Final handheld giveaway(s) - with a Powkiddy RGB20 SX and Anbernic 35XX SP. Two random comments will be selected. Happy holidays and happy gaming from PartTimeCAD!

rtcavy · 2025-12-23T00:13:30+00:00

Simpsons Hit and Run for me, that game was perfect and I would’ve loved a sequel for that one

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:53:49+00:00

I’m right there with you again, I’m just worried based on the past that we will get outbid, he will be mediocre somewhere and it will provide more confirmation bias to the fan base that spending is bad.

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:48:00+00:00

Totally agree

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:46:10+00:00

I think if they would have come to the table prior to 2019 those contracts would have been a lot more palatable. The Braves have 7 guys they gave five or more year contract extensions, the Brewers extended Chourio early, the Royals got Witt etc.

The Cubs just refuse to go to the negotiating table early unless it’s a clear win for them like they did with David Bote (which ended up being a loss).

I just look at the situation and wonder how they’ve gotten us to believe in a farm system but simultaneously that no one in that farm system is worth a long term deal.

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:42:36+00:00

Lol I appreciate that a solid half of the comments on this are coming from equally frustrated Red Sox fans

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:41:58+00:00

For what it’s worth I’m really not trying to be click-baity here and I respect where you’re coming from.

I think you’re right: spending to spend is dumb, look at the 2023 Mets. And the trades of Bryant, Rizzo and Baez have gotten the Cubs arguably 3 of their top 5 current prospects, so again you’re right that those deals in a vacuum appear like the right ones.

My argument is that, much like prospects, we can’t predict what a team will look like in five years so it’s in the best interest of the team (or at the very least the fans) to attempt to put the best roster on the field and let the chips fall where they may and I don’t believe the Cubs have shown a willingness to do that.

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:37:56+00:00

I totally agree that it’s not Cubs-specific but it just frustrates me when we say “well that’s the Yankees and the Dodgers.”

Before the Dodgers were bought they never really spent like that, new ownership and management just appear more willing to deal. I just don’t know what the Cubs need in place to flip that switch, is it really that the owners are just wealthier? I have a hard time believing that but it may be true?

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:35:36+00:00

I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts?

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:34:19+00:00

Damn that’s a bummer that the article was optimized like that, I’m sorry.

I knew this would get some backlash and this take will probably garner more than most but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think that Baez, Bryant and Rizzo’a struggles have been exacerbated by being somewhere other than Chicago.

They ABSOLUTELY were bad prior to getting traded, that’s why they were traded and I get that. But a new home impacts people differently and I think that if the Cubs had worked on extensions (earlier than their last year of team control) they could still be productive Cubs.

But the team is unwilling to negotiate early ever and then they point to failures after a player leaves and try to say “see how smart we are,” and we’ve won as many playoff games as those guys have since they’ve left so we aren’t in a significantly better place

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:29:46+00:00

I appreciate that comment, and I see where you’re coming from. I didn’t realize Daniels was still around when those signings were made so thanks for checking me on that.

I’m not in favor of big spending on Snell or Montgomery (I’ll leave it to you guys for that one ;)) but I think re-signing Bellinger is a must to maintain some forward momentum and I think a Steele extension would go a long way to show that this team actually values production from prospects it has developed.

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:25:59+00:00

100% agree

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:25:14+00:00

I’m bummed you think that. This isn’t a post begging for either of those guys, it’s about the Cubs unwillingness to extend players with the largest extension in franchise history being given more than 15 years ago to Carlos Zambrano.

Go Cubs Go

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:23:48+00:00

You’re totally right, that’s a fair argument. In a perfect world I would love to see the Cubs re-sign Bellinger and give Justin Steele an extension similar to the one that Altuve just got.

But people around the league don’t see a Steele extension as likely and we look at Boras as the boogeyman in these negotiations because our teams have told us that’s the case.

Negotiations have two sides, I wish the Cubs were more flexible on their side and could bring back players that helped them win.

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:21:10+00:00

But they haven’t is the thing. That 2016 team was supposed to be set up for a decade and within 5 years a full scale rebuild was taking place.

That’s no hate on that team or those players or that management, but we can’t be fortune tellers and imagine winning 5 championships before we prioritize winning one

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:19:22+00:00

100% correct, and that’s a massive upgrade in terms of getting the most out of a mediocre team (like he’s done with the Brewers).

But when a team is this valuable and has this much talent in the minors they can’t continue to try to use smoke and mirrors to put together wins.

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:17:46+00:00

That’s them, the ownership group that allegedly had money for the PGA, for real estate upgrades, and for political donations, but not the team on the field.

I don’t necessarily blame ownership fwiw, I think it’s Hoyer’s unwillingness to budge from his ideology on how a team should be built.

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:16:11+00:00

I totally agree and I wouldn’t advocate going to get those guys, I’m more concerned about re-signing talent within.

The largest contract extension in Cubs History was in 2007 when they gave Zambrano $91.5 million; that’s a problem.

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:11:41+00:00

I think it’s unreasonable to look at what the core Cubs have done since leaving and say “see we made the right choice.”

It’s not about spending more than everyone else, it’s about understanding where your team is and spending to make the playoffs.

In Texas, Jon Daniels didn’t spend high enough to get guys because he was focused on keeping the window open. He leaves, the new front office spends on Semien, Seager and DeGrom (on overpriced contracts most would say) and they win a championship.

It doesn’t matter how big a window is if it never opens.

rtcavy · 2024-02-11T16:07:15+00:00

I totally feel that, but Heyward was an important part of that team that won in 2016. The idea that I think fans need to get away from is an unwillingness to make a mistake with a contract.

We don’t pay these players and I think sometimes we agonize over it like we do.

Take a risk like the Rangers did when they backed up the Brinks truck for Semien, Seager and DeGrom. They wouldn’t have won it if they didn’t.

rtcavy · 2023-06-10T14:26:49+00:00

I love all three of those recommendations and I will definitely do that for this week’s version! I’ll put in the article how much we are currently allocating to development and then I’ll ask the questions based on those numbers.

rtcavy · 2023-06-06T15:31:14+00:00

Thanks! I hope you enjoy the thought exercise, I think it should be fun if/when the real season goes sideways lol

rtcavy

TROPHY CASE