Questions about new ownership...

by preachermancubsfan on Jul 4, 2009 8:07 AM CDT

It is being reported that we are about to have an owner...the Ricketts. So, I might be behind on these discussions, but what does this mean for the future of the team? Wrigley? Is he gonna bring a big payroll? Be a tightwad? Yankees type payroll? Marlins like? Are they/he all about preserving Wrigley? Build a new park? Rename it? Please help...just generally, is this good for the team and fans? Is he gonna be passionate about winning? Thanks for helping...

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great questions

cloak of silence, but i’m hoping he commits to continuing the improvement of the farm system. even if it means spending significantly less on the major league roster.

by tim815 on Jul 4, 2009 8:31 AM CDT reply actions

Well I think you can spend on the team while still improving the minors

perhaps by getting a new scouting department, the Yankees and Red Sox seem to be able to do both simultaneously

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 Jul 4, 2009 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't think the Cubs need a NEW scouting department...

… what they need is MORE scouts, more help in the baseball operation. The Cubs have the 2nd-smallest full-time year round staff in baseball. That doesn’t befit a team with this kind of resources.

Add on. Don’t necessarily just “replace”.

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

by Al Yellon on Jul 4, 2009 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions

I dont know much about the scouting aspect of the organization

so I’ll take your word for it, they seem to be doing a good job in SE Asia though. I wonder why we havent been connected to any of these international free agents making the news the past few weeks ; Sano, Chapman etc.

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 Jul 4, 2009 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions

A lot of those guys are going to get ridiculous money.

For one thing, there’s talk that Chapman is really 26, not 21.

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

by Al Yellon on Jul 4, 2009 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions

thats still pretty young, especially for a lefty

It didnt hurt Dice K being 26, in his first year anyway. If the Cubs dont have money to spend, who does? Should we really be outspent by the Pirates in this realm?

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 Jul 4, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions

You have to ask...

…why that is the case.

With the kind of money the Cubs have thrown around in the last few years, beefing up your scouting department would be a pitance in comparison.

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

by MPH73 on Jul 6, 2009 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions

That will set this current team back a minimum of 3-4 seasons

Those two things can be done separately if they know how to draft and know when and when-not to sign FA’s and make trades.

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Jul 5, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't think we have any idea.

However, he did — supposedly — live near Wrigley for a while and met his wife in the bleachers. So he apparently does understand what being a Cubs fan is about. If he has the passion we do, I suspect we’ll be just fine.

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

by Al Yellon on Jul 4, 2009 8:38 AM CDT reply actions

Just a quess.........

He loves Wrigley…….answers several of your questions
We already have the 3rd highest payroll

"We got some pretty good chemistry here. We got some toughness, and it's starting to show." - Lou Pinella

by Clutche on Jul 4, 2009 8:39 AM CDT reply actions

Hopefully there will be a Q&A...

With the new owner and the media soon after this deal is complete. I’m sure we’d all like to know his stance on Wrigley, the farm system, and the future of the organization.

Someday we'll go all the way...

by CubsBullsBears on Jul 4, 2009 9:47 AM CDT reply actions

I heard on Sports Central

When Kaplan was talking about Ricketts, he said that Cubs fans were lucky to have him, and that he is a huge fan of the team, and will be a great owner. Kaplan also went on to say that Ricketts is not going to have a 400 million dollar payroll. I will just be glad when the deal gets done.

by ccav23 on Jul 4, 2009 11:35 AM CDT reply actions

I'd take anything Kap says with a grain of salt

The only thing missing from his repertoire are TribCo-colored pom-pom’s.

The only way to really find out is when Ricketts makes the specific announcements.

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Jul 5, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Are you implying that David Kaplan is not a purely objective

reporter when it comes to the TribCo? Surely you jest.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 5, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions

David Kaplan is PHENOMENAL.

Just a PHENOMENAL broadcaster on a PHENOMENAL station and truly one of the GOOD GUYS in the business. Just PHENOMENAL.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 6, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Right. Just PHENOMENAL.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 6, 2009 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Willie, I've gotta letcha go, we've gotta go to commercial.

But let me just say that you are one of the PHENOMENAL posters on this site and one of the GOOD GUYS on BCB. Just PHENOMENAL.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 6, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Kaplan's a boob.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 6, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I think having private ownership

Is almost always better than having it owned by a corporation (whether the corporation is publicly traded as the Trib was for most of its ownership, or private under Sam Zell). You can do a lot more things when the question of money and payroll is from a private standpoint than from the standpoint of making a profit…

by Hilary Lee on Jul 4, 2009 12:02 PM CDT reply actions

I tend to agree

except if Ricketts is completely leveraged in this sale he may have trouble keeping up such a high payroll. The Pads are privately owned (I think), and the personal finances (in this case due to divorce) of the owner are making them feel like they need to dump a lot of salary. Hopefully T-Rick is flush enough to not worry about that.

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Jul 4, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions

"T-Rick"

I like it!

by CaliCub on Jul 4, 2009 8:52 PM CDT up reply actions

I would tend to agree...

…as long as the owner believes in two things;

1. Having the best baseball people possible run the baseball operations and letting them do there job.

2. Being willing to provide the financial resources to put the team over the top.

IMO, number 1 has been abscent since Dallas Green left town and number 2 has allowed the Cubs to have some success in the last few years. Problem is, the success will be short term without number 1 in place.

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

by MPH73 on Jul 6, 2009 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks for the post.

I share some of the same questions.

"It's hard to win 97 games, it's hard to win the division. Our attitude is if you get in every year, you get in most of the time, sooner or later you are going to knock that door down." -- Jim Hendry

by EJThunder on Jul 4, 2009 12:15 PM CDT reply actions

A better question

Why assume anyone here actually knows anything about how the Ricketts would manage the franchise?

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Jul 6, 2009 8:48 AM CDT reply actions

Because if anyone would know anything, someone here would

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." --Alvin Dark

by preachermancubsfan on Jul 6, 2009 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions