Re: Sale of Cubs to Ricketts Complete (p. 15)

[Omar]

I'm still skeptical. He's saying all of the right things, but until we see action and results, these are nothing more than words.

 

Don't tell me words don't matter. 'I have a dream' -- just words? 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal' -- just words? 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself' - just words? Just speeches?

[erik316wttn]

I'm still skeptical. He's saying all of the right things, but until we see action and results, these are nothing more than words.

 

Don't tell me words don't matter. 'I have a dream' -- just words? 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal' -- just words? 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself' - just words? Just speeches?

 

Ok, first off you're comparing a press conference of an owner of a professional sports team to the civil rights movement. That's like comparing apples to monster trucks.

 

Right now, what Mr. Ricketts is saying sounds good, but Outshined is right... until he backs them up with results, they're just words. I'm not saying I don't think he'll do it, however.

[Omar]

I'm still skeptical. He's saying all of the right things, but until we see action and results, these are nothing more than words.

 

Don't tell me words don't matter. 'I have a dream' -- just words? 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal' -- just words? 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself' - just words? Just speeches?

 

Ok, first off you're comparing a press conference of an owner of a professional sports team to the civil rights movement. That's like comparing apples to monster trucks.

 

Right now, what Mr. Ricketts is saying sounds good, but Outshined is right... until he backs them up with results, they're just words. I'm not saying I don't think he'll do it, however.

 

jesus christ chill out. I was just quoting an Obama speech during the Primary when Hillary said Obama is all words and no action.. and that was his response which gained controversy because it has been used before. I thought most people here would remember that.

[Outshined_One]

Hey, if Ricketts follows through on this by doubling the scouting budget, hiring more sabremetric analysts, bringing better minor league coaches into the system, increasing the draft budget, and so on, I'll be ecstatic. The same holds true for player acquisition and development in the majors.

 

I'm happy they came out and said he wanted to build a World Series winning franchise. I'm happy they hit on all the right notes and gave enough specifics to sound like they had a plan of action to build this team. But, it's easy to say the right things. When he was hired, Dusty Baker said a lot of the right things. So did Lou Piniella. So did Jim Hendry. We've been down that road before and we've been burned before. Hence my skepticism.

 

I'm not saying the Ricketts believe things like this team needs to be more left-handed or that OBP is worthless or that young pitchers are too babied. I am saying we don't know those things yet. I have hope that the Ricketts will build the Cubs such that they win multiple World Series rings...but I still worry.

[BCVM22]

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/the-dugout-the-cubs-get-ricketts/

[TruffleShuffle]

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/the-dugout-the-cubs-get-ricketts/

 

Reporter: I was wondering if at any point in my lifetime the Cubs weren't going to be run by a guy who didn't immediately remind me of failure, confusion, or imminent death

[Cubfanintheknow]

Hey, if Ricketts follows through on this by doubling the scouting budget, hiring more sabremetric analysts, bringing better minor league coaches into the system, increasing the draft budget, and so on, I'll be ecstatic. The same holds true for player acquisition and development in the majors.

 

I'm happy they came out and said he wanted to build a World Series winning franchise. I'm happy they hit on all the right notes and gave enough specifics to sound like they had a plan of action to build this team. But, it's easy to say the right things. When he was hired, Dusty Baker said a lot of the right things. So did Lou Piniella. So did Jim Hendry. We've been down that road before and we've been burned before. Hence my skepticism.

 

I'm not saying the Ricketts believe things like this team needs to be more left-handed or that OBP is worthless or that young pitchers are too babied. I am saying we don't know those things yet. I have hope that the Ricketts will build the Cubs such that they win multiple World Series rings...but I still worry.[/quote]

 

I understand. This is the rational Cubs fan in you talking.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Here's the interview Tom Ricketts had with Boers and Bernstein on Friday. It's the third one down.

 

http://www.670thescore.com/boers-and-bernstein-interviews-podcast/3478109

[Soul]

He said lots of good things. But the reality is, 2010 is slated to be the same as 2009. Same payroll, same manager, same GM, same executive in charge.

 

I mean, if you are really all about the winning, all about building a champion -- then why isn't everyone on the hot seat right now? Status quo is surely the worst way of going about bringing a new culture of championships to the Cubs.

 

To me, that doesn't match up.

 

I agree with Outshined. Until I see the actual changes, and then the actual results, it's just empty words. Nothing more.

[C.C.]

The Ricketts backlash begins...

[Soul]

There's this wave of enthusiam, and sure I feel it too.

 

But then the reality is, there's going to be no changes.

 

Why not? Ricketts has been very clear that he thinks everything is pretty good. He likes Hendry, likes Crane.....likes the payroll where it is. Says we have the talent to win it all right now.

 

Really? Because I'm pretty sure I disagree with just about all of that. If he wants to build a champion, than it seems to me thinking that everything is just great right now isn't all that encouraging a sign.

[C.C.]

What's he gonna do - Bring in a new GM that has no flexibility and still pay Hendry? The Ricketts are going to have their hands full for the next year just wrapping their minds and hands around the whole organization. Let's give them a year to access everything before they start to make changes. He's going to put his own stamp on the org. sooner or later. He just needs time right now.

[davell]

I don't blame them for not making any splashes this offseason.(assuming that winds up being the case) It looks to me anyway, that they are basically giving Hendry this upcoming year to make things right and h could be gone right after it's over. And if they're not going to give him much cash to work with, it's kind of letting him hang himself slowly. Short of a playoff spot next year, I think this is almost definitely Hendry's last hurrah. And then, we will start fresh with a new GM, new manager, and probably a head of baseball operations as well. There is nothing wrong with the amount of money we've had at our disposal recently, it's just the way we've spent it and Ricketts has basically already said that. Which seems like a vailed shot towards Hendry, if you ask me.

[Omar]

Any people with business knowledge wanna tell my why The Tribune will retain 5% ownership?

[Outshined_One]

Any people with business knowledge wanna tell my why The Tribune will retain 5% ownership?

 

In selling the Cubs, Sam Zell would have taken a much greater tax hit had he transferred full ownership.

[CUBZ99]

There's this wave of enthusiam, and sure I feel it too.

 

But then the reality is, there's going to be no changes.

 

Why not? Ricketts has been very clear that he thinks everything is pretty good. He likes Hendry, likes Crane.....likes the payroll where it is. Says we have the talent to win it all right now.

 

Really? Because I'm pretty sure I disagree with just about all of that. If he wants to build a champion, than it seems to me thinking that everything is just great right now isn't all that encouraging a sign.

 

The Cubs are a lot closer to a championship than you give them credit for. They had one of the top pitching staff's in the league last year, and suffered from abysmal production from an offense that looked pretty good on paper before the season started.

 

This isn't the time for a complete overhaul or an owner with a jumpy trigger finger. Especially considering the number of dollars the Cubs are committed to. I'm interested to see what Hendry will be able to do this off season, with his job on the line.

[CarolinaCubFan]

There's this wave of enthusiam, and sure I feel it too.

 

But then the reality is, there's going to be no changes.

 

Why not? Ricketts has been very clear that he thinks everything is pretty good. He likes Hendry, likes Crane.....likes the payroll where it is. Says we have the talent to win it all right now.

 

Really? Because I'm pretty sure I disagree with just about all of that. If he wants to build a champion, than it seems to me thinking that everything is just great right now isn't all that encouraging a sign.

 

The Cubs are a lot closer to a championship than you give them credit for. They had one of the top pitching staff's in the league last year, and suffered from abysmal production from an offense that looked pretty good on paper before the season started.

 

This isn't the time for a complete overhaul or an owner with a jumpy trigger finger. Especially considering the number of dollars the Cubs are committed to. I'm interested to see what Hendry will be able to do this off season, with his job on the line.

 

We have a pretty good team on paper. Listening to the NPR interview, player development is where a lot of the focus is going to go. Ricketts said free agency is to fill holes that you can't develop. I like this as a long term plan, but I don't get the feeling we'll see any major moves this offseason.

[erik316wttn]

There's this wave of enthusiam, and sure I feel it too.

 

But then the reality is, there's going to be no changes.

 

Why not? Ricketts has been very clear that he thinks everything is pretty good. He likes Hendry, likes Crane.....likes the payroll where it is. Says we have the talent to win it all right now.

 

Really? Because I'm pretty sure I disagree with just about all of that. If he wants to build a champion, than it seems to me thinking that everything is just great right now isn't all that encouraging a sign.

 

The Cubs are a lot closer to a championship than you give them credit for. They had one of the top pitching staff's in the league last year, and suffered from abysmal production from an offense that looked pretty good on paper before the season started.

 

This isn't the time for a complete overhaul or an owner with a jumpy trigger finger. Especially considering the number of dollars the Cubs are committed to. I'm interested to see what Hendry will be able to do this off season, with his job on the line.

 

We have a pretty good team on paper. Listening to the NPR interview, player development is where a lot of the focus is going to go. Ricketts said free agency is to fill holes that you can't develop. I like this as a long term plan, but I don't get the feeling we'll see any major moves this offseason.

 

and as I said in an earlier post, if we don't acquire one single impact player and open 2010 with the same team we had in 2009, I'd be just fine with that, so long as Ricketts spends this offseason finding the absolute best people available to develop young talent at every level.

[Soul]

There's this wave of enthusiam, and sure I feel it too.

 

But then the reality is, there's going to be no changes.

 

Why not? Ricketts has been very clear that he thinks everything is pretty good. He likes Hendry, likes Crane.....likes the payroll where it is. Says we have the talent to win it all right now.

 

Really? Because I'm pretty sure I disagree with just about all of that. If he wants to build a champion, than it seems to me thinking that everything is just great right now isn't all that encouraging a sign.

 

The Cubs are a lot closer to a championship than you give them credit for. They had one of the top pitching staff's in the league last year, and suffered from abysmal production from an offense that looked pretty good on paper before the season started.

 

This isn't the time for a complete overhaul or an owner with a jumpy trigger finger. Especially considering the number of dollars the Cubs are committed to. I'm interested to see what Hendry will be able to do this off season, with his job on the line.

 

We have a pretty good team on paper. Listening to the NPR interview, player development is where a lot of the focus is going to go. Ricketts said free agency is to fill holes that you can't develop. I like this as a long term plan, but I don't get the feeling we'll see any major moves this offseason.

 

and as I said in an earlier post, if we don't acquire one single impact player and open 2010 with the same team we had in 2009, I'd be just fine with that, so long as Ricketts spends this offseason finding the absolute best people available to develop young talent at every level.

 

We'll see. If he's going to take an entire year just to get his footing, then perhaps he won't even do that.

[jersey cubs fan]

There's this wave of enthusiam, and sure I feel it too.

 

But then the reality is, there's going to be no changes.

 

Why not? Ricketts has been very clear that he thinks everything is pretty good. He likes Hendry, likes Crane.....likes the payroll where it is. Says we have the talent to win it all right now.

 

Really? Because I'm pretty sure I disagree with just about all of that. If he wants to build a champion, than it seems to me thinking that everything is just great right now isn't all that encouraging a sign.

 

I'm all for dumping Hendry yesterday, but I have no problem with what Ricketts is doing. It's not all about 2010. The long time health of the franchise matters. They could go nuts and dump a bunch of people, but if the end result is they are going into 2010 with virtually the same team, what's the point? They are giving Hendry one season to make his roster work, and if it doesn't, they will be able to go into 2011 with a clean slate and a new regime in place and much greater understanding of who is available for the job. They can't really just pour a bunch of money into this offseason and find some magic pills to guarantee better performance for next season. Roster spots are filled and the free agent market just isn't all that meaningful.

 

I don't get how you can accuse him of thinking everything is great. He's giving Hendry a year, and indicates Crane can keep doing his business side of the job for a while. With guaranteed contracts to Jim and almost all of the players, that really is the only realistic option. Most owners don't like showing up and giving people the axe on day one.

[Soul]

There's this wave of enthusiam, and sure I feel it too.

 

But then the reality is, there's going to be no changes.

 

Why not? Ricketts has been very clear that he thinks everything is pretty good. He likes Hendry, likes Crane.....likes the payroll where it is. Says we have the talent to win it all right now.

 

Really? Because I'm pretty sure I disagree with just about all of that. If he wants to build a champion, than it seems to me thinking that everything is just great right now isn't all that encouraging a sign.

 

I'm all for dumping Hendry yesterday, but I have no problem with what Ricketts is doing. It's not all about 2010. The long time health of the franchise matters. They could go nuts and dump a bunch of people, but if the end result is they are going into 2010 with virtually the same team, what's the point? They are giving Hendry one season to make his roster work, and if it doesn't, they will be able to go into 2011 with a clean slate and a new regime in place and much greater understanding of who is available for the job. They can't really just pour a bunch of money into this offseason and find some magic pills to guarantee better performance for next season. Roster spots are filled and the free agent market just isn't all that meaningful.

 

I don't get how you can accuse him of thinking everything is great. He's giving Hendry a year, and indicates Crane can keep doing his business side of the job for a while. With guaranteed contracts to Jim and almost all of the players, that really is the only realistic option. Most owners don't like showing up and giving people the axe on day one.

 

I suppose you're right, but how about just throwing me a bone or two? Does everything need to be exactly the same? What about bringing in a couple new people to supplement, or do some additional analysis? Anything.

 

Also, I'm sure you're right, but he didn't say Hendry was just being kept on for one more year. He said something to the effect of thinking that Hendry's the right guy to move forward with. Now, I don't know if that's just alot of media speak, but I'm just saying -- it isn't clear from the words that it's just a one year evaluation thing. And I've been hit over the head too many times with assuming someone meant one thing, then finding out it wasn't the case.

[Sammy Sofa]

You seem to have unrealistic expectations.

[Banedon]

Laura Ricketts is MLB's first openly gay owner.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/02/laura-ricketts-is-first-o_n_342172.html

[CUBZ99]

Laura Ricketts is MLB's first openly gay owner.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/02/laura-ricketts-is-first-o_n_342172.html

 

I hope that this doesn't balloon into something ridiculous.

[Cubswin11]

Laura Ricketts is MLB's first openly gay owner.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/02/laura-ricketts-is-first-o_n_342172.html

 

I hope that this doesn't balloon into something ridiculous.

It really shouldn't, but who knows. Does that picture of her in the article look like the chick Phillips was having an affair with? Or is it just me?