2012 Chicago Cubs

[Slaky]

In fact, I don't think it's totally crazy to think they could contend as soon as next year.

I've been thinking about climbing aboard that bandwagon myself.

TEAM 2013! FYC!

And now so am I.

#FYC2013

[Eli]

They are in last place

As already stated, they're only 2.5 games out of second.

on pace for 95+ losses

Not really indicative of how they've played. They got off to a horrendous start but have played over .500 in the last several weeks.

despite getting sub 1.00 ERA from a starter who won't be here next year.

How do you know that?

There is a good probability that they will trade their #2 starter.

Since you deal in non-specifics all the time, I don't actually know who you're talking about but I assume Garza. There's been lots of talk about how they want to give him a contract extension lately and that talks are progressing.

They don't have a closer or much of a bullpen.

Bullpens are the easiest thing in baseball to fix. And closers are overrated.

Their catcher, 3rd baseman and left fielder all have OPS+ under 70.

And they're still playing over .500 baseball in their last several weeks!

And, with these weaknesses, they only have one guy in the minors ready to come up and that's it.

Development for 2013 ends in May 2012, deems Chuck.

Without some combination of major free agent spending and trades for major-league ready talent, this team is likely to be putrid next year, too.

And why can't any of these things happen? They have tons of payroll flexibility and there are some quality free agents available in the offseason. They have arguably the best front office in baseball to potentially make impactful trades.

It's totally crazy to think they could contend as soon as next year.

So is your face.

[Drops microphone.]

Eli out.

[PANK!]

They are in last place

As already stated, they're only 2.5 games out of second.

on pace for 95+ losses

Not really indicative of how they've played. They got off to a horrendous start but have played over .500 in the last several weeks.

despite getting sub 1.00 ERA from a starter who won't be here next year.

How do you know that?

There is a good probability that they will trade their #2 starter.

Since you deal in non-specifics all the time, I don't actually know who you're talking about but I assume Garza. There's been lots of talk about how they want to give him a contract extension lately and that talks are progressing.

They don't have a closer or much of a bullpen.

Bullpens are the easiest thing in baseball to fix. And closers are overrated.

Their catcher, 3rd baseman and left fielder all have OPS+ under 70.

And they're still playing over .500 baseball in their last several weeks!

And, with these weaknesses, they only have one guy in the minors ready to come up and that's it.

Development for 2013 ends in May 2012, deems Chuck.

Without some combination of major free agent spending and trades for major-league ready talent, this team is likely to be putrid next year, too.

And why can't any of these things happen? They have tons of payroll flexibility and there are some quality free agents available in the offseason. They have arguably the best front office in baseball to potentially make impactful trades.

It's totally crazy to think they could contend as soon as next year.

So is your face.

[Drops microphone.]

Eli out.

You should come to Tonkfest.

[Bort]

They are in last place

As already stated, they're only 2.5 games out of second.

on pace for 95+ losses

Not really indicative of how they've played. They got off to a horrendous start but have played over .500 in the last several weeks.

despite getting sub 1.00 ERA from a starter who won't be here next year.

How do you know that?

There is a good probability that they will trade their #2 starter.

Since you deal in non-specifics all the time, I don't actually know who you're talking about but I assume Garza. There's been lots of talk about how they want to give him a contract extension lately and that talks are progressing.

They don't have a closer or much of a bullpen.

Bullpens are the easiest thing in baseball to fix. And closers are overrated.

Their catcher, 3rd baseman and left fielder all have OPS+ under 70.

And they're still playing over .500 baseball in their last several weeks!

And, with these weaknesses, they only have one guy in the minors ready to come up and that's it.

Development for 2013 ends in May 2012, deems Chuck.

Without some combination of major free agent spending and trades for major-league ready talent, this team is likely to be putrid next year, too.

And why can't any of these things happen? They have tons of payroll flexibility and there are some quality free agents available in the offseason. They have arguably the best front office in baseball to potentially make impactful trades.

It's totally crazy to think they could contend as soon as next year.

So is your face.

[Drops microphone.]

Eli out.

Man, Eli just gassed up the FYCMOBILE. Let's take this shit on the road.

[Tonker]

They are in last place

As already stated, they're only 2.5 games out of second.

on pace for 95+ losses

Not really indicative of how they've played. They got off to a horrendous start but have played over .500 in the last several weeks.

despite getting sub 1.00 ERA from a starter who won't be here next year.

How do you know that?

There is a good probability that they will trade their #2 starter.

Since you deal in non-specifics all the time, I don't actually know who you're talking about but I assume Garza. There's been lots of talk about how they want to give him a contract extension lately and that talks are progressing.

They don't have a closer or much of a bullpen.

Bullpens are the easiest thing in baseball to fix. And closers are overrated.

Their catcher, 3rd baseman and left fielder all have OPS+ under 70.

And they're still playing over .500 baseball in their last several weeks!

And, with these weaknesses, they only have one guy in the minors ready to come up and that's it.

Development for 2013 ends in May 2012, deems Chuck.

Without some combination of major free agent spending and trades for major-league ready talent, this team is likely to be putrid next year, too.

And why can't any of these things happen? They have tons of payroll flexibility and there are some quality free agents available in the offseason. They have arguably the best front office in baseball to potentially make impactful trades.

It's totally crazy to think they could contend as soon as next year.

So is your face.

[Drops microphone.]

Eli out.

You should come to Tonkfest.

THIS.  THIS THIS THIS.  I swear, if Eli's not coming, then neither am I.

Also, I watched last night's game and really fucking enjoyed it.  They remind me a little bit of the 2007 Cubs, and post-season pants-shitting aside, that's not a bad thing at all.  The 2007 Cubs were fung, man.

[Powdered Toast Man]

They are in last place

As already stated, they're only 2.5 games out of second.

on pace for 95+ losses

Not really indicative of how they've played. They got off to a horrendous start but have played over .500 in the last several weeks.

despite getting sub 1.00 ERA from a starter who won't be here next year.

How do you know that?

There is a good probability that they will trade their #2 starter.

Since you deal in non-specifics all the time, I don't actually know who you're talking about but I assume Garza. There's been lots of talk about how they want to give him a contract extension lately and that talks are progressing.

They don't have a closer or much of a bullpen.

Bullpens are the easiest thing in baseball to fix. And closers are overrated.

Their catcher, 3rd baseman and left fielder all have OPS+ under 70.

And they're still playing over .500 baseball in their last several weeks!

And, with these weaknesses, they only have one guy in the minors ready to come up and that's it.

Development for 2013 ends in May 2012, deems Chuck.

Without some combination of major free agent spending and trades for major-league ready talent, this team is likely to be putrid next year, too.

And why can't any of these things happen? They have tons of payroll flexibility and there are some quality free agents available in the offseason. They have arguably the best front office in baseball to potentially make impactful trades.

It's totally crazy to think they could contend as soon as next year.

So is your face.

[Drops microphone.]

Eli out.

Aren't you supposed to say "Eli out" before you drop your microphone?

[BH]

They are in last place

As already stated, they're only 2.5 games out of second.

on pace for 95+ losses

Not really indicative of how they've played. They got off to a horrendous start but have played over .500 in the last several weeks.

despite getting sub 1.00 ERA from a starter who won't be here next year.

How do you know that?

There is a good probability that they will trade their #2 starter.

Since you deal in non-specifics all the time, I don't actually know who you're talking about but I assume Garza. There's been lots of talk about how they want to give him a contract extension lately and that talks are progressing.

They don't have a closer or much of a bullpen.

Bullpens are the easiest thing in baseball to fix. And closers are overrated.

Their catcher, 3rd baseman and left fielder all have OPS+ under 70.

And they're still playing over .500 baseball in their last several weeks!

And, with these weaknesses, they only have one guy in the minors ready to come up and that's it.

Development for 2013 ends in May 2012, deems Chuck.

Without some combination of major free agent spending and trades for major-league ready talent, this team is likely to be putrid next year, too.

And why can't any of these things happen? They have tons of payroll flexibility and there are some quality free agents available in the offseason. They have arguably the best front office in baseball to potentially make impactful trades.

It's totally crazy to think they could contend as soon as next year.

So is your face.

[Drops microphone.]

Eli out.

Aren't you supposed to say "Eli out" before you drop your microphone?

He had us so hooked on every word that it didn't matter, we could hear him whisper.

[PANK!]

They are in last place

As already stated, they're only 2.5 games out of second.

on pace for 95+ losses

Not really indicative of how they've played. They got off to a horrendous start but have played over .500 in the last several weeks.

despite getting sub 1.00 ERA from a starter who won't be here next year.

How do you know that?

There is a good probability that they will trade their #2 starter.

Since you deal in non-specifics all the time, I don't actually know who you're talking about but I assume Garza. There's been lots of talk about how they want to give him a contract extension lately and that talks are progressing.

They don't have a closer or much of a bullpen.

Bullpens are the easiest thing in baseball to fix. And closers are overrated.

Their catcher, 3rd baseman and left fielder all have OPS+ under 70.

And they're still playing over .500 baseball in their last several weeks!

And, with these weaknesses, they only have one guy in the minors ready to come up and that's it.

Development for 2013 ends in May 2012, deems Chuck.

Without some combination of major free agent spending and trades for major-league ready talent, this team is likely to be putrid next year, too.

And why can't any of these things happen? They have tons of payroll flexibility and there are some quality free agents available in the offseason. They have arguably the best front office in baseball to potentially make impactful trades.

It's totally crazy to think they could contend as soon as next year.

So is your face.

[Drops microphone.]

Eli out.

You should come to Tonkfest.

THIS.  THIS THIS THIS.  I swear, if Eli's not coming, then neither am I.

Also, I watched last night's game and really fucking enjoyed it.  They remind me a little bit of the 2007 Cubs, and post-season pants-shitting aside, that's not a bad thing at all.  The 2007 Cubs were fung for the last 4 months, man.

Something something Lou having to fumigate Dusty's residual badness the first 2 months'd.

[Powdered Toast Man]

This post serves as a Bryan LaHair appreciation splooge post.

Carry on.

[Eli]

Aren't you supposed to say "Eli out" before you drop your microphone?

I'll wait for a ruling from Apex.

[Eli]

Also, if you want further #FYC2013 fuel (don't we all?), Baseball Prospectus' adjusted standings have the Cubs with the third-best record in the National League, based on run differential and strength of schedule.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

Or, did Starlin didn't get past the first round?

Or did he did?

[J. Walter Weatherman]

Also, if you want further #FYC2013 fuel (don't we all?), Baseball Prospectus' adjusted standings have the Cubs with the third-best record in the National League, based on run differential and strength of schedule.

Fourth best, behind the Cards, Nats and Dodgers.

[Eli]

Also, if you want further #FYC2013 fuel (don't we all?), Baseball Prospectus' adjusted standings have the Cubs with the third-best record in the National League, based on run differential and strength of schedule.

Fourth best, behind the Cards, Nats and Dodgers.

Not all of us got to major in counting at art school.

[Fork]

Chuck needs to stick to the basics - at their current pace, the 2012 Chicago cubs project to play 162 games.