Are the Cubs a challenge?

Bucos4life · 07-05-2014, 11:13 PM

I am a die hard Pirate fan. I want to start a new MLB game and want a challenge...as much as I may have trouble doing it I was considering giving the Cubs a shot. Anyone try and rebuild the cubs? If not Cubs does anyone else have another team in the national league that has been fun to rebuild? Looking for some input! Thanks all and Lets go BUCS!

Cole416 · 07-05-2014, 11:22 PM

Cubs were pretty easy having Baez, Almora, Bryant, Castro, and Rizzo.

My biggest challenge was the Mariners but you have to win it all. We both know you can get to the playoffs but winning the WS is tough with them.

Bucos4life · 07-05-2014, 11:26 PM

I can see where the Mariners would be tuff but I was going to try and stay in the NL...but will def keep that in mind if I try the AL

The Game · 07-05-2014, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole416

Cubs were pretty easy having Baez, Almora, Bryant, Castro, and Rizzo.

My biggest challenge was the Mariners but you have to win it all. We both know you can get to the playoffs but winning the WS is tough with them.

Only problem with this is is that Cubs fans have already branded Castro and Baez the next Ernie Banks yet neither have that much power. Rizzo is the next Babe Ruth or whichever left handed power hitter you want to name yet they have only had 1 lefty hit 30+ HR in Wrigley in the last 15 yrs or so and that was Henry Rodriguez. I do like both players and the others you named and depending how they are rated in OOTP the Cubs could be an easy team to win with in a few seasons. IRL I just dont see it, especially after you trade your only decent SP who in reality is a #3 or 4 not a #1 and now you have 3 SS's.

pgjocki · 07-05-2014, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucos4life

I can see where the Mariners would be tuff but I was going to try and stay in the NL...but will def keep that in mind if I try the AL

If you want to stay in the NL try the Padres...

The Wolf · 07-06-2014, 01:19 AM

Given this week's trades the Cub roster ought to be awesome to play next year.

wuttang · 07-06-2014, 02:23 AM

You want to try a rebuilding team, the Cubs seem like a fun team. Just needs some more pitching.
MIA,NYM,COL,AZ,SD also seem fun but more challenging in that order.
Now if you want a real challenge, try the Phillies hehe.
HOU,TB,MIN,CLE seem like fun in the AL imo.
KC,BAL, seem kinda stuck in the middle.

Personally I'm playing as my fav team the Buccos. Was planning to sell all my vets and go full rebuilding again, but sadly(?) We're winning lol. Unsure now^^

Super Utility Guy · 07-06-2014, 04:09 PM

I would consider the Phillies to be a bigger challenge than the Cubs. Ruben Amaro is likely gone after this season and whoever replaces him will be left the task of rebuilding that team.

The Wolf · 07-06-2014, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Utility Guy

I would consider the Phillies to be a bigger challenge than the Cubs. Ruben Amaro is likely gone after this season and whoever replaces him will be left the task of rebuilding that team.

I wish them luck. Too many huge contracts to aging losers.

baseballonly · 07-06-2014, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Utility Guy

I would consider the Phillies to be a bigger challenge than the Cubs. Ruben Amaro is likely gone after this season and whoever replaces him will be left the task of rebuilding that team.

Yeah, agreed. I'm a Phillies fan and hate Amaro. Thanks to him, the Phils can expect to be in last place in their division for at least the next 2-3 years. Plus it makes my job much harder in OOTP.

I expect in 2016 they'll have the worst record in the big leagues. There's absolutely nothing to do but wait for the contracts of Howard, Lee, Hamels to run out. Well, maybe not

Home Page

(that is my team)

UKRedSox · 07-06-2014, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgjocki

If you want to stay in the NL try the Padres...

Just started a game with the Padres.

Started well but no money for extensions so Headley will be traded at some point before the end of July and you have to fight against the financial might of the Dodgers and Giants

The Wolf · 07-06-2014, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKRedSox

Just started a game with the Padres.

Started well but no money for extensions so Headley will be traded at some point before the end of July and you have to fight against the financial might of the Dodgers and Giants

That's a fight you can't win.

Super Utility Guy · 07-06-2014, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wolf

I wish them luck. Too many huge contracts to aging losers.

Agreed. Whoever winds up taking that GM job after Amaro is gone in October is going to have one hell of a mess to clean up. I think that Sandberg survives as manager, but the Phils will definitely have a new GM next year.

Super Utility Guy · 07-06-2014, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballonly

Yeah, agreed. I'm a Phillies fan and hate Amaro. Thanks to him, the Phils can expect to be in last place in their division for at least the next 2-3 years. Plus it makes my job much harder in OOTP.

I expect in 2016 they'll have the worst record in the big leagues. There's absolutely nothing to do but wait for the contracts of Howard, Lee, Hamels to run out. Well, maybe not

Home Page

(that is my team)

IMHO the Phillies should have started rebuilding the team last fall after firing Charlie Manuel. Oddly enough, Philadelphia looks a lot like the 2010 Chicago Cubs team that Ryne Sandberg almost got to manage that wound up going to Mike Quade.

Fyrestorm3 · 07-06-2014, 08:35 PM

I gotta agree with Philadelphia. In my MLB league (started in OOTP14), it's now 2020 and the AI-run Phillies are just finally pulling out of the cellar of the NL East. They managed to pawn off Utley and Lee to the Yankees, but even that didn't help them much. Possibly because they also re-signed an aging Papelbon.

The Wolf · 07-06-2014, 08:42 PM

Maybe we need a "don't sign a contract with or trade for any player over age ___" rule.

bobfrig · 07-06-2014, 09:12 PM

Ruben Amaro Jr. did give Philly a championship
Would you rather be good for 10 years and never win the world series or win the world series then be bad for 10 years. I'd take the latter everytime

The Wolf · 07-06-2014, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobfrig

Ruben Amaro Jr. did give Philly a championship
Would you rather be good for 10 years and never win the world series or win the world series then be bad for 10 years. I'd take the latter everytime

Be consistently good, or boom and bust like the Marlins? Consistently good.

baseballonly · 07-06-2014, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobfrig

Ruben Amaro Jr. did give Philly a championship
Would you rather be good for 10 years and never win the world series or win the world series then be bad for 10 years. I'd take the latter everytime

A championship, and then screwed the club afterward. I'd be consistently good, there's still a chance of winning it all.

ConStar · 07-06-2014, 10:16 PM

Provided you could quickly rebound, take boom-bust. "Consistently good" is dangerously close to "proven veteran" in baseball terminology.

However, if you're going down that road, you've got to do it the way the Marlins have done it -- i.e., able to rebuild fairly quickly after a bust cycle. We're also kind of ignoring the other variable here, which is budget: Perhaps Amaro's most criticism-worthy trait is that he's gone boom/long-term fizzle with a team that doesn't have budget issues. The Marlins, A's, etc., have to strategize in a different way than the Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, etc.

As for the Cubs, if Epstein ever gets them over the talent hump and they really start rolling, they'll be tough to deal with for years. All that stuff about goats, curses, Bartmans, etc., is just superstitious noise. Mismanagement has been their actual Achilles heel.

07-06-2014, 02:23 AM	#7
wuttang Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 101	You want to try a rebuilding team, the Cubs seem like a fun team. Just needs some more pitching. MIA,NYM,COL,AZ,SD also seem fun but more challenging in that order. Now if you want a real challenge, try the Phillies hehe. HOU,TB,MIN,CLE seem like fun in the AL imo. KC,BAL, seem kinda stuck in the middle. Personally I'm playing as my fav team the Buccos. Was planning to sell all my vets and go full rebuilding again, but sadly(?) We're winning lol. Unsure now^^ __________________ former The Show and MLB 2K franchise player. Now a new OOTP addict.

07-06-2014, 08:35 PM	#15
Fyrestorm3 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tampa Bay, Massachusetts Posts: 2,928	I gotta agree with Philadelphia. In my MLB league (started in OOTP14), it's now 2020 and the AI-run Phillies are just finally pulling out of the cellar of the NL East. They managed to pawn off Utley and Lee to the Yankees, but even that didn't help them much. Possibly because they also re-signed an aging Papelbon. __________________ Jersey Template (Photoshop) \| Cap Template (Photoshop)

07-06-2014, 09:12 PM	#17
bobfrig Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 94	Ruben Amaro Jr. did give Philly a championship Would you rather be good for 10 years and never win the world series or win the world series then be bad for 10 years. I'd take the latter everytime __________________ always classy, never trashy

07-05-2014, 11:13 PM	#1
Bucos4life Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 24	Are the Cubs a challenge? I am a die hard Pirate fan. I want to start a new MLB game and want a challenge...as much as I may have trouble doing it I was considering giving the Cubs a shot. Anyone try and rebuild the cubs? If not Cubs does anyone else have another team in the national league that has been fun to rebuild? Looking for some input! Thanks all and Lets go BUCS!

07-05-2014, 11:22 PM	#2
Cole416 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 63	Cubs were pretty easy having Baez, Almora, Bryant, Castro, and Rizzo. My biggest challenge was the Mariners but you have to win it all. We both know you can get to the playoffs but winning the WS is tough with them.

07-05-2014, 11:26 PM	#3
Bucos4life Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 24	I can see where the Mariners would be tuff but I was going to try and stay in the NL...but will def keep that in mind if I try the AL

07-06-2014, 04:09 PM	#8
Super Utility Guy Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 46	I would consider the Phillies to be a bigger challenge than the Cubs. Ruben Amaro is likely gone after this season and whoever replaces him will be left the task of rebuilding that team.

07-06-2014, 10:16 PM	#20
ConStar Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 205	Provided you could quickly rebound, take boom-bust. "Consistently good" is dangerously close to "proven veteran" in baseball terminology. However, if you're going down that road, you've got to do it the way the Marlins have done it -- i.e., able to rebuild fairly quickly after a bust cycle. We're also kind of ignoring the other variable here, which is budget: Perhaps Amaro's most criticism-worthy trait is that he's gone boom/long-term fizzle with a team that doesn't have budget issues. The Marlins, A's, etc., have to strategize in a different way than the Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, etc. As for the Cubs, if Epstein ever gets them over the talent hump and they really start rolling, they'll be tough to deal with for years. All that stuff about goats, curses, Bartmans, etc., is just superstitious noise. Mismanagement has been their actual Achilles heel.