Re: Cubs to Leave Mesa for Florida?

[AllStarMe]

Just a day's drive down I 75, that's totally doable for a few days in March. Come on Florida, don't screw this one up.

[MSG T]

Consider the source, but, Kaplan was on KXNO in Des Moines yesterday afternoon and said there was no chance the Cubs move to Florida. He said Florida was just to get Mesa to give them a better deal.

 

He also said 0% chance Bradley is back, that Ricketts had already approved a "huge" (his word) increase in money to sign Latin and Asian FA, and that Hendry and Kenney would both be back next year.

 

Then they moved on to Bears talk.

 

Edit: He also said the would have a budget of around $145 mil. The FLA/AZ thing and foreign FA money were both new to me, the rest... meh.

[Soul]

The most interesting comment in there is Ricketts approving the spending of more money.

 

To be honest, where the Cubs play their ST games is of no concern to me. It would be interesting if they moved to Florida, but I like Mesa just fine, too. Both are nice places to visit during the cold, hard reality of March in the North.

[Guest]

That's the second time in a few days I've heard Ricketts would approve more spending on Latin America/Asia and an increased focus on the farm. I'll believe it when I see it but it's nice to see that he's at least cognizant that player development could use a lot of improvement.

[MSG T]

That's the second time in a few days I've heard Ricketts would approve more spending on Latin America/Asia and an increased focus on the farm. I'll believe it when I see it but it's nice to see that he's at least cognizant that player development could use a lot of improvement.

 

 

Out of everything he said about the Cubs, which took around 1 minute, that was the only thing that truly interested me.

 

He was actually on to talk about the Bears in his regular call in slot, but because of the Cubs sale, the hosts asked a few Cub questions. He didn't use too many more words to answer the questions than I did typing his comments. I wish the hosts had asked follow up questions to a couple of those, to try to get something new out, but they wanted to move on to football.

[Soul]

Yeah, it's kind of hard to understand why that Ricketts spending comment wouldn't draw a follow up question or two. But.....they were probably under time constraints. I'm sure we will hear more about this if it is true.

[moochpuppy]

UPDATE - from today's press conference:

 

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/oct/27/collier-county-group-trying-bring-cubs-hold-thursd/

[Soul]

Thanks.

 

Price said the most significant hurdle is the history in Arizona.

 

"From the governor on down, they are flying to Chicago to ask the Cubs to stay," Price said. "The level of energy that they're putting forth to protect what they have tells me it's worth fighting for."

 

It seems that the Cubs' plan to use Florida as a whipping stick for Mesa is working, if that's what they are doing.

[BCVM22]

It seems that the Cubs' plan to use Florida as a whipping stick for Mesa is working, if that's what they are doing.

 

I can't really imagine that all of this was ever anything but that. As I see it, the Cubs have two options.

 

1. They get the benefits of a new facility but have to move cross-country for it and then when they set up Grapefruit League camp in Florida, they have to compete with teams like Boston, St. Louis and both New York teams, all of them entrenched in the region.

 

or

 

2. They can frighten Arizona into building them a shiny new complex and get the same benefits of a new facility while not having to move and maintaining their hold on their unofficial title of the only "real" big fish in the Cactus League aside from maybe the Dodgers and the Giants.

 

Which would you do?

[Guest]

It seems that the Cubs' plan to use Florida as a whipping stick for Mesa is working, if that's what they are doing.

 

I can't really imagine that all of this was ever anything but that. As I see it, the Cubs have two options.

 

1. They get the benefits of a new facility but have to move cross-country for it and then when they set up Grapefruit League camp in Florida, they have to compete with teams like Boston, St. Louis and both New York teams, all of them entrenched in the region.

 

or

 

2. They can frighten Arizona into building them a shiny new complex and get the same benefits of a new facility while not having to move and maintaining their hold on their unofficial title of the only "real" big fish in the Cactus League aside from maybe the Dodgers and the Giants.

 

Which would you do?

That's pretty ridiculous. People would come to see the Cubs ST games if they were . They don't have anything real in Arizona that cannot be moved very easily.

 

Still, I don't see them leaving.

[Guest]

That's the second time in a few days I've heard Ricketts would approve more spending on Latin America/Asia and an increased focus on the farm. I'll believe it when I see it but it's nice to see that he's at least cognizant that player development could use a lot of improvement.

Simply spending more money in Latin America/Asia is no guarantee. Over the years the Cubs have drafted a lot of talent they haven't been able to develop. I guess it helps to have a higher starting point though.

[Butterscup1679666578]

they should move to canada. REVOLUTIONIZE.

[moochpuppy]

It seems that the Cubs' plan to use Florida as a whipping stick for Mesa is working, if that's what they are doing.

 

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/oct/29/david-moulton-are-cubs-playing-naples-better-deal-/

[Springfield_CUBBY]

Interesting . . .

“For 16 of the last 19 years, the winner of the World Series has trained in Florida.”

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/oct/27/collier-county-group-trying-bring-cubs-hold-thursd/

[hardcorecubfan]

So spending more in Asia??? mmmmmm how has that worked out for the Cubs? :-k

[Soul]

It seems that the Cubs' plan to use Florida as a whipping stick for Mesa is working, if that's what they are doing.

 

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/oct/29/david-moulton-are-cubs-playing-naples-better-deal-/

 

Read his rationale. It's got more holes in it than Swiss Cheese.

 

I'm not saying the Cubs are definitely doing this at all, but that article does nothing to sway me from thinking it's a possibility.

[Guest]

So spending more in Asia??? mmmmmm how has that worked out for the Cubs? :-k

 

It got them Derrek Lee earlier this decade, a productive CF for the past 2 seasons and has produced 2 of the Cubs top 10 or 15 prospects thus far.

[Guest]

That's the second time in a few days I've heard Ricketts would approve more spending on Latin America/Asia and an increased focus on the farm. I'll believe it when I see it but it's nice to see that he's at least cognizant that player development could use a lot of improvement.

Simply spending more money in Latin America/Asia is no guarantee. Over the years the Cubs have drafted a lot of talent they haven't been able to develop. I guess it helps to have a higher starting point though.

 

Certainly but an added emphasis on the farm system and increased spending can only help. The Cubs have not been one of the bigger spenders in Latin America or the draft in recent years (obviously they have been the biggest player in Asia the past 2 years).

[Guest]

I hate ST in Florida. For the rain if no other reason.

[jersey cubs fan]

So spending more in Asia??? mmmmmm how has that worked out for the Cubs? :-k

 

It got them Derrek Lee earlier this decade, a productive CF for the past 2 seasons and has produced 2 of the Cubs top 10 or 15 prospects thus far.

 

It got them one year of a productive CF. Fukudome was an unproductive RF the year before, unless there is some Asian tie-in with Johnson/Edmonds that I missed. Although the general point still stands. The Cubs ventured into Asia and then seemingly went away, so the break between Choi and the current crop came up empty, but being there now is a good thing, and investing heavier is even better.

[jersey cubs fan]

I hate ST in Florida. For the rain if no other reason.

 

February/March are fairly dry in Naples, driest part of the year. It's the wettest time of year in Mesa. AZ still gets less rain, but it's not an issue for either place. The bigger problem is they move their minor league headquarters there all summer, because that is when the weather sucks.

[moochpuppy]

but being there now is a good thing, and investing heavier is even better.

 

Maybe the Ricketts can lure Yu Darvish to Chicago?

[Guest]

I hate ST in Florida. For the rain if no other reason.

 

February/March are fairly dry in Naples, driest part of the year. It's the wettest time of year in Mesa. AZ still gets less rain, but it's not an issue for either place. The bigger problem is they move their minor league headquarters there all summer, because that is when the weather sucks.

Yes, I should have been more complete - trying to do a lot of things at once. :)

 

Having the team compound in FL all year long would suck.

[illiniguy]

So spending more in Asia??? mmmmmm how has that worked out for the Cubs? :-k

 

It got them Derrek Lee earlier this decade, a productive CF for the past 2 seasons and has produced 2 of the Cubs top 10 or 15 prospects thus far.

 

It got them one year of a productive CF. Fukudome was an unproductive RF the year before, unless there is some Asian tie-in with Johnson/Edmonds that I missed. Although the general point still stands. The Cubs ventured into Asia and then seemingly went away, so the break between Choi and the current crop came up empty, but being there now is a good thing, and investing heavier is even better.

Why would you ever cut off more than a billion people when searching for talent? As Raisin pointed out, we've done pretty well in that market. I know you weren't suggesting to cut it off, but I was afraid maybe the next owner would so this is a good thing to hear.

Edited October 30, 2009 by illiniguy

[Guest]

So spending more in Asia??? mmmmmm how has that worked out for the Cubs? :-k

 

It got them Derrek Lee earlier this decade, a productive CF for the past 2 seasons and has produced 2 of the Cubs top 10 or 15 prospects thus far.

 

It got them one year of a productive CF. Fukudome was an unproductive RF the year before, unless there is some Asian tie-in with Johnson/Edmonds that I missed. Although the general point still stands. The Cubs ventured into Asia and then seemingly went away, so the break between Choi and the current crop came up empty, but being there now is a good thing, and investing heavier is even better.

Fair enough on Fukudome.