Cubs Fanalysis: The Most Hated NL Central Rival and Jed Hoyer's Leadership

The Leadoff Man

Cubs fans have been vocal lately, and we decided to dive deep into their sentiments regarding their most-hated NL Central rivals and their thoughts on Jed Hoyer's leadership. Using comments from Cubs Fan threads, the Superfans team performed a sentiment analysis to classify each comment as positive or negative. This step-by-step approach provides reasoning for each sentiment identified, ensuring a thorough understanding of the fanbase's emotions. Let's explore what we discovered and see if these feelings hold steady as the season progresses.

Cubs Fans Rank the Most Hated NL Central Rivals

Cubs fans have the most animosity towards the St. Louis Cardinals, seeing them as their ultimate rivals.

Thank goodness we are all on the same page. The Cardinals are the worst. The rivalry between Cubs fans and the St. Louis Cardinals is fierce, with many expressing deep-seated animosity towards their division foes. This hatred stems from years of Cardinals' success, often at the Cubs' expense. Fans view the Cardinals with a blend of envy and resentment, calling out their so-called "Devil Magic" and longing for their own time to shine. While the Milwaukee Brewers are noted for their recent competitiveness, the level of disdain for them doesn't match the visceral reactions toward the Cardinals. Many fans find the Brewers' success annoying but still regard the Reds and Pirates as lesser threats in the division. This intense rivalry with the Cardinals is a testament to the storied history and passionate emotions that define the NL Central.

Cubs Fans Sound Off on Jed Hoyer's Performance

Fan Frustrations and Criticisms

Cubs fans are split on Jed Hoyer's performance as the president of baseball operations. Some appreciate his focus on rebuilding a strong farm system, seeing it as a necessary step post-2016 World Series. They highlight the promising prospects as a beacon of future success.

However, a vocal group is frustrated with the team's current state, criticizing Hoyer's strategy of signing "cost-effective" free agents instead of top-tier talent. They view this approach as indicative of a lack of ambition and a reluctance to spend, which is unacceptable for a large market team. Key criticisms include a perceived lack of transparency about the rebuild, questionable free-agent signings, and an underwhelming impact from the farm system. This frustration is heightened by the team's inability to compete with division rivals like the Cardinals and Brewers, leaving fans yearning for a return to perennial contention.

The Case for Hoyer's Long-Term Strategy

Despite these concerns, many fans, including myself, believe in Hoyer's long-term strategy. This quote from Theo Epstein in 2012 encapsulates what Jed Hoyer is trying to achieve with the development of the Chicago Cubs:

"We need to add a lot of pitching to the system. It’s not enough to have a handful or two. You need waves and waves coming through your system, and we don’t have that."

Jed Hoyer initiated this process by trading key players from the 2020/2021 team to start building this wave of pitching talent. To further this goal, he brought in Carter Hawkins as the General Manager of the Chicago Cubs. Hawkins, who came from the Cleveland Guardians organization, played a key role in leading their player development department, especially on the pitching front. He believes that developing pitching talent internally is crucial for sustained success and is working to build "waves and waves" of pitching prospects, echoing Epstein's long-term vision for the team.

The Farm System: Patience is Key

The Cubs' leadership strategy focuses on long-term success through developing young talent, despite the current frustrations. It's understandable that Cubs fans are frustrated with the ongoing rebuild, but it's important to consider the broader strategy. The Cubs couldn't publicly announce a rebuild back in 2021 without risking fan backlash and team morale. Theo Epstein's era set the foundation, focusing on homegrown hitters and purchased pitching. However, pitching prices have skyrocketed, making it crucial to develop pitching talent in-house.

Hoyer's plan to allow players to mature in the minors ensures they are mentally and physically prepared for the big leagues, leading to more sustainable success. Rushing prospects to the majors can do more harm than good, as seen with players like Corey Patterson and Nick Madrigal. Players like Matt Shaw and Kevin Alcantara need time to develop before being thrust into the Wrigley spotlight. For example, from April 26 to May 23, Shaw hit .169 with an OPS of .503, but from May 25 to June 2, he hit .344 with an OPS of 1.135. Similarly, Alcantara struggled early on but has shown significant improvement recently.

Financial Decisions: Hits and Misses

While the signings of Dansby Swanson ($177 million over seven years) and Ian Happ ($61 million over three years) may seem like overpayments, they are vital pieces of the puzzle.

The real concern lies with the contracts of players like Drew Smyly ($10.5 million), David Bote ($5.51 million) to play in Iowa until this week, and Kyle Hendricks getting bullpen time due to ($16.5 million). Additionally, the Cubs are still paying Jason Heyward a $5 million deferred salary this year. On the flip side, the Cubs have made some savvy financial moves, such as Mark Leiter Jr.'s $1.5 million contract and Mike Tauchman's $1.95 million deal. Nico Hoerner's $11.5 million contract is also a steal.

The Closer

Alright, Cubs fans, we've covered a lot today! Our fanbase clearly has some strong feelings about our NL Central rivals, especially those pesky Cardinals. The Brewers are also starting to get under our skin a bit more. And when it comes to Jed Hoyer's leadership, opinions are split. Hoyer seems to be a polarizing figure, and it's tough watching the team stumble through what we hoped was the tail end of a rebuild.

It's not easy seeing the Cubs struggle, but remember, there's a strategic vision at play here. Patience is key, and understanding Hoyer's strategy might make riding out the rough patches a bit easier. As we progress this season, it will be interesting to see how our sentiments change and if the team's performance shifts