Very good point, Hank.

Jimmy was a bigger stiff than Heyward. Hope Jason can recover as well as James.

You, me, a corn field, and brass knuckles.

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You have to break eggs.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Now you're just being purposefully dense. Kris Bryant is the best player taken in that draft by a mile. He'll be the NL MVP this year, but if you still want to hold out in that you can.

I'd like you to name me a player from that draft that has ROTY, 2x (so far) All Star and soon to be NL MVP upside. Good luck.

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JohnKirk wrote: I dont get it...

Here's a piece from ESPN breaking down Epstein's significant moves chronologically.

How Theo Worked His Magic

Looks like Theo Epstein didn't rely on free agency after all!

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I like how often they reference LaStella in that article. As though he is a critical piece.

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If he relied on his FA choices, he would be out of a job...like he was in Boston

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

They referenced LaStella a lot because there were a lot of moving parts that eventually led to the Cubs getting him

The critical pieces were the dudes with big fucking drawings of their faces in the article.

Still waiting for an answer on the question of how many starters are free agents, how many were trades, and how many were drafted.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

The best thing about Theo is in five years which included three years of actively trying to lose, the White Sox have only had a better record once while trying the whole time.

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0 drafted, 2 traded for, 3 signed. Check in again in 2018/2019.

I know you're not a baseball fan, but you need to look into the development cycle for most MLB starters. There are very few Fernandezs, Bumgarners, and Kershaws. In fact, even less now than there were a couple of weeks ago.

The Cubs and Theo have (correctly) drafted their pitchers primarily from high school, and in the middle rounds. Some combination of Underwood, Clifton, Steele, Sands, Cease, Hudson and Hatch will become starters, and a couple will probably be bullpen arms. The rest won't make it. De La Cruz as an international signing also has a good chance to become a starter in the next couple of years.

Fear not for the Cubs starting rotation and their ability to help stock it from arms being developed within the organization.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Oh, you took that as truth.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

IMU hit Brick with the Stone Cold Stunner

BAH GAWD

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http://sonsofsamhorn.com/baseball/hitti ... -baseball/

http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=1276

It would be highly unusual if any of Theo's pitching draft picks would have made the major leagues already, and if they had they would be stars...like Kershaw and the others mentioned above.

But Theo's picks are all on the normal trajectory toward becoming major league starting pitchers.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

sure, but there is a big step there that you took for granted and is ultimately the most important part of your entire statement

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Thank you. How about positional starters?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

In 2018 he can say that. Right now it's baseless speculation.

Also in 2018 the cubs will likely have a massive payroll. Not exactly a tough rebuild when you outspent almost everyone.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Strange that if you won't waste 200+mm on Jake Peavy, Adam Dunn, Alex Rios, Adam Laroche, Jeff Keppinger, Melky Cabrera, David Robertson, and Zach Duke to win an average of 80 games a year, when your cheap prospects finally hit you can break the bank for the FA's that you need to take you over the top.

I'm sure those 7-8 extra wins a year from a 71 win team to an 80 win team were worth it though...

Are you really criticizing the Cubs for their payroll in two years? Come on, brother Boilermaker. Sit back and root against them. It's much easier. Your joints won't hurt as bad.

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What does your post have to do with anything?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

It's not a criticism. Do what you need to win 100 games and be happy. Just don't pretend you didn't spend heavily to do it. There is a good portion of Cubs fans that want to act like they were the low budget Rays or A's and it just isn't true.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I can't speculate on pitching prospects currently in the organization helping the 2018 Cubs, but Rick can speculate on what players not currently in the organization will be helping the Cubs in 2018.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Predict how many teams have a payroll of more than 5 million of the Cubs in 2018 Mr Baseball. The Cubs already have some pretty big obligations and that is if they let some guys walk.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

ITT: Hypothetical Payroll arguments

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Who?

You're seeing ghosts, man.

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