Jake Arrieta 2017 Salary Drive Sploogefest

[Shooter]

*gulp*

Getting it out of his system before the games count. *whistles past the graveyard*

[Saul Goodman]

Damn it, Jake.

[Eli]

There's never been a better time for a proper thread-bump, Jake. I know you're a lurker here.

[Saul Goodman]

BUMP for a strong effort from Jake tonight.

[R-V]

Attaboy Jake. Battled through the usual control issues to give them exactly what they needed.

[SKO]

Attaboy Jake. Battled through the usual control issues to give them exactly what they needed.

I think that was why this was so encouraging. He didn't just have a game where everything clicked and he was old Jake again, we've seen him do that a couple of times and then go right back in the tank the next game. He actually lost it a few times, and each time actually managed to pull himself back from the ledge in a way he hadn't been.

[Canadouche]

Attaboy Jake. Battled through the usual control issues to give them exactly what they needed.

I think that was why this was so encouraging. He didn't just have a game where everything clicked and he was old Jake again, we've seen him do that a couple of times and then go right back in the tank the next game. He actually lost it a few times, and each time actually managed to pull himself back from the ledge in a way he hadn't been.

I would not be angry if the Cubs extended him. He stresses me out when he flounders, but his incredibleness makes up for it.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Attaboy Jake. Battled through the usual control issues to give them exactly what they needed.

I think that was why this was so encouraging. He didn't just have a game where everything clicked and he was old Jake again, we've seen him do that a couple of times and then go right back in the tank the next game. He actually lost it a few times, and each time actually managed to pull himself back from the ledge in a way he hadn't been.

I would not be angry if the Cubs extended him. He stresses me out when he flounders, but his incredibleness makes up for it.

He neither floundered, nor was he incredible--taking a no-hitter past the half-way point notwithstanding.

He actually had some starts like this during his dominance last year, but they got washed away.  I was in Philadelphia for a doubleheader last September about 7 rows back of the Cubs dugout, and we were fretting as Jake was seemingly constantly 1-0, 2-0 on batters...he gave up some shots that his defense made plays on and next the thing you knew, he had given up 1 run through 8 innings, and yet it didn't feel so dominant as we watched. He didn't have too many of those--indeed, he usually did dominate-- but even when he did those games were good enough to win easily as night (sort of) was.

[SKO]

Attaboy Jake. Battled through the usual control issues to give them exactly what they needed.

I think that was why this was so encouraging. He didn't just have a game where everything clicked and he was old Jake again, we've seen him do that a couple of times and then go right back in the tank the next game. He actually lost it a few times, and each time actually managed to pull himself back from the ledge in a way he hadn't been.

I would not be angry if the Cubs extended him. He stresses me out when he flounders, but his incredibleness makes up for it.

He neither floundered, nor was he incredible--taking a no-hitter past the half-way point notwithstanding.

He actually had some starts like this during his dominance last year, but they got washed away.  I was in Philadelphia for a doubleheader last September about 7 rows back of the Cubs dugout, and we were fretting as Jake was seemingly constantly 1-0, 2-0 on batters...he gave up some shots that his defense made plays on and next the thing you knew, he had given up 1 run through 8 innings, and yet it didn't feel so dominant as we watched. He didn't have too many of those--indeed, he usually did dominate-- but even when he did those games were good enough to win easily as night (sort of) was.

His stuff is so good that he really only has to get it close to the zone for it to usually work out okay, because it's so hard to square up and the Cubs defense is so good anyway. It's just a shame that when his control is off it is really off and he can't find the strike zone with a Sherpa.

Amusingly enough I have an opposite reaction to that start than Kurt. If the Cubs win this world series right now and have at least one championship in the Theo Era banked away it makes decisions like parting with Jake after next year easier. They're probably more likely to keep their window open if they don't over-burden themselves with multiple long term, nine figure contracts to aging pitchers. If they should lose this series, god forbid, and they have more of a sense of urgency then I think they're more likely to pay up for Jake.

[Canadouche]

Attaboy Jake. Battled through the usual control issues to give them exactly what they needed.

I think that was why this was so encouraging. He didn't just have a game where everything clicked and he was old Jake again, we've seen him do that a couple of times and then go right back in the tank the next game. He actually lost it a few times, and each time actually managed to pull himself back from the ledge in a way he hadn't been.

I would not be angry if the Cubs extended him. He stresses me out when he flounders, but his incredibleness makes up for it.

He neither floundered, nor was he incredible--taking a no-hitter past the half-way point notwithstanding.

He actually had some starts like this during his dominance last year, but they got washed away.  I was in Philadelphia for a doubleheader last September about 7 rows back of the Cubs dugout, and we were fretting as Jake was seemingly constantly 1-0, 2-0 on batters...he gave up some shots that his defense made plays on and next the thing you knew, he had given up 1 run through 8 innings, and yet it didn't feel so dominant as we watched. He didn't have too many of those--indeed, he usually did dominate-- but even when he did those games were good enough to win easily as night (sort of) was.

His stuff is so good that he really only has to get it close to the zone for it to usually work out okay, because it's so hard to square up and the Cubs defense is so good anyway. It's just a shame that when his control if off it is really off and he can't find the strike zone with a Sherpa.

Amusingly enough I have an opposite reaction to that start than Kurt. If the Cubs win this world series right now and have at least one championship in the Theo Era banked away it makes decisions like parting with Jake after next year easier. They're probably more likely to keep their window open if they don't over-burden themselves with multiple long term, nine figure contracts to aging pitchers. If they should lose this series, god forbid, and they have more of a sense of urgency then I think they're more likely to pay up for Jake.

I feel like, statistically, Arrieta is going to end up somewhere between his God Season and his second half of this past year. His numbers aren't a fluke, and if a team is going to pursue top-shelf pitching, he certainly has all the kinds of intangibles that you want, coupled with the bonus of already being a part of the team. He's stayed healthy, he pushes himself to improve, he's a fitness freak, and his arm has seen relatively little wear for someone his age.

I do believe that any great pitcher, when finally signed to that big contract, will likely have 1-2 years in which he doesn't earn the money. That's going to happen with Lester too, someday, I'm sure. I think we just have to accept it as part of the business and recognize that he's probably going to give the Cubs 3-5 years of reliability, and that good pitching is just something you have to pay for.

[Brownie]

If someone steps up to be a mainstay in the rotation, then Arietta will be the chip the Cubs will use to restock their farm system July 31.

[Shooter]

He'll be 32 on opening day of 2018. He's gonna want six or seven years and stacks and stacks of cash. I'll be fine if they pass on that.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

He'll be 32 on opening day of 2018. He's gonna want six or seven years and stacks and stacks of cash. I'll be fine if they pass on that.

Same.

[Bort]

He'll be 32 on opening day of 2018. He's gonna want six or seven years and stacks and stacks of cash. I'll be fine if they pass on that.

Same.

Yeah. I'm okay with honoring what he's done and letting him go at that point.

[Quality Start Machine]

If someone steps up to be a mainstay in the rotation, then Arietta will be the chip the Cubs will use to restock their farm system July 31.

They're not moving him. They'll ride him through the 2017 postseason, qualify him and take the draft pick.