Sure they sucked. But like you said, Bryant can be a difference maker when you throw him on one side of Rizzo, and Soler, Castro, Martin and Baez on the other, with Russell and Schwarber inching closer too. Rizzo had a good year discipline-wise, and that would figure to not drop when you start putting talent around him as he will help out Bryant in the same manner. I truly believe that these young guys will start feeding off of one another. They are going to have a solid line-up through the middle even if a couple don't do as well or pan out. That's when you bring in free agents to make up for it, and that's when you have your really good teams, especially as young as the Cubs are.
here's one of baseball's best, earl weaver, waxing philosophical about small ball versus long ball. yes, it's really earl weaver, and it's very NSFW. [video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWQbN0jFo_k[/video]
Thats why I said it could be the opposite. The first domino has to fall to gain leverage. My main point is most big time FA will stay a FA until the winter meetings.
Certainly nice to pick up Jon Lester. IMO, would like o see a Shields now and one bat and would be a real nice ffseason.
Regardless of the rest of the offseason, which I am sure will be more, they have done a damn good job at upgrading three important areas being pitching, manager, and catching. The buzz around the clubhouse has to be off the charts. If you think the fans are excited, I can only imagine what guys like Rizzo Arrieta, and the rookies to name a few are thinking. I do like the way Joe Maddon tempered his emotions, as tough as it was to hold back. He knew that he never would have been lucky to ever land Montero, let alone Lester with Tampa. He put it plainly and said, basically, it's all great, but now we have to transfer it off of paper and put into wins on the field. *THUMBSUP*
Wish we could have added Santana. He was had for reasonable money and like Arietta and Hammel as 3-4 not 2-3.
Joe Maddon was the the most important aquisition the Cubs made. If he can make Jon Lester and the rest of the team play "un-Cublike" he will be HOF worthy. Go Joe!
The Cubs are not done yet. This team will get better and better from here on out. It may not be in the next few months (or it may), but while they have not added Santana, next years addition at the latest (maybe earlier depending) just might dwarf Santana, and all that will do is push everyone back a notch making this pitching staff REAL DEEP.. Suppose the Cubs trade some of their talent to a team that is likely to lose said player via free agency and because they don't have deep enough pockets to extend them. They may be quick to let them go for prospects (which the Cubs have) so they can retool. It happens all of the time, and if you look around, there are some intriguing teams that have some talent like the Mets, Reds, Nationals, A's, Rays, Astro's, and so on. Some teams may also elect to trade off some pitching to get hitting. Point is, I think this front office is well adapted along with the scouting department to get the NEXT big pitcher in here, and that will catapult the Cubs into something we have been waiting to see which is the Cubs being picked to win the NL Central, versus picked to finish in last place.
