I've got 19,462 Cubs cards from 285 different brands listed on a spreadsheet. A random number generator picked five cards, one each from the past several decades.
1900s - 1970s: 1962 Topps #264 Dick Ellsworth The lefty starter would lose 20 game in 1962, but had an amazing rebound year in 1963 when he won 22 games.
1980s: 1984 Topps #334 Chuck Rainey Rainey was the odd starter out when the Cubs picked up Dennis Eckersley and Rick Sutcliffe in June of 1984. He was traded to the A's on July 15 for a player to be named later. Davey Lopes came to the Cubs from the A's in late August as the PTBNL.1990s: 1992 Action Packed #18 Billy Williams This picture has been used a few more times... ...since this card came out in 1992.2000s: 2004 SP Authentic #21 Kerry Wood This is a nice-looking card. I like the intensity on his face. 2010s: 2019 Topps Silver Packs '84 Series #4 Javier Baez The RNG gives us a card of the Met's .225 shortstop.
Everyone gives the cubs crap for the trade deadline overhaul, but to be honest, Rizzo, Baez, and Bryant aren't tearing it up. None of these guys would change their approach. It became home run or strikeout. These players are not all stars anymore. I find the current cubs more fun to watch. They are hungry and Swindell, Wisdom, and Ortega do something each day to make you say wow. They are making a tiny fraction of the salary and are just as good as a team, except for the starting pitching. I like what the cubs are doing. A couple of fortunate drafts, and if some of these kids can make it, the future looks bright. The Baez, Rizzo, and Bryant core was played out. I wouldn't resign any of them for next year. Keep financial flexibility to sign some stud starting pitching. You might sign one stud left or right fielder that can actually hit above 0.280 and not strike out 30% of the time and we have a competitive team.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%
DeleteHitting .243 with 3.1 bWAR. I miss him.
ReplyDelete