What a great time to be a Cubs fan. Yeah, no World Series still… yet, but when I woke up on Wednesday morning earlier this week and saw the news that Lester chose us, I had some extra pep in my step.
I’m glad I didn’t stay up until almost 1am to find the news out the night before; I don’t think I could have gotten back to sleep. Lester became the Cubs biggest free agent signing ever, at 6 years $155 million dollars. Damn, that’s a lot of money. So the Cubs have their #1 pitcher; that’s a big deal. It was THE biggest need for this team, and something that was a MUST if they expected to contend, and they got him. They reeled in the biggest fish of all; well, maybe Scherzer is?
I hate to bring back any bad memories, but let’s just think about the biggest Cubs FA signing prior to this one. Yeah, most people I’m sure know that it was Alfonso Soriano. How’d that turn out? Well, we didn’t win a World Series with him, and he fell well short of the lofty expectations and dollars that were given to him. I choose to think this is a little different. The obvious is that Lester is a pitcher, and a left handed starter at that, and that’s nothing to sneeze at. I could think of a few of the top pitchers in the majors right now in Kershaw, Sale, and Baumgarner that are left handed; you have Price and Hamels too, but not many more than that. They are all different pitchers for sure, but a top flight left handed pitcher may be the most diffficult thing to find, and the Cubs got one. That alone is big, but how good is Lester? Well, I’m not going to read all his stats, but with a winning season in all but one of his years since 2006, and a career 3.58 ERA, he’s pretty good, but wait there’s more. We don’t just need someone with good regular season numbers, ala Soriano, we need somebody who will do it when it counts, whose numbers get BETTER when it counts, and yes, he fits that bill too. A 2.57 ERA in the playoffs is pretty damn good, but as the pressure got higher, he got better: 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA in 3 World Series appearances. So am I saying THAT Cubs history that is on everybody’s mind, that intensifies come late in the year and playoff time, that cranks the pressure up to the max, can be handled by him? I would say, YES, although not sure if the 2 title wins in Boston he was a part of stack up to what the Cubs are trying to do; the Red Sox 2004 title does.
The generic version of prescription for ordering viagra was primarily developed to treat sexual problem in men, especially problem known as erectile dysfunction treatment treatment cialis to let a male get out of it. viagra australia online Typical symptoms: There are no subjective symptoms, and the inflammation to subside. This medicine can be taken with a glass of water, but for buy levitra viagra immediate reaction a person can chew it and consume it. Isolating and treating Gout from this perspective is often times buy cialis line completely acceptable for a large percentage of the population, for another percentage of the population it is not. OK, so what about all that money? Well, yes, it is a lot of money, but… the Cubs HAVE money, and they will have even more in the near future. Why can’t the Cubs spend like this regularly? I think/hope the answer is that they will if and when they have to going forward, and gave us an example of that here. This was the market for Lester. OK, so maybe the Cubs paid a little more than the Red Sox were willing to (although I’m sure the Giants and Dodgers would have went higher), but that’s what it takes nowadays to get your guy. The Cubs got their guy, and I couldn’t be happier.
So with the marquee addition of the offseason, the Cubs add to LaStella, Hammel, and Montero. Are they done? I don’t think so. Will they add somebody as big as Lester? I don’t think that’s possible, unless Max puts on a Cubs hat, but I don’t think that will happen, and I’m not so sure I want him. The Cubs got my #1 ranked FA. So who’s next? They say another veteran bat, maybe Lester’s personal catcher in David Ross, probably another starter. Which level of starter? Shields? Do you still try to trade for Hamels? I like the 2 guys Atlanta let go, in Beachy and Medlen.. Beachy more than Medlen. The sky is the limit right now, and that’s what a signing like this does for a fan base.
So, how we feeling about Theo’s plan today? Have the last 3 years been worth it to bring us to this position? Of course, the end game is a World Series title… the end game is competing on a regular basis… making the playoffs more times than you miss. Have the Cubs arrived? There’s 162 games that wil determine that, but one thing is sure, the time is now; not 2017, 2016, but 2015. I talked about dreaming earlier this week, and as a Cub fan, I do plenty of that… it’s time to see those dreams turn into reality. It’s time to make Back to the Future 2 come true…
Mo
Great move so far. Lester should fair much better in the NL. It’s another step in the right direction!!!
Go Cubbies!!!
MK
Not just a good move because of who and what Lester is and has accomplished. Add that to the other moves this offseason, the rebuilding of the farm system and Cub culture, and everything Theo has said since he has come on has been on point. Everything has been transparent. It has been a rough couple last years (yes, yes, I know more than a century), but the Cubs are headed in the right direction as an organization, farm system, and MLB ballclub. Anyone who doesnt see that and/or agree is in denial and a hater. The Cubs are positioning themselves for future successes, including a World Series title. My belief is that it happens this year…I cannot wait! TIT…trust in Theo! GO CUBS GO!!!