I was flooded with Willson Contreras news yesterday.
It was impossible to ignore my feelings about Willson, even though I haven't watched a Cubs game all year.
He probably played his final home game for the Cubs yesterday. Willson was the heartbeat as well as one of baseball's best catchers for the next seven years after hitting a home run in his first at bat as a Cub.
He wasn't appreciated by his manager because David Ross is a blithering moron and he wasn't allowed to tell other players not to loaf it. Either way, whatever. It was impossible to not be taken in by the passion and energy of the man behind the plate.
The last position player from that 2016 team is Conteras. Kyle is still on the staff.
Why was he crying and saying goodbye to his teammates and fans? He is not retired. The Cubs would certainly like to be and act like one, but he doesn't play on a team that can't compete for titles.
The Cubs don't want him to be paid fairly for his work. By Tuesday, he will be shipped off for a group of eighth graders that will have a bunch of Stockholm Syndrome-related bloggers flapping over whatever the fuck is. A grade on a 100 point scale was not enough. They have a hit tool and they don't just hit. I gave you a tool.
Wait, there is more.
The Tigers, who have been in a rebuild for seven or 31 years, have made it clear they will listen to offers for the player. When he arrived, he was supposed to be a part of the final rebuild. He is still running a FIP despite having serious issues this year. While sitting in his office alone, Al Avila will try to cash in on the fact that more teenagers will pay a shiny nickel every week to see his fans. GMs like to do that because they can keep their jobs if the future is good. The owners like it because they don't have to pay anything.
Only fans of a few teams have any hope that the players they have become attached to will stick around for years while everyone else gets to look forward to deadline deals for two or three guys who are more likely to come up for a few months. The Yankees won't pay Judge market rate if he hits 65 homers.
Let's take the minor away. The idea of a rebuild should be removed completely. Let's get rid of people. Minor league teams are now independent. An independent league is every league. The 40-man roster is the only thing that MLB teams have. Do you want to put promotion and relegation into it? It's cool. The leading high school players can sign with any of the 120 teams that pay them a decent wage. An MLB team can pay up to $50 million for his contract if they crush it in Round Rock. You don't want your catcher to be paid for seven seasons? If you want to trade him for a centerfielder who can spend eight months in a weight room, you have to pay for someone else.
These teams can't survive without their MLB affiliations.
It was bullshit.
If they are such great baseball towns, people should come out to see a team built to win its league instead of a team in a big city. Are you planning on lighting it up in your freshman year? You should join a Double-A team if you want to progress.
I don't want to read about a hillrod working on his change-up as a reason to buy tickets. I don't need to see meaningless minor league homers on social media to know that a team might be able to make the playoffs. Don't fuck all that. Do you want that guy to hit everyone? Fuck you and leave us alone with your reports. The highest bidder is able to take every player. GMs can't buy more time and owners can't keep swindling their fans with the ever-changing goal posts of rebuilds. This is how it goes.
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