I didn't know this. Thanks.
I pretty much agree with your assessment, this is obviously a step in the process of developing the staff. I can't imagine any team competing at the highest levels without a scary staff. Looking at where were at as a team, and where our youngsters are at, if the Cubs are going to truly compete staring next season, they will have to do some fancy horse tradin' and dip deep and hard in the free agent market if they are going to have a starting staff next year ready to compete.
You wrote "The starting pitching will come around. It’s been 11 games", I understand it takes a while for staffs to get rolling during the year, but I have no reason to believe this staff will be a top 10 staff by the end of the season. I am a believer in developing young pitching, I applaud the Cubs for giving young guys a chance to start ib the big leagues, but they are wildly inconsistent at this point. If one of the young guys can really put it together by the end of the season, I would be very happy. But, also looking back at the 2016 World Series, we don't win that without Lester Chapman, and Arrieta none of whom came up through the system.
A lot of these young guys weren’t drafted by the cubs either
I understand, point well taken. I am just a huge believer in the top three starting pitchers on a post season team being scary. Right now I see Stroman as being a potential scary pitcher, but not sure who else. The problem is consistency, it will be fun to watch to see what develops as the season progresses.
The path that the Cubs are on is very much like the 2016 team. A full down to the studs rebuild. If you remember the Cubs moved every player that had value (or even a pulse) in roughly 2011. Then they stunk it up bad for a couple of years, then moved up a bit, then in 2014 they won 73 games (we won 74 last year), the next three years they were in the NLCS. The reason I look at that schedule is because of contracts. In todays league it is hard to keep a team together to build a winner more than a couple of years. So, my thinking is that Jeb will be looking to really add quality free agents to the mix this next off-season to take a stab at the post season next year , and several years after. I expect, barring serious injury problems this season, the Cubs will be right around 81 wins, give or take a couple. Then next year high 80s and the post season. The complete tear down makes little sense unless going for it next year is the plan. Now, that is my bias, but I have been watching the team for 50 years, so I have seen a lot of hits and misses by the Cubs organization. Have a great day, I have to go to my Grandson's baseball game.
2006 Cards say "Hello."
Those are certainly the metrics of a playoff caliber team…if they keep it up
