Joe Maddon is the next Cubs manager.

[Trendy Bastard]

What I'm saying is I don't think this managerial move is going to bring them any holy grails like the media seems to already be hyping up towards. They had a great manager and a great team in 2008 that I really thought had a good chance at at least making it to the NLCS with all the talent that they had that year but only got swept. Joe Maddon is already calling playoffs and world series. Kudos to him if he can but there's a losing culture that's hindering those chances. It's like asking Belichick to take the Raiders to the playoffs.

He never "called" the playoffs or the world series. He just said that's going to be the goal because if that's not the goal, "then why report? " to spring training.

[Trendy Bastard]

Basically what I see from this move is that the Cubs are finally going to be aggressive in FA and the trade market. If they can put a few vets around these youngins this offseason, I see no reason they won't be playing meaningful games in September.

[realmofotalk]

What I'm saying is that what Lou Pinella did with the Cubs is irrelevant to what Joe Maddon can or cannot do with the Cubs because, aside from maybe Sterlin Castro, there's nothing the same about the entire organization.

Or what Fred Claire/Tommy Lasorda/Kevin Malone/Dave Wallace/Dan Evans/Paul DePodesta/Ned Colletti did with the Dodgers is irrelevant to what Andrew Friedman can or cannot do with the Dodgers, but we both know that won't stop you from counting them out of the playoffs because according to you they're the same team who's folded for the past 26 years.

[HollywoodLeo]

Or what Fred Claire/Tommy Lasorda/Kevin Malone/Dave Wallace/Dan Evans/Paul DePodesta/Ned Colletti did with the Dodgers is irrelevant to what Andrew Friedman can or cannot do with the Dodgers, but we both know that won't stop you from counting them out of the playoffs because according to you they're the same team who's folded for the past 26 years.

Me laughing at the Dodgers for folding year after year isn't the same as me predicting them to fail next year.

But nice try

[realmofotalk]

Me laughing at the Dodgers for folding year after year isn't the same as me predicting them to fail next year.

But nice try

It isn't about you laughing at the Dodgers. It's about you predicting them to fail year after year while at the same time you like to play the "the current team's chances has nothing to do with players who wore the same uniform 10-20 years ago" card when you're defending your favorite teams or teams you don't hate.

[realmofotalk]

They had a great manager and a great team in 2008 that I really thought had a good chance at at least making it to the NLCS with all the talent that they had that year but only got swept.

They got James Loney-ed by the Dodgers, who then got Matt Stairs-ed. It's okay. At least Loney and Stairs are future Baseball Hall of Famers, just like Trent Dilfer and Joe Flacco are headed to Canton because they each have one more Super Bowl ring than Dan Marino does.

[Mach]

if Prynce is talking about the culture, I think he's got a point. At some point losing just permeates a franchise and it doesn't matter how skilled the skipper in charge is. Numerous players have talked about that, and it's possible that even with the ongoing overhaul and such that they still haven't shaken anything.

The Raiders are run completely differently now and suck even more than they used to. It'll be interesting to see if Maddon has the ability to use the situation to change everyone's mindset.

[HollywoodLeo]

Clothing and nicknames don't make a culture.

[Mach]

sure does for many losing franchises. Completely alters a mindset.

[Prynce]

He never "called" the playoffs or the world series. He just said that's going to be the goal because if that's not the goal, "then why report? " to spring training.

He said "I'm gonna talk playoffs and I'm gonna talk World Series. This year. We're gonna make the playoffs next season."

[HollywoodLeo]

sure does for many losing franchises. Completely alters a mindset.

Anyone who wouldn't play to the best of their ability just because they're wearing a Cubs uniform is likely someone who wouldn't succeed on any team anyways.

[Prynce]

if Prynce is talking about the culture, I think he's got a point. At some point losing just permeates a franchise and it doesn't matter how skilled the skipper in charge is. Numerous players have talked about that, and it's possible that even with the ongoing overhaul and such that they still haven't shaken anything.

The Raiders are run completely differently now and suck even more than they used to. It'll be interesting to see if Maddon has the ability to use the situation to change everyone's mindset.

Yes like I said they have a losing culture hindering them. The level of pessimism that already exists hits the players and even the new ones.

The Raiders are in a similar situation. I remember Sapp saying that he used to tell fellow NFL players to not go to Oakland because of how dysfunctional the locker room is and how much they didn't believe that they could win.

[Prynce]

Anyone who wouldn't play to the best of their ability just because they're wearing a Cubs uniform is likely someone who wouldn't succeed on any team anyways.

Tell Randy Moss that.

[Trendy Bastard]

He said "I'm gonna talk playoffs and I'm gonna talk World Series. This year. We're gonna make the playoffs next season."

You're taking that quote out of context. Like I said before, he was referring to the main goal.

[Prynce]

You're taking that quote out of context. Like I said before, he was referring to the main goal.

Either way me responding to that sentiment wasn't off topic.