As spring training opens, owner Tom Ricketts and manager Dale Sveum proclaim that the Cubs are not "rebuilding" and that the team "as assembled" is ready to compete for the playoffs.
Yes, they are both delusional.
Ricketts is a clueless owner who now, after three seasons and massive second half no-shows, must realize he needs to sell tickets. Lots of tickets. And get fannies in the seats to make money. Money that he has already spent on new real estate and a Fenway Junior wall in right field. He has decreed no one in the organization shall use the term "rebuilding."
Sveum said when he was hired, the team would not be "rebuilding" but "building." It is all just double speak at this point.
Every new acquisition, except for Maholm and T. Wood, would not be a starter on their old club. So, technically the Cubs may be "collecting the trash" instead of rebuilding at this point.
Examples:
New 3B Stewart would not be starting in Denver. He played more in the minors last season than the majors. He is not a foundation piece of the future; he is a stop gap replacement for the departure of Ramirez.
New 2B Cardenas was waived (cut) by the A's, but he has a chance to unseat Barney at second.
New 1B LaHair is 29 and a career minor league player. He is no longer a prospect, but a prospector panning for some personal reward for his last shot at playing time.
By all accounts, the Cubs are viewed as a 70 win team for 2012. That is not competitive. That is fighting off the Astros for last place in the NL Central. And if management cannot see the truth in that statement, then it will be an extremely long time before the Cubs fortunes turn around.
