Theo Epstein Sploosh Thread

[CT III]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

[SKO]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

I still blame Paul Bako for every bad thing that has ever happened.

[CBStew]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

My point was that of all the things that they could be doing, going after a backup catcher who is a definite downgrade over the previous backup catcher sends a signal that as bad as last year was, next year will be worse. 

[Eli]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

My point was that of all the things that they could be doing, going after a backup catcher who is a definite downgrade over the previous backup catcher sends a signal that as bad as last year was, next year will be worse. 

Kottaras is as good of a backup catcher option as one could reasonably expect. He gets on base, has a little power and isn't very good defensively, which is why he's a backup. There are like 10 all-around good catchers in the entire world but there need to be 60 of them employed at any given time, so I'm not sure what you expected from this move.

[Internet Apex]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

My point was that of all the things that they could be doing, going after a backup catcher who is a definite downgrade over the previous backup catcher sends a signal that as bad as last year was, next year will be worse. 

Kottaras is as good of a backup catcher option as one could reasonably expect. He gets on base, has a little power and isn't very good defensively, which is why he's a backup. There are like 10 all-around good catchers in the entire world but there need to be 60 of them employed at any given time, so I'm not sure what you expected from this move.

I think he wanted them to sign Cano first and then take care of the backup catcher position.

[Slaky]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

My point was that of all the things that they could be doing, going after a backup catcher who is a definite downgrade over the previous backup catcher sends a signal that as bad as last year was, next year will be worse. 

While I fully understand your impatience there are so many holes on the club you could make a case for being terrible. Second base? How about that. Let's start there. We don't bitch about it enough.

[Bonk]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

My point was that of all the things that they could be doing, going after a backup catcher who is a definite downgrade over the previous backup catcher sends a signal that as bad as last year was, next year will be worse. 

While I fully understand your impatience there are so many holes on the club you could make a case for being terrible. Second base? How about that. Let's start there. We don't bitch about it enough.

Don't forget rotation spots 1-5 and bullpen spots 1-6.

[Saul Goodman]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

My point was that of all the things that they could be doing, going after a backup catcher who is a definite downgrade over the previous backup catcher sends a signal that as bad as last year was, next year will be worse. 

Overpaying Dioner Mantle for his fluke 2013 would be the mistake.  Hendry would've given him three years, $15M after an intense bidding war with himself.  If this were Welington Castillo being replaced with Kottaras, I'd be with you, but this is more like resigning yourself to the worst Christmas ever because Dad used cheaper bulbs on the wall side of the tree.  And we still have Steve Clevenger!  Oh wait.

[Chuck to Chuck]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

My point was that of all the things that they could be doing, going after a backup catcher who is a definite downgrade over the previous backup catcher sends a signal that as bad as last year was, next year will be worse. 

Overpaying Dioner Mantle for his fluke 2013 would be the mistake.  Hendry would've given him three years, $15M after an intense bidding war with himself.  If this were Welington Castillo being replaced with Kottaras, I'd be with you, but this is more like resigning yourself to the worst Christmas ever because Dad used cheaper bulbs on the wall side of the tree.  And we still have Steve Clevenger!  Oh wait.

Yeah, Stew will get the Christmas tree analogy.

[Tonker]

DA CUBS NEED MORE SCRAPPY IRISH LIKE DAT DONNY MUPRHY AN DAT DONNY O'NAVARO.  DOSE GUYS KNOW HOW TO WIN MY FRENTS!

[Quality Start Machine]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

My point was that of all the things that they could be doing, going after a backup catcher who is a definite downgrade over the previous backup catcher sends a signal that as bad as last year was, next year will be worse.  

Overpaying Dioner Mantle for his fluke 2013 would be the mistake.  Hendry would've given him three years, $15M after an intense bidding war with himself.  If this were Welington Castillo being replaced with Kottaras, I'd be with you, but this is more like resigning yourself to the worst Christmas ever because Dad used cheaper bulbs on the wall side of the tree.  And we still have Steve Clevenger!  Oh wait.

Plus, Navarro was probably looking for a starting gig, like the one he just got in Toronto.

ETA: 2 years, $8 million. Better there than here.

[CBStew]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

My point was that of all the things that they could be doing, going after a backup catcher who is a definite downgrade over the previous backup catcher sends a signal that as bad as last year was, next year will be worse. 

Overpaying Dioner Mantle for his fluke 2013 would be the mistake.  Hendry would've given him three years, $15M after an intense bidding war with himself.  If this were Welington Castillo being replaced with Kottaras, I'd be with you, but this is more like resigning yourself to the worst Christmas ever because Dad used cheaper bulbs on the wall side of the tree.  And we still have Steve Clevenger!  Oh wait.

Yeah, Stew will get the Christmas tree analogy.

Cheaper bulbs?

[J. Walter Weatherman]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

My point was that of all the things that they could be doing, going after a backup catcher who is a definite downgrade over the previous backup catcher sends a signal that as bad as last year was, next year will be worse.  

Overpaying Dioner Mantle for his fluke 2013 would be the mistake.  Hendry would've given him three years, $15M after an intense bidding war with himself.  If this were Welington Castillo being replaced with Kottaras, I'd be with you, but this is more like resigning yourself to the worst Christmas ever because Dad used cheaper bulbs on the wall side of the tree.  And we still have Steve Clevenger!  Oh wait.

Plus, Navarro was probably looking for a starting gig, like the one he just got in Toronto.

ETA: 2 years, $8 million. Better there than here.

The Cubs should have signed Ray Emery.

[PenFoe]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

My point was that of all the things that they could be doing, going after a backup catcher who is a definite downgrade over the previous backup catcher sends a signal that as bad as last year was, next year will be worse.  

Overpaying Dioner Mantle for his fluke 2013 would be the mistake.  Hendry would've given him three years, $15M after an intense bidding war with himself.  If this were Welington Castillo being replaced with Kottaras, I'd be with you, but this is more like resigning yourself to the worst Christmas ever because Dad used cheaper bulbs on the wall side of the tree.  And we still have Steve Clevenger!  Oh wait.

Plus, Navarro was probably looking for a starting gig, like the one he just got in Toronto.

ETA: 2 years, $8 million. Better there than here.

The Cubs should have signed Ray Emery.

Or Josh McNown.

[Bort]

There are still plenty of failure points that will prevent the Cubs from winning that are more critical than backup catcher.

Yes, but considering most of us on this messageboard spent the better part of two years blaming everything that went wrong on Paul Bako, I'm going to cut Stew some slack on that.

My point was that of all the things that they could be doing, going after a backup catcher who is a definite downgrade over the previous backup catcher sends a signal that as bad as last year was, next year will be worse.  

Overpaying Dioner Mantle for his fluke 2013 would be the mistake.  Hendry would've given him three years, $15M after an intense bidding war with himself.  If this were Welington Castillo being replaced with Kottaras, I'd be with you, but this is more like resigning yourself to the worst Christmas ever because Dad used cheaper bulbs on the wall side of the tree.  And we still have Steve Clevenger!  Oh wait.

Plus, Navarro was probably looking for a starting gig, like the one he just got in Toronto.

ETA: 2 years, $8 million. Better there than here.

The Cubs should have signed Ray Emery.

Or Josh McNown.

I think the plan was to have Girardi player-manage.