Remember when all those young Cubs hitters used to be good? What happened?

Bryant is on pace for a pathetic amount of RBIs, even if nobody's been getting on base in front of him. Rizzo is batting around .250...meh. Russel cant hit. Baez is an average hitter at best. Contreres is average. Happ started off with a bunch of XBH but is slowing down. Heyward and Schwarber are terrible. Even the vets like Zobrist can't hit anymore. All of that and i haven't even mentioned the pitching which is worse. This team is done. One WS is all they're getting, and who knows it might be another 108 years before they see another.
- SimpleJack

Good to see your positive attitude isn't restricted to the Blackhawks.

Not sure about being happy. Fans often get too anxious. There are still idiots out there female doging about the Cubs waiting a couple weeks to bring up Bryant.

Ricky knows. He knew on the North side too. For now, he is a bridge guy.

Are you spit-balling about Boche? Always liked him. And Girardi was my choice for a few years.
- blackhawk24

I'm a Cub fan ,don't get into the Sox bashing but it would be just poor Ricky's luck that those dots would all connect

The one on North Avenue? The one on Skokie Highway (next to the Henry's Drive In)?
- StLBravesFan

95th and Stony Island!

The one on North Avenue? The one on Skokie Highway (next to the Henry's Drive In)?
- StLBravesFan

N.Ave in Maywood. Loved those hand/arm powered rail cars.

Remember when all those young Cubs hitters used to be good? What happened?

Bryant is on pace for a pathetic amount of RBIs, even if nobody's been getting on base in front of him. Rizzo is batting around .250...meh. Russel cant hit. Baez is an average hitter at best. Contreres is average. Happ started off with a bunch of XBH but is slowing down. Heyward and Schwarber are terrible. Even the vets like Zobrist can't hit anymore. All of that and i haven't even mentioned the pitching which is worse. This team is done. One WS is all they're getting, and who knows it might be another 108 years before they see another.
- SimpleJack

Cubs have underachieved no doubt. But bryant is heating up. Contreras and Russell are both starting to hit. And there starting pitching has been better after the break. If Arrieta and lackey can give us decent second halfs and zobrist and rizzo and the rest start hitting will be alright. I still think schwarber will find his swing having him be leadoff to start the year was incredibly dumb on Maddons part because you allow the shift with no one on. Schwarber and Manny machado both have the worst avg on balls hit hard which shows bad luck. I also think schwarber should have his eyes looked at. Don't know if he has yet because all year he has been right there just missing squaring up the ball. It would be bad for the cubs to trade him.

N.Ave in Maywood. Loved those hand/arm powered rail cars.
- blackhawk24

Nort ave and first in maywood. The fire engine came to my house for my bertday and took us all to da park. Dems were da days.

Kidde Land

With each passing year it becomes more and more obvious, no matter how painful it is for diehard optimists to admit, that the Kane and Toews contracts are absolutely horrendous, and will continue to cripple our team's depth/chances at creating a Cup contending roster.

No way around it, no debating it, they are both overpaid. Toews is MASSIVELY overpaid, and our GM made a BIG TIME mistake handing out those deals. "But he thought the Cap was going to be higher" isn't a good enough excuse. You can't just assume those things and hand out money like that without KNOWING for a fact first. Very stupid mistake on his part.
- SimpleJack

Is it fair to ask though whether a player is overpaid from year to year?

Meaning, no doubt, Toews was overpaid the last two years in terms of his production.

Meaning, I want to see (for a variety of reasons) what his numbers and impact looks like half way through this season before I declare him overpaid for THIS season. I'm cautiously optimistic this is a big bounceback year for him.

If not, next summer, after the improved circumstances, then I think we can say his contract is truly an albatross.

Oduya to Ottawa - one year, one mil.

Oduya to Ottawa - one year, one mil.
- golfbard

SIGNING UPDATE: Senators sign D Johnny Oduya to a one-year, $1M contract with bonuses that can add $1.25M bit.ly/296g2Xv #TSNHockey

https://www.nhl.com/senat...year-contract/c-290481086

SIGNING UPDATE: Senators sign D Johnny Oduya to a one-year, $1M contract with bonuses that can add $1.25M bit.ly/296g2Xv #TSNHockey

https://www.nhl.com/senat...year-contract/c-290481086
- walleyeb1

Good for Johnny and good for the Sens. I didn't see JO coming back to Chicago, it's nice to see him end up on a good team.

Good for Johnny and good for the Sens. I didn't see JO coming back to Chicago, it's nice to see him end up on a good team.
- DarthKane

Dammit Stan!


(Red font)

Good for Oduya good for Hawks

Think the Hawks may be setting up to ride or die with youth.

Checking my new avatar. From my Hocks toaster.

Hock toast.

Think the Hawks may be setting up to ride or die with youth.
- HamiltonHawk

Unless they know something we don't know (possible) this could be a very long season with so many questions on the blueline

Good for Johnny and good for the Sens. I didn't see JO coming back to Chicago, it's nice to see him end up on a good team.
- DarthKane

I thought $1M was a steal for Ottawa until I saw the bonus clause. If those bonuses are easily achievable, then I am glad Bowman passed on Oduya.

I just don't see the Hawks going into the year w only 3 experienced D (Keith, Seab, Murphy). Team feels like it needs a Campbell/Oduya like vet.

Based on how the Hawks operate, I see the D in week two ("coming out of camp" is complicated a bit by Hossa LTIR, so let's say "week two") as:

Seab
Keith
Murphy
Vet D under $2m
2 "rookies" (I include Kempny here, as well as any player they get from Vegas who has less than 3 years in league)
Rozy

N.Ave in Maywood. Loved those hand/arm powered rail cars.
- blackhawk24

Loved that place when I was a kid. The steam engine, the Little Dipper, the bumper cars -- just a great urban amusement park. I was glad that I got to take my own kids there before it closed down.

Josi > Subban

And yes, I'll admit that it is only my opinion
- 93Joe

This guy disagrees with you.

https://theathletic.com/6...ype-p-k-subban-is-better/

I should note, I have no opinion on the matter. I haven't really looked in to it.

Unless they know something we don't know (possible) this could be a very long season with so many questions on the blueline
- kwolf68

Soup and JO were both done. That was obvious. The youth movement on D was needed. It could be a very up/down season, but I think the change over on D will be good in the long run. I think Murphy will be a pleasant surprise.

Soup and JO were both done. That was obvious. The youth movement on D was needed. It could be a very up/down season, but I think the change over on D will be good in the long run. I think Murphy will be a pleasant surprise.
- z1990z

I agree

Think we have officially hit a lull.....same conversations rehashing.....toews/kane overpaid, who plays lw with kane, young d men, etc.......

See what happens when training camp hits, but while Bowman has to make it sound like Hossa COULD come back, the players tell a different story. Still have to think they give this group a solid 15-20 games before Bowman starts to look at the warts and replace them with Hossa LTIR money.

Soup and JO were both done. That was obvious. The youth movement on D was needed. It could be a very up/down season, but I think the change over on D will be good in the long run. I think Murphy will be a pleasant surprise.
- z1990z

Murphy HAS to be a pleasant surprise otherwise.......light a candle.

Agree on D....time to see what these kids can do. Just a lot of question marks on the back end and Hawks o/u for wins is at 44.5. Tied with STL, half win ahead of Nash, 2 wins behind Minnesota.

Think we have officially hit a lull.....same conversations rehashing.....toews/kane overpaid, who plays lw with kane, young d men, etc.......

See what happens when training camp hits, but while Bowman has to make it sound like Hossa COULD come back, the players tell a different story. Still have to think they give this group a solid 15-20 games before Bowman starts to look at the warts and replace them with Hossa LTIR money.
- SteveRain

We haven't really discussed enough about Toews decline and over payment, have we? I have a lot more left.

Soup and JO were both done. That was obvious. The youth movement on D was needed. It could be a very up/down season, but I think the change over on D will be good in the long run. I think Murphy will be a pleasant surprise.
- z1990z

Oh I don't disagree that 51 and 27 were finished, though I think Oduya may have something left in the tank. Still, the blue line has a plethora of questions. There isn't one player that has no question attached to him. The Hawks could be very good or they could be awful in my view. Right now I don't know

-Will Keith rebound? At times he looked disengaged
-Will Seabrook's slide be as quick as some predict (I don't predict)
-Murphy? Cost controlled or not can this guy play a Top 4 role on a top team?
-Kempny. Tons of potential, but was a hot mess at times last year. How much will he progress?
-Rosy. Didn't he serve in the Mexican-American war?
-Forsling? Potential, but is he ready for all 200 feet of play at a high level
-Rutta? Who knows
-Pokka, fill in blank with any other kid is a huge wildcard...more questions not unlike ANY OTHER team

Is there potential there? Yes....but it could also bomb in a majestic way too.