Cubs sale to Ricketts APPROVED

by Holtzmaniac on Oct 6, 2009 3:22 PM CDT Comment 42 comments

Per the normally useless Dave Kaplan, the other 29 owners of MLB teams met via conference call today and approved the sale of the Cubs to the Ricketts family. Before things become official, it has to go through some bankruptcy issues next week. After that, the banks putting up the cash to fund the deal get 10 days to think things over before they are required to loan the money. The deal is expected to close around the end of the month.

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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This is still going on?

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Oct 6, 2009 3:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What's the traditional waiting period before we can start blaming him?

First month of the season? Or second?

Chicagoan in the Lou.

by Mike Martin on Oct 6, 2009 3:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Opening day....

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 6, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, no, no

There will be a cooling off period when everything that happens is the fault of Zell, the Tribune, or someone else who is gone when opening day rolls around.

It never gets to be easy

by chitownhawkeye on Oct 6, 2009 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Second game?

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 6, 2009 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

GOOD QUESTION!

Shouldn’t there be a grace period of a season though? I’m anxious to see his “splash” move of the off season.

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Oct 6, 2009 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The day the Cubs announce to whom they have offered arbitration.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Oct 7, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good timing.

It should all be done by the end of the World Series which means management can hit the ground running right after that.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 6, 2009 3:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly!

by Fraggin Judge on Oct 6, 2009 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the accent is on "hit the ground" of course

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Oct 6, 2009 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

IT'S HAPPENING ?!?!?!1!1?

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 6, 2009 3:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

no more Tribune Company :)

I'm a lefty, maybe Lou should give me a shot for a position in the bullpen!!

by Chanman25 on Oct 6, 2009 3:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The Tribune Company wasn't all that bad in the end, IMO.

They spent a TON of money.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Oct 6, 2009 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They spent big money...

…once they knew they were going to sell, and they backloaded a lot of the deals in hoping they would be out before the big dollars kicked in (backfired on them). I can’t give them a lot of credit for that, and I will also not forgive them for not recognizing what they had in Dallas Green and understanding he wasn’t going to go about his business like a stuffed shirt.

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

by MPH73 on Oct 6, 2009 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

As long as we get away from Zell

I do not like that man..

I'm a lefty, maybe Lou should give me a shot for a position in the bullpen!!

by Chanman25 on Oct 6, 2009 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher

by Musicdude10 on Oct 6, 2009 8:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like the fact...

…that the owners went ahead with this on a conf call instead of waiting until the all got together in November (which I believe is typical) to vote on this.

I would imagine Ricketts may have requested the fast track so he would have the keys in time for the Cub’s organizational meetings etc..

It’s a very important offseason for the franchise, and I’ll be interested to see the game plan Ricketts has in mind.

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

by MPH73 on Oct 6, 2009 3:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

co-signed.

By letting affairs take their “normal” course, Ricketts group had a built-in excuse that they didn’t have time to get organized before free agency moves. That they are pushing matters along suggests that the new ownership plans to make some sort of an impact.

by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Oct 6, 2009 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It'll be interesting, for certain.

I am glad to see him get the reins earlier. Hopefully this is a prelude to that elusive “organizational philosophy”

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 6, 2009 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

Although, that could still take a couple of years to put into place.

I’m more interested in getting a good 2010 roster together.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 6, 2009 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with both of you...

…and getting the best 2010 roster may indeed be directly related to looking at whether the Cub’s philosophy (of assembling rosters) has been flawed.

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

by MPH73 on Oct 6, 2009 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think they need a two-pronged approach

Yes, the 2010 roster will be somewhat indicative, but as Al and others have noted on this site, they need to spend some cash on the scouting department. If they’d known what they had in Scales/Blanco, they wouldn’t have spent $5M on Miles.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 6, 2009 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't disagree...

…the scouting dept needs upgrading (probably in both quantity and quality) but that won’t help you much in assembling your 2010 roster.

It still amazes me a guy like Hendry was given the kind of dough to spend these last few years, and he couldn’t sell the powers at be to take a morsel of that and spend on the scouting dept. It leads me to believe he didn’t push real hard for it.

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

by MPH73 on Oct 6, 2009 8:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe he doesn't understand the need

He was an apprentice of MacPhail, who didn’t see the value, it seems.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 6, 2009 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know...

…McPhail came from MN who have had one of the best (if not the best) scouting dept for many many years.

With Hendry, I really think much of it has to do with his need to hire guys he knows and is comfortable with and share his love of the 5 tool player. I’m going to guess he likes a close knit group of guys who fit his mold.

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

by MPH73 on Oct 6, 2009 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Could be...

…but the immediate impact he may be seeking does not include throwing a bunch of money at problems, and instead may be digging into what he has (from the inside) and determining which direction to go.

I could be wrong, but I wouldn’t anticipate Hendry being handed an open check book as one of his first moves.

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

by MPH73 on Oct 6, 2009 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's amazing...

what a little technology can do. Now if they’d only apply it to other aspects of MLB procedures things would be so much better off. Particularly in the area of player suspension appeals having to wait until the player can be in NY and can just keep playing until his appeal is heard (or, conveniently drop the appeal if he’s hurt or is facing a bad team).

by CubFan81 on Oct 6, 2009 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I won't miss the Tribune

They made a boatload of cash off the Cubs over the past 25 years

by doofus cubs guy on Oct 6, 2009 4:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

As opposed to...

the cruise liner loads the Ricketts will make over the next 25?

by CubFan81 on Oct 6, 2009 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

Baseball is a business; owners aren’t in it to lose money.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 6, 2009 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

As opposed to the Wrigley's -

who may have also made some crappy decisions in regards to baseball operations but seemed to hold the fans in higher regard (i.e. widening seats – and thus losing some and the revenues)

by doofus cubs guy on Oct 7, 2009 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll take the Trib's results over PK's

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 7, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's another link.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4537317

I would love to know the logistics of how this goes down. Is there a point when Ricketts literally gets the keys to the joint?!

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Oct 6, 2009 4:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Id like to know the logistics of a 29 way conference call

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Oct 6, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

...a 29 way conference call

between billionaires.

The day we lose our will to fight - Is the day we lose our Freedom.

by sanantonecub on Oct 6, 2009 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure they will hold a press conference...

… introducing Ricketts, when this is made official.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 6, 2009 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yawn.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Oct 6, 2009 5:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Stretch.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 6, 2009 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Try to come to life.

"Was you ever punched in the face five hundred times a night? It stings after a while." ~Rocky Balboa

by Goodie1969 on Oct 6, 2009 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes!

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 6, 2009 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know we don't give what Kaplan says a lot of weight around here..

But he reported that there will be enough salary to add a bat, but that it wouldn’t be a long deal, or a big money deal. (Which I don’t even know what that means, but basically sounds like they can sign aaron miles again).

I know that theres a huge payroll already and these contracts are backloaded to the point that the team is somewhat handcuffed, but I am not sure if I see this team getting back to a 95+ win season with the players currently there, or without Milton. Just scary. But I am a paranoid cubs fan, so, ya.

by KButler on Oct 6, 2009 10:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs