead years of Haywood. It looks easy to say in retrospect.
We invested...put our chips in on Dansby & Belli ...they didn't hit like the back of the baseball card. Big time overpay.
They spend money 💰 but not the wrong players
The Paredes trade stinks. The pitchers the Cubs gave up are quality prospects with very bright futures. Easier to find good bats than quality arms. This one could very well come back to haunt the Cubs.
Yea and Jack Neely isn’t a young flame throwing reliever with a killer slider? I don’t think a lot of others understand how high NY thought of Neely. They also were high on Cowles also. I’d have moved Nico. They have 3 Nico’s in the minors. Nico is a GG no doubt but his offense won’t get any better than it is. He’s certainly needs more power. If they really wanted to shake it up, I’d have moved Nico, bring up Matt Shaw for 2nd base. Now, Busch is also capable of 2nd. I believe that might’ve been his natural spot correct? I’d go hard after Alonso in free agency and use him/Busch at 1st/DH or move Busch to 2nd and play both Shaw and Busch as Shaw is still young. I think that would work. They need a legit thumping 1st base and DH. Busch is a fine player but Cubs need 30+ HR power at first base.
agree guys about Jed 😊
I understand that the Cubs farm system is ranked top 5-ish in MLB, but I don't see which of the prospects is considered as highly as the prospects 10 years ago. It seems to me they have a bunch of average to (possibly) above average MLB players in their system yet none of them are MVP types (or even top-5/top-10 MVP vote getters like Bryant, Rizzo, Schwarber, Baez, Russell were projected to be at one time). Cub fans better get used to what they are seeing; because they will be seeing mediocre to bad clubs for a looooong time. I'm certain to never see another WS victory in my lifetime (even though I honestly never thought I would ever see one)...
You might consider me very pessimistic. But I believe I'm being a realistic Cubs fan.
Sorry, but that's how I see it.
I disagree about relievers not having value. The issue was what the Cubs wanted in return. A contender wants pitching to help down the stretch to win it all. They don't want to trade guys like Paredes. For the Cubs to get a good player for 2025 and beyond, not a prospect they would have had to cobble together a multi team trade. Cubs trade pitching to a contender who wants to part with prospects, not good players helping them win now. Then they would package prospects with a third team like the Rays, a small market team with cost constraints who has a Paredes to trade and is willing to take good prospects in return.
A couple of the Cub relievers had challenging contracts which would impact a trade - and that's on Jed.
I suspect Jed will be gone at the end of the season...
They really need a good catcher and some better arms. Might also be a good idea to let the pitcher hit and use the DH to bat for PCA.
I have to go see Dansby Swanson play man that guy is a superstar short stop
Off season you get rid of Bellinger and Taillon and get a superstar 💸
Your right KAP SPENT ALL THAT MONEY NOBODY COMPELLINGLY ONE OF THE MOST BORING CUBS TEAM. ONLY TWO EXCITING. MOREL AND ROSS. .
Morel and Rossy were the team's heart and soul. Every player is better with those guys. hoyer is an honorless person and the worst executive in all of sports
Tampa put Morel at 2nd his better position,
Morel is going to be a star player!!
Is it October yet?
If Morel goes off? He had been on this team at least 3 seasons or more already? When was he going to finally go off for us?
Trey Turner's contract is going to be horrible in the end, just like Pujols. Except Pujols was one ofthe best hitters of all-time! Age gets you in the end.
Jed absolutely failed with this team. If you’re going to rebuild, you have to eventually replace the players that have left. Since the last time they were competitive, they never replaced Chapman/Wade Davis. They never got a third baseman to replace Bryant. And the never got a catcher to replace Contreras. That’s fine if they didn’t want to sign those guys long term. But they needed to replace their production. Aside from them going in a spending spree this offseason, I don’t us being as competitive as the braves or dodgers for at least 5 years when they trade all of their current assets to get younger and hopefully higher ceiling guys.
Unless they changed the codes so hoyer couldn't get in the building and replaced the Brewers Manager with our Manager, yes, they should have done more.
Chicago cubs is never going to get Juan Soto cheap ownership
Ricketts should be embarrassed by the product his organization has put on the field. Fired Hoyer and Hawkins Now, Tom. They don’t know what they are doing.
Is it 80mil only if Bellinger opts out?
Bec Barnhart/Mancini 10mil, Smyly 10m, Hendricks 16mil, Bote 5m is 41mil coming off the books that we see for sure...
The Dansby Swanson albatross is going to haunt the Cubs through 2029. I would be wary of trading away Nico, he should be starting at Short and Shaw should be coming up to play second. Dansby should have his sorry bad bat sat down on the bench for the rest of the season. They can then use him in the role once occupied by Nick Madrigal / Miles Mastrobuoni.
Gordon you say the Achilles heal is the bullpen but when the Cubs score 4 runs they have an incredible record...this offense is trash...or has been to this point.
The Chicago Cubs are a cash machine. As long as the park is filled, the booking joint is humming and the merch is flying, the Ricketts are going to continue to own the worst team in the Central.
If you put Soto on today's team they wouldn't be any closer for a playoff spot that's how terrible this team is. If we had today's pitching staff and even with the inconsistent relief to last year's team we probably would of finished first in the division. Timing is everything we missed our window.
Brewers traded two elite pitching prospects for adames…
2024 Hoyer still packing,T Mancini, T Barhart, plus some buyouts, Hoyer terrible,
Why would you trade away the good relievers if you're going to compete next season? To hear kap complain about how bad the bullpen is? I absolutely believe Morel never said that to Kap, because he's always said he's a third baseman and more comfortable there.
Need pull the plug on Jed Hoyer
Replace hoyer with Sandberg and counsel with Rossy!!
They spending 💰 money but not for the right players
So glad Morel is gone , a .200 hitter that looks like he fields his position with boxing gloves. He is not a young kid just coming up. So he needs to be developed until he is 30. Great guy but good riddance. His position is allegedly 2nd base. We have 3 of them already. Hunter might be good but BP guys are fickle. If someone told me we would get an Allstar 3rd baseman with Morel as the core piece. I would have packed his bags
But they have been losing close games, meaning the Cubbies have no home run hitters and a cannon arm catcher. 8 years and counting.
I don't think Soto's leaving the Yankees!! sorry fellas!! In my opinion, they will extend his contract!!😞
Fire everyone including ownership, keep Mike Shota
Wisdom and MERVIS FOR BOBBY WIT SENOIR AND CUBS TURNED IT DOWN ?
Jed prizes defensive runs saved over a good overall team, so by Morel.
100% the Cubs should had done more. I give Jed Hoyer a C grade but I am being kind. Let's just get this pathetic season over. I know it won't happen but the Cubs have to move on from Jed Hoyer. We are screwed as Cubs fans
No, DUB, Morel is NOT going to be “a three-time All Star,” and will be chopping pineapples in the Dominican Republic very soon. You guys in Chicago get all amped up over certain players and cannot let it go when the numbers are obviously not improving and tell a different story….Morel was a .199 hitter when he left the Cubs, and he’s a .199 hitter on his best and luckiest day on the Rays, another sub .500 team. Why are you guys still talking about this stiff? Three guys in the dugout fist-bumped him on his way out. See ya, Chris. Why is Beli still there? Taillon? Hendricks? Steele? He got lit up today because teams have charted him and are sitting on his high fastball. C’mon, he’s won two games since last year. He’s Marcus Stroman of 2024 and will have no value after this season. Jed should have traded him. There are so many things wrong with this team it is beyond comprehension.
Umm Santander isn’t a super star lol
Gordon is such a tool. He always had bad takes on the Cubs. Stating the obvious. Do you really think Morel is going to be a 3x all-star? Do you really think the Cubs havent spent? Lately, they just havent spent wisely.
All this Monday morning QBing. Boegarts is way over paid Correa is not what he was. Turner was never coming Swanson was left
Exactly.
Yeah Correa and his crappy .308 average
The Cubs had a chance to get either Tre Turner, Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, even Bogarts and they settle for Dansby Sawson.
Witlessmeyer the Kamala of sports reporters!!!!!
This is exactly why I became a Dodgers fan 5 years ago. Cubs ownership and front office have no idea what the fuck they're doing.
200%. Worst "leadership" in all of sports. hoyer should be considered a criminal.
So you jumped on the Dodger bandwagon. Nice.
Everybody keeps knocking Gordon for being negative… Claiming he’s having bad takes… Where is he wrong?
This dude used to get under my skin with this negativity too, but he is 100% right. Like it or not.
They don’t spend money intellectually and spread it out on broken projects. They don’t go aggressively enough $230 million for a sub .500 team is a complete joke. for $230 million you’re gonna tell me you have no superstar? Maybe 1 All-Star? The last time they had a payroll like this they had 6+ All-Stars and multiple MVP candidates... We were going to the playoffs back to back and World Series in 2016.
There are so many pieces they should’ve unloaded at the half if they wanted to be competitive next year or this… They don’t. They filled the stands every time because cub fans like me go no matter what. They know that they are a wallet drain don’t have to try that hard. Chi has always been like that… look at the 90s.
Picking up Peredes is awesome… And also feels like a come and see the new guy while we lose because we were asleep at the wheel AGAIN at the trade DL…