The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

8 more wins, boys. Then it's over. Finally over.

[fugazi]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Of the two, I'd have preferred the Dodgers.
Going to be a tough series.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

<iframe width="793" height="433" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RUp1dvZHFJU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

You're welcome.

[Jr.]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

I was so confused.

Then I saw it.

And it is glorious.

[fugazi]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Whyyyyy the choreography?
really...why?

who thought that was a good idea?

that being said, I expected to see Rizzo lol...i think the team should do this, and i bet Maddon could make em.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

A disappointing end to a wildly entertaining season. Hopefully we can use the offseason to shore up all facets of the club. Also great that these kids, who are clearly nervous and pressing with Rizzo included, got a big taste of October baseball.

I would also like to see Joe Maddon continue to evolve as a tactician. He's a great motivator and communicator, but some of his decisions are interesting. Like not starting Lester on short rest in a win-or-go-home game. And starting Ross to catch Hammel when Montero usually catches Hammel and Hammel had been really struggling to begin with.

[ThaBoss18]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Wow that sucked....I would have rather been eliminated in 7 or 6 games cause at least that meant we challenged them. I felt like the Mets were in control the whole time

Also kinda funny that Kyle now has the most post season Home Runs in Cubs history with 5

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Wow that sucked....I would have rather been eliminated in 7 or 6 games cause at least that meant we challenged them. I felt like the Mets were in control the whole time

Also kinda funny that Kyle now has the most post season Home Runs in Cubs history with 5

He also has the most "ill-advised dives in the outfield in an NLCS" Kind of a mixed series for him.

[CBoller1331]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Long post, sorry


1.

Spoiler

I know that 'there's always next year' actually has real meaning this time, but I can't help but feel like we missed an opportunity to make a World Series run. We came into the playoffs as the hottest team--which is ESSENTIAL in winning the World Series, you don't see teams who limped to the finish line make it far in the playoffs. The Cardinals had the best record in baseball, but didn't play great the final week or so, and they couldn't get it going in the playoffs.

2.

Spoiler

We also had the hottest player in the league in Jake Arrieta. His second half was historic, and he pitched well in Pittsburgh. I still kind of question Maddon's decision to leave him in in the Wild Card game for the 8th and 9th, I don't really know if it would have made a difference in his other playoff starts, but I just feel like he wasn't the same pitcher from the 6th-ish inning of that game on.

3.

Spoiler

We also got to face a team we handled with ease in the regular season. I know the Playoff Mets were a very different team from the one we saw in April or May or whenever, but so were we! Our young studs had 400+ more plate appearances, and our bullpen seemed (key word there) to have figured itself out. The Mets offense on paper, still isnt very good. I feel like if they go into 2016 with the same lineup, it won't produce very well--and definetely not as well as it did the postseason. Granderson and Murphy were just out of this world during these four games. Most of our hitters were pretty cold. That happens. Just can't happen in October.

4.

Spoiler

Also felt we missed out on some incredible storylines: the Back to the Future/Rookie of the Year "prophecies" we almost fulfilled, the eerie similarties to Theo's '04 Red Sox....Just kinda disappointed it didn't work out so pretty....

5.

Spoiler

Anyways, this offseason weve gotta go out and spend money on our pitching staff. Arrieta and Lester are great at the top, but we need a solid third starter, and another decent #4 guy. I like either Hendricks or Hammel in the 5 spot, but I just feel like keeping them both is almost a weak spot....just a thought. Obviously David Price is on the radar, I could see the possibility of Zimmermann too...but if neither of those work out, then I think youve gotta trade Baez or Castro for a solid arm. Honestly though, I don't really think you HAVE to trade one of them unless we don't sign a good FA pitcher. This might make some guys mad, but I am 100% ok with Starlin Castro as the starting second baseman next year. We also have to get a few more experienced relievers. Richard and Cahill and Rodney pitched fine, but I just will not be comfortable unless we get more reliable guys. Rondon, Grimm, and Strop are fine, but having one more solid reliever can go a long way.

[k_mac]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

It'll take a while for the feeling of the last four games to fade, but I think we'll all be able to look back on this season (and yes, even the playoffs) as wildly successful. If someone would have told me before the season started that the Cubs would finish with the 3rd best record in baseball, beat the Cardinals in the NLDS, and get swept by the Mets in the championship series; I would have thought you were crazy, but I would have taken that result every day of the week. The pessimist in me expected better results than 2014, but nothing like what we had this year. Obviously there are many things that need to be addressed this offseason, but I'm as confident as I've ever been that this group of guys won't just be back, but possess the ability to win it all sooner rather than later.

I think that the postseason experience for guys like Schwarber, Bryant, Soler, Baez, Russell, and even Castro and Rizzo is huge at this point in the rebuilding process (can we even consider it rebuilding anymore, or are we past that?). Losing like we did, especially the two games at Wrigley, will light a fire in the entire organization. I'm incredibly thankful for the year we had and the additions we made (I'm talking to you Joe Maddon). This year was by far the most fun I've ever had watching the Cubs, and being at game 3 of the Cardinals series was one of the coolest experiences of my entire life. I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait for April to roll around.

In Theo We Trust

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

This was a disappointing series but it was a successful season. I mean could you of imagined 97 Wins in April. Amazing. This was one of the must fun seasons I can remember.

in the Off-season they need to add 1 elite guy and 1 mid tier guy as it relates to pitching. I mean pushing Hendricks to a 5 would be an ideal scenario and re-sign Fowler.

[decga]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

To all you Cubs Fans out there: You all should be proud of this year. 97 wins out of the blue. Like whoa! I couldn't understand why Travis Wood wasn't in the starting rotation. You all kind like my Braves we need a LF and catcher. But on the other hand Schwarber is the catcher. They need work on this catching this winter. Release Montero and keep Ross to teach Schwarber about catching... or trade Schwarber to the American League for a #2 or #3 starter.

[fugazi]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

I'm with you on point #2, Boller...

The cubs need another pitcher, and one good enough to make Lester the #3 guy.

The big question, though, will center around what to do with the limited number of openings for Bryant, Schwarber, Baez, Soler...

Does Bryant stay at 3B? If he goes to the OF, who sits?
Do they start trying to phase in Schwarber behind the plate? I think he'll be fine in the OF, in that "well, he's never gonna be a gold-glover" sense...
Is Castro gone? One would think the quality he turned in after being benched has to be taken into consideration... I remember someone suggesting he should've been a 2B years ago.
Has Baez earned a spot on the Opening Day roster, or will they want him to get settled in the minors again?

I don't think the depth is a problem...I certainly wouldn't go taking it for granted and unloading quality pieces.

[Jr.]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

I could see them keeping a platoon with Schwarber against righties, and some mixture of Soler/Baez/Castro against lefties. I think Castro needs that push that he can lose his starting spot at any time to maintain his focus.

It was an incredible year, and the postseason run was just gravy for me. I know you can never assume anything, but I think the team is set up for a sustained run.

I agree that the pitching staff needs to be shored up. I think the return to health of Neil Ramirez will help the bullpen next year. I'd like to see a real dominant LOOGY get added. I think everyone assumes the Cubs will add another ace SP, and probably another. I think Hendricks can be an excellent end of the rotation SP.

I do worry a little about the toll of this season on Arrieta and how that will affect him next year. His velo was down slightly in the playoffs, but he didn't pitch poorly per say. He just wasn't what he came to expect. He got some BABIP luck against Pittsburgh, that evened out with poor wind luck against St. Louis. The Mets game, he made poor pitches to the top 3 guys, then gave up 1 run the rest of his outing, with 9 Ks I think. The stuff was there, he just had worse outcomes when he failed to execute.

This is going to be a long Winter, and I can't wait for next April.

[JODYE]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Much as already been said so I will keep it short. Although the NLCS left a bad taste in my mouth, I couldn't be more proud of this team for what they accomplished this year when they were supposed to be an afterthought in the NL Central until next year.

In terms of personnel, I didn't see much from our current catcher rotation that warranted moving Schwarber to LF to make it work. Is Schwarber really THAT bad defensively behind the plate that we had to make room for David ****ing Ross who was absolutely abysmal in the playoffs. Both him and Montero offered nothing defensively. Ross has to go. Unbelievable a roster spot is even being wasted on such a useless baseball player. I don't care how great of a "clubhouse" guy he is. Go away.

Was good to see Soler get it going after a rough full rookie campaign. Still holding out hope that he will end up being one of top players on this team.

This team definitely needs a front end rotation guy, and maybe another arm at the back end of the bullpen. I would definitely like Fowler back if the price is right as well. One thing this team is missing is that high average on base guy. This team struck out way too much this season. Kris Bryant being public enemy number one. If this team really wants to go all the way, that has to be improved upon tenfold.