The Cubs are always a step behind...

by Unique on Jun 7, 2011 11:17 AM CDT

1984, 1989, 2003, 2007, 2008.

All of those years, we believed the Cubs could finally conclude the ineptness that has plagued it's fans for generations. During those years we thought at some point of time that it could finally happen. Typically, if your a Chicago Cubs fan, you have been fooled one too many times. But why? Why has this organization failed time and time again? Is it a curse? Is it Wrigley Field? Hell -- is it ME?

The Cubs have struggled consistently for quite sometime and really have never had an consistent winner on the field for a prolonged amount of time. Despite winning back-to-back NL Central titles in 2007, and 2008 -- they are still not an consistent winner. But why? With a payroll of 134 million, the team ought to be somewhat successful right?

Well, no.

Those who have seen my post know that I have often said their is no cohesiveness on this team and that I hate the way it was put together. Let's examine that thought.

Starting position players:

1B Carlos Pena

SS Starlin Castro

CF Marlon Byrd

From the 2010 season, part of the teams problem was run production -- so we signed a guy in Carlos Pena who provides power and patience which is something that isn't prominent in the organization, more or less the current 25 man roster. But other than that, you are HOPING that these guys overachieve this year. Soriano is in decline, Ramirez is in decline, and hell, Pena isn't in his prime either. And for the exception of Pena and Fukudome (and Soto to a certain extent), majority of these guys cannot work consistent counts to save their lives. And above everything else, all of these guys are just OK. Matter fact too many of these guys are just OK. And unless we have the SF Giants rotation, we can't expect to win many games with this type of offensive philosophy.

From a pitching standpoint, a rotation of Dempster, Zambrano, Garza, Wells and Cashner is an modest rotation. Only Cashner is the only unproven starter. Still, ever since the Prior-Wood era ended, we cannot find a top-tier, clear cut #1 starter. The injuries and lack of depth has been the problem as far as pitching is concerned. That's leads to the problem that the Cubs are always a step behind the current generation of baseball. Obviously the current model of success from an offensive standpoint is to work counts and preach patience. The Cubs as an organization struggle with this concept. Why? Obviously the model of success as far as pitching is concerned is to have pitchers in the organization that can throw consistent strikes. Why do the Cubs seem to always have players who can't throw them?

I challenge you to tell me the last time this organization had a blueprint for success. And by success, I don't mean the 2006, "Price Is Right" type of bidding we did for free agency. No band-aid success (see 2009). For the most part, the organization has been a band-aid organization .. they've always tried to piece together random pieces and hope it stays together.

Obviously -- the pieces can never stay together. And I'm really tired of it.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

To answer your question

in regards to the last time we had a blueprint for success developing, it was the Dallas Green era, and he was forced out by a very shallow minded Trib at the time.
He was the man who had Ryno as a trade throw in, and we all know how that ended up.
And we have seen what he’s done with the Phillies as well.
We just need some true baseball minds and not business minds running the org from the top down.
Until then, our fate is sealed.

by chrisw95 on Jun 7, 2011 12:46 PM CDT reply actions

Well let's hope Hendry is fired.

And the Cubs find a guy who knows how to model a franchise from top to bottom.

"It's easy to do what's ordinary, it's difficult to do what's deemed impossible -- I guess that explains why my life is so hard, because nothing is impossible for me"

by Unique on Jun 7, 2011 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Front office changes needed to

All the folks, from director of baseball operations through the lower level ML managers must be on the same page !!

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Jun 7, 2011 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions

From the top to the bottom

with real baseball minds in play, not businessmen who see the falling attendance as a failure of the old ballpark to bring in people.

by chrisw95 on Jun 7, 2011 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions

But those should be separate

What the Cubs could be facing now is too much a cross over between business operations and baseball operations.

Let the suits and bean counters figure out how to maximize revenue streams. Let the baseball guys figure out how to build a strong organization, from low-class A all the way to the bigs.

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Jun 8, 2011 6:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Actually

The Cubs had the blueprint for success in the early 2000’s when they stockpiled what appeared to be a good group of prospects and successfully traded some of them away when other teams still thought they had value. They received good players in return and pieced them together with a homegrown stable of top quality arms.

Unfortunately, and unluckily, those arms broke down and the only thing that delayed the inevitable freefall of the past two seasons was the haphazard spending of the 2005 or 2006 season…whichever it was.

"When the day comes with that last winning run and I'm crying and covered in beer. I'll look to the sky and know I was right to think someday we'll go all the way." - Vedder

by krummy12 on Jun 7, 2011 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Even in those years.

IIRC, The team struggled with scouting position players, and didn’t value patience as much as they should of.

"It's easy to do what's ordinary, it's difficult to do what's deemed impossible -- I guess that explains why my life is so hard, because nothing is impossible for me"

by Unique on Jun 7, 2011 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions

What for you has changed since Opening Day?

Soriano is in decline, Ramirez is in decline, and hell, Pena isn’t in his prime either.

Were you expecting something different from these 3?

"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.

by RiskyBusiness on Jun 8, 2011 10:34 AM CDT reply actions

Well that's what I'm saying the problem is.

The Cubs were expecting them to carry the load this year, when that isn’t an ideal approach.

"It's easy to do what's ordinary, it's difficult to do what's deemed impossible -- I guess that explains why my life is so hard, because nothing is impossible for me"

by Unique on Jun 8, 2011 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions

I think the Cubs were hoping, not expecting them to carry the load

I don’t think the Cubs have unrealistic expectations for Ramirez or Soriano. But their contracts were not moveable, even at a discount in the off-season. And Pena got a one year deal because the Cubs want their 1B option to be open for the next off-season.

I think they realize that the 2007 – 2009 window is shut and they are looking at more youth from the the minors.

"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.

by RiskyBusiness on Jun 8, 2011 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Is Ramirez the biggest problem?

He looks like he is playing the field trying not to get hurt. It doesn’t seem like he is hustling. At the bat he plays like Lebron in the 4th quarter. I used anticipate his at bats, but now I dread them, and he is the one I think Brenley wants to see some emotion from.

He did give us some good years so good luck in the future.

by lshaffer_69 on Jun 8, 2011 4:39 PM CDT reply actions