poppysox

Great Post! I guess we old guys see things in the same light.

A great reminder that things need to go right in a lot of areas to win the WS. Dye was a cast-off with poor defensive credentials that became World Series MVP. Our pitchers performed beyond anyone's expectations. I wonder if Vaughn could be this year's Dye. As the saying goes...that's why they play the games.

All this talk of betting reminds me of having a $10 per game bet on each game of the four-game series with my Twins fan friend. The Twins were a superior team and the bets were even money. The Twins won the first 3 games and thankfully I managed to get a win in game 4 to make my loss for the weekend $20. It was a time in life when that $20 meant something to me. It could just as easily have been a $40 loss that would have affected my dining for the month. Why did I make such a dumb bet...PRIDE. The good news is that $20 has saved me countless dumb bets over the years. Lesson learned...Hold out until the odds favor you.

I agree with this point, Jack. We should never be left holding nothing with a player that can't be extended. The Bryant situation is a failure of Cubs FO to face the fact he wouldn't be extended.

Might be coming any day now. A couple of weeks till the season opener. Time to get excited.

Today it looks like Kimbrel but in another month that can change dramatically. Koch was traded for Foulke while Kimbrel cost us, Madrigal. No comparison.

My thought would be if he is on the team...he will be in 5 or 6 games a week allowing for proper rest.

No doubt that is true. Kimbrel looked like crap today but I guess that doesn't count either.

Francisco Liriano comes to mind. I've had 65 years of being a hard-core fan. If I got so little enjoyment as you do I would find another team.

You don't think Harrison has looked pretty good? I agree he's no Madrigal...but that ship has sailed.

When I see the final makeup of the team and don't like it. The final team might well not be completed well into April. It's not a typical offseason as you know. From the beginning, I favored using Vaughn/Sheets/Engle in RF because they need to play somewhere on a nearly regular basis. I said the bullpen and an SP were the needs I would like to address along with a backup catcher and of course 2nd base. I did hope the 2nd base position would be a bigger upgrade than Harrison but so far he looks to be is better than I thought. When a trade for Kendal is completed the final moves will fall in place. My theory of best use of Vaughn/Sheets isn't necessarily the final solution. As others have said...a trade of Vaughn for an SP and then perhaps a Conforto deal might be best.

I prefer to think like the stock market..."No News Is Good News."

The only thing I've heard is RH with some lawyer speak saying nothing. This FO is very stealthy in its activities. I don't think for a minute they are not working on Kimbrel as an example. Starting pitching is also an area that RH has indicated they were looking into. Simply put...it is not the MO of our FO to share with fans what they are or are not going to do.

I don't disagree but it's not over til the FO tells us it's over.

I must have played a thousand games with that rule in place.

This 28 person roster may be what Micker needs to showcase his wares. He does appear to have the tools.

No...I like to support the young up and comers. Currently, I am on Sheets bandwagon trying to prevent him from being shipped off for no good reason.

What's not to like? Hitting and fielding like an AS.

I agree that it looks bad for now. However, RH must have thought he could swap Kimbrel for a meaningful player. That move doesn't need to have happened yet to still be a viable plan. It is a head-scratcher that he didn't just buy out the contract and go shopping with the $15M savings.

Tanner Banks worked the zone like a seasoned pro. Sure was not expecting what I saw.

Yeah...I watched the whole game and liked it a lot. I'll try to find something to be critical of in my future viewing. Oh...by the way...Tanner Banks looks awesome.

I agree with your observation that Adolfo and Cespedes both looked like the real deal. Maybe a little patience will pay off.

Many of us have expressed doubt that last year's performance for Conforto was a one-off. Looks like many GMs have the same concerns.

Gio is not the hometown discount type IMO. TA is much more likely to sign a reasonable contract IMO. I might be wrong but that's the way I see them.

I didn't like the trade but I understood what RH was trying to do. I hate having 16 M tied up in what seems kind of an iffy performer. I hope we can find a trade partner but failing that I hope he is just great and builds value for the trade deadline.