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Cubs aren’t giving me anything at all to be excited about right now
While the Cubs look to be entering a brand new era, it’s anything but exciting.
The Cubs had been exciting and highly marketable ever since they started trusting in Theo Epstein and his process way back in 2011. There was a plan, there was execution of said plan and there was a consummation of process, planning and execution in the form of a trophy and parade very few fans had seen previously.
Now there is no Epstein, no Joe Maddon, no Jon Lester and no Kyle Schwarber. The team is in flux and, well… who knows. Not that there ever has to be any transparency from the front office, but fans knew the last six years that the Cubs were trying to win.
Sure, there were times where we questioned moves or decisions, but every fan knew that the goal was to win a World Series. Every fan was excited to get to and start Spring Training to see new faces who would help get the Cubs back to the posteason again.
2021? I can’t say for sure what the plan is this coming year. Maybe to not lose money?
Cubs offseason to-date? Subtraction, subtraction, subtraction
Among many questions Jed Hoyer will have to answer as the new man in charge is pretty huge: what’s the real goal for the 2021 team? If he says to win a World Series, someone should tell him that the Dodgers are a lot better than the Cubs right now and he should start making some moves pronto.
I can admit that I wasn’t a fan of the non-tendering of Schwarber earlier this month, but if the club feels they can do better with a different or cheaper player after the terrible month of September the big lefty had, I can at least acknowledge that it’s a practical decision. If it was done for purely pecuniary reasons, then there is no leg to stand on in any “we’re trying to win argument.”
Losing Lester is something most expected anyhow, as the 36-year-old is now in the twilight of his career as a big league starter. However, if money were no issue, wouldn’t they bring back a guy who could have a tremendous impact on some of the young arms expected to arrive at Wrigley in the next couple years?
Isn’t a guy who had seven good starts, two mediocre ones, and three terrible starts in a crazy shortened half season worth bringing back as a fifth guy in the rotation? Especially given his pedigree and what he’s done for the organization?
Cubs rumors will run rampant for pretty much the next year
In addition to those the Cubs have already let go or lost, there’s also the persistent trade rumors regarding Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras, and now even Yu Darvish. No one could possibly convince me the Cubs would be a better ballclub in 2021 by trading away Darvish or Contreras. It would also be hard to do so about the former MVP Bryant if he is healthy this coming season.
Perhaps Chicago is trying to trade off some high-priced pieces to try and reload for a new window of contention, but if that’s the case, they’re better off getting rid of pretty much everyone and doing a full rebuild.
And, seeing as that’s the trend of where we’re going with the Cubs so far this offseason (and the fact we haven’t signed any noteworthy position players since Jason Heyward in 2015), I’m not excited for that. I don’t want a rebuild. Not that I wanted to run it back with the exact same club from 2020, but why aren’t the Cubs keeping their core intact and adding other pieces to complement it?
If they don’t believe in the core, then get rid of them and tear it down. There can’t be this vacillating though as it’s gotten exhausting for fans. Act like a big-market perennial winner, or just let your fans know there’s a new process to get behind and get excited about.
Next. Top 5 Kyle Schwarber Cubs Moments. dark
If the trades or dumps start happening, I guess we’ll have our very obvious answer from Hoyer, and to be honest, I can get behind that more than going halfway. Right now though, the lack of excitement is palpable from Cubs fans and it won’t pick up or change until the club starts making some more tough decisions.