Cuban submits application to buy Cubs

[RammyFanny]

http://www.blogmaverick.com/contact/comments/

 

Pretty sure you can email Cuban (I think) or people at least very close to Cuban from that link on his blog, so let's all suck up and tell him to come 8-)

[Chocolate Milk]

This is fantastic news.

[Elrhino]

I can't imagine his stance on steroids will make any friends given the league's sensitivity on the matter at the moment.

 

Drugs that are detrimental to your health should be outlawed. But if it's not bad for your health and it'll enhance your performance, why should you not be allowed to take it? It makes the game more interesting. It just makes sense. But it doesn't make sense in the context of the current controversies over drugs in sports.

 

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-24-30/Mark-Cuban-Wants-Performance-Enhancing-Drugs.html

Edited July 13, 2007 by Elrhino

[Elrhino]

IF Cuban were to buy the Cubs, what should be his first move?

 

Is he a Moneyball man?

 

Slushpile: The Dallas Mavericks keep extensive statistics on referees and the way they call fouls in each game. What other innovative statistics do you keep?

 

Cuban: Everything and anything we can find. Information is power. Particularly when the competition ignores the opportunity to do the same.

 

Slushpile: If your stats reveal that Referee X tends to call a large number of offensive charges on centers, would that cause you to change your game plan and go to another player? Or, are your statistics primarily for proving a point to the league office?

 

Cuban: We use the data and adjust by official all the time.

 

http://www.slushpile.net/index.php/2006/03/09/interview-mark-cuban-businessman/

 

Living in Dallas, I also remember a story told by Cuban on local radio where he talked about how he hired a team of statisticians when he took over the Mavs to help develop better statistical models than the antiquated ones typically used by the NBA. He said every team keeps track of 3 point %, but his stat teams actually broke it up into quadrants so they could tell where on the 3 point arc teams were most proficient. They noticed the Spurs were a great outside shooting team just based on their 3 point %, but if you forced them to shoot from the baseline corner they were only half as proficient. So the Mavs protect the angles, and let them have the baseline. The Spurs have always shot below their season average from 3 pt. range when they face the Mavs ever since.

[Elrhino]

Here's a post from Cuban's blog entitled "Moneyball for the NBA'

 

MoneyBall for the NBA

 

Apr 1st 2004 1:08AM

 

Back to Basketball:

 

The question comes up all the time. What is the NBA equivalent of MLB's Moneyball approach? Are there stats that can be used to come up with a better model for building an NBA team? The answers are Yes and No.

 

Yes, there are stats that are out there that could be used to better build an NBA team, but No, they can't be used for building an NBA team, because the stats that most likely most correlate to a player and team's success are not being collected.

 

I'm not here to say I know exactly which variables independently, or collectively equate to getting a competitive and financial advantage. Only actual testing will determine what works. I will say which stats I think are most important, and let you know that its more than just a little bit of a logistics challenge to try to accumulate accurate data.

 

Here are the stats I think the Mavs will need to figure out how to collect as a first effort towards determining which have the greatest impact on success:

 

1.

 

Deflections, Deflections for turnovers

2.

 

Defensive Penetrations Allowed, Defensive Penetrations stopped (did you stop your man from penetrating in the paint before he shot or gave up his dribble)

3.

 

Assists in paint, Assists outside of paint, within each, assists leading to jumpshots, assists leading to layups, assists leading to foulshots, and within each of these, are they part of fastbreak or not.

4.

 

Rebounds in traffic, Rebounds from free throws

5.

 

Shot percentages - location zone of shot, and within each, whether guarded or open

6.

 

Turnovers - forced, unforced, rule violation turnovers by type (traveling, palming, etc.)

7.

 

Touches - How often, where, duration in seconds, conclusion (pass, assist, shot, turnover as a percentage of total touches)

8.

 

Charges taken, blocks given

9.

 

Blocks above head, blocks that were strips, fouls on block attempts by each

10.

 

Turnovers caused - steals, forced by defense (i.e., preventing your man from crossing 8 sec line, or guarding your man for more than x seconds leading to 24 sec clock violation)

 

There are obviously more, but these are a good starting point to see what works. Unfortunately, this data is not always available just from tape, so it would be necessary to have multiple people at the scorers table at the game to see it, confirm it and get help on it. That's what makes all this so difficult to collect. It may well be that we need to add cameras to each gym that can cover all the action and then go back and determine the information. Either way is expensive, which means it could be along time in coming to the NBA.

 

http://www.blogmaverick.com/2004/04/01/moneyball-for-the-nba/

[E.J.]

Those quotes make me want Cuban even more. The thought of him bringing in a bunch of statisticians and saber guys would be a Cubs' fans wet dream.

[Mephistopheles]

Cuban + DePodesta or Me = World Series Win

 

Book it.

[nilodnayr]

To pile onto the sabermetric view, I saw an interview Cuban had on Chris Matthews inwhich he also discussed all the statistics he was trying out and outside of the box thinking such as how many passes are optimal. He'll definitely bring an opposing philosophy to the current regime.

[Soul]

To pile onto the sabermetric view, I saw an interview Cuban had on Chris Matthews inwhich he also discussed all the statistics he was trying out and outside of the box thinking such as how many passes are optimal. He'll definitely bring an opposing philosophy to the current regime.

 

Another reason I want him: totally unafraid to try something new, something different, something better.

[RammyFanny]

http://www.pushforcuban.com/

 

Browsed over Cubs.com boards and someone is is going to make this site a petition for him to Selig or something.

[Jazz]

To pile onto the sabermetric view, I saw an interview Cuban had on Chris Matthews inwhich he also discussed all the statistics he was trying out and outside of the box thinking such as how many passes are optimal. He'll definitely bring an opposing philosophy to the current regime.

 

Another reason I want him: totally unafraid to try something new, something different, something better.

 

the mere fact that he could be involved in the philosophy of the club, instead of just business and financial restrictions would instantly make him one of the better owners in this league. I can only think of one guy who is that involved with the team, and his team doesn't get alot of wins for as much money as he puts in ;).

[A New Era]

I don't want to read the whole thread, so can someone tell me what the overall consensus is? Would Cuban be a good owner?

 

Reading is exercise for the mind. It will be good for you.

 

The overall consensus is that you should read the data for yourself and make up your own mind. Relying on the summary of others is a sure way to have no intelligent thoughts of your own.

 

But isn't reading the whole thread just like a, long summary?

[Fro]

Z seems to really want Cuban to own the team (and Lou likes him too).

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AtPGy5PKtaVBSGnnmF8Hk3URvLYF?slug=ap-cubs-cuban&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

"I think he would bring whatever it takes to win the World Series," Zambrano said. "Plus, I can be signed by him. You know, I know he has the money for me. Hopefully he can buy the Cubs."

 

Add that to Lee, Floyd, and Dempster

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/baseball/marlins/sfl-mikeb10jun10,0,148706.column

 

"I'm just going to throw out there Mark Cuban," Lee said with a laugh. "That would be my vote. I hope that's not tampering."

 

Don't worry, Derrek. Tampering only flows in one direction. We think.

 

"Well, he seems awesome," Lee continued. "He's passionate. The guy wants to win, so you know he's going to try his best to make the team a winner. He seems like he'd be cool as an owner."

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Lee must have seen the DVD players in every locker in the Mavs locker room.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

Lee must have seen the DVD players in every locker in the Mavs locker room.

 

And the man size towels that are perfect for taller people. The Cubs probably provide washcloth size towels.

[J.R.]

I'd be thrilled if I could summon the slightest hint of hope for Cuban's chances. As it stands, I don't think there's a chance in hell that Bud and Jerry will let it happen.

[Soul]

To pile onto the sabermetric view, I saw an interview Cuban had on Chris Matthews inwhich he also discussed all the statistics he was trying out and outside of the box thinking such as how many passes are optimal. He'll definitely bring an opposing philosophy to the current regime.

 

Another reason I want him: totally unafraid to try something new, something different, something better.

 

the mere fact that he could be involved in the philosophy of the club, instead of just business and financial restrictions would instantly make him one of the better owners in this league. I can only think of one guy who is that involved with the team, and his team doesn't get alot of wins for as much money as he puts in ;).

 

True, but that's likely because this other you speak of is a dinosaur 8-)

[AlwaysaCub]

I'd be thrilled if I could summon the slightest hint of hope for Cuban's chances. As it stands, I don't think there's a chance in hell that Bud and Jerry will let it happen.

 

Yes, but if Cuban announces his bid and it is high and clearly the leading bid, and he drums up the support of the players, manager, and fans, Bud will have a hard time saying no. Or at least I hope he will.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I really like that the players are vocal in support of Cuban. Hopefully, that will get the attention of MLB.

 

I still think Cuban's best shot is to get someone respected in baseball circles to become part of his group.

[Jazz]

I really like that the players are vocal in support of Cuban. Hopefully, that will get the attention of MLB.

 

I still think Cuban's best shot is to get someone respected in baseball circles to become part of his group.

 

Colangelo+Cuban???

[seanimal]

If Cuban can get in on the current front-runner's bid, I forget his name and am too lazy to look, that would be the powerhouse. Articles have referenced Bud's ability to pair ownership suitors in order to create the best case scenario, and I can't imagine Selig would turn down the publicity Cuban would draw if he could be contained by a partner... somewhat.

 

That's what I'm going with for now. I would love Cuban, but I just don't see it happening unless it's paired with someone more... boring.

[hawkcub]

If Cuban can get in on the current front-runner's bid, I forget his name and am too lazy to look, that would be the powerhouse. Articles have referenced Bud's ability to pair ownership suitors in order to create the best case scenario, and I can't imagine Selig would turn down the publicity Cuban would draw if he could be contained by a partner... somewhat.

 

That's what I'm going with for now. I would love Cuban, but I just don't see it happening unless it's paired with someone more... boring.

 

A caller on ESPN 1000 suggested Oprah. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Man would that be awful.

[Chocolate Milk]

A caller on ESPN 1000 suggested Oprah.

 

That was Derwood.

[davearm]

I wonder if baseball's power brokers would be swayed if David Stern were to write what would essentially be a recommendation letter on Cuban's behalf.

 

Imagine if a guy with Stern's clout and firsthand perspective were to come out and say something to the effect of, "Mark's had his runins with the league, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. He's an outstanding owner and has been a tremendous asset for the NBA. The turnaround he's led in Dallas has been incredible, and he's been instrumental in growing the league as a whole. MLB would be very fortunate to have him bring his keen intellect and progressive thinking to one of its franchises."

 

I also wonder if Stern would actually hold this opinion of Cuban.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I wonder if baseball's power brokers would be swayed if David Stern were to write what would essentially be a recommendation letter on Cuban's behalf.

 

Imagine if a guy with Stern's clout and firsthand perspective were to come out and say something to the effect of, "Mark's had his runins with the league, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. He's an outstanding owner and has been a tremendous asset for the NBA. The turnaround he's led in Dallas has been incredible, and he's been instrumental in growing the league as a whole. MLB would be very fortunate to have him bring his keen intellect and progressive thinking to one of its franchises."

 

I also wonder if Stern would actually hold this opinion of Cuban.

 

I have a feeling Selig will have a long talk with Stern about Cuban, if he hasn't already. My guess is that Stern will be very candid in those discussions and that whatever Stern says or has said will weigh very heavily in the owners' decision.