New Bidders for the Cubs?

by John in DC on Jul 12, 2007 8:58 AM CDT Comment 29 comments

According to the Trib, the Ricketts family, owners of Ameritrade, may be putting together a bid for the Cubs.

I went to business school at the U of C with Pete Ricketts, and I know he and his brother Tom were Cubs fans. I attended several games with Pete when I was there. I haven't kept in close touch with Pete since school but did exchange e-mails with him a few times last year.

I don't know anything else about the bid itself or how MLB perceives the group, but I do think they would be great owners. Cubs fans and good people, too.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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anyone

who will sign z and bring a-rod to the cubs im supportive of

by tbizzle83 on Jul 12, 2007 8:54 AM CDT reply actions

yup

anyone who will spend the money to make the team better has my support.

Dinosaurs? "Didn't exist. You can't say there were dinosaurs when you never saw them." -Carl Everett

by NDcubsfan on Jul 12, 2007 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't think

A-Rod will be a Cub anytime soon.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2933639

The recipe for success needs a little Marmol-ade.

by sue369 on Jul 12, 2007 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions

God, I hate Scott Boras.

While A-Rod is having a monster season, and could perhaps make a lot of money if he does opt out, I'd like to think that this time, Boras won't be able to convince any gullible GM's to bid against themselves, like the Rangers did.

The Rangers have to be the team rooting the hardest for A-Rod to opt out, because they still owe a fair chunk of his current deal. Opting out would end the Rangers' obligation to him.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 12, 2007 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions

hmmm...

Not sure they would be bidding against themselves.

There will be several teams interested in A-Rod. And if Ichiro is getting 20 million a year, A-Rod could get 30 million a year.

by big_lowitzki on Jul 12, 2007 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Doesn't that assume

that ARod is 50% better than Ichiro? I understand that he has more power, drives in more runs, etc... but I'm not sold on the fact that he's $10mil better than Ichiro. That's not to say that some GM can't be convinced of the same.

In 04-06 we couldn't score runs without the homerun. Now we can't hit homeruns but score 5+ with regularity. What's going on??

by 26.2cubfan on Jul 12, 2007 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions

No...

I don't think it assumes that A-Rod is 50% better. But it may assume that A-Rod is 50% more valuable. Though I am not sure that is true either.

But I do know that I would much rather have A-Rod on my team than Ichiro.

This year:
Ichiro: .359/.410/.459
A-Rod: .317/.413/.665

Career:
Ichiro: .333/.379/.439
A-Rod: .306/.387/.577

A-Rod has a 200 point advantage in OPS this year and a 150 point advantage in OPS based on career numbers.

So yea - I do think A-Rod is significantly better.

by big_lowitzki on Jul 12, 2007 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Hmmm...

More thoughts.

Ichiro has more win shares than A-Rod this year. But that is in large part to the fact that the M's have more total win shares to hand out because they have more wins.

A-Rod has 86 Runs Created compared to Ichiro's 77 RC.

A-Rod has a 54.4 VORP while Ichiro has a 44.0 vorp this year.

by big_lowitzki on Jul 12, 2007 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I guess

It all comes down to marginal value. What is the value in salary for that additional 10 VORP? It's true the first percentage points above replacement are much less valuable than the difference between a good player and a great/legendary one. I imagine this is the kind of argument Boras will be making in the coming weeks and months...

In 04-06 we couldn't score runs without the homerun. Now we can't hit homeruns but score 5+ with regularity. What's going on??

by 26.2cubfan on Jul 12, 2007 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions

And...

If A-Rod opts out, the Rangers will save 29 Million dollars.

The Rangers would be elated. And the Yanks would be foolish to not try to keep A-Rod being that they get him at a 29 million dollar discount compared to any other team.

by big_lowitzki on Jul 12, 2007 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions

some hope

great news that these potential buyers were/are cubs fans. even if just casual fans, that is a hell of a lot better than some fiscal tight ass who only cares about the bottom line.

DON'T TRADE PIE!

by kylejo on Jul 12, 2007 9:45 AM CDT reply actions

yeah

which is why every team needs a guy like mark cuban running it. someone who loves it and wants to see the team do well

Dinosaurs? "Didn't exist. You can't say there were dinosaurs when you never saw them." -Carl Everett

by NDcubsfan on Jul 12, 2007 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

optimism

have to love your optimism Al!

2007 Final Projected Record: 90-72

To breathlessly state that this team will go from a 43-42 first half to a 47-30 second half by just "continuing" at their current levels is awesome. Nice work. :)

by jacob on Jul 12, 2007 9:45 AM CDT reply actions

+/- 1

by jacob on Jul 12, 2007 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Actually.....

... if they continued at their "current level", by which I mean the last month, in which they are 22-12, they'd go 56-21 over the last 87 games (.647).

47-30 (or 47-29) is .618, still a pretty good pace. But, even if they dropped a couple games off that pace -- say, 44-32, .579 -- that'd be good for 88 wins. I think 88 wins could win the Central.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 12, 2007 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't know Al.

I wouldn't mind the 56-21 either... go about 97-65 and run away with the NL Central, and take all the drama out of September. That would be pretty cool. Excuse me while I go "puff the magic dragon."

by eamuscatuli1881 on Jul 12, 2007 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions

current level

my bad, i didn't realize that by "current level" you meant only the last 34 games.

here are the final standings assuming that play since 6/2 is a better indicator of future play than counting the entire first half.

. today 6/2 since wpct 2half final mil 49-39 31-25 18-14 .563 42-32 91-71 chc 44-43 22-31 22-12 .647 49-26 93-69 stl 40-45 23-30 17-15 .531 41-36 81-81 pit 40-48 24-31 16-13 .552 41-33 81-81 hou 39-50 23-32 16-18 .471 34-39 73-89 cin 36-52 22-35 14-17 .452 33-41 69-93

It's interesting to note that if you define "current level" as last 15 games the cubs are on pace for 99 wins!!

by jacob on Jul 12, 2007 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions

That'd be great.

I think 49-26 is a stretch, but 46-29 -- which would give 90 wins -- is doable.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 12, 2007 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions

if that happens

If the cubs go 46-29 in the second half, which would put them at 68-41 (.624!) since June 2nd, how much credit do you give Pinella, and what will you look back on as the important changes he made?

by jacob on Jul 12, 2007 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions

He gets almost all the credit...

... if that happens. The most important thing he's done is to begin to change the culture of the organization. You can't completely do that in three months, but this is a good beginning. You can't measure a change in attitude and direction on a stat sheet, but there is no doubt in my mind that it is there.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 12, 2007 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions

almost all of the credit

Do you think the dirt-kicking hat-stomping circus act is part of "changing the culture of the organization?"

And the "no doubt in your mind", is that no doubt in your gut? or do you use the winning baseball as evidence for a culture change? sort of a chicken and the egg scenario?

by jacob on Jul 12, 2007 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions

LOL

Well, there's no doubt that the "hat-stomping circus act" was calculated. Lou admitted so. It did seem to kick-start the team.

Your question is a good one. I'm not sure I have a specific answer for you right now.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 12, 2007 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions

just realized

i was in the wrong diary. sorry John in DC!

by jacob on Jul 12, 2007 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions

messed up

the pirates line. it should read



pit 40-48 24-31 16-17 .485 36-38 76-86

by jacob on Jul 12, 2007 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions

have you not paid attention at all to the past

month and a half? i dont mean to speak for Al, but..

Soriano and Zambrano, arguably the two most important players on the team, were no good in April.

Winning pct. since June: .611

Going 47-30 here on out is a winning pct. of .610.

So yes, by continuing their current pace, that would be their record.

DON'T TRADE PIE!

by kylejo on Jul 12, 2007 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions

yeah

see my post above, misundertood "current level"

you think Soriano will hit .333/.367/.619 and Zambrano will do 3.5 BB/9, 9.8 K/9, 1.75 ERA for the rest of the year.

that would be quite a second half!

by jacob on Jul 12, 2007 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions

haha

point taken. itll be a fun second half.

DON'T TRADE PIE!

by kylejo on Jul 12, 2007 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Even though

I supported Pete Rickett's opponent during the GOP Primaries last year, I support his families bid to buy the Cubs!

The fact that my brother has many good connections to the family and would be begging for tickets is not influencing my decision. Not a single bit ;)

Go Nebraska Football!

by sanantonecub on Jul 12, 2007 11:13 AM CDT reply actions

George is nervous

they are playing like crap and will be moving into a new stadium shortly. He knows that he needs a marquis player besides Jeter, and I think he will make it compelling for A-Rod to sign.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jul 12, 2007 12:37 PM CDT reply actions